We all have phobias, or that one thing that just really gets us, and dogs are no different. You might be asking yourself “Why is my dog afraid of… hardwood floors, thunder, the dark, fireworks, water” or any number of other things.

You’re not alone. Most dogs have some sort of phobia that gets them every time.

Here are some of the most common things they may be afraid of and what you can do about it.

Hardwood Floors

This is a very common fear and it’s likely caused by one of two things.

First of all, we don’t have to tell you that a dog’s paws are not designed to walk on smooth floors. They can’t use their toes or claws to get the same traction that they get on rugs or grass. This may have caused them to take a particularly tough tumble that hurt them and created a fear of these surfaces.

It’s also possible that a rescue dog may have been harshly punished for walking on hardwood floors, so now they want nothing to do with them.

Solution:

 
There are plenty of products like wax and booties that you can get to help your furry little friend gain some traction. Or, you can purchase a traction mat or area rug for them to walk on. You can also encourage them to walk on the floors with treats and love as a reward.

Also, it never hurts to keep their claws trimmed.

Thunder, Lightning and Fireworks

To be honest, a sudden and loud clap of thunder is enough to make most of us jump. It’s not hard to understand this fear.

However, it can be a bit messy when the startled pooch jumps up and leaves a trail of pee or poo behind them as they run away.

This is not something your dog will simply grow out of. The fear will persist into adulthood and could get even worse if you don’t take steps to help them.

Solution:

 
The first thing you should do is use something like PawPad bed covers to keep their accidents from ruining your bed covers. A PawPad® is waterproof, absorbent and lightweight. It goes into the washing machine and dryer for quick clean-up. They come in different colours to match your bedroom’s décor.

You can also try distracting your dog with play or music while the storm is going on. This may not be 100% effective, but your calmness and affection will go a long way to making them feel better.

You’ll also want to create a safe space for them to go when a storm hits. This could be their crate (with the door open), a bathroom, or a closet filled with blankets. Make sure it’s a quiet place, where you can easily pet them and comfort them.

However, if your dog has severe anxiety during thunderstorms, you might want to talk to your vet about other possible solutions to treat their anxiety.

Remember, like any good parent, you’re the most important part of your fur-baby overcoming their phobia. You need to take an active role and treat them with love and support. Always reward their calm and brave behaviour, or they will never overcome their fears.

That’s why it’s important that parents plan ahead, stick to a schedule, and create a routine that works. But waiting until the last minute to do this can be a pain, especially if you’re not prepared for a new season and a new routine.

Summer may feel far off, but with your kids out of school, you’ll need to find something to fill their time. Why not take a look at your summer camp options now so that you’re not scrambling last minute to find something to enrol them in?

Spots tend to fill up quickly, too, and enrolment actually starts up earlier than you might think. Here are some summer camp ideas to get you started.
 

Coding Camp for Kids

 
Have you ever considered summer coding camps for kids? The world of technology is ever-growing, and learning how to code is actually easier than it looks. Choose a class where they can learn the foundations in a fun and interactive environment that encourages learning through doing.

Kids as young as seven years old can learn computer programming so don’t be shy to sign your children up if they’ve shown any interest in computer technology.
 

Photography and Film Classes for Kids

 
Do any of your kids have an eye for photography or are they interested in film? You should sign them up for a summer photography and film camp that teaches them key technical principles while practicing during daily field trips, fun shooting assignments, and more.

It’s a great opportunity to make new friends and get some hands-on experience.
 

Dance Camps for Toddlers and Up

 
Fun for all ages, there’s a dance camp out there for any kid who loves to move. There’s ballet, hip hop, jazz, and even general dance classes for toddlers. Dancing is great because it gets kids moving but it also develops their coordination skills, as well as challenges their minds as they learn new moves.
 

Music Camps for Singing and Instruments

 
If your children love to sing or are interested in playing an instrument, then it’s time to consider a music camp for kids. There are even instrument exploration camps where children can try out a whole range of instruments to see which ones they like.
 

Adventure Camps

 
Of course, there are camps out there where kids get to explore nature through hiking, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, boating, and more. These types of camps offer the traditional experience where kids either stay overnight for several days, or they can attend during the daytime.

