BC Parent Education Issue 2022

Celebrating

education issue 2022 bcparent.ca

Years of Service to BC Families

Creating A Child-Centered Routine Adolescent Development & Mental Health Concerns

Independent School Guide 2023

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2 bcparent.ca • education issue 2022

Letter from the Editor

W

e are excited to be back in the classroom for another year. The pandemic is now behind us and our children are happy to be with their friends every day. With everything coming back to normal we’ve got a few articles to help you get settled in. With a focus on mental Carlie Parkinson health, we want to help give you tools to be more mindful in your parenting approach with children and adolescents. We also want to provide you with some ideas about how to ensure this year runs smoothly by creating a child-centered routine.

Enjoy the read and enjoy the school year!

Celebrating

Inside…

Years of Service to BC Families

3 Upcoming Events 6 Mydoh helps children manage their finances 8 Independent School Guide 13 Preschool Guide 15 Creating a child-centered routine 17 Cursive: Outdated or relevant?

18 Tutoring Resources 19 The over-looked benefits of videogames in childhood development 21 Adolescent development and mental health concerns 22 Talking a mindful approach to parenting and caregiving 24 Specialized Learning Support for Kids with Learning Differences Builds Confidence and Self-esteem at School and Beyond 26 Maker-Minded: Raising DIY kids 28 Activity Guide

BC Parent Newsmagazine

Mailing Address: P.O.Box 30020, North Vancouver, BC V7H 2Y8

Education Issue 2022 Volume 31, Number 2

email: info@bcparent.ca www.bcparent.ca Canadian Publications Mail Registration No.251836

Publisher/Executive Editor: Carlie Parkinson Editor: Geoffrey Legh Advertising Design & Layout: Julie Cochrane Editorial Design & Layout: www.retrometrodesign.ca

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bcparentmag

Contributors: Bethany Owens, Rebecca Hastings, John Morton, Sharon Selby, Kelty Mental Health Centre, Janeen Lewis The Publisher reserves the right to omit advertising which is judged to be in poor taste or which does not conform to the concept of this publication.

Advertising Sales: info@bcparent.ca

bcparent.ca • education issue 2022 3

Upcoming Events and News

Frozen River

Vancouver Writers Fest

Carousel Theatre for Young People (CYTP) presents Frozen River

the 35th anniversary of the organization, returning to venues across Granville Island and schools across the Lower Mainland.

This year’s youth events include writing workshops, keynotes and discussions with bestselling and beloved children’s authors including Kenneth Oppel, Kirstie Hudson and Carey Newman, Tanya Lloyd Kyi, Ashley Spires, S.K. Ali, Johanna Wagstaffe, Kevin Sylvester and Xiran Jay Zhao. Writers in the Classroom—designed to connect children and youth to authors through live, interactive events—will also return to classrooms throughout October.

Sept 28–Oct 16 The west coast premiere of Manitoba Theatre for Young People’s award-winning play Frozen River (nîkwatin sîpiy) Suitable for children and youth (5 years+) Granville Island’s Waterfront Theatre, 1412 Cartwright St carouseltheatre.ca A poignant and powerful work about reconciliation, environmentalism, and interconnectedness, Frozen River tackles meaningful issues through engaging storytelling, whimsical puppetry, and an age-appropriate narrative about the generational impact of our actions on the environment and our communities. Co-written

by Michaela Washburn, Joelle Peters and Carrie Costello, the trio received the Playwrights Guild of Canada’s 2021 Sharon Enkin Plays for Young People Award.

35th Anniversary of Vancouver Writers Fest

October 17–23 Granville Island, Vancouver writersfest.bc.ca/ festivalevents#festgenre=youth Vancouver Writers Fest welcomes more than 100 authors from across the globe for an expansive, in-person festival to celebrate 4 bcparent.ca • education issue 2022

The 40th Anniversary of Splash, presented by Nicola Wealth

October 22, 2022 Fairmont Hotel Vancouver artsumbrella.com/splash The event will feature hosts Fred Lee and Gloria Macarenko, and student performances by Arts Umbrella Dance Company and Pre-Professional Musical Theatre Troupe, and will culminate with a spectacular live auction. Similar to last year, Arts Umbrella invites art enthusiasts from across Canada and beyond to participate in the online and live action from home. The event will be broadcast live and curated catering deliveries will be available for those who wish to join the celebrations from home.

Wildplay Halloween Events

Victoria: Night Climb October 30, 6–8 pm Climb WildPlay’s classic adventure course in the dark!

NEW FOR THE FALL: WildPlay now offers Anti-Gravity Camps, single-day programs, in Victoria, Maple Ridge and Nanaimo all September, October and November. More details are here: https://www.wildplay.com/ camps 26th Annual Children the Heart of the Matter Conference

February 3, 2023 Bell Performance Arts Centre and online Parenting is always tough but the last few years have brought on some unique challenges. We are so excited to welcome back renowned psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Jody Carrington as our Friday night keynote speaker. Dr. Jody will bring her unique and often hilarious take on what it means to master the art of reconnection and how reconnection is the answer to so many of the root problems we face. This year you can come see Dr. Jody in person or stream from the comfort of your home. Find out more information at childcareoptions.ca

倀刀伀唀䐀䰀夀 䰀伀䌀䄀吀䔀䐀 䤀一 䬀䔀刀刀䤀匀䐀䄀䰀䔀 圀䔀 倀刀伀嘀䤀䐀䔀

䌀䠀䤀䰀䐀刀䔀一ᤠ匀 䔀夀䔀 䔀堀䄀䴀匀 䴀夀伀倀䤀䄀 䌀伀一吀刀伀䰀 嘀䤀匀䤀伀一 吀䠀䔀刀䄀倀夀

䈀漀漀欀 礀漀甀爀 愀瀀瀀漀椀渀琀洀攀渀琀 琀漀搀愀礀℀

栀攀氀氀漀攀礀攀氀愀戀⸀挀漀洀 簀 攀ⴀ洀愀椀氀㨀 昀爀漀渀琀搀攀猀欀䀀栀攀氀氀漀攀礀攀氀愀戀⸀挀漀洀 琀攀氀㨀 㘀 㐀ⴀ㈀㘀 ⴀ㄀㄀㘀㘀 簀 ㈀㌀㘀㤀 圀攀猀琀 㐀㄀猀琀 䄀瘀攀渀甀攀Ⰰ 嘀愀渀挀漀甀瘀攀爀Ⰰ 䈀䌀

bcparent.ca • education issue 2022 5

Mydoh helps children manage their finances

A

s parents, we strive to teach our children life skills and help them be ready for the real world. A vital component of that is financial literacy. From budgeting to personal financial management, financial literacy is understanding and applying various financial skills.

Experts now agree: It’s never too early (or too late) to teach kids about money. Money is an excellent teaching tool. Kids will learn about money whether you take an active role in that education, or not.

The great news is that the daily routine of managing budgets, paying bills, and finding that balance between working hard and spending time with family, can all become great teaching opportunities. Each task and each decision can be used to help teach your children about the value of money, the need to understand spending and saving, and the importance of giving.

Here are some considerations when teaching your child about money: 1.

Partners in finance: While parents don’t always see eye to eye, money is a conversation that requires clear communication and compatibility before you talk to your child.

2. ABC’s and 123’s: Start the conversation with your kids early. It’s never too soon to show them the value of dollars.

3. Make it relatable: Use real-life ‘teachable’ moments to kickstart lessons in financial education. With assistance, let your child buy their own candy at the grocery store to help them gain confidence with their transactions.

6 bcparent.ca • education issue 2022

4. Pennies to profit: Teach your kids the long

game. By providing small allowances and exploring spending goals, your kids will learn the importance of budgeting at an early age.

5. Continue the conversation: Financial lessons won’t be digested in a one-time talk. Keep checking in with your kids and encourage them to learn.

