Island Parent Magazine April-May 2022
Vancouver Island’s Parenting Resource for 34 Years • Bringing Home Twins • Learning the Love Languages • The ‘Pandemic Effect’ • Go Outside! A Breath of Fresh Air for Families
Vancouver Island’s Parenting Resource for 34 Years
• Bringing Home Twins
• Learning the Love Languages
• The ‘Pandemic Effect’
• Go Outside! A Breath of Fresh Air for Families
Transform your PDFs into Flipbooks and boost your revenue!
Leverage SEO-optimized Flipbooks, powerful backlinks, and multimedia content to professionally showcase your products and significantly increase your reach.
APRIL/MAY <strong>2022</strong><br />
FREE COPY<br />
Vancouver <strong>Island</strong>’s <strong>Parent</strong>ing Resource for 34 Years<br />
Learning<br />
the Love<br />
Languages<br />
The<br />
‘Pandemic<br />
Effect’<br />
Go Outside!<br />
A Breath of Fresh<br />
Air for Families<br />
Bringing Home Twins
AN EXPERIENCE THAT LASTS A LIFETIME!<br />
Register for Summer Camp<br />
Before <strong>May</strong> 1st and Save 15%!<br />
Summer Camps for Children, Youth, Families & Leadership<br />
• Community & Corporate Retreats •<br />
Registration is open for summer camps<br />
and family cabin rentals.<br />
CampPringle.com • 250-743-2189 • info@camppringle.com<br />
Want to join our team? Visit our website for info on available staff and volunteer positions.<br />
2 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
Try Canoe-Kayak!<br />
Paddle for fun, fitness and friendships!<br />
Nanaimo Canoe & Kayak Club<br />
Building Paddlers for Life since 1988<br />
Located at Loudon Park, Long Lake, NCKC offers<br />
diverse paddling opportunities to people of all ages<br />
and abilities. As a not-for-profit sport organization,<br />
NCKC promotes healthy, active living and offers quality<br />
programming focused on sport skill development,<br />
water safety, and outdoor recreation.<br />
SPRING PROGRAMS<br />
in <strong>May</strong> and June<br />
SUMMER CAMPS<br />
weekly in July and August for children 6–13yrs<br />
• Registration Opens Online <strong>May</strong> 1 @ 6am<br />
• Come learn the ‘FUN’damental paddling skills on Long Lake!<br />
Spend time in a variety of different boats, learn about the sport,<br />
practice new strokes, try some rescues, develop balance, boat<br />
control and play games on and off the water. Participants must<br />
be able to swim 25m with a PFD or be at Swim Kids Level 4.<br />
Adult & Youth Programs<br />
Sprint Canoe-Kayak<br />
Birthday Parties<br />
Development Racing Program<br />
Group Sessions<br />
School Field Trips<br />
Adaptive Programs<br />
Ongoing Registration<br />
information@nckc.ca<br />
www.nckc.ca<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>April</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 3
APRIL/MAY <strong>2022</strong><br />
FREE COPY<br />
Vancouver <strong>Island</strong>’s <strong>Parent</strong>ing Resource for 34 Years<br />
TABLEOFCONTENTS<br />
Features<br />
In Every<br />
Issue<br />
5<br />
Fast Forward<br />
SUE FAST<br />
6<br />
Need to Know<br />
16<br />
Moms’ POV<br />
SERENA BECK<br />
18<br />
Nature Notes<br />
LAUREN SHERWOOD<br />
10<br />
Bringing Home<br />
Twins<br />
From the first night<br />
to the first month.<br />
NATASHA MILLS<br />
20<br />
The ‘Pandemic<br />
Effect’<br />
Has being born<br />
during a pandemic<br />
affected babies?<br />
ANYA DUNHAM<br />
34<br />
Befriend<br />
the Birds<br />
Being a good<br />
neighbour to<br />
backyard birds.<br />
LINDSAY COULTER<br />
12<br />
Learning the<br />
Love Languages<br />
How to create<br />
deep connections.<br />
SARAH SEITZ<br />
14<br />
When ‘Good Enough’<br />
Is Just Fine<br />
Haunted by another mother.<br />
JULIA MAIS<br />
32<br />
Alexa, How Do<br />
I Teach My Kids<br />
About Money?<br />
The ABCs and 123s<br />
of how to talk about<br />
money with your kids.<br />
VIVIAN LEUNG<br />
36<br />
Scavenger Hunt<br />
In the City<br />
Find the items, sing<br />
a song, read some<br />
books and have fun<br />
learning together.<br />
GREATER VICTORIA<br />
PUBLIC LIBRARY<br />
22<br />
Dadspeak<br />
GREG PRATT<br />
24<br />
What’s for Dinner<br />
EMILLIE PARRISH<br />
26<br />
Family Calendar<br />
28<br />
Kids’ Reads<br />
CHRISTINE VAN STARKENBURG<br />
30<br />
Preschool &<br />
Child Care Directory<br />
38<br />
Cut It Out!<br />
ALLISON REES<br />
38<br />
Businesses You<br />
Need to Know<br />
On the<br />
Cover<br />
Matteo (3 months)<br />
Photo by<br />
Chris Higginbottom<br />
Photography<br />
chrishigginbottom.ca<br />
Bringing Home Twins<br />
Learning<br />
the Love<br />
Languages<br />
The<br />
‘Pandemic<br />
Effect’<br />
Go Outside!<br />
A Breath of Fresh<br />
Air for Families<br />
Jim Schneider Publisher publisher@islandparent.ca<br />
Sue Fast Editor editor@islandparent.ca<br />
Kristine Wickheim Account Manager kristine@islandparent.ca<br />
RaeLeigh Buchanan Account Manager raeleigh@islandparent.ca<br />
<strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>, published by <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> Group Enterprises Ltd., is a<br />
bimonthly publication that honours and supports parents by providing information on<br />
resources and businesses for Vancouver <strong>Island</strong> families. Views expressed are not<br />
necessarily those of the publisher. No material herein may be reproduced without<br />
the permission of the publisher. <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> is distributed free in selected areas.<br />
Annual mail subscriptions (7 issues) are available for $21 (GST included).<br />
Canadian Publication Mail Product Sales Agreement 40051398. ISSN 0838-5505.<br />
<strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
250-388-6905 islandparent.ca<br />
518 Caselton Place, Victoria, BC V8Z 7Y5<br />
A proud member of<br />
BC<br />
4 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
FASTFORWARD<br />
Why We Have Kids<br />
Full. Human. Experience.<br />
That’s how one dad, in a post on Humans of New<br />
York, described his reason for having kids.<br />
The father of one recalled how he and his wife decided<br />
over dinner at a rib joint that they would start a family.<br />
“We actually took out a piece of paper and made a pros<br />
and cons list,” he said. At the top of the “pro” list: Full Human<br />
Experience.<br />
“After our daughter was born, that became an inside joke<br />
with us,” he recalled. “Every time she was screaming at bath<br />
time, my wife and I would look at each other and say: ‘Full<br />
Human Experience.’”<br />
Those words will mean something different to each of us.<br />
And no doubt we all have our own reasons for having kids.<br />
But chances are, we had no idea how we’d feel until after<br />
our baby was born.<br />
Take, for example, the moment they put your baby in your<br />
arms. Speak of a full human experience. Nothing compares.<br />
And seeing the world through your child’s eyes? It’s magic.<br />
Sure, it’s exhausting, too. And if you worried about the<br />
cost—in dollars, sanity and hours of sleep—you likely<br />
would’ve stopped at “Should we?” But if you didn’t stop<br />
there, you’ll know that the highs shadow the lows and the<br />
pros definitely outweigh the cons.<br />
“Honestly we wondered if we’d made a mistake—it was<br />
like a bomb dropped and eviscerated everything in our<br />
lives,” the dad recalled. “But then our daughter started<br />
growing up, and learning to do things on her own, and we<br />
kept taking small steps back and getting more of our own<br />
time back.”<br />
And that was bittersweet.<br />
“It’s like getting laid off slowly from an equally grueling<br />
but joyful job.”<br />
Here’s to finding the joy in raising children, to laughing as<br />
often as they do—300 times a day for a toddler, and only 4<br />
for a 40-year-old!—and to believing in the magic.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>April</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 5
NEEDTOKNOW<br />
Mother’s Day<br />
Afternoon Tea<br />
Treat Mom to a stroll through Butchart Gardens on<br />
<strong>May</strong> 8, followed by afternoon tea in the Dining Room<br />
where she’ll be treated to house scones, savoury sandwiches<br />
and delicacies, house-made sweets and a selection<br />
of loose teas. Reservations recommended. Ask for<br />
a seat at the window for a view of the flowering bulbs,<br />
shrubs and trees—a celebration of spring and Mom.<br />
butchartgardens.com<br />
Family Jam at<br />
Hermann’s Jazz<br />
Enjoy an afternoon of jazz at Hermann’s Jazz Club in<br />
Victoria on <strong>April</strong> 17 at 1pm and help raise funds for Arts<br />
on View at the same time. Lelolai FAM (Family Arts Music)<br />
is a family-focused, music-centric project, honouring<br />
creativity and inclusivity of people of all ages and<br />
cultures. Their original music is a tropical fusion of<br />
sound blending Folk, Funk, Jazz and Latin Rhythms in<br />
English, Italian and Spanish. Songs like “Big Feelings,”<br />
“Wash your Hands” and “Magic Words” will delight your<br />
little ones. Special guest appearances include kid<br />
artists and the Easter Bunny. Join this interactive<br />
and family friendly afternoon of music and fun.<br />
Tickets $10 at hermannsjazz.com.<br />
Brant Wildlife Festival<br />
A spring celebration of nature from <strong>April</strong> 1–10,<br />
the Brant Wildlife Festival celebrates nature,<br />
springtime and the annual migration of Brant<br />
geese. See them rest and feed on the shores of<br />
mid-Vancouver <strong>Island</strong> before continuing their<br />
migration to their northern breeding grounds.<br />
This year’s festival features a mix of outdoor<br />
and indoor events at various locations.<br />
brantfestival.bc.ca<br />
6 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
Summer FUN at GNS<br />
Glenlyon Norfolk School is offering a variety of fun summer camps<br />
for students age 5 to 17. Arts, cooking, baking, field hockey, day camps,<br />
kayaking, outdoor education and overnight camps, entrepreneurial<br />
camps and more—our summer programs offer something for everyone!<br />
Two Book Launches:<br />
Anne’s Adventure<br />
and Fermenting<br />
Made Simple<br />
<strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong>’s own Kids’ Reads columnist,<br />
Christina Van Starkenburg, and What’s for<br />
Dinner columnist Emillie Parrish are releasing<br />
books in <strong>May</strong>. Christina is releasing her first<br />
picture book, Anne’s Adventure: A Pirate’s<br />
ABCs on <strong>May</strong> 4. Follow Anne, a “fiercely bold<br />
pirate” as she sails her way through the<br />
alphabet in search of cheese, fending off<br />
monsters and cats! A rollicking good read,<br />
Anne’s Adventure is available on amazon.ca.<br />
Fermenting Made Simple: Delicious Recipes to<br />
Improve Your Gut Health is being released on<br />
<strong>May</strong> 17 and includes everything you need to<br />
know to make your own fermented foods and<br />
beverages with 80+ entirely vegetarian recipes,<br />
tips, tricks and recipes for serving fermented<br />
foods. Available at local bookstores and online:<br />
fermentingforfoodies.com/cookbook.<br />
www.mygns.ca/summer-fun<br />
IB CONTINUUM<br />
CONTINUUM DE L’IB<br />
CONTINUO DEL IB<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>April</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 7
Run to Restore Nature<br />
A fun, family-friendly event where you can go<br />
the distance for wildlife at your own pace from<br />
<strong>May</strong> 7–15. Walk, run, wheel or even skip your<br />
way to the finish line from wherever you are.<br />
Do the entire distance in one go or take it one<br />
day at a time. The distance is up to you—5km,<br />
10km or half marathon from wherever you are<br />
while raising funds to restore and protect vital<br />
ecosystems across Canada. To register,<br />
visit fundraisers.wwf.ca.<br />
Environmental<br />
Champions<br />
Nominations are open for the <strong>2022</strong> Saanich<br />
Environmental Awards. Some of the categories:<br />
individual, volunteer organization, business, and<br />
youth (individual/youth group/school). Past<br />
recipients have been involved in invasive species<br />
removal, environmental education, creating habitat,<br />
research, and inspiring others. Business awards are<br />
for leadership and practices that promote sustainability<br />
and climate action. Nominate anyone as long as their<br />
