BC Parent Back to School 2019

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Celebrating

Years of Service to BC Families

back to school 2019 bcparent.ca

2019 Fall Activity Guide The Myopia Epidemic Great Games that Get You Learning

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THE WORLD’S #1 PRESCHOOL ENTERTAINERS BRING THEIR NEWEST LIVE TOUR TO THE ORPHEUM THEATRE ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29TH FOR TWO SHOWS AT 3:30 AND 6:30 PM & ABBOTSFORD CENTRE ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30TH AT 6:00 PM The Party Time Tour! will reunite Canada with Emma, Lachy, Simon, and Anthony, as well as their friends Captain Feathersword, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus, Wags the Dog and a brand-new Wiggly friend, Shirley Shawn the Unicorn! Tickets for The Wiggle’s Party Time Tour! are on sale now. All tickets are $40 and are available via www.thewiggles.com, www.ticketmaster.com, and by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Children under 12 months are free.

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Celebrating

Letter from the Editor

Inside

I Carlie Parkinson

t’s hard to believe summer is almost over. The time flies by so fast with summer camps, summer activities, camping trips and much more to fill the day. It’s now time to start thinking about school again. It’s time to go through the wardrobe and see what kids haven’t outgrown, go through the school supplies to see what they need, and book the extracurricular activities. We can’t help you with the clothes or supplies, but we definitely can help with the activities. Be sure to look through the guide to see what your child is interested in. Have a read about how After School Activities Offer Worthwhile Benefits. If the idea of going back-to-school gives your child some stress, read our Ten Tips for Helping You and Your Child with BackTo-School Anxiety. Once you’ve got back-to-school sorted, be sure to read about The Myopia Epidemic. Unfortunately, the prevalence of screen-time is affecting our children’s vision. Near-sightedness (myopia) is now a huge concern and something to be aware of and prevented as much as possible. Finally, we have some tips to Rewild the Child and products to help you enjoy the last few days of summer. Time flies, get outside and have some fun, or hunker in with a board game and some quality family time! Thanks for reading,

Years of Service to BC Families

5 Enter to win tickets to The Wiggles 5 Home for Dinner 7 The Myopia Epidemic 11 Why Great Games Make Your Kids Forget they’re Actually Learning 14 Ten Tips for Helping You and Your Child with BackTo-School Anxiety 16 After School Activities Offer Worthwhile Benefits 18 Fall Activity Guide 25 Who do you want to be? 26 Fall Events 27 Rewild the child! 30 Products for the Last Days of Summer

BC Parent Newsmagazine

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Bact to School 2019 Volume 28, Number 3

Mailing Address: P.O.Box 30020, North Vancouver, BC V7H 2Y8 email: info@bcparent.ca www.bcparent.ca Canadian Publications Mail Registration No.251836

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Publisher/Executive Editor: Carlie Parkinson Editor: Geoffrey Legh Advertising Design & Layout: Julie Cochrane Editorial Design & Layout: www.retrometrodesign.ca Advertising Sales: info@bcparent.ca

Contributors: Nicola Enright-Morin, Veronica Lin, Sharon Selby, Gayla Grace, Dr. Rumeet Billan BC Parent is published 4 times per year. The Publisher reserves the right to omit advertising which is judged to be in poor taste or which does not conform to the concept of this publication.

WIN 4 TICKETS to The Wiggles Party Time Tour ($160 value)

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oin the world’s #1 preschool entertainers at the Orpheum Theatre on October 29th 3 pm or 6:30 pm. The Party Time Tour! will reunite Canada with Emma, Lachy, Simon and Anthony, as well as their friends Captain Feathersword, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus, Wags the Dog and a brandnew Wiggly friend, Shirley Shawn the Unicorn! Enter at bcparent.ca Contest closes September 30th WWW THEWIGGLES COM WWW TICKETMASTER COM

Take part in the

Home For Dinner Fundraising Initiative Supporting Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon

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ome for Dinner launched in the summer of 2018 with the goal of providing community members an accessible and impactful way to give back, all while enjoying together time with their nearest and dearest. In it’s first year, community members across BC and the Yukon rose to the occasion by hosting a number of unique dining events and raised over $107,000.

This year, Home for Dinner returns in full force with a new goal of surpassing last year’s impressive total. Residents throughout BC and the Yukon are encouraged to participate with options to eat in—preparing a meal at home for family and friends, and encouraging guests to donate in lieu of wine or gifts; or eat out—hosting a restaurant meal with guests repaying the host’s generosity by donating their share to Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon. Participation is simple:

1. Sign up to host an event by creating a personalized fundraising page at rmhbc.ca/host-an-event 2. Take a look at the program website to find resources that will help make your event a success 3. Plan your feast: invite your friends and family to participate as guests or co-hosts 4. Do your thing: sit back and enjoy together time with your loved ones and collect donations 5. Make a difference: the funds raised will ensure families receive the support they need during a difficult time in their lives. For more information, and to learn how Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon can support your Home for Dinner event, contact Sunshine Purificacion at homefordinner@rmhbc.ca or 604/736-2957 (ext. 2102).

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CELEBRATING OVER 50 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

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DON’T MISS: Knights Jousting, Dinosaur Stomp, Super Action Academy, Blue’s Dance Party, Pig Races, Pony Rides, SuperDogs, Photo Ops, Family Flicks, Cooking Demonstrations, Reveen the Hypnotist, Summer Night Concerts, and all the treats you can eat!

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The Myopia Epidemic

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hances are that when you were a kid, some well-meaning adult probably convinced you that eating carrots would help you to see in the dark. While you might not hear that fictitious fact too often anymore (cos’ let’s face it, carrots won’t give you night goggles any more than eating blueberries will turn you blue) it turns out that our modern lifestyle is affecting our vision—and not for the better. That’s because myopia rates are on the rise—particularly in children. Myopia, if you’ve never heard of it before, is the medical term for what is more commonly referred to as ‘nearsightedness’. Basically, it is a common eye condition that makes distance vision blurry. What that means is people with myopia can typically see well enough to read a book or computer screen but struggle to see objects farther away. While myopia affects both kids and adults, in the past, the childhood rates weren’t too much of a cause for concern. But with our modern lifestyle—more and more of us spending less time outdoors and more time inside—myopia is on the rise, and optometrists and eye specialists want to let families

know the risks. Because the good news is that there are precautions you can take to protect your kid’s eyes from unnecessary damage. While the cause of myopia can be attributed to genetics—which basically means if mom or dad has it, there is a greater chance that a kid will too—our lifestyle choices play a role in the increase in cases, especially in kids.

Children who spent even an extra hour outside per week, were about 14 times less likely to be myopic than children who didn’t.

Dr. Debbie Jones is a clinical professor of optometry at the University of Waterloo and a scientist at the Centre for Ocular Research & Education. Her team found that children who spend less time outside are much more likely to have myopia or nearsightedness, which often gets worse with age. “Children spending more time inside on tablets and cell

By Nicola Enright-Morin

phones and other near activities and less time outside is certainly one of the components of why rates of myopia in kids are on the rise.� In the study conducted by Dr. Jones and her team of experts, they found that myopia is a global epidemic with prevalence rates in Canadian children increasing at an alarming rate. Of the 166 children in the study, nearly 20% were nearsighted. What was more worrying was how the numbers increased with age: 6% of the children ages six to eight were nearsighted, compared to 28.9% of children ages 11 to 13—a five-fold increase. The good news is that in many cases, myopia is preventable. Dr. Jones said that her team found that children who spent even an extra hour outside per week, were about 14 times less likely to be myopic than children who didn’t. “We know that outside time has a protective effect.� So if your child is not myopic then more time spent outside is recommended—at least ninety minutes a day. And if your child is myopic, then talk to your eye care practitioner about ways to slow down the progression.� So how do you know if your child has myopia? BCPARENT CA s BACK TO SCHOOL 7

It’s important to get kids eyes tested because myopia in young children will get worse as they get older, because their eyes are continuing to grow.

