I have a love/meh relationship with Advent calendars. When I was a kid, they weren’t much to write home (or to Santa) about—there were only a handful of designs in grocery stores in the ’80s, the chocolate was chalky and my mom’s holiday baking was just so much more appealing when I was allowed to pick a treat.
So that’s the meh part. I don’t find today’s basic calendars offensive in any way, and the designs and treats have improved in leaps and bounds, but I just don’t look forward to the day they appear in stores each year. And that’s something, considering how much I adore the holidays!
But now companies have started to catch on to the idea of a countdown, and all of a sudden, we have countdown calendars featuring everything from cheese to beauty products. I also love that calendars for kids have branched out into daily activities and small toys, too, instead of plain old chocolate.
With that in mind, we’ve rounded up eight non-traditional Advent calendars to delight every member of your fam.
Kid Made Modern Craft Advent Calendar
A holiday countdown calendar that doubles as a daily activity is actually genius. Kids can make decorations and gifts...
The calendar is now full of random celebration days—you probably see them crop up on social media. Some of them are funny, some are silly, some are meaningful and some incite a call to action. Global Kindness Day, celebrated on November 13, falls into the latter category, and we love that it puts a spotlight on being generous and thoughtful. So with that in mind, we’ve rounded up 10 ways you can show kindness with the whole family, setting an example for impressionable little ones and hopefully teaching the next generation the value and impact of a kind word or gesture.
Leave messages of kindness in the community.
Collect a handful of large rocks—one or two per person—and brainstorm a list of kind wishes and thoughts. Using oil-based or acrylic paint, paint each rock with a hopeful message. Once all of the rocks are completely dry, drive around down and place them in areas for people to see when they walk by. Worried the paint will rub off? Spray with outdoor shellac to seal the messages in.
Shop with intent.
Lots of companies use some of their proceeds to support charitable organizations around the world. Do some research to find a...
As a Gemini Award-nominated and Leo Award-winning actor, Jewel Staite is best known for her work as Kaylee in Joss Whedon’s cult classic Fox series Firefly, as well as the feature film adaptation Serenity. More recently, Jewel was seen on ABC’s hit series The Good Doctor and NBC's Blindspot. She’s also mom to son Wilder. We caught up with the celebrity parent to ask 25 on-the-spot questions about her career, parenting style and more.
Watch Jewel Staite as Abigail Bianchi in Family Law, Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Global, GlobalTV.com, free on the Global TV App and also available live and on demand with STACKTV.
What is your idea of...
Over the years the list of safe and unsafe foods and activities for pregnant women has evolved. Read on for the rundown on what to avoid and what gets the green light.
For women who have previously given birth by caesarean, the option of attempting a vaginal birth for future pregnancies is becoming more commonly used. Here's the lowdown on vaginal birth after caesarean, or VBAC.
A vasectomy is often approached as a permanent birth control solution, and most of the time, it is. But what happens if circumstances change and a man ultimately regrets his decision to get snipped? To learn more and get some answers about vasectomy reversals, we spoke to Dr. Premal Patel, a urologist who specializes in male infertility, microsurgery and sexual medicine at the University of Manitoba.
In basic terms, how does a vasectomy work?
“The basic idea of a vasectomy is to stop the flow of sperm from the testicle,” Dr. Patel explains. “The vas, which transports sperm from the testicle, is blocked to stop this.”
“It does take time for the system to clear out, which is why the doctor performing the procedure requires the patient to perform a semen study to confirm there is no sperm present—or very low quantities of non-moving sperm—at around 2 to 3 months from the procedure.”
This means providing a sperm sample and waiting for lab results to confirm that the procedure was a success—and until then, using another method of birth control. “It is important to know that a vasectomy does not cause immediate sterility, and you can get someone pregnant!”
How common are vasectomies?
Roughly 55,000...
Expecting a new addition? Congratulations! Overwhelmed by the amount of gear you need to buy? We get it. And we’ve got you. We’ve rounded up some of our favourite baby basics to help get you ready to welcome your little one. Read on for 20+ essential items you’ll need in the first year.
You've heard them before. Things like "pacifiers are bad" or "you won't sleep again." Dr. Dina sheds some light on eight age-old parenting misconceptions.
It wasn't so long ago that fatherhood had a straight-up Don Draper mentality. Now, more and more dads are flipping the script on their expected roles, taking paternity leave, being stay-at-home dads and pushing away breadwinner expectations.
Nobody’s head is perfectly symmetrical, but what do you do if your baby’s head is flat on one side? Flat-head syndrome isn't totally uncommon, here's what you need to know.
Dealing with diaper rash is one of the first tasks new parents master (because it comes with a lot of on-the-job training) but a raw, red case of diaper rash can quickly cause a crisis of confidence. Here’s some info to ease your conscience and help you soothe your baby’s skin.
Winter is in our DNA as Canadians, but that doesn't mean winter driving isn't tricky. That's why we've partnered with CAA to bring you expert tips and tricks for hitting the road with confidence in the cold weather months. Their best-in-class roadside assistance is exactly the peace of mind you need when the mercury dips. Bonus: We've also got great ideas for saving time and money through CAA Rewards®, just in time for the holiday season.
Sponsored by CAA
It turns out kids aren't always opposed to doing homework, if the assignment is to capture the beauty in fall. Over Thanksgiving weekend, we asked three families to take snaps of autumn in all its glory, as they see it, and the pictures we got back...well, scroll to see for yourselves.
Thanks to Claire and Emmett Hunter, Abby and Declan Jackson, and Alexis McEachern for sharing their budding photography talents.
Meningitis B can be hard to spot in its early stages. Read on for one young woman’s battle with the disease, the symptoms to watch for and the importance of vaccination.
The world is a wondrous place—a rainbow of colours and a myriad of shapes, with new faces and places at every turn. Most of us assume our kids are seeing the world perfectly. But how can we tell for sure?
Take stock of your medicine cabinet every few months and replace anything that is expired or
nearly empty. (You’ll thank yourself in the middle of the night with a sick kid!) Read on for medicine cabinet basics to make sure you have your bases covered.
By Dr. Elka Walsh, National Learning and Skills Lead, Microsoft Canada risks
Every October, we recognize Cyber Security Awareness Month, a time to learn about the benefits of being cyber safe and practicing good cyber security habits to keep ourselves, our children and our devices protected on the internet. The theme of this year’s campaign is “Life Happens Online” acknowledging that over the last two years much of our lives have gone digital. Technology has enabled us to connect with family and friends, find new sources of entertainment and continue pursuing career and education goals but it’s also created more opportunities for exposure to online threats.
For years, kids have grown up in environments where elements of their understanding and learning have been derived from the internet. Using the computer to complete homework, develop presentations or chat with friends and classmates is no strange concept to them. With so many more things shifting online because of the pandemic including their education, it is important for parents and teachers to create safer online environments for kids. At Microsoft, we want to help kids thrive at home or in class with all the...
Kids get anxious. Hard stop. But news flash: cortisol (some, anyway) isn’t only inevitable, it’s good for everyone. It’s all about healthy ways to deal.