environmental work impacts Saanich. Submit by<br />
4pm on <strong>April</strong> 19, at saanich.ca/enviroawards.<br />
Sticks and Stones<br />
and Stories<br />
What could be more exciting than battling pirate weasels,<br />
or sailing with the moon, or hosting a tea party for zoo animals?<br />
Add a little wonder to bedtime, car-time or anytime with these<br />
fun original podcasts, written and narrated by children’s author<br />
Rachel Dunstan Muller. To celebrate the one year anniversary of<br />
the children’s podcast, Rachel launched a new website,<br />
sticksandstonesandstories.com.<br />
8 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
One Planet Living Student Challenge<br />
Grade 6-12 students in Greater Victoria are invited to submit<br />
their video or illustration to answer: How might we bring<br />
One Planet Living ideas into our communities and personal<br />
lives? Pick one or more of the 10 One Planet Living principles<br />
and show elements in your communities or personal lives that<br />
support One Planet Living. Submit one of the following:<br />
• Video—commentary, how-how, song (max. 3 minutes)<br />
• Illustration—map, photo collage, cartoon (1 image)<br />
Student submissions will be accepted until <strong>May</strong> 20.<br />
Winners will receive cash prizes—with $1,200 total prize<br />
money available and submissions will be judged on creativity,<br />
engagement, illumination and alignment with One Planet Living.<br />
Winners will be showcased on the One Planet BC website<br />
at oneplanetbc.com.<br />
Preschool for today’s child<br />
...and tomorrow’s inner child.<br />
Young children possess boundless<br />
imagination, perfect openness to the<br />
world and all its beauty, and the inborn<br />
idea that anything is possible. We<br />
believe that these wonderful gifts<br />
should not fade with age.<br />
With an innovative program enriched<br />
by music, dance, theatre and visual<br />
arts, our goal is to enable children<br />
to fully explore and express these<br />
gifts in an endless variety of ways.<br />
Inspiring and nurturing today’s child<br />
firmly implants their future inner child<br />
– that playfulness, creativity, vision and<br />
confidence that will enable them to<br />
realize their dreams.<br />
Preschool to Grade 12 www.ArtsCalibre.ca 250-382-3533<br />
“When I examine myself and my method of<br />
thought, I come to the conclusion that the<br />
gift of fantasy has meant more to me than<br />
my talent for absorbing knowledge.”<br />
– Albert Einstein<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>April</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 9
Bringing Home Twins<br />
All settled at home 5 days grown.<br />
Liam and Mila are officially back to their birth weight<br />
today and have made us so proud as we learn in baby steps<br />
how to navigate this new reality together. Despite being<br />
more comfortable in our beds, their dad, Mitch, and I barely<br />
slept a wink the first night home from the hospital, feeling so<br />
overprotective away from the reassuring call bell and medical<br />
support.<br />
As new twin parents on that first night, we felt so scrambled<br />
trying to understand all that goes into these night feeds<br />
and stay on top of every moving part—figuratively and literally!<br />
Last night however, was a success story, with a brokenup<br />
six hours of sleep for us, great feeding intervals (one<br />
three-hour stretch) and I’m feeling like a new woman.<br />
We’ve begun to streamline the process in our bedroom<br />
and have transformed it into our Zen sanctuary of comfort,<br />
white noise, meditation sounds playing continuously, a mini<br />
fridge stocked with water, snacks and room for milk storage.<br />
It takes a total team effort to get this job done and I’m<br />
so grateful for Mitch being so hands-on and how far we’ve<br />
come together already.<br />
Through the blur of it all, I am practicing patience and<br />
compassion for myself, for my older son Hudson adjusting<br />
to the change, and I’m learning to let go of everything out of<br />
my control.<br />
No matter how hard the journey gets, I feel complete,<br />
knowing that these twins chose me to be their mommy.<br />
Every passing hour we are growing and learning together.<br />
Every feed is a little more successful than the last because we<br />
are embracing flexibility. The teamwork I’ve established with<br />
their daddy has given me the needed confidence to press on<br />
along the unpredictable road ahead. It’s been scary and so<br />
very real with emotions running all over the place.<br />
My life is forever changed and I’m navigating a very liberating<br />
acceptance with that. I’ll be endlessly grateful for these<br />
tiny blessings and for my body for enduring all that it has in<br />
creating, delivering and nourishing them.<br />
One month in.<br />
As is the case with newborn parenthood, there often<br />
comes a time when the chaos starts catching up with you.<br />
No matter how hard you prepare for it and lower your ex-<br />
10 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
pectations, there it is. Unannounced and loud in your face<br />
like a freight train coming at you when you have nothing<br />
left.<br />
We’re only one month in with the twins but I met eyes<br />
with this place last night. Dad was there to save me. Without<br />
a moment to eat my dinner, surround-sound crying started<br />
up with Mila and Liam who are needing to cluster feed and<br />
be held in the evenings, all while we try to get our sensitive<br />
and sweet older boy to bed at a decent hour without him<br />
holding a grudge.<br />
Then, one twin won’t settle until the early hours and the<br />
whole schedule we’ve strived for all day is thrown off. My<br />
brain, already compounded with excessive sleep debt, finally<br />
gave up trying to fall into a slumber. I was up until 3am anticipating<br />
the next feed, and I felt very scared.<br />
I can’t function when it gets this bad. The morning rolled<br />
around and dad took over as best as he could, got Hudson<br />
to daycare and I finally settled the twins beside me, breasts<br />
painfully engorged, feeling guilty to sleep in with them until<br />
nearly 11am. But that’s what I needed to exist today.<br />
And I needed Mitch. I love him and the father he is to our<br />
three. I feel so grateful for the team that we have become on<br />
this journey. We pull each other’s weight when the other is<br />
lower, and so far, it’s been working.<br />
To any moms struggling with this kind of stuff, I see you.<br />
From no support to more support, we’re all fighting a different<br />
battle for our little blessings and it’s so important to<br />
remember that we’re in this together.<br />
The highs and lows of two newborns with a four-and-ahalf-year-old<br />
dynamic is insane. Some days we’re rocking<br />
it—or at least it feels like we’re not drowning. We’re loving<br />
the novel nuances of having this full, multi-faceted family.<br />
Other days feel like complete and total chaos in that we’re<br />
totally outnumbered as parents—by our six-week-old twins<br />
revving up equal parts cuteness and inconsolable evenings;<br />
and by our Hudson whose whole world flipped upside down,<br />
and whose parents are too exhausted to help him turn that<br />
world right side up again.<br />
Natasha Mills is a twin mom of three residing<br />
on the island now for nearly 30 years. She has found<br />
a creative outlet in documenting the real moments<br />
of parenthood—the relatable highs and challenging<br />
lows. She has also found a passion in writing her<br />
experience of motherhood and connecting with<br />
many like-minded parents in her community and<br />
abroad. @mommamillsblog<br />
STAGES<br />
Summer Programs<br />
Running This July & August<br />
Preschool Dance Camps<br />
For 3-5 year olds in Ballet, Jazz,<br />
Musical Theatre & Tap<br />
Youth Dance Camps<br />
For dancers 6-12 years old in<br />
Jazz, Hip Hop & Acrobatics<br />
Dance Intensive<br />
For dancers 11 years old & up with<br />
Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop & Acrobatics<br />
Little Dancers Classes<br />
Are running through the summer for<br />
those 18 months to 3 years old<br />
Come Dance With Us<br />
Call (250) 384-3267, email: stagesdance@shaw.ca,<br />
or visit us at www.stagesdance.com<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>April</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 11
Learning the Love Languages<br />
Wouldn’t it be great if kids came<br />
with a manual? Imagine the time,<br />
money and effort we could save if we had<br />
a handy little booklet that contained all<br />
of the nuances of your child’s personality.<br />
But our children aren’t refrigerators;<br />
there’s no index to flip to when we don’t<br />
know what to do next. There are, however,<br />
tiny clues. If we’re paying attention.<br />
I’ve always been a snoop, a Nancy<br />
Drew of sorts, but I don’t always see<br />
what’s right in front of me. One Christmas<br />
morning early on in my marriage,<br />
my husband and I were arguing as we<br />
drove with our two babies to a family<br />
dinner. My husband was trying to understand<br />
why we had to be at my sister’s<br />
house at 10 a.m. if dinner wasn’t until 5<br />
p.m.<br />
It was a fair question, but I’d noticed<br />
that anything related to Christmas<br />
seemed to change his easygoing demeanor<br />
to grumpy.<br />
At that moment, I didn’t really want<br />
to understand what was bothering him,<br />
I just wanted him to put on a happy face<br />
for my family. Using my sophisticated<br />
communication skills, I told him, “Cheer<br />
up. It’s Christmas, dammit, and Christmas<br />
is for kids!”<br />
You can imagine how well that worked<br />
to improve his mood.<br />
Later, while I complained to my friend<br />
about being married to the Grinch, she<br />
suggested that perhaps there was something<br />
bigger going on. She recommended<br />
the book The Five Love Language by Dr.<br />
Gary Chapman.<br />
In his book, Dr. Chapman writes about<br />
the five different ways that people express<br />
and receive love. After years of counselling<br />
couples, he noticed that couples were<br />
misunderstanding one another and their<br />
needs. He determined that we all have<br />
our own language, and that sometimes<br />
we struggle to express love in a way that<br />
speaks to your loved one’s heart.<br />
Chapman’s five Love Languages are:<br />
Quality Time, Physical Touch, Words of<br />
Affirmation, Acts of Service and Gifts<br />
His Love Languages are complex, but<br />
I’ll simplify them in a language most parents<br />
can understand:<br />
Quality Time: Let’s go for coffee.<br />
Physical Touch: Let me wrap my hands<br />
around you like a cup of coffee.<br />
Words of Affirmation: You make a<br />
great cup of coffee.<br />
Acts of Service: Here’s a cup of coffee<br />
in bed.<br />
Gifts: I got you a coffee.<br />
After I read the book, my husband’s<br />
foul mood that Christmas started to<br />
make sense. I realized that my husband<br />
doesn’t like Christmas because he doesn’t<br />
like gift-giving, which is often what<br />
Christmas centres around. Well, that and<br />
unnaturally long family visits.<br />
We took the book’s quiz and learned<br />
that his Love Language is Physical Touch<br />
mixed in with Quality Time of which<br />
there would be neither in the eight hours<br />
of family visiting we were about to embark<br />
upon that day.<br />
If I didn’t know this about my husband,<br />
I was probably stumbling through<br />
my relationships with the kids too.<br />
I already knew I was missing the mark<br />
with my daughter. For years I have been<br />
trying to figure out how to talk with her.<br />
I find small talk awkward and unsatisfying,<br />
but often this was all I could get<br />
from her. My questions were met with<br />
one-word answers. Car rides were silent.<br />
When we went out to dinner at a restaurant,<br />
we looked like those bored couples<br />
who have been together so long that they<br />
have nothing left to discuss.<br />
When I learned that there was a Love<br />
Languages book specifically for kids, I<br />
12 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
thought I had finally found the manual<br />
I was longing for. The original version<br />
had helped my marriage: making dinner,<br />
