Being a member of a busy family can sometimes feel like you are just ships in the night. Everyone is headed to work, school, baseball, dance practice, a night out with a friend, book club, or to the grocery store. It can feel daunting to add one more thing to the to-do list: rituals of connection. But here’s a secret. The most powerful moments of connection don’t happen during the big, planned-out moments. They are the small, repeated moments of everyday life. They are the weekly family rituals.
A child and their first dog share a unique bond and the connection they form often stays with them for life. Dogs can make excellent companions for children, teaching them about care and responsibility while bringing love, joy, and affection to your family. While the bond between a child and their dog is unmatched, choosing the right dog can be a difficult decision. Deciding whether to purchase from a breeder or adopt from a shelter or rescue can be equally challenging.
As a psychologist, a hot topic I often discuss with caregivers is screen time. Navigating emerging information around screen time use can be tricky. Negative, fear-based narratives and messaging (such as "too much screen time will cause brain rot," or "if you give a child access to screen time before a certain age, you're a bad parent") can fuel unnecessary guilt and anxiety for caregivers who occasionally use screen time as a tool. In reality, the impact of digital media depends on what, when and why children engage with screen time.
Not every child is a natural bookworm, and even those that are might inadvertently not read as much once summer arrives and school’s out. Why is summer reading important? Because the loss of reading skills over summer is real. But don’t worry, you can help your child be school-ready for fall by encouraging consistent and independent reading while they’re on break. There are several ways to do so.
Page 3 of 97
Calgary’s Child Magazine © 2026 Calgary’s Child
