WestCoast Families Resource Guide Vol 31

8 Strategies to Help Cultivate Gratitude in Your Children

Gratitude, the simple act of acknowledging and appreciating the goodness in our lives, is a cornerstone of emotional well-being and resilience. Instilling this invaluable trait in our children is a gift that will serve them throughout their lives, fostering resilience, empathy and a deep sense of contentment. Here are eight comprehensive strategies to help cultivate gratitude in your children:

1. Lead by Example: Children are keen observers of their parents’ behavior. By modelling gratitude in your daily life, you provide a powerful example for your children to emulate. Express gratitude openly and authentically for the small blessings in life—a warm meal, a beautiful sunset or a kind gesture from a friend. Let them see that gratitude is not just a word but a way of living.

2. Maintain a Gratitude Journal: Encourage your children to start a gratitude journal where they can write down at least three things they are thankful for each day. This practice helps them cultivate a habit of gratitude, even during challenging times, and serves as a tangible reminder of the abundance in their lives. Encourage them to reflect on their entries regularly and notice patterns of gratitude emerging over time.

3. Practice Daily Reflection: Integrate a daily gratitude practice into your family routine. Create a dedicated gratitude journal or jar where each family member can jot down all the things they are thankful for each day. Encourage your children to reflect on their experiences and express gratitude for the simple joys and blessings they encounter. This ritual cultivates mindfulness and helps children develop a habit of focusing on the positive aspects of their lives.

4. Foster Perspective-Taking: Help your children develop empathy and perspective by exposing them to diverse experiences. Engage in conversations about social justice, equity and the many challenges faced by others. Encourage them to consider different viewpoints and reflect on their own privileges. Through understanding and empathy, children learn to appreciate the diversity of human experiences and develop gratitude for their own blessings.

5. Volunteer Together: Engage your children in volunteer activities that expose them to various perspectives and help to cultivate empathy. Whether it’s participating in community clean-up projects, volunteering at a nursing home or daycare or helping to hand out food at local homeless shelters or churches, these experiences teach children the value of giving back and help them recognize their own privileges. Through this service to others, children learn to appreciate the interconnectedness of humanity and the importance of compassion.

6. Encourage Sending Thank-You Notes: Teach your children the art of gratitude by encouraging them to write a

thank-you note for any acts of kindness, support or gifts they receive. Whether it’s a heartfelt letter or a simple, yet meaningful, drawing, the act of expressing gratitude in a tangible form reinforces the value of appreciation and strengthens interpersonal connections. Encourage them to reflect on the impact of the gesture and the generosity of the giver before they start the note.

7. Limit Materialism: In a society that often equates happiness with material possessions, it’s crucial to teach children the major difference between wants and needs. Encourage experiences over possessions by prioritizing family outings, nature walks and shared experiences. Set boundaries around materialistic desires and emphasize the importance of contentment and gratitude for what they already have. By fostering an attitude of sufficiency, children learn to appreciate the richness of life beyond material wealth.

8. Celebrate Growth and Effort: Shift the focus from outcomes to effort and progress. Celebrate your children’s achievements, no matter how small, and emphasize the importance of perseverance and resilience. Acknowledge their hard work, determination and progress, and encourage them to recognize the value of the journey itself. By celebrating effort rather than just results, children learn to appreciate the process of growth and development.

Erika Palmer is a writer living in Victoria with her husband and daughter. She believes most problems can be solved with a good cup of tea and a huge piece of chocolate.

Education

CHILD CARE

123 ABC Montessori Childcare FV 123abcmontessori.com

3 Corners Child Care Centre V mountpleasantcc.ca/3-corners-child-carecentre

A Place to Grow DS aplacetogrow.ca

A to Z Childcare Centres M a2zchildcare.ca

ABC University Daycare V abcdaycarevancouver.com

Acorn Early Education Centre NS acornearlyed.com

Alexandrea Neighbourhood House DS alexhouse.net

Apple Tree Family Daycare BN apple-tree-family-daycare.business.site

Aubrey Daycare Centres BN aubreydaycare.com

Aves Early Education Centre R aveseducation.com

Bluebird Group Daycare Centre NS bluebirddaycare.ca

Bonny Castle Daycare DS Bonnycastledaycare.com

Bright Eyes Academy M brighteyesacademy.ca

Burnaby Association BN for Community Inclusion gobaci.com

Burnaby Family Life BN burnabyfamilylife.org

Caterpillar Family Daycare FV facebook.com/thelittlecaterpillars

Child Care Resource M & Referral Programs childcareresource.ca

LICENSED PRESCHOOL

Play based learning in a warm and nurturing environment. surrey.ca/preschool | 604-501-5100

City of Surrey DS surrey.ca

The City of Surrey delivers affordable excellence in licensed preschools for children ages 3–5 years. The City of Surrey’s high quality, playbased preschool program runs from September to June and is designed to promote healthy growth and development throughout a child’s early years.

V Vancouver R Richmond

DS Delta/Surrey

TC Tri-Cities

FV Fraser Valley

BN Burnaby/New West

NS North Shore

SW Squamish/Whistler

M Multiple

O Online

Conscious Kids Care FV consciouskidscare.com

Curious Minds Learning Centre FV curiousmindslearningcentre.com

Dinosaur Daycare NS dinosaurdaycare.com

Discovery Childcare Centre BN burnabychildcare.ca

Dreamkids Childcare Centre TC dream-kids.ca

Early Learning Childcare Centre TC earlylearningpoco.ca

Evergreen Early Childhood DS Daycare evergreenchildcarecentre.ca

Friendship Corner Daycare TC friendshipdaycare.com

Fun Farm Child Care FV funfarmchildcare.ca

Gatehouse Montessori NS gatehousemontessori.com

Goodwin Academy Daycare Centre DS goodwinacademy.ca

Green Apple Daycare M greenappledaycare.ca

Happy May Childcare Centre M happymay.ca

Harbourside Children’s Centre NS harboursidechildren.ca

Head Start Pre-Kinder NW headstartpre-k.com

Honey Tree DS The Children’s Learning Centre honeytree.ca

Imagination Station M imaginationstationchildcarecentre.com

Kids Only Daycare D kidsonlydaykidsdaycare.weebly.com

Kidzville Learning Centres DS kidzvillelearningcenters.com

Ladybird Daycare D facebook.com/Ladybird-Group-ChildcareCentre-Delta-168101456553522

Learn ‘n Play Childcare Centre M learnplaychildcare.com

Les Moussaillons R moussaillons.ca

Little Rascals Daycare NS littlerascals.ca

Little Wings Daycare Society R littlewingsdaycare.ca

Lonsdale Creek Daycare NS Centre Society lonsdalecreekdaycare.ca

Meadow Ridge Centre FV for Childcare mrccdaycare.com

My First Step Child Centre myfirststep.ca HEAD. HANDS. HEART.