There are a ton of options to explore under this category. Depending on the location you choose, some even may offer archery, arts and crafts, survival lessons, sports, and a variety of games.
 

Plan Ahead

 
It’s not too early to make a list and go over the options with your kids. Preparing in advance is a great way to make sure that they get a spot before they all fill up.

Suddenly parents must scramble between holiday planning and their own relaxation to placate the boredom before things get messy (literally). Letting the kids run wild at the mall sounds tempting, but that’s an easy way out and might garner the silent judgment of irritated salespeople. Taking them out for a movie might do it, but a movie tickets can stack up to a three-digit dollar amount that you just don’t want to spend.
 

Low-Cost Activities for Families with Kids

 
Don’t worry, a quick Internet search brought you here for some ideas. Try some of these fun family activities to avoid hearing the “I’m bored” chorus as long as you can:

 
Day 1: Share Your Favorite Internet Videos
 

9 times out of 10, most of you will be watching some form of internet content in your free time, so you should all do it together! You can make it a competition for the funniest videos, weirdest videos, interesting videos, or anything else you can think of. Other options can be:

• Try Not to Laugh Challenges
• Things You Missed In ___
• Best Vine Compilations
• Favorite Vlogger

 
Day 2: Search Your Community Calendar for Activities
 

Many times, community centers arrange free story time programs for children. Sit and listen to the story as a family and then critique it at the end. Then explore the many other services that the library offers like CDs, DVDs, theme nights, video games, and much more. You can arrange your library visit around family swimming time that many community centers usually offer.

 
Day 3: Movie Theater Marathon
 

Make a regular movie-marathon special by creating a theater experience. Have everyone choose a movie and then “release” the movie schedule for that day. Make your own tickets and currency and pretend that you’re entering a real theater. Your kids can choose from individual popcorn bags and an array of candies for their preferred movie snack.

 
Day 4: Team Cooking Challenge
 

Split your family into equally skilled teams, choose a recipe online or from a cookbook, and see which team makes the best dish! Losing team must clean up while the winners enjoy their dessert first.

 
Day 5: Eco-Friendly Walks
 

Do your part as a family to clean up the neighborhood by picking up litter that you pass by on a family walk. This gets the kids out in the fresh air with a goal to achieve and they learn to appreciate a clean neighborhood.
 
 

The Weekend Wildcard

 
 
Now that you have ideas for 5 days out of the week, you can arrange all the other family events and errand days on the weekends or whatever two days you have free!

1. Make a Budget and Stick to It

 
Set a budget before you shop, and give your kids responsibility for staying on budget. That will save you from impulse buying and stop your kids from pressuring you with “my friends have this” or “my friends have that” because you have let them know the amount you will not exceed.

You can let them decide where they want to spend their budget dollars. They may prefer to splurge on a good pair of running shoes and spend less on the latest shirt style, for example.

2. Be Flexible About When You Buy

 
Buy clothes offseason or on clearance. You can buy them offseason or clearance clothes a little large so that the kids can grow into them.

3. Watch for Sales and Compare Prices

 
Check the inserts of your paper or any flyers you get in the mail for any upcoming sales. Stores like Staples, Office Max, Office Depot and Wal-Mart may have school supply sales at different times.

Follow stores online on Facebook and Twitter. It is an easy and quick way to keep up with sales and find deals. Many companies will send their loyal followers an advance notice of sales and also coupon links.

4. Consider Used Clothing

 
Yard sales can be a good source of used clothes, and the pricing can often be flexible. The seller may be eager to get the clothes off their hands and give you a deal if you buy a lot at once. Other options are consignment shops and thrift stores.

Knowing that consignment shops sell goods from patrons and gives a portion of the sales back the patron, and thrift stores usually sell donated goods at a mark up to earn a profit for charity may help in your decision of where to buy.

5. Take a Trip to Your Local Dollar Store

 
You can find a surprising array of supplies at a dollar store. Items can range from pens and pencils, paper, binders, as well as art supplies, calculators and locks for lockers.

6. Swap Clothes with Other Mothers

 
Get together with fellow mothers in the neighbourhood and arrange a day when everyone brings clothing for exchanging.

7. Use School Supplies That Are Left Over from the Previous Year

 
Search your home for leftover supplies and use up what you already have.

