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I recently interviewed Krishana Johnson-James, teacher and author of the book Planting a Song for my podcast, Raising the Next Gen. In the episode, we discuss how stories can help children navigate performance anxiety, build positive self-talk, and develop a growth mindset. As someone who grew up playing the piano and is now a parent with a child who plays piano, I deeply resonated with the themes of her book. In our conversation, we both reflect on our experiences with music, fear, and resilience. The takeaways from the book are useful not only for parents of youth in music; they’re… Read More
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What would you do if you forgot your phone at home? Would you go back and get it? Here’s what I did when it happened to me: It all started when I was driving my daughter to school. Everything was going well that morning. We were going to be on time for school, and after I dropped her off, I’d continue in the same direction to attend the first of three appointments. Then an image popped into my head—my cell phone sitting on the kitchen counter. That’s right. I’d forgotten it. I said to my daughter, “Oh, I just remembered—I… Read More
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As the holidays quickly approach, I find myself looking back on my childhood and the Christmas seasons of the past. In my mind’s eye, I see a Christmas tree decorated and lit up by the window, stockings hung on the mantel of the fireplace, a parcel of gifts received in the mail, playing Christmas carols on the piano, and turkey dinner with family and friends. Does this sound familiar? It’s the classic Christmas experience, and it’s what I reported back to classmates and teachers when I returned to school after Christmas break each year. But the difference is in the… Read More
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When winter comes, the temptation to spend the day scrolling through social media or binge-watching Netflix can be hard to resist. But while my partner and I enjoy the occasional movie marathon with the kids, I’m deeply mindful of the many opportunities we have to learn, grow, and share with our girls, and strive to build these intentional spaces for connection into our winter calendar. Enjoying meaningful family moments in the winter months As the temperature falls, take the time to build meaningful moments of connection with your tween or teen. Enjoying low- or no-tech activities together creates space for… Read More
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“She used to be so adventurous and confident… I just don’t know what happened.” Recently, I was on a call with a parent who confided in me that she was worried about her 11-year-old’s self-esteem. Where her daughter used to jump at the chance to try something new or make a new friend, she was now quiet and cautious. Tween-hood has always been a time of huge change (and hormonal turmoil!), but adding social media, influencers, and face-tuning apps into the mix can have a big impact on their self-image. Our self-image reflects how we see ourselves—and how we believe… Read More
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If you have trouble getting your kid to put down their iPad and spend time with family, you’re not alone. Recent studies show that the average teen or tween spends up to 8 hours a day scrolling through social media and watching YouTube. This is no accident: these platforms are deliberately designed to maximize the time spent on them, using mechanisms like targeted content, dopamine-triggering feedback, and the infinite scroll to keep your kid glued to their device. While there are many excellent reasons to reduce screen time, like improving self esteem, sleep hygiene, and mood, most modern parents struggle… Read More
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Your secret weapon for enjoying more family time with your tween or teen? Keep it casual. When it comes to connecting with your tween or teen, it can sometimes feel like you’re in constant competition with their devices. For many parents, that’s the reality—a 2024 Pew Research Center survey found 30% of kids aged 13-17 reported using some form of social media (most often YouTube) “almost constantly.” While getting your child to set down the iPad and commit to family time can be a challenge, it’s worth the effort to push through the grumbling! A 2023 study that followed over… Read More
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Up in the bleachers at the new Rogers Stadium in Toronto, I felt the collective buzz of the crowd’s energy as we anticipated the arrival of Coldplay. It was a beautiful, warm and breezy summer night, perfect for the first of four Toronto concerts on Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres Tour. My husband and I had been looking forward to this concert for months and it far exceeded my expectations. I knew it was going to be fantastic because we went to the Viva la Vida concert in 2008 and we’ve seen the YouTube videos of the wristband lightshows and… Read More
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I once believed deeply that Tiger Parenting was the right path for me and my family. As an expectant parent and Asian woman, I was inspired by the Tiger Mom philosophy made famous by Amy Chua in her bestselling and controversial book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, which detailed Chua’s parenting journey raising her two daughters. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother sparked an uproar around the world when it first hit the shelves in 2011. The book explores the differences between Western and Eastern parenting styles, and favours an approach that emphasises cultivating strong work habits and skills… Read More
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At a recent event I was asked, “If you had a mascot for your business, what would it be?” I immediately thought of the hummingbird. One of my favourite books is The Flight of the Hummingbird: A Parable for the Environment by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas. It’s a wonderful short story about how a tiny hummingbird inspires a movement to put out a raging forest fire. Faced with destruction, the animals of the forest are afraid; yet the tiny hummingbird decides she will do what she can to save her home. She bravely flies back and forth between the stream and fire, with… Read More