Parenting

Written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts (Ages 5-8) Aaron wants to become a writer and loves listening to stories. But he’s struggling: Every time he tries to read, the writing just looks like a bunch of chicken scratch. So how will he ever relay his own stories without using words? mastermindtoys.ca

Fine, we’ll say it—vacuuming is fun with a Dyson. Modelled after the brand’s best-selling cordless model, this mini vacuum isn’t just for pretend play—it actually sucks up small bits of dust and debris! Colourful balls whirl around in the canister, and the nozzle shortens to help you reach the dust bunnies’ favourite hiding spots. Casdon

My entire adult life, I forced my body to stay the exact same size. My ideal was 120 pounds, and I clung to this magic number as if I had been flung into the sea and it were my life preserver. Since shedding about 15 pounds of “puppy fat” at age 18 (I’m 42 now)

Safety and speed are aligning. This expertly engineered scooter has excellent shock absorption and built-in front suspension, which give riders a comfy and safe experience. The adjustable T-bar can be set to three different heights to grow with your child, and its sturdy aluminum deck makes it the perfect ride for urban sidewalks and spaces.

Half balloon, half dinosaur, the B-Rex (get it?) is programmed with more than 70 sounds and movements. Play tug-of-war, have a tickle fight, feed him a bone and don’t forget to cuddle—he’ll nuzzle right up! He can also throw down some solid dance moves and rip an impressive toot. Who knew a balloon could be

Bit too young to operate a real Cat vehicle? This lifelike toy is the next best thing. The fully functional excavator arm operates via a manual lever and is up to the challenge of demanding tasks and gruelling sandbox terrain. It has a removable shovel, shatterproof plastic cab windows, functional doors and genuine chain-link treads.

In 2011, Jennifer Venner chose to completely upend her life at home to end a toxic codependant relationship. Now at the age of 47, she is finally living the life she has always wanted to live. When my two kids were little, I felt I had to inhale every moment with them. Every time they

Here’s the best way to have a fun night trick-or-treating with your tiny goblins and ghouls (plus one safety measure you can definitely drop!) Get your little skeletons and witches ready because this year’s Halloween is going to be much closer to normal. “Vaccination has made things much more safe,” says Sumontra Chakrabarti, head of

Join the Play Pandemic Challenge → https://theparentingjunkie.com/challenge What to do When Your Child Hits You? How to Handle it when your child hits you!! The Parenting Junkie addresses hitting. One viewer writes in saying help my kid hits me and asking how to handle it when your child hits you. In this video you’ll learn

How To Feel Phenomenal When You’re a Mom: In our culture, moms are expected to just deal with cheerios in their hair and be okay feeling like a hot mess. That’s why in this video I’m going to give tips on how to look and feel phenomenal as a mom, 8 Self Care Tips and

Need a bestie? How about three? Alex, Nico and Ellis each come with stylish threads and a cute coordinated companion. The easy-remove outfits promote motor development and nurturing skills, and the cool fashion can’t hurt when it comes to fine-tuning kids’ own style. Plus, the dolls are 100 percent washer- and dryer-safe. Manhattan Toy Playdate

“You know,” I said to my husband this summer as we sat on a friend’s dock,  stealing some much-needed time away together. “If I don’t make it—” “Hold on,” he tried to interrupt.  “No, Mark, please, just let me say this. If I end up not making it, and you eventually move on—which I’m OK

For those celebrating Halloween this year, these spooky face coverings keep with the spirit of the season without compromising safety. Halloween trick or treating should be a go this year, but when lots of kids are out and about it’s still wise for your child to wear a mask. Whether you take your mini monsters for

With Halloween fast approaching, I realized I’m more than a little behind on the kids’ costume prep. I’m terrible at Halloween. This is supposed to be the fun part, right? Spooky decorations, cool costumes, and candy overload. How could any parent fail at Halloween? I always start out with the best of intentions. This year,

Mammograms can spot cancer two to three years before physical symptoms develop, but screening guidelines vary between provinces. Here’s what you need to know. Photo: Courtesy of Ali Harrison of Light + Paper In 2018, 47-year-old Adriana Ermter found a lump in her armpit. Her doctor referred her for a mammogram, but the clinic said

A car seat technician explains the danger and offers up some simple alternatives. You’ve probably already heard that thick or bulky coats can make car seats unsafe, because if there’s too much bulk, you can’t get the car seat harness tight enough. But how bulky is too bulky? How do you test it? And if