Episode list

Every parent wants to understand their babies wants and needs, but until their child learns to talk, parents are left trying to decipher babies' cries and interpret their body language. In this feature report, we investigate some new tools designed to help parents communicate with their pre-verbal child. World renoun "Baby Whisperer" and author Tracy Hogg, creator of "Baby Signs", discusses the latest trend in talking to your baby - using sign language. Hogg is a British-trained nurse, lactation educator, and newborn consultant. She has cared for infants and their families for the past 24 years. Professor Linda Acredolo at the University of California is also featured, she has served as an Associate Editor of Child Development, as Secretary of the Society for Research in Child Development, and is a Fellow of both the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society. Lending their opinions and expertise to the controversial topic are Dr. Dona Mathews, a psycho-educational consultant and professor at the University of Toronto, and Invest in Kids' Dr. Chaya Kulkarni. Dr. Kulkarni is an early childhood education specialist, and is director of programs and training at Invest in Kids Foundation. Mom Christine Diakos takes three year old Isabella out to lunch for a tasty Reality Check on dining out with a toddler. Is your child ready to lose those training wheels? Daniel Yang of Cycle Solutions gives us a How To on teaching your child to ride a bike, and demonstrates with 4 year old Ayrton, who delivers some surprising results. The Corcorans are three generations of one family, living under one roof. Nancy Corcoran, her husband and their five children all live with Nancy's very loving and surprisingly active 89 year-old father, Stanley, in the house he was born in. They offer a remarkable and touching video diary.

Whether you're a first born, middle born or the baby of the family, you view the world from a unique vantage point. The idea that the way we behave is shaped by our birth order was first conceived by psychoanalyst Alfred Adler in the early 1900s. In this feature report we talk to the author of "The New Birth Order Book", Kevin Leman to examine birth order theory and meet some parents who have put this theory to the test. When Meenu and her husband Jai decided to have a child, not everyone thought it was a good idea...or even possible. Meenu is in a wheelchair because of a spinal cord injury, but she has never considered her disability an obstacle to good parenting. There are challenges which are overcome thanks to family support and plenty of ingenuity. This is their story, told with a home video camera.

Yes, you are seeing double, triple and quadruple. Over the past decade, the incidence of multiple births has increased tremendously, thanks to the success of modern reproductive technology. In this feature report, we meet the Harrisons, parents of quads and the Scotts, who have triplets and, Dr. Johnathon Barrett, an OBGYN at Women's College Hospital for a look at the medical, lifestyle and financial realities of having multiples. Parental softie Alex Sopinka resolves to stop being a "yes Daddy" to his irresistible, and wiley, daughter Zoe in this Reality Check. We all struggle to learn how to manage and save money, but in this "How To", financial writer and parent Gail Vas-Oxlade tells us how to start early with our own kids, with some sound advice on teaching our children the value of money. Tara and Bill Mummery resolve to get their two young sons' TV viewing habits under control. So, they declare a TV-free week and document the process for this Video Diary.

True or false quiz: Boys and girls should be taught exactly the same way. If you answered false, you're right. As politically incorrect as it sounds, when it comes to teaching methods, ignoring gender differences can actually hurt children's education. We meet a brother and sister whose learning styles reveal some interesting gender differences. Plus, Children's Literature/English Education English Literature Professor Lissa Paul, Gender specialist Cecilia Reynolds (Ph.D. Associate Dean, Academic Program of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of U of T) and Dr. Otto Weininger, who served for 15 years as Chairman of the Early Childhood Program at the University of Toronto, where he received his Ph.D. in psychology, discuss the many differences between boys and girls and how they are key in making our education system work for everyone. Recovering stage parent Craig Norris gives us this cautionary Reality Check about his efforts to turn his baby daughter Abby into a star. The tragic news is that more infants die from SIDS than from any other disease. The good news is that medical experts have identified major risk factors, and through parent education, have reduced the incidence of SIDS deaths dramatically. Fiona Chapman, Executive Director of the SIDS Foundation, outlines the simple, but crucial steps every new parent must take to reduce the risk of SIDS. Take six kids, a few goats, some chickens and a cow or two, and you have the tranquil life of the Van Slightenhorst family. Nestled on a farm in rural Ontario, this close knit family lives, works and plays together in a setting that's picture perfect in this week's Video Diary.

One of the most important relationships a woman can ever have is the one with her father. The way a new dad communicates with and treats his daughter can shape her future relationships with men, her sense of herself in the world, and her sense of herself. Fathers and daughters, along with Dr. Eugene V. Beresin Director, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency training, Harvard Medical School help us explore the mysterious, complicated, wonderful bond between daddies and their little girls. Singer/songwriter Tara MacLean introduces us to her baby daughter Sophia, as well as to her theory of attachment parenting. That means you never - okay, hardly ever - put your baby down. In this Reality Check, Tara takes us though life with a babe in arms - 24/7. Tired of asking, bribing, okay begging your kids to clean up their room or help with the dishes? Ann Douglas, author and mother of 4, and the Spark/Dutton family offer some suggestions for getting the junior members of the family to dig in, pitch in and help out around the house - and have fun doing it We all try to keep our children safe. For the Osbornes it's a real and constant worry. Born with Brittle Bone disease, 10 year old Josh has endured nearly 30 broken bones and 6 surgeries. In this touching and inspiring video diary, Diane and John show us how they manage to care for their fragile son, while allowing him to be all boy.

