February 2018 Island Parent

Island Parent Celebrating

30 Years

The Resource Publication for Vancouver Island Parents

February 2018

Talking to Children About Tragedy Schools & Educational Services & Death

Education

BRIGHTER FUTURES BEGIN HERE

All Ages. All Grades. All Subjects.

ENROL TODAY!

CALL TODAY!

oxfordlearning.com

TOYS • BOOKS • STROLLERS • CAR SEATS • FURNITURE SHOES • CLOTHING • HIGH CHAIRS • CARRIERS SLEEP AIDS • PLAYARDS • SKINCARE • DIAPER BAGS

Victoria 250.477.5550 203-1595 McKenzie Ave. Victoria, BC V8N 1A4 victoria@oxfordlearning.com

MARCH 24 & 25 Meet LEGO Certified Professional builder, Robin Sather, and watch him build a giant scene using LEGO bricks!

1581 Hillside Ave, Victoria 778•265•5651 Across the street from Hillside Centre SHOP ONLINE AT MOMEASE.CA!

Curiosity • Diversity Exploration • Nature Play-Oriented Learning

Register Now for September 2018

Register online on February 19th at tillicumkids.com to be entered into the Tillicum LEGO Mania competition.

As a contestant, you’ll have the opportunity to bring in your LEGO masterpiece featuring this year’s theme – Sports and Recreation. Visit us online for more details.

www.tillicumkids.com LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO® Group of companies which does not directly sponsor, authorize or endorse this event.

SPONSORED BY:

3905 Haro Road, Victoria BC

250-477-3731 arbutusgrove.ca

EARLY CHILDHOOD FULL YEAR PROGRAMS Sept 2018 to June 2019 for preschoolers aged 3-5 years.

Register your preschooler starting Saturday February 17 from 8am ACTIVITY TIME FOR PRESCHOOLERS G.R. PEARKES RECREATION CENTRE Sports and Gym Time Mon Tue Gymnastics and Tumbling Wed Skating and Ice Play Thurs Nature and Outdoors Fri Movement and Music All classes 12:15 to 2:15pm

KIDDIE CAPERS Open House Feb 3, 10:30am-Noon SAANICH COMMONWEALTH PLACE Choose a combination of any day and any time.

Kiddie Capers in the Morning

M - F 9 to 11am

(Tu and Th location in the Forest)

Kiddie Capers in the Classroom

ECO PROGRAM

M - F 11:15am to 1:15pm

(EDUCATING CHILDREN OUTSIDE)

Kiddie Capers in the Forest

SWAN LAKE NATURE SANCTUARY

M/W 1:30 to 3:30pm

OR

ELK/BEAVER LAKE REGIONAL PARK Open House Feb 10, 10:30am to Noon 3yrs 4yrs

Tu/Th M,W,F

9am to 12pm 9am to 12pm

G. R. Pearkes Recreation Centre Gordon Head Recreation Centre Saanich Commonwealth Place

250-475-5400 250-475-7100 250-475-7600

FRENCH-EARLY EDUCATION GORDON HEAD RECREATION CENTRE 12:30 to 2:30pm Tu Th 12:30 to 2:30pm EXPLORING OUR WORLD Licensed Preschool

Open House

Feb 3, 11:30am to 1pm

GORDON HEAD RECREATION CENTRE 9am to 12pm M/W Tu/Th 9am to 12pm Gym and Swim

F

9am to 11:30am

Registration Starts Sat, Feb 17

SAANICH.CA/RECREATION IslandParent.ca

February 2018  3

14 Talking to Children

Island Parent on for Vancouver Island

Celebrating

30 Years

The Resource Publicati

About Tragedy & Death

Parents

February 2018

Education

ational Services Schools & Educ

Talking to Kids About Tragedy & Death

Please visit any of our valued partners to pick up your latest copy of Island Parent.

GREATER VICTORIA Thrifty Foods Fairway Market Real Canadian Superstore Save-On-Foods (except Westside) Lifestyle Market Country Grocer (Esquimalt & Royal Oak) Quality Foods Market on Yates & Millstream Western Foods Recreation Centres Public Libraries Serious Coffee Victoria Gymnastics SOOKE Western Foods Village Foods Seaparc Recreation DUNCAN Thrifty Foods Save-On-Foods Real Canadian Superstore 49th Parallel Public Library

CHEMAINUS 49th Parallel Public Library SHAWNIGAN LAKE Aitken & Fraser Grocery Community Centre Kerry Park Recreation LADYSMITH Save-On-Foods 49th Parallel Public Library

FEATURES 14 Jillian Roberts: Talking to

Children About Tragedy & Death

16 GVPL: Books to Help Children Cope with Grief 18 Schools&EducationalServices 26 Bringing Your Newborn Home 30 Amalia Colussi: Getting. Out. The. Door.

40 Elise Velazquez: Climate Change Anxiety 42 Christina Van Starkenburg: Playing in the Rain In Every ISSUE Island Parent Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Party Directory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Family Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Family Services Directory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54, 55 Preschool & Child Care Directory . . . . . . . . . . . 56, 57 Business & Professional Directory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

COLUMNS 5 Sue Fast: Editor’s Note 12 Erin Skillen:

Post-Married Mommy 44 Emillie Parrish: Cooking With Kids

46 Sarah Milligan: Is There an App for This?

48 Greg Pratt: Dadspeak 50 Morgan Frankboner, Lisa Halliwell & Jenny Redpath: Healthy Families, Happy Families 52 Christina Van Starkenburg:

Book Nook 58 Laura Trunkey: Maternity & Beyond 60 Sara Mimick: Nature Notes 62 Allison Rees: Cut It Out!

NANAIMO Thrifty Foods Fairway Market Quality Foods Save-On-Foods PARKSVILLE Thrifty Foods Quality Foods Parksville Centre

For a complete list of where you can find a copy of Island Parent Magazine, go to

islandparent.ca 250-388-6905 4 Island Parent Magazine

Sue Fast

Editor editor@islandparent.ca

Island Parent Magazine 830–A Pembroke Street Victoria, BC V8T 1H9 250-388-6905 islandparent.ca

Linda Frear

RaeLeigh Buchanan

Mark Warner

Office Manager & Sales sales@islandparent.ca

Advertising Consultant raeleigh@islandparent.ca

Publisher/Owner publisher@islandparent.ca

Design & Layout Eacrett Graphic Design

Printed by Black Press

ISSN 0838-5505

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Island Parent Magazine, published by Island Parent Group Enterprises Ltd., is a monthly publication that honours and supports parents by providing information on resources and businesses for Vancouver Island families. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. No material herein may be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Annual mail subscriptions (12 issues) are available for $35 (GST included). Canadian Publication Mail Product Sales Agreement 40051398.

On the COVER

Charlie W (18 mos). Photo by Chelsea Warren, Chelsea Warren Photography, chelseawarrenphotography.com

IslandParent.ca

Tragedy, Death & Sadness

It wasn’t that long ago that Sesame Street was considered cutting-edge when it addressed the death of long-time character Mr. Hooper in a segment that aired on Thanksgiving Day. “Sesame Street has always been honest and direct, not sugar-frosting on real life,’’

“

Young children don’t know that sadness isn’t forever. It’s frightening for them to feel that their sadness may overwhelm them and never go away. That ‘the very same people who are sad sometimes are the very same people who are glad sometimes’ is something all parents need to help their children come to understand.

Fred Rogers

W

”

hat do we tell our children about the tragic deaths of Chloe and Aubrey Berry in Oak Bay this past Christmas? How do we help them cope with the sadness? And how do we answer their questions?

Though there is no one-size-fits-all strategy to help children deal with grief, there are some effective responses to their questions.

In this issue, psychologists Dr. Jillian Roberts (“Talking to Children About Tragedy & Death,” page 14) and Dr. Allison Rees (“No Words,” page 62) help provide answers. So, too, does the Greater Victoria Public Library’s recommended reading list (“Books to Help Children Cope with Grief,” page 16).

Find suggestions on how to start a conversation around tragedy and death, about how much is too much information, why it’s important to show our emotions when we’re dealing with our own grief, and when to seek outside support.

While honesty is always the best policy when discussing life’s scary topics with kids, sometimes it’s just our presence they need to help them cope. Don’t direct the conversation when discussing tragedy and death, cautions Rees, “let kids be the guide.”

And acknowledge their sadness and loss.

Gone are the days when kids were almost “invisible grievers,” kept away from funeral services and candlelight vigils in an effort to shelter them from the pain of losing a loved one.

Sue Fast Editor’s Note

said Fran Kaufman of the Children’s Television Workshop, the program’s producer in an article for the New York Times.

“The message was: he died, he won’t be coming back, and we are all going to miss him,’’ she said. “The missing is a very important part for the children.’’

And in Chloe and Aubrey Berry’s case, the missing is a very important part for the community, too.

To donate to Victoria Foundation’s Chloe and Aubrey Berry Scholarship Fund, please visit the Canada Helps website at canadahelps.org/en/dn/m/33305/donation.

Creating beautiful smiles New patients always welcome Call or email us today and our dental team would be happy to assist you with an appointment

Westshore Dental Centre

Mon – Thurs: 7:30 am – 7:30 pm Fri: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm Sat: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

152 – 2945 Jacklin Road • 250-474-2296 • www.westshoredental.com IslandParent.ca

February 2018 5

Island Parent NOTES UVic’s Impulsivity & Motor Activity Study

Many children experience difficulties with impulsivity and motor activity, which interfere with their ability to focus, selfregulate, and achieve goals. The University of Victoria is seeking children, ages 6-13 years with a diagnosis of ADHD, and children who do not have ADHD or any other known neurological or learning difficulties.

The study will provide a better understanding of impulsivity and motor activity in children to help inform the challenges faced by children with ADHD, and to provide more effective services/treatments. This study has been approved by the University of Victoria Human Ethics Committee and is being conducted through the Psychology Department at the University of Victoria.

Children will complete some activities on the computer and paper and pencil tasks at the University of Victoria, and will be provided with a small thank-you prize for their participation. For more information, email Dr. Sarah Macoun at macounlab@ uvic.ca or phone 250-472-4195.

National Sweater Day

• before and after

school care

• small class sizes • supportive and

caring staff

• excellent academic

foundation

• Kodaly music

A local non-profit for all children (Since 1973) 5575 West Saanich Rd info@islandmontessori.com 250 592 4411 www.islandmontessori.com

6 Island Parent Magazine

program

• lovely rural location

connecting children to nature

National Sweater Day has traditionally fallen on the first Thursday of February.

Since 2010, over a million Canadians have participated in National Sweater Day at their schools, workplaces and homes. On February 1, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) wants you to lower your heat and put on your favourite sweater to take action against climate change and work towards a sustainable future. Join Canadians across the country fighting climate change by conserving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Heating accounts for 80 per cent of residential energy use in Canada, and is a significant source of emissions. If every Canadian lowered the heat by just 2º C this winter, greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by 4 megatons—equivalent to shutting down a 600 mega watt coal-fired power station or taking nearly 700,000 cars off the road. So lower the heat, wear that sweater, and make the world a better place for your grandchildren. For more information, visit wwf.ca/events/ sweater_day.

IslandParent.ca

Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festival

The sap will soon be flowing from Bigleaf Maple trees on the West Coast, and syrup makers from the area are sharpening their drill bits in anticipation. At the BC Forest Discovery Centre’s annual Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festival from February 3-4, from 10am-4pm, visitors are invited to participate in mini-workshops facilitated by experienced maple syrup producers, including tapping demonstrations, presentations, and displays. This year’s event features cooking with local maple syrup, and maple foods will be available. There’ll be a maple syrup competition with judging by celebrity chefs from Vancouver Island.

The evaporator will be running all day so visitors can savour the warm maple aroma of sap and see how syrup is made. And the Green Hornet will offer train rides. $10 for adults/seniors/youth (13-18 years), $8 for children (3-12 years), free for children 2 and under. For more information, visit bcforestdiscoverycentre.com.

live screens on the dock. Take the children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews of all ages out to explore Sidney in search of exciting LEGO displays, and enter your completed treasure map at the Sidney Museum for a chance to win a prize. Watch for draw boxes and door prize opportunities for fabulous LEGO prizes all weekend.

For information, visit distinctlysidney.ca/ event/2018-family-day-weekend.

Jammies & Toons

Remember waking up at the crack of dawn to sneak downstairs for morning cartoons in your pjs and munching on your favourite cereal? Well for one day only—Sunday February 11 at 11am—the Victoria Film Festival presents Mary and the Witch’s Flower at the Vic Theatre.

From the multi-award winning director of When Marnie Was There and The Secret Life of Arrietty comes a new animated tale bristling with the Studio Ghibli-like magic you’ve come to love.

Joyful Mary is just your average redheadLEGO Brick Festival in Sidney ed young girl, enjoying a beautiful country For the sixth consecutive year, down- summer with her beloved aunts but bored town Sidney businesses are gearing up for out of her mind, desperately searching for another Family Day weekend of LEGO- something to do. Even chasing cats, doing based events. Sidney Family Days LEGO Brick Festival will happen February 10, 11 and 12 from 10am-4pm each day. Sidney restaurants and businesses will be open to welcome families. The theme this year is Sports and Recreation, and back once again is Robin Sather, Canada’s only certified LEGO professional. This year Sather will build a 6-foot sports-themed structure.

Saturday the fun will start with the launch of the LEGO brick scavenger hunt throughout downtown Sidney. Maps will be available at the Sidney Museum and event locations for avid hunters to begin their quest. The Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea will have underwater LEGO and VicLUG will have an intricate display of LEGO creations at the Sidney Pier Hotel all weekend. The Star Cinema will be showing the LEGO Movie 2 during the weekend as well. On Sunday and Monday, the fun continues as Sather completes his construction at the Mary Winspear Centre. Visitors can help him build a giant LEGO mosaic. The Mary Winspear Centre will also have LEGO play areas for all ages and a community open house where families can learn about the activities available to family and youth in the Sidney area. The Rock Fish Divers will be at the Sidney Pier on Sunday to build underwater LEGO structures displayed on IslandParent.ca

deliveries and sweeping the sidewalk seems like more fun than doing nothing. That is until the day she accidentally discovers a flower that grants her magic powers and then it’s up, up, up into the sky.

Before Mary knows what’s happening, she’s whisked away to a Harry Potter-like school of magic where she’s too scared and overwhelmed to explain to the headmasters that she might not be a witch. After all, they don’t take kindly to trespassers there. She might be able to get away safely as long as nobody discovers just where her special powers came from.

Adapted from Mary Stewart’s 1971 much beloved children’s book The Little Broomstick, this first feature film from Studio Ponoc was made by many of the same people from Studio Ghibli. Longtime fans will see similarities between the two studios in Mary. Ghibli’s legendary director Hayao Miyazaki might or might not make another movie but his endearing legacy is undeniable. This is an all-ages event, no membership required. Don’t forget to bring your own bowl and spoon for the cereal.

Tickets $7. For information and tickets: 250-389-0444, boxoffice@victoriafilmfestival.com, victoriafilmfestival.com.

February 2018 7

Emmanuel Preschool o�er �� ye�r� o� nurturing children in our community

Open House!

Saturday, Feb. 24, 9:30-11:00am or contact us for a visit Sept-June Learning through creative play Two licensed, experienced Early Childhood Educators Warm, fun, non-denominational Christian learning environment.

2121 Cedar Hill Cross Road 250.598.0573

www.emmanuelpreschool.ca preschool@emmanuelvictoria.ca

MAD SCIENCE VANCOUVER ISLAND info@madscienceisland.com

Have a great time with science!

MAD SCIENCE

AFTER-SCHOOL WORKSHOPS PARTIES SHOWS CAMPS Book on-line

250-391-1814 vancouverisland.madscience.org

8 Island Parent Magazine

Keeping the Love Alive

ambiance, the joie de vivre, and the warm It can be difficult for new parents to focus hospitality. For information, including an on themselves and their relationship after event schedule and ticket prices visit franbaby arrives. At Mothering Touch, Keep- cophonenanaimo.org. ing the Love Alive: When Partners Become Parents gives new parents and parents-to-be time to concentrate on each other and re- Pink Shirt Day or connect. It examines how having a child (or Anti-bullying Day children) changes a relationship and how Pink Shirt Day, or Anti-Bullying Day, partners can stay connected—and loving— is on the fourth Wednesday in February through the experience of having a baby. every year. This year, that will be on The course focuses on normal develop- February 28. mental processes in new families and teaches Now in its tenth year, Pink Shirt Day, practical communication skills and lead a public awareness campaign about parents through exercises to strengthen their bullying spearheaded by CKNW and bonds as a couple. A central theme will be promoted locally by Boys & Girls Clubs, identifying values both partners want for has grown into a national movement. their family. The goal is to create a solid, Last year, over 2,500 official pink shirts happy and united family. were sold on Vancouver Island alone, Topics include: and thousands more people wore pink Part I : The Baby Project clothing to show their solidarity for the • Whose project is it? campaign.

• The effects of mismanaged conflict.

Pink Shirt Day is aimed at uniting • How to manage conflict. people in a movement to change people’s • Family rituals. attitudes towards bullying. It teaches Part II : The Family Project young people that we need to be more • Identifying values for your new family. accepting of differences and that we can• Sex and physical intimacy. not stand by and watch as bullying occurs • Building a nest for your family. around us. Schools, police departments, The workshop was designed by a clinical businesses, politicians and youth groups counselor, a family mediator, and a par- across Vancouver Island are using this enting educator. It is taught by Eva Bild day to raise awareness of the negative and Sarah Nakatsuka who draw on their effects of bullying and show that any extensive experience of helping (and being!) form of bullying will not be tolerated in new parents through the difficult first years. their organization.

The workshops run two Monday eveYou too can join the sea of pink. Take nings, February 19-26, from 7-9:30pm at this opportunity to address the issue of The Mothering Touch Centre, 975 Fort St. bullying with your children or teens, by For more information and to register, visit wearing pink, planning an event or activmotheringtouch.ca. ity, or just having an intentional conversation. You can order your shirts through The 17th Annual Maple Sugar pinkshirtday.ca or find tips, activity ideas Festival du Sucre d’Érable and planned events by contacting Boys & The largest bilingual festival on Van- Girls Club through bgcvic.org. couver Island runs February 23-25 at the Beban Auditorium located at 2300 Bowen Road in Nanaimo.

Vancouver Island Parenting In February of every year, Nanaimo pul- Conference sates with the rhythm of the Maple Sugar Spend Saturday March 3 from 8:30amFestival du Sucre d’Érable. This bilingual 4pm honing your parenting skills at the festival is a one-of-a-kind event inspired by conference “Parenting Now for the Future,” eastern Canada’s sugar shack traditions. featuring Barbara Coloroso and Jennifer Over the course of three days, festivities will Kolari. Some of the topics include: The include educational presentations, perfor- Bully, the Bullied, and the Not-So-Innocent mances by a diverse range of entertainers, Bystanders presented by Barbara Coloroso; and authentic traditional French Canadian Connected Parenting, presented by Jennifer food fare, notably the decadently sweet Kolari; Beyond the Talk, presented by Jensugar toffee on snow. Come to Nanaimo nifer Gibson; and Strategies and Resources and discover the Festival’s truly special for Helping Your Child Manage Anxiety, presented by Dr. Kristen Buhr.

IslandParent.ca

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IslandParent.ca

February 2018 9

The conference will take place at Royal Bay Secondary School, 3500 Ryder Hesjedal Way in Victoria. Registration is open. $75 early bird rate (before February 2) or $100 regular admission. Registration includes lunch and refreshments. All conference materials will be provided on a complimentary memory stick. As space is limited, registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, visit vipc.ca.

Parent Support Circles

Sometimes you just need a little space to talk with other parents. Parent Support Services operates on the belief that every parent is the expert of her/his own family. Sometimes it just takes a bit of space to hear yourself and the voices of other parents to find your way through. To that end, Parent Support Services hosts meetings throughout Greater Victoria, Ladysmith, Parksville, Nanaimo and North Nanaimo (including a Nanaimo Parents of Children with Autism Support Circle), Port Alberni,

Aspengrove School Careers in business and leadership start here.

CJ started a t-shirt design business as part of his Grade 10 personal project, a core part of the International Baccalaurete program. Other students wrote novels, did medical research, crafted an electric guitar and more.

But CJ’s passion is business.

From design to outsourcing production, he directs all aspects of the operation.

The school project is long since complete, but he continues to develop and market his growing clothing company.

Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 Learn more today!

250-390-2201 AspengroveSchool.ca

NANAIMO ’ S JK-12 INTERNATIONAL BACC AL AURE ATE WORLD SCHOOL 10 Island Parent Magazine

and Comox Valley. For more information and to register, email parent@telus.net or visit parentsupportbc.ca.

In-School Mentoring Programs

Studies show that mentoring helps kids stay in school, avoid risky behavior such as bullying, and grow up having more respect for family, peers and community. Helping children reach their full potential can lead to positive community outcomes like a reduction in poverty and unemployment, safer schools and neighbourhoods, and a new generation of civic-minded adults.