Quick Facts s -YOPIA IS NEAR SIGHTEDNESS WHICH MEANS PEOPLE HAVE TROUBLE SEEING THINGS FAR AWAY s -YOPIA CAN ONLY BE DIAGNOSED BY A TRAINED EYE SPECIALIST BUT SYMP TOMS COULD INCLUDE BLURRY VISION SITTING TOO CLOSE TO A 46 OR HOLDING A DEVICE TOO CLOSE s 0EOPLE WITH MYOPIA MAY ALSO COM PLAIN OF HEADACHES s -YOPIA CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO GENETICS BUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND LIFESTYLE PLAY A BIG FACTOR s 3PECIALISTS RECOMMEND THAT KIDS SPEND TIME OUTDOORS IN DAYLIGHT AND LESS TIME INDOOR ON SCREENS s $ID YOU KNOW THAT ALMOST ONE THIRD OF ALL CASES OF -YOPIA GO UNDI AGNOSED OR UNTREATED AND IF NOT PROPERLY TREATED BY AN EYE CARE PROFESSIONAL CAN LEAD TO LONG TERM VISION COMPLICATIONS SUCH AS RETINAL DEGENERATION AND DETACHMENT

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Just like with anything medical, consult a specialist. Dr. Jones said that often parents overlook going to the optometrists for a check-up because they assume their kid’s eyes are fine. “I often have parents who say to me, ‘my kid’s eyes are fine’ and my response is ‘well you know that one eye is working.’ Because without a thorough and regular eye examination from an optometrist, you don’t really know how their eyes are working. And children are not very good at letting you know if they can’t see clearly, they may not have a comparison, so kids might not actually know that they have an eye problem. There really is no substitute for a regular eye examination.� Dr. Jones said that parents need to view a trip to the optometrist in just the same way as a trip to the dentists. “You wouldn’t look in your child’s mouth and expect to see a problem with their teeth—it should be the same for vision. You can’t look at your child’s eyes and decide for yourself if they have a problem, you should take them to a professional.�

You might be surprised to learn that the recommendation for the first eye exam is at six months of age; which is really to check that a baby’s eyes are developing normally. Eye specialists then recommend a second exam around the age of about three years old, then annually thereafter. Dr. Jones said, “We recommend an eye exam once a year from school age onwards, just to make sure that you find out if things are changing.� While coverage for optometry exams varies from province to province, here in BC if you are under the age of 19, your MSP will fund or subsidize the cost of one routine eye exam a year. Additionally, MSP may cover all routine eye exams for children under the age of 19 in families who receive income or disability assistance. It’s important to get kids eyes tested because myopia in young children will get worse as they get older, because their eyes are continuing to grow. And the scary thing is if nearsightedness is left untreated, it can increase the risk of blindness. The more nearsighted

your child is, the greater these risks become and these risks increase exponentially as myopia progresses. The majority of myopia progression typically occurs between the ages of 6–17, as this is a key growth time for children and their eyes. Although Dr. Jones says there’s no substitute for a routine eye exam, she also said there are signs that kids may be suffering from nearsightedness. She said parents may notice their children squinting at things, they may move closer to things (like the TV) to get a better view, they may hold things closer, they may struggle at school. Sometimes children can even fall behind with reading or schoolwork. A perfect example of myopia affecting a kid’s life is when they have difficulty reading a teacher’s writing on the whiteboard. Sometimes people with undiagnosed myopia have headaches and eyestrain from struggling to clearly see things in the distance. So, there are lots of things that you can look out for. There are plenty of resources available online, including a new website that has just been launched called fightmyopia.ca with some good information about myopia and it can also help people find a good eye care practitioner if they don’t have one already. Finally, Dr. Jones said that while the news

Local Optometrists Lynn Valley Optometry .ORTH 6AN LYNNVALLEYOPTOMETRY COM $R 3HAJANI SPECIALIZES IN WORKING WITH CHILDREN WITH VISUAL DYSFUNCTIONS AND LEARNING RELATED VISION PROBLEMS 7ITH OUR 6ISION 4HERAPISTS HE HAS HELPED CHILDREN REACH THEIR POTENTIAL FOR OVER YEARS Maple Ridge Optometry -APLE 2IDGE MAPLERIDGEEYECARE CA /UR OPTOMETRISTS ARE COMMITTED TO YOUR CHILD S EYE HEALTH AND SUCCESS 7E CAN ENSURE YOUR CHILD HAS ONE OF

is alarming, we should remember that with environmental cases of myopia we are in a position to change the rising statistics. “We don’t know for sure how much, but we do know that our modern lifestyle is having quite a significant impact on people’s eyesight. It’s a contributing factor, and we are in a position to try and reverse the trend by limiting that amount of screen time, indoor

THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOLS THEY NEED FOR LEARNING HEALTHY CLEAR VISION Optomeyes 7EST 6ANCOUVER 3QUAMISH OPTOMEYES CA 3IGNIlCANT MYOPIA NEARSIGHTEDNESS IS MORE THAN A COSMETIC ISSUE (IGHLY MYOPIC PEOPLE HAVE A MUCH HIGHER INCIDENCE OF SEVERAL OCULAR DISEASES "Y FAR THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF STOPPING AND REVERSING MYOPIA IS ORTHOKERATOLOGY 4HE DOCTORS IN OUR CLINIC HAVE A COMBINED YEARS EXPERIENCE IN /RTHO +

time and getting children outside more and having regular eye examinations and looking for ways to slow down that progression if we find our child is myopic.� Ultimately it boils down to that message we hear time and time again: get kids off screens and outdoors. And if you want to feed them carrot sticks as well, then go for it.

We don’t know for sure how much, but we do know that our modern lifestyle is having quite a significant impact on people’s eyesight.

BCPARENT CA s BACK TO SCHOOL 9

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10 BCPARENT CA s BACK TO SCHOOL

Why great games make your kids forget they’re actually learning

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ost of us underestimate the learning potential of games. Games don’t just promote curiosity and active problem-solving, they encourage deeper learning and high engagement. They create safe places for kids to take risks and learn to manage the emotions that come with failure. Just think, kids replay games not just for fun, but for the challenge. It’s this unique learning experience that draws them in. Successful learning environments distinguish great games

Gameful learning—learning through games— is so powerful that education researchers like professor Barry Fishman, at the University of Michigan’s School of Education, are applying this approach to public education. Through his research, he and his colleagues discovered that all great games create successful learning environments and that many educational games do this poorly. They’ve identified ten

crucial characteristics that all games must have to successfully teach. 10 characteristics of great games that really help kids learn

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1. Clear Learning Goals: They promote spe-

2.

3.

4.

cific skill development such as conceptual knowledge and soft skills like player negotiation and collaboration. Identity Play: They ask kids to role-play— think like a scientist and not just learn scientific facts. Embedded Assessment: They increase in difficulty as kids master a skill and lower the difficulty when kids are struggling. Some games like Pandemic Legacy will supply players with bonus cards they can use if they previously failed a mission. The same cards are taken away when players successfully complete missions and move on to the next level. Intrinsic & Extrinsic Motivation: They pro-

6.