If you’re looking for a helpful app to get started check out Mydoh, powered by RBC. It is a helpful tool to educate and show your children the comings and goings of their money while learning how to make smart money choices. It’s a money management app and Smart Cash Card (which includes a digital and physical Visa Prepaid Card ) that helps kids make their own earning and spending decisions—instilling values that help build a strong foundation for the future. Kids can learn responsibility, earn money through tasks and allowances, and spend responsibly using the Smart Cash Card.

How does Mydoh work?

The Mydoh app and Smart Cash Card make it easy for kids to gain real money skills. Your kids learn money basics through Play, earn their own money through Tasks, and spend it wisely using their Smart Cash Card. And, it all starts from your Parent Account and using the tools provided.

Tools to help you manage everything Tasks and Allowance

• Allows parents to easily set up tasks and get their kids involved • A way for kids to learn the value of earning their own money.

• Parents can track whether tasks are complete or overdue. Once they are marked as complete, kids get paid on Pay Day (every Saturday).

Smart Cash Card:

• The Mydoh reloadable Smart Cash Card helps kids gain a better understanding of the true value of. money as they learn to take responsibility for their own.

• Comes with a money management app designed for kids and parents.

• Kids can make purchases—online and store—up to allowable limits, anywhere that Visa is accepted.

• Parents have a clear view of all activities—it allows them to give guidance and encouragement to kids.

• Kids learn the value of money through hands-on, real-world experience.

Play:

• Makes learning about money easy—kids get some money basics and start building financial literacy through trivia.

• The content is designed for kids and is easy to understand. Starting financial literacy early can help set the foundation for your kids’ financial future.

• Parents learn fun facts about money every week and it can also help parents introduce the topic of money in conversations as a family.

Accounts

Once you install the Mydoh app both parent and child become account holders and they can get their preferences set up. You can also add a second parent to your Mydoh account at no extra cost, with just a few clicks within the app. Adding a second parent means you can share the responsibilities and tools to raise money-smart kids. Each of you can set tasks for kids, pay them when they’ve completed the tasks, set a weekly allowance, and add funds to your kids’ accounts. You can also track goals and spending together—getting the whole family involved!

Parent’s Accounts can view and manage all activities, including:

• Setting up tasks and allowance • Sending your kids money instantly

• Tracking earning and spending • Reacting to transactions with emojis • Locking and unlocking kids’ cards Kid’s Account where kids will do all of their learning, earning, and spending. They can:

• Manage their tasks • Mark tasks as complete • Spend with their Smart Cash Card up to the allowable limit • Track earnings and spending, and see the balance • Learn money basics through play Mydoh believes in giving children the ability to learn healthy and sustainable earning, saving, and spending habits helping them develop important financial values while instilling confidence in their ability to manage their own money for life. While backed by the security and trust of RBC, Mydoh is also available to customers of other Canadian banks. To help get your child managing their finances download the Mydoh app at www. mydoh.ca.

This article was sponsored by Mydoh.

Parents can track whether tasks are complete or overdue. Once they are marked as complete, kids get paid on Pay Day (every Saturday).

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Welcome to the Regency, where time moves in mysterious ways!

A modern graphic novel retelling of a Canadian classic

The New York Times bestselling Little Blue Truck welcomes a new friend to the farm

A unique look at life on earth from the creator of Here We Are and What We’ll Build

bcparent.ca • education issue 2022 7

Guide to Lower Mainland Independent Schools GENDER

GRADES

CLASS SIZE

ENROLLMENT

Alexander Academy

Co-ed

8–12

16-20

141

Avante School

Co-ed

3–12

British Columbia Christian Academy

Co-ed

K–12

20–26

320

Bodwell High School and Bodwell Academy

Co-ed

8–12

17

Day: 200 Boarding: 160 Total: 360

Brockton School

Co-ed

JK–12

20

210

Century High School

Co-ed

8–12

15

140

Children’s Hearing & Speech Centre of BC

Co-ed

PS–2

6–8

28

Choice School

Co-ed

K–7

16

50

Collingwood School

Co-ed

JK–12

15–20

1265

Cousteau, l’Ecole Française Internationale de Vancouver

Co-ed

PS-7

16-18

238

Girls

JK–12

18–20

910

Co-ed

8-12

25

100

SCHOOL NAME 688 West Hastings Unit 200, Vancouver, BC V6B 1P1 604/687-8832; alexanderacademy.ca #202 2830 Grandview Highway,Vancouver, BC V5M 2C9 604/559-5757; avanteschool.ca 1019 Fernwood Avenue, Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 5A8 604/941-8426; bcchristianacademy.ca 955 Harbourside Drive, North Vancouver, BC V7P 3S4 604/924-5056; bodwell.edu/highschool 3467 Duval Rd., North Vancouver, BC V7J 3E8 604/929-9201; brocktonschool.com 300-1788 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6J 1Y1 604/730-8138; centuryhighschool.ca 3575 Kaslo St., Vancouver, BC V5M 3H4 604/437-0255; childrenshearing.ca

20451 Westminster Hwy, Richmond, BC V5M 3H4 604/273-2418; choiceschool.org 70 Morven Drive, West Vancouver, BC V7S 1B2 604/925-3331; collingwood.org 3637 Fromme Rd., North Vancouver, BC 604/924-2457; cousteauschool.org

Crofton House

3200 West 41st Ave., Vancouver, BC V6N 3E1 604/263-3255; croftonhouse.ca

Eaton Arrowsmith

Vancouver: 204-6190 Agronomy Road at UBC, Vancouver, BC; 604/264-8327 White Rock: 300–1538 Foster Street, 3rd Flr, White Rock, BC; 604/538-1710 eatonarrowsmith.com

8 bcparent.ca • education issue 2022

Independent School Guide SCHOOL NAME

GENDER

GRADES

CLASS SIZE

ENROLLMENT

Fraser Academy

Co-ed

1–12

10 max.

260

Fraser Valley Elementary School

Co-ed

K–1

18

48

Island Pacific School

Co-ed

6–9

James Cameron School

Co-ed

2-7

Kenneth Gordon Maplewood School

Co-ed

K–12

Girls

8-12

Co-ed

K–9

8–10

70

Magnussen Vancouver

Co-ed

K-7

varies

40

Meadow Montessori Elementary & Preschool

Co-ed

PS–7

10–15

60

Meadowridge School

Co-ed

JK–12

20

528

Mulgrave School

Co-ed

PS–12

20

840

Co-ed

PS–7

varies

80

Pacific Rim Montessori Academy

Co-ed

PS–7

20

Pacific Spirit School

Co-ed

K–8

14

2294 W. 10th Avenue, Vancouver BC 604/736-5575; fraseracademy.ca

FAx Outreach Center

fraseracademyx.ca Services: Educational Consulting for families; Reading, writing, and math remediation; Executive functioning coaching.

20317 67 Ave., Langley, BC 604/533-5469; fves.bc.ca

671 Carter Road, Bowen Island, BC 604/947-9311; islandpacific.org 20245 Dewdney Trunk Rd, Maple Ridge, BC V2X 3C9 604/465-8444 or 604/465-4561; jcs.bc.ca 420 Seymour River Place, North Vancouver, BC 604/985-5224; kgms.ca

Little Flower Academy

4195 Alexandra Street, Vancouver, BC V6J 4C6 604/738-9016; lfabc.org

madrona

Madrona Independent School

70

15–18

181

476

2064 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver 604/499-7303; madronaschool.com A small independent school in Kitsilano, Vancouver, Madrona offers a challenging academic program to gifted and talented students in Kindergarten to Grade 8. As a school, our goal is to prepare our students for their futures academically, socially, and emotionally.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL

Suite 204, 6190 Agronomy Road at UBC, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 604/264-8327; eatonarrowsmith.com 11391 Dartford Street, Maple Ridge, BC 604/465-3492; meadowmontessori.ca 12224 - 240th Street, Maple Ridge, BC 604/467-4444; meadowridge.bc.ca 2330 Cypress Bowl Lane, West Vancouver, BC 604/922-3223; mulgrave.com

North Star Montessori

1325 East Keith Road, North Vancouver, BC 604/980-1205; northstarmontessori.ca North Star offers Montessori programs for Infants & Toddlers, Preschool & Elementary aged children. Committed to meeting the developmental needs of each child, we foster a love of learning, independence, and respect. Practical experiences build confidence and inspire an intrinsic motivation to ‘learn’ and ‘do’ that students carry with them throughout their lives.

