June 2020 Island Parent

J U N E

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Vancouver Island’s Parenting Resource for 32 Years

@home edition

Papa’s Privacy Policy Getting Ready —Or Not—for Back-to-School

Sensational Summer

Programs, Camps & Events

Join us In-Centre or Online for a Summer of Learning!

Keep the Learning Going!

We are now open for both online and in-person instruction—whatever is right for your family. Although we're excited to return to seeing families in our centres, our online tutoring is also available!

Personalized In-Centre Tutoring: Our expert teachers can provide face-to-face support, following BC Health mandated guidelines to ensure the safety of your child.

Online Tutoring: Personalized support from our same great teachers, just in the comfort and safety of your home.

And we can get started today! Call us to set up your child's assessment and get going again with learning!

Sylvan Victoria 250-477-3212

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Sylvan Westshore 250-590-6211

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Sylvan Nanaimo 250-758-1526

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The Victoria HarbourCats would like to tip our hats to all the doctors, nurses, caregivers, medical professionals and all other essential workers who have gone above and beyond during the COVID-19 crisis.

We hope your efforts will get us all back to normal soon and that we can celebrate at the ballpark later this summer. #STAYHOME4BASEBALL

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Visit our website at:

www.harbourcats.com

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June 2020  3

20

Ta b l e o f C ontents

12 Tips for Managing Screen Time Finding a safe, healthy and happy middle ground.

25

Summer Programs

A fun-in-the-sun guide.

26

Five Ways to Inspire, Rewire & Connect.

When ‘Family Time’ is ‘All the Time.’

Candace negm

Features 6

Keep Calm & Carry On @Home

Things to do in the best place to be.

14

The Power of a Mama Hug

We all need our moms sometimes.

Kelly Mcquillan

12

Getting Ready—Or Not —for Back-to-School

16

Unforeseen Blessings

The importance of taking one step at a time.

Finding the positive side of the pandemic.

dr. Jillian roberts

Kelly cleeve

In Every Issue 5

18

32

Fast Forward

Dadspeak

What’s for Dinner

Sue Fast

Bud Ridout

Emillie parrish

22

Moms’ POV Sarah seitz

24

Family Calendar

29

Kids’ Reads

34

Happy Families, Healthy Families Cynthia Powell, Niki Timar, Areli Hermanson, Denise Baillet, Iris Bell, Cindy Bates, Hilary Planden, Tia Niedjalski

36

Nature Notes

christine van starkenburg

30

Preschool & Child Care Directory J U N E

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Vancouver Island’s Parenting Resource for 32 Years

@home edition

O n t h e C over Jessa B. (6) Photo by Jennifer Callioux Photography instagram.com/calli-o-photo

Papa’s Privacy Policy Getting Ready —Or Not—for Back-to-School

Sensational Summer

Programs, Camps & Events

4 Island Parent @Home

38

Cut It Out! Dr. Allison Rees

Jim Schneider Publisher publisher@islandparent.ca Sue Fast Editor editor@islandparent.ca Linda Frear Account Manager/Office Manager linda@islandparent.ca Kristine Wickheim Account Manager kristine@islandparent.ca 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. ISSN 0838-5505.

Island Parent Magazine 250-388-6905 islandparent.ca

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Fa stf o rwa r d

Back to School…in June

G

oing back to school in June would be strange enough during so-called “normal” times, but now, during a pandemic, it might feel—to those students who’ve chosen to return—like traveling into the Twilight Zone.

Imagine if you will, taped markings around desks enforcing a two-metre buffer, a bell ringing for scheduled washroom and handwashing breaks, squirts of hand sanitizer administered frequently, directional arrows taped on hallway floors, staggered drop-off, pick-up, recess, and lunch times, and the possibility of some people around you wearing masks.

When/if kids return to school this month, they will enter a reality unlike the one they left in March. But one thing a lot of parents have noticed since the sudden switch from school to home: kids are resilient and adaptable. So chances are they’ll be the same way going from home back to school.

A recent study from the Angus Reid Institute canvassed children aged 10 to 17 across Canada about their thoughts, expectations, and concerns during the pandemic. Asked how they would feel about returning to school, 36 per cent said they’re looking forward to it, while twenty-six per cent said they’re not. Nearly four-in-ten, or 38 per cent, felt just “okay” about the prospect.

When asked to describe how they’ve been feeling in general, 71 per cent of kids said “bored.” Forty-one per cent said they feel “normal.” Older kids were twice as likely as younger ones

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to say they feel “angry” compared to those aged 10 to 15, and half as likely as those who said they feel “good.”

What did the majority of kids miss most during the shutdown? Their friends.

Now they’re together again while trying to stay two metres apart.

Normally, June is when we’d be winding down the school year and gearing up for the summer. Right about now we’d be thinking about summer plans and programs, possible holidays and road trips, sunny weather and lazy days stretching out in front of us like a long sandy beach.

But nothing about this year has been normal. And so we’re all trying to adapt.

To help, Dr. Jillian Roberts provides thinking points for parents in her article, Getting Ready—or Not—for Go Back to School; Kelly McQuillan writes about The Power of a Mama Hug; and Kelly Cleeve points out a few positives of the pandemic in Unforeseen Blessings. For ideas and suggestions on how to beat boredom while isolating, check out Keep Calm & Carry On @ Home and 5 Ways to Inspire, Rewire and Connect. And keep in mind that on June 25, school’s out!

For a list of summer programs, adapted to meet new sectorspecific guidelines for child care and recreation, see the Sensational Summer Program Listings.

Happy back-to-school/still at home—and start of summer!

Sue Fast June 2020 5

@HOME

Keep Calm & Carry On There’s no shortage of resources to help us beat boredom during the COVID crisis.

Here to help you keep your kids exploring, creating, reading, calm, connected, entertained is an updated list of—for the most part—free resources for families.

The YMCA’s YPlay aims to help build strong kids and a strong family at home. Activities are designed for a variety of ages and levels of ability and can be done from your family room for free. Choose from activities including: songs, arts & crafts, healthy play, physical literacy, physical activity and—coming soon—safety and story time. ymcahome.ca/yplay The National Ballet of Canada’s Ballet Fun for Kids gives access to fun projects and resources designed to bring the beauty of dance and live theatre right to your home. Learn more about ballet, watch clips of your favourite performances, practice your dance moves or get creative with arts and crafts. Just use your imagination and have fun! national.ballet.ca

UBC is bringing a guided Play & Learn program to your living room with free live-streamed activity sessions on a variety of topics: art, science, nutrition, drama, wellness, enrichment and more. Sessions are accessible through a smartphone, tablet or laptop, and are designed for children to be able to participate without hands-on involvement from parents/guardians. recreation.ubc.ca/get-moving/ play-learn/

Sport for Life presents “Physical Literacy at Home” to help support parents and guardians and kids to develop physical literacy at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. These activities are selected from the PLAYBuilder resource.

Sport for Life provides a new video on Tuesdays and Thursdays at sportforlife.ca.

6 Island Parent @Home

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The Kiddies Store SINCE

1978

Dedicated to providing Vancouver Island families with high-quality infant and toddler products at affordable prices for over 25 years

Strollers

Safety

Car Seats

Playtime

Furniture

Bath & Health

Baby Carriers

Feeding & Kitchen

Bedding Nursery

Apparel

Now Offering Curb-Side Pickups & Virtual Visits

tjskids.com 250-386-2229

Finlayson St.

St.

3045–C Douglas St. Victoria, BC

Current Hours Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm Douglas

This guide for young readers defines the coronavirus, explains why everyday routines have been disrupted, and lays out how everyone can do their part to help. For a free downloadable ebook along with other easy-to-navigate learning resources, activities, podcasts and videos for all ages, visit stayhome.candlewick.com.

Larch St.

Entrance off Larch St.

T.J.’s

Fun, Interactive Online Classes and Groups!

Captain Underpants author Dav Pilkey has started a Dav Pilkey at Home resource featuring reading, writing and art activities. Kids can get creative and have fun with some of their favourite characters from Dog Man and Captain Underpants. Check in every Friday for new activities, videos, and more. kids.scholastic.com

Even COVID can’t stop us!

Classes Online (live, interactive, local) Childbirth Preparation & Refreshers Baby Care & Infant First Aid Cloth Diapering Workshop Baby-Wearing Workshop Dogs-and-Babies Workshop

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Groups Online Parents-and-Babies Chat - 1-2pm Mon-Fri Find the link on our website

Retail Store - Online shopping only Support Your Local retailer Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Breastpump sales & rentals Nursing bras and tops Cloth diapers and accessories Baby Carriers Baby Clothes, Books and Toys

975 Fort Street, Victoria motheringtouch.ca - 250-595-4905

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June 2020 7

Back-to-School Safety Measures

P

arents have the choice to send their children back to school on a gradual and part-time basis, beginning on June 1.

Here, according to the Ministry of Education, is what parents can expect when/if kids return to school:

Grades K–5 (2–3 days per week) Grades 6–12 (1 day per week)

strollers • car seats • furniture • maternity • baby carriers high chairs • diaper bags • toys • books • sleep aids Visit THE MEET UP Indoor Playground & Event Space!

• 5 days a week available for children of Essential Service Workers, students with disabilities/diverse abilities, and students requiring additional supports.

• School districts and independent schools will organize their daily and weekly schedules based on school density targets and the number of children who are choosing to return to in-class instruction. This means children may not have their regular classroom teacher or classmates.

• Bussing and transportation services to be implemented in accordance with operation plans.

Increased Health & Safety Measures 1581 Hillside Ave, Victoria 778•265•5651 Across the street from Hillside Centre

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• Parents will be asked to monitor their children daily for symptoms and not to send them to school if they are sick.

People who are sick will not be allowed in school.

• Students will be asked to wash their hands frequently, including before coming to school. They will have access to hand sanitizer when hand washing is not available.

• Schools will be cleaned more frequently, including classrooms and high touch areas.

• Schools may implement staggered drop-off and pick up times and modify lunch and recess hours.

School & Classrooms Might Look Different

We are also still open for Website Business Toys, games and puzzles for all ages

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• Increased spacing between students in classrooms and smaller group activities.

• No physical contact sports but more time outside with classmates.

• Limitations on assemblies and other large gatherings.

• Wearing non-medical masks will be a personal choice for students and teachers.

• Students will be asked to label their personal items and not to share them.

• Parents may need to remind children to minimize physical contact with their friends.

• Continuation of online/remote learning opportunities to supplement in-school instruction.

• Focus on mental health supports for students returning to school and those who continue to learn remotely.

For more information, visit gov.bc.ca.