7.

8. 9.

By Veronica Lin

vide external rewards to get kids started but also help them find their own internal reasons for continuing to play overtime. Support Autonomy: They support freedom of choice where players make decisions that matter and lead to different ends. Encourage Belonging: They create a sense of community. Think cooperative games like Forbidden Island where kids have to work as a team to win. Support Competence: They support and help kids master unique skill sets. Games like Dominion promote strategic thinking skills by requiring kids to think of new strategies every time they play. Productive Failure: They let kids safely fail by setting a low price for failure. Encourage Exploration: They encourage risk-taking and reward kids for poking around. Many games offer Easter eggs or bonuses for exploring new areas of a game. Some games even require it—Civilization

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requires kids to venture off into new territory to find resources that help them gain an advantage. 10. Practice & Reinforcement: They make kids feel like their practice is meaningful, where goals are within reach and learning outcomes are reinforced. Powerful learning takes place in the post-game activities

The activities that follow a game are great opportunities to reinforce learning outcomes. Games layout the learning goals and the postgame activities reinforce them. These activities can have tremendous value when they don’t just focus on gameplay but also focus on helping kids develop different skills. Talking with kids about what they’ve learned helps them identify what they did well and where they can improve. Analyzing in-game strategies helps kids think critically about their choices. Discussions about game setbacks help kids build resilience—you can do this by asking kids about the problems they encountered, how that made them feel and what they did to overcome it. In subject-specific games that teach fact knowledge, you can help kids review new things they’ve learned by creating posters and flashcards. We can remember to reinforce learning outcomes through thoughtful activities like these that help our kids get the most out of gameplay. Video Games or Board Games: Which is best for learning?

Video games and board games can both be great for learning. Any well-designed game

is full of teaching opportunities so long as it creates a successful learning environment. Video games, such as Minecraft, are featurerich, engaging platforms for teaching subjectspecific knowledge like coding. Studies have shown that even controversial first-personshooter games teach spatial reasoning and visual acuity especially well; these players often test better than the non-gamer groups. Board games, on the other hand, offer kids the unique advantage of real-life fun. Aside from specific goals like strategic thinking or conceptual knowledge, they’re also an excellent way of getting kids off screens. Many adults love board games because they promote

this sense of community that is so essential to happiness and well-being. Don’t miss out on using games for teaching

By taking a little time and carefully selecting the games your child plays, you can transform the game experience into an amazing learning opportunity. Enjoying the games with them will also provide a fun, social activity for the whole family. 6ERONICA ,IN is the founder of Playcademy, an after-school board game program for kids 8 to 13-years-olds that helps them develop skills like critical thinking, writing, and discussion—while having an awesome time with friends! www.Playcademy.ca

6 Screen-Free Games that Teach Kids at Every Age 'AMES PROMOTE DISCOVERY HELP KIDS MASTER SKILLS AND ACQUIRE NEW KNOWLEDGE 6ETTED BY KIDS AND PARENTS HERE ARE SOME OF THE BEST GAMES FOR TEACHING DIFFERENT SKILLS AND CONCEPTS Ages 3–5 s Animal Upon Animal n -AKE A PYRAMID OUT OF ANIMALS 7HO WILL POSITION THE PENGUIN ON TOP OF THE CROCODILE THE SHEEP ON TOP OF THE PENGUIN THE SER PENT ON THE SHEEP 7HAT 4HEY ,EARN $EXTERITY 3IMPLE 3TRATEGY s Whoowasit? n 0LAYERS WORK COOPERATIVE LY TO UNCOVER CLUES AND DEFEAT THE EVIL WIZARD 7HAT 4HEY ,EARN $EDUCTIVE 2EASONING Ages 6–9 s Forbidden Island n 0LAYERS WORK AS A TEAM TO CAPTURE FOUR SACRED TREASURES

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FROM THE RUINS OF THIS PERILOUS PARADISE 7HAT 4HEY ,EARN #OLLABORATION 3OFT 3KILLS s Dixit n /NE PLAYER IS THE STORYTELLER FOR THE TURN AND MAKES UP A SENTENCE FROM ONE OF HER CARDS 4HE OTHERS CHOOSE A CARD FROM THEIR HAND THAT MATCHES THE STORY 4HE GROUP THEN GUESSES WHICH CARD WAS THE STORYTELLER S CARD 7HAT 4HEY ,EARN !BSTRACT 4HINKING 3TORYTELLING AND 0RESENTATION 3KILLS Ages 10–13 s Ticket to Ride n ! CROSS COUNTRY TRAIN ADVENTURE GAME 0LAYERS COLLECT TRAIN

CARDS THAT LET THEM CLAIM RAILWAY ROUTES CONNECTING CITIES THROUGHOUT .ORTH !MERICA 4HE LONGER THE ROUTES THE MORE POINTS THEY EARN 7HAT 4HEY ,EARN 3PATIAL 2EASONING 'EOGRAPHY s Dominion n ! CLASSIC DECK BUILDING CARD GAME WHERE EACH PLAYER USES A SEPARATE DECK OF CARDS AND DRAW THEIR HANDS FROM THEIR OWN DECKS 0LAYERS USE THE CARDS IN THEIR HANDS TO EITHER PERFORM ACTIONS OR BUY SELECT CARDS FROM A COM MON POOL OF CARD STACKS 4HE PLAYER WITH THE MOST VICTORY POINTS AT THE END WINS 7HAT 4HEY ,EARN 3TRATEGIC 4HINKING

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10

Tips for helping you and your child with back-to-school anxiety

By 3HARON 3ELBY

S

eptember is known as a very stressful month for parents and kids, so let’s make a plan to reduce the stressors and lower the anxiety in your home. First, it’s important to remember that anxiety is not something we choose. The truth is that a part of our brain, called the amygdala, acts like an alarm and is there to protect us. When we feel stressed, the amygdala believes that we are in danger and activates the fight (yelling, hitting, kicking, arguing), flight (running away), or freeze (refuses to move or get out of the car) response. 1 We need to teach our children before school starts about their worry voice. We need to help them externalize it, so they see it as something they can have power over. We can do this by naming it. For younger children, I like to call it a Worry Imp (imps are imaginative little creatures that like to play mischievous tricks). Your child may wish to call it a Worry Bug, a Worry Gremlin etc. or for older kids, a Worry Voice, or just calling it “Anxiety� externalizes it. Tip #1: Have your child give the worry voice a name.

They could also draw a picture of

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this worry voice/creature and draw it inside a trap, such as a cage, to show that they are going to be the boss of this worry voice! 2 Next, we need to let our children know that the amygdala or “alarm� often gets confused between true emergencies and false alarms. Whenever the amygdala senses that we are nervous or stressed, it thinks we are in danger and activates our fight, flight or freeze response mistakenly. Tip #2: Is it a true alarm or a false alarm?

When your child is worried, try to use humor about it being the Worry Imp (or insert name of their worry voice) and ask if it’s really a true alarm or is it a false alarm?! For older kids, ask them if it could be their anxiety voice at work? 3 One way of disproving the worry voice is to use facts and evidence. If your child was a lawyer, what evidence would they use to prove to the worry voice that going back to school is not a dangerous activity? Examples: How have they managed in the past? What’s the worst that could happen? Tip #3: Use facts and evidence. If your children can read, then write out a list of facts and evidence as to why they can handle it. For

younger children, draw pictures and make it into a little book. Use examples from previous times when your child proved the Worry Voice wrong. 4 Our thoughts create our feelings and our feelings create our actions. Thoughts are just thoughts, they are not facts. Convert “What if I’m not in the same class as my best friends?�, which will create worried feelings, to “Even if I’m not in the same class as my best friends, I can still see them at recess and I can make new friends.� Tip #4: Encourage your child to change unhelpful thoughts to helpful thoughts.

