Latest blog posts

By Melody Schalm The other morning I was reminded of just how important our work teaching kindness and ‘social and emotional learning’ really is. It was a regular school morning and, despite my recent resolution to be mindful every moment of every day, I was in fact being unmindful.   We had all slept in, and there were the usual breakfasts to prepare, lunches to pack, seemingly dozens of school forms to complete, cheques to fill out and stress about, and urgent e-mails to return, all before the 8:45 a.m. school start.   more

By Maureen PalmerParents of a generation not so long ago remember the relief experienced with the discovery of vaccines, especially for illnesses like polio.  For a small price per child, we are now able to administer injections that protect children from the ravages of such illness. Most parents and governments simply accept the fact vaccines save lives, because we have decades of proof. more

It’s nice when your child makes a beautiful picture at preschool…. even nicer when their picture is better, nicer or more creative than another child’s picture, but creativity doesn’t really matter long-term, right?  more

Were you popular and well-liked in high school? How important were others’ perceptions of you during your teenage years? No matter how long ago it was, it can be hard to forget the social hierarchies that emerged in high school or the sway they held over day-to-day life. Before delving headlong into high school flashbacks, however, think back even further. Do you remember whether being popular and likeable was important in elementary school or even earlier? more