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@HOME World Health Organization’s Back-to-School Re-entry Checklist

o

1. Monitor your child’s health and keep them home from school if they are ill.

o

2. Teach and model good hygiene practices for your children: • Wash your hands with soap and safe water frequently. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 per cent alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water, if hands are visibly dirty.

• Ensure that safe drinking water is available and toilets or latrines are clean and available at home • Ensure waste is safely collected, stored and disposed of • Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your elbow and avoid touching your face, eyes, mouth, nose

o

3. Encourage your children to ask questions and express their feelings with you and their teachers. Remember that your child may have different reactions to stress; be patient and understanding.

o

4. Prevent stigma by using facts and reminding students to be considerate of one another

o

5. Coordinate with the school to receive information and ask how you can support school safety efforts (though parent-teacher committees, etc.)

Free, Live, Coding Workshops for Kids

From creating online games to building websites, students now have access to free, live online coding workshops through the Ministry of Education website Keep Learning BC. Canada Learning Code offers free, live workshops that students and educators can access that help students as young as nine years old learn how to code in different forms.

New coding workshops are added each week and can be accessed through the Keep Learning BC website at openschool.bc.ca/ keeplearning.

The 5 stages of resuming in-class instruction

From the B.C. Ministry of Education’s Restart Plan at gov.bc.ca.

IslandParent.ca

June 2020 9

@HOME The Royal BC Museum will re-open to the public on Friday, June 19, opening its galleries in phases. Physical distancing measures include: limiting the number of visitors in the galleries, timed tickets, acrylic barriers at all points where visitors and staff interact and a greater number of hand-washing stations throughout the museum.

Timed tickets will be available online starting Monday, June 15 at royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.

Keep busy with the Ocean Wise’s Ocean-Friendly tutorials, offering fun and eco-friendly #selfcare and green gifting tutorials. Projects include: button sea stars, tinted lip balms, kelp face mask tutorial, plastic-free glitter, body scrub, DIY body lotion bar, and DIY gift wrap. Bring the ocean to your living room. ocean.org/learnonline

Dads Read Princess Stories every Tuesday “so you don’t have to!” This is a podcast where real life dads read stories about made-up and real princesses. The podcast features several UVic alumni and local artists. It comes to you each week with a new dad and a new tale. facebook.com/dadsreadprincessstories Common Sense Media, an organization providing age-based media reviews for families, launched Parent Trapped, a podcast that captures candid stories, recommendations, and tips for maintaining some semblance of “normal” in these very not-normal times. Each episode will feature interviews with experts and tips on everything from making learning at home more fun to finding movies and shows the whole family can enjoy. commonsensemedia.org/parenttrapped

10 Island Parent @Home

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Watch sea otters eat and play, penguins waddle, and jellies float peacefully by from the comfort of your own home thanks to Vancouver Aquarium’s web cams. There’s the Otter Cam, the Jelly Cam, and the Penguin Cam that give you a glimpse through the Vancouver Aquarium’s window. vanaqua.org

The Saanich Fair is Moo-ving in a New Direction

This year’s 152nd Saanich Fair will look and feel different in response to COVID-19. The show must go on—and will!

Educational and entertaining activities will be available online with some socially-distant safe activities at the Saanich Fairground over the Labour Day weekend, including a farmers’ market. For updates, check saanichfair.ca.

IslandParent.ca

June 2020 11

Getting Ready–Or Not— for Back-to-School

A

s the COVID-19 crisis begins to calm down here in British Columbia, our “bubbles” of friends and loved ones are expanding, vaccine developments are gaining momentum, and businesses are re-opening with social distancing protocols. Now, many of us are trying to decide whether or not we should send our kids back to school. This can be a tough decision for many as we balance the worry over our kids’ health and safety with the scientific data of low infection rates on Vancouver Island. On one hand, we’re desperate to get our children back to their normal social and academic lives, while on the other, we’re wondering if it’s still too soon.

Here are some thinking points to help you come to your decision more clearly and ensure your kids’ mental wellness thrives:

teens, though, they can competently understand how to keep a safe distance and can likely be trusted to do so.

Take Things a Step at a Time

We can’t solve all the world’s problems in a day—especially this one. As tempting as it might be to try and plan weeks, even months ahead, doing so can feel futile during this crisis. The situation changes daily, and it’s important that we go into every day with a fresh, open mind. The world’s best doctors and scientists are working round-the-clock to find vaccines and treatments for this virus—one that is new and

your kids, today and every day, is to allow them to be kids as much as possible. Don’t project your anxiety—your kids’ emotional coping mechanisms haven’t fully developed yet. Overhearing adults talk about scary things like death counts and infection rates can consume children’s minds and increase their anxiety. If we imagine how scary this pandemic has been for adults, consider how it would feel as a child. Kids also tend to worry about the health and safety of their parents—if they express this, make sure you assure them that your family is all safe at home and that you will all be ok. If your child’s feeling particularly down, ac-

Know the Facts

The very first thing to do is research.

Listen to our nation’s top doctors and provincial health leaders. They want the best for our society as a whole and they are the ones to get your information from (not your mother-in-law, the internet, or other parents). Learn what you can and try to identify for yourself what would make you feel most comfortable. Parents need to understand the relative risk in their community and weigh that against the benefits of getting their kids back into school (and being able to work without kids underfoot). Look into your child’s school’s press releases and protocols and ask school officials about what precautions they’re taking if anything is unclear. You need to feel confident that your child’s school has done everything they can to ensure your child’s safety.

Consider Your Child’s Age

Older children will have a better understanding of what physical distancing is and why it’s important. For younger children, it will be nearly impossible for supervisors to keep them 6 feet apart, much less not to touch their faces. If your child is young and you aren’t confident that they’ll be able to keep a healthy distance at school, it might be best just to wait. For older kids and

12 Island Parent @Home

about which so much is still unknown.

Try to be patient with those around you as we all increase our resilience through this crisis. This is an incredibly difficult time for many, as we worry about money, childcare, our relationships, or aging parents that we haven’t been able to hug in months. Many of us are stressed—and the best thing we can do for ourselves, our kids, and our families is to take each day one at a time, including your child’s return to school. We all have to be more patient and present in the moment as we buy the world’s researchers more time to beat this virus.

Let Your Kids Be Kids

Be careful that your kids don’t overhear you discussing your detailed worries about considering their potential return to school.

The absolute best thing you can do for

knowledge and validate their feelings—but then shift the energy. Don’t let your worries impede your child’s overall mental wellness—we want them to be vigilant, but not to share their parents’ worries. Do everything you can to create a warm, positive, and encouraging home environment.

Be a Good Role Model

Whether or not you do decide to send your kids back to school, continue to be a healthy role model for your kids. Practice physical distancing outside of the home at all times, and if your child sees you violate distancing protocols, explain why. Keep modelling healthy physical and emotional behaviour—they will be looking to you for cues on how anxious and scared they should be.

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Bookend Your Child’s Day with Morning Pep Talks & Evening Debriefs

Keep things positive and joyous in the home—gently remind your kids about the importance of social distancing in the morning, and have a check-in with them about their feelings in the evening. If your kids are back at school, ask them how their day was, what the best thing that happened was, what they’re enjoying learning in school, and so on. Ask them if they’re having fun and if they feel safe and comfortable. Explore if anything’s bothering or worrying them—this is your time to help your kids process what’s happening in their lives and resolve any anxieties they might have.

Closing Thoughts

• When deciding whether or not to send your kids back to school, ask them about their thoughts too. Help them develop a sense of agency and autonomy—genuinely consider and address their concerns and points of view.

• Teenagers are particularly vulnerable emotionally during this time—many of their graduations, proms, trips, and sporting and social events have been cancelled.

As a young person this can feel catastrophically disappointing. Make sure you keep an extra-close eye on them—teen depression often presents as persistent irritability. If you’re starting to get concerned, consider getting them some professional help.

• Remember that it’s probably confusing for kids to go from having to stay away from everyone entirely, to staying away from most people with a select few exceptions, and finally to returning to school around lots of kids. Explain to them that as we get control of the virus, there is less risk to us and therefore our “bubbles” can get bigger.

• Finally, remember that kids are incredibly resilient. There might be some initial awkwardness with their friends and teachers when they return, but in time they will find their footing once more. Younger kids have probably enjoyed all this extra time with their parents during isolation—try to bring some of the new traditions and routines you created into our developing “new normal.”

Dr. Jillian Roberts is a child psychologist, UVic professor and mother. She is the CEO and Founder of FamilySparks and the author of Kids, Sex and Screens: Raising Strong, Resilient Children in the Sexualized Digital Age.

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SUMMER

CAMPS PLAY YOUR WAY TO:

CONFIDENCE

SKILL DEVELOPMENT

FUN, TEAM WORK & COOPERATION

RESPECT

INCLUSIVITY

pise.ca/summer-camps

Spring programs also available!

Visit pise.ca/kids-programs for more information.

June 2020 13

The Power of a Mama Hug I

don’t often suffer from writer’s block, but I’ve certainly wrestled with it lately. After weeks of COVID-19 lockdown we’re trying to negotiate a gradual re-entry into daily life—what is being referred to ad nauseam as, the “new normal.” It’s hard to imagine what tomorrow will look like, let alone this next month. My mind discards topics as quickly as I think of them: too trite, too mundane, too irrelevant. How can I possibly know what will be useful or inspiring to parents over a month from now?

Deep. Breaths. Required.

A pause to reflect and observe. If nothing else, this virus has gifted us time for that. I notice that, despite often op-

14 Island Parent @Home

pressive fear and uncertainty, our communities are responding to this crisis in many positive, heartening ways. For example, we are collectively acknowledging those amazing people whom Mr. Rodgers would have lovingly labelled, “The Helpers,” be it on social media, when we see them on the street, and even from our front porches and balconies at 7 p.m. each evening, pots and pans in hand.

People are hanging hearts in their windows and decorating their sidewalks with colourful chalk messages of peace and kindness. There is an overwhelming (in a good way) feeling that we are all in this together; therefore, we are going to

get through it together, even though we must stay physically apart.

So, we’re reaching out to each other in the safe ways available to us. Friends check in (“Are you still alive over there?

How’s your wine supply?”), and parents comfort their children, even as we struggle, ourselves, to make sense of how the world seems to have turned upside down overnight. I’m giving my son as many “Mama hugs” as possible without smothering him, but I am missing my own mom’s hugs in a way that physically hurts sometimes.

I can’t help but wonder, sadly, how many of us have been unable to give our moms a physical hug, either because of IslandParent.ca

social distancing measures, geographical separation, family rifts, or because they are no longer with us in this world.

What is it that makes a “Mama hug” so special?

For me (thanks, Mom!) it’s the feeling of being wrapped in a cocoon of unconditional love, an unspoken promise that things will be OK, and an injection of unwavering faith in my ability to rise up and do what I think I cannot.