Vancouver and Richmond, BC 604/726-8428; pacificrimmontessori.com 4196 W. 4th Ave., Vancouver, BC 604/222-1900; pacificspiritschool.org

bcparent.ca • education issue 2022 9

Independent School Guide SCHOOL NAME

CLASS SIZE

GENDER

GRADES

Pattison High School

Co-ed

8–12

Pear Tree Elementary

Co-ed

K-7

K-1 15 Gr 2-4 15 Gr 5-7 15

45

Pythagoras Academy

Co-ed

JK-7

16

276

Roots and Wings Montessori School

Co-ed

PS–9

Relevant High School

Co-ed

K–12

Richmond Jewish Day School

Co-ed

K–7

Royal Canadian College

Co-ed

8–12

981 Nelson Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 3B6 604/608-8788; pattisonhighschool.ca 215-2678 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6K 2G3 604/355-2155, peartree.school 8671 Odlin Crescent, Richmond, BC V6X 1G1 604/370-0199; pythagorasacademy.ca 20315 16 Avenue, Langley, BC V2Z 1W5 Sullivan Centre: #101-15295 #10 Hwy, Surrey, BC V3S 0X9 604/510-2588; rootsandwingsbc.com 18620 Highway 10, Surrey, BC V3S 1G1 604/574-4736; relevantschoolssociety.ca 8760 No. 5 Rd., Richmond, BC 604/275-3393; rjds.ca

Vancouver, BC V6P 3M2 604/738-2221; royalcanadiancollege.com

10 bcparent.ca • education issue 2022

ENROLLMENT 160

120

15-20

80

Independent School Guide GENDER

GRADES

CLASS SIZE

St Alcuin College

Co-ed

K–12

20

St. George’s School

Boys

1–12

20

Day: 1040 Boarding: 120 Total: 1160

St. John’s School

Co-ed

JK–12

14–22

554

St. John’s International School

Co-ed

10–12 with ESL program

15

100

SelfDesign Learning Community – Distributed Learning School

Co-ed

K–12

n/a

1500–2500

Southpointe Academy

Co-ed

K–12

16–24

460

Southridge School

Co-ed

K–12

Stratford Hall

Co-ed

K–12

16–22

490

The Westside Schools 604/687-8021, thewestsideschools.ca 1. The Foundation Years Program: K–4 (Enrollment: At capacity—accepting waitlist applicants) 788 Beatty St. Vancouver, BC V6B 2M1 2. The Middle Years Program: 5–9 (Enrollment: At capacity—accepting waitlist applicants) 101 Smithe St., Vancouver, BC V6B 1C2 3. The Westside Miniversity: 10–12 (Enrollment: Spaces available) 211 Nelson St., Vancouver, BC V6B 0P2

Co-ed

K-12

Gr K - 9 12 Gr 10-12

320

Traditional Learning Academy

Co-ed

K–12

Co-ed

JK–12

16–20

400

Vancouver College

Boys

K–12

20–32

1,065

Vancouver Formosa Academy

Co-ed

7–12

Vancouver Hebrew Academy

Co-ed

PS–7

12

Vancouver Montessori School

Co-ed

PS–7

PS - 20 K-7 - 25

SCHOOL NAME 1044 St. Georges Ave, North Vancouver, BC V7L 3H6 604/360-8656; stalcuincollege.com 4175 West 29th Ave., Vancouver, BC 604/221-3890; stgeorges.bc.ca 2215 W. 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 2J1 604/732-4434 or 604/629-2458; stjohns.bc.ca 300 - 1885 W. Broadway, Vancouver, BC 604/683-4572; stjohnsis.com PO Box 74560, Kitsilano RPO, Vancouver, BC 604/224-3663; selfdesign.org 1900 - 56th Street, Tsawwassen, BC 604/948-8826; southpointe.ca 2656 160th Street, South Surrey, BC V3S 0B7 604/535-5056; southridge.bc.ca 3000 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC 604/436-0608; stratfordhall.ca

1189 Rochester Avenue, Coquitlam, BC V3K 2X3; traditionallearning.com

Urban Academy

ENROLLMENT

674

150

466 Rousseau Street, New Westminster, BC, V3L 3R3 604/524-2211; urbanacademy.ca Urban Academy offers a truly engaging learning experience for students from JK to Grade 12. By bringing core academics to life through technology, the arts, and outdoor education, students achieve high academic standards and thrive in their personal development.

5400 Cartier Street, Vancouver, BC 604/261-4285; vc.bc.ca 5621 Killarney Street, Vancouver, BC V5R 3W4 604/436-2332; vfa.bc.ca 1545 W. 62nd Ave, Vancouver, BC 604/266-1245; vhebrewacademy.com 8650 Barnard Street, Vancouver, BC 604/261-0315; vancouvermontessorischool.com

250

bcparent.ca • education issue 2022 11

Independent School Guide

GENDER

GRADES

CLASS SIZE

ENROLLMENT

Vancouver Talmud Torah

Co-ed

PS–7

18–22

485

Vancouver Waldorf School

Co-ed

PS–12

20–30

300

West Point Grey Academy

Co-ed

JK–12

22

940

Co-ed

K–7

18 (max)

144

Co-ed

PS–K

20

80

Girls

JK–12

16–20

656

SCHOOL NAME 998 West 26th Ave., Vancouver, BC 604/736-7307; talmudtorah.com 2725 St. Christophers Road, N. Vancouver, BC 604/985-7435; vws.ca 4125 West 8th Avenue Vancouver, BC 604/222-8750; wpga.ca

Westside Montessori Academy (WMA)

5550 Fraser Street, Vancouver – NOTE NEW ADDRESS 604-434-9611; westsidemontessoriacademy.ca WMA’s mission is to provide a safe, supportive educational environment that nurtures every child’s natural curiosity for learning. We are committed to providing the tools, the guides, and the prepared environment to allow each child to reach their potential both socially and academically.

Westside Montessori School (WMS)

4157 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 2N1 604/731-6594; westsidemontessori.ca

York House School

4176 Alexandra St., Vancouver, BC 3274 East Boulevard, Vancouver, BC 604/736-6551; yorkhouse.ca

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12 bcparent.ca • education issue 2022

GUIDE Casa dei Bambini—Westside Montessori Academy (WMA) NEW ADDRESS: 5550 Fraser Street, Vancouver 604/434-9611 westsidemontessoriacademy.ca Age 3–5 years WMA’s mission is to provide a safe, supportive educational environment that nurtures every child’s natural curiosity for learning. We are committed to providing the tools, the guides and the prepared environment to allow each child to reach their potential, both socially and academically.

The Learning Nest Vancouver, 236/991-8696 thelearningnest.academy Ages 1.5–3 years The Learning Nest is a playgroup that offers a nurturing and inquisitive learn-

ing space for even our littlest learners.

With the support of ECE-trained and former top-tier private school teachers, children will excel in their early learning and growth under the guidance of our unique teaching methods and tools.

North Star Montessori North Van, 604/980-1205 northstarmontessori.ca Age 0–6 years North Star offers Montessori programs for Infants & Toddlers, Preschool & Elementary aged children. Committed to meeting the developmental needs of each child, we foster a love of learning, independence, and respect. Practical experiences build confidence and inspire an intrinsic motivation to ‘learn’ and ‘do’ that students carry with them throughout their lives.

Continued on page 13

bcparent.ca • education issue 2022 13

GUIDE

(Continued)

HE A D. H A N D S . H EA RT.

We are excited to announce our new location:

Rothewood Academy CRESTWOOD Opening Winter 2022 Spots are filling up quickly so register today!

BOOK A TOUR TODAY !

