GRAND Magazine Vol V Ed III

Vol. V, Ed. III
GRAND
grandmag.ca
The Importance
of Building
Community
Gifts for
Nature-Loving
Grandkids
grandmag.ca
The Magic of Small
Vol. V, Ed. III 1

GRANDparenting
So You Want to Be a Grandparent?!
A no-nonsense job description
There really ought to be a job description
for grandparenting so people
know exactly what they’re getting
into. Sure, we’ve all been parents, so we’ve
done this before, right? But I’m here to tell
you that when you add another 20 or 30
years, it’s a whole other ball game!
little grandchildren they so desire? Well,
I’ve put together the following “job description”
to shed some light.
Job Summary:
Seeking highly motivated individual to
provide quality babysitting services for
young child(ren) along with unconditional
love and a steadfast ally. Responsibilities
include general supervision, meals, field
trips, overnights and occasional vacation
relief.
Susan Gnucci is a local author and a
proud “nonna” to two young grandsons.
She enjoys sharing her experiences as
a grandparent.
For one thing, I would bet most parents
don’t really remember much about those
early years when their children were
very young. And it’s no wonder as most of
them were probably chronically sleep deprived.
Those years with my own children
are basically a blur. I remember very little
other than my own desire to catch some
sleep whenever and wherever possible.
And even though we are supposedly older
and wiser as we age, one’s energy reserves
unfortunately aren’t what they used to be.
What was easy to do at age 25 can seem
pretty daunting at 55! That’s just a simple
fact of life.
So what should potential grandparents
be aware of when contemplating those
Hours of Work:
• Varied; including days, evenings and
weekends.
• Must be on-call at a moment’s notice.
• May be asked to cover extended periods
of time (vacation relief).
Essential Qualifications (not in
ranked order):
The successful candidate must have the
ability to:
• Give horsey and piggy back rides
while a squirming, wriggling toddler
bounces on your back, simultaneously
pulling on your ears and ruthlessly kicking
you in the ribs.
• Crawl around on your hands and
knees for extended periods of time on all
surfaces including (but not limited to)
carpet, linoleum, tile, gravel, grass and
sand.
• Produce a wide variety of voices for
different characters when telling or reading
stories (i.e. those for knights, witches,
wizards, magical beasts, trolls, ogres, etc).
• Re-read the SAME favourite books
over and over and over and over and over.
• Sit through hours of cartoons, children’s
shows and G-rated movies and pretend
that you like them.
• Be an expert at the triage of minor
cuts, scrapes and splinters (more commonly
referred to as “owies” or “booboos”),
displaying an excellent bedside
manner that will instantly calm/soothe
any hysterically sobbing child.
2 GRAND grandmag.ca

• Make a plethora of sound effects
including those of animals, weather, vehicles,
bodily functions, etc.
• Contort one’s face into endless silly
expressions in order to get a laugh.
• Be able to provide nutritious snacks
that children will not turn their nose up
at, make a face at, throw on the floor,
dump out or decorate a younger sibling
with.
• Cajole, flatter, exaggerate, bribe or
otherwise elicit cooperation by any means
necessary.
• Draw realistic representations of
people and objects on command.
• Possess the artistic ability of shaping
food into recognizable objects so that it
will be readily consumed, expertly hiding
or disguising “healthy” ingredients.
• Permit all manner of kicking and
splashing in the bathtub while sea monsters
are subdued.
• Provide oodles of cuddles, preferably
in a big, comfy rocking chair.
• Be brave enough to check for monsters
under the bed, in the closet or in any
hidey-hole as directed.
• Possess the patience of a saint to follow
complicated instructions (requiring
an engineering degree at a minimum) for
the assembly of most children’s toys. Or,
alternately, magically put together children’s
toys with only sparse, incomplete
or even non-existent instructions.
• Employ the skills of both an acrobat
(gracefully dismount from a bed without
causing the springs to protest) and a cat
burglar (stealthily creep out of a room)
when putting a child to bed.
• Recite dozens of nursery rhymes and
children’s songs off the top of one’s head.
• Change a messy diaper while expertly
distracting the non-cooperative wearer
who is ceaselessly contorting their body to
thwart your efforts.
Experience:
No degree required or experience necessary—just
an open heart.
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Victoria, BC
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Dedicated to providing Vancouver Island families
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grandmag.ca Vol. V, Ed. III 3