Not so long ago, the strap was used in schools and it was commonplace for parents to dole out a spanking to a misbehaving child. Times have changed, corporal punishment is outlawed in many countries and child care experts now advocate alternate means of discipline, stressing instruction and guidance. So what prompted this shift in philosophy and practice? Turns out our changing notions about discipline have a lot to do with the evolution of childhood. Child historian Desmond Glynn and child care expert and author Barbara Coloroso (author of Giving Your Child the Gift of Inner Discipline) trace the history and look at the future of discipline. Gayle O'Brien knows how to look and feel good. Only weeks away from giving birth to her second baby, Gayle is desperately holding on to every bit of glamour she can. In this Reality Check, our gregarious Mom-to-be offers some tongue in cheek beauty tips. Any parent with an extremely shy child knows that while they want their little one to be who they are, naturally, it is also important to help their child become more relaxed and open to the world. Family Therapist Ross Johnson, teacher Nora Doran and the Miele and DeFrancesco families offer advice on how to give a shy child a little extra confidence and help them open up to the world. No matter how critical we may be of our educational system, most of us still send our kids off to regular schools, considering them to be the place where children go to learn. In this Video Diary, we meet a mom who's chosen to home school both of her daughters. Gayle Remisch teaches us about her techniques and philosophies of home schooling.

Most parents have probably had the feeling that their little baby seemed to grow up in no time. These days, more than ever, it seems our kids are growing up way too fast. In this feature report, we hear from kids, parents, Author Dr. David Elkind and Endocrinologist Dr. Jack Holland about the hyper-maturity of our kids and what parents can do about it. Dad Kim Saltarski gives us a humorous Reality Check on the stresses he feels when his little daughter Maya starts school. Seems simple, right? Your child does something well, and you tell them. According to child Psychologist Dr. Otto Weininger how you praise your child - what you say, when and how often - can affect your child's sense of confidence and self esteem. In this how-to, Craig and Felicity Osborne and their three children tell us how praise is dealt out in their family. Bryonie and Sandy were in a loving, supportive relationship and knew they wanted to have a child one day. When these two women became parents to little Merlyn, they began a journey towards parenthood - and opened up definitions of what comprises a family. This family shares their unconventional life with us in a fascinating video diary.

It's a natural relationship, so why do we tend to get so uptight about our kids getting dirty? Along with hard info on germs, immune systems and our potentially dangerous love affair with all things anti-bacterial, this feature report celebrates kids' relationship with dirt. Dr. Diane Sacks, President of the Canadian Pediatric Society, and Keely Forth, a children's garden program specialist give us the realities of the relative dangers of mucking about. In this humourous and tongue in cheek Reality Check, new mommy Marlowe Stone describes her battle to lose her baby weight. It's a fact of life - siblings tend to have those typical spats that drive parents crazy. In this "How To", Author Barbara Coloroso (Kids are Worth it) and the Watson family tell us their strategies for dealing with sibling rivalry. How many of us dream that when the kids are grown, we'll sell the house, buy a boat and sail around the world? Well, the family you're about to meet chose not to wait. John and Alyss Esmond, sold their 8000 square foot house in the suburbs five years ago and, with their 3 year old son, moved on board a sail-boat---or rather a partially built sail-boat. Meet the Esmonds-a live-aboard family in this Video Diary.

Imagine the frustration - and anxiety - when the world you see looks different than the world that everyone else around you sees. That's the experience of up to ten percent of school-aged children who are coping with dyslexia. This often undiagnosed condition can have devastating effects on a child's self-esteem, and can become debilitating in adulthood. For this feature report we talk to Dr. Maryanne Wolf, of the Center for Reading and Language Research at Tufts University, David Day, a Reading Therapist and Suzanne Day a Psychoeducational Consultant. Meet a family that's triumphed over dyslexia. Find out how they spotted it just in time. Freelance writer David Eddie and his 2 old son hit the park for a sociological study - and perhaps a quick swing - to analyze the rules and regs of playground etiquette. The anticipation of a new baby arriving is usually a happy time, where the mom-to-be is surrounded by activities, well-wishers and baby showers. But the reality of being at home with a newborn can mean long hours alone. Unexpected loneliness can set in. In this "How To", Ann Douglas, author and mother of 4 and new Mom Yvette Erdos-Levine discuss strategies to alleviate new mom loneliness. Twelve year old piano prodigy Pearl Chen and her family document the ups and downs of their very busy life in this video diary.