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Victoria’s In-School Mentoring program provides girls and boys with an adult role model and a friend to talk to and share the experiences of growing up with, within school grounds.

For one hour a week, mentors meet with their mentee and engage in activities such as board games, crafts or just hang out in the playground. Mentors are needed for the remainder of the school year (until June 2018) at: Ecole Quadra Elementary, George Jay Elementary School, Ruth King Elementary School, Tillicum Elementary School, and Victoria West Elementary School.

In-School Mentoring strives to: • provide a role model and a friend for girls and boys • promote the importance of staying in school and healthy relationships • instill trust and self-confidence in order to make healthy decisions • encourage leadership skills and independent thinking • and above all, make a difference while having fun For more information or to apply, visit bbbsvictoria.com, email main.victoria@ bigbrothersbigsisters.ca or phone 250-4751117 ext. 40.

Support for Those With Learning Disabilities

The Learning Curve supports families, and educates and advocates for children and youth experiencing learning and/or behavioral challenges.

The South Vancouver Island Chapter was formed in 1981 by a group of committed parents and teachers who were concerned about their children, or children in their classrooms who were not reaching their potential. The Learning Curve’s mission is to support, educate and advocate for children and youth with learning and/or behavioural challenges and their families.

IslandParent.ca

Each year The Learning Curve’s staff and volunteers serve over 2,500 children and youth, their families and concerned professionals. The Learning Curve currently offer the following programs and services: Support: Academic Skills Program, Reading and Writing Program, Emotional and Social Development Program, Individual Support Programs for Parents and Children Education: Annual Professional Development Conference, Resource Centre/Lending Library Outreach Program, Displays/Presentations, Lead and AD/HD Workshops, Parent Education/Support Events, Publications and Websites Advocacy: Parent Support, Youth Support, Know Your Rights booklets, and Systemic Advocacy at the provincial level.

For more information about how LDABC The Learning Curve can help your child, visit ldasvi.bc.ca.

HealthyFamilies BC

HealthyFamilies BC (healthyfamiliesbc. ca) is an online resource for family health and wellness information. Whether you are looking for healthy eating tips, programs and supports for becoming more physically active, or information about healthy lifestyle initiatives where you work, live and play, HealthyFamilies BC features articles and parenting resources directed toward children of all ages. From ensuring your baby has the best possible start, to breastfeeding resources and strategies for coping with challenging behaviours, HealthyFamilies BC offers up-to-date information and practical tips for protecting your family’s health and well being. Online tools include: Breastfeeding Buddy, a web-based app designed to help you and give your baby the very best start in life; Shopping

Westmont-Montessori Revitalization

LEARN

PIANO! LEARN !

Sense, an interactive tool that provides you with access to useful information, tips and videos on how to make healthy, budgetwise shopping choices at the grocery store; FUN Sodium Sense, a tool that illustrates which SEASONAL food items are higher or lower in sodium to help you make healthier eating choices PRIZES! in real life; Sugary Drink Sense to help you determine the amount of sugar you might be drinking; and The Workplace Check, an assessment tool for employers to check how their company is doing on workplace health.

For information, visit healthyfamiliesbc. ca or email healthyfamiliesbc@gov.bc.ca.

BMus (Piano Performance) UBC, ARCT and BCRMT FUN SEASONAL PRIZES!

WITH MARY ROGERS! BMus (Piano Performance) UBC, ARCT and BCRMT

LESSONS FOR

Live 5-2-1-0

Live 5-2-1-0 is a simple, easy-to-remember message to help kids and families adopt LESSONS healthy habits. FOR We know that a consistent message that ALL, BEGINNER is supported by a healthy community enviTO ADVANCED! ronment is important. By working together with communities, Live 5-2-1-0 helps build partnerships and opportunities to create • ENTHUSIASTIC, FLEXIBLE healthy environments where kids can eat well and be active every day.

LESSONS! What is Live 5-2-1-0?

• 30+ YEARS TEACHING Live 5-2-1-0 provides fourOF simple guidelines for raising healthy children: EXCELLENCE! 5—Enjoy five or more vegetables and fruits every day.• STUDIO NEAR UVIC 2—Limit screen time to no more than two hours a day.

1—Play actively for at least one hour a day.

0—Drink zero sugar-sweetened drinks.

How do you Live 5-2-1-0?

Visit the Live 5-2-1-0 website at live5210. ca to learn more about the program and access free resources to help you, your family and your community Live 5-2-1-0 every day.

ALL, BEGINNER TO ADVANCED!

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• ENTHUSIASTIC, FLEXIBLE

• ENTHUSIASTIC, 250-744-9049! mrogersmusicstudio@shaw.ca!

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Westmont Montessori School’s vision is to provide a world-class Montessori education now and for generations to come. Combining developments in both programming and physical infrastructure, Westmont 2020 will revitalize the school’s campus and lay a foundation for ongoing educational excellence at Westmont. Designed with the needs of Westmont and the Westshore in mind, the new Westmont campus is set to become a community destination for education, recreation, arts and creativity. The new building will open in September 2018 and will offer classes from preschool to Grade 9 along with a new high school program. All Westmont classes are designed to engage a student’s natural curiosity within an environment that is specifically prepared to maximize learning opportunities. The campus upgrade offers students a Montessori learning environment that connects learning with the natural setting. For details, visit west-mont.ca, phone 250-474-2626, or take a school tour on Thursdays from 9-11am at 4075 Metchosin Rd.•

IslandParent.ca

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February 2018 11

Is Romantic Love Going Extinct?

A

2. Women in the Workplace. Financial independence is now easier for women to achieve. While we’re still fighting for pay parity with men, many of us are out of the home and earning an income. Marriage is no longer required for financial stability and has become more of an option than the must-have it was for so many of our mothers and grandmothers.

3. Swipe Culture. The creation of “dating” apps like Tinder, and the rapid rate at which they’ve been accepted into the mainstream, means casual sex is literally at our fingertips. No need to woo anyone anymore, just hit up enough profiles and you’ll find someone who’s down for it. Up until this, committed relationships weren’t necessary for accessing sex, but they were usually a more straightforward path to sex than finding someone new. Now using an app provides a level of convenience and choice unlike anything we’ve experienced before.

bout 10 years ago I made a documentary for W Network called Mr. Right is Stuck in Traffic. It asked the question: “Can romantic comedy movies and chick lit books sabotage your love life?”

Back then there was an inundation of meet cute/happy ending rom coms flooding our movie theatres and bedtime reads: Bridget Jones’ Diary, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Notting Hill. The details shifted a bit from one to the next, but the overriding message

Dialogue got raunchier, plot points were more realistic/less fairy-tale and Mr. Right became Mr. Mostly Okay. The traditional romantic comedies became fewer and farther between, while sex comedies have become far more prominent.

These changes in our pop culture reflect the changes taking place in our lives, our relationships and our hierarchy of needs, which have evolved due to some significant social an technological advances.

was that an amazing guy was out there, you would find him, he would be deeply in love with you regardless of your flaws and you’d live happily ever after. The message of the doc was that you can’t expect your life to be like a romantic comedy, but you shouldn’t settle for someone who doesn’t treat you with respect and kindess.

While the fundamentals of a love story remain the same, pop culture has shifted significantly since I made that film. Knocked Up came out, leading the charge of a new generation of imperfect love stories.

When you look at these three areas together, it seems like many of the criteria that led people to partner up for the long term no longer apply. So, in the absence of needing to be with someone “forever,” do we still want to be? Or is romantic love going extinct?

Hallmark made 21 Christmas movies in 2017 alone, the majority of which are romantic. That being said, their viewership for these sappy flicks is almost exclusively female. At the same time, the porn industry continues making billions, primarily from male customers. Is this a cultural reflection of how men and women, and our desires, are growing apart?

There are some non-pragmatic parts of being in love that haven’t been reconfigured by technology or social progress. The addictive feeling of love, known as a state of “limerance,” has yet to be replaced. But will it be? Will a drug come along that feeds our Below, #1 and #2 were in effect prior bodies with the same chemical concoction to the romantic comedy boom, but it’s #3 as limerance? Will virtual reality games be that is likely responsible for the post-rom able to stir the same emotions within us? Or com shift: will we just buy robots programmed to be our ideal partners, without the complexities 1. Birth Control. The plethora of birth of human flaws? control options available means that we Do I think innovation will continue to have greater control over when or if we change the volume of people still seeking have children than ever before. We have a to be in love with an actual human? Yes. far lower chance of it happening acciden- Do I want romantic love to go extinct? tally, and when it does happen the family Absolutely not. sizes are typically much smaller than those higher up in our family tree.

12 Island Parent Magazine

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There is some hope out there. Culturally, Aziz Ansari’s show Master of None went waaaaay down the lovey dovey path in Season 2 and was rewarded with acclaim from critics and audiences, both male and female. Love songs continue to be popular— though one could argue sex-obsessed songs are also as popular, if not more so. Socially, Match.com’s 2017 “Singles in America” survey found that Millennials are actually craving romantic relationships more than

Little girls with dreams become women of vision.

Erin Skillen

Nature-inspired Kindergarten & Early Childhood Education

Post-Married Mommy any other age group. This may actually be a side effect of swipe culture, as they’re fed up with hookup culture and just want to find someone they’re really into.

I think it’s safe to say that our parents never could have imagined how much things would change by the time their kids were dating. With the accelerated pace of change we’re experiencing today we definitely don’t know what the reality will be by the time our young kids are all grown up. But I do hope they get to have at least one positive romantic relationship in their lives (with another human). I want them to experience the rush of infatuation, the desire to do one kind thing after another for someone else and to share time with a person who’s special to them and who understands and admires who they are at their very core.

Romantic love is messy and complicated and inspiring and raw and beautiful and messier still. To dodge it in favour of convenience, simplicity and a sole focus on one’s own needs seems like skipping out on a significant human milestone. The highs and lows in life help cultivate our values and our purpose. To avoid experiencing the connection and passion of romantic love, and grow from it, seems like living a human-lite version of life—like real life, but lacking the depth and breadth of the full deal. Romantic love can hurt big time, but as they say, it’s better to have loved and lost than never loved at all.

Erin Skillen is the co-founder and COO of FamilySparks.com, an education company that helps parents navigate the toughest job in the world.

She’s also a mom and a bucket list slayer.

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Empowering girls’ leadership program Small school benefits: safe, supportive, high engagement Canada’s first girls’ STEM school: an inquiry-based, interdisciplinary approach to learning Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 (Boarding: Grades 7–12)

Join us at our Winter Open House FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23 | 9–11AM & 1–3PM | RSVP: www.stmarg.ca 1080 Lucas Ave, Victoria admissions@stmarg.ca 250.479.7171

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7–8 years old 9U (Tadpole) 9–10 years old 11U (Mosquito) 11–12 years old 13U (Peewee) lionsbaseball.ca February 2018 13

Talking to Children About

Tragedy & Death

T

he tragic loss of Chloe and Aubrey Berry over the holidays impacted our entire community. While the effects were more acute for those who knew the girls directly, the ripple effect of such a tragedy reaches far and wide. You may be experiencing this yourself with your own children.

Knowing how to respond to questions your child may have, and how to support them through the grieving process, isn’t always easy. Here are some effective responses:

How much do they need to know?

There are likely two types of questions your child may have about this situation— what happened and how it happened. As a parent, it’s important to explain what happened so you child can learn proper coping strategies. Rather than avoiding the topic or thinking your child is too young to understand, or leaving it up to their teachers to address it, take the initiative and talk with your child.

Jillian Roberts

Younger children may not have been exposed to conversations about the “how” on the playground and it may not be necessary to explore that territory with them.

Older children will likely have at least some information they have heard from the media or peers, and may be upset and confused about what they have heard. Sometimes children will not ask any questions right away or may even seem disinterested. These are all normal reactions and part of the way different children process challenging topics; the child may come back days or even weeks later with questions.

You may be wondering how much is “too much information,” and how to approach giving answers without burdening your child with painful topics they don’t need to be carrying yet. Understandably, your first instinct may be to try to protect your child by diverting their attention or maybe even avoiding the question, saying “you don’t need to worry about that yet.”

It’s normal to have this inclination—you want to protect your child.

However, when your child asks a question, I believe it is best to always answer, taking into consideration their age, while acknowledging how smart and intuitive children can be. It is better for your child to get the facts from their most-trusted source—you—rather than remain confused, which can lead to worry and fear.

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How do I start the conversation? leaders and family or friends can help you.

It’s best to set aside specific time to discuss this with your child as soon as possible.

Ensure they aren’t distracted by any toys or devices. Use simple language to explain what has happened. Provide “just enough” information. It is okay to use common terms like “passed away,” but don’t use factually incorrect expressions like “has gone to sleep.” Though your intention may be to avoid upsetting your child, using abstract terms is likely to cause more confusion.

Whenever possible, focus on what happened, rather than how it happened. Lots of detail and additional information isn’t necessary. Stick with the basics and then follow their lead, continuing to provide just enough answers as the conversation progresses. Some responses could include: • I understand how you feel. I feel the same way.

• The world can be a very complicated and confusing place. It is hard to accept that sometimes very bad things happen in the world around us.

• I don’t have all the answers, but you can always talk to me about things that are upsetting you, any time.

• Would you like to think of some ways we can help?

Often when children are processing difficult news, they may ask the same question several times or need to repeat aspects of the discussion as they process what they’re hearing. This is completely normal. They may need time to process and then come to you with questions later. Reinforce to your children that they are safe and loved and what happened was a rare, isolated incident.

Do I need to hide my emotions?

It is okay to show your child that you’re sad about the situation too. If you’re tearful while speaking with them about it, be tearful. It’s important to show your child that it is healthy to experience emotion and that this is a normal part of the grief process. In honouring your own emotional experience, you are showing your child it’s okay to honour theirs.

But if this situation has affected you more directly and/or deeply and you are completely inconsolable, you need to get help for yourself. Being completely distraught in front of them will be upsetting and confusing. Instead, get the support you need before having the conversation with your child. Counselors, family doctors, faith

Once you feel in greater control of your response, then you can sit down to speak with your child.

What happens next?

It can be helpful to encourage your child to express their emotions outside of conversation. Younger children may want to create artwork while older children could benefit from a journal. Ensure that you are validating your child’s emotional experience by telling them grief is completely normal when something like this happens. They may feel a little “numb” or have difficulty talking about their feelings. They may be okay one day and then upset the next.

The key to explaining difficult situations like this is to be truthful, but end on a hopeful note. Aim to empower your child; reassure them that they are safe, show them there is a way to help. You can discuss the purpose of the vigil that took place, and even hold another one of your own. They can get involved in fundraising activities that are taking place in honour of the girls. Show them how we can thank our first responders and health care providers for their role.

These are powerful ways for a community to heal after a tragedy and children can be included in these types of events where appropriate.

Does my child need more support?

If your child knew the family directly and you are seeing ongoing symptoms of grief or avoidance that appear to be getting worse, it may be time to see a grief counselor or child psychologist for additional support.

To access two free online courses that provide further information on discussing tragedy and death with your child, visit FamilySparks.com. Dr. Jillian Roberts’ “Coping with Death” and “Coping with Terror and Tragedy” are available at familysparks.com/courses and include downloadable activities you can do with your children to help them process what they have learned.

Dr. Jillian Roberts is a child psychologist, professor and mother. She is the founder of FamilySparks.com and the author of What Happens When a Loved One Dies: Our First Talk About Death.

February 2018 15

Books to Help Children Cope with Grief A

tragedy like the deaths of young Chloe and Aubrey Berry in Oak Bay reverberates into the community, deeply affecting us all. Parents working through their own complex emotions, may struggle to find the words to speak with children about sad, sensitive or traumatic situations. The right book can help, providing solace, guidance, validation, wisdom and healing.

Greater Victoria Public Library’s Collections Services librarians recommend these books to help children cope with grief. To place these titles on hold, visit gvpl.ca.

Picture Books for Children

Sat. Feb. 10 at 1pm

VIU’s Malaspina Theatre Tickets $12 each or two for $20 250-754-7587 | theatreone.org Mid Island

Does your child have difficulty reading?

• can’t read words just read earlier • letter reversal • symptoms of dyslexia • “sounds out” words but can not blend them correctly • confuses similar sounding words • avoids reading/poor speller I offer an effective program that works!

Call for more information or to arrange your individualized one-on-one tutoring solution.

Brenda Osadchy, BEd, MSp.Ed. 778-440-0997

totallearningservices2014@gmail.com 16 Island Parent Magazine

Twelve-year-old Suzy Swanson wades through her intense grief over the loss of Big Cat, Little Cat by Elisha Cooper her best friend by investigating the rare There was a cat who lived alone—until jellyfish she is convinced was responsible the day a new cat arrived. And so a story for her friend’s death. of friendship begins, following two cats through their days, months and years until Ms. Bixby’s Last Day by John David one day, the older cat has to go. And he Anderson doesn’t come back.

A funny, heartwarming and heartbreaking story about three boys, one teacher and Always Remember by Cece Meng a day none of them will ever forget.

When Old Turtle dies and is taken back by the sea, his friends remember that he Non-fiction/information Books was a wonderful teacher and friend who for Children made the world a better place.

Everywhere and All Around by Pimm The Memory Tree by Britta Teckentrup van Hest This gentle and comforting tale celebrates This book is a poetic story about loss life and the memories that are left behind and a little girl’s inspiring belief. when a loved one dies.

A Sky Full of Diamonds: A Story for ChilFiction for Children dren About Loss, Grief and Hope This book highlights the importance of The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole taking the time to work through feelings

by Michelle Cuevas and provides thoughtful activities to help A girl’s friendship with a lonely black children cope. hole leads her to face her own sadness in this original, funny and touching middle- What Happens When a Loved One Dies? grade novel for fans of Crenshaw and Flora Our First Talk About Death by Jillian and Ulysses.

Roberts Using questions posed in a child’s voice Summerlost by Ally Condie and answers that start simply and become Following the sudden deaths of her father more in-depth, this book allows adults to and younger brother, Cedar Lee spends the guide the conversation about death to a summer working at a Shakespearean theater natural and reassuring conclusion. festival, making a new friend and coming to terms with her grief.

Non-fiction/Information for The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore A boy tries to steer a safe path through the projects in Harlem in the wake of his brother’s death in this outstanding novel that celebrates community and creativity.

The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

Adults

The Journey Through Grief and Loss: Helping Yourself and Your Child When Grief Is Shared by Robert Zucker This book offers parents and other concerned readers important insights into

IslandParent.ca

managing their own grief while supporting their grieving children.

member or pet, divorce or anxiety. Each kit contains seven books.

What Children Need When They Grieve: The Four Essentials: Routine, Love, Honesty, and Security by Julia Wilcox Rathkey These four concepts, however simple, are crucial for those who want to successfully guide their children through one of the most difficult passages they may face in life: the loss of a loved one.

KIT: Let’s Talk About People Dying All the books in this kit are available to borrow individually.

I Miss You: A First Look at Death by Pat Thomas This book helps readers understand that death is a natural complement to life, and that grief and a sense of loss are normal feelings for them to have following the death of a loved one.

Bear and Bird by James Skofield An old bear and a young bird become Lifetimes: A Beautiful Way to Explain friends and spend several years together Death to Children by Bryan Mellonie and until the bear’s death. The young bird is com- Robert Ingpen forted by memories of their time together.

Lifetimes is a moving book for children Caring for Your Grieving Child: Engagof all ages—parents, too. It helps explain ing Activities for Dealing with Loss and The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr life and death in a sensitive, caring, beautiTransition by Martha Wakenshaw Illustrations and brief text show how a ful way.

The book offers healthy ways to com- person might feel when they lose someone municate with children, tips on how to care they love.

When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Underfor yourself while helping a child, and ways standing Death by Laurie Krasny Brown to recognize the signs children exhibit when The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers and Marc Brown they truly begin to heal.

After safeguarding her heart in a bottle The authors explain in simple language hung around her neck, a girl finds the bottle the feelings people may have regarding the Family Picks To Go Kit growing heavier, and her interest in things death of a loved one and the ways to honaround her becomes smaller. our the memory of someone who has died.

With a Family Picks to Go Kit, you can dig deeper into a topic with a selection of Help Me Say Goodbye: Activities for Helpbooks curated by GVPL librarians. GVPL ing Kids Cope When a Special Person Dies For more information about Greater Victoria has light-hearted kits—like camping, coding by Janis Silverman Public Library’s Collections or to place these or gardening—and some for more serious An art therapy and activity book for titles on hold, visit gvpl.ca. times: coping with the death of a family children coping with death.

VIU: Your choice for studies in Special Education

Master of Education in Special Education Part-Time Option

For more information contact

Full-Time Option

Donna.Nelson@viu.ca Phone: 250.753.3245 Local: 2530

Blended model that is accessible from anywhere in BC and beyond.

Study full-time at VIU for two semesters. Complete your degree in three semesters.

IslandParent.ca

Ana Vieira, Coordinator Ana.Vieira@viu.ca

viu.ca/medl

February 2018 17

Schools & Educational Services

I

n the following pages you will find a range of educational resources from preschool to post-secondary. For more information about these programs, please refer to the advertising in this issue.