5 Anxiety is about the future. It’s about a perceived threat that has not yet happened and may not happen, for example: “What if I don’t understand any of the school work?� “What if everyone stares at me and makes fun of me?� Remind your child, that their Worry Voice doesn’t have the power to predict the future and neither do they! We can choose to think about all the worst-case scenarios which will just make us feel bad or we can trust that things are going to work out okay and stay in the present.

Tip #5 Help your child to stay in the present with their thoughts. On the first day of school,

have them play a game with you where they name five things they can see, four things they can touch, three things they can hear, two things they can smell and one thing they can taste. 6 When we are stressed, we take shallow, quick breaths which further alerts the amygdala alarm. To let the amygdala know that this is a “false alarm�, to reset, we need to take long, slow deep breaths. We can also do progressive muscle relaxation which involves inhaling and tightening all our muscles for a few seconds and then exhaling and physically shaking out our body. Repeat this a few times to achieve a more relaxed state. Tip #6 Explain to your child why taking long, deep breaths is helpful and

have them practice in the weeks leading up to school. Listening to an app with a relaxing, breathing meditation, as part of the bedtime routine, can be very beneficial. 7 When things are unknown, they feel scary. Visiting the school, playing in the

school playground, researching the school website, meeting the principal, office assistant, teacher etc. can all help to increase comfortability. Tip #7 Help your child to become as familiar with the school as possible.

8 Sensitive kids are quick to sense the energy around them. Be mindful of your own energy—be as calm as possible. Give the message to your children that you believe in their capabilities! Tip #8 Create a sense of calm in yourself and

Be organized for the first day of school and plan to be early. It’s better to be early and playing on the swings than rushing, late and unprepared. your environment.

9 For younger children experiencing separation anxiety, read some books ahead of time to remind them that we are always connected to the people we love, even when we’re not in the same space. (Recommended books: The Invisible String by Patrice Karst and The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn). They can also take something to keep in their backpack that reminds them of home. You can also write a

note for their lunch box. For non-readers, teach them that a drawing of an eye, a heart, and the letter “U� means “I love you�. For teens, you can send a text or fun image to let them know that you’re thinking of them. Be sure they know who will be picking them up and what fun activity you’re going to do together, once school is finished for the day. Tip #9 Think of ways to show connection even when you’re apart.

10 Distraction can be helpful when one is highly distressed. The night before school, you could watch a family movie, or play in a park, but be sure to get your child to bed early. They may need help visualizing a favourite family vacation or their “happy place� to help them fall asleep. Tip #10 Use visualizations of a happy place or a happy experience to calm your child.

3HARON 3ELBY MA, is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, with over 20 years’ experience counseling children and families. She is the author of the children’s book, Surfing the Worry Imp’s Wave, where you can find more information about the strategies recommended in this article. To receive her free ebook: 8 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Your Child is Anxious, go to www.SharonSelby.com/free

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After School Activities Offer Worthwhile Benefits By Gayla Grace

T

he comment from a young mom, Amy, about middle school football tryouts prompted a lengthy conversation with her neighbor. “No, my son isn’t trying out. He prefers to watch TV, play video games, or sleep every day after school.� Amy’s neighbor, the grandmotherly type, didn’t agree. She insisted the student should engage in sports tryouts. Amy wasn’t persuaded. She failed to recognize the benefits of after school activities. Studies indicate that kids involved in after school programs have higher achievement and attendance rates, are less prone to depression and burnout, and experience dropout less often. Activities keep children safe and protect them from risky and negative behavior. They’re the perfect solution to supervised fun and time away from technology while parents are at work. After school activities require parental 16 BCPARENT CA s BACK TO SCHOOL

coordination and resources to be successful. However, the benefits outweigh the costs. Following are a few examples of what kids can gain.

cheerleading, there’s an after school program to accommodate. Kids gain confidence as they learn new skills and interact with others from varying backgrounds, which carries over into academia. Exercise

Studies indicate that kids involved in after school programs are less prone to depression and burnout, and experience dropout less often.

Opportunity to explore new interests

After school programs provide options kids don’t have inside a school building. Whether a child is interested in chess, bowling, piano, or

Lack of exercise is a contributing factor to childhood obesity that continues to climb at alarming rates. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children in the past 30 years. We can help stop this cycle through after school programs. When our kids develop a routine that includes exercise, it benefits them into adulthood. After school programs offer a fun and entertaining environment for all kinds of exercise and encourages healthy habits in the process.

Improved social skills

Children left alone after school often spend too much time on technology and have fewer face-to-face relationships. Interaction with caring adults and older teens who volunteer at after school camps offers time to mingle with others, improving social skills in the process. Leisurely time in a casual environment opens the door for adults to influence good choices and positive behavior in a nonthreatening environment. Kids watch adults modeling healthy relational skills and can learn from that. Better Achievement with Challenging Subjects

When a child struggles in math, a foreign language, or other difficult subject matter, after school tutoring provides the answer for success. Our daughter’s grades in an upper level math class plummeted in high school. We began tutoring with an instructor twice a week. The after school sessions provided encouragement and better understanding of the subject and gave our daughter confidence for the weekly tests that had intimidated her. We located her tutor through recommen-

dation of another student, but tutors can also be found through the school, the local newspaper, or even social media. Time management techniques

Learning to prioritize activities and manage time accordingly is a great skill for every child to obtain. When kids participate in after

Interaction with caring adults and older teens who volunteer at after school camps offers time to mingle with others, improving social skills in the process.

school programs, they’re forced to learn how to manage their activities and allow adequate time for homework. Balancing extracurricular demands with everyday school requirements teaches discipline and self-restraint and carries long-term benefits.

Camaraderie and Leadership Skills

After school programs help kids feel they belong, which improves self-confidence and self-esteem. When we re-located to a new area, our elementary-aged son found friends with similar sports interests that helped him adjust to a new town and enjoy camaraderie with others. As kids move through junior high and high school, they gain leadership skills through after school groups such as student council, the school yearbook staff, future business leaders, or speech and debate tournaments to name a few. If given the opportunity to help choose after school programs, kids are more vested in the activities. Experiment with a variety of options to find a good fit and continue to seek out new opportunities as your child matures. The coordination of after school programs requires intentional effort, but the benefits provide far-reaching advantages. 'AYLA 'RACE writes, speaks, and coaches on parenting and stepfamily issues. As a mom to five, she loves to find after school activities her children enjoy.

BCPARENT CA s BACK TO SCHOOL 17

fall activity guide

Fall Activity Guide

dance Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy Vancouaver, Burnaby, 604/671-9182 mozaicoflamenco.com Anna Wyman School of Dance Arts West Vancouver, 604/926-6535 annawyman.com Ages 2+ The Arts Connection – Dance School Richmond, 604/241-0141 theartsconnection.org Ages infant to 16 years

Arts Umbrella Vancouver, Surrey 604/681-5268, 604/535-1127 artsumbrella.com Ages 2–22 Arts Umbrella Dance teaches selfexpression through ballet fundamentals. From our general programming to professional training programs, to summer intensives, our rigorous and supportive approach nurtures dancers 2–22 to achieve their full potential. At the professional level, our graduates go on to perform with some of the world’s most prestigious companies.