( 60 4) 279 -18 18 R o t h ewood.com

Locations: WHITE ROCK SOUTH SURREY RICHMOND GARDEN CITY RICHMOND CITY CENTRE

14 bcparent.ca • education issue 2022

PJ Kids West Van, 604/926-5972 pjkidsclub.com Ages 2.5–5 years A play-based childcare program with a French enriched curriculum, offering half-day and full-day sessions, based on the BC Early Learning Framework.

PJ Kids has a great teacher-children ratio, small class sizes, a wonderful playground, and music and French lessons.

Located in the heart of Dundarave, they are a short walk from the community center and the library. Their qualified and dedicated ECE teachers have a passion for working with young children.

Ready Montessori Daycare Richmond, 778/803-9191 Ages 6 months–3 years Ready Montessori licensed daycare offers care for children 6 months to 3 years old in a learning environment that combines Montessori philosophy and play-based learning. We provide full daycare with four meals a day. Call to book a tour.

Rothewood Academy Richmond, South Surrey, White Rock 604/279-1818 rothewood.com Ages 1–5 years The Rothewood Educational Method is dedicated to teaching the whole child—head, hands, and heart. Our holistic approach to early learning is what makes Rothewood unique. Visit us today at rothewood.com for more information.

West Point Grey Preschool Vancouver, 604/257-8140 westpointgrey.org/programs/licensedpreschool [westpointgrey.org] Age 30 months–5 years West Point Grey licensed preschool at Aberthau offers care for children 30 months to 5 years old in a learningthrough-play environment. Uniquely located in a mansion with large outdoor space, this preschool is a hidden gem on the west side of Vancouver.

Creating a Child-Centered Routine Bethany Owens

I

f your child is struggling to find a routine this year, there is an impactful way to minimize the stressors: co-create a school year routine with your child. Involve your child in the planning because both making choices and having input will motivate children to follow through.

And, children can tailor the school routine plan to fit their interests and needs. Of course, children need parental guidance during the planning. This will ensure a healthy balance of academics, social activities, and family time.

Step 1: Identify potential problems

What are some significant problems that your child is experiencing? Is it waking up in the morning? Missing the bus to school?

Forgetting to do homework assignments?

Explore and talk about the problems with your child. You can even take some time to predict problems that you foresee happening this year. Depending on the child’s age, a list of 5–10 potential problems is an excellent start. You can further discuss these problems with your child, including the impact those

problems have on them academically, emotionally, and socially.

Rank the problems from the most problematic to the least problematic. You and your child want to co-create a school year routine that addresses their biggest challenges.

Step 2: Find out the root cause

So now you and your child have identified the problems and discussed them. Next, the goal is to develop a routine that includes potential solutions.

Unfortunately, certain problems are outside the control of the child or family. So, before generating possible solutions, you must discover the root causes of the problem. A way to determine the root cause of a problem is by asking “why?” at least five times. And this is not an interrogation, but rather an exploration. For example, take the problem of oversleeping.

Question 1: Why did you oversleep? Answer 1: I was tired.

Q2: Why were you tired? A2: Because I was up late.

Q3: Why

were you up late? A3: I was on my phone.

Q4: Why were you on your phone? A4: I was talking with friends.

Q5: Why were you talking with friends so late? A5: I was busy doing homework earlier.

Based on the child’s answer, one can determine that the problem stems from the child’s inability to properly balance time spent on homework, friends, and sleeping. A solution could be to create an after-school routine that sets aside a designated amount of time for each of these things.

Remember, it’s essential to ask questions that will lead to the discovery of the problem’s root cause. If you have to ask more than five “why” questions to determine the root cause, then do so. If your child becomes defensive or restless with the repeated questions, you can rephrase the question. Instead, start with what, when, where, or how. Instead of “Why did you oversleep?” you can ask, “What is the reason for you oversleeping?”

Also, you do not need to ask the questions one after another. Instead, you can integrate bcparent.ca • education issue 2022 15

them into a conversation about the problems experienced at the beginning of last school year, or their expectations for this school year.

Step 3: Generate potential solutions

Now, you both know the problems and their causes. So generating solutions that address the problem will be much easier. For example, take the problem of oversleeping. A solution is to have an after-school routine that includes homework, spending time with friends, and going to bed at a decent time.

Again, brainstorm and discuss these solutions with your child. Perhaps spending time with friends for an hour after school and then doing homework is a better option than spending an unrestricted amount of time on the phone during the night.

You and your child will probably present multiple solutions, along with some compromises. Pick the best one for your child and family. If deciding becomes difficult, consider the potential outcomes of the solutions. What is their impact on your child, your family, and others?

Also, only choose solutions within your child and family’s ability to change. Proposing

that your child’s school changes its start time to prevent him or her from oversleeping and being late is not a reasonable solution.

Write the solutions as “I will…” statements so that the child is accountable for the action.

• I will spend one hour after school socializing with friends.

• I will complete all my homework without the distraction of my phone.

• I will go to bed at 8:00 pm.

Avoid using negatives within the statements. Your child may view statements that include “no” and “not” as restrictive rules rather than positive actions. Instead of “I will not use my phone after 7:00 pm,” the statement could be “I will stop using my phone at 7:00 pm”. Or, “I will put my phone on bedtime mode at 7:00 pm.”

These solutions presented in “I will…” statements are the basis for a co-created child-centred routine. Ideally, each addressed problem should have at least one “I will…” statement as its solution. You and your child may notice some patterns or similar solutions. And you can group related statements to address multiple problems. Remember to keep the statements as actions that the child

can do (even if you, as the parent, may need to assist the child with the task).

Step 4: Start the routine

After you both create the solution statements, use them to create a routine. Ideally, start the routine at the beginning of the new school year. Starting the school routine at the beginning of the year ensures that the behaviours will become habits for the whole year. And your child will be better prepared academically, socially, and emotionally.

For younger children, you may have to introduce a few solutions at a time over an extended period. If so, you can return to your prioritized list of problems. Then focus on the solutions for the most problematic issues.

Remember to be patient and stay positive while starting a new routine. Stick with the routine and make adjustments to it throughout the school year, using the previous steps with your child.

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CURSIVE: Outdated or Relevant?

By Rebecca Hastings

I

watched my daughter try to sign her name just above the signature line. She looked at me, a little lost. I felt sorry for her and frustrated that she had not been prepared for something so simple. Cursive hasn’t been taught in my kids’ district in years.

They had become whizzes on computers, but what about something as simple as signing your name?

It made me wonder if cursive was a thing of the past or something worth reviving. It’s certainly a highly debated topic in educational settings. The role of cursive is ambiguous at best and there are no clear answers. One thing we can all agree on is that the role of cursive in modern education has changed.

Incorporating cursive in the curriculum had been on the decline, but it was in 2010 that we saw a drastic drop. With the implementation of more technology, there was a shift to more typing. That, together with the Common Core creating more rigorous classroom standards (in the US) made things particularly challenging. Something in the day had to go, and cursive was already questionable. It seemed like the obvious choice.

Education Week addressed this specifically, referring to an interview with Sue Pimentel, a lead writer for the Common Core

Language Arts standards. In the interview, she explained, “that the decision was about priorities—and that learning to use technology took precedence.”

However, for many, not having enough room in the curriculum doesn’t outweigh the benefits of teaching cursive. While some argue to let cursive go, similar to the way we

Cursive can teach fine motor skills, increase the speed of writing, and aid in the creative process.

abandoned the abacus and the slide rule for more modern instruments, we cannot ignore some of the benefits of cursive.

The word that comes to the forefront of many cursive debates is signature. As with my experience with my daughter, we cannot ignore the need to sign our names on documents. And the truth is that many kids are growing up without the skills to do so.

If education is preparing kids for life, are we doing them a disservice by eliminating cur-

sive? Something as simple as voter registration becomes an issue for those that have never been taught how to sign their names.