Preschool and daycare dedicated to teaching the whole child –head, hands, and heart.

Olio Childcare DS oliochildcare.ca

Olive Grove Childcare ltd. NS olivegrovechildcare.ca

One Two Buckle My Shoe DS facebook.com/bucklemyshoe.ca

OneSpace Childcare V onespaceforall.ca/childcare

Shining Star Daycare TC shiningstardaycare.ca

Small Steps Childcare FV smallstepschildcare.com

Smiling Stars Daycare Centre NS smilingstarsdaycare.com

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

Brentwood College School M brentwood.ca

Our childcare service allows you the freedom and flexibility to drop off your child at our Children’s Atelier in our second floor play space while you make use of all the services OneSpace has to offer. By providing flexible workspace, child care, wellness services and affordable business consulting, we aim to remove many of the traditional barriers that exist for parents, entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Park Place Daycare & Montessori NS parkplacedaycareltd.com

Parkland Players TC parklandplayers.com

Pear Tree V pear-tree.ca

PJ Kids Club NS pjkidsclub.com

Port Coquitlam Daycare Society TC pocodaycare.com

Rise N Shine Childcare Centres R rnschildcare.vpweb.ca

Robyn’s Nest Daycare DS robynnest.weebly.com

Rothewood Academy M rothewood.com

At Rothewood Academy our passion and belief is to help the individual child embrace their inquisitiveness and creativity through play based and natural learning environments.

Sandcastles Park Children’s Centre R sandcastlepark.ca

SFU Childcare Society BN sfu.ca/childcare.html

Society of Richmond R Childrens Centres richmondchildcare.org

Sophia’s Family Child Care BN facebook.com/sophiachildcare

Starlight Child Care Centre BN starlightchildcarecentre.com

Start Smart Childcare Centre FV start-smart.ca

Stay N Play Daycare TC staynplaydaycare.com

Sunshine Children’s Centre M ridgemeadowschildcare.com

Sweet Peas Cottage NS sweetpeascottage.ca

UBC Childcare Services V childcare.ubc.ca

West Point Grey Community Centre V westpointgrey.org

West Vancouver NS Child Development Centre westvandaycare.org

Wise Owl Montessori Childcare FV wiseowlchildcare.com

Wonder of Learning V wonderoflearning.ca Childcare Learning Centre for ages 2–12. Our learning centre is Reggio-Emilia inspired and incorporates best practices in education while highly valuing the arts. Our School of Arts includes educational development in the areas of music, art, character and psychological development. We specialize in providing fun, engaging and educational piano lessons for all ages.

Brentwood College School is a co-educational, university preparatory boarding school for Grades 8 through 12 located in Mill Bay, Vancouver Island, BC. Our spectacular oceanfront campus sets the backdrop for a modern and progressive boarding school where our unique Tripartite Program provides students from 55 countries unrivalled opportunities that challenge them to become the leaders of tomorrow.

Brockton School North Vancouver NS brocktonschool.com

Collingwood School NS collingwood.org

Fraser Academy V fraseracademy.ca

Fraser Valley Elementary FV fves.bc.ca

Island Pacific School SW islandpacific.org

James Cameron School FV jcs.bc.ca

Kenneth Gordon Maplewood V kgms.ca

Madrona School V madronaschool.com

Southpointe Academy D southpointe.ca

Urban Academy NW urbanacademy.ca

Vancouver Montessori School V 8650 Barnard St | 604-261-0315 vancouvermontessorischool.com

A child-centred community. Preschool for children 3–5 years of age. Extended day for the 5 year old child. Elementary for children 6–12 years of age.

Vancouver Waldorf School NS vws.ca

Lynn Valley, 2725 St Christophers Rd info@vws.ca | 604-985-7435

Edgemont Village, 307–3255 Edgemont Blvd highschool@vws.ca | 604-986-2922

The Vancouver Waldorf School provides an experiential, ageappropriate approach to education. Our rich curriculum integrates hands-on creativity, language arts, music, physical education, nature studies, fine arts and crafts, math and sciences to support the development of the whole child.

West Vancouver School District NS westvancouverschools.ca

Westside Montessori School V westsidemontessori.ca

York House School V yorkhouse.ca

LEARNING CENTRES & TUTORS

Abby Tutors M abbytutors.com

Active Learning M beyondlearning.com

Amazing Tutors Inc. M amazingtutors.ca

BrainBoost Education V brainboosteducation.com

Edify Learning Spaces O edifylearningspaces.com | 604-368-3554

HomeLearners Network O homelearnersnetwork.com

Ho Math and Chess Learning Centre V vancouvermath.com

JEI Learning Centre M jeilearning.com

Kumon Math & Reading M kumon.com

LDS – Learn. Develop. Succeed. ldsociety.ca

LDS – Learn. Develop. Succeed. offers accessible, innovative learning support to individuals with learning differences, like dyslexia and ADHD, aged 3 to adult. Our 17 specialised programs are offered in person or online.

Little Mountain Learning Academy V lmacademics.com

Mathnasium M mathnasium.ca

Millennium Learning TC millenniumlearningadvantage.com

Oxford Learning M oxfordlearning.com

Reading and Learning Pathways NS rlpathways.com

Spirit of Math M spiritofmath.com

Association of Neighbourhood M Houses anhbc.org

BC Aboriginal Child Care Society NS acc-society.bc.ca

Bee Haven Kids NS beehavenkids.com

Brightstart Childrens Academy M brightstart.ca

Burnaby French Language BN Preschool bflp.org

Burnaby Neighbourhood House BN burnabynh.ca

CEFA Core Education & Fine Arts V cefa.ca

Child Care Options M childcareoptions.ca

City Hall Child Care Society V cityhallchildcare.org

Collingwood Neighbourhood House V cnh.bc.ca

Council of Parent Participation M Preschools cpppreschools.bc.ca

Creative Kids Learning Centres DS creativekidslearningcenters.ca

Developmental Disabilities Assoc. R develop.bc.ca

Edify Learning Spaces is a 1-on1 online tutoring agency. Quality tutors work with your child’s unique strengths to increase academic scores but also provide social emotional learning support to help increase focus and confidence! BC based, neurodivergent affirming agency. Book a free consultation.

