Grand Winter 2019

Grandparent 

I S L A N D 

W I N T E R 2 0 1 9 

10 

THINGS 

to Do with Your 

Grandkids 

I Belong Here 

Nurturing a sense of place in kids

Making Meaningful 

Memories 

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formerly 

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Specialty classes for older adults 

Personal Training packages for all abilities 

Bring the grandkids for: 

 

 

 

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Parent & Tot recreation classes 

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Bleiddyn del Villar Bellis 

Artistic Director 

Fellow & Examiner CSC-CICB 

Enrico Bleiddyn Cecchetti del Villar Final Bellis Diploma 

Artistic Director 

Fellow & Examiner CSC-CICB 

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2018/19 

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Ballet Children’s 

Classes Ballet 

Ongoing to June 

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hoto credit: Photo David credit: Cooper David Cooper 

Island Parent Grandparent IBC.indd 1 

Ongoing to June 

Including a FREE 

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Bleiddyn del Villar Bellis 

250-590-6752 

admin@victoriaacademyofballet.ca 

victoriaacademyofballet.ca 

250-590-6752 

admin@victoriaacademyofballet.ca 

victoriaacademyofballet.ca 

2018-11-20 10:30:29 AM

Grandkids visiting? 

Make their stay easy by renting gear from 

CONTENTS 

Welcome................................ 5 

Empowering Our 

Granddaughters.................... 6 

B A B Y E Q U I P M E N T R E N T A L S 

Vancouver | Toronto | Victoria 

weetravel.ca 1.800.933.0810 

Rainbow................................. 8 

10 Things to Do.................... 10 

I’ve Been Meaning 

to Tell You............................ 12 

Once Upon a Time................ 14 

This & That.......................... 16 

Put a Sock in It..................... 18 

Toys That Do Nothing........... 20 

Grand Sleepovers................ 22 

A Working Grandmother..... 24 

Fun Things to Do 

with Your Grandkids............ 25 

In Defence of Homework..... 26 

I Belong Here....................... 28 

Read, Speak, Sing................ 29 

Day Tripper.......................... 30 

Island Grandparent, published by Island Parent Group Enterprises Ltd., is a biannual 

publication that honours and supports grandparents by providing information 

on resources and businesses for families, and a forum for the exchange of ideas 

and opinions. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. No 

material herein may be reproduced without the permission of the Editor. Island 

Grandparent is distributed free in selected areas. 

Island Parent Magazine 

830–A Pembroke St, Victoria, BC V8T 1H9 

250-388-6905 islandparent.ca 

Sue Fast 

Editor 

RaeLeigh Buchanan 

Advertising Consultant 

Design & Layout 

Eacrett Graphic Design 

ISSN 0838-5505 

Jim Schneider 

Publisher/Owner 

Linda Frear 

Office Manager & Sales 

Printed by 

Black Press 

On the Cover: Connor (4) and Ira Townshend 

(Connor’s Great Grandpa). Photo by 

Tara Townshend (Connor’s mom). 

4 Island Grandparent

The Importance 

of Being Silly 

It’s one of my favourite photos of my mom. 

She’s draped from head to toe in almost every 

item from my kids’ dress-up box: a silly 

hat, crazy cape, rhinestone-studded cowboy 

vest, sparkly beads and a feather boa. Her eyes 

are wide, like she’s just stepped on a mouse, 

and her head is cocked to one side. My fouryear-old 

son, Kohl, is standing next to her, 

wearing the few remaining dress-ups and a 

similar expression, both of them caught in a 

moment of pure joy and delight. I remember 

when the photo was taken, how as soon as the 

shutter clicked, they erupted into giggles and 

laughter and then fell into a heap on the floor, 

gleeful and happy to be each other’s partner 

in crime. They shared something that only 

a grandparent and grandchild can share: a 

sense of silliness and fun unmatched by even 

their parents. 

Never a disciplinarian when she raised her 

own three children, my mom was even less so 

as a grandparent. She believed in letting kids 

be kids, and—as often as possible—letting 

grandparents be kids right along with them. 

She never missed an opportunity to play 

with her grandkids or to be silly. She’d pull 

funny faces that would rival their own, she’d 

sing aloud with them, she’d compete wholeheartedly 

in any watermelon-seed-spitting 

contests, and she’d skip hand-in-hand with 

them down city streets. 

One of the best parts about being a grandparent, 

if you ask me, is having the time that 

isn’t always available when you’re raising your 

own children to enjoy and have fun with your 

grandkids. Twice the fun without any of the 

worrying. Or half of it, anyway. 

We aren’t raising the future of our country— 

well, some of us are—we’re cheering it on. 

It has been said that having grandchildren 

is the great reward for enduring the indignities 

of aging. And, I would add, it is as good a 

reason as any to be undignified and perhaps 

a little over-the-top. 

“And so we find that aging really does come 

with benefits,” writes Vikki Claflin for Scary 

Mommy. “We get grandchildren to love… 

without the constant worry we had as parents 

that everything we say or do will somehow 

scar them for life. We’ve learned to relax, 

knowing that somehow, with or without our 

inept fumbling, they will turn out to be pretty 

terrific adults.” 

Sue Fast 

To that end, we hope this issue of Island 

Grandparent helps you enjoy your time with 

your grandchildren. You’ll find articles on 

everything from the empowering our granddaughters, 

the magic of rainbows, and the 

importance of sharing our stories with our 

grandchildren, to sleepovers, helping kids 

develop a sense of place, and 10 things to do 

on the Island with the grandkids. 

Just like the time you spend with your 

grandchildren, we hope you enjoy every minute—and 

every page—of Island Grandparent. 

Discover the 

SMS ALL-GIRLS 

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IslandParent.ca 

Winter 2019 5

4children.ca 

presents 

DR ROSS GREENE 

Author of the Explosive Child 

and Lost at school 

Empowering Our 

Granddaughters 

The #MeToo movement got me in the gut. 

It wasn’t a surprise—I volunteered on a 

sexual assault crisis line 30 years ago and 

was aware of the prevalence of sexual harassment 

and abuse even before that. But the 

recent wave of revelations affected me on a 

deeper level, and I think it’s because I now have 

two granddaughters. It astounds me that we’re 

still grappling with sexual violence and gender 

inequality on such a large scale, two decades 

into the 21st century. But as I do whenever 

I’m faced with an overwhelming issue I can’t 

judgment, and paying attention to their loves, 

fears and interests. Her attention was a simple 

gift, and yet it had a profound influence on 

my daughters, particularly when they were 

teenagers. Simply by choosing to see and hear 

them, my mother told her granddaughters 

they were loved unconditionally and that what 

they said mattered. My mother has been gone 

for five years, but I still see the power of this gift 

reflected in how my adult daughters honour 

their own voices and expect to be heard when 

they have something to say. 

www.livesinthebalance.org 

DOES YOUR 

GRANDCHILD HAVE 

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3-day Advanced Training 

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101 Gordon Street 

Nanaimo, BC, V9R 5J8 

Pre-registration required 

Online registration, details and 

enquiries www.4children.ca 

alter, I’m searching for the areas in which I 

do have power. I can’t change the culture my 

granddaughters were born into, but I can look 

for ways to empower them as individuals. This 

is what I’ve come up with so far: 

We can see and hear our granddaughters. 

My mother, wise by inclination and 

a family therapist by profession, was very 

intentional about the time she spent with her 

grandchildren. She took them on dates and 

gave them her full presence when they were 

together, listening without interruption or 

We can tell our family stories. When we 

share our family stories—both the victories 

and the defeats—we encourage resilience in 

our grandchildren. This is especially true when 

we share the stories of the strong women in 

our family trees: the women who survived 

wars, crossed oceans, built new lives in new 

communities, launched businesses, challenged 

conventions, broke cycles of abuse 

or neglect, or stretched meagre resources to 

feed and clothe their families. These stories 

matter, and in passing them down we give our 


granddaughters powerful role models. We tell 

them they come from strong stock, and that 

they too have the inner resources to embrace 

life courageously. 

We can share other stories of strength. 

We can give our granddaughters even more 

role models by sharing stories of other powerful 

girls and women. From feisty, fictional 

characters like Pippi Longstocking, Anne of 

Green Gables or Fern Arable from Charlotte’s 

Web, to real-life trailblazers like Emily Carr, 

Jane Goodall or Malala Yousafzai, our libraries 

and bookstores are full of inspiring stories. 

The website amightygirl.com has a curated 

list of over 3,000 girl-empowering titles, with 

a detailed book menu to help you find exactly 

what you want. You’ll see award-winning 

classics and new favourites, from cultures all 

around the world. I gave myself half an hour 

on the site, and came up with a whole slew 

of new titles to add to “Grandma’s library.” I 

can’t wait to get my hands on Storm Run: The 

Story of the First Woman to Win the Iditarod 

Sled Dog Race or Amelia to Zora: 26 Women 

Who Changed the World. These are important 

books to share with our grandsons, too! 

