Family Matters

New research out of the University of Alberta is helping shed light on the telltale symptoms of COVID-19 in children. Dr. Joan Robinson specializes in pediatric infectious diseases and joins us to share the findings and offer up her big takeaways for parents and school administrators. Also on this episode, time-strapped moms and dads are turning to Tiktok for advice. A rise in therapists, psychologists and counsellors are now sharing their tips on social media. The list includes Jax Anderson. She is a mental health therapist and a Tiktok celebrity with more than 10 million likes. She shares her journey to TikTok, and we also have some advice for parents before scrolling. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parents can feel helpless during youth sport tryouts but there are ways to support our children from the sidelines. We take a look at research out of the University of Alberta that suggests a cooling-off period before families discuss a team cut.  Dr. Kacey Neely is behind the project and shares her advice for parents. Also on this episode, why many hockey organizations are bringing in hired help to handle tryouts. Companies like HockeyEvaluations.com. Owner Justin Reynolds offers insight into how the process of professional evaluating works and why his staff will never know the names or history of the players on the ice. We also hear from John O’Sullivan. He is a longtime coach and founder of the Changing the Game Project. He argues there are some benefits to having some inside information on players before team selection. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did the pandemic overhaul the over-scheduled kid? For blogger and father-of-two Casey Palmer the answer is yes. He calls it a “weird, tarnished, silver-lining” for his family. He joins us to share his biggest takeaways. Plus, we hear from child psychologist Jody Carrington on how to spot an over-scheduled child. And later, Joanne Lalonde Hayes from More Time Moms has some advice before refilling the calendar. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research suggests the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the so-called 'motherhood penalty.' Many Canadian mothers are clocking the equivalent of two full-time jobs caring for their children. McMaster University’s Clifton van der Linden calls the results “shocking”. He walks us through the findings plus takes a look at the impact the pandemic has had on fathers. Also on this episode, Kinia Romanowska shares her tips for working mothers trying to find balance. She is the founder of Pros&Babes, a mentorship service. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With families spending more time together than ever, you may think it could cause problems. But an ongoing University of Calgary study has found the pandemic is having a mostly positive impact on the family unit. We take a look at the study and find out if the same could be said for relationships with friends and extended family. Bloggers Frankie Nelson and BJ Barone join us to talk about the impact the COVID-19 outbreak is having on their household. You can find out more about them, by checking out their website, Family is About Love. What if you’re on the other side of this study, and you and your family are struggling to keep the peace? Registered psychologist Tammy Auten Dye shares her advice for couples who at a make or break point in their relationship. Auten Dye is one of the speakers at The Institute of Child Psychology’s Children’s Mental Health Conferencein November 2020. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For most parents, the after-school meltdown needs no explanation. But knowing what it is and knowing how to handle the emotional eruption are two very different things. Registered psychologist Dr. Vanessa Lapointe joins us with some advice on how to handle the tears, tantrums and silent treatment the end of the school-day can bring. You can connect with her through her website, just click here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The stress of COVID-19 on pregnant women and new mothers is showing. Researchers at the University of Calgary have found rates of postpartum anxiety and depression are rising, from 15% pre-pandemic to more than 20% now.  Researcher Gerald Giesbrecht joins us to talk about the study and how we can help new mothers. Also on this week's episode - Sarah Wallace describes her struggle with postpartum depression and the long and dark journey to finally finding help. You can connect with Sarah through Instagram, just click here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a parent, you’ve likely had a moment where you caught yourself sounding like your own mom or dad, but that doesn’t mean you parent exactly like them. In fact, new data out of the University of Michigan suggests nearly half of parents and grandparents butt heads over everything from treats to screen time. One of the polls co-directors Sarah Clark walks us through the results and shares the biggest triggers for disagreements. And later, registered psychologist Tammy Schamuhn offers up some communication strategies to keep the peace and resolve conflict. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

