IPM May 20

M A Y 2 0 2 0 

Vancouver Island’s Parenting Resource for 32 Years 

@home edition 

Lock Down 

Good 

Habits 

Pregnancy During a Pandemic 

Combatting Hopelessness 

in the Age of Bad News 

Keep Calm 

& Carry On 

@Home

Summer FUN at GNS 

Glenlyon Norfolk School is offering a variety of fun summer camps for students age 4½ to 17. 

Arts, soccer, field hockey, day camps, kayaking, magic and more—our summer programs offer 

something for everyone! Registration now open. 

www.mygns.ca/summer-fun 

IB CONTINUUM 

CONTINUUM DE L’IB 

CONTINUO DEL IB 

2 Island Parent @Home IslandParent.ca

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 

IslandParent.ca 

May 2020 3

M A Y 2 0 2 0 


In Every 

Issue 

5 

Fast Forward 

SUE FAST 

16 

Family Calendar 

TABLEOFCONTENTS 

18 

Nature Notes 

EMMA JANE VIGNOLA 

Features 

6 

Keep Calm & Carry On @Home 

Things to do in the best place to be. 

11 

Keeping Children Active & Healthy 

During the COVID-19 Pandemic 

Outdoor and indoor play. 

ACTIVE HEALTHY KIDS 

12 



How parents can help kids cope. 

DR. JILLIAN ROBERTS 

14 

Pregnancy During 

a Pandemic 

A Q&A 

NATASHA MILLS 

17 

10 Tips to Help Kids 

Learn at Home 

How to make space 

for learning. 

20 

Tips from a PE Teacher Dad 

to Keep Active in Self-isolation 

A boredom bootcamp. 

DAVID BENAY 

22 

A Mother’s Growing Pains 

The changing role of motherhood. 

KELLY CLEEVE 

32 

Talking to Kids About Sex 

Increasing your comfort 

level with ‘The Talk.’ 

JENNIFER GIBSON 

21 

Dadspeak 

GREG PRATT 

24 

What’s for Dinner 

EMILLIE PARRISH 

26 

Kids’ Reads 

CHRISTINA VAN STARKENBURG 

28 

Preschool & Child Care 

Directory 

30 

Happy Families, 

Healthy Families 

CAITLIN BITTMAN 

34 

Cut It Out! 

DR. ALLISON REES 

ONTHECOVER 

Pavit S. (2 months) 

Photo by 

Chris Higginbottom Photography 

chrishigginbottom.ca 

@home edition 

Lock Down 

Good 

Habits 


Keep Calm 


& Carry On 


@Home 

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 


FASTFORWARD 

When ‘Good Enough’ is Enough 

marks the 10 year anniversary of the 6-week 

quarantine we’ve been on,” joked actor Ryan Reynolds 

during the recent “Stronger Together, Tous En- 

“Today 

semble” performance in aid of Food Banks Canada. 

Some of us might laugh. Some of us might cry. 

Depending on how you’re doing right now—be it the best 

of times or the worst—chances are you’re at least occasionally 

wearing thin and running out of ways to keep yourself and 

your kids from going crazy. 

Because these are crazy times. 

“Stay home, but still work. Lose your job, but stay positive 

for the kids. Become a teacher, but without a degree,” writes 

Susie Allison of @busytoddler. “Be every source of entertainment 

for your child and family, but don’t forget to have time 

for you.” 

That’s almost impossible at the best of times. But now? How 

do we catch our breath in hopes of getting our second wind? 

There’s no shortage of advice. Take it easy on yourself, let 

“good enough” be good enough, remind yourself that you’re 

doing your best, let go of the pressure to do it all. 

Because you are doing enough. 

“Put that on repeat,” says Allison. “Write it on your bathroom 

mirror, take deep breaths and say it again: I am doing 

enough.” 

It’s okay if the learning for the day doesn’t work out, if the 

TV takes over, and the dinner comes from a box, she adds. It 

really is okay. 

“Whatever you are offering your child right now is enough. 

Whatever the plan is for today, it’s enough. Whatever the plan 

is for tomorrow, it’s enough. All your child needs is you and 

trust me, you are doing enough.” 

So if you have to choose which ball to keep in the air while 

you let the others fall to the floor, choose connection. 

Instead of arguing about schoolwork, play a game. Instead of 

feeling resentful about not getting any help around the house, 

teach your kids to cook or water the plants. Instead of going 

stir crazy cooped up inside, get outdoors. As much as possible, 

look for those easy moments—when, say, bathtime is almost 

perfect, the story you’re reading aloud catches everyone’s attention 

and imagination, or when walking the dog is exactly what 

everyone needs—and let those moments stretch out for as long 

as they’ll last. Because they, too, shall pass. We need to savour 

the good moments, even if they’re fleeting, while we wait for 

that second wind. 

This month marks our first online-only Island Parent at 

Home digital edition. In it we will continue to share stories, 

ideas, news, resources, activities and more. We welcome your 

stories on ways you are coping during the quarantine, along 

with any comments to help others in the parenting community. 

Sue Fast 

SUMMER CAMPS 

Develop skills, meet new 

friends, explore creativity and 

experience exciting activities 

in a fun, safe and positive 

environment. 

RECREATION 

SPORT DEVELOPMENT 

HIGH PERFORMANCE 

CLIMBING & OUTDOOR 

Presented by 

Supported by 

In the event that our camps program is unable to operate due to concerns related 

to COVID-19, full refunds will be provided. 

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN 

See complete camps listings online: 

vikescamps.com 



@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 Great Wall of China spans thousands of miles across several provinces 

of northern China, but now you can take a 6.5-mile virtual hike along the 

portion of the Wall from Jinshanling to Simatai. 

thechinaguide.com 

Take a 3,000-foot interactive hike of 

El Capitan in Yosemite National Park 

via Google Maps and get a glimpse 

of the views from the top. g.co/treks 

Spend the day at one 

of Tofino’s beaches 

thanks to surf cams at 

Tofino Harbour, 

MacKenzie Beach, 

Chesterman Beach, 

South Chesterman Beach 

and Cox Bay. 

tourismtofino.com 

Explore Machu 

Picchu, the 15thcentury 

Inca citadel 

and UNESCO 

World Heritage 

Site, deemed “one 

of the New Seven 

Wonders of the 

World” and take a 

360-degree virtual 

tour. Watch out for 

the llamas! 

youvisit.com/tour/ 

machupicchu 

Ride a virtual roller coaster 

at Hagrid’s Magical Creatures 

Motorbike Adventure, Jurassic World 

The Ride and Ghost Rider Wooden 

Roller Coaster. Search YouTube for 

each ride and hang on tight! 

6 Island Parent @Home

The Museum of Art and Photography 

(MAP) in India wants your help to 

create the world’s largest digital flower 

“Bouquet of Hope.” Flowers symbolize 

hope, love, and courage—something 

we all need more than ever. Submit your 

own flower: a photo, a drawing, a painting, 

or sculpture. It can even be a flower 

motif made from an object in your home 

such as food, beads, shoes, pillows. 

bouquetofhope.in 

Candlewick Press has just launched a 

Where’s Waldo-themed web portal 

with activities for quarantining families. 

Downloadable activity sheets, book information 

and videos, and an interactive 

social media campaign all provide some 

home-based entertainment. 

waldo.candlewick.com 

Strollers 

Car Seats 

Furniture 

Baby Carriers 

Bedding 

Nursery 

Now Offering 

Curb-Side 

Pickups & 

Virtual Visits 

3045–C Douglas St. 

Victoria, BC 

The Kiddies Store 

SINCE 

1978 

tjskids.com 

250-386-2229 

Fun, Interactive 

Online Classes 

and Groups! 

Dedicated to providing 

Vancouver Island families with 

high-quality infant and toddler 

products at affordable prices 

for over 25 years 

Douglas St. 

Safety 

Playtime 

Bath & 

Health 

Feeding & 

Kitchen 

Apparel 

Current Hours 

Tuesday – 

Saturday 

10am – 5pm 

Finlayson St. 

Larch St. 

T.J.’s 

Entrance off 

Larch St. 

Even 

COVID 

can’t stop 

us! 