We can be intentional in our gift-giving. 

In 1975, only two per cent of toys in the Sears 

Catalogue were marketed explicitly to boys 

or girls. Walk into the toy department of any 

large store today, and you’ll be faced with a 

sea of “colour-coding.” This has consequences. 

Beyond reinforcing limiting gender stereotypes, 

playing exclusively with “girl toys” 

can actually affect our granddaughters’ brain 

development. According to a recent National 

Geographic article, “How Today’s Toys May Be 

Harming Your Daughter,” girls are less likely to 

play with complex puzzles or building toys that 

help develop spatial awareness—in part due 

to marketing. Jamie Jerout, a developmental 

psychologist, argues that spatial awareness is 

important for higher level thinking, and may 

be “a piece of the explanation for the underrepresentation 

of women in science and tech.” 

What can we do about this as grandparents? 

We can certainly be aware of this gender bias, 

and look for gifts that offer new experiences 

and creative ways to play and learn, rather 

than limiting our granddaughters—or our 

grandsons—to the toys marketers are trying to 

sell them. We can give the gift of experience as 

well, teaching our granddaughters new skills, 

or paying for a confidence-boosting drama 

workshop or rock-climbing camp—with their 

input, of course. 

We can live our own lives with grace and 

courage. My mother’s influence on my daugh- 

ters was profound in large part because of the 

example she set herself. She went back to 

school in mid-life and pursued a career that 

she was passionate about. She valued the contribution 

she had to make to the world, while 

respecting the contributions of other people, 

and this gave her a wonderful dignity. We can 

be role models to our granddaughters as well, 

finding our own voices, speaking the truth, 

Rachel 

Dunstan 

Muller 

taking new risks and trying new challenges. 

It’s never too late to examine our lives and to 

fill in the gaps or make any necessary course 

corrections. It’s important work in itself, and 

even more important when our granddaughters 

are watching. Empower ourselves, and 

we empower future generations. 

Rachel Dunstan Muller is a grandmother, 

children’s author, storyteller and 

personal historian. You can learn more 

about her work at redbirdmemoirs.com. 



Help Low Income 

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We now support 

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many whom must 

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funds to cover their 

basic needs and 

struggle to afford 

hygiene products. 

Sadly, many go without. 

YOU CAN HELP! 

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– search for Disaster Aid Canada 

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It was a warm, sunny fall day with just a hint of rain—much too nice a day 

to be indoors—so the families were visiting out in the yard. Mommy was 

chatting with Grandma and Auntie Sarah, Daddy was conversing with 

Grandpa, the brothers and their cousins were zooming up and down the 

long gravel driveway on bikes and scooters, and 22-month old Charlotte 

was bored. Nobody was paying attention to her! Furthermore, her feet hurt! 

“Mommy! Owwwwie!” She stamped her wee feet in their sparkly shoes. 

Mommy explained that although Charlotte’s feet had grown too big for 

her sparkly shoes, she had insisted on wearing them. 

“Wait here,” said Auntie Sarah. She disappeared into the garage, reappearing 

shortly with a large cardboard box full of her girls’ outgrown clothing. 

Pushing aside armfuls of frilly dresses and colourful leggings she surfaced 

triumphantly, waving a pair of tiny, bright pink Croc sandals. 

“The girls loved these,” she said. “I think they’re just the right size for 

Charlotte.” 


“Off,” said Charlotte, sticking one wee 

sparkly foot into the air. 

Off went the sparkly shoes. On went the 

Crocs. Off went Charlotte down the driveway 

in her new pink shoes. Off went Grandma in 

hot pursuit. 

Charlotte paused to admire her new pink 

Crocs, lifting first one foot, then the other. She 

wiggled her toes. She hopped up and down. 

She walked a few steps, then ran the way all 

toddlers do, with impressive arm-pumping 

and a good deal of lateral motion but little 

actual forward progress. 

She made a beeline for a large, tempting 

puddle. Grandma got there first, steering her 

back on course down the driveway. Charlotte 

veered back to the puddle, clearly determined 

to christen her new shoes. Grandma knew 

there was no point in trying to reason with a 

determined toddler, so she tried a secondary 

tactic: distraction. 

“Oh look, there go the boys on their bikes! 

Let’s show them your new shoes.” 

This suggestion inspired Charlotte to 

abandon the puddle and charge at top toddler 

speed toward the public road where the boys 

were messing around on their bikes. Grandma 

got there first. 

Grandma and Charlotte walked hand in 

hand down the quiet rural road, trailing after 

the boys, who were waiting impatiently at the 

stop sign at the corner. Not a great distance for 

grown-up legs to cover, but a considerable trek 

for short ones. Every few yards it was necessary 

to pause and admire the new pink Crocs. 

The boys at the corner were waving and 

calling out “Hurry, Grandma! Come and 

see what we found!” What could it be? An 

interesting rock? A dime? A frog? 

No rock, no coin, no amphibian. A rainbow! 

A glorious ribbon of colour, arching across the 

firmament and disappearing into the clouds. 

Grandma lifted Charlotte into her arms 

and pointed skyward. “Look, sweetie—a 

rainbow!” 

A puzzled expression crossed Charlotte’s 

features, wrinkling her button nose. Suddenly 

her face lit up with delight. Her arm shot up, 

finger tracing the arc. 

“RAIN-bow!” she cried. 

“Yes, Charlotte! What a pretty rainbow.” 

“RAIN-bow! PIT-ty!” Her finger drew the 

rainbow again. 

“See? It goes right across the sky.” 

“RAIN-bow! Kye!” The finger sketched 

another arc. 

“Look at all the colours.” 

“RAIN-bow! COL-lows!” 

Charlotte struggled in Grandma’s arms. 

“Down!” she said. Grandma obliged, smiling 

Jacqui 

Graham 

fondly as her granddaughter gazed up, transfixed, 

at the slowly fading rainbow. 

“GAM-ma!” She paused dramatically. 

Up went the arm. “RAIN-bow! GAM-ma!” 

Another dramatic pause. “RAIN-bow! Kye! 

GAM-ma!” More drama. “RAIN-bow! COLlows! 

GAM-ma!” Again with the pausing. 

“RAIN-bow! PIT-ty!” 

“Yes, dear, isn’t it lovely? Now it’s time to 

head back. See? The rainbow’s going byebye, 

the boys have already gone bye-bye, 

and it’s starting to rain. Bye-bye, rainbow!” 

Grandma waved enthusiastically. Charlotte 

waved—a trifle less enthusiastically—but she 

took Grandma’s hand, and they started up the 

road. After a few steps, however, she pulled 

away and trotted back to the corner. 

Up went the arm. “GAM-ma! RAIN-bow!” 

“Yes, dear. But see how pale the rainbow 

is growing? The rainbow is tired. It needs to 

rest. The rainbow is going back to its home 

in the sky, to sleep on a fluffy white cloud.” 

“RAIN-bow home? RAIN-bow seep?” 

Charlotte gravely considered these new 

concepts. 

“You got it, sweetie. Nighty night, rainbow. 

Pleasant dreams.” Grandma blew the rainbow 

a kiss. Charlotte threw a kiss in the general 

direction of the rainbow. 

Off they started once more. This time they 

made it a couple of yards further before Charlotte 

broke away and ran back to the corner. 

Up went the arm. “GAM-ma! RAIN-bow!” 

Grandma picked Charlotte up and headed 

down the road. Little eyes gazed wistfully 

back over Grandma’s shoulder. 

“Let’s go tell Mommy about the rainbow,” 

said Grandma, brightly. 

Charlotte thought this over. 

“RAIN-bow,” she said softly, with a contemplative 

smile. Then the wee pink thumb 

went into the mouth, the wee blonde head 

nestled into Grandma’s shoulder, and the new 

pink Crocs bumped gently against Grandma’s 

leg all the way back to Auntie Sarah’s house. 

Jacqui Graham has six grown kids and 

eight delightful grandkids age 6 months 

to 11 years. If she had known how much 

fun grandkids would be, she would have 

had them first! 

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10 

Things to Do With Your Grandkids 

For more ideas and a fun map of the Island, pick up a copy of the Kids Guide to 

Vancouver Island at Tourist Info Centres or at your local recreation centre. 

Here... 

Bug 

Zoo 

…boasts nearly 50 fascinating species 

including giant walking sticks, beautiful 

praying mantis, and glow-in-the-dark 

scorpions. Tour guides will introduce you 

to the world of bugs, give a wealth of information 

about the animals on display and 

provide a safe bug-handling experience. 

victoriabugzoo.ca. 