School is back in session across the country. For many parents this marks the first time in six months that they have been away from their children for an extended period of time. A new school routine amid a pandemic can cause separation anxiety for both kids and adults according to Janine Halloran, a mental health counsellor and the founder of Coping Skills for Kids. She shares her advice for spotting anxiety in your child and offers up some strategies for helping the entire family cope with this new normal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They say only focus on what you can control. But in a pandemic that’s easier said than done, especially when it comes to back to school. After months of staying close to home and social distancing, the majority of Canadian students are returning to the classroom. We bring in the experts for advice on what you can do at home to hopefully make this school year a healthier one. From diet, to sleep and emotional wellbeing. Our guests are family therapist Alyson Schafer, behavioural sleep specialist Dr Lisa Medalie, researcher Dr Jim Kellner, and Canadian paediatrician Dr Raphael Sharon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Edmonton mother, Deb Richardson says it took her years to realize the ‘harder you work the more you earn’ wasn’t necessarily true. It’s one of the life lessons she’s hoping to help her children avoid by openly and regularly talking about mone. Richardson shares her wake-up call on this episode. We also hear from financial empowerment coach Selina Gray who helped Richardson find her net-worth and self-worth.  You can connect with Gray through her website SelinaGray.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not all students will be heading back to class this September. Many parents will be keeping their kids and the learning at home. So what should you consider before making the leap? We turn to Dr Robert Kunzman for advice. The University of Indiana professor and director of the International Center for Home Education Research has spent the last 16 years studying homeschooling and says the common denominator in successful schooling is support. Also on this episode, we chat with Sarah Renner. She’s a professional organizer and mother of two young girls. She and her husband have decided to homeschool this year. We find out what led her to make this decision and how she’s re-organized her home to make the transition work. You can connect with Sarah through her website Organized with Kids. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As health professionals prepare for a second wave of COVID-19, psychologists are preparing for a wave of mental health issues – especially in teens.  Clinics are full of youth with anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. Psychologist and author Vanessa Lapointe joins for her advice on supporting kids who, developmentally, are extra challenged to wade through this pandemic. For more information on Vanessa, click here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the age of social distancing, meet the virtual babysitter. Instead of showing up at your house, the sitter engages with your child through Skype, Zoom, FaceTime and other video platforms. The concept exploded this spring as parents attempted to work remotely and look after children learning from home. Elize Shirdel launched HELM Life following five years of connecting parents with babysitters through Datenight Babysitting. She joins us to explain what both parents and children can expect. So what does the mediatrician think? Dr Michael Rich weighs-in on the trend and offers a few alternatives for families. For more information about Dr Rich, click here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Willa Sowell won over the internet with one little lie. She told her dad that the lipstick-stained on her face was purchased from Home Depot. But her dad knew better. She stole it from her mom’s purse. It was cute, innocent and eventually became a viral video. But not all lies are created equal and discovering deception can be frustrating for parents. Dr Kang Lee has been studying lying and children for the past two decades. He assures parents it’s a developmental milestone and shares his insight into why it may be happening. You can find out more about his research by checking out his website, just click here.  We also hear from psychologist Dr Jody Carrington. She offers up a script for parents on what to say and how to say it, when you catch you child in a lie. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a spring spent close to home, Canadian children have the energy to burn. As they channel it into outdoor activities, Canadian paediatricians are seeing the fallout. Dr Dominic Allain joins us to talk about the spike in injuries he is seeing in his emergency department. He shares why he’s not surprised to see an increase. Dr Dominic Allain is a member of the Canadian Paediatric Society’s Injury Prevention Committee. And, we are getting a D+ for physical activity. Before the pandemic, Canadian children were barely getting a passing grade for overall physical activity and sedentary behaviours. Restrictions from the COVID-19 crisis have made things even worse, according to numbers released by ParticipACTION. We talk to exercise scientist Leigh Vanderloo about the new report card and the role parents play in getting children active. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After years of loss, an Alberta couple is celebrating a double dose of joy. In the span of a week, Ian and Margo Sheldon welcomed a baby boy and girl they’re calling their “moon twins.” The babies are siblings born to siblings. Ian and Margo join us to share their long and unique journey to parenthood. Also on this episode, we take you inside the Baby Spa in Sherwood Park where it’s all about pampering infants. Owner Tara Machuik walks us through the services offered. To find out more about the Baby Spa click here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to COVID-19, why do some infected children become severely ill while others have no symptoms at all? Why does the virus tend to hit adults harder than kids? And what role do little ones play in spreading the virus? Those are the mysteries Alberta researchers hope to help solve with a new study out of the University of Calgary.  Researcher and professor Dr. Jim Kellner joins us to talk about the project. We also look at the science and art of building your bubble. As restrictions continue to ease across the country, what does that mean for cohort or bubble families? Nova Scotia’s Heather Laura Clarke is sticking to just one bubble family. She joins us to talk about how it’s working for her family and if and when they will expand. Heather Laura Clarke is A parenting columnist and editor with the SaltWire Network. You can find out more about her by checking out her website. Just click here.

