Pooped Out
Every parent goes into the process of having a child while knowing that diapers are unavoidable. Those sweet and precious little babies…
Family Life
The Yukon is a great place to raise a family. What’s Up Yukon shares some of the great Family activities and events around the territory.
A Northern Pregnancy
I had high expectations coming into the second trimester. I thought it would be like waking up from a bad dream …
Heartfelt (mis)Adventures
Valentine’s Day was always fun for me as a kid. Handing out brightly coloured paper hearts, to all of my classmates…
My 2023 Parenting Resolution
I have a question for all you parents out there: When does worrying about your child getting hurt become a self-fulfilling prophecy?
His Third, 1st Christmas
The holidays through a toddler’s lens For many of us, that first Christmas as a parent is something very special. So special, in fact, that it is difficult to describe just how many emotions you go through as the holiday season progresses. And if you’re anything like me, you just can’t wait to provide a …
When Santa’s Magic Is Not An Option
Anyone who has watched the holiday favourite Home Alone can see what some of the stresses are of travelling during the Christmas season.
DIY Eco-Friendly Christmas
According to Zero Waste Canada, only 1 per cent of everything the average person buys is still in use six months after Christmas.
A Northern Pregnancy
So it’s official: I’m pregnant! Yep, the Aussie girl (who said and wrote, for years, that she would never have kids) is having a kid!
Oops, I Scared Him Again (A Parenting Fail)
No matter how good a parent’s intentions may be, they will undoubtedly do something to traumatize their children, at some point in time.
DIY: Low-Waste, Halloween style!
Initially, Halloween—namely, All Hallows’ Eve—was a ritual dedicated to remembering the dead. But now it can bee all about the fun!
Eco-Friendly Halloween
In a few days, little feet will be racing over crunchy leaves (or crunchy snow), from house to house, fuelled by vast quantities of sugar.
Baby Names 101: What’s in a name?
Choosing a name for your new bundle of joy is something that most parents look forward to but can also be an overwhelming experience.
Returning Home to the Yukon
Tears streamed down my face as our airplane began its descent, preparing to land at the Whitehorse airport.
My Dearest 2022 Two-Year-Old
The terrible twos, they say, will be difficult. As I look back at old photographs, I often find myself thinking, Oh, how things have changed.
Toddler-Friendly Skies
The time had come. We had waited two years to be able to introduce our toddler to his extended family and now, at last, it was finally going to happen. However, in order to do that we first had to become the parents I have always looked at with a mix of trepidation and sympathy. We had to become FWAT parents. You know the ones: the “flying with a toddler” parents.
New Adventures, Old Heirlooms
About eight or nine years ago, my dad’s cousin’s widow called out of the blue to berate me (in her high-toned British accent) because I didn’t let her know about my mom’s passing. I didn’t want to explain that I didn’t even know this relative was still alive or that she was still in touch …
‘Poop Happens’ (and when it isn’t discreet, it’s even funnier)
Pooping is a vulnerable time for a dog. You will note how they curl up into position and look around to ensure that no predators attack them.
Parenting: ‘Sit’ Happens
My love for my 2 yr old whirlwind of chaos I’m certain of, everything else has me confused. Parents know true one doesn’t mean true the next.
‘The Force’ Courses Through the Paton Family
Josh Paton has always been a Star Wars guy. It’s common to see him in a different Star Wars T-shirt every night. He owns close to 90.
Born on May the 4th (be with you)— Destined to be a Fan
“For me, now, Star Wars (SW) is a familiar universe where you know the rules,” reflected Mackenzie Grant. Mackenzie’s birthday is May the 4th.
Dawson City is getting ready to host its annual Thaw di Gras Spring Carnival
Dawson City is getting ready to host its annual Thaw di Gras Spring Carnival. Get Ready for Some Outrageous Winter Fun!
Baby surprises parents despite best-laid plans
Overall, I was blessed with a healthy pregnancy. I was aware that being in decent shape helped birth and committed to walking every day, with a goal of 10,000 steps daily. My due date was October 18, 2021. At my baby shower at the end of September I hiked Fish Lake no problem. I was …
Pumpkins in the North
Getting Pumpkins to the Yukon isn’t easy. There’s a lot of shipping logistics to bring them from B.C., maybe Alberta, maybe even California.”
Scenes from the Street Eats and Beats Cultural Festival
A feast for the senses: Scenes from the 2021 Festival. Entertainers, Attendees and Food service providers.