Photo: The Butchart Gardens 

Butchart Gardens 

…offers 55 acres of sunken gardens, rose gardens, Japanese 

gardens, Italian gardens along with a Children’s Pavillion and 

Rose Carousel. There’s a Living Fossils Walk, a Family Walk, 

a boat tour, Night Illuminations, Everything Christmas 

(Dec 1-Jan 6). Visit the coffee shop after to re-fuel. 

butchartgardens.com. 

Royal BC Museum & IMAX 

…are great rainy-day destinations this winter. What better way to warm up than 

taking in RBCM’s exhibition, Egypt: Time of the Pharaohs, with interactive 

displays and 300+ original artifacts. From Feb 15-Mar 24, check out Wildlife 

Photographer of the Year, with a brand new selection of 100 images from 

around the world. At the IMAX theatre, catch Mysteries of Egypt, Our Blue 

Planet, The Story of Earth and more. royalbcmuseum.bc.ca, imaxvictoria.com. 

Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea 

…is a state-of-the-art aquarium and marine learning centre in 

Sidney that focuses on the ecosystem of the Salish Sea. Learn 

about, explore and conserve the Salish Sea Bioregion—its 

wildlife, waters, land, culture, and people. Take part in guided 

tours, scavenger hunts, Tot Tuesdays, and Sea Shirt Sundays, 

along with other kids’ activities. salishseacentre.org. 

Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary 

…is a wild oasis in the heart of the urban landscape and includes two distinct 

ecosystems: the beautiful marshland of Swan Lake and the rocky, oak-forested 

highlands of Christmas Hill. Educational programs for all ages encourage responsibility 

for the 

care and protection of 

the natural environment. 

The Nature 

House is open 8:30am- 

4pm Monday-Friday 

(year-round), and 

from noon-4pm on 

weekends. Visit 

swanlake.bc.ca. 


AGGV’s Family Sundays 

…are on the third Sunday of the month from 2-4pm (October- 

June) and inspired by the current Art Gallery of Greater Victoria 

exhibitions and programming. Bring your grandchild and enjoy a 

fun-filled afternoon of hands-on artmaking for the whole family. 

The program is included with admission. aggv.ca. 

Victoria Butterfly Gardens 

…invites you to enjoy a Tropical Staycation. Admire exotic butterflies 

while they fly free in their own tropical rainforest environment. 

The on-site naturalists are full of fascinating facts and will 

answer your questions. 1461 Benvenuto Avenue in Brentwood Bay. 

Open daily. For hours and information, visit butterflygardens.com. 

Mount Washington 

…has something for everyone. From downhill and 

cross-country skiing to snowshoeing, tubing and 

just old-fashioned playing in the snow, there’s no 

shortage of things to do at Mt. Washington Alpine 

Resort. Sign your grandkids up for Snow School, 

tackle the terrain park together, or just get outside 

and play in the snow. Alpine Opening Day and 

the starting date of Night Skiing TBA. Winter 

Wonderland runs from Dec 20-Jan 4. 

Visit mountwashington.ca. 

Nanaimo Museum 

…takes visitors on a visual journey through 

the Museum’s permanent exhibits. Highlighting 

the industries that helped shape the city 

in addition to First Nations history and the 

lifestyles of city residents, a tour through the 

museum’s gallery is an informative and rewarding 

experience. nanaimomuseum.ca. 

CRD Regional Parks 

Nature Outings & Events 

…The Capital Regional District offers a variety of 

guided nature outings and activities for children 

and adults of all ages and abilities. These free and 

low-cost drop-in events, guided walks and hikes 

in regional parks throughout the district are engaging 

and interactive, to stimulate your natural 

curiosity and to help your grandkids develop 

a greater appreciation for the region’s natural 

environment. 

& 

Plan to join a CRD interpreter and 

connect with nature through a 

There 

range of events. crd.bc.ca/parks. 



I’ve Been Meaning 

to Tell You… 

There comes a time in life when it dawns 

on you that your time on this earth is not 

without limits. 

Oh sure, I have no immediate plans for departure, 

but the possibility has crawled its way 

into my mind—usually at about three o’clock 

in the morning, a time that’s been dubbed “the 

hour of the wolf.” It’s a time when defenses 

are down and disturbing thoughts have a way 

of emerging from the darkness. 

It’s at those times that I start to think of the 

many things I wanted to tell my granddaughter 

before I’m gone. 

To begin with, I want to tell her about 

who I am, or was, and explain that I’m not 

the same person now that I’ve been in the 

various iterations of my life. The truth is that 

those versions of me are long gone, and what 

remains is an amalgam of experiences and 

lessons learned. Randi doesn’t know about 

any of those versions of Grandpa. 

She knows nothing about the way I grew up 

aside from the odd anecdote I’ve shared with 

her—generally tales that involve the sort of 

foolishness that a largely unsupervised child in 

the late 1950s and early 1960s would embrace. 

I’ve told her about when I was seven and my 

friend Kenny stole his father’s bike and went 

careening down Dead Man’s Hill, missed the 

turn and went flying into the frigid, flooded, 

Old Man’s Creek. 

We never found the bike. 

She’s heard about how I met her grandmother, 

and how we first kissed at the playground 

one September when we were in high 

school. And how I knew I was in love. 

I’ve told her other stories as well. 

I’ve shared stories of her mother’s childhood 

and some things we did when she was 

Randi’s age. I’ll confess that a lot of those 

stories arise when her mother scolds her and 

says things like “Why would you do that? What 

were you thinking?” 

At those times, without drawing direct 

comparisons, I might wait awhile and then 

recount a particularly silly thing her mother 

did as a child. It seems to help restore some 

perspective. 

But the truth is that what I’ve shared with 

Randi are no more than a few snapshots in 

time. Sort of like those movie trailers that give 

you a rough idea of the film without revealing 

the entire story. 

I realized that she won’t know about the 

things I’ve learned and how I tried to be a 

good person for most of my life and how, 

sometimes, that wasn’t an easy thing to do 

and I failed miserably. 

I know that, in time, Randi will also learn 

of some of those darker times of my life, times 

I regret with all my heart. She’ll learn about 

those times without the context to understand 

how they happened and without knowing 

the lessons I learned and how hard it was to 

redeem myself as life moved on. 

Tim 

Collins 

It’s why I’ve started writing Randi a letter. 

Well, it started as a letter, but I suspect 

that, by the time it’s done, it may run several 

volumes. 

You see, I want to leave something behind 

for Randi so that, should she ever be curious, 

she can read about the Grandpa she knew as 

a child. 

It’s been an interesting exercise for me, 

because it’s allowed me to sneak in some 

thoughts about life, the sort of wisdom I 

always deny having but which I suppose may 

have collected in some back closet of my soul 

when I wasn’t paying attention. 

In my letter I explain to her that, despite the 

times that someone is cruel to her, or wounds 

her heart, or betrays her friendship, people in 

general are fundamentally still good. 

I tell her that a lot of the things we think of 

as important are meaningless in the end and 

that many of the things we sometimes scoff 

at in life—things like honour and virtue—are 

among the most important. 

I tell her that hope and love, real love, can 

never die unless you allow them to die in your 

own heart. 

I tell her that these are the things she needs 

to remember and believe in, despite the many 

times the world might rise up to make her 

doubt those beliefs. 

In the end, if she believes these things, she 

can make them true in her own life and, when 

she’s my age, she can recount those same truths 

to her own grandchildren. 

Hmm…that almost sounds wise. 

I’m also slipping in a few jokes, because 

I want her to remember that laughter is important, 

too, and that, sometimes, Grandpa 

made her laugh. 

Tim Collins is a writer and freelance 

journalist living and working in Victoria. 


The Lost Words 

is authored by Robert 

Macfarlane and illustrated 

by Jackie Morris. It is a 

book combining acrostic 

spell-poems with exquisite 

illustrations intended to 

restore the relevance of 

words from nature to ensure 

they are, not lost at all but 

instead, lovingly remain 

to future generations of 

children for years to come. 

newt 

acorn 

“I was at a loss for words 

when I learned about 

a beautifuly illustrated 

book which told the 

story of common nature 

words made extinct from 

the print version of the 

Oxford Junior Dictionary,” 

said Kathleen Burton, 

executive director of 

Swan Lake Christmas Hill 

Nature Sanctuary. “The 

book illustrates words 

that are far from being 

extinct - many of the 

plants, animals and birds 

described can be seen at 

the Sanctuary today.” 

Swan Lake 

c h rist m a s hil l 

n a t u r e 

s a n c t u a r y 

otter 

fern 

heron 

kingfisher 

Munro’s Books will donate 

$8 from the sale of every book to 

Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature 

Sanctuary Education Programs until 

December 31, 2018. 

Visit the Gift Shop or Munro’s to buy 

your copy today. 