We’d like to think our kids don’t see colour but they do. Research shows children as young as preschool absorb ideas about race and racism. Kira Banks is an educator and founder of Raising Equity. She says the conversation needs to start at home and early. So where do we start? We turn to child psychologist and author Jillian Roberts for advice on answering some of your children’s toughest questions? From skin colour to dealing with prejudice. You can find out more about Roberts by checking out her website, just click here.

For 10 weeks, Canadian children have been closer to home than ever before — but as provinces relaunch their economies, families are expanding their bubbles. So how can we help ease the transition for our children and what can we expect in response? Registered Psychologist and author Vanessa Lapointe joins us with her predictions and even offers up a script for parents to use when taking their children to that first public outing. You can find out more about Vanessa by clicking here. Parenting expert Alyson Schafer also weighs in suggesting children are building resilience during this pandemic. And later we check in with Regina middle school teacher Aaron Warner to find out he’s preparing for a return to the classroom. You can follow Warner on twitter by clicking here.

The majority of Canadian students are learning online, yet how they are being assessed differs dramatically across Canada. Annie Kidder from People for Education has compiled the provincial policies from coast to coast. She shares the results and offers up her opinion on whether we should be grading during the pandemic.

Can we get a dog? It’s a question more Canadian families are saying yes to, partly because of the pandemic. We suddenly have the time and energy to welcome a new puppy. Alberta’s Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS) has seen its monthly fostering inquiries increase tenfold. Terra MacLean is the training coordinator for SCARS and joins us to talk about the demand and why you may want to paws and reflect first. You can find out more about SCARS by clicking here. And we get some training tips from Moira Wegner. She’s the founder and trainer behind Cronies Canine Coaching.  

While COVID-19 is postponing events across the globe, there’s one ceremony Jeremy Allen doesn’t think should wait. A funeral. The grief educator and funeral director is encouraging Canadians to start the grief process even if it means saying goodbye in a different way. He joins us to explain his stance and also has some advice for helping your children grieve during this pandemic. You can find out more about Jeremy by visiting his website DeathEd.ca. And later in the show, we find out what the return to school looks like in China. After 100 days out of the classroom the students are back, but a lot has changed. Melissa Guzzo is a teacher and assistant principal at the Canadian International School of Guangzhou in the Panyu District and joins us to talk about the transition.

If you were a clean freak before this pandemic, there’s a good chance you’re even more so now. A lot of families wonder how much they actually need to clean to protect themselves from COVID-19. We talk to the University of Alberta’s pathogen-fighting power couple, David Evans and Mary Hitt, for tips on how they tackle and disinfect their own home. And in the era of #quaranCLEAN we talk to the founder and director of Go Clean Co, Sarah McAllister. The Calgary cleaning company has tripled its Instagram followers since the start of the pandemic. They share videos on cleaning and some of their most-used hacks. You can find out more about Go Clean Co by clicking here.

Hundreds of thousands of Canadians are sacrificing their health to serve on the frontlines of this pandemic. Many of them are living apart from their own families to avoid potentially spreading COVID-19. We share one family’s story. Plus we talk to psychologist and author Jody Carrington about the short term and long term implications for families on the frontlines. You can connect with Jody through her website drjodycarrington.com. And shifting gears to the growing season, we take a look at the benefits of gardening during a pandemic. Cheney Creamer is the chair of the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association and offers her advice for both green and black thumbs.

One month into school closures, families are leaning on screen time for everything from schoolwork to playtime or hangouts. In the first couple weeks of the pandemic, parenting experts’ message to parents was to ease off on screen time limits. With no return to normalcy in sight, should parents continue that approach? On this episode of Family Matters, we explore screen time with Dr. Michael Rich, the “mediatrician” and the director of the Center on Media and Child Health at Boston Children’s Hospital. He explains why screen time limits are obsolete and gives parents practical advice to ensure their children get everything they need to grow up healthy, strong and kind. Dr. Rich also explains how parents can introduce their children to social media so they can stay connected to friends during physical distancing rules. You can find out more about Dr. Rich by clicking here.