Right now, “mamas,” maternallyinclined caregivers, all over the world are being taxed to their limits. Kids are home from school and, in many cases, are confined to the house (or apartment!): bored, scared, and missing their friends. Mamas are juggling childcare and the new frontier of homeschooling, often with working from home or venturing into the new scariness of the world so that they can continue doing the essential jobs that keep society safe, healthy, and fed.

Mamas not only make sure their households are functioning, that there is food to eat (and toilet paper in the cupboard), but that everyone’s emotional needs are cared for as well. All this while they’re feeling the fear of the unknown, fear for loved ones, fear of lost income, fear of lost learning, fear of psychological ramifications…the list is long, and it keeps them up at night.

But, despite everything, the vast majority of mamas are holding it together.

They are finding a strength they didn’t know they possessed and they share this strength with their families. They get up each morning and face another day, try to look for the good, teach their children to “look for the helpers,” and to make the best of things. And they dole out “Mama hugs” to all who need them, even if (for now) they are mimed over Zoom, expressed in emojis, or transfigured into kind words and understanding in a phone call.

So, to the mamas, I am sending all of you the biggest, warmest hug I can muster, and I know that you will do the same for anyone in your life that could use a “Mama hug” right now. I see you, I applaud you, and I believe in you— you’ve got this!

Celebrating 70 years of experiences that last a lifetime!

Camp Pringle is open for Day Camps this summer!

Visit our website for details on registration, transportation options and COVID-19 protocols in place at our facility.

Licensed Childcare • Summer Camp • Rentals CampPringle.com • 250-743-2189 • info@camppringle.com

Kelly McQuillan is a writer, musician, teacher, and fledgling mother living in Comox, BC. kellymcquillanwriter.weebly.com.

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June 2020 15

Unforeseen Blessings

T

his pandemic is no easy thing. The economy is suffering, many of us are struggling financially, and some are impacted by mental health issues caused by extreme isolation. I miss my family and my friends. I haven’t been able to hold my baby nephew in over a month.

Like many people, I am working from home, attempting to juggle my children’s online learning, sharing devices between all of us, and feeling the pressure not to let this experience become my kids’ childhood trauma. Secondly, by no means do I mean

to stock pile food, and school was cancelled. The overwhelming tone of our society, at that moment, was fear. How long will this last? The million-dollar question.

As we established a “new normal,” the societal tone shifted to one of compassion and need for human connection. We saw hearts in the window and messages of gratitude for essential workers. My own mindset began to shift through a series of conversations with my girlfriends. Here’s some of our shared observations:

to negate the sorrow and loss of those in our community who are ill or who have family members who have passed from this devastating virus. My heart goes out to all of you.

It’s just that I am a silver-linings-kind-of girl. It’s my nature to find the bright side in even the most challenging situations and to search for an inherent lesson. In the midst of such uncertainty, fear and stress, it can help to focus on the positives that have resulted from all of this.

Like many people, in the first few days of this pandemic, I was shocked by the drastic measures being taken all over the world. It felt as if the entire planet had lost its mind. There were videos of people fighting over supplies in Costco, advice

Wisdom Bomb #1: We may never be blessed with this much time again. Being with your family 24/7 is no easy feat!

I am currently locked in my bedroom as I write this, hoping my children are playing nicely in the yard without damaging property or arguing for all the neighbours to hear. It’s exhausting to keep up with their energy level, to keep them educated as well as entertained, and to encourage them to be okay with boredom. This. Is. Hard.

In a conversation where my girlfriends and I were airing our parenting grievances in this new and unusual situation, one of them made a comment which immediately allowed me to reframe everything. She pointed out that we will never be blessed

16 Island Parent @Home

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with this much time again. When will we ever be able to stop our daily lives and focus on our families like we are able to at this moment?

Our normal lives include hectic work schedules and the chaotic chauffeuring to and from after school activities. On the weekends, our children are hanging out with their friends and not necessarily spending time with the family.

Most of us have not had the privilege of focusing on our family since maternity leave, which feels like a century ago.

Now, in place of our rapid fire, overscheduled reality, we are baking, playing board games, going on bike rides and evening strolls. As a family. As in, all of us. Together.

Wisdom Bomb #2: We really don’t need very much. Normal life is full of distraction. For our children: sports, lessons, field trips, play dates. For us: fancy dinners, fancy cars, fancy clothes. We believed these were the things which made us feel fulfilled and brought us joy. It turns out, we were wrong.

Shortly before this pandemic, I splurged and bought myself a new car. The car I previously drove was embarrassing, all scratched and banged up. It broke down often. Driving a sleek, new car was incredibly satisfying. For all of one week. Then, social isolation. But, do you know what? As that car has sat in my garage, relatively un-driven for the past 34 days, I don’t miss it at all. I don’t miss driving to soccer games. I don’t miss commuting to work. I began to wonder what else I don’t miss.

I don’t miss my morning Starbucks coffee. I don’t miss my yoga classes. I don’t miss my beautiful work wardrobe. I don’t miss putting on makeup.

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I am finding joy in watching my children play together, driving Hot Wheels cars on the carpet. I enjoy the sunlight streaming through my window as I listen to a meditation podcast. I love spending time cooking dinner, while enjoying a glass of wine.

This pandemic has taught me that I don’t need very much to be happy. I need my health, my family and some phone calls with my friends. I need a safe place to sleep and a good meal in my belly. There is still so much to be grateful for.

In recent weeks, I have heard many parents exclaim how surprised they are by their children’s excellent behaviour in light of this challenging situation. Sure, they miss their activities, their friends and their family members. But most parents I know have remarked at the calm and accepting nature of their kids.

The truth is, kids are often smarter than the rest of us. They are happy because they have the one thing they have always wanted: time with their family.

So, as we move forward in the world and eventually get back to “normal” life, I hope we carry forth valuable lessons learned within this pandemic. I hope we retain these newly discovered priorities and keep them in the forefront of our minds instead of diving blindly back into old habits. There is beauty and peace in simplicity.

Kelly Cleeve is a writer, speaker and educator. She has a Masters Degree in human development. More importantly, she is the proud mother of two beautiful boys.

June 2020 17

DA D S PE A K

Papa’s Privacy Policy

D

oesn’t have to be “Papa’s,” of course. Please replace that with whichever guardianship title suits you. I just like alliteration.

Also, I’m not a lawyer. I don’t even play one on the radio. So this ain’t legal advice (I threw in the “ain’t” there to solidify my point); it’s a balance of Googling and Papa paranoia.

not on private property), where you have no reasonable expectation of privacy.

It gets detail-y and law-y when it comes to commercial use, so I’m not venturing into that swamp.

What I am here to talk about is the protection of our kids’ personal privacy which we, as parents, have control over.

Everybody loves a baby photo or

stones documented on a parent’s social media account and associated with their name might not be the coolest thing, dude.

I don’t know if the kids still say “dude.”

So, here are some ideas from Paranoid Papa Bud to balance showing your pride and joy off to the world…against them docking your coolness points later in life because of that photo of their naked butt in the bathtub when they were six.

Put yourself in their shoes. Many of us should be considered very lucky that our younger-days antics weren’t captured frame-by-frame for the entire world to see. Curate what you post, both for your audience (cull that series of face-in-birthday-cake shots down to one, rather than posting four similar ones) and your kids’ future rep.

I also don’t know if the kids are still concerned with their “rep.” I’m sure they are, but perhaps it’s called something different in 2020, like “Klout.”

Consider a nickname, or just use their initials. Especially if your real first and last name is on your social media accounts, maybe you address your little by the first initial of their first name.

Many folks go by their first and middle names. Or, perhaps, a (hopefully nonembarrassing) nickname. Heck, I gave my daughter both a nickname (Kit Kat) and a hashtag (#PapaKidlet). Anything to slow down the search engines.

There are many points of privacy we don’t have much control over without encasing our littles in bubble wrap or traveling with an entourage of tall, sunglasses-wearing security to fend off the paparazzi.

For instance, in Canada, it is legal for anyone to take a photo of you, or your kids, without your permission, if you’re out in public, or otherwise viewable from a public vantage point (if they’re 18 Island Parent @Home

20. It’s great to see children grow up through Facebook albums or Instagram accounts created to document their upbringing, but at some point, it’ll be time to think about the kid’s own autonomy, and what they might want when it comes to their image online.

The fact is, we all cultivate our online personas, whether a little or a lot. For digital natives growing into their own, having a backlog of images and mile-

Ask. As they become aware of the internet and its direct connection to them—have them Google themselves or, better yet, have them Google you— check with them before posting photos or video of them. As their parent/guardian, you’re the one most allowed to post their likeness online, but like many other aspects of your relationship, this is a matter of respect. Show them that courtesy by asking, respect their decisions, and keep the conversation open and normalized.

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Keep track of your media. There’s lots of internet out there, and it can be easy to lose track of where photos or video of your child have been uploaded.

But, if you’re careful to keep it to, say, a couple or three main places, it’ll be easier to go back and pull any down which they may later find mortifying and request you remove. You do have a password manager to keep track of all those different passwords, right?

Watch identifiers. Scrutinize content pre-posting for anything which may make it easier to figure out your child’s city/school/home address. I’ve seen plenty of albums which include both a photo of the kid in a school wear, and another in front of their home with a visible street number. Doesn’t take much Google-Fu from there to find that house.

Engage in disinformation. That nickname you may be using? Ask them to consider using one of their own.

Those cutsey screen names we used to use may be cringe-worthy today (ROOTBEERPOUNDER69420@ICQ. COM), but they also made it tougher to find us online.

Of course, as parents/guardians, we should be a part of any forms your child fills out asking for their name, address, phone number, date of birth, etc. But, unless it’s vital that the information be accurate (e.g., something for a health agency, government, etc.), consider keeping it to just their initials, using your work address, using your mobile or 000-000-0000 as a phone number, shifting their date of birth by a month or six, etc. Just keep it consistent in case some recall of the information is needed as a security challenge later.

It’s all about small deterrents to make OSINT (Open Source INTelligence, or using publicly-available records to gather information) on your family that much more difficult. While these ideas may not stop the most determined goofball from Googling you and yours, it should add enough noise to the signal to discourage the majority of ’em.

Webmeister Bud Ridout is the resident geek at Victoria radio stations The Zone @ 91-3 and 100.3 The Q! He’s also an avid photographer, root beer connoisseur, voice actor and Papa.

IslandParent.ca

Through these times let’s be careful & kind out there

S TAG E S Summer Programs Running This July & August

Programs will be running (hopefully) in person, or online...

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June 2020 19

12 Tips for Managing Screen Time

T

o help parents continue to navigate the unexpected challenges of raising kids amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic, Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development has compiled a series of suggestions.

