James

The Gift Guide That Knows Them Better Than You Do – Holiday Gift Guide 2025 An Inclusive Holiday 2025 Gift Guide For People Who Are Hard To Buy For Shopping for someone who “doesn’t need anything” is a special kind of stress. You want something thoughtful, a little surprising, and preferably not from the same three big-box retailers everyone else is using. The good news: Holiday 2025 trends are on your side. Google’s latest Holiday 100 shows people are hunting for gifts that feel personal, nostalgic, and experience-driven, not just expensive. (blog.google) Etsy and Pinterest are seeing big interest in cozy, maximal home vibes, literary and nostalgic aesthetics, and playful, expressive pieces that feel like “this is so you.” (

The Gift Guide That Knows Them Better Than You Do – Holiday Gift Guide 2025

An Inclusive Holiday 2025 Gift Guide For People Who Are Hard To Buy For Shopping for someone who “doesn’t need anything” is a special kind of stress. You want something thoughtful, a little surprising, and preferably not…

Your Small Screen is Giving You a Headache – is this the answer? My Honest Take on Laptop Screen Extenders If you spend your day buried in browser tabs and tiny windows, you already know what digital overload feels like. Your brain is juggling email, slides, chat, and a dozen half-finished tasks on a single cramped laptop screen. A laptop screen extender looks like an easy fix. Clip on a couple of extra panels, and suddenly your laptop turns into a mini command center. That was the promise that sold me on the Mobile Pixels Trio. After actually using it though, the story is a bit more complicated. It does help with focus and workflow, but there are real tradeoffs that glossy ads do not mention, especially around brightness and weight.

Your Small Screen is Giving You a Headache – is this the answer? My Honest Take on Laptop Screen Extenders

If you spend your day buried in browser tabs and tiny windows, you already know what digital overload feels like. Your brain is juggling email, slides, chat, and a dozen half-finished tasks…

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How to Start Investing for Your Kids (Even If You Have No Idea Where to Begin)

If you’ve ever looked at your child and thought, “I want…

https://www.socialdad.ca/2025/11/09/how-to-start-investing-for-your-kids-even-if-you-have-no-idea-where-to-begin/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social

FREE Christmas Printables – Crafts, Worksheets, Activities, and Colouring Hooray for the Holidays! A time where we're exhausted, the days are shorter, and for some brilliant reason, we decide to pack everything into already overstretched calendars. Oh, and let's bring the in-laws too, that'll be a stress-free event. I might just hide under the coats for the season. The kids love it, though, so here are some printable worksheets disguised as fun, colouring activities, word searches, and other bits and pieces. Oh, by the way, I took out the colourful borders and most of the non-essential parts to save your printer ink.

FREE Christmas Printables – Crafts, Worksheets, Activities, and Colouring

Hooray for the Holidays! A time where we're exhausted, the days are shorter, and for some brilliant reason, we decide to pack everything into already overstretched calendars. Oh, and let's bring the in-laws too, that'll be a…

Finally Finding Answers: Getting an ADHD Diagnosis at 42 #sponsored No more waitlists. No more feeling defeated. If you have ADHD symptoms and life keeps slipping out of rhythm, there is a faster, more accessible way to get help. The moment things clicked When my sister-in-law, a doctor, suggested I get tested for ADHD, I almost laughed it off. At 42, I figured I had missed the window. ADHD was for kids, right? Then I sat through an evaluation and kept saying yes to every question. It was like someone finally handed me a map to a place I had been wandering for decades.

Finally Finding Answers: Getting an ADHD Diagnosis at 42

#sponsored No more waitlists. No more feeling defeated. If you have ADHD symptoms and life keeps slipping out of rhythm, there is a faster, more accessible way to get help. The moment things clicked When my sister-in-law, a doctor, suggested…

We worry about our kids’ screens while our parents are getting catfished on Facebook – a quick How To guide for our parents’ generation Why we should give our parents the same energy we give our kids when it comes to tech, safety, and the fun stuff. We obsess over kids and screen time, parental controls, and whether TikTok will melt their homework. That matters. But while we’re busy configuring Screen Time for our teens, a lot of our parents have been quietly left behind, or worse, handed a powerful device and told “have fun” like it’s a bike without brakes. Meanwhile, scammers are getting sneakier, low-quality junk is a tap away, and many folks 60 plus have never been shown how to use basic things like the camera, voice commands, texting, or email.

We worry about our kids’ screens while our parents are getting catfished on Facebook – a quick How To guide for our parents’ generation

Why we should give our parents the same energy we give our kids when it comes to tech, safety, and the fun stuff. We obsess over kids and screen time, parental…

Dadventures Await: A Bucket List for Dads Who Can’t Sit Still Fatherhood changes a lot, but it doesn’t cancel your appetite for adventure. If you’re the kind of dad who can’t sit still, think of this as a blueprint for living wide awake while staying all-in at home. Hit the Trails on a Mountain BikeDirt under your tires, heart in your throat. Forest switchbacks and rocky climbs deliver the perfect mix of cardio and problem-solving. You’ll sweat, you’ll smile, and you’ll show your kids that the outdoors beats any screen. Take a Road Trip Off the Beaten PathPick a direction, circle a few oddball stops, and go.

