As the director of a preschool and writer for teachers and parents, Bev Bos is seen as a leader in conscious education for children. She was in town for an early childhood conference, and put aside two hours to do a presentation of her principles for growing self-aware and wiser beings. It was a whirlwind of information, games and songs but the essence was: give kids more unstructured play.
But to do so most parents, including myself, have to be willing to let kids get riskier and dirtier. I am reminded that parenting for me is often about letting go, not trying to control a situation more.
Here are Bev’s Conditions for Growing Wise:

Belonging – to family, neighbourhood and the global community.
Risk – Intellectual, emotional, physical, social …

I wish I had the knowledge and experience of raising a young boy and girl when I was younger myself.  I think it would have helped me better understand gender differences experienced later on in adult life. The natural differences in boys and girls are astounding and very distinct, especially at a young age.  We all know the stereotypes as adults: women are more emotional, better communicators and team players.  Men are more about action than words, and doing it themselves etc..  Toddlers playing with big trucks, smashing toys and wrestling with each other often contrast with girls playing with dolls, putting on pretend shows and playing tea party.  But are we teaching them to reflect our own gender preferences, or is there a natural …

My foray into any genuine spiritual experience has come through a slowly evolving yoga practice. I am 38 years old and started practising ten years ago. Initially it was all about relaxation and physical fitness. Four years in, I became friends with a woman who happened to be an instructor. I joined any classes she was teaching and have her to thank for bringing the ideas of intention, presence and awareness to the forefront for me and my personal development. These concepts help me to try to live better with myself and, therefore, others. Here are some thoughts about the role yoga has played in my parenting life.
Yoga and Pregnancy
My yoga practice as a parent began when I was pregnant with my first baby. Apparently …

If you have ever visited a naturopathic doctor, you know about the wheat and dairy dilemma. Almost daily I talk to parents who feel their families health is better after removing these foods from their diet. Abdominal pain and gas, endometriosis, colitis, celiac, obesity… the list of ailments that become manageable simply with a change in diet is ever growing. And if we want to help our kids avoid developing lifetime food intolerances and allergies, it is a good idea to avoid feeding these and other foods to our kids as long as possible. (see our article on how to introduce solid foods to infants)
But give me a break, wheat and dairy are my two favourite food groups. I remember first questioning dairy as a …

We are firm believers in You Are What You Eat. Not just from a weight management perspective, but also for optimal internal health. I’ve followed the following list of foods, and when to introduce them, recommended by our naturopathic doctor for both of our kids to help reduce the risk of food allergies and ensure good digestion. (see bottom of page for more details)
Food for Babies 0-6 Months Old
The World Health Organization and many international health decision makers, recommend breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of a baby’s life.  Of course, not everyone is able to breastfeed, but if you are it is a good minimum goal to set. We had large babies and chose to begin slowly introducing solids one at a time, for several …