Here are 12 tips geared towards parents of school-age children.

1. Find the silver lining. Remember that a key part of resilience is trading the efficiency of school and work for connection with your child. You are in this together as a family, and you have everyone’s creativity to explore this new space. Use this time to create new rituals and new reminders of the joy in being a family.

lessons that you and your child can view at a time that works for both of you.

5. How can I help? Ask your children to come up with ways that they can help each other (and you). If they can’t think of anything, suggest ideas like “help each other not be bored,” or “help each other with schoolwork.” Post their “Helping Ideas” on the fridge and come up with new ideas every few days, or even every day.

adequately stimulated. What the brain doesn’t use winds up growing less developed, so varied activities and challenges will help your child develop all of their senses.

8. Listen with your eyes. Non-verbal behavioural cues (such as a shrug of the shoulders or a furrowing of the brow) can provide helpful information about a child’s understanding of the content being shared with them. The same holds true

2. Create screen-free zones. As a family, agree on some times and places during the day when you will just be together, without the disruption of checking your screen. Meals, bedtime, game time, and walks around the block are all good times to stash your device and be fully present with each other and with the moment. With so much of life happening on screens, we need to protect quality time and places where we can simply connect with ourselves and each other, without digital distraction.

3. Pick and choose. While structure is important, worried children may benefit from daily “choices” to help them feel like they can still maintain some sense of control (especially when everything around them seems chaotic)! For instance, when school is over for the day, tell them it’s time to play a game, but they can choose which one. If butting heads, try to offer them one of two options.

6. Walk it out. Schedule breaks that involve physical activity and fresh air. Go for a walk, bounce a ball, skip rope, play hopscotch; the possibilities are endless when it comes to having fun and connecting with your child. Just make sure to follow all current social distancing guidelines any time you leave the house.

4. Prioritize and organize. If you’re a parent who’s working virtually from home, be sure to set realistic goals and create a schedule to match your workday.

Recognize what meetings you need to “attend,” and what may be less important. If you have asynchronous work to complete, prioritize the most important deliverables, and help your children to do the same. Some teachers have virtual lessons that would be helpful for your children. Some teachers have pre-recorded

7. Mix it up. Treat your child’s mind with respect and kindness by mixing up the day with activities that’ll challenge different parts of their brain (for example, reading versus math). Monitor your kids for signs of fatigue, increased irritability, distractibility, and fidgeting, and take breaks for physical activity when necessary. Often, screen use only stimulates the visual and auditory part of the brain, which means senses like smell, touch, taste, and temperature are not being

20 Island Parent @Home

even for online instruction. In the course of a lesson occurring in real time, make sure that your child presents both verbal and non-verbal cues to let the teacher know what may or may not be understood about a given concept, lesson, or assignment.

9. Make distance social. Embrace the opportunity to be social with distant friends and family. It can be difficult to connect with loved ones in other parts of the world during busy days at school and work, but consider the current situation an opportunity to connect/reconnect via video teleconferencing mediums. It can also be made into a fun, stress-free social studies “class” with your kids as they learn about other places, customs, and cultures.

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10. Do your best. Off-screen activities are great, but you won’t always have the mental capacity to support non-screen tasks, and that’s totally fine. Fred Rogers once said: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things… my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers.

You will always find people who are helping.’” By social distancing, your family is helping. And if that means you need to let your kids have a little extra television time in the midst of a crisis, that’s okay. Just be sure to find media you trust and keep an eye on what your kids are watching.

11. It’s okay to be bored. The next time your child complains to you about being bored, resist the urge to put a screen in front of them. Instead, let them sit with their boredom. It may make you both a bit uncomfortable at first, but it turns out that our brains are doing important work when we’re not actively engaged in a specific task. Neuroscientists call this the default mode of brain functioning, and it’s linked to a whole bunch of important skills, including self-awareness and empathy. So, instead of dreaming up another enriching activity to engage your children, let them get bored. Their developing brains will thank you.

Canadian Forces Sailing Association Esquimalt Squadron

Summer Sailing Camps Come learn to sail in your neighbourhood.

Our summer camps are open to all from beginner to advanced, youngster to the young at heart.

Find out more on our website:

www.cfsaesq.ca SMUS summer camps provide safe learning experiences for all students aged 5–17 that emphasize skill development, cooperation, participation and fun!

12. Let’s get physical. Capitalizing on the ways in which digital technology can promote healthy activities can be fun for both parents and their children while staying at home. Turn on your streaming music service and have a dance party with your kids, or go old school with a Wii Fit for solo or team exercise and competition. There are also a variety of free and subscription-based apps that have family fitness content to provide fun and engaging ways to interact and exercise as a family.

As kids develop, experts recommend giving them more responsibility and autonomy, while at the same time keeping a close eye on their development and progress. It can be a challenging balance to strike, but hopefully these tips will help you and your kids find a safe, healthy, and happy middle ground as you grow and learn together.

Reprinted with permission from the Institute of Digital Media and Child Development’s Children and Screens. childrenandscreens.com.

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Sports • SummerBand SummerStrings Musical Theatre Science • Tech Art • Discovery

Summer Fun

for Everyone!

To register online visit www.smus.ca/summercamps June 2020 21

M o m ’ s P OV

Puppy Parenting

S

everal weeks into sheltering at home with my husband and two small children, after we had finished all the jigsaw puzzles, baked the sourdough and stopped hoarding toilet paper, we needed another project. So we got a puppy.

This wasn’t a rash decision brought on by cabin fever. We had thought about getting a pet for years. But with the house empty all day, it didn’t seem fair. Now, with the four of us at home indefinitely, we decided it was the right time. What we didn’t anticipate is that training our puppy would also turn into a lesson on how to parent our kids.

When we first brought our puggle home—named Vader, yes, as in Darth—we didn’t expect much from him. Just like a newborn, he slept a lot, put everything in his mouth and pooped and peed in all of the wrong places. Neither my husband or I have ever raised a puppy before.

We knew we wanted a wellmannered dog and decided that puppy obedience training would be important.

One of the first rules the dog trainer established was, “You wouldn’t give your kids something without them saying please first and that is no different than a dog; a sit means please.”

I immediately thought of all of the times that my kids had asked for water, toast—or something else that they are completely capable of getting for themselves— without saying please, and I let it slide. After years of reminding them to say please and thank you, it sometimes felt futile.

This was my first insight into the similarities between parenting a child and raising a puppy; good behaviours only become strong through repetition and reinforcement. I realized that if we didn’t get 22 Island Parent @Home

serious about applying these same strategies to our kids, then it would be Vader sitting politely at the dinner table with us while our kids had food fights on the floor.

Each week of training began with an on-line session with the trainer and our puppy. In those meetings we would learn new commands, practice them and then spend the following week doing homework with our puppy.

I started to mix up commands between the kids and the dog, using my stern dog trainer verbal cue of “Eh Eh” when the kids were jumping on the couch, yet again, and calling our puppy “Nate” at the dog park. I thought about putting the kids in a crate so that I could enjoy some much-needed time alone, but that seemed like taking it too far.

It seemed wrong to me that we were spending more time and energy on developing impulse control, manners and obedience in our puppy than we ever had on our kids.

Why don’t we as a society place value on these kinds of kid-training classes for new parents?

I wondered why parents who have no training or education on how to raise a child think that they can do it without coaching. To undertake what is possibly life’s most important job by relying only on instinct, common sense and our parents’ experiences, now seems like a massive gamble.

As the weeks of training went on, I found myself thinking that if I just crossed out ‘puppy’ and inserted ‘child’ on every worksheet, my experience of parenting in the time of Covid-19 could really improve.

Some of the concepts were just too similar. Children/dogs need boundaries and structure.

Time Outs work to set limits, calm down and reflect on how to co-exist peacefully.

Exercise releases nervous energy and increases learning.

Some of the bigger concepts of dog training ring true as well. The basic principle of rewards—you do the work, you get the reward—can be applied to chores, homework and exercise. I doubt many of us would show up at work every day if we weren’t receiving a pay cheque. The money at the end of the month is the reward and it’s no different with kids and dogs; they both value life rewards, such as praise, play, toys, treats. And just like with kids, behaviour that is reinforced gets repeated—if whining leads to a reward (your attention, the item they were whining about) you can bet your kids is going to keep it up.

As the parent, it’s our job to calmly, clearly and consistently define the rules and expectations and it’s no different with a dog. A family is like a Wolf Pack and there can only be one leader or Alpha dog (or two in the case of a traditional family unit). Positive reinforcement works but it’s a slippery slope between a bribe and reward. Ideally we want both the dog and the child to learn impulse control and make good choices.

One evening after a long day of puppy training and home-schooling, I decided that I would treat myself to a bath and let hubby do the bedtime routine. As I began to fill the tub, I realized that I hadn’t yet replaced the bubble bath that ran out before the pandemic hit.

But there on the side of the tub was Vader’s dog shampoo and it smelled pretty nice. (It was more luxurious than any bubble bath I had ever purchased for myself but that’s another article.)

So I spent the next hour soaking in dog shampoo wondering how my dog—or child for that matter —would be able to respect me as the Alpha when I smelled like our puppy.

Of course, there are other elements that go into successfully raising children, but everyone’s measuring stick for success is going to be different. I’m not sure we can ever know if we have “succeeded.”

For me, success is peacefully coexisting with my babies and my new fur baby. I am learning that if I can raise a puppy then, maybe, I can also raise my children.

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Sarah Seitz is a working mother, wife and writer. She spends her free time cutting off crusts and uses good coffee and humour to get through the day.

IslandParent.ca

June 2020 23

JuneFamilyCalendar For more information and calendar updates throughout the month visit IslandParent.ca

3 Wednesday Making Zines 11–11:30am. Learn how to make zines with archivist Genevieve Weber and her son Ray. These homemade works are a creative way to record your experiences during this time. royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/rbcmhome-kids

RBCM@Outside: Sharing Nature with Children 2–2:30pm. You don’t have to like spiders, snakes or slugs, just appreciate them. Join educator Liz Crocker for a demonstration of her favourite nature activities. royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/learn/outreach/ rbcmoutside

4–6 Thursday–Saturday University of Victoria Drive-In Movie Nights!

9:30pm at University of Victoria, Parking Lot 10 (entry from McGill Rd) Tickets cost $30 per parking space. UVic hosts three nights of drive-in movies, playing old classics Hook (June 4), The Life Aquatic (June 5) and The Breakfast Club (June 6). Drivers can pull in their vehicles to Parking Lot 10, where a 40-foot screen will be set up.

