Kids

Everything you need to know about kids and toddlers, including behaviour and development, sleep, potty training, preschool, and how to handle picky eaters.

10 things your kid should know how to do before kindergarten starts

10 things your kid should know how to do before kindergarten starts

From reading their name to eating lunch without help, your kid should be close to mastering these skills. But don't freak out if they're not quite there!

Today's Parent

Confession: I hate playing with my kid

Confession: I hate playing with my kid

One mom's deep, dark secret? Playing with her four-year-old sucks.

Leah Rumack

Four must-haves for back-to-school fashion

Four must-haves for back-to-school fashion

From comfy cotton basics to graphic print tees, we round up the essential pieces that’ll have your kid looking snazzy in and outside of the classroom.

Cynthia Budhu

EQ vs IQ: Why emotional intelligence will take your kid further in life

EQ vs IQ: Why emotional intelligence will take your kid further in life

Long gone are the days of taking IQ tests. Here's why emotional intelligence is a better predictor of your child’s success.

Lisa Kadane

I dealt with my kid's anxiety by letting her be anxious

I dealt with my kid's anxiety by letting her be anxious

All I wanted to do was fix my kid's problems. But my mom instincts were telling me that by doing so, I might be feeding the anxiety monster.

Tanya Kuzmanovic

Every back-to-school option terrifies me

Every back-to-school option terrifies me

I'm desperate for an end to the work-from-home/homeschool circus but I just can't come up with a good back to school scenario for the fall.

Lindsay Springer

The surprising upside to your kid’s brutal temper tantrums

Toddler behaviour

The surprising upside to your kid’s brutal temper tantrums

Why little kids’ tantrums are actually productive and how to make the most of this growth opportunity.

Courtney Shea

How to encourage more girls to pursue science and math careers

How to encourage more girls to pursue science and math careers

Do girls have the smarts needed to succeed in STEM careers? Of course they do. Unfortunately, outdated stereotypes are holding them back.

Jilana Boston

What if e-learning doesn't work for your kid?

What if e-learning doesn't work for your kid?

If online school is here to stay, are there any e-learning tips for parents to encourage antsy kids to stay at their computer screens? We asked the experts.

Jessica Leeder

A glimpse at what school might look like next fall for Canadian students

A glimpse at what school might look like next fall for Canadian students

B.C’s resumption of classes has given the rest of the country a chance to see how schools may function in the age of COVID-19.

Hamdi Issawi, Maclean's

Age-by-Age Guide to Getting Your Kid to Talk to You

Age-by-Age Guide to Getting Your Kid to Talk to You

We don’t need to be our kids’ best friends, but it’s nice to hear about their day. Here’s what to do when it comes to getting your kid to talk to you.

Claire Gagne

Don’t worry, your child’s learning doesn’t stop just because they’re not in child care

Don’t worry, your child’s learning doesn’t stop just because they’re not in child care

Research shows children's learning never actually pauses. They'll continue to make meaning of their world as they think, question and play at home.

Jeanne Marie Iorio

Sorry, She Thinks She's A Cat—Why Some Kids Are Obsessed With Role Play

Sorry, She Thinks She's A Cat—Why Some Kids Are Obsessed With Role Play

Having your preschooler morph into a creature for hours on end can be frustrating. Here’s why some kids are obsessed with pretend play.

Jessica Leeder

Does your kid still wake up in the night? This could be why

Does your kid still wake up in the night? This could be why

Biology, psychology and environment can all influence their patterns— and could be the reason for sleep problems in children.

Adam T. Newton

We tried the 3-day potty training method—and it was intense

We tried the 3-day potty training method—and it was intense

One mom shares the highs and lows of toilet training her toddler over a long weekend, boot-camp style. Find out how it worked.

Caroline Starr

Ontario's back-to-school plan ignores a glaringly obvious problem

Ontario's back-to-school plan ignores a glaringly obvious problem

Asking parents to prepare for half-time school in September is not a viable school reopening plan.

Kalli Anderson

26 rotten jokes for kids that are actually kind of funny

26 rotten jokes for kids that are actually kind of funny

A lot of jokes your kids recite are less than exciting. But we promise, these zingers will give everyone in the family a chuckle.

Lindsay Parker

Toddler, I love you but please leave the baby the eff alone

Toddler behaviour

Toddler, I love you but please leave the baby the eff alone

You’re wonderful, my precious firstborn. But please get the hell off the bed and away from me and the tiny sleeping baby, for the love of all that is holy.

Claire Lawrence

When to switch your kid from a car seat to a booster

When to switch your kid from a car seat to a booster

Does your kid look like they’re going to burst out of their car seat? Though there is no specific "booster seat age," there are other requirements to meet.

Cara Smusiak

What to do when your toddler hates their high chair

Toddler behaviour

What to do when your toddler hates their high chair

Some toddlers hate their high chairs and protest being at the table. How should you react? Here's how to get through meals without a power struggle.

Ariel Brewster