As a school music teacher, I am often asked by families, “What do I ask a music teacher who I am considering hiring for my children’s lessons?” Below are the five most important questions that have helped many families successfully find their best music lessons match!

Look back through your archive of photographs. In how many did you make it into the frame? I’m in less than 10% of all our family photos because I’m usually the one behind the camera taking the photos. Does this sound familiar?

There is surprisingly passionate debate about the Right Way to teach your child to ride a bike. If you remember learning how to ride, chances are you also remember getting a few bumps and bruises. (Am I the only one who crashed into a lamp post?) A few scrapes are practically unavoidable, so here are a few tips to keep in mind.

You may have wondered what the fuss is all about with kids balance bikes (otherwise known as pedal-less bikes, walking bikes, prebikes, or push bikes). “Children as young as two years old can learn the skills of balancing, steering and coordination in a progressive and natural way,” says WheeBikes owner Rob Heinrichs, who claims these skills are essential for riding a “bike kid” bike.

Parents who love the outdoors naturally want to share this love with their children, and children love being outside. Hiking with your child is not quite the same as the hiking you may have done pre-parenthood, but it can be a wonderful family activity for decades to come. Someday they will go farther and faster than you will!

If you have a young baby or a toddler, taking him or her outside in the heat of summer or the cold of winter can be a bit daunting at first. (What if those chubby cheeks get sunburned? What if he’s too hot? Too cold? Aaack!) It’s enough to drive any new parent around the bend. With proper summer gear and winter layering, however, you can put your fears to rest—which is a good thing, because there is nothing quite like worrying about the welfare of your child to rob your outdoor activities of all enjoyment.

Looking for some terrific mom and baby fitness activities? Want to get moving with your baby but don’t know where to start? Here are five activities that can grow with your baby from infancy to school age.

This June, we’re putting together a series of guides and articles to help you and your baby and kids get active in Vancouver. We’ll also be showcasing some local entrepreneurs, businesses and groups that are all about being fit and fun with your children. We’ll be updating this list as we publish more and more articles throughout the coming weeks.

Vancouver gymnastics classes vary as much as the instructors who lead them. Some instructors may have a more competitive approach than others. Kids who have natural talent for gymnastics or who have a strong inner drive to compete may benefit from a gymnastics lesson style that is more serious and focused, while kids who like to clown around may benefit from a more mellow environment. In either case, your child’s gymnastics class should be a fun activity that he looks forward to every week.