Preschools

Arbutus Grove Children’s Centre (formerly known as Goosey Gander Kindergarten) has a long history of providing outstanding Early Learning programs to the Victoria community. Our centre is a bright and engaging purpose-built preschool with a large, natural playground surrounded by C M Y forest.

K urban We offer half- and full-day 68 35 2 2 programs for 3- and 4-year-olds and a 8 95 55 16 small after school program for kindergarten children attending Frank Hobbs School.

Children’s curiosity, sense of wonder and innate desire to learn is nurtured and supported through exploration, play, discovery and creative expression. Located in the

Cadboro Bay-UVIC area. arbutusgrove.ca or 250-477-3731.

from every other preschool. It’s the Art of Preschool. ArtsCalibre.ca. 250-382-3533.

ArtsCalibre Academy. There’s a reason why the first years of a child’s life are considered “formative”—they truly form the person, and profoundly influence the path and quality of the rest of their life.

We believe that Fine Arts are the perfect vehicle for this formative process. Through our structured but fun program of music, dance, theatre and visual arts, children not only absorb these and all academic subjects with enthusiasm and ease, but they also develop the creativity, confidence and social skills to successfully apply them throughout their future. It’s this philosophy and comprehensive program that sets us apart

Emmanuel Preschool is a welcoming and inclusive Christian preschool, where students with special needs have the support of two additional teachers. Our morning classes are offered either two or three days per week. Both programs are for 3 and 4 year olds and include stories, games, singing, arts and crafts, science activities, free play (indoors and outdoors) and some field trips. Each class is licensed for a maximum of 20 children and has two licensed and experienced Early Childhood Educators. Our staff strive to teach and model Christian attitudes and values, and to maintain a warm, caring and safe environment. For more information, visit emmanuelpreschool.ca. 250-598-0573 or preschool@emmanuelvictoria.ca.

Transforming disability into ability.

At Discovery School, learning disabilities are transformed into valuable skills and abilities. Students work at their own pace in small classes, with focused, individualized instruction.

• Experienced, highly-qualified teachers • Ongoing assessment, evaluation & feedback • Improves organizational & study skills • Boost confidence, independence & responsibility • Nurturing environment based on Christian values • For students aged 7 – 18 in grades 1 – 12 • Individual Education Plans • Low student/teacher ratio

Enrolment is limited. For more information or to arrange a tour, visit www.discoveryschool.ca, call Sherri Ko at 250-595-7765 or email principal@discoveryschool.ca 18 Island Parent Magazine

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Gonzales Co-op Preschool. Children use imagination in a Learning through Play classroom and natural playground. ReggioEmilia inspired, focus is on art, nature and music. Nurturing, highly qualified ECE and ECE assistant. Parent participation options.

Allergy aware. gonzalescooppreschool. com. 250-727-1003.

West Shore Parks and Recreation’s Licensed preschool offers a variety of programs including Kinderprep, Nature Preschool, and multi-age classes with both small and larger class sizes. With flexible registration options and a play-based curriculum, our program is designed to help little ones grow and learn in a fun and safe environment. Visit westshorerecreation. ca or call 250-478-8384 for information.

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/ westshorerecreation.

Schools

ArtsCalibre Academy. Imagine a school… where music, dance, theatre and visual arts are infused into all aspects of an outstanding curriculum. The result is a learning process in which students experience, explore, exercise, and express themselves in order to truly understand and remember. Our structured but dynamic program consistently exceeds the B.C. Ministry of Education’s Curricula for Kindergarten to Grade 8. Dedicated, highly qualified educators, excellent facilities and safe Gordon Head location, which is also home to our Junior Kindergarten. We also offer Preschool for 3 and 4 year olds within the Cedar Hill Recreation Centre’s beautiful Fine Arts wing. ArtsCalibre.ca.

250-382-3533.

Christ Church Cathedral School (CCCS) is Victoria’s Anglican JK, Elementary and Middle School, welcoming students from all backgrounds. CCCS offers before and after school care, a wide range of extra-curricular programs, small class sizes, high calibre learning in math, science and technology, a strong focus on IslandParent.ca

fine arts and progressive athletics programs.

Weekly chapel service and seasonal performances are held in beautiful Christ Church Cathedral just a few steps away. Through focused encouragement of personal responsibility, self-discipline, community service and engaging learning opportunities with dedicated teachers, CCCS helps children realize their true potential. cathedralschool. ca. 250-383-5125.

It is the time of year that parents begin to consider what school they want their child(ren) to attend next year. Consider a Catholic school! Island Catholic Schools (ICS) not only offers an excellent academic education, they do so within a Catholic framework. As BC certified schools, the curriculum established by the Ministry of Education is taught and all other Ministry requirements are met (i.e. Ministry of Education certified teachers). Catholic schools bring the Gospel message of Jesus Christ to all within their walls. Catholic schools in BC are rich in history and tradition; they first came into formal existence in the middle of the 1800’s. Currently, ICS has elementary schools located in Port Alberni, Chemainus, Duncan and Victoria and a Catholic high school located in Victoria. Our schools also offer pre-school, daycare and out of school care programs. Families not of the Catholic faith who support the Catholic mission and philosophy of our schools are accepted. Students of all ability levels are accepted. Check out our website for more information on our schools cisdv.bc.ca.

Discovery School.

Is your child bright, yet struggling in school?

Would your child work best in a classroom of 10 students with a 1:3 staff to student support ratio? Perhaps your child requires an individual program with adaptations/modifications. Are you looking for a quiet, nurturing school with a Christian atmosphere that encourages academic development, perseverance, responsibility, and organizational skills? Look no further.

For 40 years, Discovery School has been providing these services for struggling students. Discovery follows B.C. curriculum, is Ministry inspected, and provides this special education from the early grades to graduation. More information found at discoveryschool.ca or call 250-595-7765.

Awaken Your True Nature Spring Programs start mid February!

Wilderness Skills and Nature Connection programs for Youth and Adults.

Victoria and Cowichan Valley. Ages 5–99.

Imagine you or your child feeling completely at home in Nature, learning ancient wilderness skills like friction fire and plant foraging, while finding a sense of belonging in like-minded community...

Learn more and register at thrivingroots.org Contact: 778-554-4741, info@thrivingroots.org

ARE YOU New to the community?

A new parent?

A new business owner?

CONTACT WELCOME WAGON TODAY! Nanaimo 250-756-9794 welcometonanaimo@shaw.ca Or online at: welcomewagon.ca

February 2018 19

Community Board Making our Community a Better Place to Live

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria aggv.ca Camp Pringle CampPringle.com Caregiver Support Sessions caregiversupport.net Child Care Resource & Referral childcarevictoria.ca Oxford Learning oxfordlearning.com Royal BC Museum royalbcmuseum.bc.ca Victoria Children’s Choir VictoriaChildrensChoir.ca Victoria Conservatory of Music vcm.bc.ca Enquire about non-profit brochure or magazine distribution in Greater Victoria:

publisher@islandparent.ca 20 Island Parent Magazine

Island Montessori: full and half day preschool. Island Montessori is a non-profit daycare/preschool that has been serving Victoria children for over 40 years. We offer enriched, inclusive preschool programs based on Montessori principles and practices that meet the needs of the individual child, no matter their developmental level.

Our flexible full time and morning only preschool programs, and an Out of School Care program are designed to offer convenience to families. From our classroom we can see swans gliding in the wetlands across the road. Deer wander in and out of our front yard and a large fenced nature playground offer many opportunities to connect to nature. Our staff provide a warm, nurturing and supportive atmosphere and each child is seen as an individual with their own unique learning style and needs. Our rural location is at 5575 West Saanich Road and you can reach us at info@islandmontessori.com or 250-595-4411.

children gain a true Biblical perspective of who they are, and prepares them for a life of dedication and service to God. By developing a sense of goal-directedness, coupled with skills of self-discipline and self-evaluation, children will be equipped to develop their talents and gifts to their fullest God-given potential. Quality academics, athletics and more. Accepting registrations for pre-school to grade 12. PacificChristian. ca. 250-479-4532.

At St. Margaret’s School, we seek to empower each girl to set her own course and shape her own dreams. Tucked away on 22-acres in the Blenkinsop Valley in Victoria, SMS is an all-girls school where your daughter can be herself, build confidence, and experience being a leader. SMS teachers and our unique environment offer rich resources and challenges to support each girl’s development as a student, an individual and a global-minded citizen. Our rigorous academic program emphasizes STEM learning and leadership at all levels Oak and Orca Biorefrom Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12, and gional School and Oak is supported by experiential programs deand Orca PrePrimary signed to engage students in learning beyond School offer BC-certified the classroom. Enjoy the benefits of a small PrePrimary and K-12 edschool from high participation in athletics, ucation in a child-directed to extensive extracurricular opportunities, environment. This ungraded program pro- to our tight-knit community where each girl vides students with structure, opportunities, is known and driven to achieve. stmarg.ca and choice, allowing them to learn at their or 250-479-7171. own pace and in their own way. As part of a community of learners students are Spring Break Programs at St. Michaels able to practice effective communication, University School. A wide range of full and think and act creatively, and develop into half-day programs for all kids in Victoria responsible ecological citizens. Regular ages 5-15, including: Passion Sports Spring field trips encourage connections with the Break Elite Camp: Five days of intensive natural and cultural heritage of the larger basketball skill development; Fashion Decommunity. Blended learning opportunities sign and Illustration: Develop a seasonal are available (space-permitting) to students collection of fashion designs to start your in the Hands-On Home-Learning (DL) pro- collection; Spring time Chefs: Use fresh, logram. oakandorca.ca, info@oakandorca. cal ingredients to make a range of nutritious ca, 250-383-6609. and delicious recipes. Visit our website for information on these and other programs: Pacific Christian smus.ca/spring, or call the Education ExtenSchool: Educational Exsion office at 250-370-6120. cellence to the Glory of God. PCS nurtures stuVictoria School for dents in Christ-like living, Ideal Education. This critical thinking and joyful one-of-a-kind school service to be faithful citioffers holistic education zens in God’s world. PCS is committed to from Kindergarten to a Christian program of instruction helping Grade 8 in a nurturing, IslandParent.ca

stress-free environment. Our small class sizes, twice daily children’s meditation, coupled with the study of nature and the laws that keep us in tune with the natural world, have attracted families from all over the Victoria area. Within this framework we cover the BC curriculum and all of our teachers are BC certified. The Oct. 2013 Ministry of Education inspection report states, “The depth of care for each student, the level of personal support provided, and the degree of empathy displayed, all contribute to a family-like atmosphere and encouraging school setting for students.”

There are still a few spaces left for the 2018-2019 school year. Visit our website vsie@shaw.ca to apply and arrange a tour or Phone 250-383-6654. You can also find us on Facebook.

Mon, February 5: Willway Wed, February 7: Poirier Mon, February 19: Crystal View Wed, March 7: Hans Helgesen Mon, March 12: Savory Wed, March 14: Lakewood Mon, April 9: Saseenos Wed, April 11: Millstream and

Westmont Montessori School is a local community-minded independent school committed to academic excellence in a caring, learning environment. We are delighted to be opening our brand-new classroom building for September 2018 as well as offering classes from Pre-school to Grade 9 with our new high school program.

All our classes are purposely designed to engage a student’s natural curiosity within an environment that is specifically prepared to maximize learning opportunities. For details about our programs visit west-mont. ca, or visit our campus in Metchosin for a tour every Thursday from 9-11am. Westmont Montessori School, 4075 Metchosin Rd, Victoria BC. 250-474-2626.

Distributed Learning

Previously named Bedtime Shenanigans

Wishart Elem: Date TBA

JOIN US! 6 – 7 PM Ready, Set, Read Children ages 0 to 5 years

Join us for pre-bedtime fun! We will be playing games, enjoying snacks, and listening to a few delightful stories and songs.

This FREE evening is for children aged 0 to 5 years and their parents/caregivers.

Running shoes suggested, wear pajamas if you like.

For more info contact

kkinghunt@sd62.bc.ca

Under the new BC curriculum, inquiry and personalization are key to 21st century learning. Hands-On HomeLearning (DL) at Oak and Orca (K-12) offers an experience-based, individualized, and child-led approach.

Families are supported in providing engaging opportunities so each student can follow their own learning path and build on their strengths and interests. All learning experiences are acknowledged and tied to BC learning standards or high school courses by a certified teacher. Original, multi-age, IslandParent.ca

February 2018 21

Mineral World and the Scratch Patch We are a unique, family-friendly attraction in Sidney.

Come in and see our:

● Scratch Patch area for Collecting semi-precious stones ● Earth Science Education Program ● Birthday Parties ● Educational Toys ● Fossils

● Minerals ● Unique Gifts ● Exquisite Jewellery Open seven days a week!

9808 Seaport Place Sidney, BC (250) 656-0791 www.sidneymineralworld.com Bleiddyn del Villar Bellis Artistic Director Fellow & Examiner CSC-CICB Enrico Cecchetti Final Diploma

Kinder Camps Ages 4-6 July 3-6, 9-12pm July 9-13, 9-12pm BOYS CAN DANCE Ages 7-11 - FREE for boys new to VAB!

Photo credit: David Cooper

July 9-13, 1-2:30pm

2018 Children’s Summer Ballet Camps 250-590-6752 admin@victoriaacademyofballet.ca victoriaacademyofballet.ca

22 Island Parent Magazine

hands-on learning activities are provided to inspire inquiry. Blended learning opportunities are available (space-permitting) at Oak and Orca Bioregional School and Forest School. Special Education inquiries are welcome. oakandorca.ca, info@oakandorca.ca, 250-383-6619. 1-888-383-6619.

Is your child homeschooled? Little Steps Therapy Services will be running therapeutic groups to compliment at-home learning programs through the 2018/2019 school year. These groups are designed to give homeschooled children a chance to engage with their peers and their community.

They will include opportunities to work on independent living skills, social skills, community awareness, and recreation. All goals for the groups are created by Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Pathologists, and Behaviour Consultants. If you are interested in registering your child, please contact Little Steps Therapy Services by phone at 250-386-1171 or by emailing admin@mylittlesteps.net.

Mid-Island Schools/ Education Services Aspengrove School is a Junior KindergartenGrade 12 independent school in Lantzville, BC at the Northern edge of Nanaimo on a beautiful 40-acre wooded campus. Aspengrove offers the world-renowned International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, recognized for its excellence by post-secondary institutions around the world. Our dedicated teachers help students develop a lifelong love of learning through an education that challenges and inspires. Welcoming students in all grades, Aspengrove offers merit-based entrance scholarships for grades 8-11.

Students interested in learning more about the scholarships, as well as needs-based financial aid for all grades, are encouraged to visit the Aspengrove School website today. aspengroveschool.ca.

support and guidance of caring Christian teachers, dedicated to preparing them for life beyond the school doors. Our classes start at preschool-grade 12. Excellent academic, athletic, and fine arts programs.

Serving a diverse student body. We offer trades programs and hands-on apprenticeships, project based learning, international program, Grade 7 Leadership Retreat, Grade 11 West Coast Trail Hike, Grade 12 Missions trip, extensive student support program. We welcome the opportunity to take you on a tour of our school, please contact: duncanchristianschool.ca office@ duncanchristian.com. 495 Beech Avenue Duncan BC V9L 3J8. 250-746-3654.

Evergreen. Thirty-three years ago, a small group of parents in Cobble Hill were looking for an alternative learning environment for their children. Ideas were shared, plans were made, and Evergreen Independent School was established. This small community school currently enrolls 96 students. Registrations are being accepted for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 7, as well as for the Evergreen Explorers, a new and tremendously popular Friday morning program for 3 year olds. There are many unique aspects of Evergreen that attract families.

Small class sizes, innovative teaching, and multi-grade classrooms enhance individual learning and create positive socialization across the grade levels. The parents and teachers of Evergreen Independent School are committed to a philosophy that develops the full potential of each child. Visit evergreenbc.net for more info.

International Christian Montessori Academy (ICMA). Inayat Unissa Bergum was born in Nice, France. After obtaining comprehensive Montessori training in Paris, she started the first Montessori school in 1962 in Southern California named the Sophia Montessori of Santa Monica. In 1964, she opened the first Montessori school in Costa Mesa, California known as the Montessori Centre School. Through the years she has trained numerous teachers using Montessori methodologies and opened many Montessori schools throughout California. In 1989, she launched the International Montessori Academy (ICMA) for the expressed purpose of having children learn to appreciate and understand Duncan Christian School partners with the importance of tolerance of different families to provide a welcoming educational religions with an attitude of love, harmony environment. Here, students experience the and beauty. Recently, she founded the In-

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ternational Christian Montessori Academy in Duncan, BC, whose primary function is to include pre-school and elementary academic and French immersion programs. intmontessori.ca Kool & Child is your complete resource store for educational toys and games. We carry a wide assortment of educational games, homework helper workbooks, brain teasers, science kits, chewelry, and much more! Teachers love our Kool School House full of everything they need to outfit their classroom in style, including an amazing selection of stickers.

For homeschooling families, we carry grade appropriate resources for the elementary level. Preview some of our products online at koolandchild.com or come in and explore our store for a much greater selection. We are always happy to answer questions, please call us at 1-888-390-1775.

Cowichan Valley and attracts families from all over the globe, who have relocated to enroll their children at our Waldorf school.

Founded in 1980, SWS offers programs from early childhood through class eight.

SWS is the only full member school of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) on Vancouver Island.

250-743-7253, sunrisewaldorfschool.org.

provides a program of preparation for aspiring formal and informal school leaders.

Grounded in the rich educational leadership literature supplemented by extensive faculty expertise and experience, the program provides a balance of research, policy and practice. Graduates of our program will have demonstrated the knowledge, skills and attitudes of successful leaders. All programs are offered as cohorts with strong Faculty Vancouver Island University Master support. Graduates are fully qualified to of Education in Educational Leadership. pursue doctoral studies.

The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership

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St. Joseph’s Elementary School - CHEMAINUS

Nestled in a wooded landscape, St. Joseph’s Catholic Elementary School in Chemainus BC offers faith-enriched education to children from preschool through to Grade 7. Skilled educators provide a safe and caring environment and educate the whole child: spiritually, physically, intellectually, culturally, emotionally and socially.

St. Joseph’s employs specialist teachers for K-7 Music, Physical Education French and daily Hul’q’umi’num lessons. On-site preschool and before and after school care is available. St. Joseph’s is an inclusive school, welcoming students from all backgrounds and abilities. Bursaries are available. Please call 250-246-3191 for more information or arrange a tour of St. Joseph’s School.

Sunrise Waldorf School (SWS). Where children learn and grow on our beautiful rural seven acre campus. SWS offers students an education that is imbued with life and joy.

Through movement, connection to nature, the practical arts, and an inspired curriculum, Waldorf students develop a strong sense of imagination, creative and critical thinking skills. Enhanced by Handwork, Woodwork, Music, Strings, Movement, French, Plays, Gardening and Seasonal Festivals. SWS is located south of Duncan in the

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koolandchild.com Kool Toys & Teaching Tools

#102 – 2517 Bowen Road Nanaimo 888.390.1775 February 2018 23

Vancouver Island University (VIU) Master of Education in Special Education.

VIU’s M.Ed. in Special Education embodies an innovative approach to the field of Special Education. Grounded in current research and evidence–based practices, our program challenges each educator to critically examine historical and contemporary Special Education policies and approaches to formulate a best practice specific to her/ his own context. Faculty bring their expert knowledge and extensive experiences to guide, support and maximize student learning in each part of the program. All programs are offered as cohorts with strong Faculty support. Graduates are fully qualified to pursue doctoral studies.

programs for individuals and families living with autism, while increasing autism awareness and providing training in communities across BC. Featuring high levels of support from trained staff and dedicated volunteers, our programs on Vancouver Island include weekly sports lessons for children with autism, social programs for youth with autism and free events for the entire family. Become a member for only $25/year to access programs in Victoria, Nanaimo and Cowichan Valley at canucksautism. ca/join. Contact: info@canucksautism.ca.

604-685-4049.

Available in the Victoria area, Duncan, Nanaimo and Comox-Courtenay. Call 1-888-954-6237 for information.

Math4me, BC’s premiere tutoring and supplemental education program has been operating since 2010 and now has 15+ locations all over BC. Updated BC curriculum is followed and help is offered in all subjects including Math, English, Science, Socials and French. With a vision to make tutoring affordable and effective for all families, tutoring fees are between $8-$15/hr. Thousands of parents have improved their kids’ grades with us and Mad Science® Vancouver Island offers children have entered reputed universities exciting science programs for schools, com- with scholarships. Students build competimunities and individuals. Our after-school tive advantage by learning ahead and our program this year, Spy Academy, explores research based programs have been customEducational Services the science in the work of detectives and ized for individual students. In addition, & Programs spies. In a series of six weekly lessons we information about scholarships, volunteer immerse children in a hands-on environ- opportunities and career guidance is offered ment of exploration, fun and learning. to ensure a successful post secondary career Children experiment, question, and build for students. 250-589-9995. a take-home toy to share what they learned with others. Our programs include Birthday Mineral World is proud to offer its inCanucks Autism Network (CAN) Parties and Camps. Check madscience.org/ teractive Earth Science Education Program, provides year-round sports and recreation vancouverisland and Book on-line any time. suitable for both schools and community

S T A G E S Performing Art School since1980

Come Dance With Us

ses Clas l o ho .. e -S c angels. r P e e l t im itt • Offering classes for Teens and Pre-Teens in Jazz, Day or the l f

Ballet, Lyrical, Tap. Musical Theatre, Acrobatics & Hip Hop, in a non-competitive atmosphere.