unclogging the shower drain and various<br />
other Acts of Service, had proven successful<br />
by my husband to make me happier.<br />
<strong>May</strong>be the kids’ version of the book<br />
was my shortcut to unlocking the mystery<br />
of how to connect with my daughter.<br />
I would be able to take a quiz, figure<br />
out what made her tick, and boom—we<br />
would be sharing secrets like best friends.<br />
The problem was, the child categories,<br />
when viewed from the lens of a parent,<br />
didn’t seem as clear. For example, isn’t<br />
being a parent one big Act of Service? I’m<br />
certainly not cutting off crusts and doing<br />
their laundry for my own benefit. As for<br />
Gifts, what kid doesn’t love a gift? Just<br />
take your kid to Toys ’R Us and you’ll be<br />
convinced this is their Love Language.<br />
My kids get ample Words of Affirmation,<br />
Quality Time (this especially peaked during<br />
Covid) and Physical Touch.<br />
What was clear was that my attempts<br />
to connect with my daughter through<br />
conversation were not working. I decided<br />
to take the emphasis off of talking and<br />
instead focus on when my daughter was<br />
trying to connect with me.<br />
She often asks me to play Rummy, to<br />
draw with her or play with Lego, but<br />
I never thought of these activities as a<br />
connection because we weren’t talking. I<br />
noticed that when we were side by side,<br />
playing calmly and quietly, a softness existed.<br />
Quality Time, sometimes wordless,<br />
was where our closeness lived.<br />
I’ve always assumed that connection<br />
came from communication and how<br />
much we “talk” in our relationships because<br />
that comes easily to me. I’m learning<br />
that it’s more about how we relate<br />
to one another in our relationships that<br />
creates the deep connection I seek.<br />
There may be no troubleshooting chart<br />
for children or a manual for how to love<br />
other people. But, if we pay attention,<br />
there are clues.<br />
Sarah Seitz is a working<br />
mother, writer and consumer<br />
of coffee and books—in that<br />
order. She writes about the<br />
messy and real parts of<br />
parenting and reveals<br />
her underbelly in her<br />
words. You can read<br />
more of Sarah’s writing<br />
at sarahseitz.ca.<br />
supports quality programming<br />
for families with children facing<br />
disabilities within your community.<br />
supports quality summer programming for families with children<br />
facing disabilities within your community.<br />
COMMUNITY OPTIONS<br />
TODAY!<br />
Have you ever wondered about the future and<br />
DONATE<br />
COMMUNITY OPTIONS OPTIONS<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
supports what You it quality might gifts promotes<br />
summer bring to programming<br />
kids families being kids with for<br />
this family families<br />
summer! members<br />
with children<br />
facing disabilities within your community.<br />
with a disability? You can make a difference by<br />
supports designating quality Community summer programming Options for for families Children with children and<br />
Families as your charity of choice when considering<br />
leaving facing a gift disabilities through within your your will or community. any other gift<br />
https://cocf.ca/get-involved/donations/<br />
DONATE<br />
planning instrument (gifts of stock). Community<br />
OPTIONS<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
Options has supported thousands of families<br />
in the community over the past 30+ years—<br />
supports supporting quality summer a better programming quality of for life families for families with children<br />
TODAY!<br />
facing disabilities within your community.<br />
on Southern Vancouver <strong>Island</strong>.<br />
You For gifts more promotes information, kids being please kids this contact summer!<br />
DONATE<br />
TODAY!<br />
Kathleen Burton, Executive Director<br />
250.380.6363 ext 205<br />
TODAY!<br />
You gifts promotes kids being kids this summer!<br />
You gifts promotes kids being kids this summer!<br />
https://cocf.ca/get-involved/donations/<br />
https://cocf.ca/get-involved/donations/<br />
https://cocf.ca/get-involved/donations/<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>April</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 13
BYTE CAMP<br />
Creative<br />
Tech<br />
Summer me<br />
r Camps<br />
When ‘Good Enough’<br />
Is Just Fine<br />
Some days, I am haunted by another<br />
mother who follows me around all<br />
day. She is there as I struggle to get my<br />
daughter’s pants on in the morning. She<br />
is there when we’re late for daycare—<br />
again. She is there when I see the other<br />
mothers in management positions, when<br />
I pack my daughter’s lunch and wonder<br />
whether my chopped carrots, peanut butter<br />
sandwich and Babybell cheese will<br />
make her feel as loved as the other kids’<br />
seven-course Yumbox meal with kiwi<br />
fruit cut into stars.<br />
when I look at my cluttered living room<br />
and cower in defeat.<br />
She is the mom at baby-and-me yoga<br />
who could maintain a squat while breastfeeding<br />
her baby. She is my friend who<br />
describes her meal plan of dahl, vegetarian<br />
lasagna and squash and barley chili.<br />
She is the woman with the UPPAbaby<br />
stroller and contoured cheeks I pass at<br />
lunch break. She is my colleague who<br />
said her body “just knew what to do”<br />
when she was pregnant. She is the mom<br />
who offered to hold my baby while she<br />
Video Game Design<br />
3D Animation<br />
Claymation<br />
App Design<br />
2D Animation<br />
Music and Video<br />
Production<br />
1-888-808-BYTE<br />
www.bytecamp.ca<br />
She is there when I go to the bathroom<br />
and notice the indent on my stomach<br />
from my too-tight Lulus. She is there<br />
when I forget to bring snacks to the<br />
playground. She is there when I thought<br />
I had a change of clothing in the diaper<br />
bag. She is there when we’re at a restaurant<br />
without a colouring book, when my<br />
daughter kicks at the plexiglass dividers<br />
at the restaurant while the couple next to<br />
us enjoy their Roti Chanai. She is there<br />
cried at mom group because she knew<br />
a trick. She is the mom at music class in<br />
designer jeans and a leotard that doesn’t<br />
need to stretch at all. She is the YouTuber<br />
who described breastfeeding in three<br />
easy steps while her other children played<br />
contentedly in the background. She is the<br />
therapist with 7,000 Instagram followers<br />
who has “hacks” for mastering maternity<br />
leave. She’s all the other moms who were<br />
ready to have another child already while<br />
I was drowning.<br />
14 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
All the women who have come before<br />
me haunt me on my bad days. A neverending<br />
narration of Alyssa’s Christmas<br />
tree is already up, Mariam works out<br />
every day before work, Would Elizabeth<br />
’s living room ever look like this? Kristin’s<br />
daughter can spell her name already.<br />
Isabel would never have logged onto<br />
Oak Bay Rec’s online registration 15<br />
minutes late and doomed her daughter to<br />
six months without swimming lessons.<br />
Then other days, my daughter sings<br />
while we make pancakes with plenty of<br />
time before ballet class. She hugs me and<br />
says “I like you and I love you.” She never<br />
asks for a sibling. She tells me she likes<br />
my “cookie earrings” and could I please<br />
wear my “tutu” and dance with her. I put<br />
on my flowy skirt, she puts on her purple<br />
polka dot tutu and we have a dance party<br />
before bath time. Other days, she asks me<br />
to read Sasha and the Sloth over and over<br />
again and I pat myself on the back that<br />
my daughter gets so many books read to<br />
her. And how she’s learning math already.<br />
Most days, she tells me that the loves me<br />
to the moon. Other days she loves me to<br />
White Spot. Other days to “the great big<br />
city of Canada.”<br />
It is these times—the times when things<br />
are going well and I am truly in it with<br />
my daughter—that all the other ghosts of<br />
the mom I’ll never be disappear. I remember<br />
that my daughter doesn’t care if I<br />
can hold plank for two minutes or where<br />
I am on the career ladder. She doesn’t<br />
remember our breastfeeding struggles<br />
and the permanent scowl she wore until<br />
she was six-months old. She likes peanut<br />
butter sandwiches and considers their<br />
daily occurrence a treat not a failure. Our<br />
living room is messy because she has so<br />
many toys and because I’d rather cuddle<br />
with her than stress over cleaning up. She<br />
is healthy. When she jumps on the rainbow<br />
sheets on her bed, I smile to myself<br />
and marvel at how I never thought I’d<br />
have such a fun daughter with such a nice<br />
bedroom and I never knew how elated<br />
I’d feel when she jumps off the bed and<br />
into my arms.<br />
Most days before bed, after a bath and<br />
two books and setting the Gro clock, we<br />
list three “good things” that happened<br />
during the day. I say I enjoyed having<br />
dinner together, that I enjoyed our dance<br />
party and I’m thankful for a job that lets<br />
me work from home. My husband says<br />
he liked signing Radio Gaga on the way<br />
back from daycare and that he liked talking<br />
to his “work friends.” My daughter<br />
just says, “I had good feelings today.”<br />
She asks me to lie with her till the sun<br />
comes up and with that, I put my ghosts<br />
to sleep.<br />
Julie Mais is a policy<br />
and communications professional<br />
in Victoria. She looks<br />
for beauty in the everyday<br />
through writing, photography<br />
and the outdoors. She<br />
lives in a messy, cheesefilled<br />
home with her husband and preschooler.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>April</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 15
MOM’SPOV<br />
We’re that House<br />
cat is that?” asks my daughter’s friend’s<br />
mom as a cat darts through our open front<br />
“Whose<br />
door.<br />
“That’s Thomas, our friend’s cat,” I reply.<br />
“Wow, so not only do you take in everyone’s kids, but<br />
their pets, too?” she says.<br />
I smile and reply that this cat is not the first cat to frequent<br />
our house. Charlie was before Thomas until he moved<br />
out of the neighbourhood with his family. Both of these cats<br />
enjoy visiting us through our cat door. Initially, our cat,<br />
Jack, did not appreciate all the feline guests, but just as our<br />
introvert daughter gets used to guests, so did our cat. Our<br />
family does enjoy our loaner cats. We always let the cat<br />
owners know when their cats are having a sleepover or a<br />
snack at our house, too.<br />
Our open-door policy doesn’t stop at pets. It includes<br />
humans, too. I want our children and their friends to feel<br />
welcome and safe at our house. We’re that house: the house<br />
where all the kids hang out. We’re that family that you can<br />
count on for help, a meal, or a shoulder to cry on. When<br />
parents are running late after school, they can pick up their<br />
kids at our house. It’s convenient that we are steps from our<br />
school and often home after school.<br />
I’ve often been asked if I run a daycare. I’ve also been<br />
asked on numerous occasions to provide before- and afterschool<br />
care for children. I can see why people would ask this<br />
as I often pick up my own kids and three or four of their<br />
friends after school. We have watched a few of our friends’<br />
children for one or two days a week after school. Even when<br />
our kids no longer attend the elementary school that is steps<br />
16 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
from our door, I am confident we’ll still be the house where<br />
they hang out the most often.<br />
My son sometimes asks why we always have to be that<br />
house and have everyone over. He prefers to branch out and<br />
go to other people’s houses, too. Although, he’s just happy<br />
to socialize anywhere. I think it comes down to many factors.<br />
I am glad adults, kids, and pets feel comfortable in our<br />
home. I leave our children and their friends to their own<br />
devices during their playdates, but I am around to fix snacks<br />
and help reach compromises when there are disagreements.<br />