Classes Online (live, interactive, local) 

Ÿ Childbirth Preparation & Refreshers 

Ÿ Baby Care & Infant First Aid 

Ÿ Cloth Diapering Workshop 

Ÿ Baby-Wearing Workshop 

Ÿ Dogs-and-Babies Workshop 

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 Breastpump sales & rentals 

Ÿ Nursing bras and tops 

Ÿ Cloth diapers and accessories 

Ÿ Baby Carriers 

Ÿ Baby Clothes, Books and Toys 

975 Fort Street, Victoria 

motheringtouch.ca - 250-595-4905 


@HOME 

Wide Open School features a free collection of the best 

learning experiences and activities for kids, organized by 

grade band and subject. Curated and coordinated by the 

experts at Common Sense, Wide Open School is the result 

of a collaboration among leading publishers, nonprofits, 

and education and technology companies. 

wideopenschool.org 

Culture Online lets you visit museums, view live music, watch 

dance, explore science centres, from across British Columbia, 

all from the comfort of your home. Whether you’re a parent 

looking for a way to spark home learning, an educator wanting 

access to new online resources, or someone who just 

love arts, culture, and heritage, you’ll find a world of culture 

on CultureOnline.ca. 

The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) has 

launched Bibliovideo: a YouTube channel all about 

Canadian children’s books. Bibliovideo showcases 

videos and links to resources about Canadian books 

for children and youth. Enjoy author interviews, 

read-alongs, how-to demos from illustrators, 

publishers’ trailers, book reviews, and more. 

New videos will be added twice weekly. 

youtube.com/bibliovideo 

Learn Big Science for Little Hands at Science World. 

When you do science with your children, you can share their 

sense of wonder about the natural world. Science World’s 

free activities are meant to serve as a starting point for 

early-childhood scientific exploration. Several are available 

to download and easy to do at home! scienceworld.ca 

The Royal BC Museum has launched three new webinar series—RBCM@Home, RBCM@Home (Kids) and RBCM@Outside—so 

British Columbians can stay connected while staying apart. RBCM@Home (Kids) is much like an online museum playdate. Participants 

will visit with museum members who are working from home, along with other families from across B.C., to learn and make 

together. RBCM@Home (Kids) takes place every Wednesday from 11-11:30am. facebook.com/RoyalBCMuseum

West Shore Parks & Recreation staff 

have deemed May “Physical Literacy 

Month” and are offering a series of 

short videos throughout May to 

showcase what Physical Literacy is, 

why it is important and how people 

can become more physically literate. 

westshorerecreation.ca 

Start off your 

day dancing. 

Join Laurie 

Berkner for 

Live Berkner 

Breaks on 

Facebook, most 

weekdays at 7am. 

facebook.com/ 

LaurieBerknerBand 

Sign up for our 

newsletter and receive 

Island Parent articles 

in your inbox. 

islandparent.ca 


@HOME 

Enter Better Together BC’s first-ever Kitchen Hacks 

Challenge, a unique and timely video contest open to all 

BC families. The challenge is simple: share your best kitchen 

hack with a 60-second video for the chance to win cash prizes 

from April 22–May 22. The best part of the contest? Families 

that submit an entry by the deadline will be helping to raise 

funds for Food Banks BC in support of COVID-19 relief efforts. 

For every entry received by May 22, BC’s dairy farmers will 

donate $100 to Food Banks BC. 

bettertogetherbc.ca/contest/making-a-video 

The Kids Write is a place for kids to share their stories 

about what life is like under lockdown. So that we can 

learn more about how everyone is doing, and remember 

that we’re all in this together—no matter where we live. 

Interested in being part of The Kids Write? To find out 

the kind of things you can write about and where 

to send your stories, visit thekidswrite.com. 

Cirque du Soleil is offering an escape from 

everyday life through the delight and whimsy of 

our shows. CirqueConnect lets fans can watch 

performance highlights, makeup tutorials, and 

workout videos; along with stream Cirque music 

playlists; and download a virtual-reality app. 

cirquedusoleil.com/cirqueconnect 

Mother’s Day is May 10. Team Bright Light Volunteers 

(BLV) is doing something fun to celebrate all of the mammas 

in the world. Email a special photo of a mom to celebrate 

by May 5 to be included in a “Mother’s Day Around the 

World” tribute on May 10. Email a photo and brief description 

of what makes the mother figure in your life so special to 

media@brightlightvolunteers.org. 


2 0 2 0 


Family Resource Guide 

Family Travel New Parent Resources 

Classes & Programs Health & Wellness 

Family Fun & Entertainment 

Check out the 2020 

Family Resource Guide 

Online at IslandParent.ca 

Source: Active Healthy Kids, activehealthykids.org 





Whether you seek it out or not, bad news is everywhere. We’re constantly bombarded 

by headlines broadcasting details of the latest catastrophe or impending 

threat. To make matters worse, social media and the 24-hour news cycle have made it 

more difficult than ever to come up for air. Be it COVID-19, climate change, or world 

politics, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by this wave of information on seemingly insurmountable 

issues. The reality is that this takes a real toll on our mental health. And 

as hard as it is for adults to cope, it can take an even harder toll on our kids. 

Instead of focusing on school and friends or what they’ll do this summer, kids are 

stressing out about intense concerns like social isolation, getting sick, dying, and and 

uncertain future. How can parents help their kids cope with these stark realities, even 

if they themselves might feel hopeless and scared too? 

Photos: Unsplash 

Too much news is bad news 

While you may like to stay informed by watching or listening to the news, be cautious 

of how and when you’re subjecting your teens to it. There’s a difference between 

staying informed and being pummeled by negative information on repeat. Small 

amounts of anxiety can encourage kids to take action but when anxiety levels start to 

creep up, it has an opposite, paralyzing effect. 

Young people are even less equipped to cope with the grim news cycle than older 

generations. When good news seems few and far between, be careful not to let them 

lose hope, especially if your child is sensitive or anxious. Consider choosing a different 

avenue of consuming the news rather than having it on in the house when they’re 

around: read reputable online news sources away from your kids, listen to the radio 

or podcasts, or record the evening news to watch when they’re not present. These are 

all effective ways to stay informed while also protecting your teens’ mental wellness. 

Talk about it 

While it’s a good idea to regulate 

your children’s media consumption, this 

doesn’t mean you should fully sweep 

these topics under the rug. As a parent, it 

can be tempting to shield your kids from 

being hurt, but in this case doing so will 

not be helpful. The truth is, eventually 

they will have to face these tough realities. 

If you have questions about what’s 

going on in the world, chances are your 

child does too. 

It’s okay if you don’t have all the answers—no 

one does—but it’s crucial to 

give them a safe space to ask questions 

and talk through their anxieties. Empathize 

and validate the emotions they’re 

experiencing: “I can understand how 

these times must feel scary and confusing 

for you. I feel the same way sometimes. 

You are safe.” Making sure your child 

knows that they can safely come to you 

with their concerns ensures that you’re 

tuned into how they’re coping and 

whether they’re getting enough support. 

Take action 

In many cases, the antidote to anxiety 

is action. Some days it’s hard to convince 

yourself that there is hope, but this hopelessness 

is the enemy of change. One of 

the best ways to combat a loss of hope 

is to help shift your kids’ focus to the 

ways they can take action, and lead by 

example. Find ways for the whole family 

to get involved, like delivering groceries 

to an elderly neighbour or filming a short 

video and emailing it to a friend. Even 

encouraging them to brainstorm some 

possible solutions to the issues on their 

mind can help energize them and calm 

some of their anxiety. 

Don’t lose sight of the positives 

As Fred Rogers so wisely said, remember 

to look for the helpers during tough 

times and tragedies. Humans are biased 

towards negative information. This isn’t 

something to be ashamed of—we all do 

it subconsciously as a way to try and 

keep ourselves safe—but it is something 


to be aware of. Break up the bad news 

by sharing uplifting headlines as often 

as you can, even if it means taking some 

time to seek them out. It’s easy to forget 

the good things when we’re in the middle 

of difficult times, but it’s key to help your 

kids understand that this will change. 

We are working more towards strong 

communities than ever before, and we’re 

seeing advances in modern medicine and 

technology that were inconceivable even 

a few years ago. This doesn’t mean that 

our world doesn’t have major problems, 

but it means that there are a lot of positive 

changes to be grateful for. 

Celebrating 70 years of experiences that last a lifetime! 

We are supporting our community from a distance. Visit our website for 

daily updates on our programs and a list of resources for families at 

home. Our 15% Early Bird Discount offer has been extended to June 1st. 

Licensed Childcare • Summer Camp • Rentals 

CampPringle.com • 250-743-2189 • info@camppringle.com 

The reality is, we often can’t control 

these massive, global issues or stop them 

from happening when they do. As helpless 

as coming to this realization can 

make us feel, we do get to choose how 

we’re going to respond to them, and how 

we’re going to equip our children to face 

them. We can empower our kids (and 

ourselves) to take action on what’s important 

to us and help them develop into 

the citizens our future world and community 

need. 

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. 