Higher Grade Learning Centre M highergrade.ca

Sylvan M sylvanlearning.com

Tutor Doctor M tutordoctor.com

Tutors in Vancouver V tutorsinvancouver.ca

Vancouver Learning Centre V vancouverlearningcentre.com

PRESCHOOL

Aboriginal Head Start Association M ahsabc.com

Elite Montessori Academy V elitemontessori.ca

Fraser Montessori Daycare NW edithsmontessori.com

Garderie et Prematernelle R les Moussaillons moussaillons.ca

Global West Montessori FV Preschool and Daycare globalwestmontessori.ca

Granville House Montessori V granvillehousemontessori.com

Highlands Preschool NS highlandspreschool.ca

Jellybean Park M jellybeanpark.com

Jewish Community Centre V of Greater Vancouver jccgv.com

Kerrisdale Little Owls Preschool V kerrisdalelittleowls.com

Kids and Company M kidsandcompany.com

Kinderheart Montessori TC kinderheart.ca

Kiwassa Neighbourhood House V kiwassa.ca

Little Koala Montessori M littlekoalamontessori.com

Little Rainbow House TC Preschool & Daycare littlerainbowhouse.com

Montessori Daycare Society V mdcsvancouver.com

Montessori Mes Petits NS mespetits.ca

Mount Pleasant V Community Centre mountpleasantcc.ca

My Whole Earth Academy V 778-379-1858 mywholeearth.ca

Unlock your child’s full potential at My Whole Earth Academy! Our programs integrate multiple intelligences, while nurturing curious minds through hands-on experiences in an encouraging environment. Enroll now and watch them thrive!

North Shore Child Care NS Resource and Referral northshorechildcare.ca

North Star Montessori NS northstarmontessori.ca

Providing an education as unique as your child. North Star Montessori offers a nurturing, engaging and challenging environment in which each child develops at their pace academically, physically, socially and emotionally.

Pomme d’Api V pommedapi.org

Purpose Society NW purposesociety.org

Reach Developmental Preschools DS reachchild.org

Reach for the Stars Montessori BN reachforthestarsmontessori.com

Roots & Wings Montessori DS rootsandwingsbc.com

Saplings Outdoor Programs M saplingsoutdoorprogram.ca

Smilestones M smilestones.ca

Spare Time Child Care Society V sparetimesociety.org

UBC Childcare Services V childcare.ubc.ca

Vancouver Montessori V vancouvermontessorischool.com

Vancouver Society V of Childrens Centres vsocc.org

Westcoast Child Care M Resource Centre wstcoast.org

Westside Montessori V westsidemontessori.ca

Write Choice Early Learning TC Centre writechoicelearning.com

YMCA of Greater Vancouver V gv.ymca.ca

YWCA V gv.ymca.ca

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

École André-Piolat NS

380, Chemin Kings Ouest 604-980-6040

andrepiolat.csf.bc.ca

Kindergarten to Grade 12

Maternelle à 12e année

French Public School

École publique francophone School District 93

École Anne-Hébert V

7051 Killarney St 604-437-4849

Kindergarten to Grade 6

Maternelle à 6e année

Annexe Henderson

801 E 54th Ave

604-227-9650

annehebert.csf.bc.ca

Kindergarten to Grade 3

Maternelle à 3e année

French Public School

École publique francophone School District 93

École des Colibris V 590 W 65th Ave | 604-214-2710

colibris.csf.bc.ca

Kindergarten to Grade 6

Maternelle à 6e année

French Public School

École publique francophone School District 93

École des Deux-rives FV

7674 Stave Lake 604-820-5710

deuxrives.csf.bc.ca

Kindergarten to Grade 9

Maternelle à 9e année

French Public School

École publique francophone School District 93

École des Navigateurs R

8580 Kilgour Pl | 604-295-4056

navigateurs.csf.bc.ca

Kindergarten to Grade 7

Maternelle à 7e année

French Public School

École publique francophone School District 93

WestCoast Families .com

École des Pionniers- TC de-Maillardville

1618 Patricia Ave

604-552-7915

pionniers.csf.bc.ca

Kindergarten to Grade 12

Maternelle à 12e année

French Public School

École publique francophone School District 93

École des Voyageurs FV

8736–216th St

604-881-0222

voyageurs.csf.bc.ca

Kindergarten to Grade 7

Maternelle à 7e année

French Public School

École publique francophone School District 93

École du Bois-joli DS

785, 49th St | 604-948-7007 boisjoli.csf.bc.ca

Kindergarten to Grade 7

Maternelle à 7e année

French Public School

École publique francophone School District 93

École Gabrielle-Roy DS

6887 132nd St

604-599-6688

gabrielleroy.csf.bc.ca

Kindergarten to Grade 12

Maternelle à 12e année

French Public School

École publique francophone School District 93

École Jules-Verne V

5445 Baillie St | 604-731-8378 julesverne.csf.bc.ca

Grade 7 to Grade 12

7e année à 12e année

French Public School

École publique francophone School District 93

École La Vérendrye FV

6610 Lickman Rd

604-858-2666 verendrye.csf.bc.ca

Kindergarten to Grade 8

Maternelle à 8e année

French Public School

École publique francophone School District 93

École Norval-Morrisseau

2882 E 4th Ave

604-214-2711

norvalmorrisseau.csf.bc.ca

Kindergarten to Grade 4

Maternelle à 4e année

French Public School

École publique francophone School District 93

École Rose-des-vents V

5445 Baillie St

604-267-9022

Kindergarten to Grade 6

Maternelle à 6e année

Annexe Queen Elizabeth

4275 Crown St | 778-300-8434

Kindergarten to Grade 3

Maternelle à 3e année

rosedesvents.csf.bc.ca

French Public School

École publique francophone School District 93

5 Tips on Moving When You Have Kids

Moving can be a challenge at any time— add kids to the mix and it becomes even more tricky.

Moving is a stressful time for children, mainly because there are many changes happening, and they are not often involved in any of the decision making.

Whether you children are infants, toddlers or teenagers, it is important to let them know about the things that will stay the same:

• Allow them to take ownership of the things they pack and take with them.

• Tell them that your family will continue to spend time together in your new home.

• Let them know that you will play the same board games.

• Tell them family movie nights won’t change.

• Share with them that you will still go to a playground and walk through a park.

Listen to their concerns and answer their questions as best you can. If you don’t know the answer to something they ask, be honest. Tell them you don’t know but that you will find out together.

