The second in The Adventures of Grandmasaurus series, this book is written by a local Toronto children's author and a long-time blogging friend of mine Caroline Fernandez. She is also the author of Stop Reading This Book and the Boredom Busters set. The fun illustrations, featuring Grandma Shonisaurus, Grandma Elasmosaurus and more, are by Shannon O'Toole, a Toronto based illustrator, painter and elementary school teacher.

Order your copy today on Amazon.ca.

This post is in partnership with TD Bank and the TD Grade One Book Giveaway program.

If you've been following my blog for a while, you'll know how much I love languages. Having studied languages during my undergrad, I am now able to speak French, Italian and Spanish in addition to Portuguese, which I learned from my parents. There is something about learning new words and being able to communicate with people from all over the world that fills my heart with happiness. It's one of the reasons that I count myself among those lucky few who absolutely love their job. Teaching French to students as early as grade one brings me great joy out of the sheer fact that not only can many of my grade one students have basic conservations with me and their peers in the target language, but they can also read many high frequency words as well. While I am only required to assess them on listening and speaking at that age, reading plays a huge role in their learning and thus, in the way I teach.

Even though I've been teaching for over 17 years, it wasn't until a few years ago, when I adopted a different teaching method based on storytelling and plays, that I truly began to appreciate the importance of reading and re-reading stories to children. I liken it to when my own children were infants and were first learning to speak. They would often repeat what they would hear us say, the songs we sang or the stories we read. These stories would become so familiar to them that the day they picked up those storybooks, they were able to read most of the story on their own or, at the very least, had the confidence to retell the story based on the pictures. It was that connection to the story that helped them to persevere along their journey to becoming fluent readers. 

Knowing how beneficial it is to expose children to books as early as possible and as much as possible, I am overjoyed that the TD Grade One Book Giveaway provides more than 550,000 English and French grade one students with a free children’s book written by a Canadian author. And if taking home their very own book to share and read with their families wasn't awesome enough, I couldn't be more thrilled to learn that both the French and English versions of the book include a translation in Plains Cree text in honour of 2019 being named the International Year of Indigenous Languages. The story is called My Heart Fills with Happiness / sâkaskinêw nitêh miywêyihtamowin ohci and is written by award-winning author Monique Gray Smith, with beautiful illustrations by Julie Flett. 

My Heart Fills with Happiness focusses on finding the simple things in life that make us happy and was actually written to support the wellness of Indigenous children and families. I love that the story and the illustrations embrace the joys we typically associate with childhood but so often overlook in adulthood, such as walking barefoot on the grass, feeling the warmth of the sun on your cheeks, holding the hand of someone you love or dancing like nobody's watching. It's easy enough for early readers to enjoy and I know my grade one students will love reading the French version as well. The book will be an excellent conversation-starter as we reflect upon and discuss that which fills our hearts with happiness. Je suis content(e) quand je danse, joue avec mes amis, lit mon livre favori...

Working with the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, the TD Grade One Book Giveaway has  been designed to encourage literacy in young children and to promote a love of reading and passion for books. And thanks to this program, which first began in 2000, more than 9.5 million Canadian children’s books have been distributed to children nation-wide. It is part of The Ready Commitment, a multi-year program launched by TD last year that supports a variety of programs to promote children's literacy, such as the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, TD Summer Reading Club and more. TD is committed to giving youth access to reading programs at a young age, as early learning leads to the ability to succeed with confidence later in life.

This post is in partnership with TD Bank and the TD Summer Reading Club. 

"Mom! I'm bored!"

How many times have I heard that before? As much as I love having so much down time with the family during the summer, it never ceases to surprise me how frequently my son complains that he has nothing to do. I try not to let it get under my skin because really, boredom can be a good thing since it helps develop creativity and imagination. You know what else can help build important skills among kids? Reading. So, enough with the whining, my son. It's time to sign up for the TD Summer Reading Club! 