Pregnant with twins and now in her second trimester, mom-of-one (soon to be 

three!) Natasha Mills fills us in on what it’s like to be pregnant during a pandemic. 

Q. How are you doing? How has your pregnancy been so far? 

A. I’m doing as well as I can be expected with twins during a 

global pandemic! It’s crazy to think that a public health crisis of 

this magnitude only comes around once in a century, and here I 

am living that time with two growing babies in my belly. 

So far the pregnancy has been manageable, although the first 

trimester had me completely debilitated with morning sickness. 

Now in the second trimester, I’ve definitely begun eating for 

three, but am also starting to feel quite uncomfortable. You 

could say I’m secretly grateful for the ability to stay at home in 

loungewear as I grow! 

Q. Where are you planning to give birth? At home? At the 

hospital? 

A. I’m definitely planning for a hospital birth. The twins will 

be likely be a C-section as my son was—he turned out to be a 

very big boy. I have a comforting relationship with my experienced 

maternity doctors. I know I’ll be in the best hands there. 

Q. Who will attend the birth? Partner? Parents? 

A. With the new hospital rules in place, only one visitor will 

be allowed to accompany me and that will be my husband. It’s 

unfortunate to think our son and both sets of parents will likely 

be unable to meet the twins until I’m released from hospital 3-4 

days later, but I’m hopeful that restriction may change in time 

for their arrival later this summer. 

Q. How do you feel being pregnant right now, amidst everything 

that’s going on? 

A. Bittersweet. It’s almost ideal to be hiding in the home 

amidst my growing discomfort, and it takes a bit of the pressure 

away to be social in setting dates with friends and family. 

I’ve had the ability to really take in this pregnancy so far on 

a mental and physical level. Time is flying by, but it has also 

paradoxically slowed down all the same. On the flip side—as 

a true introverted extrovert—I miss my fiends and family immensely. 

I miss hugs and gatherings. 

Q. What’s been the biggest challenge of being pregnant 

during a pandemic? 

A. One of the greatest challenges so far is not being able to 


shop and test out the gear or essentials 

that I’ll need for twins. I’m someone that 

likes to touch, see and feel items in person 

rather than browsing online. There is 

also, of course, a never ending paranoia 

of the unknown, and not wanting to get 

sick with COVID-19 myself. 

While I know it’s for my protection, it’s 

been a bit disheartening to take some of 

my important medical appointments over 

the phone. With my initial obstetrician 

check-in, I felt like I was leading the call 

and it made me nervous that something 

could get overlooked or left unaddressed. 

Phone conversations are just not as engaging 

and reassuring with something as 

important as pregnancy touch points. 

Q. How have you stayed connected 

to family and friends during distancing? 

How has this helped you? 

A. I’m staying connected to family 

and friends mainly through social media, 

text messages and I’ll do distance walks 

with my mom to keep my sanity, and to 

ensure I’m getting fresh air and mobility 

for the babies. Her presence—even at 

two meters apart—gets me through any 

trying time and I’m so grateful that she’ll 

soon be moving into our tenant suite to 

support us when the twins are here. My 

mom is the most compassionate person 

and I love her so much. 

Summer Camps 

Coed | Ages 6-16 

HIGHLAND 

PACIFIC GOLF 

VICTORIA, BC 

SportsCampsCanada.com 1.844.464.5372 

Q. Advice or thoughts to help other 

expectant parents now? 

A. My advice to other expecting 

parents at this time would be to find a 

good routine every day, and to see this 

unprecedented era as an opportunity to 

slow down enough for optimal self-care. 

Try and get yourself organized as best as 

possible. Utilize free virtual support like 

prenatal yoga on YouTube, or connect 

with local mom groups on Facebook. 

Enjoy the simple things in life again, and 

be grateful for each day that you are 

healthy, living quality time with those 

closest to you. Try and meditate often, 

and have faith that normalcy will progressively 

come our way again. 

Natasha Mills, an Islander of 26 years, 

enjoys sharing the journey of parenthood and 

all Vancouver Island has to offer on her lifestyle 

blog. @mommamillsblog, mommamillsblog.com. 



MAYFAMILYCALENDAR 

For more information and calendar updates 

throughout the month visit IslandParent.ca 

2 SATURDAY & 8 FRIDAY 

Creative Writing Workshops for Kids 

National volunteer-led charity, Ripple Foundation, 

is offering creative writing workshops online 

with a series of free interactive classes to inspire 

young Canadians to continue their writing journey 

at home. Tailored to grades 4-8, the workshops 

will be taking to Facebook Live on May 2 and May 

8 at 1pm. To join the classes, download activity 

sheets at ripplefoundation.ca. 

6 WEDNESDAY & 12 TUESDAY 

Ask the Experts 

Learn from pediatricians, child psychologists, 

neuroscientists, educators and parenting experts 

about the evidence around screen engagement 

from early childhood through adolescence. Ask 

questions in this interactive online forum about 

helping kids develop both on- and off-screen habits. 

Mid-Childhood (K-Gr8), May 6 at 9-10:30am; 

Adolescence (13+), May 12 at 9-10:30am. 

childrenandscreens.com 

20 WEDNESDAY 

Stay Sane at Home with Kids 

Join the free online talk Staying Sane at Home 

with Kids presented by Dr. Deborah MacNamara 

on May 20, 7-8:15pm on Zoom. Learn how to 

handle he new realities of caring for our kids and 

how to help them with their emotions, while trying 

to preserve ours at the same time. 

banyen.com/events/macnamara-2020 

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 

Maritime Museum of BC 

The Maritime Museum of BC is offering curriculum-based 

school programs available on rotation 

Tuesdays and Thursdays, twice each day. $5 per 

participant; free of charge to any family or individual 

who is experiencing a financial strain due 

to the crisis. 

info@mmbc.bc.ca 

Parents-and-Babies Chat 

Get together with Mothering Touch’s Eva Bild, 

Monday-Friday, 1-2pm, on Zoom. https://zoom. 

us/j/157409600. Everyone welcome: babies of all 

ages, parents and parents-to-be. Follow Mother- 

ing Touch on social media for updates and great 

ideas for entertaining your kids. 

motheringtouch.ca 

Kids + Parents Cooking Class 

Delish has put together a livestream on Instagram 

every weekday at 10am for parents and kids to 

hop in the kitchen and make a super easy + fun 

recipe. Recipes and ingredients posted at 

instagram.com/delish 

Happy Hour Story Time 

Josh Gad (aka Olaf) takes to Twitter nightly to 

read what would be a bedtime story if you lived 

back east, but out here on the West Coast, it’s a 

pre-dinner ditty at 4:30pm. 

twitter.com/joshgad 

Code & Create 

Join the Raspberry Pi Foundation team as they 

code and create projects at home. Every Monday 

they share a theme that will inspire kids to have 

fun, solve problems, and express themselves 

creatively with technology. Code along with them 

or create something on your own. 

raspberrypi.org/at-home/ 

Join us for Physical Literacy Month! 

A series of short videos produced by recreation staff will be released throughout the month to showcase 

what Physical Literacy is, why it is important and how people can become more physically literate. 

For more information on summer camp registration and stay at home family activities, please visit our website and social media channels: 

westshorerecreation.ca 

Facebook: @westshorerecreation | Instagram: @wsrecreation | Twitter: @wsrecreation 


10 Tips to Help Kids Learn at Home 

1. Digital Quarantine 

Consider limiting your children’s cell phones and tablets until 

their schoolwork is done, so that it can receive their undivided 

attention. It may not be an option for everybody, but ideally, 

try to give your kids a dedicated device such as a school laptop 

for maximum online learning. 

2. Make Space for Learning 

Your children will achieve their best work in a quiet, comfortable, 

and dedicated space devoted to learning. Ideally, this 

will be a different set-up than where they normally play games 

or watch television. 

3. Monitor the Computer Monitor 

In this new learning milieu, you can help by monitoring your 

children’s levels of interest and engagement in adapting to their 

new schedule and at-home materials. The simplest way to do 

this? Observation. Look at your child’s eyes to see if they’re 

following along with the screen. Check if they’re taking notes 

or zoning out. Ask questions at the end of a lesson. If you find 

that your child is not engaging with the lessons, don’t be afraid 

to contact the school district or teachers to better explore the 

issue. Sometimes, easily remedied technical problems such as 

bad audio, poor connection, or an unhelpful camera angle can 

make all the difference. 

if they need help. Share your concerns and useful hints. If you 

need contact information for other parents or resources, reach 

out to the PAC or your child’s school. It is important that we 

all work together as a community for the good of our children 

and families. 

8. Plan Your Work & Work Your Plan 

Good planning can relieve stress for both children and parents. 