Signatures lead directly to the second most common argument in favor of cursive: the inability to read historical documents because one cannot read cursive, can put people at a disadvantage. This argument is much more of a personal conviction than an official one, but it should not be ignored.

Some argue, however, that the ability to read cursive is a skill independent of the ability to write in cursive. Teaching kids the skill of simply reading cursive could be taught in as little as a thirty to sixty-minute lesson.

However, the arguments are not as simple as cursive semantics. The most surprising, and perhaps convincing arguments for cursive in the classroom have little to do with such specifics. They address more general benefits that could be easily overlooked.

Cursive can teach fine motor skills, increase the speed of writing, and aid in the creative process. While this may seem like a lofty argument, it goes beyond generalizations to specify the benefits to those struggling with dyslexia or brain injury.

The New York Department of Education took this argument further in their research bcparent.ca • education issue 2022 17

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to state, “Kids were better at processing information when doing so by handwriting as opposed to typing.” Discoveries like this have led New York, the largest public school system in the United States, to announce in February 2017 that they would be reintroducing cursive to the curriculum. Similarly, states such as Tenessee, California, and Louisiana reintroduced cursive, with Louisiana passing legislation mandating cursive in the curriculum in grades 3 through 12.

But maybe this is not an either/or argument.

Virginia Berringer, a professor of educational psychology claims that “printing, cursive, and keyboarding activate different brain patterns, and that in some cases, students with certain disabilities may struggle with print but do well with cursive.” Perhaps we need to look at education as a toolbox, with teachers putting tools in and showing students how to use them. As they mature, students can pick the tools that work best for them.

There is likely no right or wrong answer here. The school day is filled with demands, and cursive is a casualty of more than just the digital age. When a child is in school for six

hours a day that doesn’t mean that there are six hours allocated for traditional academics. You lose an hour of that for lunch and recess and likely a half hour for transitions.

Subtract 45 minutes for a special and another 15 for a snack and your 6-hour day is down to four—and this is if everything goes smoothly.

The best we can do is evaluate the role cursive plays in each environment. My son just started cursive (thanks to a rogue teacher who still sees the value) and I was shocked to see that his typically messy, uneven printing was countered by smooth, thoughtful loops and curves of cursive.

It made me wonder, maybe it’s time we ask ourselves and our schools questions.

• Is cursive a good homework assignment?

• Is it just a filler activity?

• What is the role of typing?

• How can you implement a modern take on cursive within the full demands of a school day?

• Can I teach cursive at home?

The best learning always starts with questions. What questions will you ask for your children, their school, and their town, regarding cursive?

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The Overlooked Benefits of Video Games in Childhood Development

By John Morton

I

was seven years old when my dad brought home our first video game console: a Super Nintendo. I’ll never forget it. Although I had been playing video games since I was about five, my sister and I had saved up for months to afford our own gaming console.

It was a regular work day for my dad with us waiting in anticipation for him to come home. We heard him open the door and, before we had a chance to greet him, he bellowed: “WHO WANTS TO PLAY SOME VIDEO GAMES?!” It was 1995, but it may as well have been the stone age as far as the video game industry goes.

Both of our parents were proud, hard-working members of the middle class. When their publishing business wasn’t bringing enough revenue, my dad would freelance and get odd jobs here and there to bolster our household income. Suffice to say, as kids, we had a lot of time to ourselves and me and my sister

benefitted from long periods of uninterrupted screen time and gaming.

My mom was an early advocate of video games for kids. She was always a true believer in the benefits they had on the impressionable minds of children. I remember her defending me against friends, family and teachers who were concerned about my keen interest in gaming. She used to save news articles that supported her belief in the benefits video games played in early learning.

Playing video games is a mentally engaging task. Depending on the game, it requires fast decision making, real-time problem solving, coordination of fine motor skills and more.

I remember being blown away by my sister, who learned how to play Super Mario Brothers upside down. In comparison, other types of screen time, like Cocomelon, cartoons, or even social media, are much more passive activities, requiring little thought or effort.

When I first started playing, I was hooked on the stimulating graphics, colours and sounds of early console games. The 1990s was the golden age of the “platformer” genre with games like Mario, Sonic The Hedgehog, Donkey Kong and so many more. For a child, games like these could provide hours of challenging entertainment while learning how to interact with the controller moving your character across levels to the finish. It was not until my pre-teens that I moved beyond these simple fascinations and came to appreciate the real depth of what video games had to offer.

Looking back, I can see that I benefitted from the emotional learning, storytelling, reading, empathy building and (most importantly for me) the escape video games provided from the anxiety-inducing reality of increasing mounds of homework.

Despite my parents’ open attitude towards screen time, they made sure my sister and I bcparent.ca • education issue 2022 19

Video games like Minecraft, on the other hand, provide an interactive and safe environment allowing children to explore seemingly infinite areas of constructive creativity.

were spending the time we needed for school work and outdoor activities. They worked a lot, but they were not absent.

Parents now have a more difficult challenge with managing screen time. Screens are everywhere with hundreds of millions of dollars poured into psychological studies to understand the most effective ways of keeping us glued to our devices. A child’s mind (let alone most adults) doesn’t stand a chance against this level of planning and user-experience design. The same can definitely be said for some games you might find in the app store, but not for all of them.

Scientists at Karolinska Institutet (Sweden’s largest centre for medical academic research) studied how the screen habits of US children correlate with how their cognitive abilities developed over time. They found that children who spent an above-average time playing video games increased their intelligence more than those who did not play, whereas watching TV or browsing the internet had neither a positive nor a negative effect.1,2 Further studies focused around the impacts of social media on children paint a darker picture. META (formerly Facebook) is well aware of the negative impacts apps such as Instagram have on the self-esteem of teenagers.2 Despite this, great effort has been focused on downplaying this to the public due to the risk of scrutiny and endangered profits. Don’t even get me started on TikTok.4 20 bcparent.ca • education issue 2022

Video games like Minecraft, on the other hand, provide an interactive and safe environment allowing children to explore seemingly infinite areas of constructive creativity. Other games like Pokemon or The Legend of Zelda have deep and complex stories where reading and following character development is a core part of the game.

If you’re a parent having trouble divvying up your child’s screen time among the increasing amount of devices they’re exposed to, consider nudging them towards productive and healthy video games that promote critical thought and problem-solving with vast and beautiful worlds that encourage exploration. Keep them off social media for as long as possible, well into their teens if you can.

Give the cartoons a break in exchange for an extra 30-minutes of Minecraft building. If they don’t like Minecraft, find another video game that caters to their imagination and learning style.

A few that I would recommend for children as young as 5 would be games like: • Scratch (freely available through most devices and internet browsers) • Super Mario Maker 2 (Nintendo Switch) • New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe (Nintendo Switch) • LEGO Marvel Collection (most consoles) • Rayman Legends (most consoles) • Untitled Goose Game (most consoles) • Sackboy: A Big Adventure (PlayStation)

• The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Nintendo Switch) • Unravel Two (most consoles) • Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Nintendo Switch) • Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo Switch) ... the list could go!

Video games also don’t have to be a solo endeavour. Some of my fondest memories involve jumping into Minecraft with my nephew while he shows me the new room he built for me. To this day, my dad and I still talk about mystery games like Riven and, more recently, Firewatch. Every Christmas, my sister and I still play Super Mario Bros and Mario Kart. Gaming can be a bonding experience, even if you have no idea how to play.

I am forever thankful to my parents for allowing my sister and me the freedom to explore video games. Playing games gave me the problem-solving abilities and grit to build a digital marketing agency of over twenty staff. They taught me good writing, gave me an interest in reading and exposed me to powerful storytelling. Video games gave me the patience to learn new skills like video production, programming and more. They gave me the coordination to play basketball on my high school team. And, today, they’ve bolstered my imagination to create a children’s learning show for ages 3–7 on YouTube.

So, for parents out there feeling anxiety or guilt over the amount of screens they’ve let creep into the lives of their children, don’t beat yourself up. Just make sure your kids are playing games that feed their imagination.