Despite the fact that we have a variety of books to read at home, it isn't always easy to motivate my son to pick one up and set aside some time for pleasure reading. I think it's because he often associates reading with the dreaded H-word - homework. As a teacher, I fully understand that the more kids read, the more successful they will be in school and in life, so the more I can make reading fun for my son, the better. This is where the TD Summer Reading Club comes in. As Canada’s biggest bilingual summer reading program for kids, it has been designed to inspire kids to explore the fun of reading in their way, no matter their age, interests or abilities. And the best part? It's free to join!

We recently headed out to our local Toronto Public Library and met up with a wonderful librarian named Scott Robins. He gave my son a school-age reading club notebook which includes:

He invited my son to share his thoughts on a good book that he had read recently and so he chose to talk about Small Steps by Louis Sachar. He then wrote his name and the title of this story on a mini book cutout that was later stapled to a bulletin board. It was impressive to see how many other book suggestions there were from other kids. 

Scott then suggested that my son read the prequel to Small Steps, entitled Holes, and to my delight, he eagerly added it to his pile of books. And given that my son loves graphic novels, Scott was able to provide some great suggestions, for which I am very thankful. Even though they're an easy read, he really enjoys them and that's what counts, am I right?

Of course, if I had suggested them, he might have just passed them by. But thanks to Scott's impressive knowledge and love of children's books, I found my son was much more willing to try out some new books. This is why I'd highly recommend speaking with your local librarian to help find books that are not only age appropriate but also speak to your child's interests. Finding it hard to make it out to the library with kids in tow? Fret not, my friends. The TD Summer Reading Program is also available online!

One aspect of the TD Summer Reading Club program that I love is that it celebrates Canadian authors, illustrators and stories. And better still, kids can access a variety of these stories in eBook format for free via the website. On our list of must-read eBooks is Countdown to Danger: Canadian Survival, a  choose-your-own adventure where you have to try and make it out of the woods alive.

Given that kids can take part in the TD Summer Reading Club virtually anywhere, whether it be at a local public library, at home, or online, this program not only helps to keep boredom at bay but it can help improve their reading skills and increase their love of reading as well. It's also a great way to beat the summer slide, since research shows that children who participate in summer reading clubs return to school in the fall without learning-loss and with increased confidence. Plus, when reading is fun for kids, they are more likely to read more and make it a lifelong habit. And look at all the fun things participants can do as part of the TD Summer Reading Club. Kids can:

As with the TD Grade One Book Giveaway, the TD Summer Reading Club is part of the The Ready Commitment, TD's corporate citizenship platform, with the mission to help create a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow. It is another example that shows how TD believes that literacy fuels education, education leads to better jobs, and better jobs build a stronger economy.

This post is in partnership with TD Bank and the TD Grade One Book Giveaway program.

When I was a little girl, I loved storybooks. Our class visit to the school library was a highlight of the week for me because it meant I could sit back and listen to the librarian read to us. Sometimes she would even play the audio version of the book (on cassette tape!), with the author bringing the story to life with silly voices and sound effects. After story time was over, I would often rush to sign out the newest book before anyone else so that I could be the first to read it. I would also admire the pristine cover and that "new book" smell.

As much as I enjoyed picture books, I struggled with reading as a child. I often wondered if this is related to the fact that, aside from the solitary library book I could sign out each week, I really didn't have access to a lot of books at home. You see, my parents immigrated to Canada in the early 70s without knowing a lick of English. Both sacrificed so much to be able to provide us with basic necessities. My mom worked day and night as a cleaner and my dad worked in construction. Thanks to their incredible drive and work ethic, we never did without. Yet, I really didn't have a lot of story books growing up. It's not that my parents didn't feel it was important, but rather, as an immigrant family, other necessities took priority. They did, however, manage to save up enough money to buy us a set of encyclopedias, of which the medical reference volume proved quite enlightening. 