When you do need to talk about the things

that will change, try to do so in a way they can understand and use positive language.

Read on for some more ways you can ease this big transition and make moving with kids a little easier.

1. Prepare them

It is important to let your children know about the move early in your process. You may need to dot some of your I’s and cross some of your T’s before bringing it up so they don’t have more questions that you can’t answer than those that you can but let them know as soon as you are confident to do so.

Make sure you emphasize that they will be able to take all their things with them, including their bed.

Whenever possible, let them make decisions for themselves. Which box will you put your toys into? Where will the books go in the car? What outfit will they leave unpacked to wear on moving day?

2. Show them what to expect

Show them the new neighbourhood and home (if possible). Visit a local park or fun

attraction that is nearby. Swing by their new school. If you are moving too far away to visit, take the time to research the new area and learn as much as you can about the people who live there. What is the library like? Are there museums? What stores are nearby?

Let them know what to expect on the day of the move. Will you be moving your own things? Will there be movers in your home? Will you move all of your things on one day?

For younger kids, it can be important to let them know that the boxes will be at the new house. They won’t disappear and movers won’t lose their belongings.

3. Be patient

Remember that it is perfectly normal for your little one to be anxious about the move. They may ask the same questions repeatedly to make sure you are giving the same answer every time.

Children may also need you to repeat your messages and expectations in several different ways before they understand or feel comfortable.

This is the perfect time to pick your battles and let some of the little things slide. Accept that some rules may be a bit different at this time.

4. Have a plan

It is a good idea to avoid packing up your child’s bedroom until you absolutely must so they can keep a level of normalcy and routine as long as possible. This will give them a familiar place to go when many other parts of the house are in disarray.

Pack their things into the car last so they are the first thing you take out of the car when you arrive at the new house.

It can be a good idea to get childcare for your kiddo with someone they love and trust on the day of the move to keep them out of the chaos.

Try to get to the new house with enough time for them to explore and settle in before bed. Do their regular bedtime routine (see next point for more).

5. Keep routine

Try to keep your child’s daily routine relatively close to the one they were used to in the old house.

It is a big job to unpack a whole house but there is no need to rush. The boxes will still be there tomorrow.

Try to keep your kiddo’s schedule the same. Wake them up, feed them, get them dressed, bathe them and put them to bed at the same time (including naps for younger children) and in the same way as you did before the move.

Our bonus tip is to try and give your child closure before leaving the old house.

Take a walk through all the empty rooms and let them ask you any questions they have. Moving teaches your child important lessons, especially about how to deal with change.

TO KIDS MARKET ON GRANVILLE ISLAND!

With over 25 Shops, Services, Entertainment and Food, Adventure and Fun awaits for all ages!

Open daily 10am to 6pm kidsmarket.ca For New Events, Activities and Contests Follow us @kidsmarketgranvilleisland

No matter their age, your child will have big feelings associated with a move.

Make sure you listen to their concerns; answer any questions they have and prepare them as best you can for the new adventure.

Stacie Gaetz is the managing editor of WestCoast Families and the proud mama of a delightful daughter and silly son who fill her days with love and chaos. Reach her at editor@westcoastfamilies.com.

Come on in and see our incredible live animals in this unique mini-zoo. Tour guides are always available to answer questions and show o our adorable critters! Virtual tours and outreach programs are available for larger groups and birthday parties. victoriabugzoo.ca

Family Fun & Entertainment

6pack Indoor Beach V 6packbeach.com

Adventure Zone + Toddler Zone V theadventurezone.ca

Britannia Mine Museum SW britanniaminemuseum.ca

Multi-awardwinning Britannia Mine Museum

exceeds expectations, offering an engaging experience of an iconic National Historic Site. Rumble aboard an underground train, pan for gold and immerse yourself in the multi-sensory experience BOOM! Located on the scenic Sea to Sky Highway/Hwy 99 between Vancouver and Squamish.

Burnaby Village Museum BN burnabyvillagemuseum.ca

Captain Kid’s Fun Centre FV sportsplexbc.com

Castle Royale NS castleroyale.ca

Circuit Circus Arcade V granvilleisland.com/directory/circuit-circus

Crash Crawly’s TC crash-crawlys.com

Destination Cultus FV Water and Theme Parks cultus.com

EcoDairy FV ecodairy.ca

Evergreen Cultural Centre TC evergreenculturalcentre.ca

Evergreen Cultural Centre is the Tri-Cities home for professional live events and arts experiences. Join us for a show, explore the Art Gallery at Evergreen or get creative at one of our free public programs.

Extreme Air Park M richmond.extremeairpark.com

FlyOver Canada V flyovercanada.com

Fort Langley National Historic Site FV pc.gc.ca/fortlangley

Go Bananas M gobananaslangley.com

Granville Island V granvilleisland.com

Greater Vancouver Zoo FV gvzoo.com

Grouse Mountain NS grousemountain.com/camps

Gulf of Georgia Cannery R National Historic Site gulfofgeorgiacannery.org

Hazelmere Pumpkin Patch DS hazelmerepumpkinpatch.ca

Historic Stewart Farm DS discoversurreybc.com

Hive Climbing NS hiveclimbing.com

Honeybee Centre DS honeybeecentre.com

V Vancouver

R Richmond

DS

Delta/Surrey

TC Tri-Cities

FV Fraser Valley

BN Burnaby/New West

NS North Shore

SW Squamish/Whistler

M Multiple

O Online

H.R. MacMillan Space Centre V spacecentre.ca

Visit the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, home to Vancouver’s Planetarium Star Theatre. Catch a live science demonstration and explore the wonders of the night sky in the Observatory. Open 7 days a week.

Jungle Jacs Play Centre TC junglejacs.com

Kids Market V kidsmarket.ca

Kidsworld V kidsworldprogram.com

Kidtropolis R kidtropolis.ca

Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre NS ecologycentre.ca

Maplewood Farm NS maplewoodfarm.bc.ca

Metro Vancouver Regional Parks V metrovancouver.org/events/calendar

Museum of North Vancouver NS 604-990-3700

monova.ca

Explore the past, present and future of North Vancouver at MONOVA: Museum of North Vancouver (115 West Esp). MONOVA is transforming the way people experience North Vancouver’s stories through interactive exhibits and innovative programming.

to inspire the artist in everyone. Place des Arts offer quality instruction for all ages and skill levels in music, dance, theatre, visual and literary arts.