Check in with your kids about their plans and help them 

develop a written schedule not only for the day, but for the 

week as a whole. Help them prioritize and learn to create goals, 

tasks, and deadlines, just like adults do when they go to work. 

Tasks that may not have been difficult for them while attending 

school in person can become more challenging when learning 

from home, so it’s important to reinforce boundaries and offer 

incentives for healthy behaviors. To avoid disruption, some 

after-school activities may be offered via online video apps, 

Facetime, or Skype. 

4. Digital Recess 

Make sure that your children take plenty of breaks in order 

to get physical activity and time away from screens. Set alarms 

similar to those they would encounter at school and encourage 

them to get up, get some fresh air, go for a walk or bike ride, or 

have a snack so that they are not sedentary for the entire day. 

5. Facetime 

In-person interaction is ideal for kids, but until it’s safe for 

them to return to school, encourage your children to video chat 

or text message rather than simply scrolling through social media. 

Sit your children down for face-to-face conversations about 

screen time. In order to give them agency, discuss how much 

time they think is reasonable to spend online and make a “contract,” 

committing to goals for on-screen vs. off-screen hours. 

6. Keep it Old School 

Overuse of screen time can have adverse impacts on young 

brains, so it’s essential in these special circumstances to be extra 

careful when it comes to the littlest ones. As much as possible, 

parents should encourage print and book reading. If available, 

request textbooks from your child’s school along with other 

print materials in order to offset the amount of online learning 

they will be doing. Stimulate self-expression by having discussions 

with your children about what they are doing, and also 

encourage creative writing and imaginative story telling. 

7. We’re All in This Together 

Remember that you’re not alone in this journey. Check in 

with other parents to see what they’ve found effective or to ask 

9. This Ain’t No Vacation 

Even though staying home from school might feel like a 

holiday, remind your kids that they’re not on vacation. Assignments, 

grades, requirements, and tests aren’t going away just 

because classes have moved online. 

10. Don’t Forget to Have Fun 

Plan off-screen activities for the whole family. Between 

school and work obligations, it’s rare for parents and children 

to have this much time together, so turn it into an opportunity 

for bonding. Write predictions for a TV show that the whole 

family watches. Organize a tournament, family card games, 

charades, or chess, or get outside for a hike or walk together 

after school. Without a doubt, this is a challenging time for 

parents, teachers, and children alike. Studies show that screen 

time can have both positive and adverse impacts on kids, and 

the shift to online education will only increase your child’s time 

with their devices. 

Reprinted with permission from the Institute of Digital Media and Child 

Development’s Children and Screens. childrenandscreens.com. 



NATURENOTES 

Sense-sational 

Nature Exploration 

Our senses are tools we use every day to observe our surroundings. They shape how we experience the world and how we 

connect with each other. We can intentionally use our senses to get more of the proven benefits of spending time outdoors, 

including increased focus, boosted mood, reduced stress and greater physical activity. In these uncertain and challenging 

times, when we have the chance to safely spend time outdoors, focusing on our senses can be a good way to calm a busy mind 

or explore a familiar place with a new lens. Here are some activities that can help you and your family explore your local park, 

backyard or greenspace while practicing safe physical distancing. 

Sight: Picture Frames 

This activity will use a focusing tool— 

a picture frame—to help you notice 

composition in nature. You can use an 

empty picture frame, a piece of construction 

paper you cut to create a hollow 

rectangle, or simply make a “frame” with 

your hands by connecting the tip of your 

index fingers to the tips of the opposite 

thumbs. Look through the frame to 

choose an area that interests you. Experiment 

with angles and items that are close 

up or far away. Once you choose your 

subject blink slowly, scrunching up your 

eyes, and say “click!” This is your mental 

photo! Repeat as many times as you like. 

Sound: ‘Fist Listen’ and Sound 

Map 

Sounds are useful clues in nature because 

you’ll often hear something before 

you see it, if you see it at all! The taptap-tap 

of a woodpecker, the croak of a 

pacific tree frog or the nasal peep-peep 

of a nuthatch are all examples of sounds 

you might hear in nature. For the “fist 

listen” simply close your eyes, put your 

fist in the air and raise a finger to count 

every new sound you hear. If you want 

to add an artistic element to this listening 

activity try making a sound map. Draw 

an “X” in the center of a piece of paper 

to represent where you are. Use symbols, 

words or drawings to mark where you 

hear sounds around you. Be creative! 

How can you show volume and distance 

of a sound? 

Smell: Forest Perfume 

The goal of this activity is to highlight 

the smell of the forest by making a “forest 

perfume.” Start by smelling the items 


Photo: Unsplash 

around you. If you smell something from 

a living plant, please leave it to grow, but 

if an item is loose on the ground, pick 

it up and place it in a small container, 

empty cup or your cupped hands. Fallen 

leaves or branches, pieces of bark, bits of 

soil, fallen moss and lichen are all great 

items for your perfume (and you’ll be 

surprised how great they can smell when 

all mixed together!). When you’re ready, 

compare your perfume with one another’s 

or with the smell of the forest. Be 

sure to find a special spot to empty your 

perfume before you leave. 

Touch: ‘Tickly Prickly’ 

This activity is great for experiencing 

textures and consistencies. Have your 

child close their eyes while you pick up 

a few small objects from the ground. Try 

to get a variety of textures, like a tickly 

leaf, a smooth stone, a bumpy branch 

or a squishy piece of lichen. Have your 

children feel each item with their hands 

behind their back. When they’re ready, 

they can open their eyes and try to find 

the same object they felt behind their 

back, this time in their surroundings. 

Once they have a guess, show them the 

object they felt and see if it matches. You 

can also do a version of this game by calling 

out a texture for them to find as you 

walk along. 

If you try any of these sensory activities 

you’re sure to experience nature in a 

new and special way, and feel inspired to 

pay close attention to your senses when 

outside. What do you notice? How does 

it make you feel? Early summer is the 

perfect time to explore nature with your 

senses, but you can also try these activities 

at any other time of year. Remember 

that with sensory activities, patience pays 

off! The longer you pay attention, the 

more you’ll notice. 

Looking to get out of the house and try 

these activities? Please help keep regional 

parks safe and open by only visiting 

parks near your home, practicing physical 

distancing from other visitors, staying 

home if you’re sick, and only visiting 

parks with people from your household. 

For up to date information on CRD Regional 

Parks, visit crd.bc.ca/covid. 

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. 

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 Waldorf- 

Inspired 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 

Emma Jane Vignola is a CRD Regional 

Parks naturalist. 



Tips from a PE Teacher 

Dad to Keep Active in 

Self-isolation 

As an elementary school PE teacher—and dad—I know how 

important it is for kids to get lots of active play, every day. 

Here’s how I’m keeping my four-year-old 

active during this unprecedented time: 

1. Keep it simple 

We walk daily. Rain or shine. They 

say adults go for walks but children go 

on adventures. During these adventures, 

we’ve looked for animals in the forest, 

picked up natural loose parts to make a 

magic “potion,” and we’ve done a few 

window walks, looking for hearts. My 

toddler has also ridden her bike, and 

created her own obstacle course. 

Suite 228, 102–15910 Fraser Highway, Surrey BC V4N 0X9 

2. Learn new skills or improve 

a skill 

When we go outside to play, I like to 

let my daughter lead the activities. This 

improves her engagement in staying active 

because the ideas come from her and 

not her dad. I like to keep the garage 

door open when we’re outside, and she’ll 

go in and choose what she wants to play 

with. Lately, she’s been wanting to learn 

how to hula hoop or skateboard (we 

work on her balance while she’s holding 

my hands). 

Here are other ideas that you could 

try with your children (you’ll get more 

engagement from them if you also give 

it a try!): 

• Learn how to juggle a soccer ball. If 

that seems too difficult just now, you can 

start by keeping a balloon up with your 

feet. 

• Improve your basketball dribbling 

skills. Try using both hands. 

• If your access to sports equipment 

is limited, take the time to improve your 

flexibility. 

• Challenge your family with minuteto-win-it 

activities (How many jumping 

jacks can you do in a minute? How many 

times can you successfully attempt a 

bottle flip?). 

3. Try an online activity video 

Sometimes it’s fun to just follow along 

with a video on YouTube. We’ve noticed 

that when we ask her if she wants to try a 

video, she’ll often say no. However, if we 

just put the video on and start working 

out she’ll eventually join us. 

4. Your physical education 

teacher can help! 

Don’t be shy to send an email to your 

children’s PE teachers. We love to hear 

from the kids we teach! Or, if you search 

for #HPEatHome on Twitter, you’ll find 

plenty of amazing ideas from PE teachers 

all over the world. 