Explore
The Magic of Small
If you’ve ever tried to hike with a preschooler,
you know how quickly objectives
can diverge. The child wants to
stop and observe every interesting rock
or twig along the path—sometimes every
blade of grass! The time-conscious adult,
on the other hand, has a destination in
mind—one that won’t be reached until
next Thursday at the current speed.
As a young mother, I was all too often
the impatient adult in the above scenario.
I like to think I’m a little wiser now that
I’m a grandmother, holding my expectations
loosely, slowing to match the start
and stop pace of the significantly smaller
humans in my company. After all, there
are rich discoveries to be made at this
level of observation: tiny pink wildflowers,
lichen with the texture of dragon
skin, industrious ants going about their
business—treasures I would have overlooked
in my haste to get to a particular
viewpoint. It turns out engrossed grandchildren
are the ultimate Zen teachers:
the journey really is the destination.
Given their acute eyesight and the fact
that their line of vision is so close to the
ground, it’s not surprising that young
children are fascinated by small things
like insects and leaves. In fact, collecting
information about the world and how it
works is one of a preschooler’s primary
jobs, so it only makes sense that they
would be riveted by the intricate textures
and minute details that most adults overlook
or have come to take for granted.
Small objects and creatures are the perfect
subjects for study. Their miniature
size makes them accessible, allowing
them to be cupped in small hands, or observed
at close range from a crouch.
If you’ve spent any time in a preschooler’s
company, you’ll know that it’s not
just small objects from the natural world
that keep them enthralled. Preschoolers
are drawn to miniatures of all kinds—
and that comes with many benefits according
to social scientists who study and
work with children. As small humans in
a big world, playing with tiny animals,
people, furniture, etc. gives young children
a sense of control and agency. It allows
them a safe place to express emotion
and to act out through play what they’re
learning and observing around them. Beyond
the emotional and creative benefits,
miniature play also builds finger dexterity
and fine motor skills.
Of course you don’t need manufactured
toys to get the benefit of miniature
play. According to my kindergartenteacher
daughter, “loose parts” are highly
valued in early childhood education these
days. Loose parts refer to small found or
collected objects like stones, buttons or
seashells that can be used alone, in collection
or combined with other materials
in endless creative ways. Via a child’s
imagination, an individual stone can
become an animal or a person, while an
acorn may be used as an ingredient in
a tasty make-believe soup. In the same
child’s hands, a collection of sticks and
leaves can be transformed into an entire
miniature village. In many ways small
natural objects are the perfect toys, costing
nothing, easily replaceable, while
encouraging high-level creativity, innovation
and collaboration.
One recent weekend morning, my
two four-year-old granddaughters and I
slipped on our boots and went outside to
engage in some miniature play: on this
4 GRAND Island Parent Magazine
grandmag.ca