I think our availability, willingness, and love of entertaining<br />
also helps. I enjoy the sound of kids being kids, running<br />
through our house and playing hide and seek together. The<br />
fact that my husband and I both work from home and can<br />
adjust our work hours throughout the week helps us with<br />
our frequent playdates. It’s nice to know what your kids are<br />
up to and to be able to keep an eye on them, too.<br />
I believe our open door and open communication with our<br />
children and their friends will help them communicate openly<br />
with all their parents as they reach the ’tween and teen<br />
years. I remember sitting up at sleepover with my daughter’s<br />
friend when she couldn’t sleep because she was worried.<br />
Sometimes it’s challenging to know what your own kids need<br />
let alone another family’s child, but we’ve managed to make<br />
it through.<br />
I love that our home is that house. We feel connected to<br />
our community and our neighbourhood. I love that our<br />
kids can play outside and walk across the street to see if<br />
our neighbours’ kids want to go to the park. My parents’<br />
house was also that house while I was growing up. Some of<br />
my brother’s friends lived with us while they were in high<br />
school. We would often have our friends over for supper or<br />
sleepovers, too. I guess it really stems from my roots and<br />
the foundation my parents set for me. I enjoyed it when our<br />
neighbour’s son came up to me afters chool and said: “If my<br />
Grandma is not home in time, my mom said my brother and<br />
I can go to your house. Is that okay? Are you home?” I replied<br />
“Of course! Any time.”<br />
Serena Beck works full-time as a Technical<br />
Writer. She loves to write, travel and swim at the<br />
beach with family and friends.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>April</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 17
NATURENOTES<br />
A Breath of Fresh Air for Families<br />
Ahh…spring…blue skies, bees<br />
buzzing, birds calling….one of<br />
the best times for families to head<br />
outside to parks. A change of scenery can<br />
be a much-needed breath of fresh air. But<br />
Why to go:<br />
No matter your age, spending time in<br />
nature has mental and physical benefits.<br />
You can walk, hike, run, bike, or roll<br />
your way along designated trails in parks<br />
wren singing in the bushes or a river otter<br />
playing on the beach. You can build<br />
memories for the whole family while out<br />
in nature.<br />
How to have a great time:<br />
Being prepared to head outside is the<br />
first step to having a great time. Here are<br />
some quick tips:<br />
• Dress in layers and keep a blanket<br />
handy in case the weather cools.<br />
•Bring a hat or umbrella to provide<br />
shade.<br />
• Carry a daypack with the essentials,<br />
such as water, snacks, whistle, flashlight,<br />
and raingear.<br />
• Plan your trip and know where you<br />
are going—bring a map in case your cell<br />
phone battery dies.<br />
• For more tips, check out AdventureSmart.ca<br />
or the Capital Regional<br />
District’s website (crd.bc.ca).<br />
What to do:<br />
Even young babies can enjoy being<br />
outside. Here are some ideas for activities<br />
for the youngest members of your family:<br />
• When out with your stroller, sling,<br />
or carrier, narrate your walk on the trail.<br />
Pick up leaves from the ground and let<br />
your baby feel them.<br />
• Lay on the grass and point out the<br />
different sights and sounds. Bring a book<br />
and have story time with a picnic.<br />
•If the baby is old enough to sit up and<br />
crawl, explore with them in a safe area<br />
such as a large field or beach in a park.<br />
• Have your baby feel items in nature<br />
like leaves, bark, moss, lichen, sand,<br />
and dirt. Talk about the differences in<br />
texture—soft, hard, rough, dry, wet, etc.<br />
Watch that your baby doesn’t eat anything!<br />
• Inspire care for nature by leaving<br />
plants in parks and observing animals<br />
from a distance.<br />
why is it so important for us to spend<br />
time in nature? How can you be safe<br />
and have a great time? We have some<br />
answers!<br />
all over Vancouver <strong>Island</strong>. It can feel<br />
daunting to get kids ready and gather<br />
everything you and your family might<br />
need for time outside, but it is well worth<br />
it. You never know what you might see<br />
or hear out in parks—perhaps a Pacific<br />
Where to go:<br />
Check out which parks are in walking<br />
distance from your home. Find out<br />
if there’s a nature centre in your area<br />
where your family can learn more about<br />
the plants and animals. You can also<br />
look online for local hiking groups for<br />
18 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
families. If you’re in the Capital Regional<br />
District, CRD Regional Parks offers free<br />
registered guided programs for all ages,<br />
including some five years and under specific<br />
programs.<br />
Some CRD Regional Parks with user<br />
and stroller-friendly trails are:<br />
• Francis/King Regional Park—the<br />
universally accessible Elsie King Trail is<br />
a short loop trail that meanders through<br />
Douglas-fir and Garry oak trees providing<br />
a shaded forest cover. Listen for the<br />
sounds of Pacific tree frogs calling. You<br />
can also visit the nature centre on weekend<br />
afternoons.<br />
• <strong>Island</strong> View Beach Regional Park—<br />
the user-friendly trail parallel to the<br />
beach offers prime birding opportunities<br />
with shorebirds in the ocean and songbirds<br />
in the bush.<br />
• East Sooke Regional Park—from<br />
Aylard Farms parking lot to just above<br />
the beach is a user-friendly trail with easy<br />
access to a picnic shelter and field area.<br />
Or leave your stroller in the car and head<br />
down to the beach for some sand castle<br />
building.<br />
No matter your age, being outdoors<br />
brings numerous benefits and builds our<br />
connection to nature. Children are full<br />
of curiosity and parents and caregivers<br />
shape how children will interact with nature<br />
throughout their lives. By modelling<br />
respectful behaviour in parks—like staying<br />
on trail, keeping dogs on leash or under<br />
control, and leaving things you find<br />
where they are—adults can show children<br />
from a very young age how to care<br />
for nature. Instill a sense of wonder with<br />
excitement and stories, inspire a sense of<br />
care with kindness and compassion and<br />
we will have a future generation that values<br />
and protects the natural world.<br />
Learn a new sport or refine<br />
your skills: come join our<br />
rock climbing teams!<br />
Registration<br />
for recreational<br />
and competitive<br />
teams open now.<br />
All levels<br />
welcome!<br />
Ages 6–18.<br />
Details and registration at climbtheboulders.com<br />
The Boulders Climbing Gym<br />
1627 Stelly’s Cross Road | Saanichton, BC | 250.544.0310<br />
Be on the lookout for <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong>’s<br />
Family<br />
Fun<br />
Guide<br />
Lauren Sherwood is a<br />
Parks Naturalist with the Capital<br />
Regional District. She enjoys<br />
being out in nature with family<br />
and friends of all ages, rain or<br />
shine. For more information<br />
about Regional Parks programs<br />
visit crd.bc.ca/park-events.<br />
Your guide for Attractions,<br />
Activities and Family Fun<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>April</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 19
The ‘Pandemic Effect’<br />
My youngest was born in the summer<br />
of 2020. He hasn’t yet met his by about 5 months babies learn that ture. Babies were tested in the lab by a<br />
they learned previously. For example, I believe such conclusions are prema-<br />
extended family or left Vancouver <strong>Island</strong>;<br />
he has never seen his pediatrician without<br />
a mask or visited a play group. He is<br />
our pandemic baby. Like other parents,<br />
I wondered if being born into the pandemic<br />
could affect early development, so<br />
I turned to science for answers.<br />
The pandemic has affected everyone<br />
but, although we are all in the same<br />
storm, we are in different boats. The toll<br />
dropped objects fall down, so a floating<br />
balloon is likely to surprise them.<br />
Fortunately, your home environment<br />
provides many opportunities for seeing<br />
patterns and noticing new things. It’s perfect,<br />
actually. Your baby can learn about<br />
physics (“My ducky floats in the water…<br />
but this heavy spoon from the kitchen<br />
does not”), emotions (“When my brother<br />
cries he is usually sad…and sometimes<br />
stranger wearing a face covering; I imagine<br />
some pandemic-born babies may have<br />
felt in this environment what you and I<br />
would feel if we were abducted by aliens.<br />
(I don’t think I would perform my best<br />
on an IQ test from an alien spaceship!).<br />
And other babies might have struggled<br />
to concentrate on tasks the researchers<br />
were asking them to do because the lab<br />
environment was so novel and interesting<br />
on health, finances, medical care and<br />
available support has been much greater<br />
for some families than others, and its<br />
effects on babies, direct and indirect,<br />
are challenging to measure. So I chose<br />
to focus on one aspect: reduced interactions<br />
with the outside world. Will our<br />
pandemic babies be disadvantaged? Will<br />
their cognitive or social-emotional development<br />
be affected?<br />
Cognitive development<br />
During the first year, babies gradually<br />
get better at gathering and organizing<br />
information, remembering, problem solving<br />
and predicting events. Did you know<br />
babies use universal learning methods<br />
that resemble scientific research? Their<br />
brains constantly look for patterns in<br />
the world around them, making mental<br />
maps: “When I see this happen, I can<br />
expect that.” They also look for surprise<br />
events that don’t fit into patterns<br />
frustrated”) and relationships between<br />
people (“When I smile, daddy smiles<br />
back…but not if he’s looking away”).<br />
And novelty? Well, everything is new to<br />
babies, so they see plenty of surprises<br />
even in the calmest of homes. In fact, a<br />
calm, consistent home environment helps<br />
babies stay rested and protects them from<br />
overstimulation which, in turn, helps<br />
learning: it’s easier for a well-rested baby<br />
to notice new things and, when he goes<br />
to sleep, to integrate experiences into<br />
memory. Being at home more may help<br />
babies learn.<br />
But you might have heard of a recent<br />
study led by Dr. Sean Deoni, in which<br />
babies born during the pandemic showed<br />
a significant reduction in scores on cognitive<br />
development tests. The Guardian<br />
reported that pandemic babies had<br />
“shockingly low” scores, at levels not<br />
typically seen outside of major cognitive<br />
disorders. This is concerning. However,<br />
to them. Without measures of cognitive<br />
development taken in babies’ homes we<br />
cannot draw definitive conclusions from<br />
this study.<br />
Social-emotional development<br />
In supportive environments babies get<br />
better and better at communicating their<br />
needs and feelings, understanding emotions<br />
and carrying forward a sense of<br />
competence and trust.<br />
Our babies are born capable and<br />
aware. Newborns can already tell if<br />
someone is looking at them or away from<br />
them. One-month-olds perceive facial<br />
expressions: when a parent assumes a<br />
sombre face showing no emotion, baby’s<br />
heart activity changes in a distinct way<br />
that indicates distress and active coping.<br />
By six months babies learn to anticipate<br />
actions they see and experience regularly<br />
and can even recognize whether behaviours<br />
of others are helpful or unhelpful.<br />
20 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
What babies accomplish in their<br />
first year—how much they learn and<br />
change—is truly astounding. We, parents<br />
and caregivers, can do a lot to support<br />
their social-emotional development. But<br />
science suggests that diverse interactions<br />
with the outside world are not critical.<br />