AUUC School of Dance Vancouver, 604/254-3436 auucvancouver.ca Ages 3 to adult

Just for Kicks School of Dance Surrey, 604/596-4161 justforkicksschoolofdance.com Ages 3+

Place des Arts Coquitlam, 604/664-1636 placedesarts.ca Ages 3+

Boogaloo Academy Vancouver, 604/805-0558 boogalooacademy.com Ages 5 months+

North Shore Academy of Dance North Vancouver, 604/987-3814 nsad.ca Ages 3–18

Port Moody School of Dance Port Moody, 604/936-0966 portmoodydance.com Ages 3+

Dance Co Vancouver, Arbutus & East Van 604/736-3394 danceco.com Ages 3+

North Shore Celtic Ensemble North Vancouver, 604/987-4063 nsce.ca Ages 8–18

School of Music and Dance Langley, Surrey and White Rock musicanddance.org Ages 2+

E.J.S. School of Fine Arts – Dance Surrey, 604/596-4883 ejsfinearts.com Ages 5+

Northwest Academy of Performing Arts New Westminister, 604/521-3255 NAPAdance.com Ages 2+

The Landing Dance Centre South Vancouver, 604/325-8653 TheLandingDance.com Ages 8 to adult

Gabriela’s Movement Studio Richmond, 604/272-0607 movementstudio.ca Ages 1–9

Pacific Dance Arts Vancouver, 604/738-8575 pacificdancearts.ca Ages 3+

Goh Ballet Academy Vancouver, 604/872-4014 gohballet.com Ages 4–17

Perform Art Studios North Vancouver, 604/988-4420 performartstudios.com Ages 3–18

hz Ballet Classique Burnaby, 604/299-9698 balletclassique.com Ages 18 months+

Pink Petal Ballet North Vancouver pinkpetal.ca Ages 2+

18 BCPARENT CA s BACK TO SCHOOL

Tri-City Dance Centre Coquitlam, 604/523-6868 tricitydance.com Ages 3+ Vancouver Phoenix International Academy of Dance Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey 778/885-3456, 604/600-8066 vpdance.ca Ages 4+ Vancouver Tap Dance Society East Vancouver, 604/253-0293 vantapdance.com, Ages 3+

fall activity guide

1 in 5 children is at risk of going to school hungry.

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fast

CREATIVITY STARTS HERE

The early years are a key point in a child’s development: a time to investigate problem-solving, nurture curiosity, and develop self-confidence. This makes an adventure in the arts—whether it’s a first Dance, Visual Arts, or Theatre class—all the more important. Arts Umbrella programs are designed to encourage discovery in a fun, supportive, and inspiring environment.

Registration for Fall 2019 open now! Sign up today at artsumbrella.com/programs BCPARENT CA s BACK TO SCHOOL 19

fall activity guide

Vancouver Academy of Dance Vancouver and Richmond 604/231-8293 vancouverdance.com Ages 3+

Carillon Music Burnaby, Surrey 604/591-1161 carillonmusicacademy.com Ages 2.5+

Westside Dance Centre Ltd Vancouver, 604/736-1000 westsidedance.ca Ages 3+

Colourstrings Music & Movement Group Classes Vancouver, 778/846-0127 colourstringsvan.com Ages 3 months to 6 years

Surrey, Vancouver, White Rock, and 3 locations on Vancouver Island. long-mcquade.com/lessons All Ages Private and group music instruction at affordable rates, custom-tailored to the needs of individual students in a wide variety of instruments, including acoustic & electric guitar, piano, drums, vocals, orchestral strings, brass, and woodwinds.

Delta Community Music School Delta, 604/946-1280 dcms.ca Ages 5+

Music for Young Children 800/828-4334 myc.com Ages 3 to 9 years

E.J.S. School of Fine Arts – Music Surrey, 604/596-4883 ejsfinearts.com Ages 4+

MusicQube Education Ltd. Richmond, 604/370-5678 Ages 2+

Jean Lyons School of Music Vancouver, 604/734-4019 jeanlyonsmusic.com All Ages

Music Teachers on the Go Richmond, North Vancouver, Vancouver 778/882-7603 musicteachersonthego.com All Ages

music Arbutus Music Academy Vancouver, 604/736-8767 arbutusmusicacademy.com Ages 3+ The Arts Connection – Music School Richmond, 604/241-0141 theartsconnection.org Ages 4+

The ACT Arts Centre Maple Ridge theactmapleridge.org/ arts-programs-music Available classes: Bouncers (1–18 months), Wigglers (16–42 months), Explorers (3–5 years), Guitar Basics (8–14 years), Guitar Basics (15 years+)

Jumpstart Music & Movement Abbotsford, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam jumpstartmusicandmovement.com Newborn to 5 years

Place des Arts Coquitlam, 604/664-1636 placedesarts.ca Ages 2+ Richmond Community Music School 604/272-5227 richmondmusicschool.ca Ages 4+ School of Music and Dance Langley, Surrey and White Rock musicanddance.org Ages 3+ Staccato Music Studios Burnaby, 604/421-3753 staccatostudios.com Ages 4+

Tom Lee Music Academy

North Shore Celtic Ensemble North Vancouver, 604/987-4063 nsce.ca Ages 8–18

Lower Mainland, 604/688-8929 tomleemusic.ca/academy At Tom Lee Music Academy, you can enjoy excellent music education in a fun community atmosphere. Students of all ages come together for a positive music making experience at our 4 key and satellite locations in Lower Mainland, plus 1 on Vancouver Island. To register, please call 604-688-8929.

BC Conservatory of Music Burnaby, 604/299-2984 bccmusic.ca Ages 4+

Kindermusik with Miss Audrey 778/838-9595 kindermusik.com Newborn to Age 5

North Shore Music Academy North Vancouver, 604/925-3403 nsma.ca Ages 3+

Vancouver Academy of Music Vancouver, 604/734-2301 vam.bc.ca Ages 3.5–18

BC Registered Music Teachers Assoc. 604/733-5531 bcrmta.bc.ca All Ages

Langley Community Music School 604/534-2848 langleymusic.com Ages 3 months+

Vancouver Central School of Music Vancouver, 604/565-8999 vcsom.com Ages 5+

Campos Music Vancouver, 604/325-0480 camposmusic.ca Ages 4+

Long & McQuade Music

North Shore Music Together Multiple locations in North Vancouver 778/899-5004 northshoremusictogether.com Ages 0–5 years

Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Kamloops, Langley, North Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, Prince George, Richmond,

20 BCPARENT CA s BACK TO SCHOOL

Oakridge Music Studio Vancouver, 604/321-1551 omusicstudios.com

Vancouver Children’s Choir 604/682-6363 vancouverchildrenschoir.ca Girls 8–16, Boys 8–12

fall activity guide VSO School of Music 604/915-9300 vsoschoolofmusic.ca Ages 0+ Western Conservatory of Music Langley, 604/530-0317 westernconservatoryofmusic.ca Ages 3+ Westside Music Together Vancouver, 778/829-6651 westsidemusictogether.ca Ages 0+

performing & visual arts The ACT Arts Centre Maple Ridge theactmapleridge.org/ arts-programs-theatre Available classes: Parent & Tot Storybook Theatre (2–4 years), Act Out (4–6 years), Acting 101 (9–14 years), Musical Theatre (7–13 years), Play Building (10–15 years), Theatre Works (12–17 years).

