BC Parent Summer Issue

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Go Outside & Play Beat the Sweets

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inside ...

4 Mommy has a Brand-New Swim Suit 6 Teaching Children Self-Control 8 Beat the Sweets 10 Natural Remedies for Allergy Relief 12 Love the Sun 15 Go Outside and Play 16 Summer Camp Guide 21 Zoo Attractions 22 Dear Dad

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Publisher/Executive Editor: Forrest Phillips Editor: Geoffrey Legh Advertising Design & Layout: Julie Cochrane

Summer Issue 2014 Volume 23, Number 5

Contributors: Gayla Grace, Malia Jacobson, Janet J. Johnson, Dr. Marisa Marciano, Judy M. Miller, Pam Molner, Dr.Tomah Phillips

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bcparent.ca • summer issue 2014 3

Mommy has a brand new swim suit!–– One mom embraces sensibly chic swimwear

By Malia Jacobson

W

hen I haul my kids to the local pool this summer, I’ll be sporting a new swimsuit. With sturdy straps and sensible seat coverage, it doesn’t resemble anything you’d see on a runway. No whimsical flight of poolside fancy, this baby is built to withstand ultra-chlorinated kiddie pools and over-zealous laundering. Jelly fingerprints and sippy cup mishaps are no match for the industrial-strength fabric.

It’s a mommy suit, and I’ll wear it with pride. When I slip on this wonder of engineering, I’ll join legions of other moms slapping on sunscreen and proffering towels in suits built for endurance, not style.

I’ve been a bit reluctant in donning this mommy suit of armor (or is that Lycra?). I grew up lakeside, my shoulder etched with permanent tan lines from my swimsuit du jour. Most involved ruffles or sequins, preferably both. As a teen, I shed girlish tank suits and became a devoted fan of the two-piece. Bikinis suited my pear

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shape and showcased my still-flat midsection—one of my better features, in those days.

Sadly, I’ve learned that the pretty swimsuits of my youth aren’t built to withstand the pace of mom life. Like many of motherhood’s lessons, this one dawned slowly. My first inklings came after I spent several seaside afternoons sprinting after my toddler in a woefully unsupportive top. Need I say more? Soon after, I realized that my fashionable swimsuits were quite a bit of work. I was constantly adjusting my top and feeling up my own rear end for tactile evidence that my bottoms were still covering my bottom. Not pretty.

I knew change was in the air. That knowledge, however, was insufficient. It took a starring role in a peep show at toddler swim class to drive the point home.

One Saturday morning, I made the mistake of wearing a bandeau-style bikini to parent-child swim at the YMCA. Sporting a stretched-out old top in a pool full of wiggly kids sounds like a recipe for disaster, and it was: I inadvertently flashed the entire pool full of kids and their stunned parents when my top slipped down during the “jumping fish” song.

By the time I felt the breeze tickling my upper torso, it was too late to hide the damage from the extremely embarrassed dad standing five feet in front of me. Carefully avoiding all eye contact, I scraped together few shreds of dignity, hoisted my top back to its rightful place, and swore to get a new suit—one better matched to my new station in life.

These days, I’m approaching the world of swimwear with a new perspective. In the weary trenches of early parenthood, function trumps fashion. Any bikini matching the description itsy-bitsy or teeny-weenie doesn’t stand a chance in the chaotic world of the toddler pool. Suits designed to look good in a lounge chair require constant monitoring and repositioning, and moms can’t be bothered.

We’re too busy monitoring and repositioning our kids.

Judging from the countless moms I’ve seen in near-identical suits, I know I’m not alone in my appreciation for sensible swimwear. Swimming with kids is no day at the beach; it’s grueling, hot, exhausting work. A mom at the pool is a mom in motion, and her swimsuit needs to stay in place even when she’s too busy to pay attention. That’s always.

So I’m embracing my sensible one-piece. It won’t win me any admiring glances or a spot on the yummy mummy list. But it will stand up to whatever the summer dishes out. And I don’t have to worry about any more swim-class wardrobe malfunctions. The entire toddler-swim community with thank me, I’m sure.

Malia Jacobson is an award-winning health and parenting journalist and mom of three. Her latest book is Sleep Tight, Every Night: Helping Toddlers and Preschoolers Sleep Well Without Tears, Tricks, or Tirades.

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Teaching Children Self-Control

By Judy M. Miller

T

he goal of parenting is to prepare our children to be successful, independent, capable, and moral adults. Part of the responsibility of parenting is teaching our children how to control their responses to the world they live in. Through discipline (a word originating from the Latin disciplina, meaning instruction) children learn to master self-control, a vital life-skill for success.

Self-control is the ability to regulate emotions, desires, and the verbal, nonverbal, or physical expression of those desires, especially when challenged by other people and situations. Children will come to rely on self-control as they move through the stages of infancy and childhood into adolescence and adulthood, calling again and again on their ability to tolerate frustration and to manage themselves in a variety of situations.

Begin Early. Self-control begins when children are infants, when parents empathetically respond to their child when he is tired, hungry, cold, needing connection, or has soiled his diapers.

When an infant’s needs are met, they begin to learn basic trust. A child must be able to trust his environment and to trust in others, because that security is the foundation for self-control.

Parents teach their infants how to self-soothe, the first selfregulation (self-control) skill. Infants are able self-soothe because they trust that their parents will care for and nuture them. I used to rub my babies’ backs when they fussed in their cribs, before drifting off to sleep, assuring them I was close and responsive.

They calmed and quickly fell into a deep slumber.

Model what you want to see in your child. Children learn emotional regulation by observing their parents self-regulate. When modeling, parents should respond to others, and to situations, in the way they wish their children to respond.

Model calmness, even though you may feel otherwise. You are always the teacher. Furthermore, you are also the student— always. Take a look at yourself first when you witness your child behaving in a way you do not approve of.

K.I.S.S. Keep it short and simple. For example with the younger child, directions can be something like, “If you hit, you sit.” The parent follows through and when the child is ready, he can reengage with others, with a reminder of “no hitting” as well as one to “use your words”.