Playland at the PNE V pne.ca

Railway Museum of BC SW wcra.org

Royal BC Museum M royalbcmuseum.bc.ca

Science World V scienceworld.ca/summercamp

SkyZone Trampoline Park DS skyzone.com

Stanley Park Miniature Railway V vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture

Taves Family Farm FV tavesfamilyfarms.com

UBC Botanical Gardens V botanicalgarden.ubc.ca

Vancouver Maritime Museum V vanmaritime.com

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra V vancouversymphony.ca

VanDusen Botanical Gardens V vandusengarden.org

Victoria Bug Zoo M

Pacific Museum of Earth V pme.ubc.ca

Parksville Beach Festival parksvillebeachfest.ca

Known to locals as Beachfest, this 5½ week long family-oriented festival runs from July 14 to August 20 and includes the Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition & Exhibition, weekend concerts, daily buskers, an artisan market and a special weekend evening light up of the sculptures.

Place des Arts TC

604-664-1636 | placedesarts.ca

Place des Arts is a not-for-profit arts education centre in Coquitlam, BC, with a mission

631 Courtney St, Victoria 250-384-2847 | victoriabugzoo.ca

The Victoria Bug Zoo is an incredible mini-zoo dedicated to educating people about the wonders of some of this world’s most misunderstood inhabitants. Come see giant walking sticks, fuzzy tarantulas, glowing scor pions, enormous beetles and so much more!

VR Funtastic World vrfuntasticworld.com

WildPlay Elements Park wildplay.com/maple-ridge

Come on in and see our incredible live animals in this unique mini-zoo. Tour guides are always available to answer questions and show o our adorable critters! Virtual tours and outreach programs are available for larger groups and birthday parties.

Get Involved with Volunteering

Volunteering within your community is a powerful way to create positive change, foster connections and enrich lives. There are SO many volunteer opportunities waiting for you to explore. From local nonprofits and charities to schools, hospitals and beyond, here’s a look at the community volunteer options available for you and/or your family.

Local Nonprofits & Charities

Local nonprofits and charities serve as the heart of community support because they address a wide range of social, environmental and humanitarian issues. These organizations tend to rely heavily on volunteers to fulfil their missions. Opportunities within nonprofits can vary widely, from hands-on activities like serving meals at a soup kitchen or organizing fundraising events to behind-the-scenes tasks such as data entry.

Community Centres

Community centres serve as hubs for a variety of programs and activities aimed at enriching the lives of residents. Volunteer opportunities at community centres may include tutoring, leading workshops or classes, organizing events or providing administra-

tive support. Whether you have a talent to share or simply want to lend a helping hand, community centres are a great place to get involved and make a difference in your own neighborhood.

Environmental Organizations

If you are passionate about environmental conservation and sustainability, volunteering with local environmental organizations is an excellent way to make a positive impact on the planet. Opportunities may include participating in park clean-ups, tree planting initiatives or educational outreach efforts.

Schools & Educational Programs

Schools are always in need of volunteers to support students and teachers. Whether it’s assisting in your kid’s classroom, tutoring students or leading extracurricular activities, there are many ways to get involved in education-based volunteering.

Senior Centres

Volunteering at senior centres provides an opportunity to connect with older adults to help combat social isolation, provide fun memories and make a meaningful difference in their lives. Activities may include leading

recreational programs, providing companionship, assisting with meal services or helping with administrative tasks.

Hospitals & Healthcare Facilities

Hospitals and healthcare facilities rely on volunteers to provide additional support and comfort to patients, families and staff. Volunteer roles may involve tasks such as delivering flowers, reading materials or mail to patients, providing administrative assistance, assisting with patient transport or offering emotional support through conversation or companionship.

Animal Shelters & Rescue Organizations

Volunteering at animal shelters and rescue organizations offers an incredible way to advocate for the welfare of animals in need. Opportunities may include walking dogs, socializing cats, cleaning cages or kennels, assisting with adoption events or providing foster care for animals awaiting permanent homes.

Disaster Relief Organizations

During times of crisis, disaster relief organizations heavily rely on volunteers to provide

essential support and assistance to affected communities. Opportunities may include disaster preparedness training, emergency response coordination, shelter operations or distribution of supplies.

Church & Faith-Based Organizations

Many faith-based organizations actively engage in community service and outreach efforts as part of their mission. Volunteering opportunities may include serving meals to the homeless, organizing clothing drives, providing shelter to those in need, organizing church events or participating in community celebrations.

Virtual Volunteering

If you have time or mobility constraints, or simply prefer to volunteer from home, virtual volunteering offers a convenient and flexible way to give back. Opportunities will likely fall into your skillset and may include online tutoring or mentoring, virtual fundraising or advocacy campaigns, graphic design or website development projects, social media management for nonprofits or remote administrative support.

Local Events & Festivals

Community events and festivals provide opportunities for volunteers to get involved in the planning, organization and execution of community celebrations and gatherings. Whether it’s a parade, cultural festival or fundraising event, volunteers play a crucial role in ensuring these events run smoothly and successfully. Volunteer roles may include event coordination, set-up and tear-down, ticket sales, guest services or entertainment.

K Comprehensive 12-level chess program

R Online and in-person programs

B Weekly tournaments

N Top coaches

Erika Palmer is a writer

living with her husband and daughter. She believes most problems can be solved with a good cup of tea and a huge piece of chocolate.

Classes & Programs

ART PROGRAMS

4Cats Arts Studio M 4cats.com

ACT Arts Centre FV theactmapleridge.org

Art Materials O artmaterials.ca

Artmania NS artmaniabc.ca

The Arts Centre TC pomoarts.ca

Camp MAC, FV Spring Break Art Lessons missionartscouncil.ca

The Centre for Digital Media V thecdm.ca

Creative Edge FV creativeedgebc.com

Danzmode Productions BN danzmodeproductions.com

Green Apple Art Centre V greenappleartcenter.com

Leigh Square Community TC Arts Village portcoquitlam.ca/leighsquare

McTavish Academy of Art O 1720 McTavish Rd 778-351-0088

McTavishAcademy.ca create@mctavishacademy.ca

Offering a range of in house made art kits, birthday party kits and digital programs to create at home. Connect with us to create a custom package.

North Van Arts V northvanarts.ca

Place des Arts TC placedesarts.ca

Port Moody Arts Centre TC pomoarts.ca

Stream of Dreams Murals Society BN streamofdreams.org

COMMUNITY CENTRES

Burnaby/New West BN burnaby.ca

Delta/Surrey DS delta.ca | surrey.ca

Evergreen Cultural Centre TC evergreenculturalcentre.ca

Evergreen Cultural Centre is the Tri-Cities home for professional live events and arts experiences. Join us for a show, explore the Art Gallery at Evergreen or get creative at one of our free public programs.