• Not sure which class to take?

Try a Drop-In: No hassle, No Obligation.

Even the littlest angel can dance 24 Island Parent Magazine

Call 250-384-3267 Email us at: stagesdance@shaw.ca Or visit our website: www.stagesdance.com IslandParent.ca

groups. We offer three programs; The Rock Cycle (our most popular), Earth Processes (mountain building, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.), and The Geology of Vancouver Island.

We use interesting specimens and the opportunity for participants to choose their own minerals (which they take home) to create a true hands-on educational experience.

Please visit our website at sidneymineralworld.com for more information (there is an older website that we don’t control so please use the website listed here for current information) or call 250-656-0791.

learning fun. When your child just isn’t getting enough out of the classroom you need someone knowledgeable whom you can trust to help guide and engage your child. Someone with insight and experience. You can count on Sylvan. With four locations on Vancouver Island. Call us at 1-800-Educate.

Total Learning Services (TLS) is a unique tutoring service in Victoria. TLS is dedicated to improving quality of life through effective clinical reading programs for children, teens and adults (age of clients- five to fifty). The reading process can be a frustrating struggle for my clients; most times it is affecting their daily lives. As a reading specialist, I use strategies that make the reading process fun and easy. Achievement testing is done to determine the areas of the reading process which are of the greatest concern. My programs have changed the lives of many.

Pediatrician recommendation. For your free consultation, contact Brenda Osadchy, B.Ed. M.SpEd. 778-440-0997 or totallearningservices2014@gmail.com.•

Thriving Roots Wilderness School is an organization committed to cultivating regenerative, nature-based culture on Vancouver Island. We offer youth and adult yearlong and summer programs in Victoria Oak and Orca Bioreand the Cowichan Valley, ages 5+ that focus gional Forest School is on connection to nature, community and an outdoor, nature-based self. Each program day is a new adventure program at PKOLS and on the land: playing games, building fire, Mount Douglas Park. carving primitive tools, weaving baskets, The program fosters an foraging for food and medicine, learning inclusive, caring community in which bird language, expanding our senses, trackstudents learn by doing. Through an ing wild animals and more. Students develop emergent curriculum, we offer students greater self-confidence, gain a deep sense of the opportunity to connect with plants environmental care taking and become their and animals in the temperate rainforest brightest selves. thrivingroots.org. Program and on the beach. Outdoor experiences Director: Alaina Hallett. Contact: info@ include stories and drama, wood carving thrivingroots.org 778-554-4741. and sculptures, beach art, shelter-building, learning about wild edibles, hiking, and active games. This unique program is available to all students, including those in our Hands-On Home-Learning (DL) program.

There are over 1,000 foster children on Vancouver Island Tours are available by request. oakandorca. ca, info@oakandorca.ca, 250-383-6619.

Can you help just one?

1-888-383-6619.

Founded in 1984, Oxford Learning uses innovative approaches to learning that have helped over one million students reach their educational goals. Customized programs based on the science of cognitive development help children to develop the skills that they need to succeed in school while they develop the confidence that they need to succeed in life. It’s never too late to get started! For more information visitoxfordlearning.com or contact Oxford Learning Victoria at 250.477.5550 or victoria@oxfordlearning.com.

Sylvan Learning’s personal and engaging approach to learning has helped millions of children see success in school over the past 40 years. Our tutoring programs are individualized and tailored specifically to the needs of each child. The use of technology, and our specific approach to motivation helps keep students focused and makes

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Do you have room in your home and in your heart to help one child? Can you include one more in that day at the beach, the Saturday popcorn and movie night, or the family dinner? There are children and youth on Vancouver Island right now who are not able to live with their families. They need a temporary home, a safe haven where they can stay while they and their families heal and become strong again.

Together, we CAN make a difference FOSTER PARENT SUPPORT SERVICES SOCIETY

Call 1-888 1 8881888-922 922-8437 9228437

for more information or to register for an Information Session

For more information go to fosterhope.ca February 2018 25

Bringing Your Newborn Home

H

ealthy, full-term babies (at least 37 weeks’ gestation) can usually go home from the hospital sometime between 24 and 48 hours after birth. Some late preterm babies (born between 34 and 36 weeks’ gestation) may be healthy enough to go home after a short stay (at least 48 hours) as well.

Babies born by Caesarean section (and their mothers) or babies who have health complications usually stay in the hospital a bit longer.

Babies born before 34 weeks’ gestation need longer in-hospital care. If your baby was born this early, you may feel particularly nervous about bringing him home. Your health care team will work closely with you to develop a plan that helps you understand your baby’s unique health needs and feel confident about bringing your baby home.

What should I do to prepare for my baby?

Many new parents take prenatal classes before the birth of their first baby. The

classes help prepare you for the birth and provide information about basic newborn care. While each class is different, they usually include advice on feeding, common illnesses, day-to-day care, and car seat safety.

Consider learning about resources for new parents in your area. Many local public health offices offer support with breastfeeding and can answer questions about your baby’s health and well-being. Community centres often have programs where you can meet other new parents.

Before your baby is born, you should decide who will provide your baby’s regular ongoing health care. In most parts of Canada, your baby will see either a paediatrician or family doctor for routine care.

Some other decisions to make before your due date: • whether to breastfeed, (breastfeeding provides the best nutrition for your baby) • if you have a boy, whether to have him circumcised

• sleeping arrangements • how to prepare pets and siblings for the new family member • whether to use cloth or disposable diapers.

The busy days after childbirth are not the best time to make these decisions. If you talk to your partner ahead of time and are comfortable with your decisions, you can focus on your baby in his first days instead of these issues.

To bring your baby home in a vehicle, you must have a properly installed rear-facing car seat. Be sure you know how to safely secure your baby.

What will happen before I bring my baby home?

Before you go home, hospital staff will check that your baby: • has a normal temperature • is not at high risk of developing jaundice • has had a wet diaper and passed a bowel movement • has received all necessary medications, including vitamin K to prevent bleeding and an ointment to prevent eye infection • has received any necessary vaccines (such as hepatitis B)

Vancouver Island Information Sessions

Where Students Choose To Be

JOIN OUR ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS, CRYSTAL HARVEY RSVP email: crystal.harvey@brentwood.bc.ca web: rsvp.brentwood.ca

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www.brentwood.ca | 26 Island Parent Magazine

Nanaimo

Tuesday, Feb. 27 Coast Bastion Hotel

Langford

Thursday, March 1 Four Points Sheraton

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• is eating well and has had at least two successful feedings • has had all screening tests for certain treatable diseases. All newborns in Canada are tested for hypothyroidism (a disease caused by not producing enough thyroid hormone) and PKU (a disease where the body cannot use a natural amino acid important for baby’s growth). In some provinces and territories, babies are screened for other conditions as well and may receive a hearing screening test. Your doctor can tell you which tests your baby will receive.

If your baby was born preterm, doctors will make sure your baby is healthy enough to go home. This includes making sure your baby: • is breathing well • has a stable body temperature • is feeding well • has not lost a lot of weight after birth or is steadily gaining weight Preterm babies also have newborn screening and hearing tests done before discharge home. Depending on how preterm your baby was, other tests may be done as well.

Your own doctor will check to make sure you are well. New moms should know the signs and symptoms of any complications

they could have, feel comfortable caring for their new baby, and have started to feel comfortable with breastfeeding before leaving the hospital.

Don’t feel rushed to leave the hospital.

Be sure all your questions are answered before you go home.

develop a plan for follow-up care with your health care team before your baby leaves the hospital. They will also make sure you recognize the early signs or symptoms of any problems.

At the first visit your health care provider will: • Weigh your baby and measure her What should we remember length and head circumference, if this was when we get home? not done in hospital It’s normal to feel nervous when you first • Check for signs of jaundice bring your baby home. Try to protect this • Check on how feeding is going for you time for you and your family so that you and your baby can adjust to all the changes.

• Do a physical health exam Remember: • Ask how the family is adjusting to the • New babies can get sick easily. Try to new baby. keep your baby away from anyone who • Complete any screening tests not done has cold or flu symptoms, especially in the at the hospital winter months.

This visit doesn’t have to be with your • Wash your hands often to help protect regular paediatrician or family doctor. The your baby. Ask others to do the same. exam can be done by the doctor at the hospital where you gave birth, your midwife When should I take my baby or a public health nurse. And it might be at for a first doctor’s visit? home, in the office or in a hospital clinic. If A health care provider should check your your baby doesn’t see her regular doctor at baby within the first 48-72 hours of leaving this visit, it will happen soon after. the hospital or at any point if you feel your baby isn’t well.

For more information, visit Caring for Kids, If your baby was born preterm, you will caringforkids.cps.ca

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28 Island Parent Magazine

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PARTY Directory birthday parties for all ages!

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Celebrate your special day in a CIRCUS WAY! Experience life Under The Big Top!

• party size up to 14 participants • 60 min FUN circus class in circus warehouse • Beautiful Circus Tent Party Room available for cake/presents • aerial silk, hoop, trapeze, and more!

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Gymnastics games and music

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victoriagymnastics.com February 2018 29

Getting. Out. The. Door.

M

y husband, two children and I live in a two-bedroom condo with engineered wood floors (fake hardwood, to the layperson). As an allergy sufferer, I am thrilled we live somewhere without wall-to-wall carpeting. The fake hardwood looks decent enough, reflects light to make the whole place nice and bright, handles all manner of spills without stains or other complications, and overall holds up well to the use and abuse the family puts it through.

using indoor voices will really ever make a dent in their developmental imperative for gross motor explorations. They drop things, often, and most often they drop hard things, not stuffies. They writhe and kick on the floor when they need to get out some big feelings. They jump off the couch to see if their capes fly out behind them.

To the downstairs neighbour, it probably feels like being in a war zone, where unexpected explosions can occur any time

The thing with wood flooring, though, whether fake or real wood, is that it isn’t known for being soundproof. Our floors were installed before we moved in, and I haven’t investigated what’s under them, but my bet is that they were laid directly on the concrete floor. If there is some kind of underlay, it’s scanty.

Our condo is on the second floor.

There’s an owner below us.

The kids are six-and-five-twelfths and two. So let’s just say the situation is tense.

Kids run and jump and no amount of reiterating “house rules” about walking and

between roughly 7 and 8:30 a.m., and 4 to 7 p.m.

As if having an active, exuberant sixand-five-twelfths-year-old and a two-yearold weren’t impetus enough for frequent outdoor time, giving the neighbour a few minutes of peace is an added motivation.

The thing is, getting out the door can require monumental effort on a good day.

On a lousy day, voices may get raised, consequences may get pointed out. Repeatedly.

Prior to parenting, leaving the house was so effortless, such a non-event, that I struggle to remember what it was like. Kind of like

30 Island Parent Magazine

breathing, it just didn’t register that much until I became a mom of two, living in a shared space.

Nowadays getting out the door requires the serenity to calmly apply a myriad of parenting skills, the courage to belt out anything from Raffi’s extensive song repertoire at the drop of a hat (or sippy cup), and the wisdom to know which approach to implement at the correct time. Whether it’s a school day or the weekend, it runs something like this: 7 a.m. (T minus one hour, 15 minutes): Give toddler the heads up she needs to have her diaper changed and get dressed.

Toddler bolts.

7:05 a.m. Tell toddler it’s now time to get dressed. Toddler bolts.

7:10 a.m. Lure toddler from corner by offering cream cheese rice cracker sandwiches and reminding her that her tights are clean so she can wear them and satisfy her current obsession with tights. Successfully change toddler’s lower half. Curse the existence of cream cheese as toddler smears it on your hair and work clothes.

7:15 a.m. Invite both children to get a move on eating their breakfasts. Gradeschooler writhes on the couch asking why he has to. Toddler apes behaviour.

7:17 a.m. Lure grade-schooler to the table by offering cream cheese on toast.

The morning continues in this vein, a series of fairly simple exchanges involving standard ploys to get the children moving more or less in the right direction.

Things heat up when it’s time to make the move out the door.

8:00 a.m. (T minus 15 minutes): Give children the heads up they have five minutes until it’s time to brush their teeth and leave.

8:05 a.m. Ask children to go to the bathroom and brush their teeth. Children bolt in opposite directions, as if following a well-rehearsed football move.

8:06 a.m. Corral grade-schooler in the bathroom and shove toothbrush in his mouth.

8:07 a.m. Corner toddler. Sing Raffi hit of toddler’s choosing to threshold of the bathroom; standing on one leg, reach over grade-schooler to grasp toddler’s toothbrush with one hand, while pinning toddler in place with the other hand. Shove toothbrush in her mouth.

8:08 a.m. Notice that toddler is still only half-dressed. Attempt to remove pajama top. Toddler screams and bolts.

8:09 a.m. Offer toddler choice of two different tops. Toddler brushes past, pulls IslandParent.ca

out bathing suit and starts putting it on.

Meanwhile, grade-schooler is now lying on the couch (feet up the back and sticking in the air, head upside-down off the seat), asking why he has to go to school/park/ whatever the day’s destination—chosen for his entertainment and edification—might be. Why he can’t stay home and play Lego all day?

8:10:27 a.m. Brush your own teeth.

Amalia Colussi Wipe at crusting cream cheese on sweater collar. Pull a scarf out of closet to hide the cream cheese.

8:10:42 a.m. Initiate footwear efforts.

Grade-schooler refuses to wear the boots he insisted you buy, will only wear shoes.

Toddler takes up the lead and insists on wearing aqua socks. Curse yourself for forgetting to throw out the aqua socks last night when toddler was asleep. Convince toddler to wear boots so she can splash in puddles.

8:11:13 a.m. Start coat bargaining while children put on footwear.

8:12:56 a.m. Successfully convince toddler to put on coat of appropriate weight.

8:13:34 a.m. Put on your own coat. Feel for keys. Keys missing. Panic.

8:13:35 a.m. Begin fruitless search for keys. Toddler begins stomping in boots and laughing.

8:14:11 a.m. With left hand, pin toddler to left leg in attempt to stop her stomping; at the same time, with right hand, rummage around in overhead basket in entryway for keys.

8:14:29 a.m. Grade-schooler now has both shoes on without opening them first and hands you the keys he’s been fooling around with for the past 10 minutes.

8:14:30 a.m. Deep breaths.

8:14:51 a.m. Leave the house. On time!

Lock the door. Deep breath of satisfaction.

On exhalation look down and realize you’re still wearing pajama pants and slippers.

Little Steps Therapy Services offers the following services for all children: Little Learners therapeutic program for school readiness.

Connections therapeutic groups for school-aged children.

Clinical services including behaviour consulting, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, physiotherapy, art therapy, music therapy, and feeding therapy.

Contact our offices at 250-386-1171 or by emailing admin@mylittlesteps.net

STAGES Performing Arts School since 1980

s e s s a l C e c n a D l o o h and up c

Pre -S for ages 12 months

C la s s e s, t o T & t n Pa re p, e t, H ip H o J a z z, Ba ll la s s e s & C o m b o C e t, Ta p & z , Ba ll (w ith J a z h e a t re ) Mu s ic a l T

For more information

Amalia Colussi gets out the door regularly, just not always quite on time. She generally manages to leave with her lower half appropriately dressed, but she offers no guarantees.

IslandParent.ca

Even the littlest angel can dance

Call 250-384-3267 Email us at stagesdance@shaw.ca Or visit our website: www.stagesdance.com February 2018 31

FAMILY Calendar

For calendar updates throughout the month visit IslandParent.ca

F E B R UA RY Our Generous Sponsors

THURSDAY

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Nanaimo & Area

360 Duncan St Have you always heard the term seasonal cooking Home Learners Monthly Meetup Victoria & CRD but have no idea what that means? Are you looking 1pm at Oliver Woods Community Centre for a way for your family to bond, gain life skills and Resource library, gym time, parent support, create healthy habits together? These classes are Black History Month: Diversity and Black Comspecial events throughout the year. $5/fam- geared to families who face challenges accessing munities in Victoria ily drop in fee; $20/year-long membership. and preparing healthy meals and connecting with 1:30pm at Central Branch Library Did you know that B.C.’s first black teacher, John nanaimocommunityhomelearners.org. their community. The classes aim to share inexpenCraven Jones, taught on Salt Spring Island in the sive meal plans that yield high nutritional value all TH 1850s? To find out more about the history of black SUNDAY while offering participants the opportunity to gain communities in Victoria and B.C., come for an inconfidence in the kitchen and to connect with other teractive presentation. Presented by the BC Black Nanaimo & Area families and resources in the Cowichan Region.

History Awareness Society. For grades 4-7. Register Free. cgcf.ca/projects/chow-cooking-classes. 250online or call for more information. Free. gvpl.ca. Forests and Who Lives There 748-8506. jennifer@cowichangreencommunity.org.

10am at Colliery Dam Park 250-940-GVPL (4875).

Come discover the magical world of forest dwellers. TUESDAY TH Who makes the forest their home and how do they FRIDAY ND survive? $8/person. 250-756-5200.

Victoria & CRD Victoria & CRD MONDAY TH Emergency Preparedness Workshop Black History Month: Tales from Afar 1pm at Victoria City Hall Antechamber Victoria & CRD 10:30am at Nellie McClung Branch Library Are you and your family prepared for an emergency Enjoy African folktales in celebration of Black such as a power outage, winter storm, earthquake Christianity Explored History Month. Listen to stories, watch a shadow or tsunami? Your family needs to have enough food, puppet play and create a colourful craft. For ages 6pm at Central Baptist Church water and supplies to cope for at least seven days 833 Pandora Ave. 5-12. Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940-GVPL (4875). without outside assistance, depending on the emerNeed a safe space to think about and discuss the gency. Learn the hazards that can affect Victoria, big questions of life? Join us as we explore the life what to include in you emergency kits, what you Little Lego at the Library of the man at the heart of the Christian faith. Free can do to protect your home from an earthquake, 10:30am at Saanich Centennial Branch Library Listen to stories and have fun with the library’s Lego. (fee for workbook). centralbaptistchurch.ca. 250- and how to reunite with your loved ones after a For ages 4-6; parents and caregivers are encouraged 385-7786. office@centralbaptistchurch.ca. disaster. Free. VictoriaReady.ca. 250-920-3373. to attend. Register online or call for more information. emvic@victoria.ca.

Cowichan Valley Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940-GVPL (4875).

Paws 4 Stories Afterschool Club Chow Down Family Cooking Class 3:30pm at Oak Bay Branch Library 4pm at Cowichan Green Community Read aloud to a friendly dog and enjoy games and

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In our play-based preschools, children have fun, build relationships and explore the world in which they live. Activities include arts & crafts, storytelling, music, cooking, indoor and outdoor play.

ation Registr milies a f for new ruary 8th b e F begins :00 AM at 6

Our Licensed programs are led by certified Early Childhood Educators who are also trained in (NCCP) 'Fundamental Movement Skills' and incorporate basic components of physical literacy into our preschool programs.

www.westshorerecreation.ca | 250-478-8384 32 Island Parent Magazine

IslandParent.ca

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TH activities to boost reading skills. Volunteers from THURSDAY St. John’s Ambulance will be on hand to help. For grades 2-4. Register online or call for more informa- Victoria & CRD tion. Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940-GVPL (4875).

Crafts for Kids: Feed the Birds Nanaimo & Area 10:30am at Esquimalt Branch Library Listen to stories and create your very own bird Glow in the Dark Skate feeder to take home using a few simple art supplies.

6:30pm at Frank Crane Arena Everyone welcome; children under 3 must be accomSkate in an atmosphere of dimmed lighting and panied by an adult. Register online or call for more special effects. Regular Admission. 250-756-5200. information. Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940-GVPL (4875).

Dad's Night Out Skate 6:30pm at Oceanside Place Arena 830 W. Island Hwy Dads, bring the kids and enjoy a skate together on the pond. Sponsored by Building Learning Together.

Free. rdn.bc.ca/recreation. 250-248-3252.

Childhood Stress & Anxiety: Building Resilience Workshop 6pm at Cinnabar Valley Elementary School Tailored for parents, caregivers and educators supporting children ages 5-11 (K-Grade 5) who are experiencing stress and anxiety. All adults welcome.

Free. ericfoundation.com. 250-888-5735. karenpalmer@shaw.ca.

WEDNESDAY

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Victoria & CRD Pajama Storytime 6:30pm at Juan de Fuca Branch Library Put on your PJs and cuddle up for bedtime stories at the library. Bring along your favourite stuffie. For young children and their families; children under 3 must be accompanied by an adult. Register online or call for more information. Free. gvpl.ca. 250940-GVPL (4875).