Self-control generally improves as children develop and the prefrontal cortex area of the brain, which regulates behaviour, matures. Older children have had years of experience of knowing the rules, routines, and what behaviour is expected in numerous situations.

Use do-overs and generous praise. Parents can go over instruc-

tions (do-overs), to reinforce what behaviour they wish to see. Doovers provide children with opportunities to practice the behaviour over, often in a fun way. Do-overs teach, encourage and strengthen the self-control “muscle” in children. The best time to achieve a do-over is when the child and the parent are calm and the lack of control has recently occurred.

6 bcparent.ca • summer issue 2014

For example, “You sounded mean when you spoke to me. I takes a long shower to “wash away the emotional dirt.” His choice. understand you may be tired, but that is not the way we speak to The child that reemerges is my sweet, thoughtful loving boy. each other. Try again, please.” And then have your child speak, until he has achieved the proper tone. If he has trouble, model it for him. Focus on the positive. Positive reinforcement begets more positive Praise him for doing it the way you asked him to. “I like how behaviour. Bring up the positive whenever possible, “You are so you spoke to me. Well done!” Praise him for conthoughtful and kind. You helped your sister feel bettrolling himself. Repetition and verbal praise, ter when you sat with her and read to her.” Kids along with a hug and smile, reinforce the selflove to be stroked and be noticed for the good control you are trying to instill in your child and behaviour they have.

My daughter is contribute to the development of his self-esteem.

Reward kids for self-control. The most sought triggered by hunger.

Help your child notice his lack of control and after reward with my kids is one-on-one time She becomes snarky work on problem solving. Discuss the reason(s) with their dad or me. We try to be efficient, workand then downright why your child becomes out of control. Does he ing in tandem to get things done to allow for mean and combative have a specific “flashpoint” or trigger? Is he tired? more “together” time, “I was able to complete my as her blood Hungry? Overtaxed with too many tasks or comerrand quickly because you were so patient; now I sugar drops. mitments? My daughter is triggered by hunger. have more time to spend with you. What would She becomes snarky and then downright mean you like to do?” and combative as her blood sugar drops; in her No child is perfect or comes with instructions. case we make sure she eats small portions of protein Focus on the love you have for your child, your relathroughout the day. A teen now, she oversees this herself with great tionship with him, and his strengths and interests. Your child’s selfsuccess. control will eventually improve if you are consistent with discipline, With the help of your child come up with one or two go-to ideas expectations, and verbal praise. that work for him (and you) when he loses control. For my son, we Judy M. Miller is a freelance writer living in the Midwest with her husband and four children. She long ago discovered two options that work well with him. He vol- is a Certified Gottman Educator and the author of What To Expect From Your Adopted Tween and untarily goes to his room to cool off until he feels in control or he Writing to Heal Adoption Grief: Making Connections & Moving Forward.

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Beat the Sweets

By Malia Jacobson

Sensible strategies for breaking a sugar habit

H

ere’s the sugary scoop: kids consume far too much of the sweet stuff. According to the American Heart Association, toddlers are getting 12 teaspoons instead of the recommended 4 (19 grams), and school-aged children who should have no more than 3 teaspoons (14.2 grams) are consuming 21. Preteens and teens take the cake; instead of the recommended 5 to 8 teaspoons (23.7 to 38 grams), they’re getting up to 34.3. That’s over two-thirds of a cup per day.

How does this mountain of sugar affect kids? Besides contributing to childhood obesity, poor cardiovascular health, and juvenile diabetes, sugar can play a major role in mood swings, meltdowns, and tantrums.

“Sugary foods cause blood sugar to spike and then plummet, leaving kids feeling cranky, irritable, and tired,” says The Today Show licensed nutritionist Joy Bauer, bestselling author of Joy’s Life Diet and Slim and Scrumptious. And when sugary snacks fill plates and stomachs, less room is left over for the nutrient-dense calories that growing children need.

It’s clear that kids should eat less sugar. But let’s face it: the thought of a sugar-free world sends chills down parental spines. Sugar can reward, motivate, or pacify a child, and a well-timed treat can work wonders. I’ve been known to avert toddler tantrums with a chocolate chip or two, and I keep an emergency lollipop in my purse.

Even highly motivated parents who want to cut sugar face an uphill battle. School lunches, misleading food labels, relatives, and even kids themselves can throw a wrench in the most well-intentioned plans.

Still, it’s hard to ignore the facts and the potential payoff. “By dealing with a sugar habit early in life, parents are giving children a lifelong gift,” says Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D., bestselling author 8 bcparent.ca • summer issue 2014

Little Sugar Addicts. “Parents whose kids are out of control are absolutely amazed at the bright, loving, incredible child who emerges.”

Ditching a sugar habit benefits moms too. “By limiting sugary foods, you maintain a steady blood sugar level and keep yourself feeling energized and alert all day long. Nothing’s more important when you have active young kids running around,” says Bauer.

If you’re ready to change your family’s sugary ways, fear not.

Drastic measures aren’t required. Instead, slowly shut off the sugar tap with a simple, step-by-step approach.

Drowning in liquid sugar

First, take a look at what your family sips. The AHA reports that kids drink most of their added sugar in the form of soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages. According to American Journal of Preventative Medicine, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages with meals has doubled. One 12-ounce cola has 8.2 teaspoons of sugar that add up to 140 calories. Switching to water or low-fat milk will make a huge dent in kids’ sugar consumption.

Even 100% fruit juice contributes sugar and calories that kids may be better off without. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting fruit juice to 6 ounces for children under 7 and 12 ounces for older kids. Stretch the smaller servings by diluting juice with water, or create a healthier alternative to soda by mixing juice with seltzer.

Top of the morning

Next, work on meals. Start at the top—of the day, that is. According to DesMaisons, a healthy breakfast is essential to lowering sugar intake, because eating the right foods in the morning helps to ward off sugar cravings later on.

