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Ottawa Museums for Families - SavvyMom

Ottawa Museums You Will Want to Visit

Spend hours and hours of fun in Ottawa as you enjoy the many family-friendly Ottawa museums and galleries that this great city has to offer. With a variety to choose from there is definitely something that will please the whole family. Why not make it a family challenge to visit each of these exciting museums throughout the year? Many of these museums have different experiences with each season so visiting multiple times throughout the year will still spark interest, fun, and enjoyment. Most of these museums also offer free admission for Indigenous peoples and a variety of admission and membership options.

A Look at Ottawa Museums for Kids

Canada Science & Technology Museum

The Canadian Science & Technology Museum is one of the three museums in Ottawa that is part of the Ingenium group. Ingenium has museums all over North America and when you purchase a membership you can access the other museums for free as part of a reciprocal agreement (my family has loved accessing museums in Orlando, Toronto, and more through this arrangement). This museum is popular for its crooked kitchen and your kids will want to go through it again and again and again! The demo stage invites you to discover “cryo genius” and “pyro genius” as you explore the world of science freezing and heating. Make sure you head over to the Exploratek section to get creative as you experience hands on science.  The museum is closed on Mondays and admission is free between 4-5 p.m. every opening day.

Agriculture & Food Museum

The Agriculture & Food Museum is another one of the three Ingenium museums in the Ottawa area. This means when you purchase a family membership at one of the three you can access the others for free with the same pass. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 9-5 and every day in the summer, you don’t want to miss out on this farm-like experience. With many farm animals on site you can see the cows get milked, pet the sheep, and see all the piglets run around. One of the best times to visit is in the Spring when you can see all the brand new baby animals. With an outdoor play structure on site this is a great place to stop for a picnic in the summer and to burn off some energy even in the winter months. There is also interactive learning stations and the staff here are lovely and welcoming.

Canadian Nature Museum 

The Canadian Nature Museum is a great museum in the Ottawa that invites you to explore the world of dinosaurs, Canadian Mammals, through the Ice Age and more! The under 7 crowd loves to spend hours on the “Bird Floor” with the interactive play area as they take care of the injured birds who need their help. Explore dinosaurs up close and personal that both look like they are “in real life” and with a spot to explore their fossils. If you have a bug lover they will spend hours inspecting the bugs on site and learning about many that may be new to them!

Canadian Aviation & Space Museum

Do you love airplanes and all things space? Then head over to the Canadian Aviation & Space Museum, the third museum in the Ingenium circuit in the Ottawa area, and spend some time exploring the world of aviation. This museum has loads of open space which is great for little ones and even older children will enjoy it here as well! Have the opportunity to sit in real planes and play with the controls as you dive into the world of aerospace history, science and technology. Open Thursday to Monday this museum also offers free admission from 4-5p.m. daily.

Canadian Museum of History

The Canadian Museum of History, just across the river from Ottawa in Gatineau, is a great place to explore for families with kids of all ages. With lots of special exhibits and multiple floors to explore this museum is also home to an Imax that shows a variety of Imax movies daily. Do you have younger children? Then they will LOVE the Children’s Museum that is inside this museum. The Children’s Museum is an interactive play centre for learning and creativity. Grab a “passport” when you enter through the Children’s area and stamp it at all the “countries” you visit as you travel throughout this museum. You will have the opportunity to explore various cultures and ways of living while having tons of fun. This museum is closed on Mondays. With a variety of family-friendly Ottawa museums you definitely won’t want to miss this one….two museums in one!

National Gallery of Canada

Visit this wondrous art gallery that is pleasing for children and adults of all ages. Free for children under the age of 11 this is a great place to introduce your child to various famous art work and dive deeper into the world of art if this is their passion.  With open studio time available this also invites children to be creative and get hands on as they explore the world of art. With a different theme every month there are various art projects children will work on (ex: December is Lantern Making Workshops). With various family art adventures you can also play art bingo and explore their texture guide to learn how to expand your current art drawings.  This museum is right downtown and walking distance from the Canadian Museum of History.