The yearly book fair at school was often hard because I remember wanting so desperately to buy at least one new book that I could call my own. It got to the point where I would periodically sneak into my mom's purse and rummage for loose change in the weeks leading up to the book fair, so that I had enough money to secretly purchase a book. I loved that book so much but, ironically, I couldn't enjoy it at home because then I would have to explain where I got the money to buy it.

My struggles with reading gradually grew to be more challenging in later years. Independent novel studies became tiresome because despite my ability to decode words, I would end up re-reading pages for lack of comprehension. Sometimes, I would give up entirely. One year, I submitted a made-up book review based on what little information I could gather from the few chapters I read at the beginning and at the end of the novel. Needless to say, it didn't take long for my teacher to figure that out.

Now, as a mother and an educator, I see great value in exposing children to reading as early as possible. For this reason, I applaud initiatives, such as the TD Grade One Book Giveaway that put books into the hands of young readers. Not only does it help foster a love of reading, but also provides critical opportunities to develop crucial literacy skills.

Did you know the TD Grade One Book Giveaway provides more than 500,000 English and French grade one students with a free Canadian children’s book each year?

The program, which began in 2000, is the largest of its kind in Canada and was created to help encourage literacy in young children. It is a program that shows how TD is committed to giving youth access to reading programs. Thanks to the support of Canadian Children's Book Centre, more than 9.5 million Canadian children's books have been distributed from coast-to-coast since the program first launched. In addition, the TD Grade One Book Giveaway is part of the TD Ready Commitment, a multi-year program launched last year targeted towards community giving and initiatives that will help open doors for a more inclusive future.

In 2018, students were able to take home a copy of Giraffe and Bird, written and illustrated by Canadian author Rebecca Bender.

When my son and I first read Giraffe and Bird, it didn’t take us long to draw a parallel between the two main characters and our family. Similar to my own two kids, Giraffe and Bird tend to do things that irritate each other, like making funny faces and sticking out their tongues. Some days, they invade each other’s personal space and complain of bad breath, or chew food with their mouth open. Sound familiar? In the end, Giraffe and Bird come to realize that, despite the difficulties of always getting along, they are better off together. It’s a sweet message that pairs so perfectly with the beautiful illustrations. My son and I also enjoyed reading the emphasized words thanks to their onomatopoeic qualities, along with the French version La giraffe et l’oiseau.
“Cui-cui!”
“Miam, miam!”
So cute!

Giveaway!

As part of the TD Grade One Book Giveaway, one lucky follower will receive a literacy-themed giveaway that will include:

• Copy of Giraffe and Bird by Rebecca Bender
• Giraffe lunch bag
• Stuffed giraffe toy
• Cute and colourful notebook and pencils

The giveaway will be open to residents of Canada only, excluding Quebec. For a chance to win, please complete the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

With the holidays just around the corner, I am sure many of us are already on the lookout for gift ideas. At least, I know I am. I love gifting block kits such as LEGO sets but this year, there's a fabulous gift idea to complement toy blocks. Introducing Mayka Toy Block Tape, a revolutionary idea licensed from the ORIGINAL Nimuno Loops. I had supported their Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign earlier this year and absolutely love how it can transform virtually any surface into a base for construction toy bricks and figures.

Mayka Toy Block Tape is a flexible and cuttable surface with an adhesive backing that can be used to make 3D creations. Mayka Tape is compatible with LEGO® toys and other major toy construction brands. It comes in a wide variety of colours, widths and lengths, and can be easily cut with scissors to the desired length. Then you remove the adhesive seal from the back, making not to place it near any hair, dirty floors, food, or other surfaces that may damage the adhesive. Place the tape to a clean surface. Please note that it is not recommended for use on painted surfaces.

Mayka tape can be removed and re-used, provided that the adhesive is in good condition. But like any adhesive product, it will get less sticky if re-used several times. We first tried it on our mirrored closet door. We began by adding a strip to the mirror and applied square bricks sideways. Then we applied a second strip of Mayka tape on the top side of those squares so that we could also build vertically.