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“If you’re ready to change your family’s sugary ways, fear not. Drastic measures aren’t required. Instead, slowly shut off the sugar tap with a simple, step-by-step approach.”

Begin by losing the sugary breakfast cereal. Bauer recommends that parents choose cereals with no more than eight grams of sugar per serving. Instead of sweet cereals and candy-coated pastries, serve up protein and complex carbohydrates like eggs and whole-grain toast or protein shakes made with fruit.

Combining protein with complex carbohydrates provides lasting energy and enables the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin to enter the brain. Kids will feel satisfied, alert, and ready to start their day.

After kids have accepted a new breakfast routine, move on to lunch, dinner, and snacks. Gradually replace sugary foods with healthy alternatives and give kids time to adjust to each change.

Plan to spend anywhere from two weeks to six months on the whole process, says DesMaisons, depending on their level of sugar consumption, attachment to sweet foods, and temperament.

Plan for success

Kids need to eat on time to avoid the blood sugar crashes that bring on meltdowns (and that emergency lollipop in my purse). Don’t plan outings when they’re running low on fuel. Aim to serve meals at a consistent time and keep fruit, crackers, nuts, and other snacks on hand for hectic days.

For those occasions when a sugar splurge is inevitable—birthdays, holidays, and Halloween—serve a high-protein snack before the festivities begin. They’ll eat less of the sweet stuff on a full stomach, and the protein will slow the absorption of sugar to ward off a post-party crash.

Detective mom

Family physician Tony Vento, M.D. tells moms to become label sleuths to cut out sneaky hidden sugars that kids probably won’t miss. “Spend a week reading every label, and you’ll be surprised,” says Vento. Some brands of kids’ favorites like peanut butter, fruit snacks, and dried fruit contain added sugar, while others don’t.

Switching brands can add up to big sugar savings.

Eliminating hidden sugars gives more dietary leeway for treats that they’ll appreciate. Fortunately, the AHA dietary guidelines allow for some sweets. It makes sense to spend some of that discretionary sugar on nutritious foods like yogurt or chocolate milk (Journal of the American Dietetic Association reports that flavored milks are fine in moderation and don’t cause weight gain in children). When total sugar intake is under control, even cupcakes aren’t off-limits. Now that’s a sweet reward to feel good about.

Malia Jacobson is an award-winning health and parenting journalist and mom of three. Her latest book is Sleep Tight, Every Night: Helping Toddlers and Preschoolers Sleep Well Without Tears, Tricks, or Tirades.

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bcparent.ca • summer issue 2014 9

Natural Remedies for Allergy Relief

By Dr Tomah Phillips

W

hile the spring and summer bring sunshine and warm weather, they also bring months of suffering for millions of Canadians with seasonal allergies. The itchy eyes, runny nose and sneezing can be so debilitating that many people don’t even want to be outside. There are many over the counter medications for allergies, but these are not always effective and often come with side effects such as drowsiness. Consider these natural remedies to help prevent and relieve allergic symptoms this year.

Understanding Allergies

Seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis, affect more than one in six Canadians. The most common symptoms are runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing and congestion.

Allergy symptoms are caused by an overactive immune response. It is not the pollen or ragweed that is causing your runny nose, but rather your immune system overreacting to these otherwise benign substances.

When you come in contact with an environmental allergen such as pollen, your body releases an immune mediator called IgE, which floats around and binds to 10 bcparent.ca • summer issue 2014

specialized white blood cells known as mast cells. Mast cells then release a number of chemicals, including histamine (hence the use of ‘anti-histamine’ medications), leading to inflammation and an attempt to rid the body of the allergen and thus creating your allergic symptoms.

Natural Remedies to Prevent and Relieve Seasonal Allergies Reduce Exposure to Allergens

This does not mean completely avoiding the outdoors during the summer, but taking steps to reduce your overall exposure to allergens. A few steps include checking the weather network pollen report and being more cautious on days with high levels, changing clothes after being outdoors, regularly cleaning your home (wash sheets, dust, clean carpets, etc), and using a HEPA filter to help clean indoor air.

Nasal Lavage (Neti Pot)

A great remedy for both prevention and treatment of allergic symptoms is a nasal lavage or neti pot. Using a saline (saltwater) solution to cleanse the nasal passage is particularly helpful for those with sinus congestion or sinusitis.

In a 2002 study, people suffering from chronic sinusitis were prescribed a neti pot rinse daily. The subjects had a significant reduction in sinus symptoms and reduced requirement for medications, with 93% of the participants reporting an overall improvement in quality of life. Another research study looked at the efficacy of nasal lavage in kids with allergic rhinitis, and found a significant reduction in allergic symptoms as well as a decrease in the use of antihistamines.

This safe and inexpensive remedy should be performed daily for best effects.

Herbal Remedies

While the pollen from trees and flowers may be the cause of your allergies, looking to nature may also be the solution. There are a number of herbs that are excellent in preventing and treating allergies, such as dried Nettle leaf (yes, the same nettle that stings!) in capsule form or as a tea, which has been shown to stabilize mast cells and decrease inflammation. Eyebright is another great herb, and is more specific for the eyes—a cold compress made from eyebright tea can be very soothing to itchy eyes. The spice Turmeric and it’s active ingredient,

curcumin, is a powerful anti-inflammatory that also blocks mast cell activation and histamine release.

Immune Support

Supporting your immune system can help prevent allergies from occurring. For those living above the 49th parallel, supplementing with 1000 IU of Vitamin D3 during the winter and spring can help boost the immune system to combat allergies. Recent research is pointing to the gut as a primary factor in immune function, so supporting a healthy gut flora (bacteria) reduces allergy symptoms. The best way to obtain good gut bacteria is from fermented foods such as sauerkraut and kombucha, or with a high quality probiotic supplement.