No playdate, no problem. Kids are coping with a great deal of change in a short period of time, but child and adolescent development counsellor Deborah MacNamara says there's a simple solution to the upheaval… encourage play and lots of it. More play doesn’t mean you have to become a full-time playmate. Family therapist David Loyst joins us to pitch what he calls “collect before we neglect” promising to free up more time to get back your job. You can connect with David by clicking here.

For a lot of Canadian teens, the prospect of skipping school to wear PJs, watch movies and FaceTime friends sounded like a vacation. But now in the third week of school closures and social distancing, the COVID-19 honeymoon is over. How can we help teens establish a new normal with no return to routine in sight? Calgary psychologist and mother of a teenage daughter,  Caroline Buzanko weighs-in. You can find out more about Buzanko by clicking here. We also throw the question “what to say when your teen asks to see their boyfriend/girlfriend” at Jody Carrington who believes teens just want to be heard.  And teen blogger Hannah Alper offers up advice for both her peers their parents about adjusting to physical distancing by embracing social connecting. Hannah recently wrote a blog on the subject. You can read it by visiting her website.

Custody and coronavirus: who gets the kids? You likely didn't plan for a pandemic when coming up with a custody agreement. We turn to the experts to find out your legal rights and how to navigate co-parenting in the COVID-19 crisis. Karen Stewart from Fairway Divorce offers up some tips on dealing with a difficult ex. You can find out more about Karen by clicking here. And registered psychologist Vanessa Lapointe joins us for what turned out to be a mini co-parenting counselling session. You can find out more about Vanessa by clicking here.

School is out indefinitely and suddenly parents are feeling adrift. If you can work from home, how will you keep your kids both educated and entertained? Jennifer Sutherland-Miller has home-schooled all four of her children and has some advice for getting started and getting creative in this new normal. Also, ​We chat with Global video journalist Jamie Mauracher. She is set to welcome her first baby during the COVID-19 outbreak. She’s not only had to cover the pandemic as part of her job as a reporter, but is now living it, wondering what it means to her and her baby’s health and safety. She recently turned to medical experts for some answers and shares with us what she found.

As COVID-19 continues to spread, a lot of Canadians are wondering how to protect their children and how to explain the pandemic without scaring them. On this episode of Family Matters, we look for the facts from Dawn Bowdish. She’s the Canada Research Chair in aging and immunity at McMaster University. She answers why, at this point, is COVID-19 not affecting children? And offers advice for parents wondering if they should be avoiding public places and even grandparents? Plus, why you need to be your child’s go-to-person for information about the virus. Registered psychologist Vanessa Lapointe joins us to for some advice on what to say and what not to say. You can find out more about Vanessa by clicking here.

Have you ever felt like you got a raise at work or an "A" on an exam merely by fluke or luck? Consistently doubting your accomplishments is known as Imposter Syndrome. Even Sheryl Sandberg, Serena Williams and Tom Hanks say they've experienced it. It's so common on campus at the University of Alberta that school is holding workshops to help students cope. Rachel Greenly is a mental health consultant at the U of A and joins us to talk about imposter syndrome and how to overcome it. We also hear from child psychologist Jody Carrington about her battles with self-doubt. You can connect with Jody through her website by clicking here.

The traditional thinking about houses has often been “bigger is better”. But when it comes to connecting with your kids, the secret may be embracing smaller spaces. Parenting expert Alyson Schafer walks us through this theory and also offers some advice for parents who want to get in their children’s space but aren’t ready to move. Plus, veteran house flipper and designer Holly Baker shares the surprising benefits of her latest project, one that saw the family lose 1000 square feet and go from three bathrooms to one. You can find out more about Holly by checking out her website.

Snakes, spiders and heights - they're the stuff of horror movies and the things we claim to fear right from birth. But do we? A research review is challenging that notion suggesting parents can pass on fear to children. Vanessa LoBue is a psychologist at Rutgers University and joins us to talk about her work on the research review and offers up some advice for parents. And while on the topic, we are turning to child psychologist Tammy Auten-Dye for advice on helping your child overcome fear.