It's hard to believe that Bambi is three quarters of a century old but he's still as adorable as ever. To celebrate this monumental year, "Bambi" joined the Walt Disney Signature Collection on Digital HD, Blu-ray™, DVD and On-Demand earlier this month. The Collection release includes a variety of new bonus material, including recordings of Walt Disney discussing the challenges and triumphs during the production of the film, deleted scenes and characters, "Bambi" fawn facts, and more. The Blu-ray™bonus extra includes the short film "Oswald The Lucky Rabbit" and a collectible Tyrus Wong lithograph. The Digital HD release also includes an exclusive, heartfelt feature on the talented artist, who inspired the film’s soft watercolour backgrounds and beautiful palette. 

Walt Disney's "Bambi" is a coming-of-age classic that has been a favourite for generations. In this life-changing adventure, Bambi sets off with his trusty pals Thumper and Flower to explore the woods as prince of the forest.

If you're looking for fun Bambi-themed activities to do with the kids over the summer, head on over to disneymovies.com. There you will find several fun ideas including the cute Bambi paper craft featured above that you can print out onto cardstock, along with other activities such as a Bambi and friends colouring page.

Disclosure: I have partnered with Walt Disney Motion Pictures Canada to bring you this review. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

As a child, counting down to Christmas was a surefire way to brighten our spirits once the weather turned cold. Sometimes the countdown would end sooner than usual if we had a family vacation down south to look forward to. Whether we spent the holidays at home with the family or abroad on the beach, holiday smiles were pretty much a guarantee. Today, as a mother of two, I realize how much I had taken that all for granted. For the first time, we will be spending time in the hospital visiting with my mother-in-law who recently slipped and broke her leg. This was devastating news for my youngest, who wanted desperately to see her but was hit hard by the stomach flu. It was a difficult reminder that life isn't always easy; that illness and injury can take us all by surprise. 

For thousands of children and their families, the holidays will be spent in Canadian hospitals. But because Duracell believes in powering the imagination of sick children by helping to ensure kids can still be kids, they can still enjoy the magic of the season. For the 10th consecutive year, Duracell is donating a year supply of batteries to hospital playrooms across the country. The goal: to power smiles and imagination this holiday season and beyond. Knowing that a new working toy or game can help make a child's hospital stay a little brighter, Brampton singer Alessia Cara joined Duracell, who donated $180,000 to SickKids in her name, to promote their Powering Smiles campaign. In addition, Duracell, in partnership with Hasbro, also delivered a shipment of toys, along with the batteries to power them. Among these toys was the new Furby Connect.

In our home, Furby has been bringing smiles to my kids for the past four years. It first started with the original Furby and then the family expanded with a Furby Boom. For each one, we always made sure to use Duracell batteries. This year, we are thrilled to welcome Furby Connect to the family. My favourite features are his moving ears and his colourful eyes that display more than 150 animations to help express what Furby wants. You can pet him, tickle him, shake him, or turn him upside down. Furby reacts each time! Plus, when Furby Connect syncs with the Furby Connect World app, there are more physical and digital ways to interact and more surprises to discover, making this a great gift idea for the holidays. And don't forget to power Furby Connect with Duracell batteries since Duracell makes the magic of the holidays last longer.

For every pack of Duracell batteries sold at Walmart in December 2016, Duracell will donate to Children’s Miracle Network. Now only will you avoid a child's disappointment in receiving a battery-operated toy that is powerless, you will also help make a child’s hospital stay a little brighter. Join the Powering Smiles Campaign and help them reach this year's goal to raise $150,000.

Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by Duracell. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

For the longest time, I always believed that I was born in the wrong time period. When I was younger, I thought I most definitely belonged in the 50's and 60's when foxtrot, swing, hand jive and cha cha were all the rage. Now, in the 21st century, I can't help but think how much I would have thrived as a student today surrounded by educational technology and innovative ideas. Take, for example, the all-new Kindle E-reader. With its thin and ultra light design, kids can keep up with their latest novel study by reading an e-book version without screen glare, making it easy on the eyes. And because it holds thousands of books and boasts a battery that lasts for weeks, they can enjoy their own personal mobile library anywhere they go without distractions such as alerts or notifications. But what makes this device all the more innovative is the built-in Kindle FreeTime feature.