Diet

Diet is the foundation for our health, so it’s no surprise that what we eat has an impact on allergies. If you or your children suffer from seasonal allergies it is best to avoid sugar, dairy and processed foods, as these can hinder our immune system and increase mucus production. There is also a connection between food allergies and seasonal allergies, so working with a health care practitioner to identify and remove food allergens can greatly improve seasonal allergy symptoms. Lastly, increasing whole foods that are rich in flavonoids such as quercetin can stabilize mast cells and inhibit histamine release, while at the same time reducing inflammation. Good sources of quercetin include dark leafy greens, apples, onions and garlic.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have been practiced for thousands of years, and in the past few decades has been subjected to western research methods. Several randomized controlled trials have shown that acupuncture provides a significant benefit for those with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Rather than treating “allergies,” TCM focuses on the individual patient, and acupuncture points are selected based on the specific individual’s symptoms as well as their constitution.

Dr. Tomah Phillips is a licensed naturopathic physician practicing in downtown Vancouver. He uses a blend of modern evidencebased medicine and safe, effective natural remedies. For more information visit www.doctortomah.com

bcparent.ca • summer issue 2014 11

love sun

the

Our love/hate relationship with the sun come summertime

By Dr. Marisa Marciano

T

o block the sun from our skin and our bodies, though important, has always felt a bit wrong to me.

There is an ongoing love/hate relationship we have with our giver-of-all-life come the summer season. It seems that as soon she begins to share her warmth we all want to frolic, but then commence to fear her— usually because we’ve been burned by her before!

We of course want to protect ourselves and our families from the hazardous effects of the sun. However the idea that there is “no safe level of sun exposure”, touted by some, seems extreme. So without burning ourselves to a crisp, how much is ideal amount of sun? And what can we do to pro12 bcparent.ca • summer issue 2014

tect ourselves and our children from it’s more perilous effects?

Of course our fear comes from the very real and very scary development of skin cancer. We know that prolonged exposure to strong sunlight significantly increases our risk, acting as a catalyst in a disease process that occurs especially in those with fairer skin and a specific genetic make up.

There are many different types of skin cancer but most take one of three forms: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. Of these, only basal cell carcinoma is really associated with sun exposure, and this is a non-fatal cancer that very rarely metastasizes or spreads to other parts of the body.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is another type of cancer that can occur on sun-exposed parts of the body and hence is “associated” with sun exposure, but occurs with greater frequency in other parts of the body, such as the, lung, prostate, vagina and cervix.

We’ve been taught for years that the use of sunscreens provides useful protection from sunburn, which they most definitely do when used correctly. They contain chemical compounds which work by either absorbing or reflecting ultraviolet-A (UVA) and ultraviolet-B (UVB) wavelengths. UVA waves penetrates deeper into the skin, and though they rarely are the cause of burns, they can produce excessive free radical damage. The far more abundant UVB rays are the primary cause of sunburn, and can bind directly with our own DNA causing potential precancerous mutations. Hence, sunscreens are labeled with a sunscreen protection factor (SPF), which essentially measures how much UV radiation is being blocked.

Theoretically, applying a high SPF should offer us more protection, however studies have found that users of high-SPF sunscreens have similar, or even higher exposures to harmful UV rays than those that rely on lower SPF products. The reason being that we wind up trusting these higher SPFs too much, fail to reapply, and stay out longer in the sun than we should. Sales for these high SPF products have been on the rise for at least a decade, with little to no assurance that they are actually providing the protection we need.

It is crucial to avoid getting sunburned, but avoiding the sun altogether means we can lack the certain number of sunrays required to restore Vitamin D levels in the body. Unlike other vitamins, vitamin D is produced by the action of UV rays from sunlight interacting with cholesterol in our skin. Slabbing on sunscreen blocks out these UV rays needed for vitamin D formation, a nutrient us Vancouverites are especially prone to lack.

So, how do we play safe in the sun?

Season Your Skin. If you and your have fami-

ly have mostly been indoors for the past 6 months and you immediately head out to the beach on the first sunny day, your skin will be incredibly sensitive. At the beginning of summer rub a thin layer of coconut oil

over all uncovered skin and go out for 15–30 minutes, depending on your degree of sensitivity. You can repeat this process, staying out 5 or 10 minutes longer each time.

Don’t get burned. Red, sore, peeling or blistered skin is a clear sign you’ve got too much.

Sunburn is what increases your skin cancer risk more than anything. The best defenses are limiting your exposure and covering up.

Find some shade, some light breathable clothing and some stylish new shades (eye protection is especially important).

Coconut oil has been used as a sunscreen for generations as protection against burning and skin cancer. One study in India compared the ability of various edible oils as sun protection and found that coconut oil was able to block about 20% of UV light, with a natural SPF of around 4. It has the added bonus of helping prevent the free-radical reactions that lead to sunburn and all of the consequences caused by overexposure (such as signs of aging) After Sun Care. Fresh aloe gel blended into a paste is a wonderful way to treat burns, and is also an excellent emollient to help nourish the skin.

Eat lots of bright coloured fruits & vegetables.

These free-radical scavenging foods help ensure proper healing from the occasional excessive bit of sun. Pick what’s in season. It’s amazing how the very foods nature provides for us in the summer season are also those that will best protect us from the sun’s harmful effects. Some examples are rainbow chard, tomatoes, blueberries & raspberries.

How to pick a Sunscreen Avoid sprays that contain zinc and titanium

as these can be inhaled and we’re still unaware of their effects.

Avoid ingredients like octisalate, oxybenzone, and avobenzone which can all cause

allergic skin reactions and may also be hormonal disruptors.

Avoid those that contain vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) which may speed the development of skin tumours and lesions when applied to the skin the presence of sunlight Avoid Any SPF over 50+ as there’s very little proof that values greater than 50 offer any additional benefit. An SPF of 15 blocks about 95% of UV radiation. An SPF of 45 blocks about 98%. Anything above this is basically meaningless. Putting these higher SPFs on can also give a false sense of safety that you can stay out in the sun for longer than we should.