Fraser Valley FV fvrd.ca

Richmond R richmond.ca

Squamish/Whistler SW squamish.ca whistler.ca

Tri-Cities TC coquitlam.ca | portcoquitlam.ca portmoody.ca

Vancouver Community Centres V vancouver.ca

DANCE

Ache Brasil V achebrasil.ca

Arts Umbrella V artsumbrella.com

Circus West V circuswest.com

Driftwood Dance NS driftwooddance.com

Gabriela’s Movement Studio R movementstudio.ca

Pacific Dance Arts V pacificdancearts.ca

Royal City Youth Ballet NW royalcityyouthballet.org

DAY PROGRAMS

Eagles in the Sky V eaglesinthesky.ca

Saplings Outdoor Program NS saplingsoutdoorprogram.ca

Summer at Southridge Day Camps DS southridgesummer.ca

V Vancouver R Richmond

DS Delta/Surrey

TC Tri-Cities FV

MUSIC

Ava Music and Arts Centre NS avamusic.ca

H.O.W. Music and Arts Academy FV howmusic.ca

Langley Community Music School FV langleymusic.com

Life Musique Academy R lifemusique.com

Long & McQuade M long-mcquade.com

Modern Music School V modernmusicschool.com/en/vancouver

Music for Young Children M myc.com

School of Groove V schoolofgroovevancouver.com

Staccato BN staccatostudios.com

Tom Lee Music V tomleemusic.ca

Tom Lee Music M tomleemusic.ca/learningcentre

Tri-City School of Music TC tricityschoolofmusic.com

Vancouver Bach Choir V vancouverbachchoir.com

Vancouver Youth Choir V vancouveryouthchoir.com

Founded in 2013 by Artistic Director Carrie Tennant, the award-winning Vancouver Youth Choir provides a space for promising young singers to develop their artistry in a creative and supportive environment.

VSO School of Music V vsoschoolofmusic.ca

NATURE

Burns Bog Conservation Society D burnsbog.org/summer-day-camps

Soaring Eagle Nature School BN soaringeaglenatureschool.org

Stanley Park Ecology Society V stanleyparkecology.ca

Surrey Nature Centre DS surrey.ca

VanDusen Botanical Garden V vandusengarden.org

SCIENCE

Daedalos Enrichment M daedalosacademy.com

GEERing Up! V geeringup.apsc.ubc.ca

Genome Geneskool Camp V genomebc.ca

High Touch Science Made Fun V sciencemadefunbc.net

Vancouver Aquarium Kids Camps V vanaqua.org/learn/camps

SPORTS

Abbotsford Minor Hockey FV Association

abbotsfordminorhockey.ca

Abbotsford Soccer Association FV abbotsfordsoccer.com

Aldergrove Minor Hockey FV Association

aldergroveminorhockey.com

Aldergrove Youth Soccer Club FV aldergrovesoccer.com

Aquaventures Swim Centre V 101-5550 Fraser St | 604-736-SWIM (7946) aquaventuresswim.com Aquaventures features an exceptional learn to swim experience with tropical warm water and excellent instructors in our brand new state-of-the-art facility! Our students truly love the water for a lifetime!