The Kindle FreeTime feature allows parents to set up profiles for their children and set reading goals. For example, you could set their daily reading goal to 30 minutes and, if they achieve that goal, they will be rewarded with achievement badges. Because you can customize these goals, you can slowly increase them as your child grows in their reading ability. Badges and personalized goals would have been a big motivator for me as a reluctant reader, I am sure. Parents are kept in the loop with a progress report that shows total time spent reading, number of words looked up, badges earned, and books read. Plus, they can rest assured that their kids are enjoying books in a simple, fun, and safe environment, knowing that they cannot access the browser or make purchases in the Kindle Store thanks to best-in-class parental controls.

While families can celebrate reading milestones with Kindle FreeTime achievement badges, kids reading their first chapter books can tackle more challenging books with a little help from Word Wise. Available on many popular English language titles, Word Wise provides short and simple definitions that automatically appear above difficult words, making it easier to enjoy and quickly understand what they are reading. They can also tap on a word to bring up a simple card with definitions, synonyms, and more, improving their vocabulary.

Discovering the customizable #kindlefreetime feature on the all-new #Kindle e-reader, a fun tool that rewards kids with achievement badges, records milestones and sends progress reports to parents. #ereader #edtech #techforkids #tech4kids #freetime #tech #techreview #amazon #amazonkindle #reading #twitter

A photo posted by Diana Mancuso (@torontomom) on Oct 5, 2016 at 5:47pm PDT

To help you and your little ones celebrate reading milestones with Kindle FreeTime, one lucky reader will win a $100 Amazon.ca gift card! This could be used to purchase the all-new Kindle E-reader, which currently retails for $79.99, a protective cover or even to update your e-library. Simply leave a comment on this post sharing what you love most about the all-new Kindle E-reader or the Kindle FreeTime feature and complete the Rafflecopter form below. Open to residents of Canada, excluding Quebec.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received product samples and other perks to help facilitate this review. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

For school supplies, I am using Avery Kids Self Laminating Labels. These are available in neon and primary colours, and are smear proof and dishwasher safe. All you need to do is lift the self laminating seal and write using a permanent marker or pen, remove the white backer and press the laminated seal down before applying to a dry clean surface. These extra durable labels are also great for lunch box items, bottles, sports gear, electronic devices and more.

Avery Labels are great to help keep teachers organized at school, too. My favourite set of labels are the versatile Avery Address Labels, now available in Easy Peel. I use these every year to create name labels for the nearly 150 students I teach so they can easily find their French folders and notebooks. This year, I tested out the Avery Design & Print Online templates and found some really cute graphics and design ideas. I probably spent more time than I should have personalizing these labels but it was definitely worth it. Aren't they adorable?

And to save me some time, I used Avery Eco-Friendly Address Labels this year to print out a shortened URL that students and parents can access from home.

Because when it comes to French class, I need to maximize every minute while helping my students stay organized. Thanks, Avery Canada!

Disclosure: I received product to help facilitate this review. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

It’s that time again! Backpacks, lunch bags, pencils, pens… the never-ending list for back to school. But wait… is something missing? 

I recently had the pleasure of bringing my son to the Loblaw Optical Department, at the East York Loblaws in Toronto, for his yearly eye exam. As a mother and teacher, I can appreciate the importance of vision care, and as such, believe that an eye exam should be a regular part of every parent’s back to school routine. I’ve frequently seen first-hand how difficult school can become for a student who struggles to see clearly. Eyeglasses, with the proper prescription, can sometimes mean the difference between failure and success in the classroom. However, according to the recent Loblaw Kids Eye Health Survey, a concerning 35% of Canadian parents do not plan to schedule an appointment to have their children’s eyes checked before school begins. Luckily, Loblaw Optical Departments, have made it even easier for busy moms and dads to bring their kids to get their eyes checked. With their optical labs conveniently located in store, parents can easily do their grocery shopping, while their eyewear prescriptions are being filled.