John Morton (aka JoMo) is an uncle, entrepreneur and avid children’s advocate. He contributes periodically to various parenting websites and recently launched his own learning show for children ages 3-7 for free on YouTube. His show, JoMo Kids, uses child friendly video games as a medium for early learning.

References:

1 https://news.ki.se/video-games-can-help-boost-childrensintelligence 2 Sauce, B., Liebherr, M., Judd, N. et al. The impact of digital media on children’s intelligence while controlling for genetic differences in cognition and socioeconomic background. Sci Rep 12, 7720 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-02211341-2 3 https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-knows-instagram-istoxic-for-teen-girls-company-documents-show-11631620739 4 https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/2/22958900/tiktok-stateag-investigation-teens-kids-mental-physical-health

Adolescent Development and Mental Health Concerns

By Sharon Selby

A

dolescent development is a time of significant change. I remember someone once saying that it’s like Halloween—you watch your teen try on different identities as they go through the process of trying to figure themselves out!

Puberty can be the tipping point for some teens when it comes to mental health and sense of self. It’s very common that a child who was experiencing mental health concerns in the tween years struggles more once they hit puberty. An anxious child may develop depression, OCD or severe social anxiety. A child with ADHD may not have been that impacted in elementary school but with the extra demands of adolescent development and high school classes, ADHD can cause significant impairment in the teen years.

A highly sensitive child or teen, known as an orchid child, is also more vulnerable and more at risk for struggling. To learn more about orchid kids versus dandelion kids read this summary: sharonselby.com/anxiety/ do-you-have-an-orchid-child-or-a-dandelionchild.

What is Sextortion?

Every Child Needs to Know

Teens have a lot to deal with these days that we didn’t have to deal with in our own adolescent development. I recently wrote an article about Sexting and the Amanda Todd Case.

Sextortion is a real danger for our kids.

Carol Todd has spent the last ten years, in

honour of her late daughter, Amanda—victim of sextortion, creating education and awareness so other teens don’t have to go through the tragic events that Amanda went through.

Sadly, the news has recently reported that Daniel Lints, age 17 from Manitoba was the victim of sextortion in February, which led to him dying by suicide just hours after he experienced sextortion.

Seeing Billie Eilish laugh at her younger self and seeing her be so much more confident these days is very encouraging.

Every child and teen needs to be informed— they need to know what sextortion is. They need to understand that these predators pose as teenagers and create attractive profiles on social media platforms such as Snapchat so they can convince the targeted teen to send nudes and sexual videos. As soon as this happens, extortion soon follows.

Billie Eilish Interviews Demonstrate Adolescent Development

When teens are going through a hard time, we try to help them realize that this time of adolescent development can be full of challenges. We try to give them encouragement

that things can get much better in their twenties, but it can be hard for them to believe that things can be better.

I am very grateful that Vanity Fair has documented the adolescent development of Billie Eilish, a twenty-year-old American singersongwriter. For the last five years, they have interviewed Billie and asked her the exact same questions each year from age 15 to age 20. You can watch each interview separately or you can watch the most recent interview which includes video clips from the earlier ones.

It’s wonderful proof to see someone who has gone through hard times, and struggled with mental health issues but now at age 20 is getting to the other side. Twenty-year-old Billie is very different from fifteen-year-old Billie. Seeing her laugh at her younger self and seeing her be so much more confident these days is very encouraging.

I often recommend that teens watch the Vanity Fair Interviews or at least the most recent one. It gives them a new perspective on adolescent development.

It’s also very helpful for parents to watch too, to remember that your teen is going through a teenage metamorphosis, and maintaining a strong connection with at least one parent is extremely important.

Beyond Vaping Nicotine

Do you remember when American basketball player, Britney Griner was detained in Continued on page 23

bcparent.ca • education issue 2022 21

Taking a Mindful Approach to Parenting & Caregiving

By BC Children’s Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre

“The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. When mindfulness embraces those we love they will bloom like flowers.”

—Thich Nhat Hanh

F

amily life can be super stressful at times, there’s no doubt about it!

You’re trying to get your child through breakfast, prepared for the day, and out the door on time, and you’re running late. Or, you’re trying to organize the house before rushing into your workday…

Moments like these can be messy. We can feel impatient or distracted. We can become reactive, saying or doing things we later regret.

We might also feel guilty for not parenting as well as we would hope.

Mindfulness can be a powerful remedy to parenting stress and can increase our ability to cope. With mindfulness, we can respond skillfully to what is needed at the moment.

Whether it’s practicing one mindful breath or one mindful step, it is possible to remain calm and centered as we interact and connect with loved ones.

In this article you can find some main ideas that share what mindfulness is—and is not—and ways you can incorporate mindfulness into your everyday parenting and family life.

22 bcparent.ca • education issue 2022

Being present, not perfect

Mindfulness is not a way to become the ‘perfect parent,’ or turn into a calm person that never gets angry. Sometimes, we will still make mistakes. We might hurt our child’s feelings, or express our emotions in a big way.

A mindful attitude helps us to access compassion by acknowledging we are doing the best we can. We are going to make mistakes.

Mindfulness is about being present in our day, with our child—imperfections and all.

How we pay attention is as important as what we pay attention to. With mindfulness, we can pay attention with an attitude of curiosity, openness and kindness, as opposed to judgment and criticism. This attitude also gives our children permission to accept themselves as they are.

Anytime, anywhere

Thankfully, you don’t need extra time to be mindful. You are also probably more mindful than you think!

One step towards mindful awareness may be to simply notice how you feel as you read

these words... Or you might choose to take one intentional breath right now...

There are many ways to be more mindful in our everyday lives, including our parenting: • We can practice using our senses. Appreciating a fragrance, listening to a child’s laughter, tasting a hot chocolate with a loved one.

• We can pay attention to routine activities like folding the laundry, waiting to pick up your child from school, doing the dishes, showering, and brushing your teeth.

• Another way to practice mindfulness is to set aside specific time to be mindful or to listen to guided meditations. This is called formal practice.

What mindfulness is and isn’t…

Mindfulness is not...

• A self-help technique or a quick fix. It’s not therapy, or just a relaxation strategy.

• Mindfulness has historical and cultural roots in wisdom traditions such as Buddhism, but it is not a religion. Everyone is welcome to practice it.

• Living life more mindfully is not another thing you have to add to your to-do list.

Adolescent Development and Mental Health Concerns (Continued from page 23)

Mindfulness can be a powerful remedy to parenting stress and can increase our ability to cope. With mindfulness, we can respond skillfully to what is needed at the moment.

It does not mean you have to sit still or be silent to practice mindfulness. It’s not about having zero thoughts, rather the more mindful we become the more we can notice our feelings come and go.

• Mindfulness is not passive and it is not a substitute for addressing systemic challenges and oppressions such as racism, discrimination, and injustice. At its best, mindfulness can help us interact with our children—and the world—in a more effective and compassionate way.

Mindfulness is...

• A way of being present in the world, a way of noticing and responding to ourselves and others. When we pay attention on purpose, and in a kind and non-reactive way, it is possible to honour our deepest values, including the way we wish to parent.

• Mindfulness invites us to channel our inner child, and get curious!

To learn more about taking a mindful approach to your parenting, and to access free mindfulness tools and apps for you and your child, visit: https://keltymentalhealth.ca/ mindful-approach-parenting-caregiving.

This content was collaboratively developed by the BC Children’s Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre and the BC Children’s Centre for Mindfulness, with main contributions from Dr. Joanna McDermid.

Are you looking for more resources to support your child’s and family’s mental health and well-being? Families from across B.C. can contact the Kelty Centre free of charge by phone (1-800665-1822), email (keltycentre@cw.bc.ca), or in person at BC Children’s Hospital to discover additional resources, learn more about support and treatment options, or just to find a listening ear.

Russia for having vape cartridges containing hashish oil?

Teens would describe her as having a “dab pen” with “carts” so she could take “dabs”.