6 Saturday HarbourCats Virtual Home Opener & Fireworks!

12–3pm at 1814 Vancouver Street The 2020 season of the Victoria HarbourCats may

be canceled, but that doesn’t mean we all can’t get together, in various ways, to celebrate the start of recovery. harbourcats.com

Free Workshop: Composting Basics 3–5pm at Compost Education Centre, 1216 N Park St This is an informative session on what it takes to produce an amendment for your garden that is rich in beneficial microorganisms and nutrients!

We’ll cover the six factors for composting success, how to choose the best composting system for your needs and how to increase the rodent resistance of your compost pile. compost.bc.ca

10 Wednesday Deep Sea Doodles 11:00–11:30am. Draw and learn about the wonderfully weird things beyond the shoreline with invertebrates collections manager Heidi Gartner. royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/rbcmhome-kids

RBCM@Outside: Oceans Week!

2–2:30pm. Celebrate Oceans Week with the Royal BC Museum! Virtually scramble around a rocky Victoria shoreline with Curator of Vertebrate Biology Dr. Gavin Hanke. Join our seaside safari in search of Sculpins, Clingfish, Snailfish and Soles.

Invertebrate Collection Manager and Researcher Heidi Gartner will patch in from home about any curious invertebrates we find. royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/learn/outreach/ rbcmoutside

Ongoing Catch the Kerplunks On Tuesdays at 1pm, Dinah D and Clever Trever of the Kerplunks will host the Fun Farm Family Power Hour. They’ll sing songs, learn how to make super cool juggling cigarboxes, lead a chick parade (or maybe a race!) and have a Tin Toy Rodeo, among other things. You’ll learn how to grow a food plant and lots more surprises. facebook.com/thekerplunks

Parent & Baby Chat Tues 0–4 mos; Wed 4–9 mos; Thurs 9–18 mos.

Online Baby Groups, 1–2pm with Eva Bild. us02web.zoom.us/j/81003112640

Esquimalt Farmers Market Thursdays, 9:30am–12:30pm at Bullen Park To accommodate space requirements during the current situation, the EFM will be setting up in a new location, Bullen Field, right next to Esquimalt Recreation Centre. This means even more space to accommodate any lineups and plenty of personal space for shoppers and vendors, plus you will have even more options to choose from for your weekly market shop! esquimaltmarket.com

Supporting & Expanding Outdoor/Forest/Nature Programs Play-based learning and physical distancing can be more easily supported through outdoor/forest/nature programs. Please join in our backyard gathering for conversations on how to expand this movement through these changing times. facebook.com/events/2796496027143373

Age 3-16 Years

GET READY FOR SOME FUN IN THE SUN THIS SUMMER! Spectacular summer camps for kids ages 3 to 16 including arts, sports, science, tech, outdoor adventure and more!

Re�is��� a� 250-478-8384 | westshorerecreation.ca 24 Island Parent @Home

IslandParent.ca

Summer Programs

It’s here—Island Parent’s listing of summer programs for families! Included you’ll find information on everything from Art to Science & Nature and much, more. Check out the advertising in this issue for more details.

DANCE/MUSIC/PERFORMANCE

Join the Ballet Victoria Conservatory this summer for one of our fun and exciting summer dance camps! Our programs offer students with a passion for dance to learn from Ballet Victoria’s very own professional dancers in a fun, nurturing and safe environment. Students of all ages will have the opportunity to learn various styles of dance and to explore an inspiring world of creativity, movement and fun.

Theatre SKAM’s School of Performing Arts is offering full-day camp options for summer 2020.

Camp sizes will be small and take place in large studio spaces and outside to provide a safe but fun environment. Collaborative group work, dramatic expression in movement and voice, and creating simple costumes will all be part of this wonderful creative week. Your child’s safety is always our top priority and SKAM will be following the COVID-19 Go-Forward Management Strategy issued by the province. For more camp information and to register visit skam.ca/school/ camps.

Stages Performing Arts Schools is offering a number of different summers programs through July and August. Since 1980 Stages has offered professional instruction in jazz, ballet, lyrical, tap, musical theatre & hip hop for all ages & levels of experience. We believe that all students should have an equal opportunity to learn in a safe, non-competitive environment, which fosters self-expression, a healthy body, confidence, & encourages discipline, creativity & pride in their accomplishments. For more information, please call STAGES at 250-384-3267 or visit stagesdance.com.

SMUS Summer camps have something for all students in the Greater Victoria region. We strive to provide safe learning experiences for students aged 5-17 that emphasize skill development, cooperation, participation and fun! SMUS camps have highly qualified instructors and coaches that are passionate about youth development and have experience in engaging and caring for children. We also offer before- and after-program care from 8-9am and 4-5:30pm for camps at the Junior School which can be added when registering. Make us your choice for summer friendship, learning and fun!

Victoria Academy of Ballet’s Storybook Ballet Camp (August 31-September 4), ages 4-7, explores ballet’s most beautiful tales through ballet, creative movement, character dance, and musical exploration. The Junior Dance Intensive (July IslandParent.ca

13-17 levels 1 & 2, July 13-31 levels 3 & 4), ages 7-13, is for students with previous dance experience who wish to take their technique to a new level in this fun, action-packed intensive. Contact us at admin@victoriaacademyofballet.ca.

RECREATION

Come sail at the Canadian Forces Sailing Association this summer! We are so excited for our summer season. Learn to sail in your own boat or bring a buddy to sail with you. Our fantastic coaching team is certified by Sail Canada to deliver a fun and safe program. We spend everyday playing games on the water and exploring the beautiful Esquimalt harbour. Ask us about our safety policies for COVID-19 at sailing instructor@cfsaesq.ca Royal Victoria Yacht Club RVYC’s sailing programs provide adventurous, inclusive and quality programs for everyone. We value sportsmanship, excellence and sailing for life. We strive to create a fun and friendly team environment and we’re all about creating community and access to sport. We welcome landlubbers, Olympic dreamers and everyone in between.

We’ve got summer programs starting at 4 years old all the way through to Adult evening classes.

Join us this summer!

Calling all Fun Seekers and Summer Sizzlers!

West Shore Parks & Recreation Summer programs offers exciting daily and weekly camps for ages 2-16. Cool Capers, Aspiring Artists and Sports Stars alike will make friends and have a blast with our awesome leaders. We also offer Roving Play Parks, Neighbourhood Nights and Wednesday Story Walks, all free programs at a different West Shore park each week. Visit westshorerecreation.ca or call 250-478-8384 for information. Facebook: facebook.com/ westshorerecreation.

SCIENCE, NATURE & OUTDOOR EDUCATION

Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre. Join us for our Nature & Science Day Camps this July and August! Our camps run 9am-3pm Mon-Fri. Small groups ages 5-7 and 7-9 will explore the clam beds, eelgrass meadows and mudflats of beautiful Cowichan Bay, learn about pollinators, intertidal species and coastal birds! Our top priority is the health and safety of children and staff and we’re developing protocols using BC Ministry of Health, Worksafe BC and CVRD guidelines. Fee: $225/child. Bursaries available—check our web-

site for details: cowichanestuary.ca/programs/ camps or contact camps@cowichanestuary.ca.

SPORTS

Challenger International Soccer Camps (staffed by coaches from Europe) teach a fun, technical, and tactical based curriculum, revolving around five of the world’s leading soccer nations: Brazil, France, Spain, UK and the US. Sign up and receive a camp t-shirt, soccer ball and player evaluation as a part of camp. Questions?

Email sfrancis@challengersport.com.

Highland Pacific Golf is Victoria’s friendliest place to play and welcomes golfes of all ages.

Our facilities are ideal for learning and our PGA of Canada Coaches run clinics and camps for all ages. At Highland Pacific Golf young golfers build fundamentals and movement skill of all aspects of the game. Enroll your child in our Summer Camps and watch them grow to love the game for a lifetime.

PISE Summer Camps focus on fun ways to develop fundamental movement skills and patterns that enable children to be active for life! PISE uses a combination of structured and unstructured play to help children learn to move to the best of their ability and PLAY their way to confidence, skill development, fun, team work, cooperation, respect and inclusivity! Camps are for ages 3-18 and run throughout July and August. PISE.ca/summer-camps.

Victoria City Rowing Club is a not-forprofit rowing club located at Elk Lake, offering introductory, recreational, and competitive rowing programs for athletes of all ages and skill levels.

The Youth Summer Camps will provide a fun environment to build basic rowing skills. With two rows per day and a focus on sculling boats, the camp will be supplemented with games and activities to develop basic movements and flexibility. The YSC will keep the kids active and having fun learning about the sport of rowing! clubadmin@vcrc.bc.ca. vcrc.bc.ca.

Come spend your summer with the Vikes.

Join our amazing summer staff for a week of fun! Develop skills, meet new friends, explore creativity and experience exciting activities in a safe and positive environment on the UVic campus. Half day and full day camps are available.

A variety of camps ranging in ages from 5-17 are offered in four categories: Recreation, Sport Development, High Performance, and Climbing and Outdoor. Registration opens April 1: vikescamps.com.• June 2020 25

5

Ways to Inspire, Rewire & Connect

Family Time

Connection. During the pandemic, we have lots of family time. But how do we make the most of that time without driving each other crazy? How do we make sure to strengthen the family bond and infuse fun into the dynamic?

For many parents, our typical day is filled with a series of family and workrelated commitments relegated into a specific time frame. It can be a juggle at the best of times, making it difficult to prioritize quality time together.

Parenthood, particularly of younger children, can feel busy and frenetic on a daily basis. We live in a normally fast-paced world, one where we tend to keep our eyes on the clock, and constantly struggle to mentally check off items on the ‘to do’ list, while also assembling Lego, rocking the baby, thinking about dinner and organizing a work meeting. Does this sound familiar?

The question is, how do we stay connected with our children and ensure our family needs are being met while also staying sane?

One suggestion is dedicating time once per week for a family night.

Children feel special when their parents take the time to do fun activities with them. Studies show that spending meaningful and fun time together as a family has a variety of benefits for all members. Time with our children ensures that we have the opportunity to model our values and behaviour and provide guidance.

As parents we know that connection and spending time together as a family is an important thing to do, however, the real challenge lies in consistently dedicating the time to follow through.

26  Island Parent @Home

Photo: Unsplash

IslandParent.ca

Prioritizing a committed time and honouring that family time, with no other distractions, can ultimately lead to positive behaviour in our children, a decrease in stress and an overall stronger family bond.

Here are a few suggestions that are affordable and chock-a-block full of memory making.

1. Family meal time is an opportunity to really check in with one another and share details about things that are important. It’s also a time to make meals together is a simple way to create a meal—not only is it fun, but it’s also a learning experience and extra help.

2. Board games are affordable and fun. From promoting problem solving to critical thinking and learning how to win or lose gracefully, games are a wonderful way to connect and have fun.

