How to Raise Capable Kids, Rethinking Thanksgiving Obligations and When to Step In on Homework

October is officially underway, and if your family has settled into a nice, predictable routine, we'd love to know your secret. For everybody else, it's probably a combination of best laid plans, last-minute improvising and the occasional small miracle. But hey, whatever gets everyone through, right?

Here's what's up this week:

• The bathroom swearing trend that has parents talking

• What growing bones really need

• The fine line between helping with homework and doing it for them

• School picture packages are getting harder to justify

• Taking the pressure off Thanksgiving

• The life skills kids need before they leave the nest

• Why your kid is turning into your household’s tech support

Also known as doing our best, making it up as we go and looking forward to a long weekend that hopefully feels longer than the regular ones.

Editor, ParentsCanada

This Swearing Trend is Raising Eyebrows

Tell a child not to say a particular word and you know they’ll bust it out at every opportunity (likely when you’re not within earshot, but still, they’re going to try it on for size). This might explain the appeal of what’s known as the bathroom swearing trend, where parents give their kids permission to go into the bathroom and say every bad word they know. The results, often filmed for TikTok, range from hilariously creative to surprisingly tame.

But there’s something interesting happening beneath all those four-letter words: You might actually be nipping swearing in the bud by taking the fun out of it. Kids often experiment with swearing because they’re curious about language, testing boundaries or looking for a reaction. But child development experts suggest that when you respond calmly and remove the forbidden nature of it, swearing can become less appealing.

This trend isn’t for everyone. Some parents prefer that kids just learn the difference between appropriate and inappropriate language. But if swearing is something that comes up often in your household, consider that sending kids to the bathroom to let loose might just take the teeth out of it.

👉 Accidentally dropped an F-bomb in front of your kids? It isn't likely to do any harm—but context matters. Here's what the experts say about swearing in front of kids.

Your Kid’s Bones Have a Shopping List

Your budget likely knows that your kids are growing—we’ve all experienced the realization that those pants that fit two weeks ago all of a sudden look like your kiddo is wearing capris. But you might not know exactly what’s happening and why their limbs are suddenly ganglier than ever.

During childhood and adolescence, bones are constantly growing, rebuilding and getting stronger. In fact, approximately 40 to 60 percent of bone mass is built during adolescence alone. But it’s not happening all on its own. Bones need to be fed (literally) to reach their full potential.

So what's on the shopping list to keep those bones doing their thing? Calcium helps build bone structure, vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and nutrients like magnesium, vitamin K and protein all play important roles in bone health. And here's where beef comes in. Not only is it an excellent source of high-quality protein, which helps build and maintain the framework of growing bones, but it also provides zinc, another important nutrient for normal growth and development. Alongside foods like leafy greens, eggs, yogurt, beans and fish, beef can play a valuable role in giving growing bodies the nutrients they need.

👉 Wondering how to make beef part of a balanced diet for your kids? We've got the details on why it matters and how to make the most of it at mealtimes.

In partnership with

Parents Are Doing Too Much of Their Kids' Homework

We've all been there. It's 8:30 p.m., there's a project due tomorrow and your child has suddenly remembered that they need a poster board, six printed photographs and a working model of the solar system. Before you know it, you're elbow-deep in craft supplies and glaring at your child from across the kitchen table.

Here's the thing: Helping kids with homework is part of parenting, but there's a difference between offering support and taking over. When adults correct every mistake, supply every answer or turn a simple assignment into a major production, kids miss opportunities to develop problem-solving skills, persistence and confidence in their own abilities.

Of course, that doesn't mean leaving a struggling child to figure everything out alone. You can absolutely re-explain the math lesson or proofread the essay. The trick is to offer just enough help to keep them moving. Because the goal of homework isn't a perfect mark or a Pinterest-worthy science project. It's learning. And sometimes the most helpful thing a parent can do is step away from the glue gun and let their kid figure things out.

👉 Homework is one of those parenting topics that can spark a surprisingly heated debate. Read on as two parents make their cases for and against stepping in (and both have some pretty compelling arguments!).

School Photos Are Becoming a Thing of the Past

You no doubt remember your own school picture days—the carefully chosen outfit, the comb tucked into a backpack and the resulting photo that ended up looking nothing like you. For generations, those slightly awkward portraits were an annual tradition. But with thousands of photos now living on our phones, the annual school photo package is becoming a harder sell.