According to the theory of attachment,<br />
most important for healthy<br />
social-emotional development is a close,<br />
committed relationship with one or more<br />
adults. One or more. It is, of course,<br />
wonderful for a baby to be part of a<br />
loving community, but not having that<br />
during the first year still allows for secure<br />
attachment.<br />
What about mask-wearing? Having<br />
been surrounded by people in masks,<br />
could our babies have trouble connecting<br />
with others? A recent study by Dr.<br />
Ed Tronick and Nancy Snidman suggests<br />
that babies don’t mind when mom puts<br />
on a mask. Dr. Tronick is widely known<br />
for the Still Face Experiment: when<br />
moms stopped mid-play and assumed an<br />
unemotional “still” face, babies showed<br />
surprise followed by distress. Did mask<br />
wearing result in a similar response?<br />
Happily, the researchers found it doesn’t.<br />
Almost all babies reacted in some way<br />
to their mom putting a mask on and<br />
taking it off, but mask wearing did not<br />
disrupt their ongoing interaction. As Dr.<br />
Alison Gopnik wrote in her analysis of<br />
this study, “Babies can look through the<br />
masks and just see the love underneath.”<br />
Our son is now 19 months old. Has he<br />
done and seen less than his sisters by this<br />
age? Yes. Do I wish he got to spend time<br />
with our extended family? Yes, absolutely.<br />
But he got to do more in other ways:<br />
he snuggled with his working-at-home<br />
dad more; he saw his sisters giggle (and<br />
squabble) more; he explored every inch<br />
of our small backyard at his own pace;<br />
his sleeping and eating habits developed<br />
against the backdrop of the slow, predictable<br />
days at home. I can’t wait for him to<br />
experience more of the world. For now, I<br />
trust that he will be okay.<br />
Anya Dunham is a research<br />
scientist with a PhD in Biology,<br />
a mom of three young children,<br />
and the author of a parenting<br />
book, Baby Ecology<br />
(Encradled Press, Jan <strong>2022</strong>).<br />
Visit Anya at kidecology.com.<br />
3045–C Douglas St.<br />
Victoria, BC<br />
GET CLOSER<br />
the-raptors.com<br />
The Kiddies Store<br />
Dedicated to providing Vancouver <strong>Island</strong> families<br />
with high-quality infant and toddler products<br />
at affordable prices for over 40 years<br />
tjskids.com<br />
250-386-2229<br />
Douglas St.<br />
Finlayson St.<br />
Larch St.<br />
T.J.’s<br />
Thrifty<br />
Thursdays<br />
A different<br />
sale each<br />
week!<br />
Built for performance, the all-terrain RIDGE jogger goes more places, at all paces.<br />
• Extendable canopy with mesh window and zipper pocket<br />
• Disc hand brake system<br />
• Adjustable handlebar with wrist strap<br />
• Included water bottle holder<br />
• Five-point harness with lumbar support<br />
• Deep, comfortable seat with webbing recline<br />
• Patented two-stage suspension system<br />
• Reflective accents<br />
• Large basket with included cover<br />
• Swivel-locking front wheel and adjustable tracker<br />
• 12" and 16" never flat tires<br />
• One-handed fold, stands when folded<br />
• From birth compatible with Bassinet, MESA and other<br />
infant car seats with the addition of adapters<br />
Now Offering Curb-Side Pickups Current Hours: Tues–Sat 10am–5pm<br />
Entrance off<br />
Larch St.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>April</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 21
DADSPEAK<br />
A Meconium<br />
Congratulations<br />
Good friends of mine told me the other day that they<br />
are having a baby. It’s amazing, hearing that news<br />
and seeing their excitement. I was still thinking about<br />
it that evening when I was changing a diaper and accidentally<br />
thrust my fingers into a mound of soft excrement.<br />
“Congrats, me,” I muttered to myself as I stared at my<br />
fingers, coated in what no human’s fingers should ever be<br />
coated in.<br />
It made me think I needed to warn my friends about the<br />
meconium poop. You know the one, the black ooze that<br />
your baby births not long after they’ve been birthed, the<br />
alien horror that can give heart attacks if arrived unannounced.<br />
Changing that diaper, I stopped and stared off into space<br />
for a minute, toddler staring at me confused, wondering<br />
what I was doing with fingers covered in poo and staring<br />
blankly at the wall, but truth be told by that point, I was<br />
wondering if my friends were going to use cloth or disposable<br />
diapers and wondering if we have old cloth ones we can<br />
give them.<br />
Poop slowly hardening on my fingers, I snapped out of<br />
it and tried to remember what was safer: leaving the kid<br />
on the bed and washing my hand (risk: him falling off the<br />
bed; reward: poo off fingers faster) or finish changing kid<br />
and then wash my hand (risk: good god man; reward: toddler<br />
lives to terrorize another day). Always one to make a<br />
half-assed decision that is somehow the worst of all worlds,<br />
I kinda literally popped half of my body into the neighbouring<br />
bathroom, while keeping one of my feet in the bedroom,<br />
as if prepping to steal a base, when really I’m just prepping<br />
excuses in my head as to how he fell off the bed that didn’t<br />
involve the phrase “wanted to get poo off my fingers.”<br />
So, I kinda washed my fingers too quickly, if we’re being<br />
honest here, so I could whip the top half of my body back<br />
in the room as if none of this ever happened. Of course, I<br />
snapped my torso around so fast it felt like Andre the Giant<br />
had grabbed my skull and smashed it against the wall, which<br />
happens, because I forgot the wall was there because there<br />
was poo, and also there was a toddler in a maybe-precarious<br />
position.<br />
22 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
I tried not to swear, but probably did, re-adjusted my<br />
glasses, remembered the poo even though it was history,<br />
whipped my hand away from my face, and looked at my<br />
kid, who was just staring at me, not having moved an inch<br />
throughout the whole ordeal. I laughed like a complete maniac<br />
for no reason, then went blank as I caught sight of and<br />
stared at the crib next to our bed, the crib that these days<br />
gets used as...well, nothing, actually. It’s just been sitting<br />
there forever.<br />
Yeah, we’ve had that crib for a long time, so long that<br />
parts of it may no longer be legal to sell in Canada, so I<br />
started wondering about things like expiration dates on car<br />
seats and I wondered if there’s some weird underground<br />
black market for parents for stuff like this, but I really don’t<br />
want to know. I’ve already told my friend that car seats expire,<br />
a bizarre fact he was unaware of, but isn’t parenting in<br />
<strong>2022</strong> full of bizarre facts we were all previously unaware of?<br />
But the poo on the fingers, man, that goes back. Since the<br />
dawn of time, parents have accidentally rammed their fingers<br />
into piles of poo, and the sensation never fails to horrify me.<br />
It’s a horrifying, horrifying thing that no one ever warned<br />
me about. There absolutely will come a time when there is<br />
poo under your fingernails and you have to work to get it<br />
out.<br />
Oh man, I didn’t check under my fingernails.<br />
Uh, anyway, all of which is to say, congrats, you two. And<br />
watch out for that meconium poop.<br />
Greg Pratt is the father of three children and a<br />
local journalist and editor. His writing has appeared<br />
in, among other places, Today’s <strong>Parent</strong>, Decibel<br />
and Douglas. He is @gregprattwriter on Twitter.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>April</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 23
WHAT’SFORDINNER<br />
Make Ahead Healthy Snacks<br />
It’s not always easy to eat healthy when you’re busy. Sometimes<br />
you just don’t have the time to whip up a healthy<br />
snack or even chop some vegetables. And when your kids<br />
are hungry, then they need food right away. Asking them to<br />
wait just doesn’t work.<br />
The secret to healthy eating in a hurry is to always have a<br />
few healthy snacks on hand!<br />
Here’s a few reasons why it’s worth stashing some healthy<br />
homemade snacks in your fridge, freezer and cupboards:<br />
• If you make it yourself, you get to control the amount of<br />
sugar and salt.<br />
• Homemade food is usually preservative free compared to<br />
their commercial counterparts.<br />
• The packaging on commercial snacks just adds up in the<br />
landfill, whereas homemade snacks are zero-waste!<br />
• It’s also a lot more affordable to make your own snacks.<br />
Coconut Almond Energy Balls<br />
(Prep Time 15 minutes)<br />
These energy balls were a treat that my mom made when I was<br />
growing up. We always had them to take on camping trips or for long<br />
walks. They are full of healthy, sustaining energy. Have your children<br />
help roll the balls and coat them in whatever topping they want.<br />
1 cup of Medjool dates, pits removed<br />
1 cup of unsweetened coconut flakes<br />
1 cup of almonds<br />
2 Tbsp of cocoa powder<br />
1 ⁄2 tsp vanilla<br />
Pinch of salt<br />
Toppings: flaked coconut, slivered almonds, cocoa powder<br />
1. Mix all of the ingredients in a food processor. If you don’t have<br />
a food processor, you can use a blender. Just keep scraping all the<br />
ingredients down so they get finely chopped.<br />
2. Once everything has been mixed into a smooth paste, scrape it<br />
into a bowl and place it in the fridge for about 20 minutes.<br />
3. Remove from the fridge. Using a teaspoon, grab a spoonful of<br />
the energy ball mix, then roll it into a small ball. (This is a great time to<br />
get your kids to help out).<br />
4. Then roll the ball in one of the toppings and set aside while you<br />
finish with the rest of the mix. You should have between 10–20 balls,<br />
depending on how large you make them.<br />
5. Store in the fridge until you’re ready to enjoy them. They should<br />
last for at least a month.<br />
Ranch Flavoured Microwave Popcorn<br />
(Cook Time 3 to 5 minutes)<br />
Did you know that you can make popcorn in a glass bowl in the microwave?<br />
You don’t need to spend money on wasteful and expensive<br />
packaged microwave popcorn. Just invest in a large bag of popcorn<br />
kernels!<br />
Microwave popcorn is a quick after school snack. Or you can pop<br />
a large batch and store it in an air-tight container in the cupboard. It<br />
should stay fresh for up to a week.<br />
1 ⁄2 cup of popcorn kernels<br />
1⁄2 cup of butter or oil (I usually do a 50/50 mix)<br />
1 tsp garlic powder<br />
1 tsp onion powder<br />
1 tsp dried dill<br />
1⁄2 tsp salt, to taste<br />
1. Add the popcorn kernels to a large glass bowl and top with a dinner<br />
plate.<br />
2. Microwave for 3 to 5 minutes, until most of the popcorn is popped.<br />
The exact timing will depend on the wattage of your microwave.<br />
3. Use oven mitts to remove the bowl, it will be very hot.<br />
4. Melt the butter in a small bowl. It will take about 20 to 40 seconds<br />
in the microwave.<br />
5. Drizzle the butter and/or oil over the popped corn. Then sprinkle<br />
on the seasonings. Toss to fully mix the seasonings. And enjoy!<br />
6. Ranch is our favourite flavour, but feel free to experiment with<br />
other flavour options.<br />
24 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
SKAM SUMMER CAMPS ARE BACK<br />
R A U L P O P B Y D<br />
N A M E D Grab and Go Vegetables<br />
(Prep Time 15 minutes)<br />
When my kids were young, my husband and I used to prepare a big<br />
bag of mixed vegetables. It was chopped up and ready in the fridge<br />
whenever we needed a snack. Now that my kids are older, they are<br />
responsible for preparing the grab and go vegetables.<br />
Wondering at what age you can get your kids chopping vegetables?<br />
I recommend starting early. My daughter was helping with her school<br />
lunch right from kindergarten. Though she still can’t chop carrots, she’s<br />
used to the expectation that she’s going to help out. So eventually,<br />
she’ll be able to prepare the grab and go vegetables all on her own.<br />
The secret to these make ahead vegetables is the seasoning! They<br />
won’t dry out and curl up at the edges like typical vegetable sticks.<br />