3873 Swan Lake Road, Victoria, B.C. Canada, V8X 3W1 | www.swanlake.bc.ca | 250-479-0211 



Once Upon a Time… 

Help your grandchildren learn to read by sharing 1,000 stories 

Experts say children need to hear at least 1,000 stories before they begin to learn to read. 

Grandparents make amazing reading partners and can play a key role in helping their 

grandkids reach that reading goal. Plus, reading together has the added benefit of strengthening 

the bond grandparents have with the little ones in their lives. 

“Hearing your voice, sitting side by side, and holding a book together create a reading 

experience that will have a positive influence on a child,” says Lonestar Stone, a librarian 

with the Greater Victoria Public Library. “Forming positive associations with reading is a 

key step for children learning to read.” 

And, Lonestar adds, “Grandparents have had years to practice their reading skills and are 

experts at making reading fun, interesting and meaningful.” 

Stone, who specializes in children’s material, says babies also benefit from being read to. 

“Hearing your voice forming words and sounds is important to developing literacy skills. 

Let babies play with cloth or board books; it will strengthen their interest in reading.” 

To help caregivers and their grandchildren to reach the 1,000-book milestone, librarians 

at the Greater Victoria Public Library created a selection of 100 exceptional picture books 

to entertain, educate and inspire young children again and again. 

Below, GVPL shares a sample of the recommendations for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. 

See the complete list at gvpl.ca/100books then snuggle up and share these wonderful 

stories for a meaningful, memorable winter. 

Babies 

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly 

by Pam Adams 

King Baby by Kate Beaton 

Hello Humpback! by Roy Henry Vickers and 

Robert Budd 

When I Grow Up by Emma Dodd 

Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett 

Where’s Spot by Eric Hill 

Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins 

One Some Many by Marthe Jocelyn 

Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk 

We Sang You Home by Richard Van Camp 

Toddlers 

Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox by Danielle Daniel 

Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace 

Fleming 

1,000 


You Hold Me Up by Monique Gray Smith 

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric 

Litwin 

Scribble by Ruth Ohi 

Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann 

My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann 

If You’re Hoppy by April Pulley Sayre 

Duck on a Bike by David Shannon 

Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard 

Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson 

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? By Jane 

Yolen 

FRED PENNER 

Legendary Canadian 

Children’s Performer 

SUN FEB 10 | 2:30 PM 

ONE MAN STAR 

WARS TRILOGY 

performed with permission of 

Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved 

SAT MAY 4 | 7:30 PM 

uvic.ca/farquhar | 250-721-8480 | UVicFarq | @UVicFarquhar 

Preschoolers 

Stanley’s Party by Linda Bailey 

A Day With Yayah by Nicola Campbell 

I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren 

Child 

Buddy and Earl by Maureen Fergus 

Corduroy by Don Freeman 

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett 

Johnson 

The Wolf ’s Chicken Stew by Keiko Kasza 

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats 

This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen 

The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss 

The Best Pet of All by David LaRochelle 

The Imaginary Garden by Andrew Larsen 

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf 

The Good Little Book by Kyo Maclear 

They Say Blue by Jillian Tamaki 

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell 

Chester by Mélanie Watt 

Photo: Amy Williams 

The Royal City Youth Ballet’s 

The Nutcracker 

Island Exclusive 

Tickets $27 

Family $88 

(2 adults and 2 children) 

Friday 

Dec. 14, 2018 

7pm 

Saturday 

Dec. 15, 2018 

1pm 

For Greater Victoria Public Library’s 

complete list of 100 exceptional picture 

books for babies, toddlers and preschoolers, 

visit gvpl.ca/100books. 

cowichanpac.ca 

Ticket Centre: 250.748.7529 

2687 James St. Duncan, BC 



This 

Avoid the Pitfalls of Being a Grandparent 

1. Respect your children’s boundaries (time, privacy, etc.) and be clear about 

your own. 

2. Keep talking—ask questions, show interest, share your own experiences or 

way of thinking. Don’t let misunderstandings fester and grow into resentments 

and grievances. 

3. Be open to learn. Your children have things to teach you about parenting. Show 

your admiration for their parenting skills. 

From “Four Pitfalls of Being a Grandparent,” written by Roberta Satow in Psychology Today, psychologytoday.com. 

& That 

Not talking is so profound,” says Anne Lamott, 

“ author of Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My 

Son’s First Son. “The most challenging thing [about 

being a grandparent] is to hold your tongue and not 

correct and not offer advice unless they request it. The 

fact that it’s their baby…is really important to me. 

Anne Lamott in “Some Assembly Required: ” 

Q&A with Anne Lamott on Grandparenting” in Time. 

GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN SUPPORT GROUP 

Are you are a grandparent raising your grandchildren? You are not alone. To talk with someone about resources and programs that you may not be 

aware of, call the province-wide GRG Information Line toll free at 1-855-474-9777. You can also find out about programs on the Island that provide 

opportunities to meet with other grandparents who are raising their grandchildren, along with information, support and activities. Find out more by 

visiting parentsupportbc.ca. 

7 

Books About Kids & 

their Grandparents 

1. The Hello, Goodbye Window. A Caldecott 

Medal Winner, suitable for babies, preschoolers 

and grade-schoolers. Written by 

Norton Juster, illustrated by Chris Raschka. 

2. The Matchbox Diary. Good for preschoolers 

and grade-schoolers. Written 

by Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Bagram 

Ibatoulline. 

3. Coming on Home Soon. This Caldecott 

honour book is suitable for grade-schoolers. 

Written by Jaqueline Woodson, illustrated 

by E.B. Lewis. 

4. Miss Rumphius. This National Book 

Award-winner is good for preschoolers and 

grade-schoolers. Written and illustrated by 

Barbara Cooney. 

5. Nana in the City. This Caldecott honour 

book is good for babies and preschoolers. 

Written and illustrated by Lauren Castillo. 

6. Lucky Pennies and Hot Chocolate. 

Good for babies and preschoolers. Written 

by Carol Diggory Shields, illustrated 

by Hiroe Nakata. 

7. Bigmama’s. Good for preschoolers and 

grade-schoolers. Written and illustrated by 

Donald Crews. 

By Olivia Gentile for thegrandparenteffect.com. 

10 Ways to Connect with 

Long-distance Grandchildren 

1. Use Skype or FaceTime. Video calls allow you to see each other’s expressions and 

surroundings; they can make you feel like you’ve actually been together. Read books, 

sing songs and even play games—in real time. 

2. Read bedtime stories. Record yourself reading a favourite bedtime story. Then the 

parents can show the video to your grandkids as they follow along with the same book. 

3. Send snail mail. Staying connected doesn’t have to only be done the high-tech way. 

Send a package every few weeks with simple contents like a colouring book or stickers, 

plus a note or card. 

4. Have your kids display photos. A digital picture frame can showcase a variety of 

images. Old photos can initiate a discussion about an event like Nana’s wedding or a 

childhood family vacation. 

5. Give a house tour. Videotape yourself in your surroundings, giving a narrative tour as 

you wander from room to room. Not only will your grandkids love the tour, but they’ll 

also feel more comfortable the next time they visit. 

6. Share an interest. Find a website or blog you and your grandkids love, for example, 

or read the same book. Then you can talk about it on Skype, FaceTime, phone or email. 

7. Create a photo album. Ask your grandkids to take pictures of their day and then 

send them via text, email or mail. Print the photos and arrange them in an album then 

share them the next time you’re together. 

8. Communicate “their” way—via text, email, instant messages or Facebook (as long 

as the grandchild is OK having a grandparent as a Facebook “friend”) or cell phone. 

9. Teach something new. How to make your famous chicken soup, for example. Email 

the ingredients needed. Then whip it up together over Skype or FaceTime. 

10. Play games. Play card games, crosswords, chess and more, all online. 

From 10 Ways to Connect With Long-Distance Grandparents by Stacey Feintuch at healthywomen.org. 


since1980 

STAGES 

Performing Art School 

Call 250-384-3267 Email us at: stagesdance@shaw.ca 

Or visit our website: www.stagesdance.com 

Come Dance With Us 

• Offering classes for Teens and Pre-Teens in Jazz, 

Ballet, Lyrical, Tap. Musical Theatre, Acrobatics 

& Hip Hop, in a non-competitive atmosphere. 

• Not sure which class to take? 

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



Community 

Board 

Making our Community 

a Better Place to Live 

Art Gallery of 

Greater Victoria 

aggv.ca 

Child Care 

Resource & Referral 

childcarevictoria.ca 

Put a Sock in It! 

Wandering work socks, crouching 

crews, quivering quarter lengths and 

my all-time favourite: crawling calf 

lengths with joyfully-cartooned bandages still 

partially adhered. 

Bespoke treasures for Grandma to enjoy. 

Why have funky print socks been yanked 

off in great haste and chucked across several 

rooms to land beneath furniture? Bamboo 

baby socks pop up everywhere and there 

hasn’t been a baby in this home for six years 

now. Have they really been footloose under 

the futon for six years? 