Diefenbunker

Visit Canada’s Cold War Museum as an engaging way to teach children about the Cold War. This Ottawa museum is located in Carp and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Experience what it was like to live in an underground military station as you go 75 feet underground! You can take a guided tour or experience a self-guided one (with the option of an audio guide).

The National Capital Region has a variety of fun family friendly museums that your whole family will be excited to visit. There is a wide variety to cater to your interests and they also invite you to explore various parts of the city!

A Look at Toronto Museums for Kids - SavvyMom

A Look at Visiting Toronto Museums for Families

Gone are the days of museums and galleries being rigid, stuffy places where nothing is to be touched. Now, most Toronto museums feature at least one gallery or exhibition designed to engage with kids on a hands-on, interactive level.

Toronto is home to several such museums and galleries. All of them are great places for educating and entertaining your kids, especially during the cold winter months. Below we round up our favourite such spots. We’ve included what days these attractions are open but be sure to head online and confirm operating hours as these can change. Many of these attractions also host travelling/temporary exhibits and organize special events that might wow your kids so be sure to keep an eye out for news about those experiences.

A Look at Toronto Museums for Kids

Aga Khan Museum

77 Wynford Drive, Toronto
Open Tuesday-Sunday

Providing a window into the artistic, intellectual, and scientific contributions of Muslim civilizations, the Aga Khan Museum houses over 1,000 objects including rare masterpieces that represent more than eleven centuries of human history and a geographic area. The stunning facilities are best enjoyed on a sunny day and the museum offers a free family exploration kit to help kids and adults learn about the works of art together. The Aga Khan museum is still limiting the number of visitors inside through the use of timed-entry ticketing. Reserve your spots online. Adults are $20, children 6-13 are $10, seniors and youths 14-17 are $15. Kids five and under are free.

Art Gallery of Ontario

317 Dundas St. W., Toronto
Open Tuesday-Sunday

True, the city’s largest art gallery isn’t a completely kid-friendly space but there’s actually a fair amount for little ones to enjoy at the AGO. Kids who love boats and models will be enthralled by the museum’s extensive model ship collection while its contemporary collection will connect with artistically-minded children, especially Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored room. But the main attraction is the Dr. Mariano Elia Hands-On Centre, where children toddler-age and up can experiment with art supplies, dress up in costume, and play with a wide range of creativity-encouraging toys. The museum is also located next to the fabulous Grange Park. Anyone age 25 and under can attend the AGO for free while those over that age need to pay $25, or they can upgrade to an annual pass for an additional $10.

Bata Shoe Museum

327 Bloor St. W, Toronto
Open Monday-Sunday

Yes, a museum devoted to shoes can be kid-friendly! While this Toronto museum’s fantastic and comprehensive collection of shoes is available for viewing seven days a week, on Saturdays between 11am and 3pm, it unveils its Hands-On Collection, which will let your kids (and you!) “examine objects up close while experienced guides explain the fascinating stories behind the shoes.” The museum also regularly hosts special kid-friendly activities and crafts. Admission starts at $5, with kids under five being free.

Black Creek Pioneer Village

1000 Murray Ross Pkwy., Toronto
Open Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday during the winter

Think of Black Creek Pioneer Village as a living museum, one that uses actors to help bring the past – in this case Toronto of the 1860s – to life before your very eyes. Explore various recreated period buildings, including a blacksmith shop, a general store and of course a school; meet live farm animals and even grab a bite to eat. The Village frequently hosts special events and activities designed to help immerse your family even further into Toronto’s history. Access to the Village starts at $11.76, and kids who are three and under are free.

City of Toronto History Museums

Across Toronto & the GTA
Days vary by location, but most spots are open Wednesday-Sunday

Did you know that the City runs 10 distinctive historical spaces that have been repurposed into museums or galleries that your family can check out? Wander through North York’s Gibson House, where your family can see and feel what it was like to live in the 1850s. Dance in the ballroom of Montgomery’s Inn, the 19th century hotel, where you can sometimes even test taste food, depending on what’s on the schedule. Or learn about Toronto’s Indigenous history as well as the history of Scarborough at the appropriately named Scarborough Museum. General admission to these Toronto museums is usually free but special events may require an entry fee.