8. Instead of buying new books, download

 
Buying books online is cheaper than buying books. Or, if you can’t buy online, buy the textbooks used.

9. Don’t Buy Everything at Once

 
Pick up supplies here and there over a period of time. It will give you time to save up, and you won’t have to spend a large amount all at once.

With a little planning, you can really save on back-to-school items!

What Kind of Trip?

Will you be camping in a tent? Sleeping in a yurt? Renting an RV? Are the kids old enough for a portage trip? There are many different ways to camp during the summer with campers of every skill level.

Where?

If you and the kids are big outdoorsy people, then you will be able to make a good time of any campsite. However, if camping is more of a fun, occasional summer idea, try one of these family-friendly campsites with great amenities and playgrounds for you to relax after a hike while the kids can continue to play.

What to Pack

Set yourself up for success by packing all the right things to make your camping experience a great one. Think about season, type of camping, location and age of campers. Be sure not to forget:

• Easy-dressing clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Don’t forget layers!
• First aid kit, hand sanitizer, and lots of kid-friendly sunscreen and bug spray.
• Books, cards and games in case it’s raining or the kids need a moment to themselves.
• Lanterns and flashlights.
• Sleeping bags right for the season.
• Fire foods like marshmallows, hotdogs and popcorn.
• Your kid’s favourite sleeping pillow or stuffed animal and any other comforts from home.
• Tents—one big enough for you to sleep with young children, or a separate tent for older kids who want to experience the camping life on their own.

Meals

Sitting down to meals around the picnic table, on a blanket at the beach, or around the campfire will provide some of the best memories of your camping trip. Try to make meals ahead for easy meal prep, so you can spend less time cooking and more time making memories on your trip. Toss nuts, dried fruit and M&Ms into a bag for some quick trail mix and chop veggies into sticks for a quick snack or to throw into a recipe. Check out this website for some quick and easy camping meal ideas.

Activities

There will already be lots of hiking, swimming and exploring to do, but you can make the experience even more fun by planning a few fun camping activities before you go.

• Stargazing: bring along a book of constellations that your kids can find in the sky.
• Animal Tracks: become seasoned trackers on your hikes by teaching your kids how to recognize animal tracks and marks.
• Flashlight Tag: for older kids, give the “it” person a flashlight. While they count, everyone else hides. The “it” person then looks around for the hiding players who can switch spots. If the “it” person catches them by shining the flashlight on them, that person becomes “it.”

Backyard Movie

Host a backyard movie night as a great way to entertain the kids while getting to sit back yourself. Pop some corn, set down some old blankets and hang a white sheet as the screen. All you’ll need is a projector and your backyard will be set like a good ol’ fashioned drive-in.

Beach-less Beach Party

Grab a couple of kiddie pools, blow up a few beach balls and set out snacks and bubble sticks in sand-castle-making buckets. Set up a badminton or volleyball court, lay down some towels for seating, and have coolers full of drinks for the kids to enjoy. Using all the aesthetics and objects of a day at the beach, bringing the fun of waves and sand to your own home is an easy party idea.

Carnival Party

Throw a carnival party for your kids that they won’t soon forget! Set-up can be as easy as you want to make it; hang colourful sheets as a backdrop, have a face paint station, and create games yourself out of household materials. For instance:

• Fish Pond: Fill a large bin or box with blue paper cut into rectangles (the “water”), and a few cuts into the shape of fish with paperclips on their noses. Hang a magnet on the end of a string attached to a stick and let the kids catch the fish to win prizes.
• Beanbag Toss: Fill Ziplock bags with rice and cut holes in a rectangle of cardboard that is slightly larger than the Ziplocks. Prop the board up with rocks or bricks and have the kids stand behind a line to toss the bags.
• Ring Toss: Place some painted old glass bottles in a crate and draw a line behind which kids have to stand to throw plastic rings (which can be purchased at the dollar store).

Forest Adventure

If you have a smaller group of kids or more supervisors, take the party-goers on a romp through a nearby forest or walking trail. Provide compasses and maps so the kids can track their route; bring binoculars and magnifying glasses so they can take a good look at the nature around them, and collect cool rocks for them to take home.