A good rule of thumb is: If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t smear it. Regardless of whether ingredients are injested or applied topically, they are absorbed into your body, and then potentially into the bloodstream.

If you’re looking to purchase a low toxicity commercial sunscreen, the following are some recommendation made by the environmental working group, a non-profit organization that keeps excellent data on the known level of toxic environmental exposure in our personal care products. (You can find more information on their website: http://www.ewg.org/2014sunscreen/) • Aveeno Baby Natural Protection Face Stick, SPF 50 • Kiss My Face Kids Natural Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 30 • California Baby Everyday/Year-Round Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30+ • Hawaiian Sol Kid Kare Sunscreen, SPF 25 I also highly recommend that parents make their own natural sunscreen (see recipe

below). With the right ingredients it’s incredibly simple (and fun!) to do.

Play safe in the sun this summer. Protect your skin, and enjoy each beach day fully with your family without fear, and with full gratitude for the many blessings the summer sun brings us.

Natural Sunscreen Recipe: 1/2 cup

almond or olive oil (can infuse with herbs if desired—my favourites are comfrey & calendula)

1/4 cup

coconut oil

1/4 cup

beeswax (add more or less for desired thickness)

2 Tbsp

zinc oxide (this makes a natural SPF of 20+ — more can be added. Be careful not to inhale the powder during preparation!) vitamin E oil

1 tsp

1. Combine all ingredients except zinc oxide in a pint sized or larger glass jar (a mason jar works great).

2. Fill a medium saucepan with a couple inches of water and place over medium heat.

3. Put a lid on the jar loosely and place in the pan with the water.

4. As the water heats, the ingredients in the jar will start to melt. Shake or stir occasionally to incorporate. When all ingredients are completely melted, add the zinc oxide.

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Go Outside & Play 15 Old Fashioned Summer Time Activities

by Pam Molnar

S

ummer is the best time to be a kid.

School is out, the weather is great and each day promises a new adventure. At least that is how it used to be.

Today, summer’s biggest rival is the computer screen. With the return of sunny skies, there is no need to bask in the artificial light of a digital display. Instead, encourage your child to gather up the neighbourhood kids and show them how to have some old fashioned summer fun.

Tug-o-War: Start summer off with a splash.

Break the group up into teams, find a long rope and stand on opposite sides of a kiddie pool filled with water. On go, see who will make the first splash of the summer.

Frisbee Tic Tac Toe: Draw a tic tac toe board on the driveway with chalk or in the yard with spray paint. Gather four Frisbees for each player and try to get the Frisbees to land in the squares to win tic tac toe.

Water Gun Shooting Range: Gather empty water and soda bottles and set up on a deck railing or table edge. Fill your water gun and try to knock them over. On windy days, fill each bottle with an inch of water.

Obstacle Course: Dig out the hula hoops, soccer cones and jump ropes. Use your creativity to set up an obstacle course in the backyard and let the races begin.

Watermelon Eating Contest: Cut watermelon into half-moon pieces and set in front of each player on the table. On go, try to eat the watermelon as fast as you can without using your hands.

Whether you are in the backyard or a local forest preserve, help the kids make a list of items they can gather and race back to the starting line.

Find things like a river rock, pinecone, acorn or a robin’s egg shell.

Pillow Case Race: It’s the same idea as a potato sack race, but easier to come by. Line up the kids and their pillow cases at the starting line and watch them go.

Sharks and Minnows: Line up the players, called minnows, on one end of the yard.

One shark stands in the middle of the yard.

The minnows try to cross to the other side of the yard without getting tagged and becoming a shark themselves. Play continues until all minnows have changed to sharks.

Five Hundred: One player stands at the end of the yard or street with a baseball bat and tennis ball. He throws the ball up and hits it with the bat into the crowd. Catch it on a fly you get 100 points; with one bounce: 50 points; or two bounces: 25 points. Whoever scores 500 first is the winner.

Dodgeball: Set up several soft vinyl balls in the center of two teams. On go, charge the center to get to a ball and start throwing them at other players. If a player catches it, the thrower is out. If he misses the catch or gets hit with the ball, the player is out.

Kick the Can: Place a metal can in the middle of the driveway or backyard patio. The players hide while the person who is “it” tries to find them while keeping an eye on Nature Scavenger Hunt:

the can. If he gets too far away from the can, another player can come out of hiding and kick the can. If the player is tagged, he becomes “it”. If not, he is safe. Play continues until all players kick can or until a player is found or tagged.

Clothes Pin Tag: Everyone clips a hinged clothes pin to the back of their shirt. The person who is “It” tries to grab the clothes pin as they run by.

Water Balloon Toss: Stand in parallel lines and pass a water balloon back and forth without dropping it. Change it up by setting one person in the middle of a circle with a bowl on his head. Players try to toss the balloon in the bowl.

Drip, Drip, Drop: Played like Duck, Duck, Goose, this is a fun game for a hot day.

Instead of taping the players in the circle for ‘duck’, drip a little water from a sponge.

When you choose a player to “goose”, yell ‘drop’ and squeeze the sponge over their head before you start running.

Kickball: This game is similar to baseball, but it levels the playing field so all ages and skill levels can play. The pitcher rolls a large ball to the “batter” who kicks it with his foot. Like baseball, the batter runs the bases and the opposing team tries to get him out before he gets home.

Pam Molnar is a freelance writer and mother of three. She has fond memories of summertime games with her neighbors and looks forward to watching her children make summer memories of their own.

bcparent.ca • summer issue 2014 15

Photo: Camp Qwanoes

summer camp guide art, music, drama & dance The Arts Connection 604/241-0141 www.theartsconnection.ca Richmond Arts Umbrella 604/681-5268 www.artsumbrella.com Get inspired this summer! Through hands-on visual, media and performing arts programs, children and youth ages 3–19 are immersed in creative, discovery and fun. Registration available now! Classes also available year round.

Check the website for details.