For more ideas, you can join the Active 

at Home Facebook group. 

David Benay is a PE teacher and father 

of one. Reprinted with permission from Active 

for Life, a national initiative created to help 

parents raise physically literate children. 

activeforlife.com. 

20 Island Parent @Home IslandParent.ca

DADSPEAK 

A Simple Reminder 

Back when our baby boy was a new 

addition in our house, I was on 

that horrendous newborn schedule, 

where some mornings I found myself up 

and at ’em at 5:45 a.m. or so, wandering 

around the house, stunned and confused, 

holding the baby, who was really insistent 

that we get the day started at this early 

hour. 

Why exactly? 

No idea, but I did know that we were 

all just tired as hell. 

I told myself going into this one, 

though, that I was just going to enjoy 

those moments. I actually look back on 

similar moments with the first two kids 

with an incredible fondness and nostalgia. 

With my first, it was wandering around 

Beacon Hill Park and the Fairfield area 

super early on fall mornings, spotting 

wildlife and enjoying the scenery. 

With my second, it was the Hillside 

area, early summer mornings, watching 

the elderly go through other peoples’ recycling, 

just enjoying being out and about 

in the dead quiet. Even though I felt like I 

was floating because I was so tired it was 

pretty amazing. 

With my third, I’m still in the Hillside 

area, although I seem to be forced outside 

less with this one; it’s more waking 

up and brewing a coffee and playing 

inside. When he was just months old and 

napped, I made the decision to either get 

some shut-eye or get 

some peaceful work 

or household-duty 

catch-up time in. 

I’m not a smart man, so I usually chose 

to stay awake. It was often with him on 

me, the little bundle of warmth and coziness 

snuggled up to me as I somehow 

managed to pull out my laptop and balance 

the coffee on the side of the couch 

and start typing away at some work, 

sometimes even this very column. 

Thing is, as cozy and coffee-commercial-esque 

as this sounds, it wasn’t usually 

exactly as great as that in the heat of the 

moment. My stomach was often a bit off 

due to the weird waking time. Occasionally 

we’d finally get perfectly cozy and I’d 

have to wake him to go to the bathroom, 

then we’d start it all over again. 

Sometimes I was just too tired to really 

properly appreciate it. 

But, I told myself I was going to enjoy 

it, so, man, I tried. And I succeeded sometimes. 

My older ones are 8 and 11 now. 

I know you just want to punch a dude in 

the face when he says this, but it really 

does go so fast. Mainly because you’re 

underslept, stressed out, and worrying 

about finances most of the time, but, it’s 

true: time really does go fast. 

My girl is a full-on pre-teen now. The 

boy is turning into a grown-up before my 

eyes, too. At the time, it was hard to appreciate 

being woken up early with them, 

to be totally honest, because I was new 

to all this. I didn’t realize how fleeting it 

all is. 

So, a simple reminder: just enjoy it. 

Forget about the finances for a while. 

Don’t obsess over how tired you are. 

There’s no gas left in the tank, I get it, but 

just power through anyway. Instead of 

thinking about the bad aspects—and I get 

it, there are bad aspects—of your early 

wakings, of any aspects of being a parent 

through the 18 or so years the little ones 

are under your roof, just focus on the 

good stuff. It deserves your attention. 

My oldest occasionally hurls something 

a bit hurtful at me when upset these days. 

Pre-teen stuff. Sometimes it’s charming, 

but sometimes it can hurt. Recently, she 

told me in no uncertain terms that I’ve 

been grumpy and stressed out lately. It 

was a good wake-up call, because one day 

she’ll be grown up and out of the house 

and I’ll look back on every grumpy moment 

and think about what a waste of 

this amazing time those grumpy moments 

were. 

So, a simple reminder: enjoy every 

moment. It’s really hard, but enjoy every 

moment. 

Greg Pratt is the father of two children and 

a local journalist and editor. His writing has appeared 

in, among other places, Today’s Parent, 

Wired, Revolver and Douglas. 


A Mother’s Growing Pains 

raised my boys to be confident. From 

I the moment they were born, I had a 

vision, one in which my children were 

able to take risks, find and respect their 

boundaries. I wanted them to walk into 

a room and feel comfortable talking to 

people they had never met and to walk 

up to a child on the playground to introduce 

themselves. I wanted them to 

rise up to a challenge and work hard to 

overcome it. So, I encouraged them to 

think for themselves. From early in their 

toddler years, I asked their opinions 

about things, let them explore the world 

through play and held myself back when 

they encountered a problem. One might 

say, at times, I pushed my vision a little 

too hard. 

When my children were young and they 

struggled with something, their shoe was 

lost, their brother took their toy, their 

friend hurt their feelings, I would ask 

them, “What do you think you should do 

about that?” I didn’t want to be the source 

of all their solutions. I wanted them to 

understand that they were capable of solving 

their own problems. 

One day, though, when my youngest 

son was three years old, or so, he climbed 

too high on the playground apparatus. 

It was one of those Spider Man nets that 

peaks like a mountain and he had maneuvered 

his way to the very top. I stood by 

and watched him, but said nothing. Once 

conquering this mountain, he realized 

that coming down is often trickier than 

scaling up. He stood still for a moment. I 

could see he was afraid, but was considering 

his options. Then, instead of crying 

in fear, he yelled, in a trembling voice, 

“Mommy, I don’t know how to solve this 

problem!” 

The other mothers at the park looked 

at me, strangely, as I laughed and climbed 

up to guide my son to the bottom of the

web. I recognized it was not a common 

thing for a toddler to say and wondered 

if, perhaps, my son would prefer a mother 

who was somewhat more coddling. 

In those days, I was the centre of my 

children’s world. I was their sun, their 

little orbits always circling me. It was exhausting, 

but most days, I truly enjoyed 

it. They were my life’s purpose, my partners 

in crime and the little monkeys that 

were constantly under my feet, causing 

me to trip and swear. We played together, 

read together and learned together. 

As they got older, my confident boys 

began to venture out into the world with 

more and more independence. They 

asked to walk to school without me. Suggested 

that I come on the next field trip, 

but not this one. Went to birthday parties 

and play dates where parental attendance 

was unnecessary. I began to miss them. 

And, I questioned my purpose. If my 

boys don’t need me every single moment 

of every single day, what was I to do with 

myself? 

I’m not going to lie, that was a difficult 

time. I was bored, not used to having 

alone time, and I became resentful. 

My boys would play with their friends, 

watch sports with their stepdad and kick 

a soccer ball around with each other. 

But, what about me? Was I only good for 

cooking and cleaning? I remember yelling 

on more than one occasion, “I don’t 

work for you people!” It felt as if I didn’t 

know how to fit in with my own family. 

Growing pains suck, especially for moms. 

Over time, I realized my boys were 

becoming exactly who I want them to 

be. The reason they were out, experiencing 

the world without me, was because 

they didn’t need me to hold their hands. 

They were the confident, social, gentlemen 

I had raised them to be. They knew 

they could explore, while still respecting 

boundaries, like when they were little. 

They knew I would always be just off to 

the side, watching supportively, there if 

they needed me. Now, their playground 

was just a lot larger. 

What I have learned is this: to enjoy 

quality time, over quantity time. I am 

also learning to spend my own time engaging 

in hobbies and people which fulfill 

me. At this moment, both of my children 

are upstairs in their bedrooms, listening 

to music and texting their friends. Most 

likely, I won’t see them until it’s bedtime. 

They are being teenagers, as they should. 

So, I am sitting in a candle lit room, 

with a glass of wine on the table beside 

me, writing. Because, that’s what makes 

my heart happy. If my one of my children 

comes downstairs, I will set aside my 

laptop, turn off my phone and be present 

with my son, listening to whatever 

he wants to share with me. I am holding 

space for my children, ready when they 

need me. 

I treasure moments with them, now. 

Hugs that they give, stories that they tell. 

I try to find common hobbies that we enjoy 

together—working out, hiking, wakeboarding. 

I plan date nights with them, 

adventures we can experience together. 

Here’s the thing, though. These moments 

will also be gone, before I know it, before 

I am ready. Soon, they will be having 

more adventures with friends and dating 

their peers instead of their mother. They 

will move out of my house, establishing 

independence and living life on their own 

terms. The quantity of moments with my 

children is dwindling and I feel it. I will 

need to be increasingly mindful to make 

the small moments matter. Now, comes 

the choice every parent faces. I can either 

be sad, mournful and purposeless, or I 

can be proud of my sons, who want to 

live their best lives, as they should. For, 

they are the embodiment of confidence 

and independence, just as I taught them 

to be. 