Admittedly, I’m not a quick study. However, 

even I recognize there’s a smelly plot 

afoot. Have I been too generous in providing 

bundles of socks in Christmas stockings? Am 

I too quick to offer them a woolly argyle pair 

of mine when their toes are blue? Should I 

be correcting them when their sock colours 

clash in hue or length which is pretty much 

all the time? 

Footnote #1: When a single sock is sniffed 

out, finding its sole mate is even more unlikely 

than avoiding cracked heels on the Camino 

pilgrimage. There just aren’t enough tools in 

The Civic Orchestra 

of Victoria 

civicorchestraofvictoria.org 

Joe Music 

joemusic.ca 

Lori Frank Mediation 

& Consulting 

lorifrankmediation.com 

Phoenix Theatre 

phoenixtheatres.ca 

Royal BC Museum 

royalbcmuseum.bc.ca 

Victoria 

Children’s Choir 

VictoriaChildrensChoir.ca 

Victoria Conservatory 

of Music 

vcm.bc.ca 

Enquire about non-profit 

brochure or magazine 

distribution in Greater Victoria: 

publisher@islandparent.ca 

By night I count the strays as they pussyfoot 

off to find their soulmates: “I had a tube sock 

and I left, that’s right!” 

Even dress socks big enough to fit Dad’s feet 

show up here and there. Was my son-in-law 

sleeping on the chesterfield again? 

Socks hide beneath every piece of furniture 

and squish themselves in alongside bed mattresses. 

They crouch naked behind bathroom 

doors. They lounge on their backs beneath 

the oven door trying desperately to get a tan. 

There are even white athletic socks halfburied 

in the garden. 

“Why haven’t any of them cottoned onto 

the idea of wearing matching socks?” asks 

Grandpa.“And why don’t they keep them on 

their feet? By the way, fancy a foot massage 

when we get home?” Seems we’re both developing 

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Sock Disorder). 

anyone’s toolkit to attempt a recovery. Even if 

you find the right colour, it won’t be the right 

size. Or it will be the right size but they won’t 

fit anymore and the next one won’t wear a 

sibling’s old socks. And there will be holes in 

the toe and one starting in the heel. And I’m 

not about to re-learn how to darn. 

We’ve tried, my daughter and I. Bought 

ankle lengths in bulk at big box stores. Invested 

weeks knitting lovely striped quarter lengths 

on the smallest of circular needles with the 

softest of lambswool. Sent away for honey 

bee socks from the cereal company. Spent 

hours perfecting the latest folding techniques 

on Youtube which promise to “save space in 

drawers while extending socks’ lives.” Read 

them cute children’s bedtime stories of single 

sock culture around the globe. Seems laundry 

equipment eats socks in any language. But in 


my world, the shoe’s on the other foot: socks 

are found, not missing, conundrums. 

Footnote #2: Find time to demonstrate 

proper sock folding techniques to eliminate 

straying whilst in the laundry and drawer 

cycles. 

Elizabeth 

Olson 

If you feel hopeless, alone, desperate, scared or 

overwhelmed, take action and allow 

Torchlight Counselling to walk with you in finding 

and achieving your own unique success story. 

“Bobby socks or knee-highs: a pair for every 

occasion and every pair folded in its place,” 

I encourage each grandchild. But heads are 

bent, studying their screens. 

Footnote #3: Reminding them is like wearing 

a nylon sock when you have a blister. Keep 

the spring in your step and a smile on your 

face like I do when I tell them: 

“Your mother is going back to school and 

soon won’t have time to manage your socks 

for you.” 

Book your free 

consultation today 

Torchlight Counselling 

321-1095 McKenzie Avenue, Victoria BC 

250-889-9502 

www.torchlightcounselling.ca 

“Then,” they tell me, “you’ll just have to 

come over more often” as they reach for their 

current go-to card game, Dutch Blitz. 

“Put your broom down and your stocking 

feet up for a bit Grandma. You keep score. 

There’s a pencil lying there right under the 

credenza beside that slouching sock.” 

Elizabeth Olson, since retiring from 

Galiano Island Books, spends a lot of 

time these days in bookstores in Sidney. 

Her own grandfather was a pirate who 

spent his retirement searching for Inca 

gold on Cocos Island. 



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 250-642-5464 

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 250-755-3342 

Princess Royal 

Parksville/ 250-947-8242 

Qualicum 

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 

Toys That 

Do Nothing 

Gifts for Grandkids 

As a pediatric speech-language pathologist, 

I frequent toy stores looking for the next 

amazing toy. As I wander the aisles I often 

find myself attracted to brightly-coloured 

electronic toys that make lots of noises, have 

all sorts of buttons or moving parts, and serve 

some ambiguous play function. If you have 

ever seen these toys, I’m sure you’ve also 

thought to yourself, “I wonder what this one 

does” as you look over the pictures on the 

box. It’s easy to get drawn in by these flashy 

and visually stimulating toys. They are, after 

all, designed to achieve this purpose. When 

you are searching for the perfect toy for your 

grandchild, it’s understandable why you 

might be tempted to grab one of these busy 

electronic toys. However, I have a different 

suggestion—get your grandchild a toy that 

does nothing. 

I know this sounds underwhelming, but 

allow me to explain. 

Simply put, my definition of a toy that does 

nothing is one that has no batteries and that 

easily allows for interactive and/or pretend 

play. This may sound boring, but it’s these 

kinds of toys that allow for the most creative 

and active play. After all, if the toy does nothing, 

then the child must do everything. 

Generally speaking, toys that do nothing 

seem to be more traditional toys, such as 

simple farm sets, dollhouses, play kitchens, 

blocks, or puppets. Combined with a willing 

play partner, these traditional toys support responsive 

interactions that help build children’s 

language, communication, and play skills. 

Think about the last time someone tried 

to talk to you while you were watching your 

favourite TV show or movie. Did it take several 

attempts before you noticed the other person? 

If they launched into a conversation, did you 

catch everything that they said or did you 

need them to repeat themselves? Did you feel 

a little annoyed that someone was interrupting 

you? Do you think it would be easy to have an 

extended or meaningful conversation while 

the show was still playing? 

Caitlin 

Bittman 

CHILD YOUTH & FAMILY 

PUBLIC HEALTH 

When we are absorbed in something that 

is both motivating and stimulating, it can be 

difficult to share our attention. It is a similar 

situation with our children playing with many 

of these busy toys. All the lights, sounds, and 

moving parts are appealing and are great at 

getting children’s attention, but they can also 

be attention hoarders, monopolizing a child’s 

focus and making it difficult for them to notice 

you in play. 

Have you ever noticed how quiet children 

get when they become absorbed in high-tech 

toys? Likely that is because they are tuning 

out everything around them. To many, this 

may not seem like a big deal. After all, don’t 

we want our grandchildren to enjoy the toys 

we give them? All children should be able and 

expected to play on their own sometimes, 

however it is important to recognize all the 

benefits that come from active play with 

another person. 

viha.ca/prevention_services/ 


An increasing amount of research is 

showing how important quality interactions 

are between caregivers and children to support 

optimal language development. When 

children have conversations with adults, they 

receive good language models and also have 

the opportunity to practice using what they’ve 

learned and receive natural feedback as a part 

of the conversation. Recent research shows 

that engaging in conversations with young 

children works to strengthen the areas in their 

brain associated with language. And one of the 

best ways to have conversations with children 

is to participate in their play. 

Regardless of how children play with toys, 

there are many opportunities for adults to 

model language and for children to practice 

using language as you talk about what you are 

doing together, or perhaps what you plan to 

do next. Having conversations during play is 

a great way to link experience to new word 

meanings. That way, a child learns directly 

through their experience—even if it is just 

pretend. 

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “Play 

is a child’s work.” Children learn 

about the world and develop 

all kinds of skills and traits through play, 

such as fine and gross motor skills, personal 

awareness, emotional well-being, social 

skills, creativity, logic, and problem solving, 

to name a few. But did you also know that a 

child’s play skills are linked to their language 

development? 

Play and language skills develop hand-inhand, 

and each supports the development 

of the other. This is especially true when 

children start engaging in pretend play and 

role playing. Here, children learn to use their 

imaginations, and they need language to create 

and enrich their play when they engage with 

others. This includes using language to decide 

what they will play (for example, race car drivers 

on a race track), who will play each role and 

what each person will do as part of their role, 

as well as what happens in the “story.” Think of 

all the endless conversation possibilities and 

language-learning opportunities children can 

engage in as they negotiate their play. 

Remember that like the example of someone 

trying to talk to you during your favourite 

TV show, the high level of engagement needed 

to maximally support language development 

is not likely to happen if a toy is monopolizing 

a child’s attention, or if the toy is doing all the 

playing by itself with the child as a passive 

observer. I am not saying that these 

busy toys are detrimental to children’s 

development. Rather, I am saying that 

simple, more traditional toys are better 

suited to support interactions that will have 

a positive impact on a child’s development. 