Capturing smiles for Maternity, Families, Weddings & Events!

3. Physical activity, team sports and outdoor recreation promotes family bonding, enhances communication skills, reduces stress, teaches losing gracefully and celebrating each other winning.

4. Movie Night is a way to make memories and strengthen family traditions. It’s also a perfect time to get in extra cuddles and have a relaxing and quiet time together.

5. Making a family Vision Board creates an emotional connection and clarifies your family goals. Whether it’s daydreaming, small goal planning for something big.

Ultimately family time should be fun and enjoyable and encourage connection and love. Our role is to raise happy and healthy children and to make sure they feel heard and important.

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* Mention this ad and receive a matted 8x10 of your favourite image with your next session *

Occupational Therapy Just for Kids • Telehealth Online Visits • In-Person in Victoria

Candace Negm is a mother of two who finds passion and purpose in supporting Canadian entrepreneurs and curating the slow fashion movement at her boutique in Fernwood square, Thistle and Wren.

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Canadian Children’s Therapy 250-818-2034 canadianchildrenstherapy.ca June 2020 27

K i ds ’ R E A DS

Pride & Prose Because of Covid-19, many Pride Parades and the associated celebrations have been cancelled. But that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate Pride Month at home. Here are a few books to get you started.

T

he first is for the youngest members of your household.

Pride Colors, by Robin Stevenson (Orca, 2019), is a delightful poem that teaches children their colours and to love themselves for who they are. The back of the book also has a breakdown of what each colour means on the rainbow flag. For ages 0 to 2.

In A Plan for Pops by Heather Smith and illustrated by Brooke Kerrigan (Orca, 2019), Lou spends every Saturday with Grandad and Pops. Each Saturday is the same as the last: they go to the library where Grandad learns how things work while Pops listens to rock and roll, they have lunch, and then Grandad and Lou tinker with contraptions while Pops naps. But one day, Pops falls and ends up in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Everything changes and Pops no longer wants to come out of his room. So Lou and Grandad come up with a plan to help Pops cheer up and venture out of his room once more. The beautiful and delicate pictures in this story reflect the mood and emotions of the tale perfectly. For ages 3 to 7.

and as she tries to lead an all-boy hula troupe. While her parents and teacher are supportive of her choice, not everyone is accepting of her decision and she has to learn to deal with their criticisms. For ages 3 to 7.

Ho’onani Hula Warrior, by Heather Gale and illustrated

by Mika Song (Tundra, 2019), is based on the real Ho’onani.

Ho’onani finds herself somewhere between a boy and a girl.

The tale follows her as she tries to find her place in the middle

Some of the reasons people march in the Pride Parade are to stand up for diversity and to express their love for everyone.

One book that exemplifies that is Sharon, Lois, and Bram’s Skinnamarink which came together with help from Randi Hampson, and the illustrative talents of Qin Leng (Tundra, 2019). This book takes the beloved song, expands upon it and turns it into a beautifully illustrated tale about loving each other no matter where we are from, what we look like, or how we are feeling. Don’t be surprised if you start singing and teaching your children the actions instead of simply reading the story.

For ages 3 to 7.

28 Island Parent @Home

IslandParent.ca

Finally, the last story comes from one of our very own writers: Dr. Jillian Roberts. On the Playground: Our First Talk About Prejudice, which is illustrated by Jane Heinrichs (Orca, 2019), is a question and answer book. Dr. Roberts looks at the emotions children might feel and the common questions they may ask when they see, for example, someone harassing one of their peers. She explores why people pick on others who are different from them, how the bullied person might feel, and what we can do to help. Her answers are in-depth but easy to understand. The photographs and illustrations highlight the differences that children might encounter from physical ability, to skin colour, religion, and sexual orientation. For ages 6 to 9.

This pandemic is showing us how much we need others, no

matter what they look like or who they love. We are in this together, and so—like so many holidays that that happened these past few months—while we may celebrate in solitude, we can still celebrate diversity, freedom, equality, and love together.

Christina Van Starkenburg is a freelance writer and mother of two. Despite all of the books that flow through the house for this column, her boys still have their favourites and she’s read them a million times.

Christina finds it very exciting when something new catches their eye, and she loves to share those treasures with you. christinavanstarkenburg.com.

SOCCER CAMP

IslandParent.ca

June 2020  29

Preschool&ChildcareDirectory ESQUIMALT

SAANICH

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. Wait list being taken.

Islandkids.ca.

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.

La Pré-Maternelle Appletree Preschool........................ 250-479-0292 A French Immersion Preschool Program.

30 months to school age. Licensed Christian centre. prematernelleappletree.com.

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

If you’d like to be listed in the Preschool & Child Care Directory, please email linda@islandparent.ca

METCHOSIN Metchosin Cooperative Preschool...................................... 250-478-9241 Play Explore Learn and Grow in beautiful rural Metchosin. Morning programs available for 3 and 4 year olds.

Contact our ECEs at metchosinpreschool@gmail.com.

• Licensed programs, for children 3–5 years • Flexible part-time schedules • Supported spaces available • 2, 3 and 4 hour morning or afternoon classes Encouraging your child’s development and learning through play and exploration Fullobeans.ca 250-360-1148 E: fullobeans@snplace.org

OAK BAY

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

Oak Bay Preschool........................250-592-1922 Oak Bay Preschool is a co-op preschool, using a playbased curriculum with qualified ECE and ECEA. We use a balance of indoor and outdoor classrooms to enrich your child’s preschool experience. Learn more at oakbaypreschool.com.

Recreation Oak Bay.......................250-370-7200 Offers full day Daycare and half day Preschool for children ages 3-5 years old. Before and after school care for Willows Elementary and afterschool care for Campus View Elementary is also offered.

Please contact childcare@oakbay.ca or call for more information.

Child Care

Resource & Referral Funded by the Province of BC

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

30 Island Parent @Home

Pre-School Junior Kindergarten PacificChristian.ca 250-479-4532 Educational Excellence to the Glory of God

Ready Set Grow Preschool............. 250-472-1530 Join our learning through play preschool located in Hillcrest Elem. Our caring ECEs offer an enriched Program for 3-4 hour, 2-5 days a week and help with kindergarten transition. heoscmanager@gmail.com.

St. Joseph’s Early Learning Centre... 250-479-1237 A Christian childcare centre offering daycare and preschool programs for 3-5 year olds. Children learn through play-based and emergent curriculum in a warm and nurturing environment.

St. Margaret’s School Jr. Kindergarten................................. 250-479-7171 Apply now for our Early Learning (JK and Kindergarten) Programs. Early learning at SMS is a curriculum-based program for 3 and 4 year olds. admissions@stmarg.ca.

Wiseways Child Care Centre.......250-477-1312 Established, quality, licensed, Christian centre for 3-5 year olds. Experienced ECEs, cheerful spacious facilities, large playground. Subsidized fees welcome. Call for a tour. Wisewaysvictoria.com.

Looking for child care?

Need help with the Affordable Child Care Benefit?

Taking care of children?

Need child care training?

Call your local Child Care Resource & Referral for free referrals and resources.

Victoria & Gulf Islands: 250-382-7000 or 1-800-750-1868 Sooke: 250-642-5152 West Shore: 250-940-4882 Cowichan Valley: 250-746-4135 local 231 PacificCare (Ladysmith north): 250-756-2022 or 1-888-480-2273

gov.bc.ca/ChildCareResourceReferralCentres IslandParent.ca

Sidney Sidney Preschool............................. 250-655-3333 We are a licensed co-operative preschool with a philosophy of learning through play! Four and six hour programs available for children ages 2.5-5.

Celebrating 48 years! sidneypreschool.com.

VICTORIA

Victoria Montessori...................... 250-380-0534 Unique, innovative learning environment combining the best of Montessori and Learning Through Play. Open year round. 30mths–K. victoriamontessori.com.

VIEW ROYAL Island Kids Academy View Royal...250-727-2929 High quality child care (ages 1-5). Enriched Curriculum.

Includes Music Classes and Character Development using the Virtues Project. Wait list being taken.

Islandkids.ca.

v Comprehensive programs for Preschool through Grade 10 v Delivering academic excellence through music, dance, drama and visual arts v Outstanding educators, locations and facilities

JLC Victoria Japanese Preschool The only Japanese Immersion Preschool on the Island opens at Craigflower Schoolhouse. Offering the best environment for preschoolers to learn Japanese language and culture as natural as possible. jlcvictoria.com.

www.ArtsCalibre.ca 250.382.3533 Castleview Child Care................... 250-595-5355 Learning Through Play & Discovery. Licensed nonprofit, 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.......................................250-383-5132 ECE and specialist teachers provide an outstanding all day licensed program for 2.5–5 year olds at our Fairfield and NEW Gordon Head (Fall 2019) locations. cathedralschool.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. sjdoutofschoolclub.com.

Queen of Angels Early Learning Centre..................... 250-701-0433 Our Centre is a lively, happy place for 3-5 year olds where children are encouraged to be confident, independent learners in a nurturing and safe environment.

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.

Nanaimo

Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12

Learn more today! 250-390-2201 AspengroveSchool.ca N a n a i m o’ s J K–1 2 In t e r n at i o n a l B ac c a l au r e at e Wo r l d S c h o o l

DUNCAN Duncan Christian School Early Learning Centre.....................250-746-3654 The first step in providing your child with everything they need to become a confident, capable learner in a Christ-centered, community focussed environment.

International Montessori Academy of Canada......................... 250-737-1119 Elementary K–12. Offers an enriching environment for preschool children 2-4.9 years with potty training. Nurturing young minds, keeping the spirit free. intmontessori.ca.

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.

Qualicum Beach Little Star Children’s Centre.......... 250-752-4554 Little Gems Infant and Toddler Care..................................250-228-5437 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.

Nestled on 4 acres of lush west coast forest, our Award winning, Nature based program will not disappoint!

While firmly embracing the Reggio-Emila (Italy) Philosophy our dedicated team of educators use the environment as the third teacher as we encourage your child throughout their day.

Our purpose built facilities have been handmade using the trees from our forest. We have recently expanded to our new Spirit Bear Lodge located right next door!

Programs for Infants/Toddlers/Pre-school Age.

lexieslittlebears.ca 250-590-3603

BC Award of Excellence in Childcare & Prime Minister’s Award of Excellence in Early Childhood Education.

IslandParent.ca

June 2020 31

W h at’ sf o r D inner

Healthy Food Super Fast

H

aving the kids home from school for the past few months has had its ups and downs. While it’s nice to take a mid-afternoon walk to the local beach, it’s also really hard to keep up with work. Schedules are made and shuffled around as we find out what works best for our family.

The rooms of our house have also been reorganized to squeeze in extra office furniture while minimizing claustrophobia.