Gardiner Museum

111 Queens Park, Toronto
Open Monday-Sunday

A museum devoted to ceramics may not sound like the most kid-friendly place but hear us out. The Gardiner’s permanent collection will appeal to school-aged kids with an eye for colour and creativity while even preschoolers will enjoy the museum’s hands-on clay crafting experiences where they can turn their imagination into a 3D creation. The Gardiner also regularly hosts family-focused days and events that get your whole family creating. The museum is free for everyone under 18 while admission for adults is $15.

Hockey Hall of Fame

30 Yonge St., Toronto
Monday-Sunday

Yes, of course this place counts as a museum, it’s home to the world’s largest collection of hockey-related items after all. But this space is a lot more than just memorabilia and artifacts. It’s filled with hands-on and interactive displays, such as a virtual shootout game. There are also two theatres, the official Hockey Hall of Fame and the sport’s most impressive trophies, including the Stanley Cup, which yes, your family can pose with. Admission to the Hall starts at $15, with kids ages three and under being free.

Little Canada

10 Dundas St. E., Toronto
Open Monday-Sunday

Want to take your kids on a tour of Canada but running a little short on time and budget? Then head downtown to Little Canada where your family can explore a miniaturized version of our country. Described as, “an immersive 90-minute experience through the sights, sounds and little stories of Canada in miniature scale,” this unique spot will be captivating to kids who love LEGO, buildings and discovering new things. Pricing starts at $22, and kids ages three and under are free.

Museum of Illusions

132 Front St. E, Toronto
Monday-Sunday

Now here’s a museum that’s unlike any other attraction in the city. The Museum of Illusions features over 15 installations and rooms designed to challenge your sense of perception. Make your way through the vortex tunnel, pose in the anti-gravity room, and even walk on a ceiling (kind of). Best suited for kids preschool age and up, this museum is one of those rare spaces
that will even impress teens. It’s also packed with photo opportunities so make sure you come with a fully charged phone. Tickets start at $19,50 and a four-person family pack is available for $93. Note that kids three and under are free.

Ontario Science Centre

770 Don Mills Rd., Toronto
Open Wednesday-Sunday

Besides being home to all things science-related, this attraction also houses a giant IMAX screen that shows a variety of educational, but also entertaining, films. The Centre’s permanent exhibits are designed to be enjoyed by all ages however, kids will likely enjoy the KidSpark area the most. This hands-on heavy area lets kids try such fun challenges as building a roller coaster. The Centre also contains exhibits on everything from the human body to space to coral reefs. Tickets start at $13, with admission to the IMAX theatre being extra, and kids under three are free.

Royal Museum of Ontario

100 Queens Park, Toronto
Open Tuesday-Sunday

You can’t have a list of the city’s best, family-friendly museums and galleries and not include the Royal Museum of Ontario, better known as the ROM. As Canada’s largest museum, the ROM has a little bit of everything. But your kids will likely be most interested in the Schad Gallery of Biodiversity, which features thousands of animal specimens, the James and Louise
Temerty Galleries of the Age of Dinosaurs, which features dinosaur fossils and of course the Patrick and Barbara Keenan Family Gallery of Hands-on Biodiversity, better known as the ROM’s kid zone. There your kids can touch, climb, crawl, and learn from the gallery’s kid-friendly facilitators. Oh, and let’s not forget the Bat Cave, which is always a thrill for the little ones. Tickets start at $18 and note that any special exhibits are usually extra.

There's No Such Thing As Junk Food - SavvyMom

There’s No Such Thing as Junk Food

I’m willing to bet your timelines are currently full of diet and exercise ads and content, all aimed at making you feel bad about what you look like and bad about what you are (or aren’t) eating. I’m willing to bet you’ve berated yourself more than once since January 1 over something you’ve eaten or something you really, really wish you could eat. And I’m willing to bet, more than once, you’ve said — either out loud or to yourself — that you need to stop eating junk food. So I want to let you in on a secret… There’s no such thing as junk food.

Yes, that’s right…

There’s no such thing as “junk” food.

Chips? Nope. Chocolate? Nope. Fast food burgers? Nope. Gas station hot dogs? Nope. Gummy bears? Nope. Sugar straight from the spoon? Nope, nope, nope, and nope.