While my son had his eyes checked, I had the opportunity to speak with the optician on the topic of current eye care issues with children, and some important vision facts. He explained that today’s children are now in front of tablet and computer screens more than ever before, at home and at school, and that long and frequent exposure will, sadly, affect their sight. Unfortunately, even with this increased need in eye examinations, the number of children who are being brought in to have their vision checked yearly is not increasing. He also mentioned that parents should be made aware of the many benefits that are available through OHIP for vision care for children. For example, even if a child has had their eyes checked, but new concerns or problems arise throughout the year, parents are always able to bring their child back at any time, for additional appointments, free of charge. Also of note is The Kids See Free Program, which ensures that children aged 4-10 years receive any frame, valued up to $49.00, with kids safe polycarbonate lenses, for free. (Additional upgrades to the frames and/or lenses are not included.)  Ultimately, with all of these facts and information in mind, the importance of having your children’s eyes examined couldn’t be any clearer!

The Kids See Free Program is available at Optical Departments at Real Canadian Superstore, Loblaws, Zehrs, Fortinos, Your Independent Grocer, Atlantic Superstore, and Dominion Stores in Newfoundland.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Ever since I was a child, I loved math. I loved how straightforward simple math equations were, the ways we could manipulate them in algebra and how useful they were in geometry. I loved math so much that I would often skip ahead to the next chapter and explore concepts before we covered them in class, which meant I was usually ahead of the class. In grades 7 and 8, I jumped at the opportunity to participate in Gauss Mathematics contests and thrived later in high school when I elected to study calculus under the direction of any equally passionate math instructor. I remember being surrounded by several of my peers who harboured a love of math and the feeling of pride that I felt when I could provide a different solution to the same problem that no one else had thought of. In fact, my strong abilities in math were a great boost to my self-confidence during a period of my life where I didn't quite fit in socially.

Now that I have kids of my own who are growing up in a digital age, I believe that math and computational skills are more important than ever before. I have to remind myself, however, that math doesn't come easily to everyone as it did for me. While my son has been able to quickly grasp math concepts, my daughter has built up a wall of resistance. I don't know exactly what the reason may be but, when it comes to doing math homework, she doesn't want to do it. In short, she hates it. And that breaks my heart. We have tried supporting her with her homework, purchasing additional math practice workbooks and flash cards, and have even contemplated enrolling her in an after-school program. What I am slowly discovering is that, once we remove the pressures of completing math activities under our watchful eye and replace it with something that is fun, engaging and targeted to her needs, learning math can actually be fun. And I have Mathletics to thank for it.

What is Mathletics?

Mathletics is an online educational resource that is transforming the way students learn math. Designed to support students in a supportive environment, Mathletics targets and adapts content based on the learning pace of each individual child and aligns with provincial math curricula in Canada. The program offers a Concept Search feature where children can find an interactive and visual dictionary of mathematical terms, a variety of problem solving puzzles that explore real-world math problems, and, for younger children, Rainforest Math, a vibrant area of Mathletics with easier activities.

For the past month, both of my children have been testing out the Mathletics program. Off the bat, I knew it would be well-received by both of them because they were able to download the tablet version on their iPad Minis. This gives them a better sense of ownership and allows them greater freedom to practice their math skills at a time that is best suited to them. They have the option of selecting "something easier" if they are struggling or "something harder" if they want to challenge themselves. My only requirement is that they each complete a certain number of activities of their own choosing where they achieve a gold bar. This means they have successfully completed 85% of the activity. The good thing is that they can attempt an activity as many times as they like and will still get points for every correct answer. Plus, they receive real-time results with automatic marking and, as they progress in understanding, the activity automatically adapts to their level. 