Health Canada is making it easier and cheaper for women undergoing fertility treatment to access sperm from known donors. Up until recently, if a woman wanted to use a friend's sperm, they had to use a designated clinic (Western Canadians often went to Toronto) and the sperm would have to undergo testing for 180 days (half a year). This was costly and time consuming. Now, local clinics can carry out this procedure and there's no quarantine period. Infertility specialist Dr. Caitlin Dunne calls it a big win for women trying to conceive alone or in a same sex partnership. She joins us to talk about the change and exactly how you can start the process.  And what is it like to shop for sperm? A Langley, B.C. mother joins to share her experience in browsing for donors. She even talks about having to weigh the pros and cons when it comes to siblings.

CrossFit for kids is growing across Canada with a number of gyms offering programming for children as young as 3 years old. Gyms like FirePower Kids in Milton, Ontario. In the seven years since it started offering pint-sized workouts, it has grown to 200 members. Jodi Nieuwendyk is a coach at FirePower Kids and joins us to talk about the workouts and how her gym decides if their little Crossfitters are ready to lift weight. CrossFit has a reputation for intensity and sometimes even injury, so what do the experts say: is it safe for children? Dr. Marni Wesner is a sport and exercise medicine consultant at Edmonton’s Glen Sather Sports Medicine Clinic. She joins us to talk about the sport and what parents need to know before enrolling.

Your kids spend hours on their phones but are they getting any real-life tech skills out of it? No, according to the HR Mom. Melissa Griffin is a long-time human resources professional whose post on the topic went viral in January 2020. She says young adults are ill-prepared for the real world and believes parents have one job: to work ourselves out of a job. Griffin suggests giving your kids technology inspired tasks and shares some examples. You can connect with Griffin on Facebook.

Raising kids without debt? Can it be done? Blogger Kyla Cornish is sharing her family’s journey to get back in the black. Like many families, they were relying on a line of credit. It wasn’t until they hit their version of “rock bottom” that they knew they had to take action. She joins us to talk about that moment and what has happened since. Plus, if the first step is realizing you have a problem, then the second would be tackling it. Personal finance educator Kelley Keehn shares her advice on where to start and explains how you can get a better understanding of your finances in her new book Talk Money To Me. You can find out more about Keehn by clicking here.

If you’re old enough to love, you’re old enough to grieve. That’s the message from Canadian author, speaker and child psychologist Jody Carrington. She wants to encourage parents to stop sheltering kids from sadness. Dr. Carrington joins us to explain why and also offers some tips for making it easier for children to cope with the tough stuff. You can find out more about her by visiting her website. We are also joined by Cathy Decker. She started Avery’s Legacy after the sudden loss of her 13-month-old daughter. Decker creates, sells and donates grief boxes for families dealing with the loss of a loved one. Avery’s Legacy recently started to create bereavement gifts specifically designed for children.

A reverse lunch, more recess breaks and no try-outs for school sports. We are taking a look at some of the changes happening in the education system hoping to help improve student performance.  We unpack the reverse lunch that sees students go out for recess before sitting down to eat. Plus, we update a rural Alberta school where they are stretching out recess. The elementary school has four recess breaks in its day. And, is a no-cuts policy at the junior level of a junior high school still happening? We check in and debate team cuts.

The kids table was invented for a reason, to keep the mess and the bad manners far away from the adults trying to enjoy their meal. But when is it time to stop ignoring bad table behavior? Now, according to Jeannie Vaage. She is the owner of VIP Protocol, an Edmonton company that specializes in etiquette training. She joins us with her dos and don’ts for table manners.  You can find out more about Jeannie by clicking here.

Born as “Dear Diary” confessionals the mom blog has transformed into lucrative businesses for many Canadian women. Even basic posts with product reviews or sponsorships can earn these content creators $10,000+ a month. Two of Canada’s top mom bloggers Marielle Altenor of Ladymarielle and Joanna Venditti of Nesting Story, offer some insight into their journey and how they are making it work. And what’s next for the mom blog? Kathryn Jezer-Morton is a PhD candidate at Concordia University and is writing her thesis on mompreneurship. She makes her predictions on the future of the mamasphere plus talks about how the blogs have allowed moms to talk discuss once taboo topics.