Bard on the Beach: Young Shakespeareans 604/737-0625 www.bardonthebeach.org Vancouver Our Young Shakespeareans workshops deliver an interactive fun-filled theatrical adventure. Professional actors lead dynamic workshops on the Bard stages all summer.

Camp Monarch, Music, Art & Dance 604/723-8151 www.campmonarch.ca North Vancouver

Dance Co 604/736-3394 Dance Co provides unparalleled dance training for all ages and levels.

Providing technique and performance while developing confidence and creativity. Programs start throughout the year, for more information visit our website: danceco.com Evergreen Cultural Centre 604/927-6555 www.evergreenculturalcentre.ca Coquitlam Gateway Academy’s Summer Camp 604/247-4975 www.gatewaytheatre.com Richmond Goh Ballet 604/872-4014 admin@gohballet.com Join us this summer to experience unique and enriching ballet and creative movement workshops designed specifically for budding dancers ages 4–7. Call or email to register.

Jean Lyons School of Music 604/734-4019 www.jeanlyonsmusic.com

16 bcparent.ca • summer issue 2014

Place des Arts Summer Fun! Art Camp 604/664-1636 www.placedesarts.ca Coquitlam 6 weeks: July 7 to Aug. 15, 2014 Summer Fun! offers flexibility, choice and lots of summertime fun for children ages 5–7 & 8–12. Our half-day, week-long workshops for 11-to-14 year olds provide more intensive experiences in a range of visual and performing arts disciplines.

Prussin Music 604/736-3036 www.prussinmusic.com Want to play in a Jazz Ensemble?

Interested in Fiddle orSongwriting?

How about Girls with Guitars or Campfire Songs? Does Music for Children sound interesting? All at Prussin this summer.

StageCoach Theatre Arts – Summer Camps 877/78-STAGE (78243) www.stagecoachschools.ca Sing, Dance, Act! For 4–18 yr olds.

The world’s largest part-time theatre school network, with over 700 locations worldwide in 10 countries! We offer classes in Singing, Dancing and Drama every weekend alongside the

school term as well as week-long summer camps: half day summer camps for 4–6yrs, full day for 6–14yrs. Come join the fun!

Schools locations throughout the Lower Mainland: Vancouver Eastside/Westside, Richmond, Surrey, Langley, Coquitlam, Victoria.

Summer Music at UBC 604/822-3113 www.summer.music.ubc.ca Vancouver Academy of Dance 604/231-8293 www.vancouverdance.com Vancouver/Richmond. Quality dance training. Starting this July, 5 weeks of summer programs in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, breakdancin’, Chinese dance, Ballroom and Acrobatics.

Vancouver Academy of Music 604/734-2301 www.vam.bc.ca Vancouver Tap Dance Society 604/253-0293 Vancouver Westside Dance Centre 604/736-1000 www.westsidedance.ca Visit our website for summer camp info.

summer camp guide 20 years Classical Ballet Contemporary Lyrical Jazz Broadway Hip Hop Acro Tap

recreational/competitive/professional

'DQFH &R RljHUV XQSDUDOOHOHG GDQFH WUDLQLQJ IRU DOO DJHV DQG OHYHOV Register now for Summer & Fall programs!

Visit DanceCo.com danceco.com email: info@danceco.com 604.736.3394 154-4255 Arbutus St, Vancouver

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at Place des Arts we inspire the artist in everyone!

Place des Arts makes learning fun, challenging & rewarding!

New student registration begins June 15 for Sep 2014 - June 2015 private music lessons or group classes in music, dance and theatre arts.

1120 Brunette Avenue, Coquitlam | 604.664.1636 bcparent.ca • summer issue 2014 17

summer camp guide

general activities Alexandra Neighbourhood House 604/535-0015 Programs for children and families throughout Metro Vancouver.

Residential Summer Camps include a 5 day camp for Families with limited resources, as well as a weekend Family Camp for families with teens/preteens with developmental challenges.

False Creek C.C. Daycamps 604/257-8195, Vancouver www.falsecreekcc.ca Offers canoe/kayak camps, recreational camps and leadership camps for ages 3–14.

Langara Family YMCA 604/324-9622 www.langarafamilyymca.org Ages 3–16; Hours 8 am–5 pm Preschool, Adventure, Leadership, and Counsellor in Training Camps.

Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House Licensed Out-of-School Care at Florence Nightingale School 604/879-8208 www.mpnh.org 8 weeks of licensed summer care for 20 children 5–10 years old North Vancouver Recreation Commission 604/987-PLAY (7529) www.northvanrec.com

SFU Summer Camps 778/782-4965 www.sfu.ca/camps Sunset Community Centre 604/718-6505 www.mysunset.net Vancouver Westside Montessori Academy's Summer Camps 604-434-9611 www.wmasummercamp.com Westside Montessori Academy’s Summer Camps are one of Vancouver’s best-kept secrets! Fun and enriching week-long camps for 3–6 year olds (half day) and 5–12 year olds (full day). Taught by professional staff in our amazing space. Visit our web site for more information.

residential camps Camp Qwanoes 250/246-3014 www.qwanoes.ca Qwanoes is a youth-oriented highadventure Christian camp seeking to encourage biblical discipleship through relationship-focused, fun-oriented, and Christ-centred programs. Wild action and pure fun, real relationships, awesome counselors, great music, a world of discovery, all in one amazing setting.

Outward Bound 1-888-OUTWARD (688-9273) ext 209 www.outwardbound.ca Webbs Holiday Acres 604/857-1712 www.webbsholidayacres.ca

specialty camps BC SPCA Among Animals Camp 604/599-7297 www.spca.bc.ca (see youth) Camps are held in various locations around the province. Participants will learn about animal care, welfare and environmental issues in a safe and fun environment.

Bricks 4 Kidz® 778/822-5672 www.bricks4kidz.com/vancouver With our unique, motorized Lego® models, Bricks 4 Kidz® Vancouver is offering an exciting lineup of summer camps. From our popular Space Adventures and Robotics Camps to our new Mining & Crafting and Bricks 4 Girlz Camps, kids will have a blast with hands-on activities and challenges.

