Tag: Preschool

Red Velvet Pancakes for Your Special Valentine

momstownRecipeNo comments, , , , ,

Since we celebrate Valentine’s Day (of which I recently heard someone call “Single’s Awareness Day”!) on February 14th and Pancake Day on February 17th this year, I thought it would seem logical to have a recipe that is relative to both of these commemorations.

Valentine’s Day and Pancake Day both have their roots in demonstrations of love, and the idea that we must show another the love that is in our hearts. So, this recipe is well suited.

These red velvet pancakes are surprisingly simple, super festive, and I have added a special ingredient which makes them extraordinarily fluffy!

Read More

Looking for Fun Activities in the Guelph Region this Family Day?

momstownBaby, Family Life, Parenting, Preschooler, School Life, ToddlersNo comments, , , , , , , , ,

Nothing in the world could make human life happier than to greatly increase the number of strong families.
~ David R. Mace

Family Day celebrates the importance of families. Why not make this Family Day count? Here are a few activities, intended to strengthen the family bond, in the Guelph Area.

Lana Kelly, Editor momstown Guelph

Read More

Focusing Too Much on Your Child’s Weight Can Be Harmful

momstownBaby, Family Life, Parenting, Preschooler, School Life, ToddlersNo comments, , , , , ,

Everywhere we turn, there are commercials, poster ads, and social media images which shame us, as parents, into believing that we are solely to blame for the fact that our child is overweight. It can even start as early as birth, when you have that first ‘well-baby check-up’, only to be advised that you are feeding your baby too much (on demand, imagine that!) and that he or she is above the average weight percentile. And, when our child gets older, we are constantly comparing him to his thin peers, and wondering where we went wrong, since he does not seem ‘a-typical’. In a sense, we are being brain- washed by the societal demands placed upon us as parents. We are conned into thinking that just because our child does not fit the ‘norm’, he is going to be ostracized because of it, and we tend to develop extremist attitudes that force us to do anything in our power to prevent the bullying that he will, no doubt endure, because of his ‘abnormal’ bodily appearance. Studies show, however, that focusing too much on our child’s weight can be harmful to their health – both physically and emotionally.

Lana Kelly
Editor, momstown Guelph

Read More

Am I Trying to Buy My Child’s Love?

momstownFamily Life, Parenting, PreschoolerNo comments, , , ,

If you’re a parent, you have been there. The little, scratchy fingers that tug at your coat, the whining, the crying, and sometimes, the all-out temper tantrum while you try to calm your child, and gently explain that he or she cannot have this toy that they sooooooooooo desperately desire. You feel like hiding behind the toy shelves, and pretending that your child (or is it your child?) belongs to someone else. You wonder if you (or other family members who lavishly spoil your child) have done something wrong. How did your child come to expect or feel he deserves these expensive items? How did you manage to spoil him to this extent, and not notice that you were turning him into an aggressive monster who punched and kicked and screamed when he didn’t get something he wanted? How did this happen?

Lana Kelly,
Editor, momstown Guelph

Read More

Preventing Prejudice in our Children

momstownFamily Life, Parenting, Preschooler, School Life, ToddlersNo comments, , , ,

We live in a highly diverse population of people, and, as much as we would like to ignore the fact that biases still exist in our society, we can’t. As parents, we have a necessary and challenging role to play in our children’s lives, as a teacher who models appropriate strategies when faced with situations of discrimination or prejudice. As an Early Childhood Educator, I have been taught the anti-bias approach for the education of young children. You see, although multicultural education has been a focus in our classrooms for over a decade, the idea of diversity (including all prejudices, such as issues of racism and sexism, ageism, et cetera) is becoming more complex, and needs to be taught to young children as a basis for an anti-bias value system. Did you know that preventing prejudice in your young child, and in our future generation actually begins with you? No pressure there, right? Wrong! You can have a hand in creating the possibility of a gradually emerging anti-bias society – a society in which all people, regardless of race, culture, ability, gender, are accepted, valued, respected, and included. This Black History Month, I encourage you to accept the challenge of preventing prejudice in your own children, and paving the way to an inclusive society.