They’re also flavourful enough that they don’t need a dip! How easy is<br />
that?<br />
Carrots<br />
Celery<br />
Small head of cauliflower and/or broccoli<br />
Mushrooms<br />
Coloured peppers<br />
Green beans and peas<br />
1⁄2 tsp salt and pepper, to taste<br />
1 bunch of fresh herbs<br />
1. Wash and slice your favourite snack vegetables. I recommend a<br />
mix of whatever is seasonal. However, cucumbers don’t hold up well to<br />
being prepared in advance. So don’t include those in your mix.<br />
2. Lightly season the vegetables with salt and pepper, to taste. Place<br />
the vegetables in a large zip-top bag or a container with a lid.<br />
3. Wash and dry the herbs. Then scrunch them up and put them on<br />
top of the vegetables. They are just there to infuse the vegetables with<br />
flavour, so remove before serving. I recommend mint and basil; parsley<br />
and chives; or whatever you have that’s handy.<br />
4. Store the vegetables in the fridge and enjoy within 3–4 days.<br />
DRAMA CAMPS FOR<br />
AGES 5-8 AND 9-12<br />
ARE RUNNING JULY<br />
THROUGH AUGUST<br />
REGISTER AT<br />
SKAM.CA TODAY<br />
Emillie Parrish loves having adventures with<br />
her two busy children. You can find more of her<br />
recipes in her recently released cookbook Fermenting<br />
Made Simple. fermentingforfoodies.com<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>April</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 25
APRIL/MAYFAMILYCALENDAR<br />
For more information and calendar<br />
updates throughout the month<br />
visit <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
V<br />
P<br />
W<br />
Victoria & Area<br />
Peninsula<br />
Westshore<br />
CV<br />
N<br />
CX<br />
Cowichan Valley<br />
Nanaimo & Area<br />
Comox Valley<br />
PR<br />
G<br />
O<br />
Pacific Rim<br />
Gulf <strong>Island</strong>s<br />
Online<br />
APRIL<br />
1 FRIDAY TO 9 SATURDAY<br />
Spring Break Physical Literacy N<br />
Passport Challenge<br />
Upload your passport or drop off at either Ravensong<br />
Aquatic Centre or Oceanside Place Arena by<br />
Sunday <strong>April</strong> 10.<br />
rdn.bc.ca/recreation<br />
2 SATURDAY<br />
AGGV Public Open House<br />
V<br />
10am–5pm, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria<br />
Drop by the opening of Reverberations and enjoy<br />
a free day at the Gallery.<br />
aggv.ca/events<br />
Monthly Clothing Swap<br />
10am–1pm, Fairfield Gonzales Community<br />
Association<br />
fairfieldcommunity.ca/clothing-swap<br />
5 TUESDAY<br />
AGGV Admission by Donation V<br />
10am–5pm, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria<br />
The first Tuesday of the month is always admission<br />
by donation—all day long.<br />
aggv.ca/events<br />
V<br />
9 SATURDAY<br />
Penny Pom Pom<br />
N<br />
1pm, VIU Malaspina Theatre<br />
Meet Penny Pom Pom, a colourful ball of energy<br />
who embodies creative confidence and artistic<br />
freedom. Her multi-media show for young children<br />
is colourful, musical and interactive and<br />
focuses on the importance of creativity and selfempowerment.<br />
theatreone.ca<br />
16 SATURDAY<br />
Easter Eggstravaganza<br />
V<br />
9:30–11:30am, Oaklands Community<br />
Association<br />
Drop by for a morning of crafts, egg hunting,<br />
petting goats and more! Two time slots, 9:30–<br />
10:30am and 10:30–11:30am. Tickets at OCA.<br />
oaklands.life/oca-events<br />
Daniel Lapp’s Joy of Life Concert V<br />
7:30–9:30pm, Alix Goolden Hall<br />
This Victoria event has a 20+ history celebrating<br />
the best the city has to offer in toe-tapping folk,<br />
fiddle and jazz music.<br />
vcm.bc.ca/programs/joy-of-life-choir<br />
17 SUNDAY<br />
AGGV Family Sundays<br />
V<br />
2–4pm Art Gallery of Greater Victoria<br />
An afternoon of exploring hands-on art-making<br />
ideas for all ages.<br />
aggv.ca/events<br />
22 FRIDAY<br />
Earth Day<br />
In addition to raising awareness of environmental<br />
issues among citizens and organizations across<br />
the country, this campaign aims to encourage as<br />
many people as possible to take action.<br />
earthday.ca<br />
30 SATURDAY<br />
Wigglers at Work<br />
V<br />
10–11am, The Compost Education Centre<br />
<strong>Parent</strong>-child workshop on red wiggler worms.<br />
Learn what goes into compost and get a chance<br />
to hold some live worms.<br />
compost.bc.ca<br />
MAY<br />
1 SUNDAY<br />
Annual Spring Fling<br />
CV<br />
1–3pm, Bowser Legion<br />
Food, fashion, a silent auction and games, including<br />
a balloon pop.<br />
250-738-0822<br />
26 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
Milner Gardens’ Spring Plant Sale N<br />
11am–4pm<br />
Vancouver <strong>Island</strong> University’s Milner Gardens<br />
features great discounts on heritage trees, shrubs<br />
and perennials.<br />
milnergardens.viu.ca<br />
2 MONDAY<br />
YES <strong>2022</strong> BioBlitz<br />
N<br />
Yellow Point Ecological Society’s 2nd annual<br />
BioBlitz is an “intense community engagement”<br />
to help identify as many species as possible in a<br />
designated area. Family friendly and lots of fun.<br />
yellowpointecologicalsociety.ca<br />
7 SATURDAY<br />
James Bay Community Market V<br />
9am–3pm, Saturdays,<br />
Superior and Menzies Streets<br />
This vibrant community market features fresh<br />
local produce and farm goods, artisan crafts and<br />
ready-to-eat foods.<br />
jamesbaymarket.com<br />
23 MONDAY<br />
Victoria Day Parade<br />
V<br />
9am–noon, downtown Victoria<br />
This free family event features entertainment,<br />
performances, building an awareness of our diverse<br />
cultures, creating safe, inclusive opportunities<br />
for everyone to participate.<br />
gvfs.ca<br />
28 SATURDAY<br />
Kellie Haines: A Birdy Told Me N<br />
1pm, VIU Malaspina Theatre<br />
Eight-year-old Kellie doesn’t feel like she fits in at<br />
school until she receives a birthday gift who can<br />
talk on their own. Kellie meets Magrau, a chatty<br />
confident bird puppet who has a flair for singing,<br />
dancing, and making people laugh.<br />
theatreone.ca<br />
COWICHAN BAY<br />
KAYAKING<br />
Canoeing Adventures<br />
Youth Programs<br />
OPEN FOR<br />
BOOKING!<br />
Book online or contact us<br />
by email or phone<br />
(minimum 24 hrs ahead).<br />
Visit our website for details.<br />
Wildlife Tours<br />
ADVENTURE<br />
CENTRE<br />
Kayak &<br />
SUP Rentals<br />
On the Dock at Bluenose<br />
Marina, Cowichan Bay<br />
cowichanbaykayaking.com 250-597-3031 info@cowichanbaykayaking.com<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>April</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 27
KIDS’READS<br />
Tourist in Your Own Town<br />
When you grow up in a city, or if you’ve lived there<br />
for a while, it can be easy to forget about all of<br />
the exciting things people want to come and see.<br />
After all, the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea is always there.<br />
You could go almost any day of the week (just don’t pick<br />
Wednesday). Or you might drive passed the Hatley Park<br />
Gardens every day during your commute, so they no longer<br />
seem so spectacular. But this summer, why not try to rekindle<br />
the excitement we feel for our own towns and become tourists<br />
in our own backyards, so to speak. I can even suggest<br />
some books that will teach you about the animals around us<br />
and give some suggestions on how you can remember and<br />
treasure the little adventures you go on.<br />
Let’s start with The Collectors by Alice Feagan (Kids Can<br />
Press, 2021). Winslow and Rosie love to collect natural<br />
wonders and display them in their tree house on the edge of<br />
the forest. Each item has a story that is carefully catalogued<br />
by Rosie in her field journal. But now, their treehouse is so<br />
full they only have one spot left. Rosie and Winslow set out<br />
to try and find something amazing to go there. While you’re<br />
learning about the items they collect, maybe you’ll get some<br />
ideas about items you can collect as well. For ages 4 to 8.<br />
<strong>May</strong>be while you’re exploring you can convince your child<br />
to use their ears to see if they can hear any bees buzzing or<br />
birds singing. And then, you can read Sounds All Around:<br />
The Science of How Sound Works by Susan Hughes and illustrated<br />
by Ellen Rooney (Kids Can Press, 2021) to talk<br />
about how we hear sounds and how animals hear sounds.<br />
For example, did you know elephants hear through their<br />
feet? For ages 6 to 12.<br />
If your children love the water and want to learn about<br />
some of the sea creatures that live in the area, there are several<br />
books by local authors that can help. Dive into Colours<br />
by Ann Donahue is a great first book about sea creatures for<br />
children ages 3 to 5 and her second book Reef Creatures:<br />
Weird and Wonderful has almost every possible answer to<br />
every question your 6- to 12-year-olds can think about for<br />
sea creatures that call reefs their home.<br />
And if your intrepid reader is concerned about the lack of<br />
orca information in Donahue’s books, there is always Orca’s<br />
Everywhere: The Mystery and History of Killer Whales by<br />
local author Mark Leiren-Young (Orca Publishing, 2019),<br />
which is full of information for preteens. For ages 10 to 14.<br />
If you’re not exactly sure what sorts of information you<br />
should record on your walk through the lagoon or along<br />
one of the other beaches around here, Beach Walk which<br />
was edited by Deanna F. Cook and Lisa H. Hiley (Storey<br />
Publishing, 2019) has you covered. The book comes with a<br />
magnifying glass, stickers, information about different sea<br />
creatures and plants and a beach log to record your findings.<br />
Let this book help you kindle your child’s inner explorer and<br />
28 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
help them find ways to connect with the ocean around us<br />
this summer. For ages 4 to 8.<br />
Or maybe you and your children aren’t so scientifically<br />
inclined and the idea of cataloguing what you see, hear and<br />
smell doesn’t sound so appealing. Then perhaps you can<br />
follow the lead of the child in Poem in My Pocket by Chris<br />
Tougas and illustrated by Josée Bisaillon (Kids Can Press,<br />
2021) and create a found poem from all the words you see<br />
fluttering in the breeze. For ages 6 to 12.<br />
I hope these books give you and your children some ideas<br />
for how they can explore their own neighbourhoods and local<br />
beaches this summer.<br />
Christina Van Starkenburg lives in<br />
Victoria with her husband, children and cat.<br />
She is the author of One Tiny Turtle: A Story<br />
You Can Colour and many articles. To read<br />
more of her work and learn about her upcoming<br />
books visit christinavanstarkenburg.com. Facebook:<br />
facebook.com/christinavanstarkenburg<br />
and Twitter: @Christina_VanS.<br />
Homestay Families Needed!<br />
Dedicated students in grades 6–12 come from<br />
28 different countries to attend academic<br />
programs in Greater Victoria Schools.<br />
Why Host?<br />
• Enjoy an unforgettable cultural experience.<br />
• $1100 per month will be provided to<br />
support a student in your home<br />
• Short Stay or Long Stay Hosting<br />
Opportunities are Available<br />
• 24/7 assistance is provided from<br />
the Homestay Office<br />
Questions?<br />
250.592.6871<br />
homestay@sd61.bc.ca<br />
studyinvictoria.com<br />
Connect your family to the world.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>April</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 29
PRESCHOOL&CHILDCAREDIRECTORY<br />
v Comprehensive programs for<br />
Preschool through Grade 11<br />
v Delivering academic excellence through<br />
music, dance, drama and visual arts<br />
v Outstanding educators,<br />
locations and facilities<br />
www.ArtsCalibre.ca 250.382.3533<br />
Castleview Child Care........... 250-595-5355<br />
Learning Through Play & Discovery.<br />
Licensed non-profit, ECE staff. Since 1958.<br />
Morning or full-time care.<br />
castleviewchildcarecentre.com<br />
Christ Church Cathedral Childcare<br />
& Jr. Kindergarten..................250-383-5132<br />
ECE and specialist teachers provide an<br />
outstanding all day licensed program for<br />
2.5–5 year olds at our Fairfield and<br />
Gordon Head locations.<br />
cathedralschool.ca<br />
Emmanuel Baptist Church Child Care<br />