Many adults see teens vaping and believe that this is the alternative to cigarettes. It’s true that many kids are vaping for the nicotine effects (“nic sick”) but there are many who are using dab pens as a way of vaping/ inhaling high percentages of THC and getting very high through these scentless dab pens.

These pens don’t give off any marijuana smell so teens can be getting high, without being detected, at school, at home, at work or wherever they choose, multiple times per day and through the night.

Many adults don’t know these dab pens and carts exist so they don’t know to have conversations with their children about the high risk of vaping such high levels of THC. These dab pens, and vapes in general, have not been around long enough for us to see the long-term damage. It’s extremely concerning to think what is happening to their lungs and brains.

It’s impossible to be in-the-know with everything teens are exposed to these days, but by doing everything you can to remain connected, and be a good listener, you’ll have more opportunity to hear from them.

As Dr. Gordon Neufeld says: “You cannot teach the mind, until you have the heart.”

Sharon Selby, MA, is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, with over 20 years’ experience counseling children and families. She is the author of the children’s book, Surfing the Worry Imp’s Wave, where you can find more information about the strategies recommended in this article. To receive her free ebook: 8 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Your Child is Anxious, go to www.SharonSelby.com/free

bcparent.ca • education issue 2022 23

Specialized Learning Support for Kids with Learning Differences Builds Confidence and Self-esteem at School and Beyond LDS, which provides research-informed individualized student education (RISE) programming to those with suspected or diagnosed learning disabilities, aged 3 to adult, believes early intervention is key.

By Dr. Jennifer Fane

to above average intelligence. It’s an unexplained inability to learn or develop skills or knowledge within a typical educational setting—imagine an otherwise bright and engaged child in grade 2 who is unable to read sight words or retain letter sounds, or a child who can read and verbally tell a story but struggles greatly with writing words on paper. Learning disabilities mean that a child needs a different level of support, instruction, materials, or accommodations to learn and retain information that others seem to just ‘grasp’ through typical classroom learning.

It can sometimes take months or even years to identify a learning disability because the child is otherwise very capable. This can mean the opportunities for early intervention and support are lost, negatively impacting a child’s confidence and self-esteem, but there are some early warning signs for learning disabilities.

At home:

• • • • •

Not wanting to go to school Frequent worries about school Difficulty sleeping or eating Excessive time on homework Avoidance of homework

At school:

S

chool can be an exciting and joyous experience for students and families, with the building of relationships with classmates and working with school staff, and academic, social, and personal growth.

However, for many, it can also come with uncertainty and challenges as academic and social demands for children and youth continually increase as students move from grade to grade.

The signs that a child may need extra support at school can often be subtle and many families are surprised to first learn that their child is struggling during early parent/guardian-teacher interviews. Conversely, sometimes despite reports from schools that their child is doing ‘okay’, parents/guardians may have a ‘gut feeling’ that progress is not being made.

As a parent/guardian of a school-aged child or youth, the first step and most powerful tool you can equip yourself with is understanding your child’s learning needs and the ways to work in collaboration with the school and avenues to ensure that your child has the support they need to succeed.

24 bcparent.ca • education issue 2022

Understanding Learning Disabilities and Learning Differently

A learning disability is a neuro-developmental (hardwired) disorder that impacts an individual’s ability to acquire, organise, retain, understand, or use verbal and nonverbal information. A learning disability is unique in that it affects individuals of average

• • • •

Work avoidance at school Teacher concerns about progress Reports of behavioural issues The suggestion that your child receive resource support

Fortunately, with the right support, students with learning disabilities can absolutely succeed and develop both the academic and executive functioning skills they need, building confidence in themselves and how they learn. The challenge for parents/guardians is

Abigail Lobo (right), Senior Manager, Education, at LDS, offers one-to-one instruction to a student.

how to advocate for a child’s learning needs and work with teachers, the school, and sometimes other educational service providers to put all the right supports into place.

Experiencing the BC Education System as a Student with a Learning Difference

The BC public school system is inclusive, so it seeks to integrate all learners into mainstream school environments. Meaningful inclusion, where all learners have the supports and opportunities they need, is a challenge that all schooling systems face, especially when the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care is reporting growing numbers of students with special education needs—there were 82,786 students with special needs in the province’s public and independent schools in the 2021/22 school year, 4,484 more than the previous year.

The upward trend is a result of better knowledge and more proactive assessment of struggling students, and that is a positive thing. However, this doesn’t necessarily translate into better support. Most school districts have years-long waitlists to receive psychoeducational assessments through the school system, and the cost of private assessments is highly prohibitive for most families. Yet without this assessment and diagnosis, a child is not entitled to the Individual Educational Plan (IEP) which identifies accommodations for learning and the required additional support at school. Also noteworthy: No extra funding comes directly to a school for a specific child. Rather, these limited funds are distributed at the district level to be administered to the schools, which then try to adequately allocate them to support all their students.

Funding often ends up going to the most high-needs students while those with learning disabilities with no significant behavioural challenges tend to receive less support.

For families, accessing diagnostic tools, sourcing the individualised supports needed once the diagnosis has been received, and effectively advocating for their child are incredibly daunting tasks. However, there are ways to do all this effectively.

Working Collaboratively with your Child’s School

It is very challenging for a teacher to assess and monitor student progress across all learning areas in a diverse classroom environment.

A learning challenge in a specific area for

a student that is otherwise ‘doing okay’ at school can be easily missed. Because of this, when parents/guardians and teachers work together to identify concerns, share information, and identify solutions, students are best served. As with any relationship, open and collaborative communication is always best. Below are some steps that will help you to open a constructive dialogue about your child’s learning with their teacher(s).

Document your concerns:

Start with writing down what you are noticing about your child’s learning. What is your child struggling with? What challenges are you encountering at home? What comments or concerns have previous teachers expressed?

Know what the school system is required to provide for all students, namely: • Ongoing observation of the child’s learning and consultation with parents • Teacher administered achievement tests • Early intervention: identifying learning gaps/challenges and a way to address them • Consultation with the school-based team or resource department as needed Additionally, with a Ministry Designation and/or IEP, your child is legally entitled to accommodations for learning and additional learning support.

Prepare to communicate your concerns to your child’s teacher and school: Start by identifying

your key concern and use specific examples.

Reference what the school is required to provide to guide your notes and schedule a meeting time with your child’s teacher.

When meeting with your child’s teacher:

Take notes and ask clarifying questions that start with how, what, why, where or when.

It generally helps to generate the most precise answers. Then, develop an action plan for next steps, such as future meeting times, ongoing observation, further support, etc.

What to do if you feel your concerns haven’t been adequately addressed: If you feel this

way after the meeting or in the months that follow, or your child is not receiving appropriate support, connect with the school principal.

Accessing Additional Learning Support

Unfortunately, the resources available through school are not adequate to provide the instruction and support that many students with

a learning disability need, even though the document Special Education Services Manual: A Manual of Policies, Procedures and Guidelines issued by the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care states that research shows that students with learning disabilities should receive (1) intense direct instruction; (2) instruction in learning and compensatory strategies; and (3) adaptation of instructional practices and assessment strategies. Many families, therefore, choose to access additional and direct individualized academic instruction outside of school, be it after-school tutoring or specialised instruction by individual tutors or through an education provider. Doing so can make an incredible impact on a student’s ability to address academic skill gaps and build confidence in their ability as a learner.

If you are thinking about specialized instruction or tutoring for your child, here are some key things to consider: • Does the service provider have experience working with students with a learning disability?

• Do they have appropriate qualifications for working with the age and grade level of your child?

• How will the service provider assess your child’s academic skills and monitor their learning progress?

• Can they support you with communicating the learning progress and needs of your child with your child’s school?

• Do you feel comfortable and confident with the service provider?

These questions will help you to assess if the service provider will be able to meet your child’s unique needs and help them build the confidence and academic skills required to thrive throughout their lifetime. If you are a low-income family and face financial barriers to accessing specialized instruction or private tutoring, you can apply for funds through charitable organizations. Some specialized learning disabilities organizations also offer sliding fee scales for families based on their own charitable fundraising.

