End-of-Year Teacher Gifts, A Chance to Win $500 and the Rise of Community Pools

What’s up this week: 

• The teacher gift debate (and a plea to stop buying mugs)

• What most people do with found cash

• How the classic road trip is replacing expensive vacations

• Why modern love might actually look less like a movie and more like someone remembering to buy more milk

• The tiny toddlers insisting they can mop the kitchen floor

• The summer bedtime battles nobody is winning

• And the glorious return of the community pool

Also known as sunscreen, snack negotiations and at least one child insisting they are absolutely not tired.

Editor, ParentsCanada

The End-of-Year Gifts Teachers Actually Want
(No More Mugs, Please!)

If you’ve never had the experience of panic-buying a teacher gift in the final week of June, don’t worry—it’ll happen one of these years. But with families feeling the pinch of rising costs and more conversations around gift expectations, the end-of-year tradition is evolving. The good news? A meaningful thank you doesn’t have to come with a big price tag.

There is one thing teachers are nearly unanimous about, though: Step away from the mug wall at the store. (Seriously. The cupboard is full.)

So, what do they actually love? A heartfelt note from a student; a message from a parent about the impact they had during the school year; and books and practical classroom supplies all rank high on the list.

👉 We asked a handful of teachers to share the gifts that they appreciate most—and the ones they could probably do without. Click through for the list.

What Would You Do With An Extra $500?

An extra $500 can go a long way these days—and we’re giving one lucky family the chance to decide exactly where it goes. Whether it’s summer camp registration fees, a family adventure, a bill that’s been staring you down or a few little treats, enter for your chance to win $500 cash through our special giveaway with LEO.

Founded in 2004 by Leger Opinion, LEO is Canada’s largest and most trusted survey panel, with more than 400,000 members. Members share their opinions through surveys and earn points they can redeem for rewards like gift cards, prepaid credit cards and PayPal cash.

👉 Ready to enter? Click here for all the contest details and to throw your hat in the ring.

The Family Road Trip Is Making a Comeback

A family vacation can feel like it requires a second mortgage these days. Between flights, hotels, restaurant meals and activities, the costs add up quickly. This reality (not to mention the staying power of the #elbowsup movement) has many families looking a little closer to home—and rediscovering the beauty of piling into the car for an adventure.

Of course, a road trip with kids isn’t all scenic views and perfectly curated playlists. It’s also snack negotiations, emergency bathroom stops and hearing “are we there yet?” at least 47 times before you arrive.

A few ways to make the ride smoother:

⭐️ Pack enough snacks to prepare for the apocalypse
⭐️ Download shows, podcasts and games before you lose cell service
⭐️ Build extra time into your schedule
⭐️ Let kids help choose a stop or activity along the way

Sometimes the weird roadside attraction you stopped at on a whim becomes the story your family tells for years.

👉 Looking for more road trip tips and tricks? You got it. Click here.

The End of Soulmate Culture

For ions, we’ve been sold the idea that somewhere out there was one perfect person who would complete us. Then we had kids and discovered that true romance might actually be someone noticing the lunch supplies are running low and adding them to the grocery list without being asked.

More relationship experts are challenging the idea of “the one” and instead focusing on partnerships built on communication, shared values and choosing each other through different seasons of life.

Because parenting isn’t a fairy tale. It’s a group project with approximately 4,000 moving pieces, and having a partner who shares the load can be a whole lot more romantic than you might think.

👉 Our relationship columnists, Matt and Carina, tackle this subject in this month’s “The Heart of the Matter.” You know you want to click through.

When Your Toddler Wants to “Help”

If your toddler insists on loading the washing machine, sweeping the floor or cracking eggs for breakfast, you may have one immediate thought: This would be done in 30 seconds and with way less mess if I just did it myself.

But that insistence on “helping” is actually a big developmental milestone. Young children crave independence and love feeling like they’re contributing to the family.

Try giving them jobs that are safe and genuinely useful:

🧦 Matching socks from the laundry
🧽 Wiping the table
🪴 Watering plants
🧸 Putting toys back in bins

Will it take longer? Absolutely. Will you have to rewash dishes they “cleaned”? Also yes. But experts say those little responsibilities help build confidence and life skills.

👉 If you want more easy ways to nurture the “helping” phase (without making things harder on yourself!), we can help. Ironic, we know.

Waging the Summer Bedtime Battle

The sun is still shining at 8:30 p.m., the neighbourhood kids are riding bikes and suddenly your child has developed the negotiation skills of a seasoned litigator. Summer bedtime battles are real.

The good news is you don’t have to maintain a strict school-night schedule for all of July and August. Sleep experts say a little flexibility is okay—as long as kids are still getting enough sleep and keeping some familiar routines in place. But we want to know what you think…

Community Pools Are Cool Again (Pun Intended)

Before summer became a carefully scheduled mix of camps, classes and expensive outings, there was the neighbourhood pool. A towel over your shoulder, wrinkly fingers, a few dollars for a snack and a whole afternoon stretching out in front of you.

It turns out, many parents are rediscovering what made those days so special. Community pools are affordable, screen-free and give kids a chance to build confidence, make friends and enjoy a little age-appropriate independence.

Want to make a whole day of it? Don’t forget to pack:

• Reusable water bottles for everyone

• Plenty of snacks (because somehow swimming makes kids approximately 400 percent hungrier)

• Sunscreen and a hat for shade breaks

• Extra towels and dry clothes for the ride home

• Goggles and pool toys (if they’re allowed!)

Turns out, some of the best summer memories still come with the smell of chlorine and a soggy towel in the back seat.

👉 Trips to the pool do require some summer safety reminders, though—for you and your kiddos. Here are some important things to keep in mind.