When we play with “toys that do nothing,” 

we—children and adults—are more 

likely to be tuned-in to one another. This sets 

the foundation for interactions that include 

more conversation and more opportunities 

to support language development. When 

the toy does less, it’s easier for kids to pay 

more attention to you and less attention to 

the toy. In that way, it is not the toys that are 

important, it is the interaction and conversations 

we have while we play with those toys 

that are important. So when we choose toys 

for our grandchildren, we should be choosing 

toys that don’t undermine interaction or 

distract from communicating with each other 

or engaging with what we say or how we say it. 

So if you are thinking about getting a young 

loved one something special, consider the 

benefits of a toy that does nothing. Try not 

to be drawn in by the busy toys with all the 

bells and whistles. Remember that the flashy, 

high-tech toys do not allow much space for 

interactions that support your grandchild’s development. 

Instead, look for more traditional 

toys—blocks, role-play/dress-ups, puppets, 

or pretend food, for example—that you and 

your grandchildren will enjoy playing with 

together. The best toys are simple and come 

with a willing and attentive play partner. I 

am certain that the gift that will keep on giving 

long after the batteries die is the toy that 

does nothing. 

Caitlin Bittman, M.Sc., R.SLP., S-LP(C), 

CCC-SLP, is a Speech-Language Pathologist 

with Island Health. 


Serena 

Beck 

Grand Sleepovers… 

When I was a kid, I loved sleeping over at my Grandma’s. She made homemade corn fritters and French 

fries in a pot of oil on the stove and cinnamon toast for breakfast. After we swam in the pool in her apartment 

building, she would tie a plastic sandwich bag around my pony tail so it didn’t drop water all over her 

apartment. 

I was excited when each of our kids started making their first sleepover memories at my parents (Grandma 

Linda and Papa) and my in-laws (Grandma Susan and Pepere). Grandma Linda wrote a journal entry from the 

perspective of each of our kids for their first sleepover. Here’s a journal entry from our oldest daughter’s perspective 

when she was 16 months and she had her first sleepover: 

“While Grandma made lunch, I pushed my corn popper round and round the house. I laughed and then Grandma 

pushed the floppy duck around too and we laughed and laughed. I helped Grandma “dead head” her flowers, but 

I think I took off some good flowers too. It was fun.” 

What do you like best about 

having the grandkids sleep 

over? 

Grandma Susan loves getting to know each 

child’s distinct personality—without their 

siblings competing for attention. “It reminds 

me of raising my own three children and it is 

a great experience for my second husband, 

Pepere (Brian),” says Susan. “He never had 

kids, but loves spending time with them and 

sharing my kids and our grandchildren.” 

Grandma Susan loves feeling more relaxed 

as a grandparent. “There is no pressure with 

schedules and routines. They are great for 

me so I don’t have to worry about discipline. 

Grandchildren do no wrong and we get to 

spoil them. We love them so much and they 

love us so much.” 


Pepere loves teaching his grandchildren how to play the guitar and the 

drums. “It’s amazing to see their demands for technology,” says Pepere. “They 

commandeer my iPad and love the drawing programs on it.” 

Pepere enjoys seeing his grandkids move in for the weekend. They take 

over the guest room and their second bathroom. “The grandkids really add 

dimension to our living space,” he says. “It’s nice to see them comfortable in 

their second home.” 

What activities do you enjoy doing together? 

Grandma and Pepere spend quite a bit of time walking to the fairy garden 

by their house. “Our oldest granddaughter leaves toys and notes and the fairies 

write her back.” Grandma Susan said that their grandson “refers to Government 

house as his secret garden.” They often go for afternoon walks or tea at 

the Government house. They also like to let their grandkids prepare supper or 

dessert with them or they take them out for supper. 

Grandma Linda collects heart-shaped rocks and takes the kids beachcombing 

with her. They collect sea glass together and make ornaments and art out 

of the sea glass and rocks. 

Papa loves building Lego and doing puzzles. He’s always patient and enjoys 

putting Lego sets together and playing board games with his grandchildren. 

He also enjoys nap time, cuddle time, and TV time on the couch with them. 

Grandma Susan and Pepere are looking forward to taking their grandkids 

shopping for back to school clothes. Grandma Linda also enjoys shopping at 

the thrift stores with her grandkids. 

What are some cute quotes from your grandkids? 

While Grandma Linda was walking with her oldest granddaughter in the 

winter, her granddaughter said “That man is shaving snow off his truck just like 

Daddy shaves his face with a razor.” 

Grandma Linda’s grandson was watering the plants with her and then said 

“Wait, I can’t come inside yet.” He paused and then put a straw in the flower 

pot he had just finished watering—“…for the bees to drink water.” 

Grandma Linda knits and one evening at supper 

her youngest granddaughter picked up her fork and 

spoon that she was using to eat her spaghetti and 

then crossed the ends and started moving them 

against each other. She said “I am knitting like you 

Grandma.” 

It’s amusing to see how different your parents 

can be with their grandkids than they were when 

you were a child. My brother had kids first and I 

remember going to my mom’s house and seeing 

crushed cereal bits by her back door and her first 

grandchild wandering around the carpeted living 

room with a Dilly Bar each hand. When we were 

kids we were never allowed to eat in the living 

room—let alone be armed with two dripping 

Dilly Bars. Perhaps when I have grandkids one 

day, some of my parenting rules will go out the 

window, too. 

Serena Beck works full-time as a technical 

writer. She loves to write, travel, 

and swim at the beach with family and 

friends. 



A Working 

Grandmother 

When I think back to when I was growing 

up in the 1960s and 70s, I don’t ever 

remember my grandparents working. 

For one thing, they seemed really old, but I 

suppose from a child’s perspective, anyone 

over 25 fell into that category. I also had no real 

appreciation that my grandparents could have 

any kind of life outside of being our Gramma 

and Grampa. After all, they were always home 

whenever we dropped by. 

When I became a first-time grandmother 

four years ago, I was sorely disappointed to 

find myself still in the workforce. In fact, I was 

still in a full-time job. Granted, I hadn’t started 

my career until after my own children were 

both in school, but it still bothered me that I 

couldn’t be the type of grandparent I wanted 

to be. Unfortunately, in my case, working is 

an economic reality, and if I am honest with 

myself, I like my job, but there are times when 

I wish I didn’t have to work. 

My grandson’s other grandmother is a stayat-home 

mom, so she is the main caregiver 

when my daughter-in-law goes to work. At 

first, I struggled with that; I had to cope with 

the inevitable feelings of envy and resentment, 

but with time, came acceptance. After all, 

there’s no sense in railing against what I cannot 

change. Instead, I simply try to make the 

most of the time I do have with my grandson. 

I am fortunate to have considerable flexibility 

with my job. I’m usually able to schedule 

days off whenever I want, so I often spend 

a few days a month with my grandson. I 

always look forward to those special days. 

In the beginning, I worried that at my age, I 

wouldn’t be up for an entire day of caring for 

a little one. And of course, I fretted over any 

bumps or falls on my watch. Athough I’m 

often exhausted at the end of a day, it’s a good 

kind of exhaustion. I wouldn’t trade our days 

together for anything, and I mean anything. 

When we’re together, I try to make the 

most of our time; I comb local publications 

and event calendars for festivals, concerts, 

or any other special event I think he might 

enjoy. More often than not though, we simply 

spend our days at local playgrounds, parks, and 

beaches, even in inclement weather—after all, 

puddles are for splashing! 

Several years ago, I opted to sell my car so 

now I travel everywhere by bus. Doing so has 

provided a “window on the world” of sorts for 

my little grandson. He always sees new and 

interesting faces, he practices his manners 

with the bus driver, he is proud of his budding 

independence handling public transport, and 

there’s the added bonus when it comes to the 

ride home after a busy day, it never fails to lull 

my little charge to sleep. 

One of my favourite things to do with my 

grandson is have him for sleepovers on the 

weekends. This gives his parents a muchneeded 

break and I am able to spend more 

than just a few hours with him. We have 

begun to establish routines at Nonna’s house 

so he knows what to expect, and I’m pleased 

to see how comfortable he is at my place. As 

he gets older, I plan to involve him more in 

the preparation of simple meals and baking, 

something I regret not teaching my own sons. 

Susan 

Gnucci 

Although I am not a proponent of electronics 

with children, I do see the value in things 

like Skype and Facetime as they allow working 

grandparents or grandparents who live away 

from their grandchildren to keep in touch at 

the click of a button. I have a colleague whose 

parents live out of the country, so they Skype 

together almost every night at dinnertime. 

