Play therapy may be the buzzword of the day, but here’s a new twist: modeling clay that soothes and calms your kids with its scents.

Available for the first time in Canada, Mama K’s Aromatic Play Clay comes in scents like Lemongrass to inspire, Lavender to sooth, and Pink Geranium to balance.

And the scent will come in handy when you find it under the couch six months from now.

$25.99 for 5 tubs at www.naturalpod.com

If an apple of day keeps the doctor away, we've got an MD in Triple Jim's Crispy Organic Apple Chips.

Grown and manufactured in B.C., these tasty apple chips  are completely natural—and addictive. They make a perfect afternoon snack or post-dinner sweet treat.

Apples for dessert? Aren't you clever now.

Triple Jim's Crispy Organic Apple Chips, $3.99 (or 2 bags/$5 on sale now) at Whole Foods, www.wholefoods.com

When little Saxon unearths his Dad’s old turntables (and Metallica collection) and Vivienne becomes a backstage baby, make sure they don’t become the next It’s All Gone Pete Tong by protecting their hearing with these cool muffs.

Called Peltor Hearing Protectors (let’s keep that between us), the adjustable hot pink and bright blue earphones shield little ears from harmful noises while letting in ambient sound at hockey games, concerts, and parades.

Rock on, mom.

Age 1 and up. $39.95 at www.dandelionkids.ca

In your mind you spend Saturday afternoon happily baking oatmeal cookies with your kids. In your reality, you barely have time for lunch.

Sweetpea Baby Food’s new kids’ cookies are made the way you’d do them if you could: with whole grains like spelt and no dairy, eggs, or additives.

Healthful flavours like banana-pear and pumpkin spice mean there’s no guilt in doling them out by the handful. 

One for baby, three for mummy….

Sweetpea Organic Cookies ($5.99) at IGA, Planet Organic, Pusateri’s and other Canadian retailers at www.sweetpeababyfood.com

We all want to foster creativity in our kids, just not on our white upholstery.

Now you can relax and let your kids be kids at the new Vancouver art studio Collage Collage.

Canisters of fun art supplies (day-glo pompoms!), modern books and gifts surround a huge custom-made communal table that serves as a craft centre. Kids get one-on-one instruction, sometimes inspired by a famous graphic designer like Italy's Bruno Munari.

Now that's something to hang on the fridge.

Drop-in classes, $10. Birthday parties available. 621 Kingsway (at 15th and Fraser), Vancouver, 604-569-1929, www.collagecollage.ca

So you’re not quite as swift with the Singer as your mom once was.

Thank goodness there’s another mother who’ll whip up a gorgeous handmade dress for your budding fashionista. With au courant details like 1920s drop waists and Liberty of London fabrics, the modern frocks by Vancouver line Mette will have her standing apart from the crowd.

And not because she’s wearing a bright orange polyester shift—that was you at age 4.

Dresses from $40, www.mette.ca

So you gave up on the cloth diapers, forgot to ditch the PBA bottles and  didn’t splurge for the bamboo crib set.
 
Wait! There’s still a chance to reverse your eco-kid karma.
 
These cheerful Velcro-closure organic cotton snack sacks from Graze Organic are illustrated with water-based dyes and are machine washable, so they can be used again and again.
 
Now just make sure those veggies are local and the bread’s got ancient grains.

US$35 for set of 5. www.grazeorganic.com 

Things you dream of:
a) A week - make that two - in Cabo.
b) Getting your roots done.
c) Finishing a cup of coffee before it gets stone cold.

Perfect for Valentine's Day, this handmade "Hold Me" felt-wrapped mug ($42) will keep your cuppa warm while you wake, dress, feed, and get the brood out the door every morning.

Now you just need something like this to cover your hair.

At www.chloeinstyle.com

You've been know to make an origami crane from a paper napkin or turn a newspaper into an "art project." Anything to entertain the kids on these drizzly days of winter.

That's why we loved these temporary tattoo hand puppets ($12.50/8).

Wonder if they'll go to bed sooner if it's a purple polka dot monster telling them to do it?

www.thirddrawerdown.com

Sure spring break used to mean cheap trips to Mexico with the girls, too many tequila poppers and questionable hookups with frat boys from a fly-over state.

For a more civilized spring break, book into The Modage, a charming and spacious townhouse in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood. Made for a family-size entourage, the eclectic and modern space has two bedrooms, a den, two-and-a-half baths (no screaming matches over the shower!) and sleeps six.

The eclectic and colourful decor mixes vintage pieces with modern must-haves (like flat screen TVs and free internet), and little add-ons like baby equipment rentals and ready-to-cook gourmet meals from Indishspensable make traveling with the clan easy breezy.

Break out the tequila!

For rates and Olympic booking inquiries visit www.modagevancouvervacationrentals.com