Why You Can Skip the Summer Reading Log, Overnight Camp Prep and Getting a Handle on Your Family Photos

Why You Should Skip the Summer Reading Log

Reading? Great. Reading logs? That's where things get complicated.

For some kids, tracking pages and minutes is motivating. For others, it’s the fastest way to turn an important literacy activity into “Why do I have to do homework in the summer?!” — even if the reading log is the cutest thing ever.

If your child is already resistant to reading, consider loosening the rules: Graphic novels count. Audiobooks count. Reading recipes counts (yes, for real!). Reading the same Dog Man or Babysitter’s Club book for the 95th time absolutely counts.

One trick experts often recommend is connecting books to your child's existing interests. A hockey or baseball kid might devour sports biographies. A Minecraft kid might happily read game guides. The goal is to help kids discover stories and subjects they genuinely want to spend time with. You could even share some of your favourite books as a kid, or start a summer book club where you both read the same book and then go on an ice cream date to talk about it. What kid can resist ice cream, even if they have to read a book to get it?

Tackling the Gross Things In Your Diaper Bag

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Here's a delightful thought: Studies have found that bags of all kind—purses, knapsacks—can harbour significant amounts of bacteria because they travel everywhere with us and rarely get cleaned. Diaper bags are especially hardworking. They're tossed into shopping carts, parked on public washroom floors, stuffed under restaurant tables and carried from playgrounds to doctor's offices—often in the same afternoon.

The real challenge isn't usually the bag itself. It's everything that goes into it. Pacifiers, bottle nipples, teethers and toys spend their days bouncing between little hands, questionable surfaces and the bottom of the diaper bag.

While most germs are a part of everyday life, it helps to have a plan for the items that end up in your kiddo’s mouth. Keeping a pack of pacifier wipes in your diaper bag means you can quickly clean soothers, bottles, toys and teethers when soap and water aren't available.

ParentsCanada loves Dapple Baby Pacifier Wipes because they’re made specifically for those moments, with a food-grade, plant-powered formula that requires no rinsing. Because we've all stared at a pacifier on the ground and, faced with a wailing baby, wondered how much dirt is too much dirt.

👉 Because babies drop things. Find out why Dapple Baby Pacifier Wipes are earning a permanent spot in diaper bags everywhere.

Why More Families Are Taking Separate Vacations

Okay, we’re just going to say it: Family vacations are not always relaxing.

One person wants adventure. One wants a beach chair. One wants to visit every museum in a 50-kilometre radius. One just wants unlimited access to hotel waffles. Who said it had to be one or the other?

More families are discovering that time apart can sometimes make time together better. That doesn't necessarily mean separate week-long trips. It might be a parent taking a weekend away with friends, the grandparents taking the kids on a special trip or one parent tackling a camping trip while the other enjoys a few quiet days at home.

The key is recognizing that rest looks different for different people. When everyone gets a chance to recharge in the way that works for them, family time often feels a whole lot easier and more enjoyable.

👉 What happens when a parent takes a vacation without the family? One writer shares why she'd do it again.

Kids Are Heading to Overnight Camp Younger Than Ever

Overnight camp is a tradition in a lot of families. Often parents had such a great time at a specific camp that they want their kids to have the same experience. But are moms and dads jumping the gun on readiness? Residential camps are consistently reporting younger first-time campers than they saw a decade ago. Part of it is practical—many camps now offer shorter sessions and beginner-friendly programs—but some parents are also actively looking for opportunities to build independence, confidence and real-world social skills (not to mention a screen-free week or two!).

If you're considering camp for the first time, focus less on age and more on readiness. Can your child sleep away from home? Ask an adult for help? Handle small setbacks without immediately calling you?

The good news is that confidence doesn't have to come from a week-long camp session. A sleepover at a grandparent's house, a weekend with cousins or a few days at day camp can all help kids build the same muscles.

👉 Whether your child is excited, nervous or a little bit of both, our overnight camp prep tips can help.

The Return of Journaling As A Hobby

If your child hears the word "journal" and immediately pictures (and balks at) the flimsy locked notebooks of the ’90s, you might have some work to do.

The trick is expanding your kid’s definition of what journaling can be. For some, it's writing. For others, it's doodling, comic strips, lists, sketches, sports stats or even collecting ticket stubs and memories from the week.

If you'd like to encourage the habit, start out as you intend to go on: Visit your local office supply or dollar store to pick out a kid-approved book, pens, markers and stickers. Resist the urge to weigh in on anything they write or draw, if they choose to show you. And most importantly, don’t nag. You can offer gentle prompts to get them going but it shouldn’t feel like an assignment.

Kids are far more likely to stick with journaling when it feels like it belongs to them.

👉 If your child is staring at a blank page, share our article of easy journal prompts and let them pick one that sparks their interest. Bonus: They'll work for grown-ups too.

The Digital Family Photo Crisis

Most parents have thousands of photos stored across phones, cloud accounts and old devices. The problem isn't taking too many photos. The problem is that the good ones are buried under screenshots, duplicates and 47 attempts to get everyone looking at the camera.

Instead of tackling your entire camera roll, start with one simple habit. Create an album called "Print These" and add favourites throughout the year. Once a month, order a handful of prints, make a small photo book or send a few pictures to grandparents.

The best photo system isn't the most organized one. It's the one you'll actually keep using.

👉 If your phone is groaning under the weight of 10,000 family photos, here's how to free up space without losing the good stuff.

The Joy of Half-Birthdays

No, this is not an additional birthday party. Back away from the balloon arch.

Half-birthdays work because they're intentionally low-key. Think pancakes for dinner, a candle in a muffin, choosing family movie night or getting first pick of the board game. That's it. Just an opportunity for a little extra happy.

For kids with birthdays that get swallowed by holidays or summer vacations, a half-birthday can be a fun way to create a small moment that's entirely their own. For everyone else, it's just a reminder that celebrations don't always need to have a major milestone attached.

Honestly, we could all use more random Tuesday cake.

👉 If you’re looking for a half-birthday treat, these fluffy chocolate cupcakes with classic cream cheese frosting is the perfect place to start.