Dadventures Await: A Bucket List for Dads Who Can’t Sit Still

Fatherhood changes a lot, but it doesn’t cancel your appetite for adventure. If you’re the kind of dad who can’t sit still, think of this as a blueprint for living wide awake while staying all-in at home. Hit the Trails on a Mountain…

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Instagram’s Teen Accounts Just Went PG‑13: Here’s What Canadian Parents Need to Know

Last year, Instagram rolled out Teen…

https://www.socialdad.ca/2025/10/14/instagrams-teen-accounts-just-went-pg%e2%80%9113-heres-what-canadian-parents-need-to-know/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Apple Watch Family Guide 2025: A Vancouver Dad’s Complete Review As a busy father living in Vancouver with a tech-loving 9-year-old daughter and a serious outdoor habit involving my current Apple Watch Ultra 2, I've spent considerable time evaluating Apple's latest watch lineup. After extensive research and hands-on experience, here's my comprehensive guide to the Apple Watch Series 11, SE 3, and Ultra 3 from a family perspective. The 2025 Apple Watch collection offers something genuinely compelling for every family member, but the devil is in the details when you're considering Canadian pricing, carrier compatibility, and real-world family dynamics.

Apple Watch Family Guide 2025: A Vancouver Dad’s Complete Review

As a busy father living in Vancouver with a tech-loving 9-year-old daughter and a serious outdoor habit involving my current Apple Watch Ultra 2, I've spent considerable time evaluating Apple's latest watch lineup. After extensive…

A Dad’s Love Letter to Autumn Layering: Dressing for North Vancouver’s Perfect Fall Weather There's something almost ritualistic about that first morning when you reach into the wardrobe and feel the weight of wool between your fingers instead of cotton. September in North Vancouver brings with it a particular kind of anticipation. The thermometer hovers between 5°C and 19°C, creating the perfect excuse for what I consider my annual sartorial renaissance. At 42, I've discovered that autumn dressing isn't just about staying warm. It's about crafting an armour of comfort that can handle the unpredictable dance between coastal mist and mountain air that defines our corner of British Columbia.

A Dad’s Love Letter to Autumn Layering: Dressing for North Vancouver’s Perfect Fall Weather

There's something almost ritualistic about that first morning when you reach into the wardrobe and feel the weight of wool between your fingers instead of cotton. September in North Vancouver brings with it…

Men's Sexual Wellness: Breaking the Silence on Self-Care, Common Questions, and Modern (fun) Solutions Plus - they Google'd what?!

Men's Sexual Wellness: Breaking the Silence on Self-Care, Common Questions, and Modern (fun) Solutions
open.substack.com/pub/socialda...

Did Parenting Really Get Harder or is it Just Us? A Look at Each Generation

Which generation of parents had it harder? open.substack.com/pub/socialda...

Stop Scrolling – and LEARN! How Free Alison Courses Helped Me Become a Better Parent and More Hireable Professional *contains affiliate links As a busy parent, it often feels like there's never enough time to invest in yourself. Between diaper changes, school runs, and bedtime stories, who has time to earn a new qualification or explore a career pivot? That’s where Alison’s free online courses come in. Whether you’re looking to become more confident as a parent, level up your career, or explore trending topics like AI or ADHD in childhood, Alison offers thousands of free, certified courses you can complete on your own schedule. Learning Instead of Scrolling: Why I Chose Alison…

Stop Scrolling – and LEARN! How Free Alison Courses Helped Me Become a Better Parent and More Hireable Professional

*contains affiliate links As a busy parent, it often feels like there's never enough time to invest in yourself. Between diaper changes, school runs, and bedtime stories, who has…

Best Buy Canada’s Huge 4-Day Sale – all the deals *Contains affiliate codes, for which SocialDad may make a commission. Between July 8–11, 2025, Best Buy Canada is having a massive sale with epic savings on televisions, drink makers, smoothie blenders, wearables, health tech, and even a few e-scooters! 🔥 Beverage Appliances - Top Deals at Best Buy Coffee Makers & Kettles Haden Dorchester Coffee Maker - Pebble Grey (SKU: 17242630)

Best Buy Canada’s Huge 4-Day Sale – all the deals

*Contains affiliate codes, for which SocialDad may make a commission. Between July 8–11, 2025, Best Buy Canada is having a massive sale with epic savings on televisions, drink makers, smoothie blenders, wearables, health tech, and even a few…

🎲 Summer Fun Starts Here: 5 New Board Games From Asmodee🎲 Ahh, summer. The days are longer, the drinks are colder, and the board games are hotter than ever. Whether you're dodging the heat indoors or planning a game night under the stars, Asmodee's Summer Fun collection has something for everyone—from fierce duels to family feuds (the fun kind). Grab your snacks, gather your crew (or worthy rival), and let’s dive into 5 must-play Asmodee games that are guaranteed to level up your summer fun.