IslandParent.ca

Nanaimo & Area Childhood Stress & Anxiety: Building Resilience Workshop 6pm at Park Ave. Community School See TUES 6 for details. All adults welcome. Free. ericfoundation.com. 250-888-5735. karenpalmer@ shaw.ca.

FRIDAY

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Victoria & CRD Be My Valentine 10:30am at Goudy Branch Library Wear Valentine’s Day colours and enjoy stories, rhymes, songs and a fancy Valentine craft. For ages 3-5. Register online or call for more information.

Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940-GVPL (4875).

SATURDAY

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Family Fun Hike 1pm at East Sooke Regional Park Enjoy a walk in the park with your family to celebrate Family Day weekend. Join a CRD Regional Parks naturalist and discover the beauty of this wooded parkland. Bring a snack and water, and wear sturdy footwear. Meet at kiosk in Aylard Farm parking lot off Beecher Bay Rd. 5+ years. Free. crd.bc.ca/parks.

250-478-3344.

DigiLab: Photo Booth 3:30pm at Juan de Fuca Branch Library Take selfies and group shots with DigiLab’s photo booth. The library will provide a variety of craft supplies, so you can get creative with your prints.

For ages 13-18. Register online or call for more information. Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940-GVPL (4875).

Victoria & CRD

Nanaimo & Area

Fancy Nancy Valentine’s Party 10:30am at Bruce Hutchison Branch Library Ooo-la-la! Come celebrate Valentine’s Day in style with stupendous stories and activities. Dress up in your fancy best—the more accessories the better. For ages 3-6. Register online or call for more information.

Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940-GVPL (4875).

Dr. Suess on the Loose Family Swim 10am at Ravensong Aquatic Centre 737 James St. One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. Come and enjoy a swim with thing one and thing two. There will be games to play to give you fun on this wet, wet day. Regular admission. rdn.bc.ca/recreation.

250-752-5014.

February 2018 33

SUNDAY

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Victoria & CRD Love is in the Park 1pm at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park Come discover what animals are breeding in the park. Participate in family fun and all age-appropriate activities related to tree frogs singing, eagles cartwheeling, hummingbirds dancing, owls hooting and more. Meet at grassy area adjacent to picnic shelter in Filter Beds parking lot off Beaver Lake Rd. All ages. BC Transit #70 or #75. Free. crd.bc.ca/ parks. 250-478-3344.

MONDAY

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Victoria & CRD Family Arts Festival 11am at Cedar Hill Recreation Centre 3220 Cedar Hill Rd This fun-filled family event is a celebration of imagination, creativity and discovery. Kids of all ages will enjoy a wide variety of activities led by Arts Centre staff and guests from Greater Victoria’s arts community. Free. saanich.ca/EN/main/news-events/eventslist/saanich-community-events/family-arts-festival-1. html. 250 475-5558. rob.phillips@saanich.ca.

Family Day Fun at Panorama Recreation 1885 Forest Park Drive Celebrate Family Day all day with free admission to swimming, skating, weightroom and fitness classes.

Sponsored by Peninsula Co-op. Skate: 1-2:20pm; swim: 1:30-3pm. Free. panoramarecreation.ca.

250-656-7271.

Christianity Explored 6 pm at Central Baptist Church 833 Pandora Ave. See MON 5 for details. Free (fee for workbook). centralbaptistchurch.ca. 250-385-7786. office@ centralbaptistchurch.ca.

COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY DENTISTRY family centered practice extended hours evenings and weekends the latest equipment and caring staff request an appointment online

saanichdentalgroup.com 119–1591 McKenzie Ave, Victoria 250 477 7321 info@saanichdentalgroup.com Victoria’s favourite dentists believe a healthy smile starts early. Free first visit for children under 5.

34 Island Parent Magazine

Nanaimo & Area BC Provincial Family Day Swim and Skate 10am at Ravensong Aquatic Centre and Oceanside Place Arena Both Ravensong Aquatic Centre and Oceanside Place Arena are open to celebrate BC Provincial Family Day. Swim: 10am-2pm; skate: 1-5pm. Free. rdn. bc.ca/recreation. 250-248-3252 or 250-752-5014.

“A Bug’s Life” Dive-In Movie 1pm at Nanaimo Aquatic Centre Bring the family to celebrate Family Day where you will find a big inflatable bug to play on while you IslandParent.ca

enjoy the classic movie “It’s a Bug’s Life.” Regular Admission. 250-756-5200.

Happy Valentine's Day! Come for some special treats online or call for more information. Free. gvpl.ca. and love-ly crafting at Kindergym. For 1-5 year olds 250-940-GVPL (4875). with parent. Regular drop-in rates. panoramarecreTUESDAY TH ation.ca. 250-656-7271.

Story Club 3:30pm at Central Branch Library Victoria & CRD WEDNESDAY TH Join Story Club and engage with other kids over books, games and crafts. Listen to stories, share Be My Valentine Victoria & CRD thoughts and experiences, and enjoy group activi10:30am at Esquimalt Branch Library ties and snacks. For ages 6-9. Register online or Wear Valentine’s Day colours and enjoy stories, Be My Valentine call for more information. Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940rhymes, songs and a fancy Valentine craft. For ages 10:30am at Central Branch Library GVPL (4875).

3-5. Register online or call for more information. See TUES 13 for details. Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940-GVPL (4875).

GVPL (4875).

FRIDAY TH

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Year of the Dog Storytime 10:30am at Central Branch Library Gung Hay Fat Choy! Wear red and welcome Chinese New Year with stories and crafts about the Chinese zodiac and dogs, this year’s zodiac animal. For ages 5-12. Register online or call for more information.

Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940-GVPL (4875).

Hearts and Sparkles 2pm at Oak Bay Branch Library Wear your heart on your sleeve. Drop by and make a sparkly card on Valentine’s Day. Everyone welcome.

Drop-in event. Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940-GVPL (4875).

Paws 4 Stories Afterschool Club 3:30pm at Oak Bay Branch Library See TUES 6 for details. Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940GVPL (4875).

Victoria & CRD

Cupid’s Cuties at Kindergym 9:30am at Greenglade Community Centre

THURSDAY

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Victoria & CRD Little Lego at the Library 3:30pm at Bruce Hutchison Branch Library Listen to stories and have fun with the library’s Lego.

For ages 4-6; parents and caregivers are encouraged to attend. Register online or call for more information.

Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940-GVPL (4875).

SATURDAY

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Black History Month: Diversity and Black Communities in Victoria Victoria & CRD 10:30am at Nellie McClung Branch Library See THURS 1 for details. For grades 4-7. Register Esquimalt Clothing & Toy Exchange 10am at Wheeley Hall, Esquimalt United Church

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IslandParent.ca

February 2018 35

Wensley Family Realtors® Trusted from generation to generation

500 Admirals Rd Esquimalt Clothing & Toy Exchange is a nonjudgemental, non-stressful, wheelchair and stroller friendly clothing exchange. Please bring a bag and take as much or as little as you want. All sizes, all styles. Free. facebook.com/esquimaltexchange. esquimaltexchange@gmail.com.

Spanish/English Storytime 10:30am at Oak Bay Branch Library Enjoy a bilingual storytime and craft, and learn simple songs and phrases in Spanish. For young children and their families; children under 3 must be accompanied by an adult. Register online or call for more information. Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940-GVPL (4875).

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at Mattick’s Farm

Lego Stories 10:30am at Sidney/North Saanich Branch Library Listen to stories while you use the library’s Lego to create masterpieces to display in the library windows. Ages 5 years and up. Drop in. Free. virl. bc.ca. 250-656-0944.

Year of the Dog: Traditional Stories, Tai Chi and Fans 2:30pm at Nellie McClung Branch Library Celebrate Chinese New Year with local storyteller Su Ma, who will share traditional stories and introduce Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan, a combination of Tai Chi movements and special techniques using a large fan. If you have a favourite fan, please bring it. No experience necessary. For ages 6 and up; parents and caregivers are encouraged to attend. Register online or call for more information. Free. gvpl.ca.

250-940-GVPL (4875).

Nanaimo & Area

The extraordinary toy shop.

The natural way to play.

Where learning is child's play!

115 - 5325 Cordova Bay Road Tel: 250-658-2721 | www.toyingaround.ca

36 Island Parent Magazine

Winter Carnival Skate 2pm at Oceanside Place Arena Brighten the winter days with a fun carnival on ice.

Participate in carnival games and win tickets to bid on prizes at the end of the skate session. Regular admission. rdn.bc.ca/recreation. 250-248-3252.

TUESDAY

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Victoria & CRD Paws 4 Stories Afterschool Club 3:30pm at Oak Bay Branch Library See TUES 6 for details. Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940GVPL (4875).

Fractured Fairy Tales 3:30pm at Esquimalt Branch Library Once upon a time, the fairytales and folktales you know and love took an unexpected twist. Who will live happily ever after? Come to the library to find out. For ages 6-9. Register online or call for more information. Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940-GVPL (4875).

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Victoria & CRD Story Club 3:30pm at Bruce Hutchison Branch Library See THURS 15 for details. Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940GVPL (4875).

Emergency Preparedness Workshop 7pm at Victoria City Hall Antechamber See TUES 6 for details. Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940GVPL (4875).

THURSDAY

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Victoria & CRD Individual and Family Emergency Preparedness 7pm at Gordon Head Recreation Centre 4100 Lambrick Way Emergency preparedness session for individuals and families. Free. 250-475-7140. SEP@saanich.ca.

FRIDAY

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Victoria & CRD French Storytime 10:30am at Nellie McClung Branch Library Enjoy a storytime in French with Canadian Parents for French, and learn about GVPL’s French resources to support emergent readers. Perfect for French Immersion families. Coffee and cookies provided.

For ages 5-8 and parents or caregivers. Register online or call for more information. Free. gvpl.ca.

250-940-GVPL (4875).

Elephant, Piggie and Friends 2:30pm at Oak Bay Branch Library Fans of Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie books will enjoy this literary celebration jam-packed with stories, a craft, and a puppet play. For ages 5-8.

Register online or call for more information. Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940-GVPL (4875).

Mad Science: Magic in the Kitchen Workshop 2pm at Esquimalt Branch Library Cooking is all about chemistry. Children will learn about the chemical reactions that occur when they prepare, analyze and digest their food and will be introduced to the laboratory that we call a kitchen.

Presented by Mad Science. For ages 6-10. Register online or call for more information. Free. gvpl.ca.

250-940-GVPL (4875) Mad Science: Up, Up and Away Show 2pm at Bruce Hutchison Branch Library This spellbinding show introduces the principles of air and pressure. Children will learn how pressure IslandParent.ca

affects the world around them as a pop bottle is crushed, a hot air balloon is made from a dry cleaning bag, and when they see how a parachute works.

Presented by Mad Science. For ages 5-12. Register online or call for more information. Free. gvpl.ca.

250-940-GVPL (4875).

Origami: The Art of Paper Folding 2pm at Juan de Fuca Branch Library Discover the joyful art of origami. Join local origami enthusiast Stephen Tran for lessons in paper folding. There’s no cutting or gluing, just paper folding pure and simple. For ages 10-12. Register online or call for more information. Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940GVPL (4875).

Wrigglers at Work 2pm at Central Branch Library Join the Compost Education Centre for hands-on activities with wriggling, wiggling worms, and learn the dos and don’ts of composting with the help of our squirmy friends. For ages 6-9. Register online or call for more information. Free. gvpl.ca. 250940-GVPL (4875).

DigiLab: Game Night 7pm at Oak Bay Branch Library Gather ’round an old-fashioned board game, or play computer games among friends. For ages 13-18.

Register online or call for more information. Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940-GVPL (4875).

Nanaimo & Area

The Victoria School for Ideal Education • Daily meditation • Nature based learning • Small class sizes • BC curriculum K – Gr. 8 2820 Belmont Avenue

School’s Out Everyone Welcome Skate 1:30pm at Oceanside Place Arena 830 W. Island Hwy School is out but skating is in. Regular admission. rdn.bc.ca/recreation. 250-248-3252.

250-383-6654 vsie.ca vsie@shaw.ca Find us on Facebook A few spaces still available

Pro D Day Freezie Swim 1pm at Ravensong Aquatic Centre 737 James St. Stay active on your day off from school with a swim.

After you swim, everyone will be given a freezie treat to enjoy. Regular admission. rdn.bc.ca/recreation.

250-752-5014.

Coast Capital Free Swim 7pm at Beban Pool Admission to pool only; weight room not included.

Free. 250-756-5200.

SATURDAY

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Victoria & CRD Squirrely Squirrels 10am at Francis/King Regional Park What does it take to survive as a squirrel? With a CRD IslandParent.ca

February 2018 37

Regional Parks naturalist, discover what keeps these for couples and families before dinner or that “night furry creatures busy at this time of year. There is no out” with friends. Regular Admission. 250-756-5200. fee for this program, but you must pre-register by February 21 as space is limited. 5 years and under. SUNDAY TH Free. crd.bc.ca/parks. 250-478-3344.

Victoria & CRD Traditional Indigenous Storytime for Families 10am at Bruce Hutchison Branch Library Raccoons are Wild Join Surrounded by Cedar Children and Family Noon at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary Services for a monthly storytelling group for families 3873 Swan Lake Rd. featuring traditional storytellers, art and songs. To Discover the world of this masked bandit. Are they register, please email counselling@sccfs.com. Free. really bandits or just wonderfully adapted for living gvpl.ca. 250-940-GVPL (4875). in our urban environment? This event will feature the “Way Cool Raccoon School” puppet show, crafts Pro-D Day Skate and Swim and hands-on exploration. Event sponsored by the 2pm at Panorama Recreation VNHS. Admission by donation. swanlake.bc.ca.

1885 Forest Park Drive 250-479-0211.

Come for a fun-filled Pro-D Day skate or swim. Skate: 2-3pm; swim: 1:30-3:30pm. $2. panoramarecreation. MONDAY TH ca. 250-656-7271.

Cowichan Valley Nanaimo & Area Chow Down Family Cooking Class Starlight Skate 4pm at Cowichan Green Community 7pm at Nanaimo Ice Centre 360 Duncan St An opportunity to come out and enjoy soft light See MON 5 for details. Free. cgcf.ca/projects/ “stars” and passive LED glow lights. A great time chow-cooking-classes. 250-748-8506. jennifer@ cowichangreencommunity.org.

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February 2 - March 8 6 Great Films 5 Fun Weeks 1 Low Price

MUMMIES • HURRICANE 3D THE ALPS • NASCAR 3D WE, THE MARINES • DEEP SEA 3D 38 Island Parent Magazine

TUESDAY

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Victoria & CRD Hockey Night at the Library 6:30pm at Central Branch Library Calling all hockey fans! Come for a family-friendly evening of hockey stories and crafts. The puck drops at 6:30pm. For ages 3-5. Register online or call for more information. Free. gvpl.ca. 250-940GVPL (4875).

ONGOING PRESCHOOL Victoria & CRD Baby Time At Greater Victoria Public Library Locations Learn songs, rhymes and fingerplays to use with your baby every day. Drop in. For babies 0-15 months and parents or caregiver. Check gvpl.ca for dates, times and locations.

Six Film Festival Pack $41.25* 2018 Annual Pass $51.25* SOLD 89%

See one, see them all, or buy an Annual Pass and enjoy IMAX® all year long!

*Plus GST.

250-480-4887 imaxvictoria.com

IMAX® is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation.

IslandParent.ca

Family Storytime At Greater Victoria Public Library Locations Fun-filled stories, songs, rhymes and puppets. Dropin. For young children and their families; children under 3 must be accompanied by an adult. Check gvpl.ca for dates, times and locations.

FAMILY Victoria & CRD Family Dinner 4pm at James Bay Community Project 547 Michigan St. Family Dinner program every Tuesday 4-6pm. Free. jbcp.bc.ca. jserediuk@jbcp.bc.ca. 250-415-0814.

Good Morning Storytime Thursdays 10:30-11:15am at Sidney/North Saanich Branch Library. Bring your littlest ones to the library for stories, songs, rhymes and movement. Until Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Circles March 1. Ages 0-5.

A safe, supportive place to meet others in a similar situation and to share information and resources.

Young Parent Weekly Drop-in For information about groups near you, call 250Thursdays 10am-noon at Kiwanis Family Centre.

384-8042. Province-wide toll free information and Come and enjoy a hot meal, socialize with other support line at 1-855-474-9777 or email grgline@ young parents, enjoy a kids’ craft, let your little one parentsupportbc.ca. parentsupportbc.ca. explore the fully equipped playroom, or have a look in the ‘free’ store for gently used children’s items Parent Support Circles and household supplies. Staff available to help with Parenting isn’t always easy. Sometimes it helps to talk information about relevant local resources, advo- things through with other parents. At the Parent Supcacy and counselling support, help with paperwork, port Services Society of BC, they believe that every and parenting support. 250-382-1004. parent is the expert of her/his own family. For more information about groups near you, call 250-384Cowichan Valley 8042 or 1-877-345-9444 or visit parentsupportbc.ca.

Family Storytime at Cowichan Library, Duncan. Bring Nanaimo & Area the whole family for stories, songs, rhymes and fun.

For ages 0-5. Tuesdays 10:30-11:30am. 2687 James Drop-In Science Studio St. krumohr@virl.bc.ca.

Thursdays and Saturdays 10am-noon at NS3 Science Studio.

Nanaimo & Area Children can explore the many features of the Science Studio including KEVA blocks, marble wall, Saturday Breakfast Club air field, wind tunnel, and a variety of discovery 9:30-11:30am at Munchkinland Family Place, Parks- boxes. $4/child; adults free. Schedule subject to ville. Enjoy a parent and tot exploration and a Mother change, so please check nanaimoscience.org for Goose circle time, plus songs, stories and breakfast. most current schedule. 4355 Jingle Pot Rd. 778Saturdays until March 10. Free. Suitable for families 971-6893. with children 6 years and younger. 250-248-3252. rdn.bc.ca/recreation.

Lions Free Skate Sundays noon-1:30pm at Frank Crane Arena, Nanaimo.

TEENS Until March 25. 250-756-5200.

Victoria & CRD

Parksville Lion’s and Save-On-Foods Family Skate Sundays 12:15-1:45pm at Oceanside Place Arena Teen Writing Contest A great way to stay active as a family. Children must Aspiring writers, poets, lyricists and wordsmiths be accompanied by an adult 19+. Pond hockey extraordinaire. Greater Victoria Public Library invites is not available. Free. 250-248-3252. rdn.bc.ca/ students in grades 7 to 12 to submit an original poem, recreation.• short story, or piece in our random category for the annual Teen Writing Contest. Write something new or polish a piece written for a school assignment. For contest rules, prizes and the online entry form, go to gvpl.ca/contests. Application deadline March 26.

IslandParent.ca

Check out our Winter 2018 parenting courses!

1Up Lighthouse Parent is a strength-based program designed to support you in developing trust in your own parenting intuition, and confidence to parent the unique child you have.

Through supported group work and practice you will explore conscious parenting, communication, setting boundaries and identify your own strengths and parenting style. The skills you gain will enhance your family’s daily life.

Check our website www.1-up.ca for more details about this and many other 1Up courses To register, or for more information call 250-385-1114 or email lesley@1-up.ca February 2018 39

Climate Change Anxiety A

s I watched news coverage of the mudslides in California, a colourful piece of plastic debris caught my eye. My stomach churned. There, half-submerged in the mud that had almost engulfed a family home, was a Little Tykes toddler ride-on car. Those cars, with their colour-blocking and rounded edges, have been ubiquitous at playgroups and kindergyms since I was a preschooler.

Seeing this toy floating in the muck, I thought about the recent fires in California, in B.C., and in parts of Europe. I thought about the hurricanes and the “weather bomb” that has caused such incredibly cold weather across the east of our continent.

Then, I thought about my chubby-cheeked three-year-old, and a familiar, sickening fear came over me.

We are raising the next generation, a generation whose environment will be different from the one that humans have been used to since long before the industrial revolution. The question is: how do we face this reality and raise our children accordingly, without losing hope?

In her book, When Things Fall Apart, author and Buddhist teacher Pema Chödrön encourages people facing physical or emotional pain to turn towards that feeling instead of trying to avoid it. I spent the first two years of my son’s life avoiding all mention of climate change. I boycotted my formerly beloved CBC radio, after having to switch it off as the breaking news spots veered towards glacier melts or rising seas one too many times. I didn’t follow the news at all. I used plastic bags and drove

my car and got take out in Styrofoam, and deep down inside, I felt a horrible fear for the future that we are all making for our children.

Then, I got a job that required me to follow the news. At first, I found it hard to get out of bed on the weekends. The week’s news stories would swirl in my mind, and I was so worried that I couldn’t even sink into the most joyful moments with my son because the pain and worry about his future was ever-present. After about six months, I started counselling, and, with professional help, I was able to change my outlook and face my climate change grief. I finally turned towards the pain.