Ice-Cream Social

Other than the creamy, sugary sweet, what else could this party entail? How about a game of “pin the cherry on the ice cream cone,” a cherry on a spoon race, letting kids decorate their own ice cream cone cupcakes, or having a taste-test competition? There are lots of ways to run away with the ice cream theme, all of which kids are sure to love!

For the majority of North Americans, summer is often the time of year to lavish in the sunshine. The summer is a time for Seniors to shake off those winter blahs and enjoy the fresh air.

Sitting around indoors for months isn’t good for Seniors’ joints, bones, or mental health, so pack your sunscreen and water bottle, and soak up some much-needed vitamin D with these fun summer activities with the beloved Seniors in your life.

Go for a walk or a light jog

Whether you’re walking or in a wheelchair, getting outside and enjoying nature is a great way to keep the mind and body in shape. It’s a fun activity to do with friends, family, individually, or even with a dog by your side!

There are of course a couple of important factors to keep in mind before starting a walk or a jog: making sure Seniors stretch is always number one. Loosening up joints before exercise is critical, especially for Seniors, because injuries are too risky. Check out these handy stretches for Seniors that you might want to apply to your workout routine.

It’s also important to remember sunscreen. Depending on how sensitive your skin is, always apply at least 30 SPF, and don’t forget to reapply every two to three hours.

Go to an Outdoor Film

What better way to spend a beautiful summer evening than in a park with friends or family watching a favourite film on a giant screen?

There is usually free entry, outdoor cinema has risen in popularity over the last couple of years, and it’s a great opportunity to enjoy beautiful summer evenings that we dream about throughout the rest of the year.

Don’t forget to bring lots of water to stay hydrated and a blanket in case it gets cold, and check out this list of exciting outdoor movie nights that Toronto will host this summer.

Practice Chair Yoga in the Garden

There are so many health benefits to practicing yoga — including strength building, improved mobility, balancing stress and maintaining strong mental health.

Practicing chair yoga is a popular activity among Seniors and as long as there is somewhere to sit (whether it is in a chair or a wheelchair), it can be practiced anytime and anywhere — including a sunny beautiful backyard, park, or garden.

Have a Picnic

Pack a basket with your favourite snacks and a big blanket, invite a few loved ones (or perhaps just enjoy the company of yourself), and have an afternoon picnic. Go to a park with lots of trees so you can sit in the shade in case it gets too hot, bring lots of water to keep yourself hydrated, sunscreen, a book or two.

A little bit of nature has been proven to keep us happier and healthier, and we must enjoy the Summer sunshine while it lasts!

One thing we need to understand is no matter how much movement or exercise you get indoors, there’s still no replacement for the role of sunlight. Sunlight is our prime source of Vitamin D, which is important for a lot of the things that keep us healthy, from our immune system to how our bones develop. A lot of these are even more essential for children, whose bodies are still growing and have more nutritional requirements in some case than your average adult.

In addition, outdoor play is the best source for unstructured playtime for a child, which means more than you may think. Unstructured play is important because it is open-ended with no type of singular goal, like you would get from a video game or some form of instructor led-activity. Pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Timbernook, Angela Hanscom, explains that “as we continue to decrease children’s time and space to move and play outdoors, we are seeing a simultaneous rise in the number of children that are presenting with sensory deficits.” By letting them play outside, you are not only helping the bodies of children, but the way they think as well.

There are also several other important traits that children pick up almost exclusively through outside play. For example, many people will agree that an interest and respect for nature are traits they want their children to have, but how can they do that without the chance to see nature first-hand? One other thing that’s worth mentioning is how playing outside allows for socialization.

Take a close look the next time you see a group of young children interacting with each other on a playground. Different things like the ability to make friends, cooperate, and treat others are all on full display. The strides they make now without even knowing it pay off later in school and other structured settings. There are lots of awesome swing sets for your backyard to choose from that will transform your backyard.

The benefits of getting your kids to play more often are varied and essential. From improving their health and activity to facilitating social activity with other children, there’s no substitute for regular outdoor play. But what about those days where there’s not enough time to go to a park or playground and you want some safely monitored fun?