🎲 Summer Fun Starts Here: 5 New Board Games From Asmodee🎲

Ahh, summer. The days are longer, the drinks are colder, and the board games are hotter than ever. Whether you're dodging the heat indoors or planning a game night under the stars, Asmodee's Summer Fun collection has something for…

Supporting LGBTQ2S+ Communities: Where to Buy Meaningful Merchandise A comprehensive guide to online stores where your purchase makes a difference When you're looking for LGBTQ2S+ and ally merchandise—whether it's a "Protect Trans Kids" tee, pride pins, or rainbow accessories—where you shop matters. The right purchase can support queer creators, fund community organizations, and amplify important messages while helping you express your values. When I was doing some searching online,

Supporting LGBTQ2S+ Communities: Where to Buy Meaningful Merchandise

A comprehensive guide to online stores where your purchase makes a difference When you're looking for LGBTQ2S+ and ally merchandise—whether it's a "Protect Trans Kids" tee, pride pins, or rainbow accessories—where you shop…

Breaking the Silence: Why Every Man Needs “Mental Health for Men: Daily Reminders to Stop Being So Hard On Yourself” Discover James R.C. Smith’s groundbreaking mental health book for men. Get practical daily reminders, anxiety relief, and depression support designed specifically for modern masculinity challenges.

Breaking the Silence: Why Every Man Needs “Mental Health for Men: Daily Reminders to Stop Being So Hard On Yourself”

Discover James R.C. Smith’s groundbreaking mental health book for men. Get practical daily reminders, anxiety relief, and depression support designed specifically for modern…

Making "Dad" LinkedIn Official: How One Campaign is Redefining Success for Canadian Fathers Dove Men+Care’s new Father’s Day initiative challenges men to add their most important role to their professional profiles. Picture this: You’re scrolling through LinkedIn, checking out career updates...

Making "Dad" LinkedIn Official: How One Campaign is Redefining Success for Canadian Fathers www.socialdad.ca/2025/06/09/m...

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Making "Dad" LinkedIn Official: How a @dovemencare Campaign is Redefining Success for Canadian Fathers.

https://www.socialdad.ca/2025/06/09/making-dad-linkedin-official-how-one-campaign-is-redefining-success-for-canadian-fathers/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Honey had to find a cool spot to get out of the sun!

Last-Minute Father’s Day Gift Guide 2025 Father’s Day is Sunday, June 15th - here are the perfect gifts for every type of dad! 🎮 Nintendo Switch 2 - The Gaming Dad’s Dream The Nintendo Switch 2 launches TODAY (June 5, 2025) with a price of $449 USD ($629 CAD). This hybrid console features a larger 7.9-inch 1080p display with 120Hz refresh rate, magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers, and backward compatibility with original Switch games.

Last-Minute Father’s Day Gift Guide 2025

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 15th - here are the perfect gifts for every type of dad! 🎮 Nintendo Switch 2 - The Gaming Dad’s Dream The Nintendo Switch 2 launches TODAY (June 5, 2025) with a price of $449 USD ($629 CAD). This hybrid console features a larger…

I’m so in! 🇨🇦@gandersocial.bsky.social

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Oops! I got obsessed: A Deep Dive into Vancouver’s Fable Home

Disclaimer: This isn't sponsored, paid, or anything other than pure, unadulterated enthusiasm…

https://www.socialdad.ca/2025/05/26/oops-i-got-obsessed-a-deep-dive-into-vancouvers-fable-home/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Nurturing Emotional Intelligence: A Guide for Modern Parents Listen to this article: A child’s emotional intelligence (EQ) may be just as crucial as their academic abilities. Research increasingly shows that children with well-developed emotional intelligence n...

New article - now with an option to listen instead! #parenting

www.socialdad.ca/2025/05/08/n...

Protecting Your Child Online: A Guide to Setting Up Parental Controls on Apps, Games, and Devices Learn how to set up and use Apple's parental controls to ensure your child's safety online and offline.

Protecting Your Child Online: A Guide to Setting Up Parental Controls on Apps, Games, and Devices www.socialdad.ca/2025/04/21/p...

It's been a wild month! I launched a little Etsy store to share some art, fun ideas, and Elbows Up stickers, and I'm finally seeing a (very small) return! Support your local Canadian (me) here: coolcanadianart.etsy.com

If this passes to the rats, we’re done.

Here’s some news! My daughter and I made an #Etsy store. If your next gift isn’t from here, it’s trash and you should feel bad. (Lots made in Canada!)

www.etsy.com/shop/Vintage...

Any @bsky.app experts on here? Would this be a good place to coordinate event engagement? Is there a way to hold a space, livestream, make your own feed?

Happy Valentine’s Day to 🇺🇸 from 🇨🇦