About four years ago, my Dad introduced me to the Portable North Pole (PNP) website. It gave parents the ability to send customized video messages from Santa to their child. Our kids LOVED it when they received their first message from Santa – he was talking to them, he knew their name, he knew something special about them and they could even see his elves. It was truly a special moment for them. I also have the app on my phone and not only can you create the video messages from there, there is also a special section for kids to play games. Our youngest plays the games year round.
What Exactly is Portable North Pole?
Portable North Pole (PNP) is an online platform used by Santa and his elves to send personalized video messages and calls to the people you care about most anywhere around the world. In just a few simple steps, you can help Santa gather all the information he needs about your loved one and create a tailor-made video message or phone call that is positively magical. But that isn’t all Santa and his magical elves have in store, to create truly unforgettable memories, you can even download a HD version of your video to keep for years to come. Awesome right?
Portable North Pole comes available in 3 main package types: the Free (Christmas and Birthday videos), the Video Pass (Unlimited Premium Santa videos + Reaction Recorder, as well as access to previous seasons’ videos), and the Magic Pass (Unlimited Premium Santa Videos, Reaction Recorder, HD Video downloads, access to previous seasons’ videos.
Right now you can save 20% with Promo Code: PNP6BLG20 when you redeem the code on PNP. We can’t wait to get started on our video from Santa and send his special message to our boys.
Disclosure: I was given a PNP magic pass in return for sharing this post. All opinions expressed are my own.
La traduction en français de cet article est ci-dessous
I love working in Family Medicine because every day is different and unpredictable. I am able to share in the special moments in some patients’ lives and watch them grow as a family. I can lend a shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold on to and share some personal advice from my own struggles as a parent (not to mention that I also get to receive advice from patients!).
Family Medicine also has its down side as I am constantly exposed to viruses throughout the year, especially during flu season. With the upcoming flu season, I will be taking temperatures from many patients; I will also be taking oxygen stats, and weights of infants and young children. All of this exposes me to potentially serious viral illnesses, including the flu, which I can in turn bring home to my own two children. One of my kids suffers from asthma and has been in the hospital many times over the last ten years due to his asthma being exacerbated by the flu.
Your annual flu shotis your families’ best defence against the flu virus. The flu is a very serious illness that can present in different ways in different people; some may get a fever and chills, while in others the flu can lead to pneumonia and possible hospitalization. Childrencan be vulnerable and they are also the ones who may be overlooked when it comes to vaccinations due to fear of needles.
This was true at one time in our home. Our son hated needles and vaccines, it became such an ordeal that we decided five years ago against taking him for his annual flu shot because of his fear. We felt that if we protected ourselves and kept up with hand washing at home and encouraging him to do so at school, that he would be safe. Unfortunately for us, we were very wrong. That year he developed Influenza B that required him to stay in the hospital.
Ontario has new options for our kids to make sure they receive a flu vaccine. This year, Ontario children and youth aged two to 17 can receive the flu vaccine in a nasal spray FREE. This nasal spray offers protection against FOUR strains of influenza (versus the three strains that the regular vaccine protects you from). The best part for many other parents in the same boat as us, is that it eliminates the fears that your child may have about receiving an injection. For parents, this is a win-win situation.
You can receive the flu vaccine or nasal spray from your health care provide or local public health unit. It is also available at participating pharmacies for anyone five years of age and older. Getting the flu shot is your best defence against getting the flu. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your health care provider for more information or visit ontario.ca/flu to find a location near you.
There are many ways to stay healthy and reduce the spread of the flu virus and many of us need to remind young children about the importance of following these simple tips during the fall and winter months.
These tips include:
Receive your annual flu shot.
Washing our hands with soap and water after touching tables, chairs, shared items and before we eat.
Not sharing food and drinks at school. Kids love to share and this is great but it can also expose them to lots of germs. We can encourage them to show sharing and caring in different ways.
Taking a multivitamin and following the Canada Food Guide. Proper nutrition goes a long way for optimal health so make sure to fit in lots of fresh fruits and vegetables for not only your child but you too!
Teaching your child (and other adults too) that sneezing or coughing into the crook of your elbow rather than sneezing or coughing into your hand helps prevent the spread of germs. Especially since most people don’t properly sanitize their hands afterwards.
Receiving a flu vaccine is one part of many small steps in order to remain healthy this flu season. How do you prepare and stay healthy through flu season?
This post was developed in association with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The opinions of the author are my own. For additional information on the flu or to find out where to get a flu shot, click here.
If you’re still on the fence about getting the flu shot for your kids, there’s a great new alternative you’re going to want to know about. Want to learn more?