I still worry about my son’s future, but I have changed the way that I approach climate change anxiety. As I dug deep, I realized that this is not some scary new monster: parents since the beginning of time have worried that their children will suffer and have found it hard to accept their children’s mortality. Parents have had to find ways to cope with this fear and grief before, and we can do it in the age of climate change.

Start by talking about it. Most of your

Cover Photo Contest For the 2018 Family Summer Guide or Kids’ Guide to Victoria & Vancouver Island Send us a colourful, clear photo of your kids or family enjoying a summer moment on Vancouver Island, and it may end up on the cover of this year’s Family Summer Guide or Kids’ Guide.

1st Prize: Main cover photo on the Family Summer Guide and $100 Gift Certificate to the business of your choice on Vancouver Island. Runners up: five or more runners up will receive two IMAX tickets and their photos will be featured in either the Family Summer Guide or Kids’ Guide.

Only digital submissions will be accepted. Send a maximum of three photos of medium or higher resolution (preferably 2–3MB).

Photos must be colour shots of children or families in Vancouver Island locations. Contest is open to Vancouver Island residents only. No professional photographers, please. Entry deadline is Tuesday, April 9, 2018; winners will be notified by email by Monday, May 14. Winning photos become the property of Island Parent Magazine.

Send entries to: editor@islandparent.ca 40 Island Parent Magazine

IslandParent.ca

parent friends are probably avoiding talking about this. They might be relieved if you bring it up. So, bring it up. My counsellor told me that any emotion becomes easier to bear if it is shared, and I know this to be true in practice.

Next, find a way to reframe the fear. This might be through counselling, or it might be through your faith practice. It might be

Elise Velazquez through deep conversation with friends and family or a physical practice like yoga or running. Face the fear and find a way to understand the reality that our children’s future is uncertain. That reality is rooted in an understanding that this is not new; this is the human experience.

Then, change your habits. Grow a garden, and teach your children how plants create oxygen while providing food for animals like us. That will give you and your children hope and improve your health. Drive less and live close to your school so that your kids can get used to commuting using their own muscle power. Raise resilient and empathetic children. Talk to your children about refugees. Teach your children that we are all in this world together, and we are strong enough to face this challenge without descending into hatred and division. Get political.

Tell your political representatives that you want Canada to do better. It is not enough to sign the Paris Accord and then simply let our targets fall by the wayside. We need our government to show leadership in the change to renewable power and reductions in the use of harmful and polluting substances. When people work together, governments will listen and we can break through the status quo.

We can’t respond to and work to mitigate climate change if we get stuck in despair or denial. Let’s face this challenge and demand change: we owe it to our children.

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IslandParent.ca

February 2018 41

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Playing in the Rain S

everal years ago, when I was working as a reporter in my hometown in Ontario, there was a bad storm. As the rain was falling, my editor handed me a camera and sent me on my way to survey the damage and find some stories. I didn’t make it far before I saw some children making the most of a flooded ditch. The kids had pulled on their bathing suits and were swimming and splashing gleefully in their impromptu pool.

It’s not hard to have fun in the rain, but sometimes the weather just looks so dreary that it’s hard to convince yourself or your children to go outside and splash in puddles or slide down grassy slopes.

Playing outside, even when it’s raining, is good for so many reasons. It helps children—and adults—stay healthier and happier in many different ways.

In an article for Psychology Today, Daniel A. Marano explains that spending time outside increases our exposure to healthy microbes, like Mycobacterium vaccae, which triggers the release of one of the “happy hormones” called serotonin.

Some other reasons that it’s good to get outside, according to the Canadian Physical Activities Guidelines, is that it encourages active play, which helps children maintain a healthy body weight, do better in school, learn new skills, improve their self-confidence, and helps them feel happier.

Part of the reason that outdoor play helps children do better in school is that it lets them use more of their senses, especially if they take off their rain boots and let the mud squish between their bare toes, because using multiple senses helps people remember things better.

In an ebook released by the University of Calgary, Marie-Claire Arrieta, an assistant professor and one of the authors of Let Them Eat Dirt, points out that they “don’t advocate children actually eat dirt, but we do want people to rethink the quest

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for cleanliness. Little children need to be exposed to abundant microbes to develop normally. Without it, they have an increased risk for allergies, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, diabetes, and other disease. So you don’t need to feed your kid dirt, but if they happen to eat some, don’t worry about it too much either.”

And in case you still need more reasons to get outside and play in the rain, some Swedish studies suggest that children who spend more time outside in the fresh air sleep better and longer than children who spend most of their time inside.

Christina Van Starkenburg

So, how does one get outside in the rain?

Well, first of all, you’re going to want to be appropriately dressed. And I don’t mean just your children. If you’re going to be out there with them, you’re going to want to be wearing something rain proof too. Trust me, it’s tricky to splash in puddles and dance in the rain when you’re constantly trying to keep your umbrella from blowing away.

And on those days when it’s cold you’ll also want to make sure everyone is wearing a sweater (it’s also probably a good idea to keep boots on if it’s really chilly).

Don’t just send your children outside to play, go with them. If they see you having fun in the rain, then they won’t see it as something awful and want to avoid it. And then, once you are out there, play, have fun.

Splash in puddles, slide down grassy hillsides. Besides, as a study in pediatics points out, when parents observe their children in play or join with them in child-driven play, they are given a unique opportunity to see the world from their child’s vantage point as the child navigates a world perfectly created just to fit his or her needs. So, by going outside and playing with your children in the rain, you are giving yourself a unique opportunity to make memories, learn about them, and how they see their world.

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Christina Van Starkenburg is a freelance writer and mother of two young boys. You can read about their adventures at thebookandbaby. com.

IslandParent.ca

February 2018 43

Much Ado About Dumpling Wrappers

I

bet you never realized that homemade ravioli and homemade pot stickers were an easy and fun way to get your kids cooking. The secret is using store-bought dumpling wrappers. They are easy to fill and can be used to make all sorts of different types of dumplings and filled pastas.

• To seal two sides of the dumpling wrappers, dip a finger in water and moisten around the edge of the wrapper. The moistened edges will stick together.

• My children started filling dumpling wrappers when they were two years old!

However, I did double check their creative sealing efforts. A wrapper that is not fully

Pot-stickers

Kids of all ages love filling pot-stickers, and depending on the age of the child they may be able to make the filling.

Filling 115 g firm tofu, grated 1⁄2 cup carrot, grated

Emillie Parrish Cooking With Kids 1 Tbsp soy sauce 2 tsp sesame oil 1⁄4 cup red pepper, finely chopped 1⁄4 cup mushroom, finely chopped 1⁄2 cup cabbage, finely chopped 2 spring onions, finely chopped 1 tsp ginger, grated 2 garlic cloves, grated 1 egg Dipping Sauce 2 Tbsp soy sauce 3 Tbsp water 2 Tbsp cider vinegar 1 tsp sesame oil 1 tsp sambal oelek (optional as it will make the sauce spicy) 1. Grate the tofu and carrot. Combine with soy sauce and sesame oil and allow to marinate while you prepare the rest of the filling.

2. Finely chop: red pepper, mushroom, cabbage and spring onions. Finely grate ginger and garlic.

How to use dumpling wrappers sealed will lose its filling during cooking.

• You can find wonton wrappers and gyoza wrappers in the refrigerated section of your grocery store. They are usually with the fresh noodles or Asian vegetables.

• Dumpling wrappers come as thin sheets that are easily separated. They may come as circles or squares.

• You can put one teaspoon of filling into the centre of the wrapper, then fold it in half. However, I usually use one tablespoon of filling and top with a second wrapper as it’s much easier than making half-sized dumplings.

44 Island Parent Magazine

Here are two recipes that show how diverse and useful dumpling wrappers can be. The first recipe is for some fried potstickers that are perfect for a Chinese New Year celebration. The second recipe is for homemade ravioli that would be delicious for a Valentine’s day dinner. I’ve only given one suggestion for a filling, however, feel free to make a few different fillings. Kids love to experiment, and will enjoy mixing their fillings.

IslandParent.ca

Pasta sauce of your choice (tomato sauce, or browned butter and olive oil)

2.

1. Wring all the moisture out of the spinach.

2. Mix the spinach with ricotta cheese.

3. Put 1 Tbsp of filling in the centre of the dumpling wrapper. Wet around the outside of the wrapper with your finger, then seal a second wonton wrapper on top of the first. Set the pasta aside until you are ready to cook.

4. Cook the pasta in boiling water. You don’t want the pasta to stick together, so boil in small batches, cooking until the pasta floats (about 2–3 minutes). Using a slotted spoon, pull out the cooked pasta and toss in a sauce right away, otherwise they will stick together. You can keep the pasta warm in the oven until serving.

5. Repeat until you have cooked all the pasta, then serve right away.

3. Mix all the filling ingredients together, This recipe for spinach and ricotta ravioli including the tofu and egg. is super quick to make and full of flavour.

4. Place 1 tsp of mixture into dumpling Emillie Parrish loves having adventures with wrappers, fold it in half and seal with water. 3⁄4 cup of cooked spinach (or frozen) her two busy children. She lives in Victoria and You could freeze the pot-stickers on a cookie 3⁄4 cup ricotta cheese is the author of the fermentation-based blog sheet at this point.

1 package of dumpling wrappers fermentingforfoodies.com.

5. Combine all the ingredients for the dipping sauce in a bowl before cooking the pot-stickers.

Building families Building Building families 6. To cookfamilies the pot-stickers, heat 1 Tbsp through adoption through adoption through adoption of cooking oil in the bottom of a frying pan across BC andacross arrange theBC dumplings in a single layer across BC since 1989. along the bottom of the pan. Cook until the since 1989. since 1989. bottoms are just starting to brown. Pour a 1⁄2 cup of water over the pot-stickers, put Applications now being accepted a lid on and continue to cook for 8 more for the following programs: November is minutes. Month Awareness Japan, USA, Domestic, Vietnam, India, and others.

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The first time I made ravioli it was with a group of three-year-olds. I was concerned about the noodles breaking open during the boiling, but none of them did.

Homemade ravioli is so much tastier than store-bought because the filling doesn’t have to be mostly made of bread crumbs.

You can make these ravioli with all sorts Building families of different fillings: butternut squash and through adoption Gorgonzola, mushrooms with Parmesan, across BC sundried tomato with Romano. Just make sure that you have cooked most of the since 1989. moisture out of your filling before mixing it with the cheese.

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46 Island Parent Magazine

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Little Big Mouth

T

here are many inexplicable aspects to raising a six-year-old, but perhaps the most baffling is this: every time he or she decides to test out a new and potentially inappropriate phrase, they will do so in a way that causes the maximum level of humiliation to their parents.

My own six-year-old is no exception.

In her journey through life, she constantly hears and experiences new things, and then innocently repeats them at the most inopportune moment. Whether it is a bad word, or something rude, or unwittingly offensive, or all three, she delivers with the perfect sweetness of a little girl, and the volume of an NFL coach.

Sometimes, this happens after she overhears an “interesting” phrase and wishes to try it herself. Take this past Christmas, for example, when we were attending a family dinner with roughly 37 of my husband’s relatives. My daughter, wandering around with a toy she had just been gifted, made everyone drop their forks when she yelled “Oh, how da H*LL do you get dis stupid fing out of dis box?!”

Needless to say, this was a shock coming from the mouth of a tiny person wearing braids, a bow, and a dress with a tulle skirt.

(The jury is still out on who to blame for teaching her this word, by the way. My current suspicion lies with Gramps, but that remains to be proven.)

At other times, she picks up ideas from life events she experiences. Recently her great-grandma passed away at the age of 90, which led to many conversations about how sometimes, when people get very very old, they die. I suppose all of this is probably to blame for the episode we had at the drug store checkout a few weeks later. While the wizened and wrinkly old lady in front of us hassled the cashier about an expired 50-cent coupon, my daughter surveyed her with a critical eye, then turned to me and announced, most matter-of-fact and perfectly audible even to those who are mostly deaf: “Mama, I can see for sure dat SHE is about to die!”

And still other times she seems to be under the influence of popular culture; that would explain why, when we were watching Tangled, the Disney version of Rapunzel, IslandParent.ca

and at the most dramatic part—where the evil step-mother-witch falls out of the tower to her death and then Rapunzel smooches the hero—she stated plainly: “Well, at least her mean old mudder died, so now dey can have awone time!” Now, normally this would have been fine, except that her two

Sarah Milligan Is There an App for This? little friends who were with us at the time both went home asking their mothers what exactly “awone time” means.

And on it goes, through every scenario of our lives: • “Mama! YOU are a lot fatter dan SHE is!” (stated loudly as I exchange pleasant conversation with the next door neighbour) • “I hate my teacher, she’s da baddest ever!” (as we exit the classroom, still well in earshot of the teacher) • “I don’t wike dat guy. I don’t wike how his face is.” (behind a perfectly pleasant man at the grocery lineup) • “I’m BORED! Dis piano wecital is STUPID! An’ dis guy can’t even pway da piano vewy well at ALL!” (in the moment of silence between the first and second movements of an impressive piano piece being performed by the most senior student in the entire music school)…

I could go on, but you get the idea: total embarrassment. Every. Single. Time. She has impeccable timing and no filter whatsoever.

And to be honest, much of what she says is absolutely true—except for the bit about her teacher, who is really quite lovely, and that time at the piano recital, and her general opinions on how people’s faces look.

So far, I have yet to figure out any way of avoiding these situations—because, she is six. And at the age of six, you tell the truth about what you are thinking. At some point, presumably, she will begin practicing the skill we all eventually learn: the ability to add a filter between what we think and what we say. But until that day arrives, I will likely have to brave many more embarrassing situations. In the meantime, at least, we all know exactly where she stands.

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S​ arah Milligan lives on Vancouver Island. She is grateful to her children for the joy they inspire, not to mention the endless writing fodder.

IslandParent.ca

February 2018 47

Please Don’t Break the Trophy E very dad wants to be a hero in his kids’ eyes. We can deny it, but it’s the truth: we want our kids to think we’re a hero.

Now, I’m no hero. Tonight, my wife made liver for dinner and I ate one bite and, literally, couldn’t eat the rest (I was totally busted, but I have no regrets). So, not hero behaviour. But I did win a trophy once, one I’m actually quite proud of.

While wondering where it was, I kept thinking now and again, vain as this may be, that I can’t wait to show it to my kids.

See! Dad’s cool after all! Maybe it’s just the desperate, embarrassing hope for acceptance that lurks deep down in all of us, even as we’re barking out, “I’m not your friend, I’m your dad!”

I knew the trophy wasn’t in our house anywhere, so I finally remembered to ask

this would be yet another in a long line of anticlimactic, “Oh, that’s nice” comments when I mumble about something I’ve done that I think will impress them. Wrote a kinda-successful movie? Meh. Hung out backstage with Metallica? Don’t care. But their eyes lighting up when they saw the trophy was one of those rare, picture-perfect, full-circle moments.

I remember being 13, kinda. Or at least I

Greg Pratt Dadspeak

have some idea of what my conceptualization of being 13 is. And I know my kids are racing towards it. It sort of breaks my heart but it sort of fills me with excitement, too. The boy is already a daredevil and the girl can write stories that fill me with pride. They have their skills, their talents, the things they love doing and, man, does it ever make me happy when I see them doing those things, knowing it’s the same passion driving them as it was driving me in that contest all those years back. Seeing them stare at the trophy transcended an absurd ego boost from small humans; it became a moment where things just made sense.

Then they started arguing over who got to hold it, with one trying to pry it from the other’s hands. Good lord, can’t a dad get 10 seconds to be wistful? Snapped out of my trance and my deep thoughts, I smiled when I heard one of them spit at the other, “I want to hold it!”

I’m sure I looked daft as I just stared and smiled while my wife, momentarily forgiving me for the liver incident, intervened so the damn trophy didn’t get broken. I just stared and smiled, thinking, 13-year-old me had no idea life would ever be this chaotic, this hectic, this wonderful.

And whatever hobbies and loves the kids pursue as they get older, I’ll support them, The year was 1990, I was a 13-year-old my mom when we were visiting one day because the trophy reminds me of the joy flatland BMX freestyle rider, doing tricks if she had it. Now, as we all know, moms of following your dreams, while the kids on my bike. I entered a contest in Delta and are amazing. Without missing a beat, and remind me of the joy of being alive. took home first place in Beginner. I still ride bearing in mind this is something we hadn’t my bike to this day, and it’s a huge passion discussed for maybe 20 years, she hopped of mine, so I kinda love that trophy. up and dug it out of a corner in the closet.

Greg Pratt is the father of two children and a local Which makes it weird that I lost it for a Suddenly, there I was, blowing dust off journalist and editor. His writing has appeared couple decades. the trophy, and showing it to my kids. Now, in, among other places, Today’s Parent, Wired, kids don’t impress easy, and I suspected Revolver and Douglas.

48 Island Parent Magazine

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February 2018 49

‘Smart’ Electronic Media Use for Families

Healthy Families, Happy Families

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E

lectronic media and digital devices like the internet and tablets are here to stay and not all the news is bad. How a family uses technology in their lives can even be positive.

Evidenced-based research findings help us make good choices about how we use electronic media. It’s not just the DS4, iPads, and social media—even television and radio are forms of electronic media.

Morgan The elimination of our devices is not Frankboner, practical or reasonable. Not being aware Lisa Halliwell & of how we use electronic media increases Jenny Redpath the chances of problems for our families.

What can we do to decrease the risks and CH ILD YOUTH & FAMILY Happy Families, PUBLIC H E ALTH Healthy Families use these devices so they won’t have negative impacts?

Taking a harm-reduction approach to using electronic media is one way to manage your family’s use. Harm reduction can be in policies or guidelines and is there to help make risky health behaviours safer. If we put safety plans in our lives we can still use electronic media and reduce possible harm to our families.

Benefits of Electronic Media Use:

• Improves thinking by increasing language, reading and writing skills • Provides rapid access to information, especially when using the internet • Increases social contacts as children age and play games or chat together • Helps in the development of knowing who we are, particularly important in adolescence • Prepares adolescents for the demands of technology in adult life • Provides escape from the stresses of child or adolescent life • Expands creative development by providing tools and content that help the imagination • Gives you a moment to relax if your child is briefly occupied • Provides a common platform for you and your child to interact Public Health prevention has focused on guidelines for screen time over other forms of electronic media. Recommended daily screen times are: no screen time before the age of two, one hour or less below the age of five and less than two hours for older children (not including schoolwork).

For this article, we include other types of electronic media and focuses on the positives. We are not saying that everything about electronic media use is good: we just have chosen to focus on the benefits here.

We now know that what kind of television/media programs we are exposed to is important to have a healthier family. Creating a mix between fun learning activities and passive electronic play can also make a positive difference in our family’s well-being.

Balancing this with enough socializing with others is important if we want to do our best.

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viha.ca/prevention_services/ 50 Island Parent Magazine

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So what do we need to consider when making the most of our digital lives? The following is a list of questions we can ask ourselves to keep our families on a healthy path.

How are we helping our children decide what and when to watch?

• Are we involved in making decisions?

• Is the content educational or entertainment; do our children have a balance between physical and mental activity?

• What are the messages in the programming?

• Are we making sure that there is no regular or routine pattern of watching electronic media for our family?

• Is there an adult present to talk about what is being watched?

• Are we making a point of turning off social media to have balance because it does not turn itself off or stop by itself?

• Are your children showing signs of being distracted or tired when something else needs to be done?

• Do your children seem to have more interest in electronic media over interacting with people; if so, how can you change this?

How often are we using devices when we are with our children?

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• Are we able to include our children when we are using technology?

• Are there enough times during the day when we are device-free; are we spending more time off electronic media than on it?

• As role models, are we showing our children how we want them to behave by being that way ourselves?

• Are we listening to our children’s feedback about how we are using technology?

issues. Some of our best

What chances are being created for face-to-face time with family members?

passionate about their

• Are you having daily device-free meals together, where everyone gets a chance to talk and interact with family members?

• How many chances per day do children have to read a book with an adult and are you creating the space to do this?

• What do you all enjoy doing together with media or without; are you having family discussions around this topic?

• Are you allowing family time to be replaced with isolating behaviour or too much independent play?

• Have you made and set aside specific times for your family to socialize with each other and do you do it? Are we using electronic media to avoid “real life” and do we understand why and know how to support ourselves in other ways?

• Has a boundary been pre-set for time to be spent on electronic media so that time doesn’t get away?

How do we keep our children safe as they become more independent? The short answer is that we can’t keep them completely safe. As parents, we need to minimize the risks as best as we can by asking ourselves the same questions over again and being consistent in how we do things. We can do some basic stuff to make our children safer like securing our wireless networks and having strong passwords. Make it a point to know who your child is connecting with online and who has access to them. Only you can decide how much electronic media you allow into your home and life and what is best for your family.