Life has never been busier, as families struggle to keep up with homeschooling, stop bored children from screaming at each other and pick up the never ending mess of toys. To help you find some breathing space in the chaos of your home, here are three simple, healthy and delicious meals that take less than 20 minutes to prepare! Hopefully a quick-and-simple dinner will give you a few minutes to relax and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.

Bean, Vegetable & Cheese Quesadillas (Time: 15 minutes) Quesadillas are incredibly easy to make. In fact they are so easy that most kids over the age of 10 can probably make their own. Younger kids can help with chopping and grating. So get those bored kids off the couch and into the kitchen!

8 large flour tortillas or 16 small corn tortillas 1 can refried beans 1 large red bell pepper 6 spring onions 4 roma tomatoes 2 avocados 1⁄4 cup cilantro 1 cup grated cheese Salsa, sour cream and hot sauce for serving 1. Start by preparing all the ingredients. Chop the red pepper, spring onions and tomatoes into bite-sized pieces. Slice the avocado. Wash and chop the cilantro. Grate the cheese. Many hands make light work, so get your kids in the kitchen and you’ll be done in no time.

2. Place a frying pan over medium heat.

3. Each quesadilla is prepared individually, allowing everyone to pick their favourite ingredients. Start by spreading a layer of refried beans over one tortilla. Top with your choice of vegetables. Add a layer of grated cheese then put a second tortilla on top.

4. Place the quesadilla in the frying pan and cook for 3–5 minutes.

Then flip it and cook the other side for another 3–5 minutes. The quesadilla is finished when both sides of the tortilla have started to brown and the cheese is melted.

5. Slice quesadilla into quarters and serve with salsa and sour cream.

32 Island Parent @Home

Big Salad Bowl (Time: 15 to 20 minutes) A big salad bowl is one of my go-to meals in the summer. It is super quick, incredibly healthy and delicious! They can be made with pretty much anything you have in the house. The only secret is to include a bunch of different flavourful ingredients and a really amazing salad dressing. Feel free to use any salad dressing you want, however, I’ve included a recipe for my favourite Green Goddess dressing.

Salad Dressing: cup olive oil 2 Tbsp cider vinegar 1⁄2 Tbsp lemon juice 1 Tbsp chopped chives 1⁄2

3 Tbsp tahini Tbsp soy sauce 1 Tbsp chopped parsley 1 pinch of salt 1⁄2

Salad: 1 head of lettuce or bag of mixed salad greens Vegetables: chopped tomato, cucumber, coloured pepper, grated carrots or beets.

Protein: chickpeas, toasted sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, canned fish, smoked salmon, hard boiled eggs, cubes of cheddar cheese or crumbled goat cheese.

Fun toppings: croutons, crunchy vegetable chips, olives or fresh berries.

1. Combine all the salad dressing ingredients in a jar and stir until well mixed.

2. The salad can be created around whatever you have in your fridge. Start by preparing all the ingredients. Use a variety of vegetables, and aim to eat from all colours of the rainbow. Choose one or two of the protein options. Including one fun topping isn’t necessary, but I do recommend choosing at least one crunchy topping. It just gives the salad something to bite into.

3. Salad bowls are also individually prepared. Start with a large layer of lettuce, then decorate it with your choice of toppings. Then finish it by drizzling salad dressing over top. If your kids are young, you might want to toss the lettuce with the salad dressing ahead of time, because it might be hard for them to mix the salad themselves.

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Victoria City Rowing Club Victoria City Rowing Club Quick Pasta & Vegetables (Total Time: 20 minutes) The key to making a quick pasta is to start by putting the water on to boil first. The rest of the ingredients will be done by the time the pasta has finished cooking.

1 package of pasta 2 Tbsp olive oil 2 Tbsp butter 4 cloves of garlic A mix of fresh vegetables. Most anything that you have on hand will work: broccoli, kale, chard, spinach, asparagus tomatoes, peppers, carrots, peas or green beans.

1 tsp salt, to taste 1⁄2 tsp black pepper, to taste 1⁄2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1. Start by putting the pasta water on to boil. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package.

2. Prepare the vegetables while the pasta cooks. I like using a mix of two or three fresh and seasonal vegetables. It’s even tastier if the vegetables come from the farmers’ market!

3. Chop the vegetables into bite-sized pieces and finely mince the garlic.

4. Heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat in a large frying pan. Add in the firm vegetables (everything but tomatoes and greens) and the garlic. Sauté until soft. Then add in the soft vegetables toss for 1 minute, then remove from the heat.

5. When the pasta has finished cooking, drain, then add directly to the vegetables.

6. Toss everything together and serve immediately with fresh grated Parmesan cheese.

excels in providing high quality rowing experiences for all ages and abilities. Here is your chance to learn to row, get back into rowing and enjoy the beautiful outdoors of Elk Lake this summer.

Youth Programs 11-17 Full day week long camps and half day beginner, intermediate and experienced camps.

Adult Programs 18+ Evening Classes: Beginner, Intermediate and Novice Morning and Evening: Club and Competitive

website: www.vcrc.bc.ca email: vcrcprograms@gmail.com

The Freya-Sophia Waldorf

Natural Childhood Store Books, Toys, Clothing ~ Art & Handwork Supplies

250-597-4763 ~ 3, 5380 Hwy. 1 ~ in the Sol-Centre, Duncan

Check facebook for updates and current hours during the COVID crisis. Blessings to every one.

Emillie Parrish writes from Victoria and Saturna Island. She is the author of the Pacific Northwest lifestyle blog BerriesAndBarnacles. com.

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Extensive selection of beautiful and inspiring books; Organic wool clothing for babies, children and adults; Wooden toys, puzzles, games, silks, dolls, calendars, cards and prints; Art, painting, knitting, felting and handwork supplies. Committed to providing WaldorfInspired resources to parents, educators, carers, homeschoolers and students of life!

We also carry a full line of Uriel Home Remedies & Biodynamic Preparations.

Online orders and no-contact pickup: email freyasophiawaldorfstore@gmail.com June 2020 33

H a ppyFami lies H e a lth yFami lies

Child, Youth & Family Public Health

Healthy Families, Happy Families

Child, Youth & Family Public Health South Island Health Units

Esquimalt Gulf Islands

250-519-5311 250-539-3099

Peninsula Saanich Saltspring Island Sooke Victoria West Shore

250-544-2400 250-519-5100 250-538-4880 250-519-3487 250-388-2200 250-519-3490

(toll-free number for office in Saanichton)

Central Island Health Units

Duncan Ladysmith Lake Cowichan Nanaimo Nanaimo Princess Royal Parksville/Qualicum Port Alberni Tofino

250-709-3050 250-755-3342 250-749-6878 250-755-3342 250-739-5845 250-947-8242 250-731-1315 250-725-4020

North Island Health Units

Campbell River Courtenay Kyuquot Health Ctr ‘Namgis Health Ctr Port Hardy

250-850-2110 250-331-8520 250-332-5289 250-974-5522 250-902-6071

islandhealth.ca/our-locations/ health-unit-locations Changes with BC Medical Services Plan premiums mean that families eligible for partial payment of some medical services and access to some income-based programs now must apply for Supplementary Benefits through the Government of BC. Applications can be done online and take approximately 15 minutes.

Families who previously qualified for MSP Premium Assistance should not need to re-apply if taxes are completed yearly. It is advised to confirm coverage before proceeding with treatment to avoid paying out of pocket.

For more information, visit gov.bc.ca/gov/ content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/ bc-residents/benefits/services-covered-bymsp/supplementary-benefits

34 Island Parent @Home

T

he Child, Youth and Family Public Health program of Island Health is a multidisciplinary team that focuses on disease prevention and health promotion to improve the health and wellness of Island Health residents. Public Health staff work with community partners to protect and promote health and prevent injury and illness.

The Child, Youth and Family Public Health program supports the health and wellness of Island Health residents by providing speech, hearing, nutrition, dental and nursing services to individuals, families and communities. These programs are available free of charge throughout Vancouver Island and surrounding islands.

An essential role of Public Health is an immediate response to disease outbreaks such as H1N1, Measles and Covid-19. At such time, some Public Health programs may be temporarily altered in order to provide immediate education, support, testing or vaccinations to the community. Public Health staff are masterful at developing an urgent response to these life threatening disease outbreaks in order to protect the health of our community members.

Community Nutrition Program

Community Nutritionists are Registered Dietitians who work toward creating healthy communities where all people have access to healthy food, accurate nutrition information, and services. Our team of Public Health Dietitians partner with schools, non-profit organizations, local government, farmers and food producers, community organizations and other health professionals to improve nutritional health, support healthy food systems as well as promote environments that promote physical activity, positive body image and mental health.

Dieticians provide nutrition expertise and support to Public Health Nurses and other health professionals working with children, youth and families; provide expertise and support in the implementation of food and nutrition policies; and provide programs in schools and school districts. Staff also create and lend educational resources to schools, community groups and families.

Dental Service

The Dental Program offers a range of services to support good oral health and decrease the incidence of tooth decay in young children. Services are community based and may include oral health education and skill building for groups and individuals, resources for professionals working with families, and oral health screening of kindergarten children every 3 years. Across the Island preschools can borrow play-based dental kits from their local health unit. To promote optimum oral health for adults with developmental disabilities, services and support are available for clients, their care providers and other organizations involved in their health care and general well-being.

The Dental Program also offers the Children’s Oral Health Initiative in some First Nation Communities.

Hearing Services

The Hearing Program offers services to children from birth to 19 years of age, people with developmental disabilities and some adults who receive social assistance from the British Columbia government. The Hearing Program has a variety of programs to support healthy hearing. Audiologists test hearing for babies and children, work together with schools and preschools to offer direct student support, and answer general questions on hearing and hearing services. The Hearing Program also offers hearing screening for all newborns and all children in Kindergarten.

Nursing Support Services

The Nursing Support Services (NSS) Program assists children and youth from birth to 19 years of age with medical complexities to lead healthy lives in their home and community. NSS program nurses provide school staff with care plans and training in order to support medically fragile students attend school. Home care support is provided for children with complex chronic health care needs. Children and youth supported by the NSS program live with chronic health issues such as diabetes, tube feeds, seizures and airway management. Referrals to the NSS Program are assessed on an indi-

IslandParent.ca

vidual basis. More information is available atbcchildrens.ca/our-services/sunny-hillhealth-centre/our-services/nursing-support.

Public Health Nursing Services

Public Health Nursing offers services to women, children and families to support healthy growth and development. Nurses contact all parents of newborns to provide education on infant care and feeding, growth and development, postpartum depression, breastfeeding and immunizations.

In addition, Public Health Nursing partners with community agencies to provide mom and baby groups.