As a parent, I love the ability to monitor their progress by way of weekly reports that summarize the number of times my children have signed in, the total length of time spent and the number of points they have earned. It also details which curriculum activities they have attempted and how well they scored. I also have the option of signing into the Family Centre and assigning particular tasks so that the next time they sign in, those must be completed first. For example, my daughter has spent a lot of time on Number and Place Value activities, so I have assigned tasks from Multiply and Divide Facts. 

While the gamification elements of earning points and certificates in Mathletics motivates my kids to improve their math skills, I have found that LIVE Mathletics has been the greatest motivator. LIVE Mathletics matches them up with kids from all over the world in a real-time, fast-paced challenge where they must answer mental math questions in a 60 second time limit. My kids are so amazed when they get to compete with kids as far away as Australia and have so much fun, they lose track of time. I was a little hesitant at first because I was concerned about privacy. However, there is no direct communication and student details are kept anonymous. Plus, I was reassured to learn that Mathletics is fully compliant with the most recent data privacy legislation ("FIPPA", "PIPEDA" and "PIIDPA) and all student data highly encrypted and stored on secure servers based in Canada. So, not only are my kids having fun, I can enjoy peace of mind while they play and learn online. As an added bonus, Mathletics activities can be downloaded directly to their tablets so that they keep up their practice while on the road.

Mathletics is available for students in grades K-10. Parents can purchase a 3-month subscription for as little as $35. Half year and full year subscriptions are also available. For more information, please visit Mathletics.ca.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by 3P Learning, the makers of Mathletics. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Remember the days when scratch 'n' sniff stickers were a thing? I loved collecting them as a kid and now, whenever I can find them, I like to add them to my teacher stash. There's a certain nostalgia to scratch 'n' sniff stickers which is why I was curious to see what the Original Whiffer Sniffers were all about. Recently launched in Canada, Whiffer Sniffers are cuddly scented plush characters and backpack clips with quirky personalities to match their scents.

For review, we received a Milton Melon Backpack Clip and a Chocolate Chip Backpack Clip. They clip easily onto backpack, lunchbox or bag, and are a fun collectible to keep or trade with friends. Our favourite is the watermelon backpack clip. Each clip retails for $9.99 each.

We also received a 12-inch Freddy Froster Super Sniffer. This adorable donut scented plush toy comes in a huggable size that kids will love. Super Sniffers retail for $19.99. All plush toys and backpack clips are packaged in giftable clear containers and are designed for kids ages three and up. Also available are Myster Packs that contain rare backpack clip-sized Whiffer Sniffers such as Sunny Pop and Jerry Pie, super rare gold bag characters that are a mix of two existing characters, or one of the other regularly sold Whiffer Sniffer characters. They are now exclusively available at Toys"R"Us.

Disclosure: I received samples to help facilitate this review. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Over the last few years, classrooms have evolved to accommodate project based learning opportunities in the area of STEAM - science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. As a result, there is a growing trend of toys and gadgets that aim to engage kids in educational play by introducing them to STEAM concepts. One such gadget is the 3D Magic ImagiPen.

The ImagiPen allows kids to create 3D drawings by using a special no-heat pen that has a built-in UV light, which allows kids to build creations in mid-air. The kit includes an ImagiPen, one blue gel cartridge, one green gel cartridge, an ImagiPen docking station, a cleaning tool, and two free-play stencils. Batteries are not included.

For our first project, my daughter and I decided to recreate the Eiffel Tower. Using a template we found online, we traced the designs by placing the free-play stencils on top of the template and tracing it. We placed the stencils on the window sill to cure for a couple of hours and once we had all the pieces we needed, we began to assemble our Eiffel Tower. 

It took us a while to get the hang of using the 3D ImagiPen, especially since my daughter, who loves to draw, would use it like a ball-point pen. When creating flat pieces of art, you need to let the gel fall into place and be wary that it will remain wet for a while. We had to redo some of the pieces and even still, they weren't perfect. As such, some parts were difficult to stick together during assembly since not all the edges were perfectly straight. We simply considered this a lesson in engineering and design!