As parents, we are our children’s first model of what a relationship looks like. So what happens when the example is one of abuse? According to domestic violence survivor Chantel Sparklingeyes, the cycle of violence continues. She joins us to talk about her journey and also explains why she wants schools to bring the tough topic into the classroom. We also hear from Farrah Khan, a sexual violence educator and support worker. She believes a robust relationship health education can prevent domestic violence from happening, now and in the future. But what would that curriculum look like? Khan offers her suggestions. This is episode is part of a special Global News series Broken: Canada’s ongoing failure to end violence against woman.  Reporter Meghan Collie is part of a team of journalists working on it. She took a look at what kids in Canada are taught in sex education and joins us to look at how it varies between provinces.  

Less toys, more joy. That’s the case parenting author Kim John Payne is making this holiday season. He is behind Simplicity Parenting and believes if you want to raise children who are more grateful and less entitled, then surround them with less stuff. His pitch is supported by years of research showing fewer toys lead to more play in young children. Payne joins us to share some alternatives to presents and advice for getting the extended family on board. We are also looking for ways to tackle our current toy count. Organizational coach Sarah Renner shares her de-cluttering tips. Renner is a consultant with Organized with Kids.

After shelling out hundreds of dollars in extracurricular activities, the last thing you want to hear from your child mid-season is “I quit”. Many of us will forge ahead often negotiating, bribing or even forcing our little athlete to finish. But is that the right answer? And at what point should we let them pull the plug?  Katherine Tamminen is a sports psychology researcher at the University of Toronto and has been tracking youth experiences in sport. She joins us to offer some scenarios and advice parents can try-out in their own home. Plus – we’ve been told our kids need to play more than one sport so why are parents still struggling to make the multi-sport athlete a reality? We hear form Richard Monette. He’s the head of Active for Live and behind the new campaign “Change it Up”. To find out more about it, click here.

You know when a soother or baby toy falls on the ground and parents joke about the five-second rule, “Well it’s good for them! It will build their immune system!” On this episode, we are wondering if there is truth to that? Is it healthy for babies, toddlers and young kids to ingest dirt and germs to build up their immune system, or can it be harmful? We turn to expert known as the “Germ Guy”, Jason Tetro. He is a microbiologist, research, educator and host of the Super Awesome Science Show. To find out more about Jason or to subscribe to his podcast click here.

Canada will ban harmful single-use plastics as early as 2021 in a bid to reduce ocean waste. Some families aren't waiting until then. Edmonton mom Christine Hutchinson has reduced plastic use in her home by 60 per cent. How? She takes her own containers to the meat counter, picks produce that isn’t in plastic and the plastic she does buy must be re-used multiple times. You can find out more about Christie’s journey by following her on Instagram by clicking here.  We also hear from Allyson Shaw. She’s the associate editor and digital producer at National Geographic Kids and offers up some REAL LIFE ways we can do our part cutting down on the non-recyclable/non-biodegradable product polluting the planet.

No mistakes. Embrace failure as a way to learn. Love the struggle. It’s all part of a growth mindset: the idea that talent is a starting point and abilities can improve dramatically with hard work, persistence and determination. Renee Jain is the founder of GoZen!, a resilience program for children. She joins us to talk about adopting this mindset and how we can practice it with our own children to help set them up for success.

These days, the word "friend" is often associated with someone who "likes" your social media posts and photos. And surprisingly that’s enough for some Canadian girls to define online friends as close friends. Girl Guides of Canada recently took a look at the state of friendships, surveying more than 1,000 girls who confessed they had more friends online than in real life. We look at the numbers. We also have some advice from educator and research Linda Stade who talks about the role parents play in fostering friendships. You can find out more about Linda by clicking here.

More and more child care centres are offering parents a chance to literally be a fly on the wall. They are installing cameras and letting parents livestream the day's events. Florence Ann Romano, best known as the Windy City Nanny, believes in webcams. She says your day home or daycare should have nothing to hide.  On the other hand, parenting expert Alyson Schafer is encouraging you cut the cord. She argues surveillance will only increase mom and dad’s anxiety. We debate both arguments. To find out more about Alyson, click here. To connect with Florence, visit WindyCityNanny.com.

Why does university get all the glory? We hear from a number of students who say there’s still a stigma around attending college and reveal the pressure comes from their parents. Career coach Tonya Pomerantz says kids can make the case for college by creating a business plan for their parents and explaining exactly why they want to take this route. She also shares some important questions to ask before applying. You can find out more about Pomerantz by visiting  Puddle Jump Coaching. Today’s episode is part of our special series Failure To Launch examining the gaps in Canada’s education system.