Arts Umbrella – Visual, Media, and Applied Arts Vancouver, Surrey 604/681-5268, 604/535-1127 artsumbrella.com Ages 2–22 In our Visual, Media, and Applied Arts classes, young artists learn to develop ideas and reflect the world around them. Their art takes many forms— sculptures, animations, paintings, models, movies, photos, designs, and more. From general programming, to advanced classes, scholarships, portfoliobuilding, and exhibition opportunities, there are endless ways to express your creativity. BC Boy’s Choir North Vancouver 888/909-8282 bcboyschoir.org Ages 7–24 Carousel Theatre for Young People Vancouver 604/669-3410 carouseltheatre.ca Ages 3–18

The Arts Connection Richmond 604/241-0141 theartsconnection.org Ages 4+

CircusWest East Vancouver 604/252-3679 circuswest.com Ages 8–16

Arts Umbrella – Theatre and Music

E.J.S. School of Fine Arts – Musical Theatre Surrey 604/596-4883 ejsfinearts.com Ages 7+

Vancouver, Surrey 604/681-5268, 604/535-1127 artsumbrella.com Ages 2–22 Costumes, improv, script work, character studies, theatrical performances, and local tours! Arts Umbrella’s Theatre & Music programs nurture young performers’ creativity. Actors in our general program, intensives, troupes, and camps experience a wide range of performance styles, from Shakespeare to film acting. Be curious, be bold, be yourself.

604/257-5111 jccgv.com Ages 6+ Lights Up Musical Theatre Schools Locations throughout the Lower Mainland 1-888/502-5253 lightsuptheatre.ca Ages 3–18 Performing Arts Classes Surrey Civic Theatres Box Office: 604/501-5566 (press 1) surrey.ca/theatre Ages 3–16

JCC Performing Arts School Vancouver

Brain Science Groups – Anxiety Management Tools ABLE Clinic, West Vancouver 604/922-3450 sharonselby.com/groups Ages 7–9 years, and 10–12 years BrainSTEM Learning North Vancouver, 604/379-2767 brainstemlearning.ca Ages 4–14

Bricks 4 Kidz

Place des Arts – Visual Arts & Theatre Coquitlam, 604/664-1636 placedesarts.ca Ages 3+ Rainbow Art School Ltd. Vancouver Westside, 778/317-8000 rainbowartschool.wixsite.com/ vancouver Ages 4–15 Surrey Art Gallery 604/501-5566 surrey.ca/artgallery Ages 3+

Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, 778/872-STEM (7836) bricks4kidz.com/vancouver Ages 5–12 Bricks 4 KidzŽ provides STEM programs that inspire kids to learn about architecture, engineering and design concepts while having fun building with LEGOŽ bricks. Now offering Birthday Parties, Camps and After School Enrichment Classes. Build a Biz Kids – Kid’s Entrepreneur Programs Tri Cities, Burnaby, Vancouver, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, West Vancouver BuildaBizKids.com Ages 7–12

specialty

Gateway Academy for Performing Arts Acting, Musical Theatre, Speech, Singing Richmond, 604/247-4975 gatewaytheatre.com/academy Ages 6–18

use new media to drive their creations. Kids can share their stories through animation, filmmaking, cartoons, graphic novel characters, video art, and more.

The ACT Arts Centre Maple Ridge theactmapleridge.org/ arts-programs-digital-learning Available classes: Introduction to Computing (Ages 15 years and up), Marvelous Micro-Bit (8–12 years). Arts Umbrella – Media Arts Vancouver, 604/681-5268 artsumbrella.com Ages 6–19 years Our Media Arts classes give young artists 6–19 a way to connect and investigate fundamental visual concepts—but

Cerebral Palsy Association of BC Lower Mainland 604/408-9484 bccerebralpalsy.com Chi Kids–Happiness Tools for Life Vancouver, Burnaby, 604/689-9116 chischool.ca Ages 6–12 Christianne’s Lyceum of Literature and Art Vancouver, 604/733-1356 christiannehayward.com Ages 1–8

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BCPARENT CA s BACK TO SCHOOL 21

fall activity guide Dolphin Kids™ Achievement Programs 778/939-6440 dolphinkids.ca elicit-children’s Literature Projects Vancouver, 778/960-2956 elicitkids.com Ages 3–8

Math Potentials Early Math Vancouver 604/357-1940 mathpotentials.com Ages 4–6 Early Math Matters is a fun, creative, and goal-oriented course designed to boost a child’s mental potential in the very early ages. Math helps preschoolers make sense of the world around them and also teaches them important problem-solving strategies.

Math Potentials Math Circles Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Richmond, Coquitlam, South Surrey 604/357-1940 mathpotentials.com Ages 10–13, 14–18 In Math Circles, students develop a “mathematical way of thinking�, where they learn how to approach and reason through a problem enabling them to experience mathematics as valuable, exciting, and meaningful.

Math Potentials Science Circles Vancouver 604/357-1940 mathpotentials.com Ages 10–14

This course introduces students to scientific ways of thinking and inspires them to keep asking questions about the world around them. The course will use a hands-on and minds-on approach to engage students in the study of mechanics.

info@daedalos.ca robocamps.ca

Nature Kids BC Province Wide, 604/985-3057 naturekidsbc.ca

Sewing with Frances Burnaby, 604/433-1030

On The Mic Voice-Over Training Vancouver, 604/669-0654 info@onthemictraining.com onthemictraining.com Ages 10–17

Playcademy–Tabletop Game Labs (Screen-Free) Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby & Tri-Cities 604/900-7141 PLAYCADEMY.ca Ages 8–13 More than just fun and games! At Playcademy, kids develop skills like critical thinking, writing, and discussion while playing award-winning tabletop board games. Your kids will have fun participating in post-game activities that encourage them to think critically, do active problem-solving, and collaborate with other kids! After-school program with small class sizes that promote belonging and exploration. Register for fall & spring! RoboCamps by Daedalos Enrichment Programs Vancouver, 604/345-8603

22 BCPARENT CA s BACK TO SCHOOL

Sea Smart – After School Program Vancouver, 604/358-3001 seasmartschool.com Ages 6–9

The C.O.D.E. (Creating Opportunities Defining Education) Initiative Vancouver (UBC) 778/875-0548 thecodeinitiative.ca Helping children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) find a passion and an interest in coding. Under the GUI – Coding for kids Kitsilano, Vancouver South, North Vancouver, Coquitlam 604/700-9931 underthegui.com Ages 7–15+ Young Entrepreneur Learning Labs South Surrey/White Rock, Vancouver, Surrey, Langley, and Richmond 1-800/243-0335 yelearninglabs.com Ages 7–15

sports Absolute Cheer and Tumbling Camp North Vancouver, 604/984-4107 absolutecheerandtumbling.com Ages 5–12

Aquaventures Swim Centre Vancouver, 604/736-SWIM aquaventuresswim.com Ages 6 months+ Award-winning program in tropical warm water. Atlantis Swim Programs 604/874-6464, Vancouver atlantisprograms.com Ages 4 months+ Burnaby New West Ringette New Westminster cometryringette.ca bnwr.ca Ages 4–14 FREE Come Try Ringette (August and September) Club Aviva Coquitlam, 604/526-4464 clubaviva.ca Ages 6 months+ Dynamo Swim Club Burnaby, Surrey 778/866-6604 teamunify.com Ages 3–18 The Edge Climbing Centre North Vancouver, 604/984-9080 edgeclimbing.com Ages 6–18 Grandview Skating Club grandviewskatingclub.com Ages 3+ I Can Swim North Van, Coquitlam

fall activity guide icanswim.ca Ages 3 months+

mygym.com/mapleridge Ages 6 weeks–10 years

Jump! Gymnastics North Vancouver: 604/971-0513 and Yaletown: 604/568-9690 jumpgymnastics.ca Ages 6 months–7 years