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. 

Closed to the Public But 

Open for Website Business 

Toys, games and puzzles for all ages 

koolandchild.com 

#102 – 2517 Bowen Rd, Nanaimo 888.390.1775 



WHAT’SFORDINNER 

Eggs, Crepes & Greens 

Photo: Unsplash 

This is the time of year, there’s an abundance of spring greens. Sweet, flavourful and packed full of nutrients, 

they are farm-fresh and delicious. 

In the spring, over-wintered kale, cabbage and other greens start to send out flowering shoots. When 

picked young, these shoots are soft and succulent. You can eat the whole stock, not just the flowering tops. 

Other fresh greens found this time of year include: leeks, kale, chard, collards and mustard greens. 

You can find local spring greens at farmers’ market stands or smaller grocery stores that have a focus on local 

produce. Also, anyone in the Victoria area can sign up for the Good Food Box (thegoodfoodbox.ca), which has 

a strong partnership with local farmers. They often feature fresh greens in the spring. 

Here are three quick, easy and delicious recipes that are perfect for celebrating fresh spring greens. My favourite 

spring greens are cabbage shoots and kale shoots, however, feel free to use leeks or leafy greens in these 

recipes. 


Simple Savoury Crepes 

(Total Prep Time: 30 minutes) 

Crepes are a lot easier than you might think. They 

are basically a thin pancake and just as quick and 

simple to make. The trick is to make small crepes, 

about the size of a typical pancake, rather than 

the giant crepes you get in the restaurants. Small 

crepes are easy to flip, fill and serve. 

Crepe 

1 ⁄4 cup butter 

1 cup flour (white or whole wheat) 

1 1 ⁄4 cup milk 

2 eggs 

Pinch of salt 

Filling 

2 tbsp olive oil 

2 cloves of garlic 

3 cups of fresh greens (kale, spinach, chard, 

leeks) 

A pinch of salt 

Freshly ground black pepper 

Slices of cheese 

1. Start by mixing the crepe batter, as the flour 

needs to soak for at least 15 minutes before cooking. 

For a particularly quick dinner, mix the crepe 

batter up to two days in advance and store it in 

the fridge. 

2. Melt the butter. Mix together all the ingredients 

for the crepe batter. I recommend adding the 

milk last as cold milk causes the butter to harden 

before it’s mixed in to the batter. The crepe batter 

will be very liquidy. 

3. Prepare the filling while the crepe batter 

soaks. 

4. Wash and chop up the fresh greens. You 

want them to be in bite-sized pieces. 

5. Finely dice the garlic. 

6. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan on medium. 

Add the garlic and greens and saute for a few 

minutes until the greens have started to wilt. 

Lightly season with salt and pepper, and reduce 

the heat while you prepare the crepes. 

7. Stir the crepe batter before cooking. Pour 

a 1 ⁄4 cup of batter onto a hot griddle. Flip it over 

when the edges have started to dry out and 

the centre of the crepe is bubbling. Cook it for 

another minute, then move it to a plate. It should 

take about 3 minutes to cook a crepe. 

8. Fill the crepes with a spoonful of cooked 

greens and top with a slice of cheese. 

9. Either serve immediately or place a few filled 

crepes on a cookie sheet, then warm them up in 

the oven when you’re ready to serve dinner. 

Pasta with Fresh Greens 

(Prep Time: 20 minutes) 

Pasta is my go-to for a quick weeknight meal. 

I particularly love making pasta with fresh 

greens because it so simple, yet tastes deliciously 

fancy. Pine nuts are creamy and delicious, 

however, they are also hard to find and 

expensive. Walnuts are an earthy substitute, 

and my children actually prefer sunflower 

seeds. The goal is to add a nutty crunch along 

with a bit of protein. 

1 box of pasta (454g) 

1⁄4 cup of pine nuts (or walnuts, sunflower 

seeds) 

2 tbsp olive oil 

2 tbsp butter 

4 cloves of garlic 

3 cups of fresh greens (kale, spinach, cabbage 

shoots) 

1 tsp salt, to taste 

1⁄2 tsp ground black pepper 

1⁄4 cup of Parmesan cheese 

1. Start by bringing a large pot of water to 

boil. Cook the pasta according to the directions 

on the package. The greens can be 

prepared while the water boils and the pasta 

cooks. 

2. If the pine nuts (walnuts or sunflower 

seeds) aren’t toasted, start by quickly toasting 

them in a large frying pan. As soon as they 

start to brown, transfer them to a bowl. 

3. Heat the olive oil and butter in the hot 

frying pan. Reduce to low heat while you prepare 

the vegetables. 

4. Finely dice the garlic. 

5. Wash and chop the fresh greens into 

bite-sized pieces. 

6. Add the garlic and the greens to the frying 

pan. Saute until the garlic is cooked and 

the greens are wilted. 

7. Season with the salt and pepper. It taste 

extra salty as it is providing all of the seasoning 

for the pasta. 

8. When the pasta is cooked, toss it with 

the wilted greens. 

9. Serve the pasta with a sprinkle of toasted 

nuts and a bit of freshly grated cheese. 

Kid-Simple Omelettes 

(Total Time: 20 minutes) 

Omelettes are surprisingly easy to make. In 

fact, my eleven-year-old decided to make 

them for dinner one night, and although 

they weren’t perfectly beautiful they were 

delicious! 

For One Omelette 

2 eggs 

2 tbsp of milk 

1 ⁄4 tsp salt 

Melted butter 

Filling 

1 batch of cooked greens 

1 cup of grated cheese 

1. Prepare the greens the same way as 

in the crepe recipe. The greens should 

be fully cooked before you start on the 

omelettes because the eggs cook fairly 

quickly. 

2. Beat 2 eggs in a bowl with 2 tbsp of 

milk and 1 ⁄4 tsp of salt. 

3. Heat an 8-inch frying pan on medium. 

When it is hot, add a small amount of butter 

to coat the bottom of the pan. 

4. Pour in the beaten eggs and whisk 

slightly until it starts to thicken like scrambled 

eggs. Then stop beating to let the 

bottom set. At this point add a spoonful of 

cooked greens and some grated cheese in 

the middle of the omelette. 

5. While the omelette finishes cooking, 

beat the eggs, milk and salt for the next 

omelette. 

6. When the top of the omelette is 

fully cooked and the bottom is starting to 

brown, fold the omelette, either in half or 

thirds, and serve. 

7. Melt a bit of butter in the pan and start 

cooking the next omelette. 

8. Continue cooking until you have an 

omelette for each person. 

Emillie Parrish writes from Victoria 

and Saturna Island. She is the author of 

the Pacific Northwest lifestyle blog 

BerriesAndBarnacles.com. 



KIDS’READS 

Into the Realm of Books 

Need a little bit of a break from 

reality? 

Here is a list of books that will 

all take you to a different world or on a 

fantastic adventure. 

The first book is called Queen of the 

Sea by Dylan Meconis (Walker Books, 

2019). It’s a gorgeous graphic novel about 

a young girl named Margaret who lives 

in a convent on an island off the coast 

Albion. Her idyllic world is turned upsidedown 

when she learns that she wasn’t just 

some random child abandoned on the 

island; she, like most of its inhabitants, is 

a prisoner by order of the king. 

re-telling of Hansel and Gretel, but the 

two children are not listening to the narrator 

in the slightest. They point out the 

ridiculousness of leaving a bread crumb 

trail during a famine—if they had some, 

they most certainly would have eaten 

them--deny the idea that they’re parents 

could be trying to abandon them--their 

father is just bad with directions when he 

went to get them blankets, and cannot 

comprehend that the woman who lives in 

the candy house could be evil. Kids and 

parents can laugh along with Gretel and 

Hansel’s antics as they retell their story 

their own way. For ages 3 to 7. 

Moving on to Interrupting Chicken 

and the Elephant of Surprise by David 

Ezra Stein (Candlewick Press, 2018). 

This is a book parents can definitely relate 

to right now as they struggle to help 

their children with school work. Chicken 

needs to find the elephant of surprise in 

three stories for her homework and she 

enlists her father’s help to find them. 

However, Papa is pretty certain that the 

teacher said element of surprise. Chicken 

doesn’t agree and sets out to find the 

poor lost and lonely elephant in the pages 

Inspired by the early years of Queen 

Elizabeth I, this story will sweep readers 

along in a tale of political intrigue and 

secrets as Margaret tries to discover who 

she really is and what crime a baby could 

have committed to land her in prison for 

life. For ages 10 to 14. 

The next book is for a younger audience. 