There’s No Such Thing As Junk Food

Over the past little bit, I’ve been pretty candid about wanting to be fitter and also about staring down the black dog known as depression. Tomorrow marks a year to the day that my daughter had a tonic-clonic hyponatraemic seizure that brought us to the ER and a diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa Sub Type: Restrictive. She spent a month in the pediatric ward of our local hospital and is close to finishing the the Eating Disorder Day Hospital program at our local children’s hospital.

The first step in treatment for Anorexia and most eating disorders is Family Based Treatment (FBT). This is exactly what it sounds like. The parents, under the purview of a Dr., a Registered Dietitian (sometimes, not always), and later, a therapist, are responsible for feeding their child back to health. Food is medicine. Therapy is pointless in the early stages because a starving brain is not responsive to it. The Eating Disorder is not your child but it will make them say and do some pretty terrible things. Adolescence is a time when parents are supposed to start giving more freedom and privacy and space. FBT demands that parents assume total control over their child’s life, starting with food.

Food is medicine. They need lots of it, and frequently. Three meals and three snacks per day, every day. Every bite, every meal is reason to feel hopeful but the Eating Disorder punishes them for it. It’s only with lots of food and lots of rest that the brain and body can heal. And until that starts to happen every bite, every meal is more reason for the Eating Disorder to punish and torment them.

Anorexia Nervosa is a biologically-based disorder. There are a number of mental and environmental factors that can make someone susceptible to it, but the switch is flipped by genetics. Time spent in a negative energy balance is usually what flips that switch. This is where genes come into play. Lots of people have disordered eating habits and are constantly on diets, but not everyone is Anorexic. Diet culture and fatphobia are not totally to blame but they sure don’t help.

But How Can There Be No Such Thing As Junk Food?

At its most basic level, food = fuel.  Some people require more fuel than others to function in different ways. Assigning a label like “junk” to food gives one an excuse to restrict it. And I was a total culprit of this. Organic produce and free-range meat is wonderful but it is not “better” or “better for you” than regular produce or meat. It’s just grown differently. Pop isn’t evil and neither is fast food. We strive to eat a balanced diet and that means there’s room for everything, including sugar and carbs.

Got a kid that will only eat a certain brand of chicken nugget or beige foods? That’s not junk food. Those are very likely “safe foods” for a child who may be labeled as a “picky eater” and quite possibly by me until my kid had Anorexia. Now I know about ARFID and how making a big deal about what someone eats or doesn’t eat based on moral judgements can cause really big problems long term. Feed them what they will eat, get a multi-vitamin in, continue to gently encourage new foods, and keep your mouth shut.

But What About Medical Conditions?
Not Everyone Can Eat Everything!

Not everyone can eat everything, but that doesn’t make what they can’t or shouldn’t eat junk. If you have celiac disease, you can’t have food containing gluten. Food containing gluten isn’t bad or junk. It just contains gluten. Heavily processed foods aren’t junk, they’re just heavily processed. That balanced diet we strive to eat has room for everything, even candy, if we want. Your body needs a certain amount of water daily but that doesn’t mean pop is junk. Your body requires the nutrients from all kinds of food but there is also room for food that doesn’t have a lot of nutrients. That food is not junk.

 

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If you stop putting food in a hierarchy of goodness or badness or junk, you’ll realize the “bad-for-you” foods aren’t bad at all. They’re just another option.

recipegeek-food_talk-7_ways_to_top_your_oatmeal

7 Yummy Ideas for Oatmeal Toppings

There’s nothing better than a hot bowl of oatmeal to get your day started on the right track. Not only is it super filling and affordable, it’s also filled with fiber and B vitamins. But you don’t need a pre-made packet to fill your bowl with plenty of flavour! All you need is a few pantry staples and a good old bag of oats to get your morning off to a great start. Baked oatmeal is even a thing! And a bowl of oatmeal is the perfect building block for all sorts of toppings. If you’re short of ideas (and who isn’t first thing in the morning?!) we have some suggestions for oatmeal toppings to start your day off right.