North Shore Equestrian Centre North Vancouver, 604/988-5131 wecreateriders.com Ages 8+

Langley Gymnastics Foundation 604/532-1022 langleygymnastics.ca Ages 11 months+ The Little Gym of Langley Langley, 604/539-2543 thelittlegym.com Ages 4 months–12 years Marina’s Swim School Richmond, White Rock 604/818-4650 marinaswimschool.com Momentum Ninja Port Coquitlam 778/941-9631 momentumninja.com Ages 1yr+ My Gym Children’s Fitness Center Surrey, Maple Ridge Surrey 604/249-5437 Maple Ridge 604/465-1329 mygym.com/surrey

Pedalheads Bike Camps 1-888/886-6464 pedalheads.com Ages 2–12 Phoenix Gymnastics Vancouver, 604/737-7693 phoenixgymnastics.com Ages 6 months+ RBL Basketball Vancouver, 604/269-0221 RBLBasketball.com Ages 5–15 Richmond Gymnastics Association 604/278-3614 richmondgymnastics.com Ages 18 months+ Sportball 604/688-3157 sportball.ca Ages 16 months–12 years Ski Wee & Wee Riders Grouse Mountain, North Vancouver

604/980-9311 grousemountain.com Ages 3–6

TumbleTown Movement Education Centre Vancouver, 604/357-7355 tumbletown.ca Ages 4 months–8 years TumbleTown Movement Education Centre offers specialized movement programs for children from 4 months to 8 years old. Our programs introduce children to fun and challenging activities through movement circuits, games, and music. Our programs are designed to provide children with the fundamental skills necessary to keep them active for life! We offer a variety of programs for your needs: weekly classes, family drop-ins, birthday parties and school closure gym-venture days. Sign up today! UBC Active Kids Gymnastics 604/822-2027 kin.educ.ubc.ca/outreach/active-kids 18 months–18 years

Uphoria Yoga Vancouver uphoriayoga.com Ages 0–17 Uphoria Yoga is a family yoga studio

located in the heart of Mount Pleasant, Vancouver, offering classes for all age groups including kids yoga, adult yoga and mat workouts, family yoga, pre & postnatal yoga, and childminding options too! Wayland Sports Maple Ridge, 604/465-9293 waylandsports.com Walking–10 years+ White Rock Gymnastics 604/542-0386 whiterockgym.org Walking–11 years+ YogaButtons Studio Vancouver, 604/739-9642 yogabuttons.com Ages newborn–12 Yoga It Up South Surrey, South Delta, East Van, Vancouver, Richmond yogaitup.ca Ages 3+ Zone Camps – Ski/Ride Grouse Mountain, North Vancouver 604/980-9311 grousemountain.com Ages 5–18

Come Create with Us! Art, Dance, Drama, Drawing, Music, Musical Theatre, Pottery, and more!

A s programs for all ages! Visit theactmapleridge.org/a s-programs

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My Studi My Studio io Pa Part arty rty ty TTH HE COOLEST COO OO OLEST ST KIDS KID DS PARTIE PAR PARTIES TIES S EVER! EVER! R! (3 (3 to o 17 17 years years old) old) RECORDING STUDIO

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1-833-677-2825

www.mystudioparty.ca

KIDS.ADULTS.FAMILY PRE & POSTNATAL.CHILDMINDING 88 EAST BROADWAY, VANCOUVER BC 604 s 724 s 5638

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Coming March 1st

19th Annual Family Resource Guide Have your business listed in BC’s favourite resource for parents LISTINGS INCLUDE: ě?? EDUCATION ě?? CLASSES AND PROGRAMS FAMILY FUN ě?? RETAIL ě?? SUMMER CAMPS ě?? BIRTHDAYS HOME ě?? FAMILY HEALTH AND SUPPORT SERVICES

Don’t miss your opportunity to have your company included in this year’s guide. For advertising and listing information: EMAIL:

info@bcparent.ca 778-855-2024

OR VISIT:

www.bcparent.ca

On the stands March 1, 2020 (Advertising deadline Feb. 1)

24 BCPARENT CA s BACK TO SCHOOL

To view current issue visit www.bcparent.ca

Who do you want to be when you grow up? By $R 2UMEET "ILLAN

W

hat do you want to be when you grow up? It’s a question we ask our children all the time. I want to be a doctor, they say, a lawyer, a teacher, a chef, a firefighter, a police officer, a hockey player, an actor. I want to be Prime Minister, maybe. Worthy occupations, to be sure. But is this really what we want young children to be thinking about? After all, many adults still haven’t found a satisfactory answer to that question, so how can we expect our children to do so. Maybe what we should be asking our children instead is, “Who do you want to be when you grow up?� Maybe we should be helping our children decide what kind of people they want to be before we pressure them to think about what job they would like to hold. Maybe before we start making them worry about employment, we should teach them skills like emotional intelligence and empathy. We adults may be preoccupied with our job titles and what we do, but that shouldn’t mean we have to put those expectations on students and our children.

Children simply aren’t equipped to answer questions about jobs—yet. At best, they’re making guesses based on what their parents do or what they’ve seen or heard about. Or worse, their answers are based on social pressure or gender or racial stereotypes. In sixth grade, for our yearbook captions, we were asked what we wanted to be. I said I wanted to be a lawyer, but I had no idea what a lawyer did. It was an answer based on a television show. Two years later, I thought that I wanted a career in human resources, based on a single conversation I had with a guidance counselor, and despite never having met anyone who worked in the field. The expectation to know what you want to be, even at a young age, puts pressure on children and creates anxiety. Children today are having to make decisions about their future at very young ages. By the time they enter high school, students are already having to decide what courses to take, what subjects to focus on. Those choices impact whether they go on to post-secondary education and what they will study if they survive the increasingly

cut-throat competition to earn admittance. All of this puts youth on a specific track, not leaving room for flexibility and failure. By the time they graduate high school, students are already expected to know exactly what they’re going to do with their lives. For those children who aren’t sure what they want to do, that sort of pressure—from peers, the adults around them, media and the expectations that they’ve created for themselves—can be overwhelming. This is a template designed to produce anxious children and unhappy adults. Rather than forcing children to slot themselves into predetermined life paths, we should be encouraging them to explore their desires and build their characters. Our goal should be to expose young people to as many different experiences as possible so they can work out for themselves what direction would fit them best. They should be given the flexibility to change their minds as often as they want as they learn more about the variety of options open to them. This flexibility is especially important now, given the uncertainty about what jobs will even exist in the future. According to a recent report from Dell Technologies, 85% of the jobs that will exist by 2030 haven’t been created yet. With the rise of automation and the increasing power of technology, many of the jobs that we hold in high esteem today and push our children towards may well not even be around in 20 years. Given that, how much sense does it make to put children under intense, anxiety-inducing pressure to decide what job they will do for the next six decades of their lives? Instead, we should be focusing on teaching skills that will be transferable to the future economy as it emerges. Of course, children should be taught how to code and to understand technology, but they should also be encouraged to learn the so-called “soft skills,� which we now should be referring to as the essential skills. Most of all, they should be encouraged to think for themselves. And that includes deciding for themselves what will make them happy and what is aligned with who they are and who they want to become. $R 2UMEET "ILLAN is the author of the international award-winning, best-selling book, “Who do I want to become?� now translated into English, Spanish and French. As CEO of Viewpoint Leadership, Dr. Rumeet specializes in building resilience and raising potential with global impact.

