How Canadians Celebrate Canada Day

canada day
  It’s strangely fitting that Canada and the United States, which share a continent and a border, also almost share their birthdays. While Americans celebrate Independence Day on July 4th, Canadians celebrate Canada Day on July 1st. Canada was created on July 1st, 1867, by the passing of the British North America Act, now known
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5 Tips for Hiking with Kids

hiking with kids
  Hiking with kids is a lot of fun—except when it isn’t. I grew up overnight backpacking with my parents through the Canadian Rockies for family vacations. As a mom, I frequently drag invite my kids out on dayhikes with me around Vancouver. Over the past decade, I’ve learned how to keep these hikes fun
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Pack-Rat-Day

smoothie
  I’m a proud neat freak. My oldest daughter, on the other hand, is a pack rat. We frequently clash over her stashes of papers, crafts and other junk/treasures. I’ve learned a few things about helping her cope with her clutter so that we can coexist peacefully. If you also have a pack rat, here’s
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A Mock Restaurant

restaurant
  One afternoon, my older two girls asked if they could create a “restaurant” for their younger sisters. They set up a small table in our living room with stools around it and a tablecloth on top. My 11-year-old made French toast, while my 8-year-old took orders. They had so much fun with it that
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Craft Ideas for Hands-On Learners

craft
  Grab the glitter and the glue, the paper and the pipe cleaners, the rulers and the markers—it’s National Craft Month! Crafts offer a variety of hands-on learning opportunities for kids. Many crafts involve measuring, designing, problem-solving, and other skills—plus children have fun doing it and can admire their work when they’re done. Here are
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How to Start a Homeschool Co-Op

homeschool co-op
  A homeschool co-op happens when two or more homeschooling families get together to study a particular topic. Co-ops are a great way to provide your children with social time as well as to have the chance to do group activities that are often hard to do as homeschoolers. Here are five tips for making
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Working the Wiggles Out When the Weather is Nasty

weather
  Winter is here. Temperatures are dropping, and in many places, it’s snowing or raining outside. Either way, the weather can make it hard to get outdoors this time of year. If your kids are anything like my kids, they’re probably bouncing on the couch or climbing the walls by mid-afternoon. While I want to
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How I Completed High School at Home

high school at home
  I graduated in 2002 as a homeschool student. Back then, homeschoolers had limited options, and my choice of secondary education was often viewed with doubt. I’ve never regretted completing high school at home. Here’s how I successfully finished Grade 12 and started at a university. Grade 9 seemed like just another year of school,
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