occasion, to make a tiny fairy garden.
I wasn’t sure what we’d find when we
started looking, but it didn’t take long to
see that we were surrounded by a wealth
of suitable materials. Cheerful yellow
buttercups. Hot pink salmonberry blossoms.
Tiny snail shells. Bright green fir
and cedar tips. Uncurling ferns, waxy
salal leaves and grasses gone to seed.
Time fell away as we made new discoveries
and positioned each treasure
“just so” on the stone step that held our
tiny garden. Before setting them in their
proper place, we carefully examined each
new addition. The closer we looked, the
more wondrous detail we found. I was
impressed by my granddaughters’ focus
as we compared grass seedheads, contemplated
the geometry of fiddleheads
and marvelled at the complexity of wildflowers.
I would happily have spent half
the day helping them make additions to
our little tableau, but our playtime was
interrupted by the call to breakfast.
The fairy garden wasn’t my first foray
into miniature play with my grandchildren,
and it certainly won’t be my last.
Each tiny seascape at the beach, each
mini stone village on a riverbank or twig
house in the roots of a tree, is a new
creative adventure. And truth be told, I
think I have as much fun as they do!
Contiguous to critical protected
areas, Creekside Rainforest is 15.5
acres of Salt Spring Island’s coastal
temperate rainforest and salmonbearing
Cusheon Creek. You can
support B.C.’s biological diversity
today by donating to protect
Creekside Rainforest and the
species-at-risk that rely on
this special ecosystem.
To make your tax deductible gift today call
1-877-485-2422 or visit www.conservancy.bc.ca
IS THIS YOU?
Celebrating
25 Years of
Conservation
Island Parent is always looking for people who want to tell
their stories and join our team: publisher@islandparent.ca
Rachel Dunstan Muller is a children’s author,
storyteller, podcaster and grandmother.
You can find her two podcasts Hintertales:
Stories from the Margins of History and
Sticks and Stones and Stories through her
website at racheldunstanmuller.com, or
wherever you normally get your podcasts.
Get your kids into
the beautiful game
Fall registration for youth soccer is
now open! Find your nearest club at
lowerislandsoccer.com
grandmag.ca Vol. V, Ed. III 5

GRANDparenting
The Importance of
Building Community
Emma Eaton spends her working days at
the SHOAL Centre, in Sidney BC. The SHOAL
Centre is operated by a local charity, Beacon
Community Services. Beacon has been
delivering social programs to help, empower
and improve lives within the Greater Victoria
Region since 1974. For information about
programs that support seniors to safely live
independently call 250-656-5537 and ask to
speak with the coordinator of the Better at
Home program.
A
sense of belonging. As a basic
principle of human nature, this is
a feeling we all want to have, no
matter what age we are. Life often passes
quicker than we anticipate. Feelings consume
our lives. The migration to old age
can be a hard thing to wrap your head
around and to accept—until you reach
that point of no return. However, having
a sense of worth, as well as people who
support your journey, make this transition
worthwhile.
Thanks to the pandemic, modern society’s
course shifted drastically in the past
two and half years. Families and friends
distanced in great numbers, fearful of
contracting an unpredictable illness.
This has taken a toll on everyone. For the
senior population, it manifested in an
unfortunate loss of basic human interaction...if
they weren’t already experiencing
it before. Although we knew the
importance of “connections,” it wasn’t
until we were more or less cut off from
them that we all found out how absolutely
vital they are.
However, the knowledge we’ve gained
from this experience has given us valuable
insight on how to reach out and
make sure seniors in our community are
connected and feeling worthwhile.
As we age, quality of life can decline
or become more challenging to manage.
The support of those around us becomes
more of a necessity: ironically, to stay
independent, we may actually need to be
a bit more dependent in some areas of
our life. The spirit can’t help but feel a bit
overwhelmed by the scenario.
6 GRAND grandmag.ca