Public Health Nurses prevent disease and promote health by offering Child Health Clinics where infants and children are immunized against a variety of life threatening illnesses. Nurses provide School Based Immunization Clinics in all schools to protect grade 6 students from Hepatitis B, Varicella, and Human Papillomavirus diseases and to protect grade 9 students from Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Meningococcal diseases. In addition, Public Health Nurses offer influenza clinics both in health units and in community facilities to members

of the public who are eligible for publicly funded influenza vaccine.

Public Health staff work with elementary schools and parents to provide kindergarten vision and hearing screening and follow-up.

Earlier identification of vision and hearing concerns can result in better treatment outcome for children.

Professionals from Public Health Nursing, Dental and Nutrition provide service and support within the Comprehensive School Health model to both public and independent schools throughout School Districts 61, 62, 63, 64 and 93. Members of the team support students, parents/guardians, school staff and community groups to identify the priority health needs of the school populations.

Speech-Language Services

Speech-Language services are available for preschool children. Speech-language services are provided to preschool aged children who do not have on-going physiotherapy and/or occupational requirements.

Children are seen until they are eligible by year of birth for kindergarten. Children with mild, moderate, severe and profound communication difficulties are served and

the goal is to assist children to communicate to their maximum ability prior to school.

Speech–language assessments, therapy and parent courses are provided.

(Children with on-going physiotherapy and/or occupational therapy requirements are seen at Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health where their speechlanguage therapy is provided in conjunction with their other services) Vancouver Island residents are well supported by Island Health’s Child, Youth and Family Public Health program. Services in Central and Northern Vancouver Island may vary slightly from those in this article; please call your local health unit for local information. Contact information can be found in this magazine or online at viha.ca/ children.

Cynthia Powell (Speech), Niki Timar (Audiology), Areli Hermanson (Nutrition), Denise Baillet (Dental), Iris Bell & Cindy Bates (Nursing Support Services), Hilary Planden & Tia Niedjalski (Clinical Coordinators, Child Youth & Family Public H ealth Public Health Nursing).

Storybook Ballet Camps Ages 4–7

August 31st to September 4th, 2020

This ballet camp offers children an enriching environment focused on creativity, musicality and the joy of self-expression.

Junior Dance Intensives Ages 8–12

Levels 1 & 2: July 13th to 17th, 2020 Levels 3 & 4: July 13th to 31st, 2020 The Junior Dance Intensive is for students with previous dance experience who wish to take their technique to a new level in this fun and action-packed intensive.

2020/21 Registration

Interested in joining us for our next dance season? Send us an email for more information. admin@victoriaacademyofballet.ca

To register, contact

admin@victoriaacademyofballet.ca IslandParent.ca

Bleiddyn del Villar Bellis Director VAB Fellow & Examiner CC-CICB Enrico Cecchetti Final Diploma

June 2020 35

N ature N otes

Birds of a Feather

D

uring these times of uncertainty I have been taking comfort in the things that remain constant in the world around us. The birds are still singing, the rain is still falling and the bees are still pollinating. Life is going on all around us, as it has long before the current state of things, and hopefully as it will long after!

As I take in the world around me, I have noticed myself focusing more and more on colors; particularly the colors on birds. The coloration we notice on birds is often not the whole

story. Many birds have coloration only visible to creatures that can see into the ultra violet portion of the light spectrum. It may seem like something from science fiction to say that there are colors in this world that we have never seen, but it’s true!

Our human eyes only have three types of cones, or color sens36 Island Parent @Home

ing cells, that allow for us to see light in the visible light spectrum. These cones most effectively pick up red, blue and green wavelengths. For a touch of perspective, dogs have two types of cones, birds have four, and mantis shrimp have sixteen! The same environment would look vastly different to each species.

The extra cone type present in birds’ eyes picks up violet or ultraviolet light, depending on the species of bird. This allows them to see things our eyes and brains are unable to even contemplate.

That in itself is quite incredible to consider, but let’s talk about how that applies to birds in our life. Regardless of whether you are an avid birder, or a casual backyard bird fan, you are likely able to tell a male and female mallard duck apart from each other. They are sexually dimorphic; looking different from each other in ways that we can see. In the case of mallards the males have a stunning emerald head. But what about a chestnut backed chickadee? Or a song sparrow? A barred owl? There are many bird species that are considered sexually monochromatic; the males and females look the same, even to expert birders.

To birds though, there is quite a high likelihood that there are obvious visible differences in patterns and colors between the males and females of a species. One study took 139 “sexually monochromatic” songbirds of North America and found that a whopping 90% of them had color and pattern differences that would be visible to birds (Eaton, 2005), but that we cannot see. The birds we’ve always considered drab should now be contemplated with an appreciative, if not entirely capable eye.

If you’re feeling disappointed that you can’t see these differences in bird feathers, do not fear. There is still an incredible array of amazing things happening with the bird feathers that we can see.

Hummingbirds, specifically our resident Anna’s hummingbirds, have a display that is spectacular; whether it is the first time you’ve seen them or the thousandth. The males have a patch of feathers over their entire head that is iridescent.

Depending on the direction from which you see them, the reflecting light and their movements you could see greens, reds, purples and more. As white light, which contains all wavelengths of visible light, hit these feathers, tiny pockets of air and keratin within the feathers cause different wavelengths, and thus colors, to be absorbed, reflected and scattered. This is what allows for the visual treat of iridescence when we are fortunate enough to have an encounter with these sassy wee birds.

I encourage you to take a few minutes each day to notice the natural world around you. Take a deep breath and revel in the invigorating scent of a fir tree, listen for the melody of insects and birds unbothered by our human concerns, soak in beauty all around and most importantly; be kind to yourself and the others inhabiting this world.

Kalene Lillico is a naturalist at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary who loves spending her free time looking under rocks for neat critters!

IslandParent.ca

N ature N otes

Grounding in Place

L

iving through this time of COVID-19 is a unique experience for all living beings on the earth. We are encouraged to spend time in nature while adhering to physical-distancing guidelines. This period allows us to slow down and appreciate the life around us.

Spending time on the land means different things to each one of us. To me, it means returning to my roots and connecting to a place that taught me to be resilient. Growing up I was very fortunate to spend time going for adventures with my amazing fourlegged pal. Together my dog and I loved exploring places that appeared magical and unique. We would clamber over rocks and run between towering trees. The smell of the cedars, the taste of the hemlock needles and the sound of the wind in the maples gave us the energy to continue.

I cherish those moments in nature which shaped me and helped me become more aware of my surroundings. Going into nature with your kids to observe and explore what is happening in the environment can allow you all to develop a deeper relationship with nature, to feel more rooted in these uncertain times and also consider human impacts on other life forms.

to engage in places you may be familiar with, but with a new perspective. Access the tool at sierraclub.bc.ca/watcherseyes/ Marvel at big trees in your neighbourhood or local park.

Standing amongst giant cedars and Douglas Fir branches will enable your kids to see the magnitude of carbon that old-growth trees hold and appreciate the power of protecting forests. If you can’t get out into a forest with big trees, I encourage you to download our Coastal Temperate Rainforest Visualization Activity to simulate walking through the rainforest here on Vancouver Island. To support your experience from your home, check out our free place-based educational materials on topics such as Pacific Salmon, Old-Growth Forest exploration, Coastal Temperate Rainforest and People and Plants.

Spend the day at the beach exploring seaweed. While identifying different types of seaweed, don’t forget to take a big breath in and thank it for your oxygen—more than half of the oxygen you breathe comes from phytoplankton and seaweed!

Whether you can get to beach at this time or not, check out the packages on seaweed and marine life to support your placebased exploration.

Sierra Club BC’s educational packages are available at sierraclub.bc.ca/online-classroom/ Kirsten Dallimore is an Environmental Educator with Sierra Club B.C.

We invite you and your family to explore place-based learning close to home during this moment of pause.

To support families, Sierra Club BC’s Education Team has created hands-on educational resources that will help you continue to build your connection to place regardless of your access to the forest or beach. Using these experiential tools such as scavenger hunts, eco art, poster-making and storytelling will help you open the path to engage more deeply with the natural world.

Here are some ideas of how to connect with nature and spark meaningful discussions with your family and friends: Engage with different views of what the land and beings mean to Indigenous peoples whose families have stewarded the land for millennia. Visit—online—the beautiful, symbolfilled 32-foot mural at Spencer Middle School in Langford. The collaborative piece Through Watchers’ Eyes was designed by tSouke member kQwat’st’not (Charlene George) and painted with the help of students. This piece invites learners of all ages into a new way of seeing and relating to the natural world and in pondering where we can begin when confronting the climate crisis. The comprehensive and free online learning tool can supplement your learning in between time spent outdoors. Be sure to use the tool for instructions on finding five unique geocache locations on southern Vancouver Island, which offer an opportunity IslandParent.ca

June 2020 37

CutitOut!

The Relationship Saboteur

C

ommunication is 90 per cent body language. Our tone of voice or that look on our face can say more about how we are feeling than words. A look of disgust, disapproval or disdain can put people on the defence in seconds. Now add some words to this body language, and messages can become lethal.

During times of stress or being confined in close quarters is an opportunity to become more aware of the power of your communication. Doing this is taking personal responsibility for creating harmony in your home.

Where to start:

Check-in with your story. Are you being overly critical? Are you projecting your negative feelings onto the person in front of you? Is your anxiety sending you into an oppositional position? When stories start, we tend to cherry-pick evidence to suggest that our story is correct. Can you find a neutral or more realistic point of view?

Take a moment to assess your body language. Are you showing contempt? Do you look disgusted? While your body language should be congruent with the feelings you have, the more toxic emotions need checking. Catch these harmful expressions and correct them.

Watch out for fighting words such as never and always.

Those words are always, never true! Instead, be specific about what is happening now and give your loved one the benefit of the doubt.

Instead of criticizing someone’s character with negative labels, stick to describing their actions. Doing this is how you safeguard their self-esteem. You are also much more likely to be heard if people don’t feel like they need to go on the defence.

If you are complaining about something that has already happened and can’t be changed, why do it? Move into the present and think about what you want. Make an explicit request about what you would like now or from now on. Remember that a request is not a demand, so check your feelings if you get a counteroffer or absolute refusal. Do you go to anger or curiosity about the other person’s needs?

While you may be aware of communication skills, become more interested in the times that you can’t use them. When you feel defensive, critical or helpless, pay attention as this is a time when all of these skills go out the window. Become aware of the saboteur within you. Give it a time out, breathe and put it in its place. When you can, go back to those great skills of yours.

Dr. Allison Rees has two LIFE Seminars books available: Sidestepping the Power Struggle and The Parent Child Connection. See lifeseminars.com.

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