For the very top of the tower, we used the ImagiPen with the UV light setting so it dried in mid-air. It was a little too tall but the neat part is that, once it has cured, you can trim it with a pair of scissors. What you want to keep in mind is, when creating flat pieces, it can get a little messy if you accidentally touch the design while it's wet. The gel ended up on our hands more often than I cared for which is why I prefer using the ImagiPen to create vertical designs with the UV light on so it dries instantly before I can get my clumsy fingers all messy. 

The 3D Magic ImagiPen, designed for kids age 8 and up, is available online at imagipen.ca for $29.99 plus $8.99 for shipping and handling. I've also seen the ImagiPen on Toysrus.ca for the same price but you can save on shipping by selecting the free in-store pickup option.

Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate this review. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Did you know that April 20 is the next Talk with Our Kids About Money Day? It's the perfect time to have those important conversations about money with your little ones - Canadian currency, budgeting, visiting a bank, and saving. And now, parents and educators can turn to a children's book series dedicated to financial literacy, a first of its kind here in Canada. Introducing M is for Money, a collection of books designed to help teach the rudimentary facts about money to young children. Not only is this series made in Canada, I am proud to say that it was created by Teresa Cascioli, a Commerce graduate of my alma mater, McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. 

An award-winning entrepreneur featured on Profit and Chatelaine Magazine's lists of Canada's most successful women, Teresa has also been named one of the Women's Executive Network Top 100 Canada's Most Powerful Women and has been awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal among other accolades. Her books feature the financial adventures of twins Tess and Benji as they learn about money, from working hard to earn it and the importance of opening up a bank account to save it, plus much more.

The complete series, which is available at misformoney.ca or at Indigo/Chapters across Canada, includes nine different books and is geared to children ages 5-9. My son received copies of the first three books and has enjoyed reading them with me, as well as completing some of the fun games and activities that can be found at the end of each book. My personal favourite are the "Look & Find" games that require the reader to find a certain number of a variety of objects throughout the book. The messaging within the stories is clear and concise, and the illustrations complement the stories well.


The M is for Money book series would make a great addition to a primary classroom or a personal library. There is also a variety of motivational rewards and other M is for Money themed fun stuff that can be ordered through the site, including bookmarks, magnets, birthday cards, stickers and more.

Disclosure: I received product samples and other perks to help facilitate this post. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

As much as I hate to admit it, I didn't take very good care of my teeth as a kid. I had a few cavities and ended up costing my parents a small fortune since neither of them had a dental plan. One such cavity ended up requiring a root canal and gum surgery in my adult years. In hindsight, I can better appreciate the gift my dad bought us for Christmas many, many moons ago - an electric toothbrush. Several years ago, I made the switch back to an electric toothbrush and my dental hygienist has noticed a difference, as have I. Today, in an effort to get my kids to enjoy brushing their teeth regularly, I have tried both electric and battery-operated toothbrushes. They couldn't quite get used to them, my daughter especially, but now that they are a little older, they agreed to try out some new brushes by Oral-B.

The New Power Brush User Oral-B Vitality Sensitive Electric Toothbrush has extra gentle bristles and a round, compact brush. Given that my daughter tends to 'delicately' brush her teeth, this one was perfect for her. She hasn't picked up a manual toothbrush since so I say she likes it. She really, really likes it! It is rechargeable and includes a charger.

Unlike my daughter, my son has been using battery-operated toothbrushes for a few years and so, to match his bold approach to dental hygiene, he tested out a super cool Star Wars toothbrush. And now, with the brilliant Disney Magic Timer App, he can invoke the force to help count to two minutes of successful brushing. The app is free and provides additional motivation by rewarding him with virtual stickers for his sticker book collection. He can choose from a variety of avatars and Disney themes. Funny enough, he was born a Star Wars baby (May the Fourth) so guess which one he chose!