Lana Kelly
Editor, momstown Belleville

Read More

momstown Hosts Sleep Themed Baby Basics in partnership with Walmart

momstownBaby, Parenting, Pregnancy, Preschooler, ToddlersNo comments, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Let’s face it. As a new mom, you feel overwhelmed. Your once peaceful world is now filled with anxiety, chaos, dirty diapers, feeding on demand, and the big one – sleepless nights. These sleepless nights take a wear and tear on our bodies (especially on our faces!) and are accompanied by suitcases ( a step up from ‘bags’) under the eyes. The old cliché still stands: We need our ‘beauty sleep’ to truly be at our best. This is why our momstown pass holders and new moms all over the Guelph area would not have wanted to miss the Walmart ‘ Every Little Step’ Sleep-themed Session!

Read More

Host a Kids’ Mini Pizza Party: Real and Alphabet-Play-Style

momstownFamily Life, Parenting, Preschooler, School LifeNo comments, , , , , , , , ,

There might be no food that kids love more than pizza. But there is a way to make it a little more fun: Let each of your children make his own mini pizza. Momstown, in Guelph, hosted, what looked like, its’ very own pizza party during their Alphabet Play Program last week. The children learned about all of the alphabet sounds, while making a craft depicting a real pizza with pepperoni-type letters. This is a craft that parents can easily do at home, in order to teach letter sounds in a fun way, by making something that all children love. PIZZZZZZZZZZAAAAAAA! The mere word makes my stomach growl and my mouth water! The facilitator was able to see which toppings were most popular (it looks like pepperoni won out!). This Alphabet Play reminded me of the fun we had at home hosting several of our kids’ homemade pizza parties. The idea of learning letter sounds with this pizza-type alphabet craft, plus, making a child’s own mini pizza would, I think, be a great way to celebrate a birthday or any celebration, or play-date activity. Read on to find out how you can host your very own Kids’ Mini-Pizza Party (both real and Alphabet Play style!).

Lana Kelly
Editor, momstown Guelph

Read More

Round Up of Indoor Play Spaces and Activities for Kids in the Guelph Region

momstownFamily Life, Parenting, PreschoolerNo comments, , , , , , ,

Well, it’s that time of year again. You know, the one Canadian season that seems to stretch on forever, that can last from October to (sometimes even) May.

Don’t despair! We’ve gathered some indoor play space information (and other indoor outings) that are perfect for a too cold and too wet day with the kids. They are also sure to wear them out both physically and mentally!!!

Lana Kelly
Editor, momstown Guelph

Read More

Best Mittens for Your Little Kittens (and Hats for Your Little Cats!)

momstownBaby, Preschooler, ToddlersNo comments, , , , , ,

Gloves, mittens, and hats are essential kids apparel during the winter season. However, it is not always easy selecting the best mittens for your little kittens, gloves for your doves, or hats for your little cats. Here at momstown, Guelph, we strive to provide you with the best resources and to expand your knowledge of some of the key factors associated with selecting these items for your babies, toddlers and preschoolers. The first question that arises is whether you should select gloves or mittens to protect your kid’s hands. Or, what hat works best for your young child? Or, how do I keep mittens and hats on my baby or toddler? Each design comes with advantages and disadvantages, but in the proper setting each will provide warmth for little hands and heads! The following are the best finds (in this area) for winter apparel/ accessories which can be both economical and practical!

Read More

Why Does My Child Not Like Reading? Strategies for Resistant Readers

momstownParenting, Preschooler, School Life1 comment, , , ,

As parents, we are well aware of the benefits of reading. We remember our love for reading, and, it only makes sense that we want our children to share a love of books too. While a good many children do become excited and engaged in reading (especially in the primary grades), some are resistant, and, not to mention, truly disinterested. While a child may not show a natural interest in reading, this does not mean that he cannot become a skilled and even enthusiastic reader. There are a number of things that parents and teachers can do to help engage reluctant readers.

Read More
momstown is the leading parenting community connecting real Canadian moms – with each other and with the brands they use each and every day. Our goal is to provide Canadian moms with an online resource that is supportive, open, & inspiring during the early stages of their babies and children’s lives.
© momstown.ca 2015