Christianne’s Lyceum of Literature and Art 604/733-1356 The Lyceum encourages young people

get inspired this summer!

Summer S umm programs ummer ms available abl for ages g 3-1 3-19.

19 Full- and dh half-day aay options available, va aab starting Ju June 30!

artsumbrella.com/summer 18 bcparent.ca • summer issue 2014

to see themselves as readers, writers and artists as they engage with abstract ideas and reflect on their own place in society. Programs include: bookclubs, writers’ workshops, literature and art classes and holiday and summer camps.

Heritage Summer Daycamps 604/592-6956 Spend a summer day on the farm at Historic Stewart Farm doing things the old-fashioned way! Tend the garden, go on a nature walk, play games, be a river pirate, and more–there is a different theme every day!

K12 Plus Learning 604/767-0949 We offer special summer programs at our centre or your home.

Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre 604/990-3755, North Van www.dnv.org/ecology Midnight Cheer Athletics 604/263-6436, Vancouver www.midnightcheer.com Oxford Learning N. Vancouver 604/990-8850 Coquitlam 604/936-1371 Richmond 604/233-5566 South Surrey 604/575-1494 Langley 604/534-4089 www.oxfordlearning.com

summer camp guide

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summer camp guide St. George’s Summer Programs 604/221-3601 www.summeratstgeorges.ca Vancouver, Dunbar area Science Camps – HT Science Made Fun 778/737-5277 www.ScienceMadeFunBC.net Science World at TELUS World of Science 604/443-7443 www.telusworldofscience.com/ Dive into Summer Camp at the Vancouver Aquarium 604/659-3552 www.vanaqua.org Kids explore the intriguing world of marine mammals, fabulous fish and other cool creatures through hands-on activities, exploration, games and crafts. Plus check out the behind-thescenes action! Remember Members save 20%.

Westside Church Day Camps Cosmic City & Beyond!

604/263-2314, Kistilano www.churchonthewestside.com Visit our website for all the details on our outer space themed camps packed with games, crafts, science, singing and local trips.

YWCA Camp Fun Girl 604/895-5844

Writing and Book Camp (Vancouver Public Library) 604/331-4093 www.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca/events/ details/bookcamp

sports The Academy at Richmond Stables 604/275-1830 Athletes in Action 604/514-2079 www.athletesinaction.com

Langara Family YMCA 604/324-9622 www.langarafamilyymca.org Ages 6–12: Hours 8 am–5 pm Basketball, Soccer, Hockey, Tennis and more! Girls and Boys only options offered, as well as a UBC Wrestling Camp for ages 12–16. Financial Assistance available.

RBL Basketball 604/269-0221 or 604/253-5295 www.RBLBasketball.ca Week-long camps for boys and girls from kindergarten to Grade 10. Two to three hours each day.

Atlantis Programs 604/874-6464 www.atlantisprograms.com Vancouver

The Little Gym 604/539-2543 www.thelittlegym.com Call for summer day camp details.

Cartwheels 604/275-0020 or 604/594-1555 www.cartwheelsincorporated.com Richmond/Surrey

Oval Sport Camps Richmond Olympic Oval 778/296-1400 www.richmondoval.ca camps@richmondoval.ca We offer 49 different sports camps for ages 6–16. Visit our website for details.

Cliffhanger Indoor Rock Climbing 604/874-2400 www.cliffhangerclimbing.com Fitba—Soccer Player Development 604/340-1263 www.fitba.ca Jump Gymnastics 604/568-9690 www.jumpgymnastics.ca

grassroots soccer camp in Canada.

Open to boys & girls ages 5 to 13 at multiple BC locations during July & August.

Sportball 604/688-3157 Sportball is a non-competitive sports program for children 16 months to 12 years. Children are introduced to eight popular sports: soccer, hockey, football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, tennis and golf. Sportball offers weekly programs, outdoor soccer, camps during school holidays, and birthday parties.

Come try a free trial class! See our website for a location near you.

Twin Rivers Equestrian Centre 604/574-5481 www.twinriversequestrian.com UBC Sport Camps 604/822-6121 www.ubccamps.ca Vancouver Vancouver Phoenix Gymnastics 604/737-7693 www.phoenixgymnastics.com

Pedalheads Bike Camp 604/874-6464 www.pedalheads.ca Vancouver Royal Soccer 800/427-0536 www.royalsoccer.com Royal Soccer is excited to offer our #1

WIN

two adult weekend passes (children 12 and under are free) for the 37th annual Vancouver Folk Festival. This annual event runs from July 18–20th at Jericho Beach Park. Enjoy over 60 artists from all over the world.

Contest ends July 8th 20 bcparent.ca • summer issue 2014

Enter at bcparent.ca

ZOO Attractions

By Janet J. Johnson

T

he expensive zoo outing had seemed like a good idea this morning. I’d scraped together the money for admission tickets, and the forecast was for clear skies. But now, under the hot afternoon sun, the animals are lethargic. The tiger is curled up tight in its den, the brown bears won’t leave their air-conditioned house, and my two kids are bored.

Lilly, my five-year-old, and Milo, barely three, race ahead on the zoo pathways searching for an animal that is “doing something.”

We hear the high-pitched cry of a peacock, but despite our best efforts to find it, the bird remains invisible.

Milo comes to a halt for a moment.

Panting, he scans a murky pond for signs of life. All I can see poking up out of the water are what might be the ears of two underwater hippos.

“Where are the dinosaurs, Mommy?” he asks.

“Mi-lo,” Lilly says, joining him. “They lived a long time ago.”

I resist the urge to chuckle.

My son frowns and grumbles to himself.

I can’t make out anything except the word “dinosaurs” again. He takes off again, zigzagging ahead of us. “Maybe we’ll find a dinosaur skeleton!” he calls over his shoulder. “We need a shovel to dig up bones.”

“Let’s go find the penguins,” I say, longing for the cold air of the Antarctic attraction.

