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Sing along and get inspired with one of our favourite nursery rhymes! Coochi Coo hosts the Waterspout Challenge! Will the itsy bitsy spider make it to the top of the waterspout? 

Sing along with Coochi Coo! Watch how Merrfy the dog and a simple box create a very fun sleigh ride!

A big thank you to the Kangaroo Creek Farm! Your animals are adorable and really helped to make this nursery rhyme special :) #nurseryrhymes #kidsongs #kangaroocreekfarm 

I’ve finished my second nursery rhyme video for children, the ABC GAME! There are two goals to this video. 1. Learn the alphabet 2. Never give up! #nurseryrhymes #abc #alphabet

I hope you enjoy my very first video! Coochi Coo learns how to relax. #lullaby #twinkle #nurseryrhymes

Does your child feel shy when meeting new people? Would you like to give your child a way to handle anxiety? Can your child manage anger? Would you like to help your child understand gratitude?

We are all given gifts in the form of obstacles to ultimately help us achieve our greatest potential. Therefore learning how to effectively manage our emotions is a must! I mean let’s face it. Stress is a normal part of life.

Positive stress can help us in many ways. For example it can save your life, or challenge you to take an opportunity... read more

Remember when you were a child? What got you excited? What did you worry about? Was it the first day of school, an exam, or Christmas? Events and expectations can be exciting or frightening depending on how you perceive them. In essence, how we decide to think and feel determines our emotional state. So is there a way we can productively manage our thoughts?

Note: For those of you who missed it, this is an article I wrote for the Winter supplement of "Kids Connection" in the Kelowna Daily Courier.

Fortunately, managing our thinking is a skill that... read more

Taking the time to play is crucial to a child’s development. So crucial, that play was recognized as a right of every child by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights. The benefits are numerous. Play can help your grandchild learn how to...for further info read my post at "GRAND - The Magazine for GRANDparents & Their Families"  http://bit.ly/197riav 

What kinds of thoughts go through a child’s mind when they are dealing with extreme pressure and anxiety? Why are some children more resilient than others? How can we help a child become mentally stronger?

Note: For those of you who missed it, this is an article I wrote for the Fall supplement of "Kids Connection" in the Kelowna Daily Courier.

Success in life has a lot to do with how we react to the challenges that are presented to us. Whether it’s dealing with a bully, an illness, or simply trying to make the school’s basketball team,... read more

A few years ago, I took a standup comedy course that was quite fascinating. Our homework included analyzing each day to discover what was humorous about it. Some days it was easy and other days it was hard but just having to do this exercise led to a habit of not taking life so seriously. It was great!

When the course finished, I started to slowly forget to look at life with humor. I mean, life got busy and other things began to take priority. So I recently decided to remind myself by creating a “Laughter Journal.”... read more

 Our parents send us to school to learn math, science, history, and many more amazing subjects in the hopes that we will have a successful and happy life. But where are the courses that teach us how to strengthen our emotional well-being? read my post at "Angelocracy News and Politics" http://www.mi7.co/2013/06/what-they-dont-teach-you-in-school.html

Where does worrying come from? Why do children worry? According to Dr. Graham C. L. Davey, “What children worry about will vary depending on...read my post at "Mommy's Craft Obsession" http://www.mommyscraftobsession.com/2013/06/erase-your-worries-with-worry-box-by.html

The Magic of Think® concept began to take flight after an amazing experience I had with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. I watched a child recite every word I had performed as an animated character in his favorite television show...for more info read my post at "Coffee and Cashmere" http://www.coffeeandcashmere.com/2013/06/the-magic-of-think.html

As a child, I was lucky to be surrounded and influenced by a variety of musical genres from many different eras... Read the rest of my post at "A Teacher's Passion For Music" https://musicteacherhub.wordpress.com/2013/05/31/5-ways-music-benefits-early-childhood-education/

We have made a few suggestions in our previous blog post about great ways to give back but our number one suggestion is to buy a toy that your child can give to someone else. There is no better way to teach your child about the Christmas spirit than allowing them the opportunity to give back to those less fortunate. One example is to have your child pick out a toy that they think someone else would like and then donate it (unwrapped) to the Salvation Army. Or, if you and your child are looking to... read more

Living in a world that spins with passionate intensity, I glance at the clock to make sure I have enough time to get everything done but darkness falls so quickly and quietly. I think, I write, I study, I walk, and I try to remember to breathe in the moments that are now in the past. I close the lid of my box of worries. I close the lids of my tired eyes. It feels so good... I smile. And I laugh as I see the humor of it all. 

In our previous blog post, we discussed how anxiety and depression can set the stage for bullying. One simple solution could be "play." Here is an excerpt from author Peter Gray, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology (emeritus) at Boston College who lists 5 ways in which "play" can help a child reduce anxiety and depression.

1. Play gives children a chance to find and develop a connection to their own self-identified and self-guided interests. 

2. It is through play that children first learn how to make decisions, solve problems, exert self control, and follow rules. 

3. Children learn to... read more

In our last blog post, we discussed how to determine if your child is stressed. Today we would like to highlight the 5 steps that Pediatrician Michelle L. Bailey has outlined to help empower children dealing with stress.

1.     Normalize stress - It is important to let your child know that stress is a normal part of life, and that they are not abnormal for feeling the way they do

2.     Remember that stress is one-sided - In other words, stress is relative. Children will deal with stress differently... read more

Become a role model and promote an active lifestyle! 

Why not use playtime as a way to get your heart pumping? Liz Donnelly, a family fitness specialist from Cleveland, suggests the following games:

1. Play a Game of Hot Lava - You are escaping an active volcano. Randomly place mats or throw rugs across the floor. Jump and leap from mat to mat without touching the floor (which is the hot lava.) This type of game develops spatial awareness.
2. Skip, Hop - By jumping and hopping, you increase bone density, improve circulation, and get your heart pumping!
3. Hang... read more

Author, educator and literacy expert Pam Allyn says, “writing helps to cultivate emotional growth, develop critical thinking skills and improve school performance”. Being able to freely express yourself is something all children should experience. Allyn outlines 5 keys that parents can reference when encouraging their child to start writing. They are as follows…

1.     Word Power

Children learn new words very quickly. Encourage this by talking about new words you hear in a song, making an effort to write down new words you hear, or make a word jar and place... read more