“How come Ben’s parents let him watch this show but I can’t?” is probably something you’ve heard before too. It can be hard to explain to a kid that there are differences in the way that parents decide to raise their children, especially when they start bringing up issues of fairness.

Suddenly it feels like you’re a bad parent and you want to step things up to prove that you’re not. This can especially happen at birthday parties where at times it feels like parents are trying to one-up each other.

Who has the coolest venue? Who hired the best entertainment? Whose party is being talked about weeks later?

Of course there’s no better feeling than making your kid happy, but do you have to go all-out just to achieve that? Well, not necessarily. Here are some tips for planning a birthday party that your kid will love you for without having to break the bank.

A Cure for the Hangries

Anyone gets cranky (or hangry) when they’re hungry – especially kids. That’s why it’s important to at the very least provide snacks at your party. And when it comes to food, why stress yourself out when you could get food help from a company with years of professional experience catering all sorts of occasions? Hitting a home run with your party’s food is easy with professional catering.

Plan your party between 2pm and 5pm and all you’ll need are some neat snacks and a cake to wow the crowd. A caterer can help you come up with the perfect snack ideas for your kid’s birthday, especially if it’s a themed event.

Let Kids be Kids

A lot of the pressure for kid’s birthday parties comes from providing entertainment. It seems like nowadays adults are increasingly concerned with how to distract their children – but is that healthy or even necessary? Kids have an amazing capacity to imagine and play, so why not take advantage of that?

This might mean getting creative yourself, but it’ll be worth it. For example, if your kid is a fan of Star Wars, why not get some cheap lightsabers for the kids to use and take home as a party favour? During the party, put up a Death Star piñata that the kids can take turns whacking around while blindfolded.

Little ideas like these are affordable but a load of fun for kids. So forget about ordering the bouncy castle and instead think about your kid’s interests and how you can come up with some fun games around that.

Don’t Stress

Your kids can tell when you’re stressed, so try your best to stay calm and make the whole experience a fun one – even leading up to it. One way to keep your stress low is to ditch the physical invites and instead send everyone an invite – it’s easier to keep track of numbers and less hassle for everyone involved.

And remember, smiling is contagious. So be sure to send out positive vibes when planning your kid’s next birthday bash.

What do you do with kids who want to do something exciting but are stuck inside when the weather’s unideal? Whether you’re a teacher, parent, aunt, or uncle, you’ll appreciate these spring yarn crafts that are perfect for keeping kids busy on those rainy spring days.

Don’t get caught off guard by those spring showers. Head on over to your favourite online yarn retailer for a great selection of Bernat yarn and project ideas, too. Once you’re stocked up with yarn supplies you’ll be ready to entertain the young ones with these amazing, fun, and easy-to-make projects. 

Make a Rainbow out of Yarn

Kids don’t have to be able to knit or crochet to do exciting things with yarn. Before the rain stops and a real rainbow fills the sky, why not have them make their own colourful rainbows using just yarn, scissors, construction paper and glue? To start, have the kids cut out a rainbow silhouette out of construction paper (or, if they’re on the younger side, go ahead and do this for them).

From there, all they have to do is cut small snippets of the colours of the rainbow and glue them into place on the paper. Cotton balls at both ends of the rainbow for clouds complete the effect. This craft will look pretty nice and it will also offer a bit of an educational opportunity for all the kids who have yet to learn about ROYGBIV.

Finger Knitting

For kids who are eager to learn new things, finger knitting makes for a fantastic indoor activity. Using just their hands and whichever color of yarn that they fancy, the little ones will be able to learn this activity quickly and they’ll be entertained for hours.

What’s great about teaching kids to knit with their hands is that you end up giving them a fun activity that they can do while watching movies, listening to music, or while riding in the car on road trips. There’s no mess involved either, which is a major plus. Kids can make long strands that they can use as garlands for decoration or they can make something wider like a small blanket or scarf.

One-Line Yarn Art

This craft is great for all the little Picassos out there. Using just one thread of yarn, some glue, and construction paper, kids can lay down the yarn in whichever shape they like. They can create simple but elegant pieces that encourage them to think creatively about how to create shapes with just one line.

You could get them to create images to match a story, or even get them to make a story out of just shapes. There’s really so much that kids can do with yarn that there’s no reason to be bored on a rainy day again.