At the drive-in – Yukon style & Pandemic safe
Two nights of drive-in movies in Whitehorse and Carcross. Soul, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, You Are Here: A Come From Away Story and Beans.
Colourful bookmarks
Today we’ll make our own colourful bookmarks. connecting reading and art with other fields in our life—let’s start!
Family Feud Casting… In The Yukon!
Family Feud Canada is looking for families including Canada’s north, for their unique way of life and sense of community
Guitars, games, and healthy kids
Local organizations built teaching, modelling, and practicing life skills into youth programming. Life Skills like consent and boundaries.
Dino-riffic!
November 1 heralds the start of DiNovember, when my daughter’s pet dinosaurs, full of mischief and hijinks, take over the house for a month.
Zoom, Santa, Zoom
It’s tough to sit on Santa’s knee from a distance of two metres, but many of our seasonal traditions have required a pandemic-appropriate makeover this year.
Bubbles
Looking back, I did not know how important bubbles would become in my life. As a child I have no recollection of blowing bubbles.
Childhood memories for children and parents alike
Over the last four years Claire Ness has been pulling inspiration from her childhood memories and her time as a mother to create her new album, Broccoli Farm. “I am really excited to get this one out there,” said Ness, “It is a collection of original kid’s songs that I have been working on for the …
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An ABC Aviation Adventure
There are all sorts of ABC books out there, but they are seldom as focussed on a particular subject as this one, which manages to do the job of introducing all the letters while remaining firmly in the air.
Parenting in a Pandemic
Having my kids home all day isn’t a new thing, as I was a stay-at-home parent for the last six years of my life. But being home all day with my kids while simultaneously watching the world fall apart around us is a new thing, however.
Artist in the School Adapts
Impressed by the creativity the artists in the program have brought to re-imagining their workshops for online delivery.
Recycled mixed media art cards
Go outside for inspiration, then we’ll take our ideas inside, and, using some of that recycling that’s been piling up around the house, make some colourful art!
Cool schooling for homeschooling
Ever have dreams about homeschooling your kids, but never got the opportunity to? Now that you have no choice because of school closures, are you constantly fighting with your kids to get their work done?
Art education wherever you are
Kids Kreate, the Yukon Arts Centre’s education program, needed to bring art into the lives of Yukon’s youngsters. The solution, go virtual.
Learning so much more than just reading, writing and arithmetic
I think there is someone who deserves some recognition. Her name is Mrs. Beemer and she’s a kindergarten teacher at Jack Hulland Elementary School. More than a teacher though, this woman is a superhero.
Check-ups for stuffed noses (and arms, legs and bellies)
This year’s Teddy Bear Clinic will feature some new experiences for children and families. Karen Forward, Yukon Hospital Foundation president, said she and the staff at Whitehorse General Hospital (WGH) are looking forward to the event, which enables children to visit the hospital and have a positive experience. “Kids are much happier there than a …
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As Granny said, mind your ascenders and descenders
“Kehheth” had some problems with his ascenders when learning to write as a child, leaving evidence on the wall. Anyone who has ever worked in a printing shop, or who has helped teach a youngster learn how to print the alphabet, knows the importance of minding your Ps and Qs. And your Bs and Ds, …
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A long time ago, in a lake far away
I was 12 years old in 1955 when my oldest brother, Robin, went away to university. As siblings in a close-knit family, we had shared many delightful (and less-than) hours around the dinner table. But the six-year difference in our ages meant we weren’t bosom pals. In May of 1961—the year stubby beer bottles came …
Mother is coming
This is a phrase I have said, myself, as I rolled my eyes. We have all read stories and watched sitcoms where adult children are saying this to their friends, clearly intimating that the upcoming visit will be difficult. And it always was, when my mother came to visit. But now the shoe is …
Celebrating the role of mining in the Yukon
The Yukon Chamber of Mines has prioritized outreach and community engagement as part of their programming. Heading into its 10th year, the annual Mining and Exploration Camp, which is held during Yukon Mining Week each spring, is one of two major events geared towards that work. (Family Day, held during the annual Geoscience Forum in …
A fundraiser to help kids have a positive mentor in their life
When we think of bowling most of us can feel the weight of the bowling ball in our hands as we release it down the lane, crossing our fingers that it doesn’t end up in the gutter.