Burnaby Girls Soccer BN burnabygirlssoccer.com

Burnaby Minor Hockey BN Association burnabyminor.com

Canlan Ice Sports M icesports.com

Cliff Avenue United FC BN cliffavenuesoccer.com

Cloverdale Minor Hockey DS Association cloverdaleminorhockey.com

Cloverdale Youth Soccer DS cloverdaleyouthsoccer.com

Coastal Football Club DS coastalfc.ca

Coquitlam Metro-Ford TC Soccer Club cmfsc.ca

Coquitlam Minor Hockey TC Association coquitlamminorhockey.org

Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak NS deepcovekayak.com

Dragon Zone Paddling Club V dragonzone.ca

Endless Biking NS endlessbiking.com

Evolve Skateboard Camp M evolvecamps.com/skateboarding

First Steps Archery NW boormanarchery.com

Flicka Gymnastics NS flickagymclub.com

Guildford Athletic Club DS guildfordac.com

Jericho Sailing Centre V macsailing.com

Jump Gymnastics SW jumpgymnastics.ca

Langley United Youth Soccer FV luysa.com

My Gym Children Centre FV mygym.com/langley/camp

New Westminster Minor Hockey NW Association nwmha.ca

North Delta Minor Hockey D Association ndhockey.com

North Shore Equestrian Centre NS wecreateriders.com

North Vancouver NS Brazilian Jiu Jitsu northvanbjj.com

North Vancouver FC NS nvfc.ca

Origami Rhythmics TC origamirhythmics.ca

Pedalheads M pedalheads.com

Phoenix Gymnastics V phoenixgymnastics.com

Port Coquitlam Euro-Rite FC TC pocosoccer.com

Port Coquitlam Minor Hockey TC pocominorhockey.com

Propel Swimming Lessons M propelhq.com

Richmond Aquatics R richmond.ca

Royal Soccer M royalsoccer.com

Sportball V sportball.ca/vancouver

Tumbletown Movement M Education Centre tumbletown.ca

UBC Phenomenal Physics V Summer Camps ubccamps.ca

UBC Sports Camps V camps.ubc.ca

Ultimate Soccer School BN ultimatesoccerschool.com

Vancouver All Star Cheer V vancouverallstarcheer.com

Vancouver All Stars V Summer Baseball Camp vancouverallstars.ca

Vancouver Hockey School V vancouverhockeyschool.com

Vancouver Phoenix Gymnastics V phoenixgymnastics.com

West Van Soccer NS westvansoccer.com

Windsure Adventure Watersports V windsure.com

TECHNOLOGY

Digital Media Academy M digitalmediaacademy.org

UME Academy M ume.academy

Under the GUI V underthegui.com

THEATRE

Bard on the Beach V bardonthebeach.org/young-shakespeareanworkshops

The Drama Class M thedramaclass.com

Gateway Theatre Academy R for the Performing Arts gatewaytheatre.com

Vancouver Film School V vfs.edu

OTHER

Aspire Learning Academy NS Educational Camps aspiremathacademy.com

BC SPCA Kids Camp M spca.bc.ca/kids

Build a Biz Kids M buildabizkids.com

Chess2Inspire Association M chess2inspire.org

Cousteau French M International School cousteauschool.org

Europa Language School M europals.ca

FDT Academy Inc V fdtacademy.com

Fraser Academy V fraseracademy.ca

JCC Camps V jccgv.com

Kids Zone Camp FV kidszonecamp.ca

La Movida Fashion V Design Academy lamovida.ca

Langara College Camp V langara.ca

Metro Vancouver V metrovancouver.org

Resort Municipality SW of Whistler whistler.ca

Robotics Building Camp M bricks4kidz.com

Sasamat Outdoor Centre FV loftcountry.ca

Seabreeze Community Centre V coalharbourcc.ca

SFU Camps BN sfu.ca/camps

The Cut Fashion Academy V thecutfashionacademy.com

UBC FarmWonders V farmwonders.ca

Urban Safari DS urbansafari.ca

Vancouver Chess School V/O vanchess.ca

YMCA Youth Leadership V vanymca.org

Young Entrepreneur M Learning Labs yelearninglabs.com

Unlock Excellence at Columbia Academy

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• Strong focus on Math and English

• Second languages: French and Mandarin from Kindergarten

• Professional sports coaching

• Enriched After School Program

• Emphasis on volunteering and charity events

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Applications are now open for Feb 2024 and Sept 2024. Prepare your child for success. Enroll today.

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instagram.com/columbia_academy

Dad’s Budget-Friendly Snack Solutions for Kids

As a dad who works from home, I spend a lot of time with my daughter. And as most parents know, kids are hungry just about all the time. I’ve found several options to satisfy hungry kids without stretching the budget—and using foods we mostly have in our fridge and pantry.

1. Peanut Butter Banana Roll-Ups: Make sandwiches more fun! Spread peanut butter (or any other nut butter, sun butter, etc.) on a tortilla, place a banana in the center, roll it up and slice it into bite-sized pieces.

2. Popcorn: Popcorn is a classic snack that’s both affordable and super easy to make. Simply pop some kernels on the stovetop or in the microwave, season with a sprinkle of salt or any of your favorite spices.

3. Veggie Sticks with Dip: Chop up some kid-friendly veggies like carrots, celery, bell peppers and broccoli (we call them trees) and serve them with a side of hummus or ranch dressing for dipping.

4. Cucumber Chips: Slice up a cucumber and put into a plastic baggie or sealed container along with some salt and any seasoning (we like everything bagel) then get the kids to shake it up. These are a great alternative to chips when you feel like crunching.

5. Cheese Quesadillas: Fill a tortilla with shredded cheese, fold it in half and cook it in a skillet until the cheese is melted and the tortilla is golden brown. Cut into wedges and serve with salsa or sour cream for a quick and easy twist on a Mexican favourite.

6. Apple Slices with Peanut Butter: Slice up some apples and serve them with a dollop of peanut butter (or any nut butter) for a sweet and satisfying snack.

7. Yogurt with Granola: Layer yogurt with granola and fresh fruit for a quick, filling snack that’s delicious—as well as pretty darn nutritious.

8. Hummus and Pita Chips: Serve store-bought or homemade hummus with whole wheat pita chips for a super satisfying snack that’s rich in protein and fibre.

9. Hard-Boiled Eggs: Hard-boiled eggs are a budget-friendly source of protein that’s perfect for quick snacking. Sprinkle on some salt or other seasoning to make them more flavourful. Prepare a bunch in advance and keep them in the fridge for up to a week.

10. DIY Trail Mix: Mix together a variety of nuts, seeds, dried fruit, chocolate chips and whole grain cereal to create your own custom trail mix that’s tailored to your family’s tastes

11. Cheese and Crackers: Slice up a block of cheese and some whole grain crackers for an easy and satisfying snack that’s sure to please even the pickiest eaters.

12. Frozen Yogurt Bites: Spoon yogurt into silicone ice cube molds, add a few berries or pieces of fruit and freeze until solid for a cool, refreshing and fun snack that’s perfect for hot days.

13. Banana “Ice Cream”: Keep some sliced bananas in the freezer and whip them up in a food processor along with some honey, chocolate chips or your other favourite toppings for a yummy, healthier take on soft serve.

14. Ants on a Log: Spread peanut butter or spreadable cheese onto celery sticks and top with raisins or chocolate chips for a crunchy and satisfying snack that’s perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth.

15. Banana Oatmeal Pancakes: Mash bananas and mix them with oats and eggs to create a batter for healthy and delicious pancakes that are perfect for a quick snack. You can even make some in advance and freeze between parchment paper so you can pop them in the toaster for an even quicker snack.

Brandon White is a dad who lives in Victoria. When he is not busy making lunches and driving his daughter to and from school or camp you will find him repairing and restoring electronics and listening to good tunes.

Family Support

FAMILY SUPPORT

Family Services M of Greater Vancouver fsgv.ca

Family Services of Greater Vancouver is a non-profit that offers more than 50 free programs, services and workshops across the Lower Mainland—from parenting support groups to cooking classes to 1:1 financial coaching.

Foundry M foundrybc.ca

V Vancouver

R Richmond

DS Delta/Surrey

TC Tri-Cities

FV Fraser Valley

BN Burnaby/New West

NS North Shore

SW Squamish/Whistler

M Multiple

O Online

Kids Help Phone O Text 686868 | kidshelpphone.ca

Learning Disabilities Society M ldsociety.ca

Reach Child and Youth DS Development Society reachchild.org

Recreational Respite M recrespite.com

Vancouver & Lower Mainland M

Multicultural Family Support vlmfss.ca/community-resources

HEALTH & WELLNESS

AARM Dental Group V aarm-dental.com

EZbrace Dental V ezbrace.ca

Family Wellness Chiropractor V familywellnesschiro.ca

PDG Pediatric Dentistry M & Orthodontics pdgdental.com

SPACE Treatment for V Parenting Anxious Children bcacc.ca/counsellors/paula-foran SPACE stands for Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions and is a parent-based treatment program for children and adolescents with anxiety, OCD and related problems. Parents (and other caregivers) participate in SPACE treatment sessions. In most cases the child or adolescent does not need to attend the treatment sessions.

WeeSleep Certified Sleep M Consultant wee-sleep.com

MENTAL HEALTH

Children’s Foundation of BC childrens-foundation.org

Infant Mental Health Promotion ruralmentalhealth.ca

Kelty Mental Health keltymentalhealth.ca

MENTORING

Big Brothers of M Greater Vancouver bigbrothersvancouver.com

Our vision is that all children and youth are empowered to reach their full potential through mentorship. We proudly serve the Lower Mainland from

West Vancouver to White Rock, BC. Visit our website to learn more about enrolling a child or becoming a volunteer.