J’adore travailler en médecine familiale. Pourquoi? Parce que chaque journée est différente et imprévisible! Je partage des moments extraordinaires dans la vie de certains patients, et je les regarde grandir au sein de leur famille. Je suis l’épaule sur laquelle on pleure et la main qu’on saisit. Je m’inspire de mes propres difficultés dans mon rôle de parent pour donner des conseils (et j’en reçois aussi de mes patients).
La médecine familiale a aussi son côté négatif, car je suis constamment exposée à des virus tout au long de l’année, surtout pendant la saison de la grippe. À l’approche de la nouvelle saison de la grippe, je m’attends à prendre la température de nombreux patients, à compiler des statistiques d’oxygène et à vérifier le poids de nourrissons et de tout-petits. Tout cela m’expose à des maladies virales potentiellement dangereuses, y compris la grippe, que je risque de transmettre à mes deux enfants à la maison. L’un d’eux souffre d’asthme et on a dû l’amener à l’hôpital plusieurs fois ces dix dernières années à cause de crises d’asthme exacerbées par la grippe.
Votre vaccin annuel contre la grippe constitue le meilleur moyen de protéger votre famille contre le virus de la grippe. La grippe est une maladie très grave qui peut présenter différents symptômes. Certains malades ont juste de la fièvre et des frissons, alors que d’autres attrapent une pneumonie et doivent être hospitalisés. Les enfants sont notre population la plus vulnérable, celle qui risque aussi de ne pas être vaccinée à cause de la phobie des seringues.
C’est du moins le problème que nous avions à la maison. Notre fils détestait les seringues et les vaccins. C’est devenu une épreuve si dure qu’il y a cinq ans, nous avions renoncé à lui administrer le vaccin antigrippal annuel. Nous pensions qu’en prenant des mesures de protection, en nous lavant régulièrement les mains à la maison et en l’encourageant à faire de même à l’école, il serait protégé. Grave erreur! Cette année-là, il a contracté une grippe B qui a nécessité un séjour à l’hôpital.
L’Ontario offre de nouvelles options pour veiller à ce que les enfants soient vaccinés contre la grippe. Cette année, les enfants et les jeunes de l’Ontario âgés de 2 à 17 ans peuvent recevoir GRATUITEMENT un vaccin antigrippal en vaporisateur nasal. Celui-ci les protège contre QUATRE souches de la grippe (au lieu de trois avec le vaccin ordinaire). Le plus beau, pour les parents comme nous, c’est que les enfants n’ont plus peur de recevoir une injection. Une situation gagnante sur tous les plans!
Pour recevoir le vaccin antigrippal sous forme d’injection ou de vaporisateur nasal, adressez-vous à votre fournisseur de soins ou bureau de santé publique. Les pharmacies participantes peuvent également vacciner toute personne âgée de cinq ans ou plus. Se faire vacciner est la meilleure protection contre la grippe. N’hésitez surtout pas à demander des renseignements à votre fournisseur de soins, ou visitez ontario.ca/grippe pour savoir où vous faire vacciner.
Il existe une multitude de façons de protéger sa santé et de réduire la propagation du virus de la grippe. Nous avons tous besoin de rappeler aux jeunes enfants l’importance de suivre quelques conseils faciles pendant l’automne et l’hiver.
Les voici :
Se faire vacciner tous les ans contre la grippe.
Se laver les mains avec de l’eau et du savon après avoir touché une table, une chaise ou un objet partagé avec quelqu’un d’autre, ou avant de manger.
Ne pas partager d’aliments ou de boissons à l’école. Les enfants aiment beaucoup partager, ce qui est excellent, mais cela les expose à toutes sortes de microbes. On peut les encourager se montrer généreux d’une autre façon.
Prendre des multivitamines et suivre le Guide alimentaire canadien. Une bonne nutrition aide beaucoup à protéger la santé. Donnez des fruits et légumes frais à votre enfant, et mangez-en aussi!
Montrer à votre enfant (et à des adultes aussi) comment éternuer ou tousser dans le pli du coude plutôt que dans la main pour aider à éviter la propagation de microbes. En plus, la majorité des gens ne se désinfectent pas correctement les mains.
La vaccination contre la grippe constitue l’une de nombreuses mesures faciles à prendre pour protéger sa santé pendant la saison de la grippe. Et vous, que faites-vous pour rester en forme pendant la saison de la grippe?
Children by nature are expressive and imaginative. They come up with the best stories and leave you craving for more. It is when we encourage our youth to keep up with their creativity, to continue to explore the world of reading and writing that this passion grows. We need to ignite the love of reading and writing at a young age so that they do not become discouraged later on in life.