Originally, it was used as a way to keep their 

toddler at the dinner table, but it soon became 

a nightly ritual, and although it is a commitment, 

it has been invaluable in nurturing their 

relationship despite the thousands of miles 

between them. 

Photobooks are another excellent way to 

strengthen relationships between grandparents 

and grandchildren when they are able 

to spend time together. Most children love 

books of any sort and are especially fascinated 

if a book is about them. My daughter-in-law 

lovingly creates family photobooks that 

prominently feature my grandson. Spending 

time going through these with him, pointing 

things out, reminiscing, and asking him questions 

is an excellent way to forge and reinforce 

our family ties. 

Short of winning a lottery or having a longlost, 

wealthy relative come out of the woodwork—not 

much chance of that, I’m afraid—I 

must face facts: I am a working grandmother. 

I do know my grandson appreciates the effort 

I make to spend ti me with him when he races 

to greet me and exuberantly wraps his little 

arms tightly around neck as only a young child 

can. There’s no better thank you than that. 

Susan Gnucci is a local author and a 

proud “nonna” to an adorable four-yearold 

grandson. She enjoys sharing her 

experiences as a first-time grandparent. 


Fun Things to Do 

with Your Grandkids 

Pack a Picnic. Kids love getting involved, 

so harness that enthusiasm to 

create a special picnic. Baking cookies 

or muffins, making sandwiches, or 

making lemonade, not to mention helping 

to clean up afterwards are fun activities 

that will give them ownership of 

their food and make it more appealing. 

Dance with Them. Preschoolers love 

dancing, so put on your favourite music 

(bonus if you still have a record player 

because they’ll be fascinated by the old 

technology) and show them your best 

moves. 

Revive a Forgotten Craft. If there’s an 

activity you used to love when you were 

a child, why not have a go at teaching it 

to them. From flower-pressing to stamp 

collecting, you may just discover a new 

convert. 

Share Your Passion. Whether it’s gardening, 

fishing, crosswords or riding 

a unicycle while juggling, show your 

grandchildren what you love doing and 

get them involved. It may turn out to be 

a way to maintain the relationship once 

they get older and start spending more 

time doing activities outside the family. 

Look through your Photograph Album. 

If you have pictures of their mom 

or dad, or even yourself, at the same 

age as your grandchild, they will be fascinated 

to see what they looked like and 

how they dressed. Talk about what life 

was like back then. 

Dress Up. Play dress ups with your 

grandkids. Let them pick outfits for 

themselves and you. If you are feeling 

particularly brave, you can even let 

them “help” you put on make-up. 

Write a Story. Make a book. Grab some 

paper and crayons and start crafting a 

tale. If they’re young, they can dictate 

the words to you as you write them 

down, and then they can create the pictures 

to match. 

Dig Out Those Old Toys. If you have 

hung on to yours or your children’s old 

toys and they are not too fragile, there’s 

still plenty of play left in them. Just be 

mindful of the fact that safety standards 

have changed a lot since then, and supervise 

their play. Beware of potential 

choking hazards. Lead-based paint was 

once commonly used on toys, so it’s 

probably best to keep old toy cars or 

painted wooden toys out of reach. 

Write a Letter. Help your grandchildren 

write a letter to someone, show 

them how to address the envelope, buy 

and stick on a stamp and walk it to the 

post box. 

From Caring for Kids, caring4kids.com.au. 

Every year, donations to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation help fund 

hundreds of pieces of equipment that contribute to faster diagnosis and 

more efficient treatment at Royal Jubilee, Victoria General and Gorge Road 

hospitals, in every area of care. The generosity of donors is vital, and allows 

our hospitals to stay on the leading edge to provide the best patient care. 

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In Defence of 

Homework 

My grandkids have informed me that 

there is now a “no homework” policy 

in their elementary school. I find that 

unfortunate. 

Parental Bonding Assisted 

I can remember, years ago, the fun my dad 

and I had studying spelling. My teacher assigned 

a weekly spelling list. I would study it 

solo, riding home on the school bus, Monday 

to Wednesday. Thursday was the big night. My 

dad would ask me all the words and “coach” 

me on any that I missed. I was praised if I had 

a perfect score. It wasn’t only homework, 

it was a great exercise in parental bonding. 

Me ol’ dad, nearly 60 years old when he 

had us two kids, was born on the Prairies in 

1892. He had little formal education, but he 

had learned to read well. He treasured education 

above all else. He knew reams of poetry, 

was a self-taught Biblical scholar, and knew 

a huge repertoire of songs. 

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So every September when we were given 

our textbooks, my father eagerly read them, 

often before we could get our hands on them. 

He’d quiz us on everything from the history of 

Canada to basic arithmetic facts. It is a shame 

that this opportunity for parents to bond with 

their children is less likely. 

More Basic Facts Learned 

I am sure that because of my assigned 

“homework,” particularly with spelling and 

math facts, I learned more. And having a 

parent at home drilling those facts (as well 

as memorized poetry and the like) into my 


head gave the teacher assistance in teaching. 

It also gave me an advantage in earning 

higher grades. 

Kids Constructively Occupied 

Over the past few decades, kids have been 

dismissed from school earlier and earlier. My 

grandkids get out at 1:17 p.m. on Mondays 

and 2:17 p.m. Tuesday to Friday. I understand 

that some high schools get out even earlier 

on Fridays. If the average student goes to bed 

around 9-ish, that gives him/her approximately 

seven hours to float around. 

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Structured Time 

They say that kids today have trouble using 

their time constructively. They get too much 

screen time. They are not good at self-regulation 

or personal timetabling. Homework 

time, which my dad always set between 7 and 

8 p.m. (before the Ed Sullivan Show started!), 

gave us needed structure. Perhaps it helped 

me learn how to organize my day, a crucial 

skill for school teachers, like me, and other 

professionals. 

Sleep Aid 

And finally, homework time may even aid 

sleep. I realize some families have their children 

do homework immediately after school 

to make sure that it gets done. Our family 

had snack and play time immediately after 

school. Homework time was relegated to that 

half- to one-hour span after supper. It settled 

us in for the night even if we were allowed to 

watch some TV afterwards. It gave us some 

downtime after the active day and afternoon 

of bike-riding, chores and wading in creeks. 

Yes, the times were different then. But I’m 

not sure that some of these so-called modern 

innovations are for the best. Removing homework 

from the public school system would 

probably makes life a little easier for both 

parents and teacher—in terms of assigning, 

regulating, and marking it—but is it better 

for the students? 

Joy Glover Sheldon is a GRG—Grandparent 

Raising Grandchildren—and worked 

as an elementary school teacher-librarian 

for 25 years. 

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Photo: Capital Regional District 

I Belong Here 

Nurturing a sense of place in kids 

Sense of place. Have you heard this phrase? 

I have heard many people referring to 

“sense of place” recently. Teachers, early 

childhood educators, friends and co-workers 

are talking about place and its relevance 

to their work with children. Sense of place 

features strongly in classrooms throughout 

the province, as students work to understand 

their connection with local environments. 

Although it is new terminology to me, the 

concept is familiar. 

Dr. Thomas A. Woods, president of Making 

Sense of Place, Inc., provides this definition: 

“People develop a sense of place through 

experience and knowledge of a particular area. 

A sense of place emerges through knowledge 

of the history, geography and geology of an 

area, its flora and fauna, the legends of a place, 

and a growing sense of the land and its history 

after living there for a time.” 

Many adults recall places in their childhoods. 

Close your eyes and think of locations 

that were important to you growing up. Was 

there a little creek you loved exploring? 

A favourite tree or place to build a fort? A 

backyard where you played with friends? A 

grandparent’s home or school playground? 

What memories do you attach to these places? 

What significance do they hold for you? 

Chances are that you have strong emotional 

connections to special areas from your childhood. 

Emotional attachment associated with 

these experiences give places meaning. We all 

hold special connections to places. 

A sense of place does not just happen. It 

takes time and effort. If you have ever traveled 

or moved homes then you know all about this. 

The more time you spend in an area, the more 

deeply rooted you become to that region. Repeat 

experiences provide the opportunity to 

gain more familiarity and help create a history. 

You can look back and have fond memories of 

events or interactions. The way we perceive 

these places influences our well-being, how 

we describe and interact with a place, what 

we value in a place, our respect for nature and 

other species in that place. 

Why is sense of place important? These are 

just some of the reasons: 

• establishes knowledge of and appreciation 

for nature 

• supports the development of personal 

identity 

• inspires greater independence 

• inspires stewardship 

• nurtures empathy 

• nurtures connections with friends, teachers 

and members of the community 

• improves mental health 

• improves physical health 

1. Start with the nature right in your 

backyard. 

2. Inspire a sense of wonder by observing 

with children and asking lots of questions. 

Katie 

Turner 

3. Have fun with some nature crafts and 

activities. 