SPECIAL NEEDS

CP Support Canada cpsupportcanada.ca

CP Support Canada supports families caring for a child with

Family Business

BABY FURNITURE

TJ’s The Kiddies Store V tjskids.com

CLOTHING

Isola Bella V isolabellakids.com

Little Earth V littleearthvancouver.com

Monkey Business Kids Boutique FV monkeybusinesskidsboutique.ca

Zapped Outfitters M zappedoutfitters.com

V Vancouver R Richmond

DS Delta/Surrey TC Tri-Cities FV Fraser Valley BN Burnaby/New West NS North Shore SW Squamish/Whistler M Multiple O Online

FOOD

Grandpa J’s Seasonings M grandpajs.com

Home Restaurant M homerestaurants.ca

Lunch Lady Restaurant V thelunchlady.com

Pizza Rubato Napoletana V pizzarubato.com

Popina Canteen V popinacanteen.com

Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co V rockymountainflatbread.ca

PHOTOGRAPHY

Hudson Wren Portraits M hudsonwren.com

Julie Doro Photography V juliedoro.com

Klutch Photography DS klutchphotography.com

Tosha Lobsinger Is My NS Photographer toshalobsingerismyphotographer.com

TRAVEL

Manning Park O manningpark.com

Tourism Harrison FV tourismharrison.com

The Travel Agent Next Door DS linderandjackie.thetravelagentnextdoor.com Specializing in family and multigenerational travel experiences. Let us help you make amazing memories your loved ones will cherish forever.

Travel Best Bets M travelbestbets.com

Overnight Camps

Camp Ecolart SW campecolart.com

Camp Fircom NS fircom.ca

Camp Luther FV campluther.ca

Camp Pringle M camppringle.com

Camp Qwanoes M qwanoes.ca

Situated on 55 acres of magnificent scenic waterfront property on Vancouver Island between Victoria and Nanaimo, Qwanoes is a fully accredited member of the BC Camping Association and Christian Camping International-Canada. Founded in 1966, Qwanoes is an ideal place for high adventure, fun-filled, life-changing experiences. We make it easy for mainland campers to get to camp—just meet us at the Tsawwassen ferry terminal!

Camp Squeah FV squeah.com

Camp Summit SW campsummit.ca

Fireside Adventures M firesideadventures.ca

Stillwood Camps FV stillwood.ca

YMCA Camps of V Greater Vancouver vanymca.org/camps

home to multi-disciplinary learning home to highly-skilled teachers home to quality learning experiences

Registration opens in June for 2024/2025 classes visit placedesarts.ca

Tips to Manage Your Child’s Screen Time

Screens and digital devices are a part of life for many families—especially since the pandemic.

While experts don’t recommend any screen time for children under two years old, and no more than one hour a day for kids aged two to five, many families find this difficult to follow.

It can help to remember that your child learns best from face-to face time with you. While screens can’t replace that, they can have some benefits if you use them right.

Here are some tips for using technology at home:

or when you are playing with your child. Kids copy the adults in their lives, so if you are using a device, they will want to use one too.

• Avoid keeping the TV on in the background.

• Only turn on the TV for one show and then turn it off when the show ends.

According to Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation, having the TV on all the time can affect your child’s language and attention skills. It can also distract you both from spending face-to-face time together, which is important for learning. Be sure to turn off the

Create rules

• Plan when, why, how long and who will be using screens. This conversation could look something like this, “Let’s watch this show after lunch so we can learn about ocean animals. We can keep it on for 20 minutes.”

• Set “screen-free” times. During these times, no one in the family uses a device. Examples could include from after school until dinner or from after dinner until bedtime.

• Turn off screens and leave devices aside for at least one hour before bed. Looking at screens right before bed can affect the hormone that helps a child fall asleep.

Limit your use

• Put away your device during mealtimes

TV when the news or another program meant for adults and older children comes on.

Choose appropriate shows, games and apps

• Connect what is happening on the screen to real life. “We went swimming in a lake like those kids!”

• Ask questions, such as “What just happened?” or “What do you think will happen next?”

• Talk about what you see. “The astronauts are on a big rocket ship!”

For more tips on how to support your child’s development while realistically managing screen time, visit childrensliteracy.ca.

Common Screen Time Questions & Answers:

Q: Will screen time make my child develop language skills slower?

A: It depends on their age. Children under 12 months who are exposed to a lot of screen time have been shown to have more language delays. Young kids do not learn much from screens at this age. They learn the most from adults in real life, so be sure to read, speak, sing, play and cuddle together!

Q: Is it okay if my baby uses screens to video chat with family?

A: Yes. Talking with family members over video chats can help build relationships, particularly if they are unable to see them in person. Even babies can pick up when an adult is talking directly to them. They get more from a grandparent talking to them on a video chat than from hearing a character talk on a show.

Q: Does it help a child calm down when they spend time quietly looking at a screen?

A: No. When a child is given screen time to calm down, it could lead to problems with learning to set limits and control their feelings. Studies show kids who have lots of screen time in early childhood tend to have a harder time regulating their behaviour.

Q: Is reading an e-book as good as reading a printed book?

A: It’s hard to know. Some studies say both e-books and printed books support early learning. Other studies say printed books are better at teaching early reading and language skills and help a child and adult to bond.

Q: What is good about screen time?

A: Screens can support learning if they are used correctly and infrequently, and if an adult is involved. Screens are not a substitute for face-to-face time with you. Television shows that are well-designed and age appropriate can help your child learn skills if they are older than two years old. Shows can introduce important topics like learning about different cultures. Interactive apps, when used in combination with an adult’s participation, can help a child build early literacy by giving them a chance to practice recognizing letters, sounds and words.

– Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation

BURNABY ONLINE

A PROVINCIAL ONLINE LEARNING SCHOOL

Learn where you want, when you want

BURNABY SCHOOL DISTRICT ONLINE PROGRAM

Open to all residents of British Columbia

online.burnabyschools.ca

Registration: online.burnabyschools.ca/registration

Ministry approved BC curriculum

Kindergarten to Grade 12 program

Contemporary Indigenous Studies 12 available for enrollment

Full time or part time available Grade 10 to 12

Adult learning options

Grade 8 to 12: over 50 course options

Innovative learning management system

Experienced online learning teachers

Opportunities for self-paced, flexible, convenient learning

Direct teacher support available

Develop communication and technical online skills registering full-time or for a single course