We offer all-day Day Care<br />
for 3 and 4 year olds.<br />
We also offer an After School Care<br />
Program for Kindergarten to 12 years<br />
old for Campus View and Frank Hobbs.<br />
250 598 0573 2121 Cedar Hill X Rd (by entrance to UVic)<br />
daycare@emmanuelvictoria.ca afterschool@emmanuelvictoria.ca<br />
Nightingale Preschool &<br />
Junior Kindergarten Ltd........ 250-595-7544<br />
We offer education through creativity and play, providing<br />
rich learning experiences through a well sourced<br />
and stimulating indoor and outdoor environment. Early<br />
years reading programme. nightingalepreschool.com.<br />
Arts/Drama programme. kidsworks.ca<br />
Pre-School<br />
Junior Kindergarten<br />
PacificChristian.ca<br />
250-479-4532<br />
Educational Excellence to the Glory of God<br />
Rainbows<br />
& Dreams<br />
Preschool<br />
Offering small classes, creative 3–5 year<br />
and kindie programs. Safe, fun, nurturing<br />
environment to learn and grow.<br />
250-479-1966 4184 Keewatin Place, Victoria<br />
Ready Set Grow Preschool.....250-472-1530<br />
Join our learning through play preschool located<br />
in Hillcrest Elem. Our caring ECEs offer<br />
an enriched Program for 3-4 hour, 2-5 days a<br />
week and help with kindergarten transition.<br />
heoscmanager@gmail.com<br />
St. Christopher’s Montessori School<br />
Offering an enriched and<br />
nurturing Montessori programme<br />
Competitively priced independent<br />
school education<br />
Half day for 3 & 4 year olds<br />
Full day kindergarten<br />
stcmontessori.ca 250-595-3213<br />
Call your local CCRR for free referrals and resources.<br />
Victoria & Gulf <strong>Island</strong>s: 250-382-7000<br />
Sooke: 250-642-5152 West Shore: 250-940-4882<br />
Cowichan Valley: 250-746-4135 local 231<br />
PacificCare (Ladysmith north): 250-756-<strong>2022</strong> or 1-888-480-2273<br />
30 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
Victoria & Area Peninsula Westshore Cowichan Valley Nanaimo & Area<br />
w ild c h ild<br />
e a r l y l ear n i n g c e n t r e<br />
• Licensed program for<br />
3–5 year olds<br />
• Nature focused<br />
• 3 hour morning classes<br />
Exciting new learn-throughplay<br />
program in Saanichton,<br />
ideal for Peninsula families<br />
www.wcelc.ca<br />
Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12<br />
Learn more today! 250-390-2201 AspengroveSchool.ca<br />
NANAIMO’ S JK–12 INTERNATIONAL<br />
BACCALAUREATE WORLD SCHOOL<br />
• Licensed programs, for children 3–5 years<br />
• Flexible part-time schedules • Supported spaces available<br />
• 3 and 4 hour morning classes<br />
Encouraging your child’s development and<br />
learning through play and exploration<br />
Fullobeans.ca 250-360-1148 E: fullobeans@snplace.org<br />
Metchosin Co-Op Preschool<br />
A Co-operative preschool in<br />
the heart of rural Metchosin.<br />
The best place to be.<br />
Take a virtual tour today!<br />
metchosinpreschool.com<br />
250-478-9241 metchosinpreschool@gmail.com<br />
St. Margaret’s School Jr. Kindergarten<br />
Apply now for our Early Learning (JK and<br />
Kindergarten) Programs. Early learning at SMS is<br />
a curriculum-based program for 3 and 4 year olds.<br />
St. Margaret’s School<br />
250-479-7171 | admissions@stmarg.ca<br />
SEEDLINGS<br />
Forest Education<br />
Where nature becomes the Teacher!<br />
Seedlings Forest Education is a Nature based program<br />
that includes After School Care, Nature Preschool, <strong>Parent</strong><br />
Workshops, Saturday Seedlings, Summer Camps and more!<br />
250-880-0660 seedlingsforesteducation.com<br />
Nestled on 4 acres of lush west coast forest, our Award<br />
winning, Nature based program will not disappoint!<br />
While firmly embracing the Reggio-Emila (Italy) Philosophy<br />
our dedicated team of educators use the environment<br />
as the third teacher as we encourage your child<br />
throughout their day.<br />
Our purpose built facilities have been handmade using the<br />
trees from our forest. Come take a virtual tour on our website!<br />
lexieslittlebears.ca<br />
Waitlist: 250-590-3603<br />
Programs for Infants/Toddlers/Pre-school Age.<br />
BC Award of Excellence in Childcare & Prime Minister’s Award of Excellence in Early Childhood Education.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>April</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 31
Alexa, How Do I Teach My<br />
Kids About Money?<br />
Something’s in the air and it’s not just the silent alarm of<br />
a much-needed diaper change. While you and your other<br />
half grapple with who’s taking the night shift and who gets<br />
some extra shut-eye, a conversation about money will feel<br />
like your last priority.<br />
Nevertheless, the sooner our kids are taught the basics of<br />
money, the sooner they’ll become financially literate.<br />
Some predict that Generation Alpha (born in 2010–2024)<br />
will be the most formally educated, tech-savvy and wealthiest<br />
generation in history. However, the lifelong lesson of<br />
money can’t be downloaded as an app and absorbed in an<br />
instant. Instead, real life teachable moments can be applied<br />
to the all-important financial literacy conversation.<br />
And, just as critical as the discussion with your children<br />
is, you and your partner need to be on the same page. Chartered<br />
Professional Accountants Canada (CPA Canada) recommends<br />
some areas to consider when teaching your kids<br />
about money:<br />
Partners in finance: While parents don’t always see eye to<br />
eye, money is a conversation that requires clear communication<br />
and compatibility before you talk to your child.<br />
ABCs and 123s: Start the conversation with your kids<br />
early. It’s never too soon to show them the value of dollars.<br />
Make it relatable: Use real life ‘teachable’ moments to<br />
kickstart lessons in financial education. With assistance,<br />
letting your child pay at the grocery store gives them confidence<br />
with transactions.<br />
Pennies to profit: Teach your kids the long game. By providing<br />
small allowances and exploring spending goals, your<br />
kids will learn from an early age the importance of budgeting.<br />
Continue the conversation: Financial lessons won’t be<br />
digested in a one-time talk. Keep checking in with your kids<br />
and encourage them to learn.<br />
It’s never too early to start implementing money lessons<br />
at home. CPA Canada has a range of tips and resources to<br />
help guide the money conversation with your future financial<br />
whiz kid. Download CPA Canada’s free financial literacy<br />
workshops or a copy of its Raising Money Smart Kids book<br />
at cpacanada.ca.<br />
Vivian Leung is a Senior Principal in CPA Canada’s Taxation group.<br />
She is passionate about advancing financial literacy amongst Canadians<br />
and is the co-author of CPA Canada’s book Babies: how to afford your<br />
bundle of joy.<br />
32 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
SPONSORED CONTENT<br />
Inspired Summer Camps for Teens<br />
Summer camps are not just for young children, they’re a<br />
chance for teens to pursue passions and explore new interests<br />
with the Applied Skills for Teens series offered by<br />
St. Michaels University School (SMUS) in Victoria, B.C.<br />
These camps, taught by specialized teachers and including<br />
subjects such as digital fabrication, graphic design, robotics,<br />
math, physics, screenwriting, poetry, pottery, and photography<br />
are a perfect opportunity to keep teens focused, engaged and<br />
learning over the summer months.<br />
“We are offering students the chance to engage in subjects<br />
they are passionate about without the pressure of assessment<br />
and homework,” says Craig Kelley, Director of External<br />
Programs. “They will have a lot of fun and it’s a way of learning<br />
that will spark their interest and keep them inspired through<br />
the rest of the year.”<br />
SMUS has partnered with the Victoria Conservatory of Music<br />
to offer the Summer Music Explorations Camp, with both day<br />
and overnight options. Students will explore the creative world<br />
of music, while broadening their knowledge of genres and<br />
strengthening their technical playing skill within our world-class<br />
facilities.<br />
To encourage the next generation of budding engineers,<br />
SMUS is offering Byte Camp U. During this two-week overnight<br />
camp, students will tackle real-world challenges to develop<br />
their problem-solving, engineering and technology skills.<br />
With more than 60 camps, there is something for everyone<br />
at SMUS. Day camps are open to all Greater Victoria families,<br />
and overnight options are available for music, engineering,<br />
sports and language programs.<br />
To learn more and to register, please visit our Summer<br />
Camps website: www.smus.ca/camps.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>April</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 33
Healthy Families, Happy Families<br />
Child, Youth<br />
& Family<br />
Public Health<br />
South <strong>Island</strong> Health Units<br />
Esquimalt 250-519-5311<br />
Gulf <strong>Island</strong>s 250-539-3099<br />
(toll-free number for office in Saanichton)<br />
Peninsula 250-544-2400<br />
Saanich 250-519-5100<br />
Saltspring <strong>Island</strong> 250-538-4880<br />
Sooke 250-519-3487<br />
Victoria 250-388-2200<br />
West Shore 250-519-3490<br />
Central <strong>Island</strong> Health Units<br />
Duncan 250-709-3050<br />
Ladysmith 250-755-3342<br />
Lake Cowichan 250-749-6878<br />
Nanaimo 250-755-3342<br />
Nanaimo 250-739-5845<br />
Princess Royal<br />
Parksville/Qualicum 250-947-8242<br />
Port Alberni 250-731-1315<br />
Tofino 250-725-4020<br />
North <strong>Island</strong> Health Units<br />
Campbell River 250-850-2110<br />
Courtenay 250-331-8520<br />
Kyuquot Health Ctr 250-332-5289<br />
‘Namgis Health Ctr 250-974-5522<br />
Port Hardy 250-902-6071<br />
islandhealth.ca/our-locations/<br />
health-unit-locations<br />
Changes with BC Medical Services Plan<br />
premiums mean that families eligible for partial<br />
payment of some medical services and access<br />
to some income-based programs now must<br />
apply for Supplementary Benefits through the<br />
Government of BC. Applications can be done<br />
online and take approximately 15 minutes.<br />
Families who previously qualified for MSP<br />
Premium Assistance should not need to re-apply<br />
if taxes are completed yearly. It is advised to<br />
confirm coverage before proceeding with<br />
treatment to avoid paying out of pocket.<br />
For more information, visit gov.bc.ca/gov/<br />
content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/<br />
bc-residents/benefits/services-covered-bymsp/supplementary-benefits<br />
Befriend the Birds<br />
Your family can be a good neighbour hang it in a tree or shrub (sheltered from<br />
to local backyard birds.<br />
rain) where you can watch the action!<br />
This spring put out nesting material. Continue to restock and offer nesting<br />
See who prefers the fluff to the moss. materials March to July. It’s common<br />
Then learn to identify birds by song with for pairs to have a failed nest and they’ll<br />
fun mnemonics, as they settle in to nest need to rebuild after a storm or if a predator<br />
comes thru.<br />
and raise a family of their own.<br />
Show passion for some part of our living<br />
world. It’s experiences in nature that with cotton, hemp and wool fibers at<br />
Note: Shop for bird-nesting material<br />
shape who we are and how we live. To wild bird stores or anywhere that sells<br />
help our non-human kin brings us a little bird seed and houses.<br />
more magic and helps make friends with<br />
mystery. Nature is potent!<br />
A mnemonic is a pattern of letters,<br />
ideas or associations to help you<br />
remember something. It aids the<br />
memory. (You use them all the time.)<br />
How to provide nesting<br />
material<br />
To “rewild” your yard, plant native<br />
trees, shrubs, and forbs. Trees species<br />
with the best downy-like fluff have catkins<br />
(a flowering spike) like cottonwood,<br />
maple, willow, and poplar. (Allergy sufferers<br />
will know exactly where these<br />
wind-pollinated trees are in the neighbourhood.)<br />
All types of bird nests need a combination<br />
of twigs, dried grasses, moss, hair,<br />
mud and even spider webs. It’s easy and<br />
fun to attract birds and enjoy observing<br />