But Milo’s not interested. Nor is he tempted by Lilly’s request to see kangaroos. He has his own agenda.

Milo darts off into the bushes, right past a sign that reads“Please stay on path”.

“Come back here,” I say, reaching for him through the shiny green leaves, but he jogs along the bamboo fencing, beyond my grasp.

“Milo!” I snap. “Stop!”

He stops, but not because I told him to.

He’s fascinated with a large rock that is sticking up out of the dirt. As I catch up, he says reverently, “It might be a T-Rex bone, Mommy.” He rubs the stone with his fingers, and I dig a packet of wipes out of my bag.

“Milo,” I say, trying to keep my jaw unclenched, “the sign says we’re supposed to stay on the path.”

Lilly trudges over to my side as Milo reluctantly steps out of the bushes and joins us. I clean off his hands and discover to my dismay I’ve got a glob of blue gum sticking me to the pathway. Scraping my foot free, I fan myself with the colorful zoo map. The heat has me nearly ready to give up and head for home.

“Look!” Milo shouts. He leaps to the side of the path and kneels on the landscaping border. “Ants!”

Lilly and I stand in the shade of a jungle tree.

“There’s lots of them!” Milo says, reaching for a nearby twig. He pokes at the ground near them in excitement. Lilly runs to his side, and within seconds, she is staring at the industrious army of ants. The two of them point in wonder at the tiny creatures.

The irony of our situation doesn’t escape me. I paid precious money for the kids to see exotic animals from all over the world.

Yet, here they are, fascinated with an ordinary row of ants—creatures we could have seen on the sidewalk in front of our house.

Leaving the shade behind, I squat down beside my children in the hot summer sun.

To my surprise, I find that I, too, am intrigued with a line of insects on a path at the zoo—the ant attraction.

Visit www.bcparent.ca Read our new blogs… catch up on past issues… enter our contests and find out about great family events in the Lower Mainland.

Love our articles? Subscribe at bcparent.ca to have BC Parent delivered directly to your inbox. bcparent.ca • summer issue 2014 21

“Dear Dad, your kids need you!”

By Gayla Grace

R

ick Hoyt was born a quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. His parents, Dick and Judy Hoyt, were told he would be a vegetable for life and should be institutionalized. But his dad refused to believe it.

Dick noticed Rick’s eyes followed him everywhere he went and determined to find a way to communicate with him. He solicited help from Tufts University, where a skilled group of engineers built Rick an interactive computer. Rick controlled the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his head, finally able to communicate with those around him.

Rick immediately relayed his love for sports and at 15 years old, asked his dad to participate in a five-mile benefit run for a classmate paralyzed in an accident. Although not a distance runner, Dick agreed to join in the run and push Rick in his wheelchair. That day changed their lives.

After the run Rick said, “Dad, when I’m running it feels like I’m not handicapped” (www.teamhoyt.com).

Inspired to offer Rick more opportunities for that feeling, Dick began training every day with a bag of cement in Rick’s wheelchair while Rick was at school. The two began participating in marathons, triathlons and other grueling athletic events. They have now completed more than 1000 races together, including 247 triathlons and 70 marathons. Rick knows he has an incredible dad whom he refers to as “The Father of the Century.”

Most dads don’t have the same opportu22 bcparent.ca • summer issue 2014

nity Dick Hoyt had with his son. But every dad has the chance to show love and acceptance to his children, giving of his time to provide nurturing and guidance.

Children gain security from a dad willing to make time for them. I love watching dads with their sons at the baseball fields playing catch, practising batting or offering encouraging words. Athletics offer a great way for dads to be part of something their children enjoy while teaching sportsmanship, teamwork and respect for others in the process.

Children benefit from a dad who provides consistent love and discipline. Discipline teaches children self-control and right from wrong, while helping them feel secure and cared for. Boys, in particular, need more guidance from fathers due to their nature toward “out of bounds” behaviour.

Dr. James Dobson, author of Bringing up Boys, says “Boys are more likely to get off course when they are not guided and supervised carefully… when left to their own devices, they tend to drift toward the center divider or into the ditch, toward misbehaviour or danger.”

Children gain healthy standards from a dad with spiritual principles. Studies show that children who actively engage in a community of faith increase their odds toward a happier, healthier and longer life, while significantly reducing the likelihood of life problems and risky behavior.

Children need a dad who reflects a stable male role model. We’ve all heard the saying, “I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any

day.” Children mirror their parent’s behaviour and learn relationship skills and healthy social skills, including how to treat others, by watching them. Children benefit from a father who regularly shows them physical affection and treats his marriage partner with love and respect.

Our generation sees too many children reared without fathers. A high divorce rate, unbalanced career priorities, and prevailing addiction rates contribute to an absent father for many—emotionally and physically. However, study after study reflects the impact on a child’s well-being from the influence of his father.

It’s not always possible to be an active dad on a daily basis, but it is possible to stay involved in your child’s life in other ways. A dad’s role is a high calling that not everyone gets to experience. But for those who do, it’s a role to be honoured and cherished, carried out with intentional purpose.

Gayla Grace is a freelance writer, wife, and mom to five children. She is thankful for the role her husband plays as their childrens’ father.

Inspirational Books by Team Hoyt: One Letter at a Time Inspirational stories of his life told by Rick Hoyt, using his one letter at a time method of speaking to communicate.

Devoted: The Story of a Father’s Love for His Son The story told by Dick Hoyt of the incredible bond with his son and how Team Hoyt’s mission statement, “Yes You Can,” was created.

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Depuis sa création en 1995, le Conseil scolaire francophone de la ColombieBritannique offre des programmes et des services éducatifs valorisant le plein épanouissement et l’identité culturelle des apprenantes et apprenants francophones de la province. Le conseil compte aujourd’hui plus de 4 700 élèves, 37 écoles publiques et dessert plus d’une centaine de communautés réparties dans l’ensemble de la province.

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bcparent.ca • summer issue 2014 23

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