Everywhere we look we see reasons why being respectful, compassionate and responsible is so important. Whether it’s in our home, our children’s school, the office, on social media or in our everyday activities, the impact of our behaviour not only affects the lives and wellbeing...
The new school year is full of excitement and challenges. Young people worry about fitting in, liking their teachers, new classes and getting good grades. Not only do we as parents have the same worries, we also worry about managing lunches, homework, extracurricular activities, after school...
I speak to a lot of parents and I often hear them say, ‘I don’t understand why my child behaves the way they do.’ Parents are looking for strategies that will help bring some control back into their home. Recently a parent shared her frustration about...
‘There’s been many times in my life Where I have doubted myself But I will achieve great things Because I refuse to give up.’ Lyric from ‘Push Through’ Sara Westbrook Everyone experiences fear, especially when it comes to achieving dreams. Often dreams come with taking risks,...
Recently I witnessed an adult reprimanding a child for bad behaviour. The child’s body language was hunched over, closed and defensive - not ideal for getting a message across. As parents and educators we want to teach valuable lessons that develop character and appropriate behaviour and...
Q: My Grandma died over three years ago but this is the year that her death has really hit me. Lately I've been realizing how little time I took to actually get to know her and I regret not knowing her better. Also my family...
As the end of May approaches parents and their children may become stressed as they anticipate the mandatory standardized testing called EQAO for all students in Ontario public funded schools. When we think of tests we think ‘study’. The EQAO is not that kind of...
I believe mental health affects every aspect of a young person’s life, including their self-talk, relationships and sense of well-being. Without the ability to self regulate, deal with day-to-day stressors and manage emotions, they will struggle when faced with challenging circumstances and overwhelming emotions. Stress, worry...
Q: You’re super lucky to be skinny. Everyone always calls me fat. A: I wasn't always the size I am now. I was bigger when I was younger. When I was growing up, some people would make remarks about the way I looked and my body size....
Q: I often feel I can't speak my mind because people will make fun of me. I feel like I am two different people. One side of me is my 'school-self' and my other side is my 'home-self'. A: I think that we can all relate to...
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