Cheesecake or Brownies? Why choose? Michele McAdoo for the Kraft Kitchens shares a recipe for Cheesecake Brownies. They are a satisfying combo AND a smart dessert choice. This version calls for apple sauce instead of oil and egg whites instead of whole eggs. Enjoy!

How early should I start my child in music lessons?
What instrument should my child play?
How much instruction should I give my child?

I have a neighbour named Kevin who is currently enjoying retirement. After I told him I ran a music school in Montreal, he recounted how much he loved music but despised piano lessons in his youth because of the rigid curriculum of reading and repeating. I responded that he probably did not have the right teacher.

In Canada, there is [...]

We know a child’s brain is not fully formed at birth, but instead continues to develop during the first years of life and is highly influenced by experiences the child has during those formative years. This concept is true for music as well. Children who grow up in an enriched music environment are better able to understand and enjoy music for the rest of their lives!
Consider how children learn language. The best way to learn language is to be immersed [...]

Tired of saying No! No! No! to Gimme, Gimme, Gimme? Looking for a way to change the conversation?
Try introducing your kids to the MoonJar. Created by a thoughtful young mother in Seattle, the Moonjar makes it easy for children as young as three years old to start learning about money – starting with three simple choices – Save! Spend! Share!  Research has shown that kids who learn to save between 3 and 5 years old grow up to be savers. [...]

-by Dr. Shelagh Robinson, Psychologist

Do bookworms emerge fully formed, ready to read, and equipped with extra flashlight batteries? Or are they nurtured and encouraged into genuinely enjoying books? I hold out hope that any child can love to immerse themselves in stories.  It’s a matter of how to get them tuned in to the adventure.

Here is one, very new, very interactive, idea that lures even reluctant readers to story-time: Mirror Read Books.

Printed in reverse, the letters and words are flipped [...]