Dr. Jennifer Fane is the Director of Education at LDS, a

BC-based organization that delivers exceptionally effective, accessible programs to unique learners, aged 3 to adult, with suspected or diagnosed learning differences. She holds an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in education, public health, and social policy from Flinders University (Australia) and a Bachelor of Education degree from SFU. A BC Certified Teacher and published author, Dr. Fane is a passionate advocate for responsive and transformative education that prioritizes the learner and their needs and goals. Learn more about her work and LDS at UniqueLearners.ca.

bcparent.ca • education issue 2022 25

Maker-Minded: Raising DIY Kids

By Janeen Lewis

W

hen your electronic gadgets break, does your tween fix them?

Do you have a child that builds elaborate housing for pets and dolls out of scraps of craft materials and cardboard boxes?

Maybe you’re raising entrepreneurial teens with ideas that could make them the next Facebook or Snapchat inventor, app creator, or “Shark Tank” winner.

If any of this sounds familiar, you may have a Maker on your hands. But what exactly does that mean?

What is the Maker Movement?

The Maker Movement is a quickly growing culture that embraces the idea that learning is done best through doing. It includes doit-yourself individuals and groups that create things, and its members are producers more than consumers, says Irm Diorio, executive 26 bcparent.ca • education issue 2022

director of a maker space. While some makers work in maker spaces, others tinker in their homes and garages. Some maker interests include robotics, electronics, metalworking, woodworking and traditional arts and crafts.

With affordable access to 3-D printers and computers, technology is often a part of the Maker Movement, but it doesn’t have to be, says Diorio.

“Everyone is a maker,” Diorio says, and she encourages others to discover the maker in them. “It’s about finding what really inspires you—gardening, baking, sewing, anything that you would build with your hands. It’s fun and can be functional, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s all about letting your creativity take you for a ride.”

Why do makers use maker spaces?

Some makers discover their tribe at maker

spaces, where adults and children find the community and supplies they need, including equipment and tools that are hard to store at home. Maker spaces often house equipment like 3-D printers, laser cutters, wood lathes, saws, welding equipment and sewing machines. Maker spaces offer community, encouragement and expertise for those working on projects. Maker spaces are also becoming popular in schools because parents, teachers and administrators want to include this creative outlet in the learning process.

How can parents support a makerminded life?

How you help your child flourish at being a DIY kid depends on his or her age. Here are some suggestions that will help guide kids as they grow.

Preschool:

• Encourage natural curiosities, inclinations or interests • Start coding with and without technology (there are lots of ideas at code.org) • Give them the tools of their trade even if they’re in junior size—think miniature tool box with tools, junior sewing machine or real gardening tools small enough to fit their hands.

• Don’t be afraid to introduce sophisticated vocabulary—don’t dumb it down.

Elementary:

• Give them a maker space and fill it with the best tools that you can afford • Volunteer to start a maker space at your child’s school • Create an invention station where your kids can do STEM challenges. Check out a cool design spinner at PBS Kids Design Squad Global Build.

• Participate in a science fair • Encourage participation in a maker faire.

• Have a STEM closet or basket at home that allows kids to pull out supplies and invent, build, or create

• Provide a coding robot they can program with a tablet • Join a Lego robotics club Middle and High School:

• Encourage an apprenticeship in a trade or with a family member or friend who is an expert (such as a computer science expert, car or airplane mechanic, fashion designer, seamstress) • Attend a certified STEM High School • Join a robotics club • Give them low cost technology like Raspberry Pi or Arduino to experiment with and create their own technology products • Introduce them to conductive thread so they can make clothes that light up, or Makey Makey, an invention kit that can turn items as simple as bananas or staircases into computer touchpads.

Janeen Lewis is a nationally published writer, teacher and mom

to Andrew and Gracie.

Online Resources for the MakerMinded Family • Makezine.com (a site for the print magazine, Make) offers ideas for projects, Maker news, links to Maker Faires and support for all things Maker.

• Makerfaire.com shares information about Makerfaires all over the world.

• Makered.org provides support for those interested in integrating maker education into learning environments.

• KiwiCo.com: Purchase a monthly service that delivers art and science projects for kids of all ages to your door.

• CardboardChallenge.com: Learn about how to host or find a Cardboard Challenge in your area. A Cardboard Challenge allows kids to make creations using a cardboard, recycled materials and their imaginations.

• Thingiverse.com: This website shares user-created design project files to make using technology such as 3D printers and laser cutters.

“Everyone is a maker,”

Diorio says , and she encourages others to discover the maker in them. “It’s all about letting your creativity take you for a ride.”

bcparent.ca • education issue 2022 27

Activity Guide

Colourstrings Conservatory of Music 129 East 8th Ave, Vancouver colourstrings.ca Music & Movement Group Classes (3 months–6 years): In age-specific groupings, children enjoy fun songs and games that develop a solid musical foundation. The more advanced classes introduce music reading and writing.

Instrumental Lessons (5½ years+) in Violin, Viola, Piano, Flute, Clarinet, Cello, Vocals, Choir, Guitar, Ukulele.

Evergreen Cultural Centre Coquitlam, 604/927-6555 evergreenculturalcentre.ca/educate Evergreen Cultural Centre is the Tri-Cities premiere venue for live arts events, exhibitions, and experiences!

Starting mid-October, they are pleased to offer several performing arts classes for creative kids ages 5–19. From Baby Ballet and Intro to Movement to Musical Theatre and Dance, these unique programs are perfect for children of all skill levels and abilities.

28 bcparent.ca • education issue 2022

Lights Up Musical Theatre Schools Locations throughout the Lower Mainland 1-888/502-5253 lightsuptheatre.ca Ages 3–18 Lights Up is a children’s performing arts program with a difference! We believe theatre fundamentals help students shine on stage and in all aspects of their lives. Everyone has a place on stage and in our program. It’s about more than a final production. It’s about the learning, teamwork, friendships, and memories that are created. Our unique structure of equal time dedicated to singing, dancing, and acting means everyone can find something they love and excel at, regardless of skill or experience. There is a performer in every one of us! Weekend programs, After School, Spring Break and Summer Camps for children and youth 3 years and up.

Long & McQuade Music Lesson Centres long-mcquade.com/lessons All ages Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Courtenay, Kamloops, Langley, Nanaimo, North Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, Prince George, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver, Victoria, White Rock We offer private one-on-one lessons, custom-tailored to the needs and goals of the individual student as well as a variety of group lessons. Our students range from children just beginning their journey in music, to those prepping for university, from young adults who just like to sing to seniors who enjoy music and the social aspect. We offer affordable rates and a wide variety of lessons but more importantly, we are a home for anyone who loves music and wants to explore it. Our music lessons are available online and in person.

ACCEPTING NEW STUDENTS Music & Movement 0–6 years Kids Choir 5–8 years / Youth Choir 8–14 years Instrumental 5.5 to adult

Sing, Dance, Act, Shine!

Classes and Camps for 3yrs and up

1-888-502-5253 lightsuptheatre.ca

bcparent.ca • education issue 2022 29

C

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dr. jody carrington Reconnection: Building a Foundation of Authentic Relationships with Children Dr. Jody Carrington has inspired many to consider the capacity for reconnection as the foundation to every healthy, authentic relationship. We are not born with the ability to repair ruptures; we have to learn how to do this as we build strong cultures. These relationships are the foundation of a healthy family, classroom or community. Dr. Jody is one of North America’s top psychologists, bringing a unique and often hilarious take on what it means to master the art of reconnection.

Friday Feb 3rd 2023 7:15 pm ∞ Bell Performing Arts Centre

TICKETS ARE $20 AND GO ON SALE NOVEMBER 1ST 2022 AT CHILDCAREOPTIONS.CA

30 bcparent.ca • education issue 2022

M

Your child’s path is unique.

Their learning support should be too.

UniqueLearners.ca Learn. Develop. Succeed.

Individualized learning support for all ages. bcparent.ca • education issue 2022 31

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