7 Yummy Ideas for Oatmeal Toppings

1. Warm Apples & Brown Sugar

Sautéing apples in a knob of butter is one of the most delicious things you can do. Sprinkle in a handful of brown sugar until melted before putting the works over a hot bowl of oats.

2. Nutella and Bananas

These two foods were meant to be together, and while we’re used to eating them in a more indulgent way (French crepes anyone?) they can take classic bowl of porridge from boring to incredibly delicious.

3. Classic Cinnamon Sugar

Why mess with classics? Cinnamon sugar is the easiest way to add an immediate punch of flavor to any basic breakfast, whether it’s toast or oats.

4. Pumpkin Pie

Canned pumpkin is an easy way to up your daily intake of fruit (yes, it’s a fruit!) while still enjoying a decadent treat. Stir in a few spoonfuls with some honey and pumpkin-pie spice for an epic breakfast.

5. Toasted Almonds, Flax, and Maple Syrup

Boost your protein and keep it all natural with nuts, seeds, and some maple syrup. Not only is this combo absolutely delicious, it will also keep you full for hours on end.

6. Butter and Lingonberry Jam

Make it like the Swedes do by topping your oatmeal with a generous knob of butter and a spoonful of tart lingonberry jam.

7. Shaved Coconut and Dried Mangos

Add a taste of the tropics to keep you warm with ever-so-nutty toasted coconut and dried mangos

The Savvy Guide to January in Vancouver - SavvyMom

Vancouver: The Savvy Guide to January

The party is officially over. It’s back to our regular(ish) routines now (and a New Year’s resolution or two). Our Savvy Guide to January in Vancouver is a little list of ideas to help you get the most out of this wintry month.

Winter Fun in Vancouver in January - SavvyMom

The Savvy Guide to January in Vancouver

EXPLORE

Head out and about in the city you call home.

Why? It’s a new year with lots going on. Here’s a roundup of fun things to do in Vancouver in January.

GET

Organized with a simple decluttering schedule.

Why? Attacking one room for just 30 minutes a week for the next few months will let you welcome spring without having to do a massive spring clean (a clutter-free house takes 40% less time to clean anyway).

GO

Tobogganing.

Why? Because its fun for all ages and it suits all budgets. Just remember to wear a helmet. Here are the best tobogganing hills in Vancouver.

PLAY

Pie Tag in the snow.

Find an area of unmarked snow and shuffle your feet through the snow to create a circle (the ‘pie’) about 20 feet in diameter (or smaller, depending on the age of the children). Divide the circle into fourths (the pie pieces). Choose someone to be ‘it’. ‘It’ chases the other players around the pie and on the dividing paths. The players must stay within the narrow paths. If someone falls outside the paths onto the unblemished snow or outside the pie, they become it. If someone gets pushed outside the pie, the pusher becomes ‘it’. The center of the pie can be established as ‘home.’

Why? Because it’s fresh air and seriously good exercise all wrapped up in fun.

DO

Be fair to yourself when you make resolutions

Why? Because you’re doing a pretty good job already and you don’t need to add a lot more to your plate right now. Get the family on board with resolutions for everyone to improve 2023.

READ

With your kids

Why? Because later this month (January 27) is Family Literacy Day and we’re celebrating it all month. Check out these books to encourage a love of reading.

Streaming in January for Kids & Families - SavvyMom

WATCH

Streaming in January for Kids & Families

Why? Well, we all have those big ambitions for reading and playing outside… AND we always need a little downtime on the couch. Check out what’s streaming in January for kids and families for a little family time or a little TV-as-babysitter time.

The Savvy Guide to January in Calgary - SavvyMom

Calgary: The Savvy Guide to January

The party is officially over. It’s back to our regular(ish) routines now (and a New Year’s resolution or two). Our Savvy Guide to January in Calgary is a little list of ideas to help you get the most out of this wintry month.

Winter Fun in Calgary in January - SavvyMom

 

The Savvy Guide to January in Calgary

EXPLORE

Head out and about in the city you call home.

Why? It’s a new year with lots going on. Here’s a roundup of fun things to do in Calgary in January.

GET

Organized with a simple decluttering schedule.

Why? Attacking one room for just 30 minutes a week for the next few months will let you welcome spring without having to do a massive spring clean (a clutter-free house takes 40% less time to clean anyway).