Cost is a big part of the conversation. Depending on the package, parents can spend a surprising amount on a handful of prints and a digital download, often with extras they don't particularly want (does your kindergartener really need retouching?). And when you consider that we can now take a perfectly good picture of our kids every single day (and probably do), it's fair to wonder whether we really need to pay for another set of professional portraits.

Still, there's something charming about having one official portrait from every school year, complete with questionable haircuts and missing front teeth. Those photos capture a particular moment in time, year after year, and maybe that's worth remembering.

Thanksgiving Doesn’t Have to Be a Command Performance

Thanksgiving is upon us (just one more sleep until the long weekend!) which means turkey, pumpkin pie and, for some families, the logistical challenge of trying to make absolutely everybody happy. We’re talking the dinner you feel obligated to attend, the relatives who expect hugs, the kids who would rather be anywhere else and the pressure to make the whole thing feel like a heartwarming holiday commercial.

But here's a thought: What if a successful Thanksgiving didn’t mean perfect behaviour, a packed schedule or children giving affection on command? It can be tough to navigate at first, but kids can greet relatives warmly without being required to hug or kiss them, and families can decline invitations without delivering a lengthy explanation.

Decide what actually matters to your family before the weekend begins. Give kids some say in how they participate and let go of the expectations that make the holiday stressful. Because newsflash: Gratitude shouldn't feel like another item on the to-do list.

👉 And if you're the one welcoming everyone to your table this Thanksgiving, the same rules apply: You don't have to do it all. Learn how a little planning, a little help and a willingness to let go can make all the difference.

The Life Skills Kids Aren’t Learning Anymore

If your kids are anything like the ones in our lives, they can master a complicated video game in hours, know an astonishing amount of trivia (our editor Katie’s daughter could give lectures on the Titanic) and can figure out a new piece of tech before you’ve cracked the instruction manual. But can they sew on a button? Make a doctor's appointment? Figure out how much change they're owed?

Between school, extracurriculars and busy family schedules, it's easy for everyday life skills to get overlooked. And when parents are rushing to get things done, doing a task themselves is often faster than teaching a child how to do it. The trouble is that independence doesn't magically arrive on someone's 18th birthday.

Here are a few practical skills worth teaching before kids sooner than later:

•  Ages 5–7: Make an easy snack, sort laundry, tidy their belongings and learn basic emergency information.

• Ages 8–10: Follow a basic recipe, make a small purchase, use cleaning supplies safely and understand how to save money.

• Ages 11–13: Do a load of laundry, prepare a simple meal, navigate familiar routes and manage a small budget.

• Ages 14–17: Book an appointment, understand a paycheque, plan meals, use public transit independently where appropriate and advocate for themselves with adults.

These aren't rigid milestones, of course. Every child develops differently, and skills should be taught with the appropriate supervision—but competence comes from experience, not watching someone else handle everything.

👉 Don’t stop here. We've put together a handy checklist of essential life skills every kid should learn before adulthood. Find out what they should know before they turn 18—and what you can start teaching them today.

Your Kid Is Now the Family’s Official Tech Support

After all the talk about the things parents should be teaching their kids, it's worth giving children some credit. There are a few things they might be able to teach their parents, too—like how to fix the wifi when it mysteriously stops working, or how on earth Mom or Dad managed to set their phone to make that annoying sound. Suddenly, the adults are the ones asking questions, and their 11-year-olds are sighing dramatically at their apparent incompetence.

It's a funny reversal, but there's a useful lesson to be found inside it. Kids often approach unfamiliar technology with curiosity and a willingness to experiment, while adults can be more concerned about making mistakes. And although being comfortable with technology doesn't automatically make someone an expert, letting kids teach their parents something can give them a genuine confidence boost.

So the next time your child offers to troubleshoot a device, resist the urge to take over or call in another adult. Ask them to explain what they're doing and why. Teaching someone else is a great way to reinforce their own understanding, and it gives kids a chance to be the knowledgeable ones for a change. Besides, after all those years of showing them how to do things, it's only fair that they return the favour.

👉 Asking kids for help can be good for them in all kinds of ways, whether they're sharing what they know or stepping up when someone needs a hand. Tap here for a rundown on the benefits of putting kids in the driver’s seat.