It’s called It’s Not Hansel and Gretel 

by Josh Funk and illustrated by Edwardian 

Taylor (Two Lions, 2019). This is a 


of three very well-known folk and fairy tales. Stein’s illustrations 

are brilliant. He intermixes the old style of illustrations 

that were common to fairy tales with his bold and brilliant illustrations 

that really make the surprises pop out of the page. 

For ages 3 to 7. 

Next up is Malamander by Thomas Taylor and illustrated 

by Tom Booth (Walker Books, 2019). In this delightfully dark 

and creepy tale, Herbie, the young Lost-and-Founder of the 

Grand Nautilus Hotel ends up with more than he was expecting 

when a girl dives into his cubbyhole. Her name is Violet 

Parma and she was lost at the hotel twelve years ago when her 

parents vanished into the sea. Now she wants Herbie’s help 

becoming found. However, not only did her parents disappear 

before Herbie started working at the hotel—and possibly before 

he was born, he’s a little unsure of his age—there is also a 

creepy man with a hook for a hand who seems determined to 

catch Violet, and if that’s not bad enough, the malamander has 

woken up from its sleep and it slithering through town at night. 

For ages 8 to 12. 

Finally, there is The Button Book by Sally Nicholls and illustrated 

by Bethan Woollvin (Tundra Books, 2019). On each 

page of this colourful book there is a button. Each button does 

something new. Some make music, some make raspberries, and 

some cause tickle fights. If you’re feeling up to it, you could act 

out each action with your kids as your press your way through 

this book. For ages 3 to 7. 

While this time of quarantine might be wearing you and your 

children down, I hope you’re able to find some laughter and adventure 

within the pages of a book. Because while we may not 

be able to travel, our minds can still run wild and free. 

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. 



PRESCHOOL&CHILDCAREDIRECTORY 

ESQUIMALT 

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. 

La Pré-Maternelle 

Appletree Preschool....................... 250-479-0292 

A French Immersion Preschool Program. 

30 months to school age. Licensed Christian centre. 

prematernelleappletree.com. 

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. 

OAK BAY 

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. 

SAANICH 

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. 

Carrot Seed Preschool...................250-658-2331 

Where children can discover, imagine, construct and 

learn through play. Wondrous natural playground. 

carrotseedpreschool.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 

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. 

Pre-School 

Junior Kindergarten 

PacificChristian.ca 

250-479-4532 

Educational Excellence to the Glory of God 

If you’d like to 

be listed in the 

Preschool & Child 

Care Directory, 

please email 

linda@islandparent.ca 

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. 

Child Care 

Resource & Referral 

Funded by the Province of BC 

Your community’s best source 

of child care information 

and resources. 

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 


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 

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 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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 

NANAIMO’ S JK–12 INTERNATIONAL 

BACCALAUREATE WORLD SCHOOL 

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. 

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

lexieslittlebears.ca 

250-590-3603 



Healthy Families, Happy Families 

Child, Youth 

& Family 

Public Health 

South Island Health Units 

Esquimalt 250-519-5311 

Gulf Islands 250-539-3099 

(toll-free number for office in Saanichton) 

Peninsula 250-544-2400 

Saanich 250-519-5100 

Saltspring Island 250-538-4880 

Sooke 250-519-3487 

Victoria 250-388-2200 

West Shore 250-519-3490 

Central Island Health Units 

Duncan 250-709-3050 

Ladysmith 250-755-3342 

Lake Cowichan 250-749-6878 

Nanaimo 250-755-3342 

Nanaimo 250-739-5845 

Princess Royal 

Parksville/Qualicum 250-947-8242 

Port Alberni 250-731-1315 

Tofino 250-725-4020 

North Island Health Units 

Campbell River 250-850-2110 

Courtenay 250-331-8520 

Kyuquot Health Ctr 250-332-5289 

‘Namgis Health Ctr 250-974-5522 

Port Hardy 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 

HAPPYFAMILIESHEALTHYFAMILIES 

The Myths & Facts 

of Speech & Hearing 

May is Better Speech and Hearing 

month. This presents an opportunity 

for communication 

health professionals to increase public 

awareness about communication health 

in general, as well as the impact of communication 

impairments, and the importance 

of detection and intervention. It is 

also a perfect opportunity to talk about 

commonly held misconceptions related to 

communication development. 

Have you ever heard someone tell you 

that teaching a child multiple languages 

can “confuse” them? Or that using two 

languages with your child can cause a 

language delay? 

Sadly, there are many misunderstandings 

when it comes to bilingual or multilingual 

language development in children. 

Many people think multiple language 

learning can have a negative impact on a 

child’s communication development overall. 

Well, I am here to tell you otherwise! 

First, I’d like to clarify what I mean 

when I talk about “multilingual language 

development.” Well, it’s exactly 

as it sounds—it refers children learning 

more than one language. Families may go 

about this in many different ways. Some 

families use two languages from birth or 

the or the very early years and children 

grow up learning two languages at the 

same time. We call this simultaneous acquisition. 

Some families use one language 

at home, and their child will learn the 

second language after their first language 

is well established, often coinciding with 

the start of daycare/preschool or kindergarten. 

We call this sequential acquisition, 

and it is common for families who 

have immigrated from a country where 

there is a different dominant language. 

When a family speaks one language in 

the home different from the dominant 

language spoken in the community, we 

call the home language their heritage 

language. 

An increasingly multilingual community 

gives us an opportunity to talk about 

myths and misconceptions surrounding 

multilingual language acquisition. 

Myth: Learning two or more languages 

is too confusing for young children. It is 

better to speak only English with them 

even if you are not fluent because that is 

what they will end up using at school and 

in the community anyways. 

Fact: Children all over the world learn 

multiple languages without getting “confused”. 

It is best to use the language(s) 

you are most comfortable speaking and 

understanding so that you are better able 

to provide high-quality language input 

for your child. 

Speaking the language you are most 

comfortable using generally means using 

the language in which you are a fluent 

speaker. For those fluent in more than 

one language, this might mean using multiple 

languages with their children from 

birth, and their children will grow up 

as simultaneous language learners. For 

those fluent in only one language, this 

may mean speaking a heritage language 

in the home, and their children can be a 

sequential language learner. Remember, 

both learning styles are wonderful and 

neither is better than the other! 

Instead, it is better to focus on providing 

your child with good language input 

and high quality interactions/conversations, 

no matter what language you use. 

This will have the most positive impact 

on their communication development. I 

believe this would be very difficult to do 

using a language in which you are not 

comfortable speaking or understanding. 

When we speak in a fluent language, we 

are more likely to use a larger vocabulary, 

correct grammar, and more varied 

sentence structures. We are likely to communicate 

more in general. All of these 

things have a positive impact on our 

children’s communication development. 

Furthermore, when we engage in conversations 

using our fluent language, we are 

better able to provide feedback, build on 

what our children are saying, and correct 

our children’s grammar misuses in a 

natural way. 


Myth: Learning two languages will 

cause a communication delay. 

Fact: While there are sometimes minor 

differences in language learning for multilingual 

children, learning two languages 

itself does NOT cause a language delay. 

There are many cognitive benefits to 

learning multiple languages! 

Overall, bilingual children meet their 

communication milestones within the 

same expected range as monolingual children. 

They start using their first words 

around the same time as monolingual 

children, and develop their grammar in 

a similar way and around the same timelines 

as well. Research has shown that 

children who know more than one language 

have an improved ability to learn 

new words and even more languages. 

They are shown to be more skilled at 

problem solving, and have an improved 

ability to manage their attention. 

It should be noted, though, that there 

are some minor but noticeable differences 

in the patterns of typical language 

learning for multilingual children. It is 

common for these children to mix up 

grammar rules, or to use words from 

both languages in the same sentence. 

We call this code switching. It is actually 

a typical part of bilingual language 

learning and is not a sign of a language 

delay or “confusion.” Code switching 

will decrease over time, and children will 

eventually stop as they become more experienced 

in both languages. 

Myth: Children who don’t speak 

English when they first enter school will 

struggle in the classroom and won’t be 

able to “catch up” to their peers. 

Fact: Sequential language learning is a 

common way for children to learn multiple 

languages. If they are not experiencing 

any delays in their heritage language, 

children are expected to “catch up” to 

their peers and become fluent in their 

second language. 

If there is a language delay in the heritage 

language, we expect to see some delays 

in the second language as well. But, 

if language skills are within the expected 

range for their heritage language, children 

should “catch up” to the language 

level of their peers after a period of time. 