GO

Tobogganing.

Why? Because its fun for all ages and it suits all budgets. Just remember to wear a helmet. Here are the best tobogganing hills in Calgary.

PLAY

Pie Tag in the snow.

Find an area of unmarked snow and shuffle your feet through the snow to create a circle (the ‘pie’) about 20 feet in diameter (or smaller, depending on the age of the children). Divide the circle into fourths (the pie pieces). Choose someone to be ‘it’. ‘It’ chases the other players around the pie and on the dividing paths. The players must stay within the narrow paths. If someone falls outside the paths onto the unblemished snow or outside the pie, they become it. If someone gets pushed outside the pie, the pusher becomes ‘it’. The center of the pie can be established as ‘home.’

Why? Because it’s fresh air and seriously good exercise all wrapped up in fun.

DO

Be fair to yourself when you make resolutions

Why? Because you’re doing a pretty good job already and you don’t need to add a lot more to your plate right now. Get the family on board with resolutions for everyone to improve 2023.

READ

With your kids

Why? Because later this month (January 27) is Family Literacy Day and we’re celebrating it all month. Check out these books to encourage a love of reading.

Streaming in January for Kids & Families - SavvyMom

WATCH

Streaming in January for Kids & Families

Why? Well, we all have those big ambitions for reading and playing outside… AND we always need a little downtime on the couch. Check out what’s streaming in January for kids and families for a little family time or a little TV-as-babysitter time.

The Savvy Guide to January in Ottawa - SavvyMom

Ottawa: The Savvy Guide to January

The party is officially over. It’s back to our regular(ish) routines now (and a New Year’s resolution or two). Our Savvy Guide to January in Ottawa is a little list of ideas to help you get the most out of this wintry month.

Fun Winter Activities in Ottawa - SavvyMom

The Savvy Guide to January in Ottawa

EXPLORE

Head out and about in the city you call home.

Why? It’s a new year with lots going on. Here’s a roundup of fun things to do in Ottawa in January.

GET

Organized with a simple decluttering schedule.

Why? Attacking one room for just 30 minutes a week for the next few months will let you welcome spring without having to do a massive spring clean (a clutter-free house takes 40% less time to clean anyway).

GO

Tobogganing.

Why? Because its fun for all ages and it suits all budgets. Just remember to wear a helmet. Here are the best tobogganing hills in Ottawa.

PLAY

Pie Tag in the snow.

Find an area of unmarked snow and shuffle your feet through the snow to create a circle (the ‘pie’) about 20 feet in diameter (or smaller, depending on the age of the children). Divide the circle into fourths (the pie pieces). Choose someone to be ‘it’. ‘It’ chases the other players around the pie and on the dividing paths. The players must stay within the narrow paths. If someone falls outside the paths onto the unblemished snow or outside the pie, they become it. If someone gets pushed outside the pie, the pusher becomes ‘it’. The center of the pie can be established as ‘home.’

Why? Because it’s fresh air and seriously good exercise all wrapped up in fun.

DO

Be fair to yourself when you make resolutions

Why? Because you’re doing a pretty good job already and you don’t need to add a lot more to your plate right now. Get the family on board with resolutions for everyone to improve 2023.

READ

With your kids

Why? Because later this month (January 27) is Family Literacy Day and we’re celebrating it all month. Check out these books to encourage a love of reading.

Streaming in January for Kids & Families - SavvyMom

WATCH

Streaming in January for Kids & Families

Why? Well, we all have those big ambitions for reading and playing outside… AND we always need a little downtime on the couch. Check out what’s streaming in January for kids and families for a little family time or a little TV-as-babysitter time.

The Savvy Guide to January in Toronto - SavvyMom

Toronto: The Savvy Guide to January

The party is officially over. It’s back to our regular(ish) routines now (and a New Year’s resolution or two). Our Savvy Guide to January in Toronto is a little list of ideas to help you get the most out of this wintry month.

Winter Fun in Toronto January - SavvyMom

The Savvy Guide to January in Toronto

EXPLORE

Head out and about in the city you call home.

Why? It’s a new year with lots going on. Here’s a roundup of fun things to do in Toronto in January.

