The 5-Second Playground Safety Check, Sunscreen Mistakes to Avoid and Better Diaper Duty

What’s up this week: 

• The newborn diaper hacks you'll wish you knew sooner

• Why grandparents make the very best playmates

• The playground safety check every parent should know

• How to take family movie night outside

• The sunscreen mistakes to stop making this summer

• “Brag tags” and their impact on summer reading

• Why the best summer photos aren't posed

Also known as wet bathing suits, sandy car seats and asking, "Does anyone have to pee?" one last time.

Editor, ParentsCanada

The Newborn Diaper Hacks Every Rookie Parent Should Know

Nobody warns you that caring for a newborn can feel like an endless parade of diaper changes, with feedings, occasional naps and a crying jag or two thrown in for good measure. But the reality is that newborns typically go through eight to 12 diapers a day, which means you become very familiar with the changing table in those first few weeks.

Fortunately, parents are nothing if not resourceful, so we asked our ParentsCanada community to share their best newborn diaper-changing hacks, and the responses ranged from practical ("always have the clean diaper open before you start") to downright hilarious (“never trust a naked baby”). If you've got a newborn—or one arriving any day now—you'll definitely want these tricks in your back pocket.

👉 In partnership with Pampers, we've rounded up the newborn diaper-changing tips every new parent should know.

Why Grandparents Make the Best Playmates

Some of the most meaningful learning moments of childhood don't happen in a classroom—they happen while baking cookies, building blanket forts or digging for worms in the backyard. In short, they happen when kids are playing. This really comes as no surprise: The power of play has long been studied and celebrated for its ability to help children develop creativity, communication skills, confidence and problem-solving know-how—and kids don’t even notice!

Grandparents are in a unique position to nurture this kind of play. Whether it's teaching the grandkids a favourite childhood game, tackling a puzzle together, stoking their imagination through make-believe or introducing an early learning program, those shared moments can strengthen relationships while helping little minds grow.

👉 Our Grandparenting Unfiltered columnist Kathy Buckworth explains why play is one of the greatest gifts grandparents can give—and shares easy ways to make it happen.

Don’t Skip This Playground Safety Check

When you arrive at the playground, and before your child inevitably makes a beeline for the tallest slide, take five seconds to do this one simple thing: Place the back of your hand on the equipment. On sunny days, slides, monkey bars and climbing structures can heat up much faster than the air around them—and get hot enough to cause pretty serious burns.

If it feels too hot for your hand, it's too hot for bare legs and little hands. But you don’t have to skip the park on gorgeous sunny days: Just consider visiting the playground earlier in the day before the sun gets too out of hand, or choose parks with natural shade to try and avoid the problem all together.

👉 This quick playground check is a great start, but here are more smart ways to help keep your family safe this summer.

Family Movie Nights Are Back and Going Outside

Remember when family movie night meant everyone actually watched the same movie? These days, streaming services and individual screens make it too easy for everyone to disappear into their own corners of the house. So, we say go all in on the memory-making this summer and bring family movie night back al fresco by turning your patio, driveway or backyard into an open-air cinema. All you need is a projector, a white sheet and a selection of snacks (don’t forget the popcorn!).

The best part? It doesn't have to look Pinterest-perfect. Set up some lawn chairs, throw down a few blankets, invite another family over and let the kids stay up later than usual. If someone spends half the movie chasing fireflies instead of watching the screen, that's part of the fun. Sometimes the best summer memories happen before the opening credits even roll.

Four Sunscreen Mistakes You’re Probably Making

Sunscreen is one of those parenting wins that can quickly turn into a parenting fail. You remembered to pack it (gold star!) but so many of us make these common application mistakes and leave kids less protected than we think.

So, before your next beach day, splash pad adventure or afternoon at the park, make sure you're not making these common sunscreen slip-ups:

• Be generous. Most people don't apply enough sunscreen to get the SPF protection promised on the bottle. If you're wondering, "Is this too much?" the answer is probably no.

• Set a reapplication alarm. Reapply every two hours—and after swimming, sweating or an enthusiastic sprinkler session. It's easy to lose track of time when everyone's having fun.

• Don't forget the sneaky spots. The ears, the tops of feet, the back of the neck and even the lips are easy to forget.

• Check the expiry date. That bottle that's been rolling around in the beach bag since last summer (or the summer before that or 2019…) may not be doing the job anymore.

👉 Sun safety will help you to make the most of summer and make a serious dent in your bucket list. Looking for ideas? Check out our suggestions for 29 quintessential Canadian summer activities.

The “Brag Tag” Impact on Summer Literacy

If your child comes home from the library this summer proudly showing off a colourful tag, charm or badge, don't be surprised if they're suddenly eager to crack open another book. Libraries and literacy programs across Canada are embracing “brag tags”—small collectibles kids earn for reaching reading milestones—and they're proving that sometimes the tiniest rewards have the biggest impact.

The secret isn't really the tag. It's the sense of accomplishment that comes with it. Kids love collecting things (we see you, Pokémon), tracking their progress and having something tangible to celebrate each finished book. Before long, they'll be asking to read "just one more chapter" because they're working toward the next milestone—not because someone told them they had to.

👉 Looking for more ways to inspire a reluctant reader this summer? We’ve got six strategies to help get you started.

Why the Best Summer Photos Aren’t Posed

You'll probably remember to snap the beach day or the family reunion, the fireworks and the obligatory family selfie where at least one person is blinking. But the photos you'll treasure years from now are often the ones you almost didn't take.

This summer, make it your mission to point your camera at the in-between moments. Think the popsicle dripping down your kiddo’s arm, Grandpa teaching someone to skip a stone, a synchronized sibling cartwheel. You can even go still life and capture sandy flip-flops by the back door, a chalk masterpiece before it’s washed away by the evening rain or a pile of neighbourhood bikes abandoned on the lawn.

These ordinary moments tell the real story of a summer—and they're the ones your kids will love looking back on, too.

👉 Your smartphone is capable of more than you think. Try these easy photography tips to help you take better photos all season long.