That’s why engagement is so important;
it’s a kindness to the mind. Community
is an incredible buffer. Socialization
and the continuation of relationships
(old and new!) help to create an overall
sense of wellness and connection. The
National Institute on Aging has extensive
research showing that isolation and loneliness
are linked to a higher risk of cognitive
decline and Alzheimer’s disease.
Maximizing social capital and interactions
therefore help mobilize a better
commonality and strengthen a populace.
Joining a local community centre, volunteering,
taking part in a fitness class or
another group activity…these are opportunities
to make meaningful connections.
Additionally, such forms of gathering
provide some “extra eyes and ears” on
individuals who may not otherwise have
the means to cope with their current
situation. Oftentimes, people have lost a
spouse or live far away from immediate
family. Contacts that are outside their
usual scope can be critically important.
Word of mouth, volunteerism, spending
time with people in similar situations all
assist in the endeavour to remain healthy.
In recognition of the importance of
healthy aging, community supportive
programs have been purposefully created.
In most municipalities, there are
many resources available. You’ll often
find a comradery among individuals who
are working towards making the lives
of those around them better. As people
age out of their careers and retire, many
hunger for something meaningful to fill
their time. Volunteering has a huge capacity
for that exact effect: fulfillment.
The sense of gratification which volunteering
provides can also help people
forge a powerful connection to where
they live. Within a circle of people, it creates
a network of carrying through and
doing what needs to be done. Things like
rides to medical appointments, group
support programs, grocery shopping
and help around the house—all have immense
value to those who are in need and
likewise to volunteers delivering these
supportive services.
These activities help mobilize a greater
sense of thriving, no matter which side
of the spectrum you are on. It’s a feeling
of support around you. The importance
of building community as you age is
reflected in better health, well-being,
security and most importantly the feeling
that we are being looked after by one
another. In other words, in a world and
at a time where isolation is increasingly
common, getting a good dose of community
is a prescription for better living and
positive aging!
Create a Legacy &
Let Your Love Live On
You have the power to make a lasting
difference and help children and adults with
disabilities through some of life’s most
difficult challenges.
After you've provided for your loved ones, please
consider a gift in your Will for Easter Seals BC &
Yukon. No matter the size, every gift helps.
Please call or email Emma at 604-873-1865
ext. 423 or eliffen@eastersealsbcy.ca to learn how
your gift can make a difference.
Create your legacy now, and change
lives in years to come.
grandmag.ca Vol. V, Ed. III 7

Shop
Gifts for Nature-loving Grandkids
Did you get “the talk” yet from your child? It’s when they express
only zero-waste, plastic-free, fair-trade and non-toxic
gifts are okay for the grandkids!
Youth today are inheriting a wounded world. And many of
them know it. You may have also received a lecture from a fiveyear
old about Nutella and how harvest of the ingredient palm oil
harms orangutans.
Childhood deserves celebration. Grandparents play a crucial
role to support a child to feel known, significant and experience
a sense of belonging. Don’t underestimate the power and need
for time with you. Give the gift of experiences with gifts ideas to
build connection with the living world:
Pond or tide pool dipping: Visit a local pond, creek or intertidal
zone.
Gift: Dip net (buy anywhere that sells fish aquarium supplies)
and a white tub or bucket (white creates the best contrast to see
critters). To identify intertidal life, I recommend the one page,
laminated Marine Life of British Columbia by David S. Young.
Source it from School House Supplies in downtown Victoria or
Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea. I also recommend A Field Guide to
Crabs of the Pacific Northwest by Gregory C. Jensen and A Field Guide
to Seaweeds of the Pacific Northwest by Dr. Bridgette Clarkson.
Rockhounding: Beaches are the easiest but interesting geological
formations are also found inland throughout Vancouver
Island.
Gift: A Field Guide to the Identification of Pebbles by Eileen Van der
Flier Keller. Produced by Harbour Publishing, this is a perfect beginner
guide for the whole family! A magnifying glass also makes
a great addition.
Birding or whale watching: Enjoy local backyard birding or
take a trip to the park. How lucky are we that whale species like
Orcas and Greys are spotted from Vancouver Island shorelines or
the ferry?
Gift: Binoculars! In my experience children as young as 8 can
take good care of a decent pair of binos (with help). Don’t buy a
cheap toy set. They are always disappointing, quick to break and
end up in the landfill.
Owl prowl: With parental permission, blow bedtime and go for
a stroll at dusk. You can stick to the sidewalk along forest edges or
try it on the next family camping trip. Hint: Owls are quite vocal
mid-March to May. Do try it in the winter when it’s dark earlier!
Gift: LED Armband lights from Mountain Equipment Co-op.
These snap on the ankle or arm and take a watch-sized battery.
They offer great visibility and durability.
Snack and story: Cuddle among the trees for some quality time.
Did you know swinging helps kids regulate emotions and helps
them focus? They offer many developmental and therapeutic
benefits, especially for kids with sensory processing disorders. It’s
also fun!
Gift: Hammock’s are affordable, long lasting and easy to hang in
the yard or campsite.
Gift: Tree swing! There are so many shapes, styles and price
ranges. Survey the kids in the neighbourhood or notice what style
is being used the most. I’m partial to the flying saucer style.
Animal tracking: After a fresh snow or rain, invite a child on
a hike to search for animal sign like scrapes, rubs, tracks or scat
(poop).
Gift: Choose an animal tracking book or identification guide
local to your area. Did you know deer scat looks like chocolate
covered raisins compared to elk which are more Hershey kisses
shaped? (Binoculars and magnifying glass can come in handy on
these outings.)
Carving and whittling: Doesn’t everyone try this at some point
in their childhood? It’s a rite of passage.
Gift: Vegetable peeler or knife (Mora companion knife is kidsized).
Depending on their age and skill, start with a vegetable
peeler. It’s a great low risk way to teach safety skills before graduating
to a knife. I recommend supervision and safe storage of the
gift! (Because even a vegetable peeler can remove strips from your
favourite solid wood dining room chairs.) Find a carving class to
take together. Or add a book about wood carving for kids.
Note: Check with a parent before any purchase. Many of these
items are easily shipped if you live far away.
Lindsay Coulter is a writer, educator, facilitator, naturalist,
community catalyst, soul activist, mentor and
dedicated mother of two. She’s the Director of Communications,
Culture and Community at EPIC Learning
Centre, a forest and nature school in Victoria. Find her
@SaneAction on Instagram and Facebook.
8 GRAND Island Parent Magazine
grandmag.ca