GET

Organized with a simple decluttering schedule.

Why? Attacking one room for just 30 minutes a week for the next few months will let you welcome spring without having to do a massive spring clean (a clutter-free house takes 40% less time to clean anyway).

GO

Tobogganing.

Why? Because its fun for all ages and it suits all budgets. Just remember to wear a helmet. Here are the best tobogganing hills in Toronto.

PLAY

Pie Tag in the snow.

Find an area of unmarked snow and shuffle your feet through the snow to create a circle (the ‘pie’) about 20 feet in diameter (or smaller, depending on the age of the children). Divide the circle into fourths (the pie pieces). Choose someone to be ‘it’. ‘It’ chases the other players around the pie and on the dividing paths. The players must stay within the narrow paths. If someone falls outside the paths onto the unblemished snow or outside the pie, they become it. If someone gets pushed outside the pie, the pusher becomes ‘it’. The center of the pie can be established as ‘home.’

Why? Because it’s fresh air and seriously good exercise all wrapped up in fun.

DO

Be fair to yourself when you make resolutions

Why? Because you’re doing a pretty good job already and you don’t need to add a lot more to your plate right now. Get the family on board with resolutions for everyone to improve 2023.

READ

With your kids

Why? Because later this month (January 27) is Family Literacy Day and we’re celebrating it all month. Check out these books to encourage a love of reading.

Streaming in January for Kids & Families - SavvyMom

WATCH

Streaming in January for Kids & Families

Why? Well, we all have those big ambitions for reading and playing outside… AND we always need a little downtime on the couch. Check out what’s streaming in January for kids and families for a little family time or a little TV-as-babysitter time.

Become a Better Mom by Looking at the Big Picture - SavvyMom

Why Big Picture Parenting Will Help You Become Better Mom

I walk into my teen’s room and stop short, the frustration building up in the pit of my stomach. Except for a pathway from the bed to the door, the floor is barely visible beneath piles of clothes. The sheets on his bed are a mangled mass and, from where I’m standing, I can spot five of my missing bowls, like a game of Where’s Waldo, but with dinnerware.

Two years ago I would have exploded. “Clean your room! How can you live in this? Give me your phone and computer until it’s done.”

Two years ago this would have been a battle I felt compelled to win.

Instead I simply shut the door with a request that he bring down the dishes so his brother doesn’t have to eat cereal from a pot.

Two years ago, I started to look at the big picture. I wanted to become a better mom.

It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day ‘little’ things. And as parents, it’s almost impossible not to because we are mired in the little things from sunrise to sunset. Our day is about minutia.

When my teen was a toddler he went through a picky phase where he would only eat food that was beige. His diet consisted of pasta, toast, and chicken fingers, or at least that’s what it felt like. I was so worried I brought him to the doctor. She told me to start writing down everything he ate for two weeks.

Look at the Big Picture and Become a Better Mom

Turns out I had become so focused on the beige food at each individual meal I was forgetting about the fruit he ate with his morning cereal, or how he loved to snack on chickpeas and cherry tomatoes. When he went to his grandmother’s house, he ate two bowls of her homemade vegetable soup.

When I took a step back I was able to look at the bigger picture. Sure, his diet wasn’t a nutritionist’s dream diet, but it was better than I had originally thought.

So if you have a toddler who doesn’t eat his vegetables at lunch, or you’re stressed out because your school-aged kid got a C+ in math, take a step back to look at the big picture over time.

That toddler who didn’t eat veggies at lunch today? Last week he tried the spinach you made and ate fruit at breakfast every day.

The C+ in math? Maybe she got As in the rest of her subjects.

That teen whose messy room I chose to ignore? He also holds down a part-time job, competes in an elite-level sport, and has been on the honour roll every semester of high school.

Looking at that big picture allowed me to walk away from the mess knowing I’m still raising a good human being. I feel like I’ve become a better mom.

And that’s the biggest picture of all.

Growing Up with a Sibling with ADHD - SavvyMom

When Your Other Kids Are Growing Up with a Sibling with ADHD

The siblings of children with ADHD are sometimes referred to as “ghost children.” Ghost siblings often seem invisible in comparison to the sibling with ADHD whose behaviour can include impulsivity, strong emotional expression, and hyperactivity.

