Island Parent Magazine June 20

J U N E 2 0 2 0 

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! 

GET 

STARTED 

FOR $95! 

Act now and get the 

Sylvan Insight 

Assessment for just $95 

AND we'll include a 

*FREE hour of instruction 

Available at participating centres only. Free 

hour of instruction available on enrollment 

only. Cannot be combined with any other 

coupon or offer. Expires 6/30/20. 

Sylvan Victoria 

250-477-3212 

Sylvan Westshore 

250-590-6211 

Sylvan Nanaimo 

250-758-1526 

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 

June 2020 3

J U N E 2 0 2 0 

Vancouver Island’s Parenting Resource for 32 Years 

TableofContents 

20 

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. 

12 

Getting Ready—Or Not 

—for Back-to-School 

The importance of taking one step at a time. 

dr. Jillian roberts 

14 

The Power of a Mama Hug 

We all need our moms sometimes. 

Kelly Mcquillan 

16 

Unforeseen Blessings 

Finding the positive side of the pandemic. 

Kelly cleeve 

In Every Issue 

5 

Fast Forward 

Sue Fast 

18 

Dadspeak 

Bud Ridout 

22 

Moms’ POV 

Sarah seitz 

24 

Family Calendar 

29 

Kids’ Reads 

christine van starkenburg 

30 

Preschool & Child Care Directory 

32 

What’s for Dinner 

Emillie parrish 

34 

Happy Families, 

Healthy Families 

Cynthia Powell, Niki Timar, 

Areli Hermanson, Denise Baillet, 

Iris Bell, Cindy Bates, 

Hilary Planden, Tia Niedjalski 

36 

Nature Notes 

38 

Cut It Out! 

Dr. Allison Rees 

OntheCover 

Jessa B. (6) 

Photo by 

Jennifer Callioux Photography 

instagram.com/calli-o-photo 

Papa’s 

Privacy 

Policy 

Getting Ready 

—Or Not—for 


@home edition 

Sensational 

Summer 

Programs, Camps & Events 

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 

Back to School…in June 

Going 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 

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 



@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. 


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. 

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 

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. 

Entrance off 

Larch St. 

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) 

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 

975 Fort Street, Victoria 

motheringtouch.ca - 250-595-4905 

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 




Safety Measures 

Parents 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: 

strollers • car seats • furniture • maternity • baby carriers 

high chairs • diaper bags • toys • books • sleep aids 

Visit THE MEET UP Indoor Playground & Event Space! 

1581 Hillside Ave, Victoria 778•265•5651 

Across the street from Hillside Centre 

SHOP ONLINE AT MOMEASE.CA 

Get Ready 

for Summer! 

Grades K–5 (2–3 days per week) 

Grades 6–12 (1 day per week) 

• 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 

• 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. 

We are also 

still open 

for Website 

Business 

Toys, games and puzzles for all ages 

koolandchild.com 

#102 – 2517 Bowen Rd, Nanaimo 888.390.1775 

School & Classrooms Might Look Different 

• 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. 


@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. 



@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 


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. 



Getting Ready–Or Not— 

for Back-to-School 

As the COVID-19 crisis begins to calm teens, though, they can competently understand 

how to keep a safe distance and can 

down here in British Columbia, our 

“bubbles” of friends and loved ones are expanding, 

vaccine developments are gaining 

likely be trusted to do so. 

momentum, and businesses are re-opening Take Things a Step at a Time 

with social distancing protocols. Now, We can’t solve all the world’s problems 

many of us are trying to decide whether in a day—especially this one. As tempting 

or not we should send our kids back to as it might be to try and plan weeks, even 

school. This can be a tough decision for months ahead, doing so can feel futile during 

this crisis. The situation changes daily, 

many as we balance the worry over our 

kids’ health and safety with the scientific and it’s important that we go into every 

data of low infection rates on Vancouver day with a fresh, open mind. The world’s 

Island. On one hand, we’re desperate to best doctors and scientists are working 

get our children back to their normal social round-the-clock to find vaccines and treatments 

for this virus—one that is new and 

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: 

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 

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 

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, acknowledge 

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. 


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. 

SUMMER 

CAMPS 

PLAY YOUR WAY TO: 

SKILL FUN, TEAM WORK & 

CONFIDENCE RESPECT INCLUSIVITY 

DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION 

pise.ca/summer-camps 

Spring programs also available! 

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



The Power of a Mama Hug 

don’t often suffer from writer’s block, 

I 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- 

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 


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. 



Unforeseen Blessings 

This 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 


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. 

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. 



DADSPEAK 

Papa’s Privacy Policy 

Doesn’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. 

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 

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 

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 milestones 

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. 

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. 


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. 

STAGES 


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 



12 Tips for Managing Screen Time 

To 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. 

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. 

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 

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. 

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 

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. 

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 

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. 

20 Island Parent @Home IslandParent.ca

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. 

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. 

To register online visit 

www.smus.ca/summercamps 

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! 

Sports • SummerBand 

SummerStrings 

Musical Theatre 

Science • Tech 

Art • Discovery 

Summer Fun 

for Everyone! 



Mom’sPOV 

Puppy Parenting 

Several 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 

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. 

22 Island Parent @Home

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. 

Summer Camps 

Coed | Ages 6-16 

HIGHLAND 

PACIFIC GOLF 

VICTORIA, BC 

SportsCampsCanada.com 1.844.464.5372 

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. 



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! 

Reis a 250-478-8384 

| westshorerecreation.ca 



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 

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 website 

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.• 



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. 

Social distancing family shoots available this summer! 

Facebook: Jennifer Callioux Instagram: Calli_o_photo 

* 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. 

Canadian Children’s Therapy 

250-818-2034 canadianchildrenstherapy.ca 



Kids’READS 

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. 

The 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. 


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 

 

 

 

 



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 



What’sforDinner 

Healthy Food 

Super Fast 

Having 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. 

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: 

1⁄2 cup olive oil 3 Tbsp tahini 

2 Tbsp cider vinegar 1 ⁄2 Tbsp soy sauce 

1⁄2 Tbsp lemon juice 1 Tbsp chopped parsley 

1 Tbsp chopped chives 1 pinch of salt 

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. 


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. 

Victoria City Rowing Club 

Victoria City Rowing Club 

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. 

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 



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 

Child, Youth & Family 

Public Health 

The 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- 


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, 

Public Health Nursing). 

Child Youth & Family 

Public Health 

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 

Bleiddyn del Villar Bellis 

Director VAB 

Fellow & Examiner CC-CICB 

Enrico Cecchetti Final Diploma 



NatureNotes 

Birds of a Feather 

During 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 sensing 

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! 


NatureNotes 

Grounding in Place 

Living 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 



CutitOut! 

The Relationship Saboteur 

Communication 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. 

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 


islandparent.ca 

Island Parent is the online source of information and fun for families. 

We feature hundreds of engaging articles on every age and stage. 

Visitors also read our comprehensive guides, features, 

contests, calendar of events and more!

Island Parent Magazine June 20

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?