Raising a Child with FASD: Eleanor Millard’s new novel chronicles the early days of FASD
There was little documentation on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in the early 1980s when Carcross writer Eleanor Millard adopted a child who had been exposed to alcohol in utero. Millard has tapped into that experience for the setting of her new novel. The book, called Summer Snow, follows protagonist Amanda Corelli as she adopts …
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From Prairie to Polar: A Saskatchewan-born family moves north
3:30 a.m., January 5th, 2013 I’m running around the house trying to sedate a cat. Of all our family members, she is the most unwilling traveler. After months of debate, decisions and details, the Alberts family is leaving the prairies and heading to Whitehorse. Most of us anyway. Our daughter is staying in Regina to …
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The Pups that Brought Chaos Back into My Life
It was the winter of 2011 and my aging pack of nine sled dogs had slowed down. The yard was quieter, life overall was no longer the chaotic craziness I had adapted to over the last 13 years of having my own small team. The dogs had become increasingly content to just hang out in …
French Toast: Taking the Blame Off the Victim
Les Essentielles, the Yukon’s Francophone women’s organization, is proud to have a new male asset on their team. Scott Carlson is the project coordinator for Men Engaging Men, a program to encourage men to work towards ending violence against women. “Over the past few years, a shift has been happening nationally in conversations about violence …
A Family Who Plays Together, Stays Together
Pack up the seniors, the toddlers and the teens because there are lots of free, Family Week events. A nation-wide celebration, Family Week runs Monday, Oct. 7 to Sunday, Oct. 13, and in the Yukon there are events taking place in five communities: Carmacks, Destruction Bay, Teslin, Watson Lake and Whitehorse. A schedule on page …
Free Fun Centre
The little heritage building beside the river in Whitehorse might be sardine-packed with kids if the sign out front said Free Fun Centre instead of Family Literacy Centre. The centre has activities scheduled from noon to 5:30 p.m. every day — free activities to make cool stuff. Last Monday participants could made cultural crafts such …
Tiring the Kids Out: Frog Mountain Music Festival features plenty to keep kids busy on July 27
Frog Mountain Music Festival’s third annual event will feature a diverse program of activities to tire out the youngsters.
Bright Colourful Budgies
Next to canaries, budgies are probably the most popular pet bird in the world. They are colourful, entertaining and have great personalities. Budgies, also called parakeets, are one of the smallest members of the parrot family. Part of the reason they are so popular is because they adapt rather well to living with us. It …
For Those Who Love Horses and Helping
A flood of teenagers are about to finish school for the year and descend upon couches across Whitehorse, or wherever teens go. If you’re a parent looking for something productive and community-oriented for your kids 14-years-old and up to do, consider sending them to Freedom Trails Riding Association to volunteer. Freedom Trails offers horse-riding therapy …
Ground Control to Commander Chris
For 10 minutes on Saturday, April 18, Commander Chris Hadfield, the Canadian astronaut currently onboard the International Space Station, addressed a packed gymnasium at Grey Mountain Primary School in Whitehorse. Fifteen students from the school asked Hadfield questions about his experience on the shuttle and his life in space. Parents and other students listened as …
Play Makers: Winterval is Santa Parade with Spice
Winterval, “It’s the new Santa Parade,” explains McFarlane “I remember … thinking, ‘This is the saddest parade I have ever seen’.”
Assignment: Fred Penner
About six years ago, Fred Penner came to town and I was very excited. I was freelancing for the Yukon News at the time and I pitched the idea of a profile to my editor. Alas, it had been promised to someone else. But now I am an editor and, when I heard Mr. Penner …
The day I have dreaded for 18-1/2 years
It is a cruel trick of time that has punched me in the stomach and now I cannot breathe. I could have sworn that it was just last month that we brought Wren home from the maternity ward. I remember, so clearly, holding her close as I tried to use scissors to remove her ankle …
Crafting With Kids
There’s nothing like doing crafts with your kids to celebrate major public holidays. There’s nothing like browsing the vast number of craft blogs on the internet to dampen your Christmas spirit. I was searching for some easy, but sophisticated crafts to do with kids over the winter holiday. Besides learning that you can make a …
Youth in Style
This fall, back-to-school fashion trends I like for girls are racer back tank tops, lacy back T-shirts, and hair up in a ponytail with feather earrings (like Selena Gomez wears her hair in a scene in her music video “Hit the Lights”). Fashion I like for boys are high tops, hats and cool T-shirts. I …
Happiness on Both Ends of the Leash
“What sort of dog would you like?” There were so many to choose from: small, medium and large dogs, short and long-haired dogs, quiet dogs and enthusiastically barking dogs. How do you decide? “How about Diamond? She’s a nice dog and she behaves well on the leash. She will be a good start for you,” …