4. Let children explore their surrounding 

nature. and discover their own special places. 

5. Start a nature journal or scrap book. 

6. Make a map of your yard, street neighbourhood. 

7. Copy a map of your town and draw pictures 

of places on it. 

8. Write a poem about a special place. 

9. Talk about the significance of local places. 

10. Learn about the history of your town. 

11. Read stories about the area you live in. 

12. Frequent your local museum and nature 

centre. 

13. Enjoy playful experiences outside. 

14. Learn the names of local plants and 

animals. 

15. Find a favourite natural spot and visit it 

frequently throughout the seasons. 

Children need to foster relationships with 

places; specifically, relationships with places 

that have the complexities found in nature. 

These early relationships with special places 

create memories that adults may draw upon 

for a foundation and a sense of self, well-being 

and belonging. 

Helping people connect to natural places is 

why I love working as a CRD Regional Parks 

Naturalist. Whether belly laughing while doing 

the slug dance at Devonian Regional Park 

or quietly admiring the 500-year-old giant 

Douglas fir trees at Francis/King Regional 

Park, these experiences all help me and others 

develop a sense of place. 

If you are new to the Victoria area, or have 

yet to discover our regional parks system, take 

part in a nature outing or event in a regional 

park is a great way to initiate or deepen your 

sense of belonging to the place you live. 

Katie Turner is a Regional Parks Naturalist 

with the Capital Regional District. 

crd.bc.ca/parks. 


Read, 

Speak, 

Sing 

Babies need to hear and use sounds, sound 

patterns and spoken language. This helps 

prepare them to eventually learn to read 

printed words. 

Here, from Canadian Paediatric Society, 

are some tips on how you can help provide 

these opportunities for your grandchildren. 

Read to your grandchildren. This will 

help nurture a love of reading. Even very 

young babies love picture books. 

Use rhymes, games and songs. Babies 

respond to them almost from birth. They 

don’t need to understand the words for these 

moments to be learning experiences. 

Talk about what’s going on. Whether 

you’re just sitting together or taking a walk, 

use words that describe the actions and the 

things around you. 

Babies babble. It’s how they learn to make 

sounds with their own voices. Repeat these 

sounds, and turn them into real words. You’ll 

help your grandbaby recognize which sounds 

form language. 

Ask questions. When you say, “What’s 

that?” and name the picture in a book, it 

teaches babies that things have names. 

Encourage involvement. Babies like to 

put books in their mouths, so be sure you 

provide sturdy and clean board books. 

Sing songs. Music makes the words easier 

to remember, and is a fun way to make language 

come alive for you and your grandchild. 

Visit the public library. Even babies 

can get a library card! There are lots of free 

resources to encourage a baby’s love of reading. 

Ask a librarian for ideas. 

Provide face-to-face interactions. For 

children under two years old, screen time 

is not recommended. Turn off background 

screens (TVs, etc) so you’re not distracted. 

Keep books visible and accessible 

around your home —not just on bookshelves 

—so your baby can explore them anytime. 

Have fun. Cuddle, gaze at each other, use 

silly voices as you enjoy books and conversations 

with your baby. 

For more tips on how you can help 

promote literacy from birth, visit caringforkids.cps.ca. 



Day Tripper 

5 Fun things to do in Parksville-Qualicum 

With so much to do and see, Parksville-Qualicum is the perfect day-trip destination. 

Here are only a few grand-parent and grand-kid-approved ideas. 

Lighthouse Country Beaches. North of Qualicum, the beaches become narrower, the 

stretches of sand replaced by sprawling beds of wave-washed rock. Turn over stones and 

watch the crabs scuttle away. And keep your eyes peeled, these northern beaches are prime 

for beachcombing. 

Nile Creek Estuary, near Bowser offers great views of the Chrome Island lighthouse. Sea 

lions, seals, cruise ships and even the rare passing pod of killer whales are among the sights, 

and that makes binoculars and a digital camera essential. 

Qualicum Beach. Take a walk in the Heritage Forest of Qualicum Beach, 50 acres of rare 

remnant old growth forest—a mixture of Coastal Douglas fir, Western red cedar, hemlock, 

grand fir and Sitka spruce. Walk along the mulch trails and peer down a lush ravine into a 

salmon bearing stream. Only five minutes from downtown, the Qualicum Beach Heritage 

Forest is protected by a covenant to ensure that it remains as an ecological reserve, available 

to all for the purpose of observing and appreciating nature. 

Grandparent 

I S L A N D 

W I N T E R 2 0 1 9 

10 

THINGS 

to Do with Your 

Grandkids 

I Belong Here 

Nurturing a sense of place in kids 

Please visit any 

of our valued 

partners to pick up 

your latest copy of 

Island Grandparent. 

GREATER VICTORIA 

Thrifty Foods 

Fairway Market 

Real Canadian 

Superstore 

Save-On-Foods 

(except Westside) 

Lifestyle Market 

Country Grocer 

(Esquimalt & Royal Oak) 

Quality Foods 

Market on Yates 

& Millstream 

Western Foods 

Recreation Centres 

Public Libraries 

Serious Coffee 

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Western Foods 

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49th Parallel 


NANAIMO 

Thrifty Foods 

Fairway Market 

Quality Foods 

Save-On-Foods 

PARKSVILLE 

Thrifty Foods 

Quality Foods 

Parksville Centre 

For a complete list of where you can find a copy visit 

islandparent.ca 

Ad Directory 

Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park. Spectacular views await at this picturesque 

Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park filled with waterfalls, rock cliffs and trails. Located just 

off Highway 4 where Cameron Lake empties into the Little Qualicum River over a series of 

rushing waterfalls, this park offers plenty of activities, and makes a great base while visiting 

Cathedral Grove, Cameron Lake or accessing the Mt. Arrowsmith CPR regional trail. 

Cathedral Grove-MacMillan Provincial Park. Cathedral Grove-MacMillan Provincial 

Park is located at the top end of Cameron Lake, only minutes from Qualicum Beach and 

Parksville on Highway 4 just beyond Coombs. Cathedral Grove is a BC Provincial Park 

preserving a section of lush old-growth forest that is unique to Vancouver Island. Plan to 

spend a few hours wandering the trail system and gazing up at 800-year-old giant Douglas 

fir trees. Cathedral Grove gives visitors a sense of what Vancouver Island and the west coast 

looked like long ago. 

Parksville & Rathtrevor Beaches. Parksville Community Park is a kid’s wonderland 

of swings, slides and water cannons in addition to great picnicking and beachfront options. 

Stroll the waterfront boardwalk or the sandy stretch of seashore where you’ll all have more 

than enough room to run off some steam. 

Rathtrevor Beach has long and wide tidal pools, making it ideal for the “puddle” jumping. 

At low tide, the ocean recedes almost a kilometer back from Rathtrevor’s shoreline. 

Reprinted with permission from Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism. For more 

things to do, visitparksvillequalicumbeach.com. For a list of annual events visit 

mypqb.ca/events. 

4Children............................................................6 

Ballet Victoria................................................ IBC 

Blue Vista............................................................9 

Brookes.......................................................... IBC 

Chemainus Theatre............................................4 

Childhood Obesity Foundation.........................25 

Children’s Health Foundation of Van Isl........IFC 

Cowichan Theatre.............................................15 

Curvalicious........................................................8 

Dialogue and Resolution Services...................27 

Furever Clean...................................................27 

IMAX..................................................................26 

Kaleidoscope....................................................19 

Kool & Child....................................................IFC 

Ladysmith Rotary...............................................8 

MacDonald Realty..............................................9 

Mothering Touch.................................................7 

Pacific Christian............................................. BC 

Saanich Commonwealth................................IFC 

Serious Coffee..................................................29 

St. Joseph’s.................................................... IBC 

St. Margaret’s School.........................................5 

Stages...............................................................17 

Swan Lake........................................................13 

Torch Light Counselling...................................19 

UVic Farquhar...................................................15 

Victoria Academy of Ballet.................................3 

Victoria Bug Zoo...............................................27 

Victoria Hospital Foundation............................25 

Victoria Operatic Society..................................29 

VIHA...................................................................20 

Wee Travel...........................................................4 

Westmont Montessori......................................25 


St. Joseph’s 

Elementary 

School 

St. Joseph’s Elementary School offers Grades K–7, 

as well as licensed Group Day Care and Preschool. 

Applications are available on-line or from the school 

office. St. Joseph’s offers a rigorous academic 

program in a Catholic Christian atmosphere. 

757 West Burnside Road 250 479 1232 

www.stjosephschool.ca 

Come Grow With Us!

enerations of “Educational Excellence to the Glory of God” 

PacificChristian.ca 250.479.4532 

Generations of “Educational Excellence of to the Glory “Educ 

of God” 

PacificChristian.ca 250.479.4532 

Paci

Grand Winter 2019

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