My ghost child was constantly getting the short end of the stick. Part of this is typical sibling second child stuff. Being the youngest/second child means she wasn’t subjected to as much hovering and hyper-parenting as her older sister. What might have felt like a lack of attention was actually an attempt to balance out the excessive over-management of kid number one.

But I can’t chalk it all up to birth order. By the time my ghost child needed me, I’d been arguing with and redirecting her sister for so long I had nothing left for her. By the time she pushed back, as seven-year-olds do, I was so exhausted from being pushed back on by my other child that my reaction could’ve been way out of proportion.

My ghost child was my easy child, so why was doing right by her so difficult?

Having a sibling with ADHD…

Having a ghost child is the unintended consequence of parenting one child with ADHD and one without. I deferred to my ADHD child out of self-preservation, exhaustion, and because she needed or required my undivided attention so much of the time.

My ghost child asked for so little and that’s usually what she got.

If we had two slightly different items, I let the sibling with ADHD choose first because she’d make more of a fuss if she didn’t get the one she wanted. When it was time to pick a restaurant or a movie, she often got the final say here too because she’s the one who would argue the hardest if she didn’t get her way.

But taking the path of least resistance, while tempting and understandable some days, is not acceptable as a long-term parenting strategy.

What are the long-term impacts of being part of a family where your needs almost always come second, where you learn to demand less of your parents’ time and attention because you know that’s what you’ll get no matter what?

Is my ghost child confused because her sister seems to get away with so much more? Does she wonder why she’s expected to listen the first time when her sister gets three, sometimes four reminders to put on her shoes?

Parenting experts say that kids usually act out as a way to communicate their needs. If they’re not getting something, like attention or affection, children can respond in ways that leave their parents no choice but to drop everything and focus on them. When my ghost girl acted out, I would mentally rewind and consider all the ways I’d shortchanged her that day. But while I was forced to focus on her in that moment, I was also thinking about the fact that reactionary, guilt-based parenting isn’t great for anyone. Rather than redirecting my ghost child from behaviour caused by a lack of attention wouldn’t it be better to proactively seek out time with her?

Spending quality time with your child is Parenting 101. I know this and yet it became difficult for me to do, not because I didn’t want to but because I simply had nothing left. And as the saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. So if my squeaky wheel and I had a particularly difficult day and I had to choose between recharging my batteries behind a locked door and playing Barbies with my ghost child, the locked door won every time.

But that was not the kind of parent I want to be.

When I was young, foolish, childless, and well-rested, I imagined my future parenting style would be more natural and unstructured than reality dictated. I imagined my parenting decisions coming naturally and without much angst because I would always know in my gut what the right decision was. Everything, I thought, would unfold in a very organic, Namaste type of way.

But here on planet earth, the reality was I needed to consciously focus on one child the same way I chunk out time for email or a workout. Sometimes that meant setting a mental or actual timer or keeping an eye on the clock so I could go to sleep knowing they each got my undivided attention for X amount of time. I resisted this idea when I first heard it because it seemed too structured and too artificial, but it works. Rather than wait for a sad face, snarky remark, or meltdown from my little ghost, I found ways and time to focus on her every day.

What also worked for us is having me initiate play instead of waiting to be asked. Both my kids and I feel great when this happens and I think it helped reduce the “look at me” negative behaviour, especially when I was able to stay present and focused on her no matter how many other people, things, and chores are gnawing at my brain. These moments belong to her and I protect them as fiercely as I do my own me-time rituals.

The great thing about time and attention is that it costs nothing and is universally desired by all kids. The bad thing about time and attention is that it’s not always easy to come by in our very busy and distracted world. But I finally learned that carving this out for each of my kids doesn’t have to mean a grand gesture or a special outing or occasion. They’re just as happy to have me lying beside them on the floor, playing Barbies or building Minecraft ….. stuff, neither of which I particularly enjoy, but that’s a problem for another day.

Managing this family dynamic was a work in progress and always will be. But I flat-out refused to raise a ghost. She deserved better and I know I’m always capable of giving her more. I still give her more.