This is the reason why the Ripple Foundation launched the Kids Write 4 Kids Creative challenge for children in grades four to eight, to inspire, encourage and foster a love of reading and writing. This will be the fourth year of the creative writing challenge and they are looking for Canadian youth to share their stories. The bonus: The winning story (or stories) will be published in digital and print! How exciting would that be? Who wouldn’t want to see their work in print!
Canadian youth in grades four to eight, enrolled in a school in Canada.
Story must be original and written by the author submitting the story.
One entry per an author.
Stories must be written in English.
Stories can be fact, fiction, poetry – the choice is yours!
Stories will be printed as they are submitted (so double-check that spelling and grammar)
Some of the past winning titles include; Escape from the Taco Shop, A Truly Gross Adventure and The Wish. You can see the complete list of winners here.
Head over to the Kids Write 4 Kids Creative challenge place to find more information on how to enter your little author’s story. Be sure to check out this interview to meet the authors.
Back to school time is always an exciting, nervous and hectic time. We worry about skills they may have forgotten, new supplies and new clothes. It is important to slow down the hustle and bustle of the back to school time to focus on relationships and bonding time. Which is why I love books! Reading a book with or to your child gives you much-needed quiet time to escape, to bond and to laugh over silly antics of characters. Raincoast Books brings you six of their best books that are perfect to add to your child’s book collection.
In Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova, young Anna’s Mother takes her to the ballet and her whole world is changed. This begins the journey of a girl who will one day grow up to be the most famous prima ballerina of all time, who inspires legions of dancers after her: the gifted Anna Pavlova. Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova, is the incredible, heart warming and inspiring story of a young girl not born to riches but who changed the world of ballet. One night changed her whole life, like so many children who see something for the first time. This book teaches children that every dream is possible with hard work and love. If you love something so strongly, you need to work hard and this love will show. I loved how the book showed Anna travelling the world to not only bring dance, hope and love to the rich but to the poor as well. She is an inspiration for so many.
In The Wonderful World of Pascal the Very Brave, we are introduced to Pascal who is a very brave platypus. Pascal lives in a very incredible town full of interesting characters, recipes, collections and more. In this book we are introduced to not only Pascal but his friends Fancy, Cardigan, Zelda and Ringo. Unlike a traditional story where you read left to right, we found ourselves jumping across the page, up and down reading tidbits of the characters and the crazy town they live in. We had a lot of fun reading their funny antics and stories. The story is full of fantastic and humourous illustrations that will guarantee hours of fun.
In The Bear’s Surprise, hibernation is over and Little Bear is ready for adventure! But where is Papa Bear? Never fear, Little Bear will find him! Follow Little Bear on this adventure through interactive cutouts on his journey to find Papa Bear. What will he find at the end of his journey? Join Little Bear in this third installment of the acclaimed series by Benjamin Chaud.
In Big Bear Little Chair, author Lizi Boyd uses art and words to create a simple book for all ages to cherish. Lizi uses unexpected opposites to create a heart warming story about Big Bear, Little Bear and all the things that bring them together.
In Pierre the Maze Detective, we meet master detective Pierre who is on a new case. Mr. X has stolen the Maze stone (oh no!) which has the power to turn the whole city into a maze! Can you help Pierre and his friends make it through the maze and stop Mr. X before it is too late? This book features fifteen full spread illustrations of magical mazes.
In Leo: A Ghost Story, Leo just wants to find a friend. He knows he will make a good friend but everyone is scared of him. Why? Because Leo is a ghost! It is the young girl, Jane, who sees him for who he really is and together they become the best of friends. You can find my full review and book trailer here.
Raincoast Books wants you to win your own Back to School book collection as pictured above! My Canadian readers can now enter via the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck and happy reading!
Getting back to school is all about fun and the numbers! And what better way to introduce your child to their numbers with a fun game from DK Canada.
The Get Ready for School Numbers Memory Game is the fun way to introduce your child to the world of numbers and counting. This book helps to enrich your child’s educational development as well as prepare them for school. The box contains a booklet with games, cards and an instruction sheet.
This boxed book set is suitable for children ages three to five to help prepare and enhance their current education. It provides instruction for parents to help encourage their child, while providing bright colours and a fun way to look at numbers for children to keep them engaged.
The cards come in four different colours with instructions on where to start and what activities to introduce at each stage. Teaching your child important math skills can be hard (I like to learn myself by reading examples so I find it hard to explain lessons to my children). This book helped me get over my awkwardness and help me teach my youngest son, who is heading off to Junior Kindergarten this year!
Get Ready for School Numbers also helps you to relate the learning skills to real life (counting objects, opportunities to count together, etc.)
How do/did you introduce numbers to your child?
Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product free of charge in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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