Gone are the days of rocking chairs and
recliners. Today’s grandparents are more
likely to be rock climbing or going for a run
than they are to be rocking or reclining.
We’re an active and diverse group—an engaged,
evolving and powerful force. We’re
mentors, nurturers, keepers of secrets.
We’re caregivers, child care providers,
dessert-before-dinner defenders. We’re
historians, spiritual guides and the holders
of family stories.
GRAND celebrates who you are as a grandparent
and who you are as an individual.
You love spending time with your grandchildren
and you’re happy in your other
roles: at work, in the community and on
your own. GRAND acknowledges that you
are not “one or the other”—an “either/or”
version of yourself—you are many different
things to many different people. And to
yourself.
With an Island perspective that speaks
to an international readership, GRAND is
the source for on-the-go grandparents of
up-to-the-minute and thought-provoking
information and ideas—on everything from
having fun, staying fit and things to do to
travel, leisure, health and technology. Think
of GRAND as a trusted friend who happily
shares those “senior moments” (in the
best sense of the words!) and keeps you
informed and connected to the issues and
ideas that really matter. After reading an
issue of GRAND, you should feel inspired,
up-to-date and informed.
We’re here for you: from helping you
figure out where you fit in to tackling your
most perplexing questions, sharing your
greatest discoveries and celebrating your
deepest joys.
GRAND features articles on topics ranging
from the importance of storytelling,
cooking with your grandkids and community
superheroes, to photographing your
grandkids, gift-giving and grandparenting
from afar. There are ideas and inspiration
to help keep you in-the-know and connected,
there’s a guide to investing in your
grandchildren’s future and there’s tech
support that will help you face your fears
and embrace the cloud.
GRAND is as diverse and engaged as you
are. Together, we’re a powerful and positive
force—in our grandchildren’s lives and
in our communities.
grandmag.ca
Vol. V, Ed. III
GRAND
grandmag.ca
The Importance
of Building
Community
Gifts for
Nature-Loving
Grandkids
Jim Schneider Publisher
publisher@islandparent.ca
Sue Fast Editor
editor@islandparent.ca
Kristine Wickheim Account Manager
kristine@islandparent.ca
RaeLeigh Buchanan Account Manager
raeleigh@islandparent.ca
GRAND, published by Island Parent Group Enterprises Ltd., is a digital
publication that honours and supports grandparents by providing
information on resources and businesses for families and a forum
for the exchange of ideas and opinions. Views expressed are not
necessarily those of the publisher. No material herein may be
reproduced without the permission of the publisher.
518 Caselton Place, Victoria, BC V8Z 7Y5
The Magic of Small
250-388-6905 grandmag.ca
A proud member of
BC
Vol. V, Ed. III 9

10 GRAND grandmag.ca