News Articles
Get the Whole Family Moving and Find the Fun in Fitness
Is that treadmill in your basement collecting more dust than a Dyson? Don’t feel bad – finding time to exercise in between all the other commitments is a big challenge for all of us. However, obesity rates among both adults and children are on the rise in Canada, and are a full-on epidemic in the United States. Making sure you stay fit will not only keep you in optimal shape, it will set a good example for your children as well. Why not get your children into healthy habits early by turning fitness into a family affair?
Continue Reading...Sexting 101
How many of you parents out there have a young teenager who has a cell phone and who texts non-stop?
And of you parents who have kids that have cell phones, how many of you know what your child is texting or can understand what they are texting? Probably not too many...
Continue Reading...Evaluating Your Child’s Progress
Teachers have a number of ways they evaluate their students’ progress, and the majority of elementary schools in Canada send out report cards three times a year to provide parents with an understanding of their child’s academic performance within the classroom. If your child’s report card doesn’t enlighten you, understand that most students struggle with the concept of studying.
Continue Reading...Healthy Habits Start Early
Tips for Breakfast, Lunch and Snacks
As children get older, the more difficult it can be to get the proper nutrition that will fuel their body to make it through the day. This is especially the case for students whose school campus lures fast-food outlets, convenience stores, cafeteria offerings and vending machines.
Add that to the opulence of many children today who plug into technology and spend a significant amount of time using iPods, computers, TV and video games and you have the perfect compilation of bad habits that can lead to unhealthy tendencies and problems, with obesity being chief among them.
Negating this situation early in childhood is ideal, however it is never too late to change the way nutrition is approached. Parental support and involvement are essential to successfully establishing proper health habits in children. Just as parents should model good behaviour for their children, modelling wise, nutritional choices is just as important.
Here are a few tips parents can use to ensure improvement on their child’s eating habits:
- Try to veer away from purchasing any junk foods, instead replace with nutritional snacks such as granola bars or rice cakes. This will help your child get used to choosing healthy alternatives.
- If your child is young and you have a hard time getting them to eat nutritious options, try having fun with the food by shaping the tastes. This will make healthy eating fun and enjoyable.
- Try to strive for at least two or three food groups first thing in the morning, such as eggs and fruit.
- Involve your child as much as possible when packing snacks and lunches to ensure they are getting things they like, and are most likely to eat.
- For lunch, pack sandwiches on grainy breads, and fill it with turkey, chicken, salad, vegetables or hummus—NOT packaged sandwich meat. Also include some fruit, granola and yogurt, or something baked from home such as a bran muffin, on the side.
- Too many calories is, among a number of other health concerns, one of the biggest culprits leading to obesity and the risk of diabetes. Familiarize your child with food labels, and teach them how to read the food’s contents.
- Make sure your child hydrates by packing a water bottle that they will be able to refill throughout the day. This is vital for maintaining the mind and body’s hydration level.
Making the right decision
The question on how to educate a child is one of the most important questions a parent can ask. Most parents struggle with the choice of public vs. private schools. Though public schools don’t have tuition costs, the benefits and advantages of private school education can be a great way to help your child with his or her studies and social skills. Also, a private school can teach your child values that are constant and vital to your family.
To read the rest of this article please click on the below PDF
Educational Choices
Alberta offers a wide range of educational options. When selecting a school for their child, parents can choose from a variety of school systems: public, Catholic, private, charter, francophone, and French immersion.One of the key principles of Alberta’s education system is educational choice. To ensure that parents are able to make the best choice for their child’s education, it is important to understand the aspects of the available options.
To read the rest of this article please click on the PDF below
Getting Started
Some parents choose to send their children to preschool while other parents wait until it is time for kindergarten to send their child to school. What you decide to do as a parent should be determined by your child’s needs and your own personal principles. However, there are a number of benefits for your child if he or she goes to preschool before attending kindergarten.
To read the rest of this article please click on the below PDF
How to choose a School
Choosing the right school for your child can be a complicated and emotional process, and while it can seem daunting, it is one of the most important decisions you will make for your child. As a parent, you know your child better than anyone else. A school that brings out your child’s best, helps them to achieve their fullest potential, motivates them to learn and a place where they can feel safeand valued will have a large effect on their education.
To read the rest of this article please click on the below PDF