Morgan Fankboner, RN, BSN, MN, is a Public Health Nurse with the Comprehensive School Health team. She has a background in Mental Health and Addictions and is mother to a seven-year-old girl. Lisa Halliwell is a Public Health Nurse on the Comprehensive School Team. She is the proud mother of three adult children. Jenny Redpath was born, raised and lives on Salt Spring Island where she works as a Public Health Nurse and is raising two amazing circus children. She completed her BScN at Vancouver Island University in 2010.

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content comes from people just like you—Vancouver Island parents who are families and are dealing with the day to day issues of raising children in our community. Share your experiences, your thoughts on a particular issue, your ideas on places to see or projects to do—anything related to parenting.

Check our Writer’s Guidelines at islandparent.ca for specific information on submissions.

We’d love to hear from you.

Please email submissions to editor@islandparent.ca.

February 2018 51

First Loves, New Friends & Cherished Family

F

ebruary is a pretty special month for me. Seven years ago my husband and I were married. The cheesy side of me likes to pretend that everyone is celebrating with us since our anniversary is a few days away from Valentine’s Day. So it feels fitting this month to look at books about relationships—not just romantic relationships, though, because February is for more than just staring dreamily at someone you love. It’s also the month we celebrate families. Family Day, which reminds people of “the importance of families and family life to people and their communities,” is celebrated on February 12.

Just for fun, let’s start with books about romantic relationships. Local author Chris Gaucher recently published a book called So You Wanna Kiss a Girl (FriesenPress, 2016). When her son was 11, she started to talk to him about what it meant to have a romantic relationship. This book grew from those conversations. Written from the perspective of a 12-year-old boy, this fictional tale follows Liam as he tries to make sense of the confusing world of relationships. At his mother’s insistence, Liam must write a 10-chapter book—one chapter for every week of his summer holidays—on what it’s like to be in a boy/girl relationship.

Readers can eavesdrop as Liam notes his thoughts on his mother’s 10 mini-lectures and his own experiences in bite-sized chapters and comedic sketches. Topics include the importance of good hygiene, loving yourself as you are before trying to love someone else, and the delicate balance between being honest and being insulting.

While most of the book focuses on the cerebral side of relationships, one chapter in particular covers some common myths and misconceptions about the physical side of male biology. For ages 10-12.

Perhaps your child isn’t ready to kiss someone yet, but they have fallen in love for the first time—like the narrator does in The Day I Became a Bird by Ingrid Chabbert and illustrated by Guridi (Kids Can Press,

2016). In this sweet tale, a young boy tries to get Sylvia, the object of his affection, to notice him. But, since “Sylvia only has eyes for birds,” he decides to become a bird for her. Readers can follow the simple and stunning pencil sketches as the narrator creates his bird costume. For ages 3-7.

Relationships don’t always have to be romantic. Sometimes relationships are just between friends or, as is the case in illustrator Jay Fleck’s Tilly & Tank (Tundra Books, 2018), soon-to-be friends. The book shows what happens when an elephant and a tank see one another. The elephant thinks she sees an odd-coloured elephant whom she decides she must meet and make friends with. So she ambles over to where Tank is standing guard. As she approaches, Tank sees her and is convinced he’s spotted an enemy tank. This adorable little tale, the first book Fleck has both written and illustrated, will have readers shouting “Boom!” along with Tank as they learn about friendship and overcoming first impressions about others. For ages 3-7.

Another story about family and the power of friendship is Sakura’s Cherry Blossoms,

by Robert Paul Weston and illustrated by Misa Saburi (Tundra Books, 2018). This story is about a young Japanese girl whose family moves to America. Before they move, Sakura’s favourite thing to do is sit beneath cherry trees with her grandmother—something she can’t do once she’s in her new home. Soon Sakura meets Luke, who befriends her and helps her heart to heal.

Written in a series of tanka poems, Sakura’s Cherry Blossoms introduces children to Japanese poetry. The last page of the book also encourages young poets to try out the form and explains how they can do that. For ages 3-7.

In Crow Call, written by Lois Lowry and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline (Scholastic Press, 2009), Liz shares a special moment with her father. The story takes place just after WWII when Daddy has finally come home. Snuggled up in her new plaid shirt, IslandParent.ca

Liz spends some time one-on-one with her father and rediscovers what it means to be his daughter. Lowry skillfully shows the excitement and nerves that come with being able to spend time with a parent who has been gone for so long that their name is a treasure on one’s tongue.

While Crow Call is based on Lowry’s memory of time spent with her own father, she points out that this isn’t her story alone.

“The details of this story are true,” she writes. “They happened in 1945, to me and

Christina Van Starkenburg Book Nook my father. But parents and children groping toward understanding each other—that happens to everyone. And so this story is not really just my story, but everyone’s.”

For ages 8-12.

Nurturing young minds. Keeping the spirit free.

International Montessori Academies of Canada Preschool Kindergarten/elementary Strong Montessori academics/small classes French immersion/art and science

IMAC Montessori Academy

2375 Koksilah Road, Duncan 250-737-1119 www.intmontessori.ca

Enter Our Online Contests Every month at IslandParent.ca you can enter to win great prizes!

Prizes include:

• Family Getaways • Gift Certificates • IMAX Passes • Books, CDs & More One entry per family per week. Check out the prizes and enter the contests by visiting

IslandParent.ca

2018 DONATE AT ANY SERIOUS COFFEE THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY Whether your child is looking for something more factual like So You Wanna Kiss a Girl, or more fanciful such as Tilly and Tank, hopefully you will be able to carve out some time this month to curl up with them and read a couple of stories while you enjoy each other’s company and grow in your understanding of one another.

Christina Van Starkenburg is a freelance writer and mother of two young boys. You can read about their adventures at thebookandbaby. com.

IslandParent.ca

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Pick up your copy of Island Parent at any Serious Coffee café To nd one near you go to: seriouscoffee.com

February 2018 53

FAMILY SERVICES Directory

Community Options for Children and Families offers recreational support groups for Children and Youth age 6-18 who have a brother or sister with a disability. The Sibshop Program allows children and youth to connect with peers who understand what This directory, sponsored by Thrifty Foods, features not for profit it is like to be a Sib. Sibkids (age 6-12) and Sibteens agencies and organizations serving children, youth and families. (age 13-18) are play and activity based designed to provide opportunity for participants to share in a comfortable and safe environment. For further 1Up, Victoria Single Parent Resource Centre (1- help finding a job? Need employees? Contact us info call 250-380-6363 or communityoptions.bc.ca. up.ca) provides support, education and resources for FREE assistance! 9860 Third St. Sidney. 250End Dyslexia. Does your child have trouble reading for parents in the Greater Victoria area through 656-0134. beaconcs.ca. or is behind in reading? Is your child bright, but is free counselling, volunteer training, a mentoring program for single moms, and a support group for Boys & Girls Club Services offer after-school not learning as quickly as you would like? Get ready dads, as well as a variety of integrated life skills and evening social, educational and recreational for September now with Summer Reading Camps and parenting courses which are open to the whole programming for children and youth at 5 locations from the convenience of your own home! Use community, with fees on a sliding scale. For single (Colwood, Langford, VicWest, Central Saanich and research-based programs with fast, lasting results parent members, the Centre provides free toys and Esquimalt) and summer camps both in Esquimalt while working with award-winning speech-language books, a clothing room and bread pantry. Donations and at our Outdoor Centre in Metchosin. We also of- pathologist, Marlene Lewis, who brings many years of gently-used clothing, small household items, and fer support to parents through our Parents Together of experience and proven results in improving readtoys are welcome. Hours: Mon., Tue., Thu., Fri.: 9–4, program and parent workshops. For more informa- ing for children, teens and adults. To learn more & Wednesdays: 12–7. Location: 602 Gorge Road tion on all programs and services visit bgcvic.org or please visit end-dyslexia.com or call 250-474-6368.

East. Phone: 250-385-1114. call 250-384-9133.

Family Services of Greater Victoria (formerly BC Beacon Community Services is a community- Canucks Autism Network (CAN) provides high- Families in Transition) is a non profit agency that has based, non-profit agency dedicated to helping quality, adapted sports, recreational and social been serving families since 1978. We provide a full people and improving lives on southern Vancouver programs for kids, teens and young adults living range of services to the whole family in supportIsland and the southern Gulf Islands. Beacon thrift with autism on Vancouver Island. Shawnigan Lake: ing their relationship and through separation and shops fund important LOCAL community services Multisport day camp, bike clinics and family camp. divorce. Counseling, mediation, legal information and programs. Beacon also offers: child, youth and Victoria: Swim, soccer, skate and physical literacy. and a range of group programs are available for family services (including the Peninsula Early Years Nanaimo: Swim and physical literacy. Family events children, youth and adults on a sliding fee scale. Call Centre and child care); counselling; employment take place throughout the year! Become a member us at 250-386-4331 or visit fsgv.org. We can help. services and training for people of all ages; home for only $25/year at canucksautism.ca/join. Call support care; volunteer services and opportunities; 604-685-4049, email info@canucksautism.ca or HappyBaby Sleep Solutions helps families creaffordable housing/care/supports for seniors and visit canucksautism.ca/VancouverIsland for more ate healthy sleep habits in babies and children so everyone is well rested and happy. Sukkie Sandhu, people with disabilities. For Home Support, please information.

M.Ed., has worked with hundreds of families locally call 250-658-6407. For other programs: 250-6560134. beaconcs.ca.

CHOICES Adoption & Counselling is a licensed, in Victoria and worldwide. Sukkie is a Registered professional, non-profit agency that provides Clinical Counsellor so the cost of a sleep consultaBeacon Community Services Employment services to adoptive parents, birth-parents, and tion may be covered under your extended medical Programs. Beacon Community Services offers a adoptees. CHOICES arranges adoptions domesti- plan. For more information visit happybabysleepfull menu of employment services on the Saanich cally and internationally. We are committed to pro- solutions.com or call 250-857-1408 for a FREE Peninsula and Gulf Islands. We’ve been helping viding a comprehensive, client-centered adoption evaluation. Let’s get started! people find work since 1982! Our programs build on service which best meets the needs of everyone a person’s strengths and resolve barriers to finding in the adoption constellation. Please contact us at HeadWay Victoria Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Centre and keeping employment. We also work with our choices@choicesadoption.ca, or call 250-479-9811 supports families living with seizures by offering parent workshops three times a year, educational employer network to support job seekers. Need for further information.

54 Island Parent Magazine

IslandParent.ca

presentations in schools and community groups as well as providing tutoring sessions and one-to-one professional consultations to help your child live up to their highest potential. Keep up to date with the latest research about treatments, lifestyle, and safety issues for your child. We can be reached at headwayvictoria.com, or you can reach the Epilepsy Program Coordinator directly at 250-475-6677.

Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA) is a registered charity and nonprofit helping individuals and organizations to connect across cultures. Programs offered include immigrant and refugee services, parenting programs, employment services, interpretation and translation, diversity workshops and training, English language training, volunteer placements, youth programs and tutoring, seniors groups, and inter-cultural arts programming.

Located at 930 Balmoral Road, 250-388-4728 info@ icavictoria.org, icavictoria.org.

Attention Non-Profit Organizations Would you like your informational brochures or magazines professionally distributed to 16 high traffic areas in Greater Victoria?

LDABC The Learning Curve (previously The Learning Disabilities Assn.) supports, educates and advocates for children with learning disabilities and related challenges. Individual and group support, education and consultation is available for children, youth, parents, caregivers and professionals.

Please visit our website @ ldasvi.bc.ca or call us for more information or to book an appointment: 250 370 9513.

Power To Be inspires people living with barriers or disabilities to explore their limitless abilities through inclusive adventures rooted in nature. With programs for children, youth and adults, year-round adventures include kayaking, canoeing, camping, hiking and more. Visit powertobe.ca or call 250385-2363 to learn more.

Sooke-West Shore Early Years Centres provide information to families about children and family services, supports, child development and parenting. The Early Years Navigator will assist families with referral information for local early years programming, child care, public health, special needs intervention services, and social supports. The Sooke-West Shore Early Years Centres are hosted

by Sooke Family Resource Society and located at the Child, Youth, and Family Centres in both Sooke and the West Shore and can be reached at 250217-9243. Additional information can be accessed at sfrs.ca/early-years-centre.

Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS) supports immigrants and refugees living in Greater Victoria. Services are free and include oneon-one counselling, parent education workshops, youth life skills classes, a preschool program, art therapy, language classes and academic support, employment help, computer classes and fun community events like free yoga, tai chi, dance and cooking classes. Visit us online at vircs.bc.ca or phone 250-361-9433.

IslandParent.ca

Victoria Community Information Services (VCIS), an Island Parent Group subsidiary, services these locations on a weekly basis to ensure your brochures and magazines are highly visible for pickup by walk-by traffic.

Our wall-mounted distribution boards are outside partnering grocery stores and inside many recreation centres.

Space is available for either brochures (approx. 4" x 9") or magazines (approx. 8.5" x 11").

For distribution rates or additional information, please contact: Mark Warner publisher@islandparent.ca 250-388-6905

February 2018  55

PRESCHOOL & CHILD CARE Directory CENTRAL SAANICH

HIGHLANDS

SAANICH

Chrysalis Child Care................................250-652-0815 A nurturing and stimulating environment for a small group of 21⁄2–5 year old children. Qualified ECE promotes learning through play. chrysalischildcare.ca.

COLWOOD/LANGFORD

Licenced group childcare for children ages 12 months to 5 years old. Open 6:30am-5:30pm.

Leap Forward Dance School offers weekday and Saturday dance classes for children ages 2 and up.

2758 Peatt Road, Langford

250-818-9225 info@leapforwardlangford.com

www.leapforwardlangford.com

Miles of Smiles Nature Junior Kindergarten........................................... 778-265-4374 Come See Why Learning In Nature Rocks! Reggio Influenced Philosophy ages 3-5. Have Your Child Become a Nature Detective Today! Email mosnjk@hotmail.com.

CORDOVA BAY Carrot Seed Preschool.............................250-658-2331 Where children can discover, imagine, construct and learn through play. Wondrous natural playground. carrotseedpreschool.com.

Cordova Bay Preschool........................... 250-658-3441 A bright and cheerful parent participation preschool with a philosophy of learning through play. 4 yr olds - M/W/F 9:151:15; 3 yr olds - T/Th 9:15-12:15. cordovabaypreschool.org.

ESQUIMALT Ciara Early Childhood Centre...................250-386-7369 Education and Fun Hand in Hand! Exceptional care for ages 1-5yrs. Inclusive nature inspired kindergarten readiness program with Christian values. Facebook.com/ CiaraEarlyChildhoodCentre.

Island Kids Academy Esquimalt...............250-381-2929 High quality child care (ages 1-5). Enriched Curriculum Includes Music Classes and Character Development using the Virtues Project. Part -time spaces available. Islandkids.ca.

La Pré-Maternelle Appletree Preschool......250-479-0292 A French Immersion Program. 30 months to school age.

Licensed Christian centre. prematernelleappletree.com.

Only seconds past luxurious Bear Mountain our highly respected outdoor program will not disappoint! Our “Nurture through Nature” facility is rooted from the Reggio-Emilia philosophies, allowing the children to use their environment as the “third teacher.” Located on 2 acres of forest land, your child will learn and grow in a natural surrounding of tress and wildlife! Newly expanded, we NOW have more spaces available for your Infant/ Toddlers and Pre-Kindergarten aged children. We use the trees from our own property to build the furniture and some of the toys in all three centres. The children enjoy yoga, music, Spanish, signlanguage and an outdoor classroom. In 2016, Lexie Biegun won the BC Provincial Gov’t award of Excellence for Child Care Providers.

Please visit our Facebook page for current info and pics.

lexieslittlebears.ca

250-590-3603 Cub House waitlist: 778-432-3600

METCHOSIN Metchosin Cooperative Preschool........... 250-478-9241 Gorgeous forested playground. Half day play based nature programs. Exploration, self discovery, child centered learning nurtured by our wonderful ECCEs. West-Mont Montessori School.................250-474-2626 Exceptional preschool Montessori instruction in a beautiful natural environment. Ages 30 months and up. Providing a balanced approach to incorporating French, Music, Art and Nature. Stop by and experience what it is like to be part of a community devoted to the development of the whole child.

Open House: Thursdays 9-11 am. west-mont.ca.

Resource & Referral

56 Island Parent Magazine

Camosun College Child Care Services........250-370-4880 Quality licensed facilities on both campuses providing children, newborn to 5 years, with rich early learning experiences in a learn through play environment. camosun.ca/childcare.

Full o’ Beans Preschool............................... 250-360-1148 We offer ‘learn through play’ programming designed to foster your child’s natural curiosity and imagination. Flexible scheduling, 2.5 and 4 hour programs, qualified staff.

Registration is ongoing! saanichneighbourhoodplace.com.

Island Montessori House.....................250-592-4411 Inclusive, integrated and nurturing Preschool and After School Care programs. Lovely rural setting with a focus on nature and outdoor environmental activities. islandmontessori.com.

Lambrick Park Preschool & Childcare........ 250-477-8131 Gordon Head’s parent-participation preschool and childcare center. Flexible hours M-F 9am-3pm & drop-ins offered. Play based learning and outdoor play. Allergy friendly. Celebrating 40 years. lambrickparkpreschool.ca.

In The Garden Childcare Centre.............. 250-654-0306 A GREAT PLACE TO GROW. Offering preschool, full day care, before and after school care for children aged 2.5 to 12 years old. Open all year. Now offering Infant and Toddler Care.

OAK BAY Emmanuel Preschool.............................. 250-598-0573 Children learn through play in our non-denominational Christian preschool near UVic. Bright attractive setting. emmanuelpreschool.ca.

Recreation Oak Bay.................................250-370-7200 Fully licensed, ECE Daycare, Preschool and Nature Preschool.

Play based, child led learning. Afterschool care available.

vancouverislandccrr.ca ccrr.bc.ca

250-477-3731 arbutusgrove.ca

NORTH SAANICH

Gonzales Co-op Preschool....................... 250-727-1003 An imaginative Reggio Emilia inspired Learning-Through-Play community that focuses on nature, music, and arts. gonzalescooppreschool.com.

Child Care

• Half day and Full day Preschool Programs • Children’s learning is nurtured and supported through exploration, discovery, play and creative expression 3905 Haro Road, Victoria BC

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has opened a brand new licensed child care facility in Royal Oak at 4353 West Saanich Road. We currently have openings in our over 36 months program operating Monday to Friday.

For more information call 250-727-0007 and ask for Maureen Hall, Manager or email us at info@svdpvictoria.com

Looking for child care? Need help with subsidy forms?

Taking care of children? Need child care training?

Your community’s best source of child care information and resources.

Victoria & Gulf Islands: 250-382-7000 or 1-800-750-1868 Sooke: 250-642-5152 West Shore: 250-391-4324 Cowichan Valley: 250-746-4135 local 231 PacificCare (Ladysmith north): 250-756-2022 or 1-888-480-2273 Funded by the Province of BC

IslandParent.ca

Montessori Educare.................................250-881-8666 Beautiful learning environment in Broadmead and Saanichton. 30 months to 5 years. All year round. montessorieducare@shaw.ca. montessorieducare.com.

Neighbourhood Junior Kindergarten....... 250-479-4410 Welcoming, culturally sensitive parent participation program in Lakehill School. Morning and afternoon.

For 3s and 4s. See website for details. neighbourhood juniorkindergarten.com Oakcrest Preschool................................ 250-472-0668 A welcoming, nurturing environment with a large, bright facility. Learn through play with 2 caring ECEs. oakcrestpreschool.org.

Pre-School Junior Kindergarten PacificChristian.ca 250-479-4532 Educational Excellence to the Glory of God Rainbows & Dreams Preschool................ 250-479-1966 Small classes for 3-5 yr olds in a safe nurturing environment.

Children learn through play and fun–developing a sense of confidence, independence and creativity. Highly qualified ECE teacher.

Ready Set Grow Preschool....................... 250-472-1530 Inside Hillcrest Elm. in Gordon Head, we help children transition to Kindergarten. Licensed Preschool with highly qualified, warm ECE. heoscmanager@gmail.com.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Preschool................... 250-479-1237 • A Christian child centre for 3–5 year olds.

• A warm nurturing and challenging program • Offered by St. Joseph’s Catholic School.

Wiseways Preschool & Daycare................ 250-477-1312 Quality, fully licensed, Christian preschool/daycare for 3–4 year olds. Experienced team of ECEs. Spacious facilities include large playground and indoor gym. Subsidized fees welcome. Call for a tour. wisewaysvictoria.com.

Licenced group childcare for children ages 1 to 12 years old Offering Before & After school care for Vic West Elementary School Open 6:30am–5:30pm

babiestobigkids.com 250-590-2722 info@babiestobigkids.com

949 Fullerton Ave

Castleview Child Care............................. 250-595-5355 Learning Through Play & Discovery. Licensed non-profit, ECE staff. Since 1958. Morning or full-time care. castleviewchildcarecentre.com.

Centennial Day Care............................... 250-386-6832 Exceptional childcare and education 35+ years. Nature inspired, play based program. NEW central, “green” building. centennialdaycare.ca.