them by putting out nesting material.<br />
My local hummingbirds chose the moss,<br />
while pine siskins preferred the cattail<br />
fluff!<br />
Other natural, biodegradable, pesticide-free<br />
materials:<br />
Dog fur (free from chemical flea and<br />
tick treatments), horsehair (clean their<br />
body brushes) or wool. DON’T use human<br />
hair.<br />
Moss<br />
Dry grass<br />
Cattail fluff<br />
Twigs and strips of bark<br />
Dried leaves<br />
Don’t use dryer lint (it’s a chemical<br />
soup), yarn or string and synthetic fibres.<br />
Human hair is also too thin and can cut<br />
or tangle birds.<br />
Take a handful of nesting materials<br />
and stuff a repurposed metal whisk or<br />
use a winter cage-like suet feeder. Then<br />
Keep a patch of bare ground with<br />
exposed soil to help swallows and<br />
robins. They need mud for their<br />
nests (you’ll help native mason bees<br />
and butterflies, too). Sounds silly<br />
but chances are you already have a<br />
place they use. It could be the corner<br />
of the yard that gets trampled or<br />
a low spot that puddles.<br />
Beginner bird mnemonics<br />
for common species<br />
Now that you’ve observed which birds<br />
are nesting in or near your yard, get to<br />
know them by song. You’ll learn which<br />
species love living near you and get to<br />
know the birds on your favourite walking<br />
routes, too.<br />
When I birded for a living in the boreal<br />
forest of Alberta, songs were the easiest<br />
way to identify birds. Songbirds were<br />
often hard to see in dense over- and understory<br />
or they were far away and high<br />
up. Luckily, birders train in mnemonics<br />
and you can too!<br />
Photo: Robert Fraser<br />
34 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
Jon Young, author of What the Robin Knows: How Birds<br />
Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World says the bravest<br />
to most secretive birds to reveal their presence to you<br />
are: chickadees, sparrows, juncos, thrushes, warblers,<br />
then towhees.<br />
Twelve phrases and clues to identify<br />
Vancouver <strong>Island</strong> birds by song:<br />
American Goldfinch says “po-ta-to-chip” while in flight<br />
Barred Owl says “Who-cooks-for you? Who-cooks for you<br />
all?”<br />
Chestnut-backed Chickadee says “Sika-dee-dee”<br />
Chipping Sparrow sounds mechanical, like a sewing machine<br />
Olive-sided Flycatcher says “Quick, three beers!”<br />
Ruby-crowned Kinglet says “Chubby, chubby, cheek, chubby<br />
cheeks”<br />
Song Sparrow says “Maids-maids-maids-put-on-your-teakettle-ettle-ettle”<br />
or “Hey! Hey! Put on the kettle, kettle,<br />
kettle”<br />
Spotted Towhee says “Tow-hee?”<br />
White-breasted Nuthatch sounds like a nasally French horn<br />
White-throated Sparrow says “O, sweet, Canada, Canada,<br />
Canada”<br />
Yellow Warbler sings “Sweet, sweet, sweet, I’m so sweet”<br />
I also recommend learning songs of the Pacific Wren, Darkeyed<br />
Junco, Brown Creeper and Yellow-rumped Warbler, too<br />
Don’t hear it? Don’t stress. Listen to a variety of bird song<br />
recordings online to train your ear. Prefer to learn in the field?<br />
Join a local naturalist group or register for a nature sanctuary<br />
guided birding walk.<br />
Lindsay Coulter is a writer, educator, facilitator,<br />
naturalist, community catalyst, soul activist,<br />
mentor, and dedicated mother of two. She’s the<br />
Director of Communications, Culture and Community<br />
at EPIC Learning Centre, a forest and nature<br />
school in Victoria. Find her @SaneAction on Instagram<br />
and Facebook.<br />
Photo: Kalene Lillico<br />
Swimming is a Life Skill<br />
Remember how much<br />
fun it is to swim!<br />
Now Registering<br />
Spring<br />
pre-competitive<br />
programs<br />
Coming Soon<br />
Summer intro<br />
programs—<br />
registered by the<br />
week<br />
Register online at<br />
www.islandswimming.com/program-info<br />
More information<br />
info@islandswimming.com (250) 744-5536<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>April</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 35
Scavenger Hunt<br />
In the CITY<br />
Things to<br />
Look for<br />
Something red<br />
A sign with the letter<br />
“A” on it<br />
A recycling bin<br />
10 blades of grass<br />
A mailbox<br />
A bus<br />
A bicycle<br />
A blue car<br />
Find scavenger hunt items,<br />
sing a song, read some books<br />
and have fun learning together.<br />
Rhyme “The Elevator Song”<br />
Oh, the city is big and the city is grand<br />
(stretch arms wide then stretch hands high)<br />
There are lots of people living on a little bit of land<br />
(pinch fingers close together)<br />
And we live way up on the 57th floor (point up)<br />
And this is what we do when we go out the door<br />
(pretend to open a door)<br />
We take the elevator up (reach arms up)<br />
We take the elevator down (reach arms down)<br />
We take the elevator up<br />
We take the elevator down<br />
We take the elevator up<br />
We take the elevator down<br />
Literacy Tip<br />
Make letters, words, and sounds part of your everyday activities.<br />
You could say, “I see something that begins with the same letter<br />
(or sound) as your name. Do you see it?” or “Do you see the 'Stop’<br />
sign? What should we do?” Try applying these same strategies<br />
when reading books together. For example, ask your child to<br />
find a familiar letter or word on the page.<br />
And then we turn around (turn around)<br />
Booklist<br />
Look for these titles<br />
at gvpl.ca<br />
• Small in the City by Sydney Smith<br />
• The Digger and the Flower<br />
by Joseph Kuefler<br />
• City Mouse, Country Mouse<br />
by Maggie Rudy<br />
36 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
City Nature Challenge <strong>2022</strong><br />
Join nature lovers across the capital region in celebrating local species<br />
and ecosystems by participating in the <strong>2022</strong> City Nature Challenge.<br />
Over a four day period, <strong>April</strong> 29 through <strong>May</strong> 2, photograph and<br />
document local biodiversity in the capital region using the free iNaturalist<br />
Canada website or app, and help to build a record of the nature that surrounds<br />
us. More than 400 cities around the world will be participating in<br />
the City Nature Challenge this year, as a global celebration of biodiversity<br />
in and around urban areas.<br />
Participating in City Nature Challenge in the capital region is easy:<br />
• Find nature in your backyard, neighbourhood, favourite park or<br />
beach. Observations of plants, animals, fungi, insects, tracks, or even<br />
scat are all welcome.<br />
SPONSORED CONTENT<br />
• Photograph your observation from different angles and capture<br />
different features. Use a digital camera or smart phone.<br />
• Create an iNaturalist account using the app or website and upload<br />
your observation.<br />
• Identify your finding to the highest level that you can, or let the online<br />
iNaturalist community help with identification.<br />
• Repeat!<br />
Stay tuned for upcoming information about City Nature Challenge<br />
events offered by the CRD and its partners, and iNaturalist resources that<br />
will help you get started.<br />
crd.bc.ca/biodiversity | inaturalist.ca<br />
Calling all nature lovers!<br />
Join the Capital Region’s<br />
City Nature Challenge<br />
<strong>April</strong> 29 - <strong>May</strong> 2, <strong>2022</strong><br />
How many wild plants and animals can you find in<br />
the capital region? Join the CRD and its partners as<br />
we compete with cities around the world to document<br />
urban nature using the free and simple iNaturalist app.<br />
Get outside with your family to explore the capital<br />
region’s amazing biodiversity.<br />
Learn more at www.crd.bc.ca/biodiversity.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>April</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 37
CUTITOUT!<br />
Not a Problem<br />
Children have problems with their<br />
feelings. Some, a little more than<br />
others. Although immaturity is<br />
a factor, a lot has to do with temperament,<br />
which is why a younger child can<br />
appear more flexible, calmer, and easier<br />
to handle. We come into the world with<br />
a genetic blueprint of nine traits. Is your<br />
child high in any of the following?<br />
· Active children often use their bodies<br />
to learn and to express themselves, so it<br />
isn’t unusual for this child to come out<br />
swinging when they are dysregulated<br />
or having a hard time managing their<br />
emotional response. Yes, even past the<br />
preschool years.<br />
· Perceptive children can quickly absorb<br />
other people’s stress; they see it,<br />
they feel it, they act it out.<br />
· Persistent children have difficulty letting<br />
go of their agenda. They grieve the<br />
loss of their ideas.<br />
· Cautious children experience strong,<br />
overwhelming emotions when they are<br />
faced with a new situation or person.<br />
· Children who aren’t adaptable like<br />
things to be fair, and of course, life<br />
rarely is.<br />
· Very regular children like routine<br />
and can easily be triggered by hunger<br />
and fatigue.<br />
· Sensory sensitive children often feel<br />
overwhelmed by their environment. This<br />
leads to depletion and an empty reserve<br />
of patience.<br />
· Intense children feel things in a big<br />
way and have difficulty keeping their reactions<br />
to a dull roar. Remember, adults<br />
have temperament too.<br />
· Some children come into the world<br />
with a more serious mood.<br />
What to do:<br />
Stop seeing a child’s eruptions as a<br />
problem to be fixed. Time will take care<br />
of this if handled well.<br />
Regulate yourself. Focus on your<br />
breath and your inner dialogue. “My<br />
child isn’t giving me a hard time; they<br />
are having a hard time.” (Dr. Ross<br />
Greene)<br />
Keep everyone safe and stand by without<br />
words, lectures, threats, or lessons.<br />
Breathe.<br />
Be present if you can, and if you can’t,<br />
say you will be back and that you love<br />
them.<br />
Your task is to protect your children<br />
from getting stuck in the bad kid role.<br />
It does not make sense to punish a child<br />
for dysregulation. Remember this is<br />
simple immaturity plus temperament.<br />
It’s normal.<br />
Children need to know you can handle<br />
their big feelings. If they see fear or<br />
helplessness in you, they will believe that<br />
there is something wrong with them.<br />
This will lead to more dysregulated episodes<br />
and low self-esteem.<br />
Remember to translate I HATE YOU,<br />
into HELP, I’M STRUGGLING.<br />
When it’s over, just connect. You don’t<br />
have to talk it out but show that you get<br />
it and you’ve got their back.<br />
Dr. Allison Rees is a<br />
parent educator, counsellor<br />
and coach at LIFE Seminars<br />
(Living in Families Effectively),<br />
lifeseminars.com.<br />
BUSINESSES<br />
YOUNEEDTOKNOW<br />
These local businesses are family-focused and committed to our community and helping you.<br />
Tired of packing lunches? Try a<br />
weekly delivery of school lunches!<br />
HEALTHY<br />
CONVENIENT<br />
AFFORDABLE<br />
ThisWeeksLunch.com/<br />
How-It-Works<br />
38 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
SUMMER CAMPS<br />
AT<br />
UVIC!<br />
• RECREATION • SPORT DEVELOPMENT • HIGH PERFORMANCE<br />
• CLIMBING & OUTDOOR<br />
Develop skills, meet new friends, explore creativity<br />
and experience exciting activities in a fun, safe<br />
and positive environment!<br />
REGISTRATION<br />
OPENS APRIL 4.<br />
See complete camps listings online:<br />
vikescamps.com<br />
• Archery<br />
• Racquet Sports<br />
• Ball Hockey • Soccer<br />
• Basketball • Softball<br />
• Cheer<br />
• Sport Science<br />
• Cross Country • Swimming<br />
• Dance<br />
• Tennis<br />
• Fencing<br />
• Track & Field<br />
• Girl Power • Vikes Adventurers<br />
• Golf<br />
• Vikes Sports<br />
• Indoor Climbing • Volleyball<br />
• Outdoor Climbing • Yoga<br />
• Judo<br />
• and more!<br />
• Mini Vikes<br />
Join us for adventure-filled co-ed summer camps at SMS!<br />
Camp themes include tennis, robotics, nature & gardening, LEGO,<br />
Harry Potter, art, Minecraft, and more!<br />
Learn more at stmarg.ca/camps<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>April</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 39