Holidays after someone has died can be especially difficult. Many families get together during the holidays, often reminding us again of the loss. There are a few things that it can be helpful to remember, especially if this is the first holiday without a loved one: It’s perfectly normal to have renewed feelings of grief… Read more »
‘Tis that time of year! Thousands of high school students currently enrolled in Grade 12 are on the threshold of having to make one of the most important decisions in life – “What do I want to be?” and “Where am I going after high school graduation?” For many, these are very daunting questions, for… Read more »
We often think that volunteering is an activity through which we give to others or give back to our community. That’s true! But it’s a two way street. Volunteers also derive great benefits from volunteering, benefits that include contributing to one’s own positive mental health. Mental health is described by the World Health Organization (WHO)… Read more »
All major economists are saying that the current interest rates cannot remain at this low level. Even the government has been warning Canadians that these rates will be increasing. Canadians continue to spend more than they are making and many are maxed out on their mortgage right now. My question to you is: “Can you… Read more »
Children often need consistent schedules to help them stay on track at home and at school. A review of 50 years of psychological research, recently published in Journal of Family Psychology, shows that even infants and preschoolers are healthier and exhibit better-regulated behaviour when there are predictable routines in the family.1 Not only do routines help… Read more »
According to Moises Roman from UCLA Early Care and Education, “a teachable moment is a learning opportunity for a child to acquire new information, values, morals, a new behavior or a new skill, or a new way of expressing and coping with an emotion.” As parents and professionals, there are things we can do to… Read more »
1. Teach your kids the “language of feelings”. One of the most important things you can teach your children is to recognize what they are feeling and to express their feelings in words. Help your children grow by teaching the many words for different emotions, and using examples when those feelings arise in themselves and… Read more »
Communication skills are more than just verbal, and moreover, these skills can be taught! According to Psychologists Declerck and Bogaert, “the evidence is accumulating: good social skills may depend on the ability to decipher facial expressions.” We have learned that when teaching children good communication skills, a critical component of this social education is teaching… Read more »
March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day when our thoughts turn to the wearing of the green, Irish dancing, the Boston Celtics! Around the world, celebrations include wishing people good luck with an Irish toast, often coining the phrase “the luck of the Irish.” But many believe “the luck of the Irish” actually means bad luck… Read more »
Supporting a child with special education or mental health needs can at times be a challenging, emotional and overwhelming journey for any parent or caregiver. There are support groups, advocates and information services available in the local community to help families navigate through the school system. Know that your child has a right to an… Read more »
We hope you find some of the these archived blog posts useful as we all look to manage and find the joy in daily living.