Christ Church Cathedral Childcare and Junior Kindergarten.......................... 250-383-5132 ECE and Specialist teachers provide an outstanding all-day, licensed program for 3–5 year olds. Spacious, renovated facility with a huge backyard in Fairfield. cathedralschool.ca.

Little Paws Preschool...............................250-384-3211 A program designed to enhance children’s creativity, interdependence, independence and to expand self-expression.

Website: vnfc.ca.

Nightingale Preschool and Junior Kindergarten Ltd....................250-595-7544 We offer education through creativity and play, providing rich learning experiences through a well sourced and stimulating indoor and outdoor environment. Early years reading programme. nightingalepreschool.com. Arts/Drama programme. kidsworks.ca.

Rainbow Express Daycare....................... 250-382-2314 A nurturing environment for children to learn through play and discovery in a natural setting. ECEs and specialist teachers. rainbowexpressdaycare.com. Close to city centre.

Storyoga Preschool................................. 778-679-4004 Embracing and empowering children exactly as they are. Storyoga Preschool is a nature and yoga based program located in Sidney, BC. storyoga.com.

VICTORIA

Positive and supportive program motivating children to learn, discover and grow through play.

Kindness Curriculum, Jolly Phonics and Active Outdoor Play!

250-383-7445 rossbaypreschool@shaw.ca The Sir James Douglas Playschool.......... 250-389-0500 Fun, creative and educational ECE program for 3-5 year olds to grow and develop life long skills. Come play and learn in our bright and modern centre in Fairfield.

Victoria Montessori................................ 250-380-0534 Unique, innovative learning environment combining the best of Montessori and Learning Through Play. Open yr. round.

30mths–K. victoriamontessori.com.

VIEW ROYAL

v Comprehensive programs for Preschool through Grade 8 v Delivering academic excellence through music, dance, drama and visual arts v Outstanding educators, locations and facilities

View Royal Preschool..............................250-479-8067 Exciting inclusive program in a safe and exceptional care environment. 3-5 year olds. Outside play and themes enrich this program. Full/part-time spaces available. viewroyalpreschool.com.

DUNCAN International Montessori Academy of Canada................................................. 250-737-1119 Offers an enriching environment for preschool children 2-4.9 years with potty training. Nurturing young minds, keeping the spirit free. intmontessori.ca.

Parkside Academy..................................... 250-746-1711 Providing high quality early learning and care from infancy to 12 years of age, in a stimulating, respectful, nurturing, nature based environment with fully educated and passionate early childhood educators. Visit parksideacademy.ca or find us on Facebook.

Queen Margaret’s School.......................... 250-746-4185 Early Childhood Education Program. Co-ed nurturing curriculum to develop the whole child. Healthy snacks and lunch provided. qms.bc.ca.

Queen of Angels Early Learning Centre...... 250-701-0433 We believe that the development of the whole child (physically, socially, emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually) encourages each individual to develop to their full potential. We offer an enriched full day program for 3–5 year olds based on Kindergarten readiness.

Sunrise Waldorf School Preschool..............250-743-7253 In a warm environment, this nature and play-based program enlivens and nurtures the growing child. sunrisewaldorfschool.org.

CHEMAINUS St. Joseph’s Preschool..............................250-246-3191 An enriching preschool program allowing children to grow as individuals in a safe and nurturing Christian environment.

NANAIMO

SIDNEY Positive Path Early Learning....................250-655-7244 Located near the library and Sidney School, our program has earned a stellar reputation for quality child care and is growing as fast as the children we care for. Space is available for your child to embark on a journey of active exploration and discovery, enjoying a natural outdoor playground and an expansive indoor learning space. Experienced educators foster a lifelong quest for knowledge and guide children with Christian values and virtues. positivepath@shaw.ca.

View Royal Childcare...............................250-479-8067 Preschool structured, high quality childcare. Victoria Conservatory of Music classes. Part time spaces available. 2.5-5year olds. viewroyalpreschool@live.com.

Island Kids Academy View Royal.............250-727-2929 High quality child care (ages 1-5). Preschool curriculum offered within a warm, caring child care environment. Character development using the Virtues Project. Access to community programs including swimming, skating, Victoria Conservatory of Music. Part-time spaces available. islandkids.ca.

Aspengrove School.................................. 250-618-2201 Aspengrove School in Nanaimo, an independent school offering Junior Kindergarten for 3 & 4 year olds. Play-based learning, rooted in the same International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum taught in our Kindergarten-Grade 12 classes.

QUALICUM BEACH Children’s Discovery Centre.....................250-752-4343 Our program recognizes the uniqueness of each child and provides a nurturing, safe and creative learning environment. Licensed preschool, group care and out of school care. Early Childhood Educators. childrensdiscovery centre.ca. childrensdiscoverycentre@hotmail.com.

Little Star Children’s Centre.....................250-752-4554 Mother, Daughter owned and operated. Earth friendly preschool education inspired by nature. Infused with fun and creative daily yoga practices! Licensed group care.

Enthusiastic ECE instructors. littlestardaycare.ca

PORT ALBERNI John Paul II Catholic School.....................250-723-0637 “Where children grow and learn through play.” We provide a program that will inspire development physically, socially, emotionally, cognitively, creatively and spiritually.

www.ArtsCalibre.ca 250.382.3533

IslandParent.ca

February 2018 57

Family Growth Centre Inc.

Phone: 778.410.2319 Visit: pivotpoint.ca

Learning Centres Inc.

Pivot Point provides behavioural, educational and mental health services to children, youth and adults with autism and other diverse abilities from Victoria to Nanaimo...and throughout B.C. We also offer Community Classrooms as an alternative to traditional large public and private schools! Very small classes mean lots of one-to-one and great small group teaching.

Enrollment is open now for the upcoming school year!

Call our local line 778.410.2319 or visit us online today! www.PivotPoint.ca

How do you tell someone you love them without using words?

Illness By Osmosis

I

’m writing this on the tail end of the stomach flu, a reality that has heavily influenced my last four days, but that I have been working hard to keep Angus in the dark about.

I have made slips: halfway through Angus’s second pancake on Sunday morning, he noticed that I only had a piece of dry toast on my plate. I had managed to avoid eating during all family meals, so maybe I had turned too cavalier. Maybe I should have hidden the toast under a pancake, threw some bacon on the side of my plate for distraction. Pancake and bacon morning is a thing around our house; we all

Do you slip a note in their lunch bag?

Bring them flowers? Laugh at their bad jokes?

Send us 5 ways to say “I Love You” without saying “I Love You” and we’ll enter you into a draw for Guess How Much I Love You: A Book of Valentines.

Email entries to editor@islandparent.ca by February 9 58 Island Parent Magazine

participate in this ritual. Angus looked at his pancake, looked at my toast, looked at his pancake again, then threw down his fork and screamed his demand for a “regular breakfast” JUST LIKE MOM. After he had regulated his breathing enough to ingest food, I poured him a bowl of cereal. He was satisfied, and he still finished all the bacon in the serving bowl.

On the weekend, when I napped during the day, I was upstairs to “do computer work.” When I was positive I couldn’t make it through Angus’s night-time routine without a bathroom break we read “just a couple pages because it’s really late.” The one night I needed to escape after Angus’s bath to lock myself in the bathroom, Angus ran screaming to the downstairs toilet in all his dripping wet nakedness because HE HAD TO GO TOO. If I were to tell Angus I was sick, to craft some euphemism about feeling a little under the weather and needing to take things easy, it would not go well. This is experiIslandParent.ca

ence speaking. If I’m sick, Angus is too—a blubbery, snotty screaming mess of sickness who needs my undivided attention, my total sympathy, and who is not content until he’s curled on top of my cramping stomach and wiping his nose with my hair.

Osmosis of illness and injury has been

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL Directory Grooming • Food • Supplies

Laura Trunkey

Where we draw for the fun of it!

We offer drawing, cartooning and sketching classes for children and adults. · Daytime, after school and evening programs · Spring and Summer Camps

Maternity & Beyond

one of Angus’s quirks for years. My first memory of this is when he was two and a child near him on the playground tripped, Phone: 250-590-4460 hit her head and started to cry. Angus began Grooming: 250-590-5803 2325 Central Ave, Victoria 778-265-2261 to cry also. Then he threw himself onto #106–751 Goldstream Avenue info@playfulpencil.ca the little wooden bridge he was playing on islandpetsource.com www.playfulpencil.ca and smashed his head on purpose, giving himself something to really cry about. As a preschooler, when Angus cried as soon as another child bumped his knee, other mothers would tell me how empathic my son was. Maybe they meant it as praise, 1Up Single Parent...... 39 IMAX.......................... 38 Pacific Coast Thriving Roots but I knew not to take it that way. This Arbutus Grove.......... IFC International Swimming...............21 Wilderness wasn’t empathy, and it wasn’t something to Arts Calibre Montessori............. 53 Pivot Point................. 58 School.....................19 celebrate—especially because Angus would Academy. . .............IBC Island Catholic..........BC Resthouse Sleep Tillicum Centre......... IFC cry louder than the child who had actually hurt himself, and for much longer.

Aspengrove School...10 Island Montessori....... 6 Solutions................ 27 TJ’s The Kiddie Preschool wasn’t the end of this routine. It Bear Mountain.......... 28 Kaleidoscope Royal BC Museum....... 6 Store...................... 34 still happens now, at six-and-a-half. Angus Brentwood College Theatre.................IBC Saanich Dental.......... 34 Tom Lee Music.......... 37 sobs at school when someone else is injured School.................... 26 Kool & Child............... 23 Saanich Total Learning............16 at recess. Angus demands medical attention for himself when someone else is unwell.

Brown Henderson Lifestyles................... 35 Recreation............... 3 Toying Around........... 36 Mike and I have tried to engage Angus in Melbye................... 42 Lions Baseball School District #62....21 Vancouver Island rational conversations about this, as have Canucks Autism.........47 Association.............13 Serious Coffee.......... 53 University.......... 17, 62 his teachers and his intervention workers.

An injury on the playground isn’t a big Cathedral School...... 43 Little Steps.................31 Smart Tutor Victoria Academy deal! Your friend—or that stranger—will Choices Adoption..... 45 Love Den................... 37 Referrals................ 42 of Ballet................. 22 be okay! Mommy has a tummy ache, but Cinecenta................... 41 MacDonald St. Joseph’s Victoria Bug Zoo....... 43 you just ate a big lunch! Probably your Dialogue and Realty..................... 36 Chemainus............ 46 Victoria School for tummy is okay. To which Angus will cry louder and louder and scream: “In truth, in Resolution Mad Science............... 8 St. Margaret’s.............13 Ideal Education..... 37 truth” which is his common protest when Services................. 46 Mary Rogers St. Michaels VIHA..........................50 someone suspects he’s fibbing.

Discovery School.......18 Music Studio. . ..........11 University School..

46 Welcome Wagon........19 Maybe some day we’ll hit on a strategy Emmanuel Math4me.....................11 Stages..................24, 31 Western that works. Maybe one day Angus will simply grow out of the behaviour. Miracles Preschool.......... 8, 47 Mineral World............ 22 Sunrise Waldorf........IBC Adventures............. 41 do happen. But for now, I just have to eat Evergreen School..... 42 Momease................. IFC Swan Lake................. 49 Westmont my dry toast covertly in the kitchen, then Falcom Mothering Touch..........7 Sylvan Learning.......... 9 Montessori..............47 go upstairs to do “computer work” in bed.

ADVERTISERS Directory

Gymnastics............ 43

Laura Trunkey is the mother of the amazing Angus, and the author of the story collection Double Dutch (House of Anansi, 2016). Find her at lauratrunkey.com.

IslandParent.ca

Foster Parent Support Services... 25

Oak & Orca....35, 38, 54

Theatre One...............16

Westshore Dental....... 5

Oxford Learning....... IFC

Thrifty Foods............. 33

Westshore Parks

Pacific Christian.......IBC

and Recreation...... 32

February 2018 59

Winter Wetlands,

Waterfalls,

& Wonders M

arch 20 is the official first day of spring. That means it’s still winter this month and for the first 19 days of March!

Sometimes on winter days we stay inside to avoid rain, snow, cloudy skies and colder weather. But too much time indoors can be a recipe for restless kids or it can trigger a case of the winter blahs. If I start feeling the winter blues and blahs, I look to the great outdoors to lift my spirits and my motivation. Research shows that, for both adults and kids, spending time outdoors in all seasons can help restore mental energy, enhance concentration, heighten creativity, relieve stress, and minimize anxiety.

Here are five outdoor adventures in CRD Regional Parks that might just help your kids burn off some energy and elevate your family’s state of mind.

Celebrate International Wetlands Day on February 2. Pull on your rain gear and encourage your kids to go for a walk at a wetland. You can walk, laugh and explore together while taking in the scenic wonders. You can also search Nature Notes by sight and sound for animals that live in or around a wetland, such as jumping fish, foraging birds, dabbling ducks, singing frogs, frolicking river otters, darting insects or turtles emerging from hibernation. As long as the land is wet either all year round or at different times of the year, then it is a wetland ecosystem! If you don’t discover a wetland animal, look for animal tracks in muddy areas around the wetland shore.

There are many wetlands with surrounding trails to discover in regional parks, such as Elk/Beaver Lake, Witty’s Lagoon, Sooke Potholes, Thetis Lake, and Matheson Lake.

Sara Mimick

Venture out on a weekend afternoon with your family to Francis/King Regional Park, and get warm and cozy by visiting the Nature Centre.

Meet Newton and Darwin, two live rough-skinned newts with distinct personalities. Rough-skinned newts have bright orange bellies that they expose if in danger. To show off their bellies, a newt will raise its head, turn up its tail and extend its limbs, signalling to a predator that it is toxic. At the Francis/King Nature Centre you can also watch some of our resident songbirds, such as dark-eyed juncos, red-breasted nuthatches, chestnut-brown chickadees and Anna’s hummingbirds. Seeing the newts and birds close-up can be fun, and spark a sense of wonder for both kids and adults.

Visit the waterfalls at Witty’s Lagoon and Sooke Potholes Regional Parks.

There is also one near Sandcut Beach at Jordan River Regional Park. These waterfalls are hidden gems and come alive with all the winter rains. They are exciting, dynamic, fast flowing, refreshing, thundering with sound and extremely beautiful. Spend a few minutes at a waterfall and let it invigorate you.

Breath in fresh air, stretch your legs and raise your heart rate by participating in a guided winter hike. Hiking is excellent for physical and mental health. The CRD Regional Parks guided hikes are an opportunity to meet other adults, families and be social. It is also an opportunity to take in and appreciate some picturesque nature landscapes, which for some can bring a sense of calm, warmth and connectedness.

Search along a forested trail with your kids for something new and green and fresh; in other words, new plant growth! See how many shoots emerging from the soil or fresh leaf buds on trees you can find. These tiny new seedlings often resonate with me as they struggle to become active and energized after a long, frosty winter. In February, you might spot a delicate tightly-rolled little green spathe from skunk cabbage emerging from the muddy soil or some fuzzy brown leaf buds of a Garry oak tree. If on your forest walk you don’t discover new plant growth, head out to Island View Beach, Devonian, Witty’s Lagoon or Coles Bay Regional Parks to see some seaweeds coloured vibrant greens, browns and reds. These seaweeds often wash up on shore from the winter waves.

These are just some of things you can do with your family outside in the winter in CRD Regional Parks. Check our Winter 2018 Nature Outings and Events at crd.bc.ca/ parks-events. Even if you don’t embark on an outdoor winter adventure, take time to go outside, breathe in fresh air and let the outdoors lift your spirits.

Writing for Island Parent Many of the articles in Island Parent are written by people just like you: parents who want to share their experiences, knowledge and ideas with other parents. We’re always happy to consider your submission, whether you’re a published writer or not. If you’re itching to express yourself but need a few pointers or a friendly nudge, come out for an evening of inspiration.

We’re holding a Writing for Island Parent workshop on Tuesday, February 20, 7:30–9pm, at 830–A Pembroke Street (across from the north side of SaveOn-Foods Memorial Arena).

The workshop is free, but space is limited. If you’d like to attend, please email Sue Fast at editor@islandparent.ca.

Sara Mimick is a Parks Naturalist with Capital Regional District Parks.

IslandParent.ca

February 2018 61

No Words

T

here comes a point in a child’s life when his fears of monsters and scary dreams turn into fears that reflect the reality of the world. It can come as a great shock to a child to realize that there is such a thing as death and that tragedies of all kinds are a part of our human experience.

While we can comfort a child and reassure him that there is no monster under his bed or that he was just having a bad dream, we can’t do that with realistic fears.

Children already feel helpless because there is so much they don’t know about the world. They form mistaken ideas about situations being dangerous when they aren’t. Young children can watch a rerun on the news and think the event is happening again. They may hear of a tragedy in another country which is far away but may not understand the concept of distance so it feels far more threatening than it really is.

What do we, as adults, do

a child guide you. Answer their questions with tenderness and sensitivity.

Young children may seem unaffected by sad or upsetting news as they go off and with our own fears so that we aren’t riddled with terrifying thoughts? We take the precautions that we need to keep ourselves safe. We have enough life experience to draw from and to form rational thoughts.

When we do this, we can forget about the possibilities of danger and find some peace to live our lives.

How can we help our children? We can explain that tragedies and accidents rarely happen and how unlikely it is that these awful things would happen to them. This is important information for a child.

Never lie to a child. Children need to trust you, so sugar coating the truth doesn’t help. If you deny that something has happened or isn’t that bad and they discover otherwise, they won’t trust you. Likewise, giving too much information can be devastating to a child.

It is best to present the facts briefly and then let

Allison Rees Cut It Out! play, that is how their immaturity protects them. Older children and teens often take more seriously than parents the threats to our lives and our world from pollution, destruction of the environment, and other humanly created evils. Because of this, they may feel overwhelmed with emotion.

Words that are designed to try to make a person feel better when they are experiencing strong emotions, rarely land well. It is often better to give your calm and loving presence with no words.

LIFE Seminars has two books available, Sidestepping the Power Struggle and The Parent Child Connection. See lifeseminars.com.

Which road will take you to your masters’ in Education Leadership at VIU? Weekends/Summer Option:

Six Friday evenings and six Saturdays per semester and one July residency.

Distance Option:

Study online and enjoy two brief summer residencies.

Full-time Option:

Study full-time at VIU for one year.

Complete your degree in three semesters.

For more information contact Dr. Rachel Moll, Chair, Graduate Programs Rachel.Moll@viu.ca

viu.ca/medl 62 Island Parent Magazine

Donna Nelson, Donna.Nelson@viu.ca 250.753.3245 local 2530 IslandParent.ca

Waldorf education is imbued with life and joy.

Call and book a tour of our beautiful seven acre campus today.

Now accepting applications for September 2018 Grades 1 – 8 Kindergarten | Preschool Offering a full enhanced program with French, Strings, Woodwork, Handwork, P.E. & Eurythmy

www.sunrisewaldorfschool.org 250-743-7253

Preschool to Grade 8…and beyond.

Imagine a School…where music, dance, theatre and visual arts are infused into all aspects of an outstanding curriculum. v Junior K and Half/Full-day Kindergarten options also available v Comprehensive K–8 program consistently exceeds BC Curriculum v Excellent facilities, convenient Cedar Hill and Gordon Head locations v Highly qualified, dedicated staff and low student/teacher ratios

Visit our website, come to one of our Open Houses, or call us! www.ArtsCalibre.ca info@ArtsCalibre.ca 250.382.3533

Island Catholic Schools Catholic Education on Vancouver Island is a system rich in tradition and history dating back to the mid-nineteenth century. Island Catholic Schools is a dynamic community of schools having a strong reputation for academic excellence, instilling Catholic values and building community. We are committed to educating the “whole” child in a Christ-centered community of learning.

St. Joseph’s

(Pre-School to Grade 7) 757 W Burnside Rd, Victoria 250-479-1232 www.stjosephschool.ca Open House: Monday, Feb 5, 4–6pm

St. Patrick’s School

(Kindergarten to Grade 7) 2368 Trent St, Victoria 250-592-6713 www.stpatrickselem.ca Open House: Monday, Feb 5, 9am–noon

St. Andrew’s Regional High School

(Grade 8–12) 880 McKenzie Ave, Victoria 250-479-1414 www.standrewshigh.ca Open House: Thursday, Feb 8, 6:30–8:30pm

St. Joseph’s

(Pre-School to Grade 7) 9735 Elm St, Chemainus 250-246-3191 www.stjosephselem.ca Open House: Monday, Feb 19, 9:30am–1pm

Queen of Angels

(Pre-School to Grade 9) 2085 Maple Bay Rd, Duncan 250-746-5919 www.queenofangels.ca Open House: Monday, Feb 5, 1–4pm Kindergarten Information Session: 4–4:30pm

John Paul II

(Kindergarten to Grade 8) 4006 8th Ave, Port Alberni 250-723-0637 www.jp2nd.ca Open House: Friday, Apr 20, 3:30–5pm

Call today for registration information K to 12, Pre-school, Day Care, Out of School Care for September 2018

250-727-6893 or visit cisdv.bc.ca