This week in Family Matters we are taking a closer look at the new paternity leave pitched in the Federal Budget. It provides up to five weeks of leave for new fathers or non-birth parents to help break the pattern of mothers automatically taking on the greater share of child-rearing responsibilities. How would it work and how soon can you apply?

Plus – did you know kindergarten is not mandatory? It’s optional in most Canadian provinces.

More Parental Leave and Opting out of Kindergarten

Family Matters is a conversation sparked by parents, for parents, where we explore the issues that matter to you and navigate the challenges we all face.&nbsp;We are not experts but rather every day moms learning by trial and error. Our biggest hope for is that you walk away feeling a little more informed and above all &ndash; understood&hellip;like we get you because we&rsquo;re in it too.
Host Laurel Gregory is an award-winning journalist who has worked in Canadian media for 16 years. The mother of two co-created Family Matters in 2016 in order to create a reliable source of information to both educate and entertain parents. She secretly envies parents who raised children prior to the information age and is confident that &ndash; big or small - a walk in the woods and a good night&rsquo;s sleep cures all.
Producer Christine Meadows has been with Global Edmonton for a decade, minus the 2 years spent on maternity leave with her boys. She is constantly navigating balance in her life as a working mom who loves her boys but also loves her &ldquo;me time&rdquo;. She fears screen time is going to be her biggest life regret and is still trying to ditch social media after-hours to be more present

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Mental Health

New research out of the University of Alberta is helping shed light on the telltale symptoms of COVID-19 in children. Dr. Joan Robinson specializes in pediatric infectious diseases and joins us to share the findings and offer up her big takeaways for parents and school administrators.
Also on this episode, time-strapped moms and dads are turning to Tiktok for advice. A rise in therapists, psychologists and counsellors are now sharing their tips on social media. The list includes Jax Anderson. She is a mental health therapist and a Tiktok celebrity with more than 10 million likes. She shares her journey to TikTok, and we also have some advice for parents before scrolling. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

COVID-19 SYMPTOMS IN KIDS AND TIKTOK PARENTING ADVICE

Parents can feel helpless during youth sport tryouts but there are ways to support our children from the sidelines. We take a look at research out of the University of Alberta that suggests a cooling-off period before families discuss a team cut.  Dr. Kacey Neely is behind the project and shares her advice for parents.
Also on this episode, why many hockey organizations are bringing in hired help to handle tryouts. Companies like HockeyEvaluations.com. Owner Justin Reynolds offers insight into how the process of professional evaluating works and why his staff will never know the names or history of the players on the ice. We also hear from John O’Sullivan. He is a longtime coach and founder of the Changing the Game Project. He argues there are some benefits to having some inside information on players before team selection. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coping with Cuts

Did the pandemic overhaul the over-scheduled kid? For blogger and father-of-two Casey Palmer the answer is yes. He calls it a “weird, tarnished, silver-lining” for his family. He joins us to share his biggest takeaways. Plus, we hear from child psychologist Jody Carrington on how to spot an over-scheduled child. And later, Joanne Lalonde Hayes from More Time Moms has some advice before refilling the calendar. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Gift of Free Time

New research suggests the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the so-called 'motherhood penalty.' Many Canadian mothers are clocking the equivalent of two full-time jobs caring for their children. McMaster University’s Clifton van der Linden calls the results “shocking”. He walks us through the findings plus takes a look at the impact the pandemic has had on fathers. Also on this episode, Kinia Romanowska shares her tips for working mothers trying to find balance. She is the founder of Pros&Babes;, a mentorship service. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Gender Divide in COVID-19

With families spending more time together than ever, you may think it could cause problems. But an ongoing University of Calgary study has found the pandemic is having a mostly positive impact on the family unit. We take a look at the study and find out if the same could be said for relationships with friends and extended family. Bloggers Frankie Nelson and BJ Barone join us to talk about the impact the COVID-19 outbreak is having on their household. You can find out more about them, by checking out their website, Family is About Love. What if you’re on the other side of this study, and you and your family are struggling to keep the peace? Registered psychologist Tammy Auten Dye shares her advice for couples who at a make or break point in their relationship. Auten Dye is one of the speakers at The Institute of Child Psychology’s Children’s Mental Health Conference in November 2020. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More Parental Leave and Opting out of Kindergarten

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