BCPARENT CA s BACK TO SCHOOL 25

2R’S FREE OUTDOOR SUMMER FILM SERIES

Ron Basford Park, Granville Island Fridays, August 16, 23, and 30 at 9 pm Enjoy the Academy Award-nominated animation, Song of the Sea; a program of local and Canadian shorts, Short Films from Coast to Coast; and a recent cinematic adaptation of the beloved children’s tale, Heidi, starring the late Bruno Ganz. PNE FAIR

August 17–September 2, 2019 11 am–11 pm (or later) Closed Mondays August 19 & 26 pne.ca Get happy together at the PNE Fair! It’s not every day you get thrilled on wild rides, get captivated in interesting exhibits, get entertained at action-packed shows, and get rocked at outdoor concerts‌ all in one enchanting place. Make the PNE Fair your end of summer tradition!

THE WIGGLES PARTY TIME TOUR VANCOUVER Tuesday, October 29th,

3 pm and 6:30 pm The Orpheum Theatre ABBOTSFORD October 30th, 6 pm Abbotsford Centre 1-800/745-3000 thewiggles.com, ticketmaster.com The Party Time Tour! will reunite Canada with Emma, Lachy, Simon and Anthony, as well as their friends Captain Feathersword, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus, Wags the Dog and a brand-new Wiggly friend, Shirley Shawn the Unicorn! As featured on the upcoming Party Time! album, parents and children alike can dance and sing along to classics like “Hokey Pokey,� “Skip To My Lou,� and “Simon Says.�

Free Movie Showing: Song of the Sea

VIFF

September 26–October 11, 2019 Viff.org VIFF presents the world’s best cinema fused with related talks and events in a unique Films+ model. Annually, VIFF presents over 320 films and events, plays host to approximately 400 industry professionals from around the globe and boasts the largest Canadian film program in the world. BABY & FAMILY FAIR

Saturday Oct. 26–Sunday Oct. 27 Canada Place, Vancouver baby-fair.com From Baby-fair.com: The Baby & Family Fair is your one-stop community event to showcase the best resources, entertainment, and products for parents, toddlers and bellies! PRIVATE SCHOOL EXPO

October 27, 2019 Sheratan Wall Centre, Vancouver ourkids.net/expo Everything you need to know about choosing, applying, getting in, and paying for school.

26 BCPARENT CA s BACK TO SCHOOL

Private School Expo

Vancouver PNE

Re-wild the child!

S

ummer is wrapping up, but it’s not too late to get the kids outside and exploring nature! Let them get dirty, find mysterious creatures and plant life. Outdoor activities, crafts, and nature spark children’s imagination and free-thinking. Author, Kris Hirschmann, has helped us “rewild the child� in the book Forest Club: A Year of Activities, Crafts, and Exploring Nature. Turn the page for an excerpt from the book—here are two activities to take on a walk this summer or fall to help open your eyes to the wonders of nature. With the aim of reconnecting children to nature and the outdoors, Forest Club is divided by season, providing a year-round resource for families. While all crafts and activities are designed to be carried out outside, the book is interspersed with factual pages about forest flora and fauna, which can be enjoyed at home or used as a field guide while out and about. With forest schoolthemed crafts and activities for all seasons, outdoor exploration can be enjoyed twelve months of the year, always with something new to see. quartoknows.com/books/ 9781786038814/Forest-Club. BCPARENT CA s BACK TO SCHOOL 27

Excerpt from: Forest Club: A Year of Activities, Crafts, and Exploring Nature by Kris Hirschmann

Fungi and Lichen Fungi and lichen are not plants or animals. They are their own type of organism, or living thing. They help to break down debris on the forest oor. Look around to ďŹ nd these common and helpful organisms.

Fungi “Fungi� is the plural form of the word fungus. Mushrooms are the most common forest fungi. There are about 14,000 known types! Mushrooms are actually the fruit of underground organisms. They make chemicals that break down fallen leaves and other debris. Mold is another type of fungus. Mold grows in a fuzzy layer on rotting material. It is a sure sign of decay.

LOOK AND COUNT

Lichen Lichen is a mixture of fungus and algae. It often grows in crusty mats, but it can also be stringy or slimy.

28 BCPARENT CA s BACK TO SCHOOL

How many types of mushrooms can you ďŹ nd? How many lichens?

Excerpted from: Forest Club: A Year of Activities, Crafts, and Exploring Nature by Kris Hirschmann

ACTIVITY: Spore Prints

ms roo h s mu an wild k with . e ec om ity N! S s, so ch is activ ith O I w T h u CAU oisono doing t ctivity tore. a p e s y i r s are befor do th oce r t g l o adu an als from a c You shroom u am

Mushrooms shed thousands of tiny seeds called spores from their undersides. The spores fall in patterns that match the mushroom’s shape. Scientists capture these spore prints to identify the mushrooms they ďŹ nd in the wild. Here’s how to make your own spore prints using just a few simple materials.

YOU WILL NEED • Fresh mushroom, the type with gills • Sheet of white paper • Water • Cup that is larger than the mushroom’s cap • Hairspray

How to do it 1 With a grown-up’s the mushroom. Be very careful not to damage the fragile gills. 2 Lay a sheet of white paper on a at surface where it will not be disturbed. Set the mushroom cap, gills down, on the paper.

3 Put a few drops of water on top of the mushroom. This will help it to open up and release its spores. 4 Cover the mushroom cap with a cup. This will stop air from blowing across the mushroom cap.

6 Spray the spore print with hairspray to preserve it. Turn it into a greeting card or anything else you like.

5 Let the mushroom cap sit undisturbed for 24 hours. Then lift the cup and the cap. Look at the paper. You should see a colorful spore print in the shape of the mushroom’s gills.

BCPARENT CA s BACK TO SCHOOL 29

There is still one month of summer to go. Have you totally exhausted all your pre-planned activities? Has the weather taken a turn for the worst and you’re confronted with some rainy days? Here are a few activities to keep the whole family busy. Philips Hue smart outdoor lights

For the smaller children... Paint-Sation

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For bigger kids (maybe not parents) Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Invite some neighbours over and watch the kids out-do each other. Diary of a Wimpy Kid 10-Second Challenge brings all the fun from the best-selling, award-winning book series to life! This game comes with everything players need to out-wimp their friends and family. Play as characters from the book series and race to be the first to get around the board. There are three categories of challenges: Single player, Categories and Two player. $26.00 at amazon.ca Not Parent Approved

The name says it all! Ever wondered how booger juice, vampire bunnies, and grandma can end up in the same sentence? Inspired by Cards Against Humanity but for kids—not parents—this game is a hilarious word game of fill-in-the-blanks designed to reintroduce a love of tabletop games for a screen-obsessed generation. And it all starts with a burping competition. Ages 8+ $34.99 at amazon.ca

30 BCPARENT CA s BACK TO SCHOOL

For the whole family... MasterMind

Mastermind is a classic game beloved by millions all around the world. Why? Not only is it a blast to play, but it also incorporates the use of STEM skills—to keep brains churning even while having fun! For 2 players, ages 8 and up $16.99 (suggested retail price) Philips Hue smart outdoor lights

Enjoy the earlier sunsets and bring a sense of magic to your outdoor living space with Phillips HUE outdoor lights. Make your family fun night one that the kids will remember when they look back at their summer memories. Control your smart lights through your smartphone or your connected home assistant. From $119.99 www2.meethue.com/en-ca/where-to-buy

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