We all know how stress can build up: things aren't great at home, finances are tight, health's a bit of a problem, your boss is giving you a hard time or maybe one of your colleagues has been pushing you around. The usual symptoms - for your kids. Believe it or not, home life, money, health and school are the major sources of stress for kids. Kids have stress, you say! Sure they do. We just haven't been paying enough attention. For this feature report, we consult Dr. Sandra Mendlowitz, Psychologist at the Hospital for Sick Children and Claire McDerment the Co-chair, "Kids Have Stress Too" Program and get the real story from a very busy, and often stressed out, family. Kids aren't easily embarrassed, right? WRONG. Most of us have memories of cringing when our parents tried to be 'hip', and tried to relate to us on some other level than simply as goofy adults. Dad Alex Sopinka shows us some of the ways in which he manages to embarrass 4-year-old Zoe in his never-ending quest to be 'cool'. Every young child experiences fears and in this "How To", Dr. Lawrence Kutner, Clinical Psychologist at Harvard Medical School offers some creative suggestions for parents on how they can make that monster under the bed disappear. Kognaasowin is an Ojibway word meaning 'Raising our Children in a Healthy Way". Steve Teekens and Melissa McNeil were adults when they learned to be proud of their native heritage. Now, these busy two-career parents teach their young children to embrace their traditions and never be ashamed. For this week's Video Diary, we gave a camera to Steve and Melissa who share with us a rich past, a busy present and a hopeful future.

Nothing strikes fear in the heart of a parent like the knowledge their child is being bullied on the playground. The experience of having been the brunt of other kids' teasing and harassment is a secret shame that many people carry with them through their entire lives. Ryan Andersen, program director of 'Put the Breaks on Bulling', Kim Zarzour, author of 'The Schoolyard Bully', and bullying expert Dr. Debra Pepler, Professor of Psychology at York University and Director of the LaMarsh Centre for Research on Violence and Conflict Resolution, look at why bullying exists, how it can affect children, and what - if anything - parents can do to alleviate this problem. We all remember our first 'crush' and as parents, we want our own kids' memories of their first crushes to be magical. Young 'crush' experts Claire, Clare, and Jane tell us what it's like in the world of secret notes, giggling and smiling at boys. Child psychotherapist Janet Morrison, a psychological associate in private practice in Toronto, looks at what parents should know in order to help their kids through this exciting, and often anguish-inducing, rite of passage. Sayeeda and Anil Moonesar, and their son Kristian, invite us into their home for this week's video diary. Sayeeda runs a daycare out of her home, and she shows us how she transforms their apartment to accommodate the children she looks after, while maintaining a balanced home for Kristian.

It is an unfortunate reality that intolerance exists in our world in any form, but the fact is, people who are even a little bit 'different' are often discriminated against. For parents of boys and girls who may not fit into the usual gender stereotypes, a balance must be aimed for in which children are given the freedom to be who they are, while being protected from discrimination. Developmental psychologist Dr. Dona Matthews , a psycho-educational consultant and professor at the University of Toronto, Steven Solomon, Social Worker in the Toronto District School Board's Human Sexuality Program, and Psychologist Ken Zucker, head of the Child and Adolescent Gender Identity Clinic in Toronto, take a closer look at gender stereotypes that exist for children, assumptions that might be made about a child's sexuality, and how parents can support and nurture their children to be comfortable with who they are. Dad-to-be Steve Pratt offers his humourous Reality Check on the subtle ways in which he's discovering his evolution into becoming a father. It's a 'fact of life' that most parents get squeamish when it comes to talking about the birds and bees with their kids. In this candid discussion, Josephine Wong a nurse and sexual health educator with Toronto Public Health takes parents through some steps that can make this process easier. Mom Christina Rajack recounts her own experiences of learning about sexuality when she was younger and how she manages to discuss these issues with her own daughter. Moving is one of our more stressful life experiences, right after death and divorce. In this week's Video Diary, Brenda Spencer's family agreed to document the ups and downs of the big move. They're not just moving but seriously downsizing, trading their wide-open suburban space for a small house in the city. From the big purge of the garage sale' to the first walk around the new neighbourhood, Brenda Spencer's candid and humourous journal will leave you feeling almost like you lived through it yourself.

In our Feature Report, we take a look at body image and its direct link with self-esteem. Almost every parent has had their own issues with body image - A parent's role in shaping their child's body image is pivotal, as families live in a world increasingly obsessed with how things look on the outside. Pediatrician Miriam Kaufman and Ann Kerr examine why healthy body image is so important for kids and how parents can help nurture it. A savvy panel of elementary-school children offer their own opinions on why poor body image is a problem, and what they would like too see done in order to alleviate it. In our Reality Check segment, we delve into obsession. All parents know that when a young child makes their mind up about something it can be difficult, even impossible, to get them to focus on anything else. David Hoffert has discovered that his young son Jorel's interest in trains has turned into an obsession that consumes him day and night, much to his dad's dismay. When a child wets their bed, feelings of shame, guilt and fear can make the problem worse. In our How-to, with the help of her 3-year-old daughter Katie, Angela Reichenbach talks about how she deals with the issue of bed-wetting while child Psychologist Dr. Otto Weininger offers his own tips for parents. In this touching Video Diary, we explore the impact of a parent being away from home for an extended period of time. When that parent is a member of the armed forces, such as in the case of the Hensel family, fear and uncertainty becomes a part of day-to-day life. Teresa Hensel invites us to be a part of her life - and that of her children, Abby and Ayden - to see how she's coping while her husband Horst is posted overseas on active duty.