One thing that might occur for these 

language learners is a “silent period” 

lasting several months when they first 

start learning their new language. During 

this period, they may not speak as much 

as they usually do. While it may feel 

concerning, it is typical of sequential language 

learners, and it should resolve. As 

well, a sequential language learner may 

use incorrect grammar and short sentences 

initially. While perhaps not typical for 

their age if they were monolingual, it is 

typical for a child who is learning a second 

language. Some mistakes will be due 

to the influence of their first language, 

but many mistakes will follow a similar 

pattern of development as monolingual 

children at a similar stage of language 

learning. As a child has more experience 

speaking and listening in their second 

language, they will become more fluent 

and their errors will decrease. 

Myth: If your child is learning multiple 

languages and they have a developmental, 

cognitive, or communication 

delay, you should stop using your heritage 

language and just focus on English. 

Fact: All children, including those with 

developmental, cognitive, or communication 

delays, are capable of learning 

multiple languages. Many children with 

delays have learned a second language 

successfully! 

So remember, any child can learn multiple 

languages, and can do so without 

harming their communication or cognitive 

development. In fact, it’s quite the 

opposite! What is most important is ensuring 

your child receives good language 

models and high quality interactions in 

whatever language(s) you choose. 

Caitlin Bittman is 

a Speech-Language 

Pathologist at Esquimalt 

Health Unit. 

CHILD YOUTH & FAMILY 

PUBLIC HEALTH 



Talking to Kids About Sex 

ow can I help my parents become 

“Hcomfortable enough to talk with 

me about sex?” 

This was a question I was recently 

asked by a high school student. Inspired 

and humbled by the student’s sincere desire 

to have better communication with 

their parents, I also felt slightly heavy 

hearted that this youth felt responsible 

for growing their parents’ comfort level. 

It is not uncommon that many parent 

and adult allies lacked their own opportunities 

as young people to have these 

conversations with the adults in their 

lives. Often if a talk did occur, it centred 

around what not to do or all of the things 

that could go wrong. This means many 

adults are starting these conversations 

with little or no practice. Talk about the 

ultimate cold call! Whether you’re beginning 

with a two–month-old or supporting 

a worldly 12-year-old through their 

first crush, here are some ideas for growing 

your own comfort. 

Use Your Words 

Begin with your children when they 

are young by using ALL of the words to 

describe their bodies and their functions. 

Diaper changes, bathing, and bedtime 

routines are ideal opportunities to use 

the language in low pressure and simple 

settings on a daily basis. Do the words 

vulva, scrotum, penis, and labia roll off 

your tongue easily or do you suddenly 

feel like you have a mouth full of marbles 

as you try to use them? If you were only 

given permission to describe some parts 

of your body (elbow, knee, eyebrow) but 

not the most personal parts such as your 

genitals; it can feel awkward and unfamiliar 

when you begin to use the words. 

No wonder, it seems easier to default to 

play language (front bum, pee pee, etc) 

or skip it all together. Practice the words 

when you’re walking the dog or sitting in 

traffic. You’ll be surprised by how quickly 

it feels normal to say vulva, scrotum, 

and penis. 

Use Books 

Often a lack of comfort with sexuality 

conversations stems from a fear of 

not knowing what to say, how to say it 

or how much to say. The great news is 

there are fantastic books which expertly 

frame the information in accurate and 

enjoyable ways. There are few books 

more exciting to a child (as well as many 

adults!) than body and relationship 

books. Depending on the learning level, 

needs and curiosities of your child, you 

might approach sexuality through a body 

science lens with a “know your systems” 

focus; for example, through a more inclusive 

“what makes a baby?” book, or 


for older youth with a puberty focused 

question and answer book. You can read 

the books together, which builds intimacy 

and safety and the biggest bonus is that it 

gives you a natural script to follow. 

Use a Sex Positive Lens 

Ground your conversations in positivity 

and possibility. In my parent education 

sessions, I encourage parents to identify 

the two positive and integral messages 

about sexuality that they would like their 

children to receive at the ages/stages their 

children are at right now. This practice 

is helpful for two reasons: first, it frames 

our conversations in a positive and personal 

context—it’s not about what could 

go wrong; it’s about what can go right— 

and second, it reminds us of where we 

are at this moment and what we can and 

are doing to create change while preventing 

us from becoming overwhelmed and 

anxious about the many BIG conversations 

ahead of us. All we need to do is be 

where our kids are right now, and if we 

feel overwhelmed; bring it back to these 

two messages. 

Use Your Parenting Village 

Check in with your fellow parents. Ask 

about what their kids are asking, what 

techniques they’ve found work—maybe 

it’s a chat while you’re driving in the car, 

a funny question, or a particular book 

their kids covet. We often miss out on the 

wisdom, comfort and humour with our 

fellow parents when we don’t take the 

extra few minutes to connect. 

As with anything valuable in life, 

it takes practice to become confident, 

comfortable and competent with sexuality 

conversations. As someone whose 

job offers endless opportunities to have 

sexuality conversations with gender, orientation, 

ethnic, cultural and age diverse 

youth, I can assure you growing your 

own comfort is absolutely possible—it 

really is a matter of practice! So grab the 

dog, go out for a walk and repeat after 

me: vulva, scrotum and penis! 

Jennifer Gibson, MA, is also known as 

“The Sex Lady”— officially now for 15 years in 

Greater Victoria!—to the thousands of amazing 

youth and adults she is lucky to educate and 

learn with through her job as the Coordinator of 

Community Education at Island Sexual Health. 

She’s passionate about making sexuality education 

as positive, fun and non-cringe-able as 

possible. 

We are Lamaze 

Certified Childbirth 

Educators and 

Experienced Doulas. 

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, 

we’re offering virtual classes! 

60/40 CHILDBIRTH 

PREPARATION CLASSES 

60% labour and birth information to help 

you prepare for a variety of outcomes. 

40% newborn care, new parent 

adjustment and breastfeeding 

information. 

For Class Registration visit www.vidadoulas.ca 

STAGES 

Summer Programs 

Running This July & August 

Preschool Dance Camps 

For 3-5 year olds in Ballet, Jazz, 

Musical Theatre & Tap 

Youth Dance Camps 

For dancers 6-12 years old in 

Jazz, Hip Hop & Acrobatics 

Through these times let’s be 

careful & kind out there 

Programs will be running (hopefully) in 

person, or online... 

Dance Intensive 

For dancers 11 years old & up with 

Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop & Acrobatics 

Little Dancers Classes 

Are running through the summer for 

those 18 months to 3 years old 

Come Dance With Us 

Call (250) 384-3267, email: stagesdance@shaw.ca, 

or visit us at www.stagesdance.com 



CUTITOUT! 

Lock Down Good Habits 

Schoolwork is a kid issue, but how does that look during 

lockdown? 

We care about our kids and want to support them, but 

this is an opportunity to stand back lovingly. While you may 

not have the square footage to pull back too far, you can practice 

interior withdrawal. This is the art of minding your own 

business. 

In the past, a lack of time with children has been a significant 

concern and for a good reason. Our kids need our focused time 

and attention. Children develop self-esteem from the loving 

gaze of their parents. The message that they matter and that 

they are accepted and appreciated mirrors their self-worth. 

Too much closeness happens when we mistakenly believe 

that we have to take over our child’s responsibility. When we 

do that, we create resistance in them. They argue with us instead 

of face the task. So how do we find balance? 

Announce your desire to support without nagging. Get curious 

about your children’s goals and what matters to them right 

now. Ask them, don’t tell them. If you have been taking over 

your child’s responsibilities, they might think that this is a trick. 

And actually, if you want your child to give the answer that 

you want to hear, it is a trick. This is where interior withdrawal 

comes in. 

Let go of your agenda. Show a little faith. And if your child 

doesn’t meet his goals, instead of taking the task over and reprimanding, 

get curious again. What got in the way? How do 

you feel about this? What would be doable? What could work? 

What else? When kids can come up with their own plans, ideas 

and strategies, they are accountable to themselves. When we set 

up their agenda for them they are only doing as they are told. 

If you think that your child will just want to goof off, there 

could be some truth to that. You might see this at first, especially 

if they are sure you will swoop in and take over. Keep some 

structure but give some space and be patient. 

• Coach your child to come up with a plan by asking questions 

rather than telling. 

• Suggest short term so they don’t get overwhelmed. 

• Use short “what” questions to pull out ideas. 

• Write down your child’s ideas and post them. This allows 

your child to face his or her own authority. 

• If they don’t meet their plans, get curious and—instead of 

taking over—remain supportive. 

Dr. Allison Rees has two LIFE Seminars books available: Sidestepping 

the Power Struggle and The Parent Child Connection. See lifeseminars.com. 


Swan Lake 

christmas hill 

n a t u r e s a n c t u a r y

IPM May 20

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