summer issue 2012 www.bcparent.ca
THE
Sensitive Child
Foster Parenting
SUMMER
CAMPS
inside ... 4
Becoming a foster parent and inside look
6
Understanding the sensitive child from the inside out
8
The Goh Ballet Academy
10 Trying Times the journey of invitro fertilization
13 Flying Solo A trip without the kids
15 Teaching your child to cook healthy meals at any age
17 Summer Camps Follow us on
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BC Parent Newsmagazine
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Publisher/Executive Editor: Forrest Phillips
Contributors: Natacha V. Bein, Colleen Drobot, Sandra Gordon, Tiffany Doerr Guerzon, Bev Yaworski
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Summer Issue 2012 Volume 21, Number 4
bcparent.ca • summer 2012 3
Becoming a
Foster Parent By Bev Yaworski
F
oster families play a vital role by providing homes for children whose families are temporarily unable to look after them. According to the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development, BC has approximately 8,200 children in care (as of Dec. 2011), and about 5,200 of them are placed with about 3,300 foster families across the province. 29 per cent of children in care are adopted by their foster family. There is always a need for more foster families of all cultural, social and ethnic backgrounds so that children in care can maintain their cultural and community connections. Foster parents come from many different backgrounds and with many different life experiences. As a foster father, parent of adopted children and Past President of the Fraser Valley Foster Parents Association, Russell Pohl has been involved in many sides of fostering— including offering support to other foster families and sitting on several committees trying to be a voice on behalf of foster par4 bcparent.ca • summer 2012
ents. “We have been blessed with the joy of fostering many children,” says Russell. “The absolute goal of a foster home should be for the safe return of children to their biological families, whenever that is possible. Having held many roles within the fostering world, I understand the complexities of working
The world of fostering has opened so many doors for us it is unbelievable. It has given us so much insight and has brought so much joy to our lives.
with all sides involved with the children— from the Ministry to the bio-parents to bio-relations and of course foster families themselves. “The world of fostering has opened so many doors for us it is unbelievable. It has given us so much insight and has brought so much joy to our lives. We are proud to have amazing and bright kids in our lives
everyday. Caring for children is every society’s most important job.” Foster children range in age from infants to youth of 19 years. They come from a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds, and many children come into care with their brothers and sisters. Children come into foster care for many reasons. Their parents may ask for temporary help because of illness, marital problems, parent/child conflicts, physical or mental difficulties, or emotional and behavioural problems too difficult for a family to handle. Jordan, who was raised by foster parents and has since gone on to study at university, fondly remembers his upbringing in foster care. “My experience as a foster child was a very positive one,” says Jordan, “as my adoptive parents knew straight from my birth that I would be their ‘forever’ child. The most influential part of growing up was watching their caring, nurturing nature towards others. Ours was a very active foster home— mom and dad would always accept anyone into the house and treat them as their own.
To watch others grow is empowering, especially at such a young age.� Responsibilities of Foster Parents
As a foster parent, you become part of a team that includes the child, the child’s family, the child’s workers, your resource workers and other service providers involved with the child’s care. Foster parents are responsible for providing a safe, smoke-free home, nourishing meals, and appropriate accommodation; and are also obliged to provide a warm, nurturing environment with guidance and supervision—while working cooperatively with the child’s family and care professionals. They must also agree to meet regularly with their resource worker and ensure regular contact between the child and the child’s family. The Ministry of Children and Family Development, in collaboration with the British Columbia Federation of Foster Parent Associations, also offers a foster parent education program to help foster caregivers in their role. The program covers topics such as: communication, separation and loss, and the effect of abuse and neglect on children.
Foster families receive a monthly care payment varying according to the age and special needs of the child. Rates run from approximately $800 to $2700 per month. A child’s length of stay with their foster family There is always a need for more foster families of all cultural, social and ethnic backgrounds so that children in care can maintain their cultural and community connections.
will depend on individual circumstances. A family can specify the age and gender of a child who will fit in best with their family. The children also have the right to have their views expressed. How to Become a Foster Parent
The assessment process for foster families is in-depth and very thorough. For anyone considering fostering, here are the steps laid out by the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development.
STEP 1 – Talk to someone by contacting a ministry social worker or agencies such as the British Columbia Federation of Foster Parents Associations (BCFFPA) at 1-800663-9999. STEP 2 – Decide whether fostering is right for you by attending an information session on fostering. STEP 3 – Apply to be a foster parent. STEP 4 – Take the home study assessment: which involves a medical assessment, criminal record check and review, along with a social worker interview. STEP 5 – The Approval: a Family Care Home contract is signed. Resources Ministry of Children and Family Development: www.gov.bc.ca/mcf BC Federation of Foster Parent Associations: a provincial organization run by foster parents. They operate the Fosterline at 1 800 663-9999. Federation of BC Youth in Care Networks: http://fbcyicn.ca/ 1.800.565.8055.
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Understanding the Sensitive Child...
...from the Inside Out Colleen Drobot So many times I have heard parents of a sensitive child tell me their child claims they are “yelling at him” when the parent only had a bit of impatience in their voice.
hen my beautiful son entered this world, like many parents, I had a belief that if I just loved him and was a good parent, everything else would fall into place—like baking a cake right? It didn’t take long to realize the universe had other plans for me and I had some learning to do. You see, my son came into this world a very sensitive being. Sensitivity can manifest in many ways and present differently in children. Many sensitive children experience tactile sensitivity—their clothes are itchy, tags need to be cut off, socks and underwear pose great problems. A child may have an auditory sensitivity. I had to warn my infant son every time I turned on the blender or vacuum cleaner to avoid him breaking into a wail. His sense of smell was heightened and even rice cooking in the kitchen would send him gasping for air. Some kids are ‘supertasters’ and experience the taste and texture of certain foods as too intense. This makes their range of good food choices very narrow. For other children visual stimulation can be overwhelming. Transitions can also be very difficult and too much stimulation is exhausting often resulting in irritable behavior. One of the most common manifestations of sensitivity is that these children feel very deeply, and their feelings
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are easily hurt. A certain tone of voice can seem very harsh to them. So many times I have heard parents of a sensitive child tell me their child claims they are “yelling at him” when the parent only had a bit of impatience in their voice. Dr. Neufeld describes sensitive children as having heightened sensory receptiveness, making them more easily affected by sensory stimulation than other children. These children are intense and often very bright and/or creative. They are also prone to their brain having to protect them since they don’t have ‘the skin’ that others do to cope with their world. Frustration and alarm are two primary emotions that sensitive children often experience. Because they are greatly affected by their world, they are more susceptible to their brain erecting defenses to shield them against feeling too overwhelmed. The greatest gift we can give our sensitive children is to make sense of them from the inside out. During my son’s early years there were many times I needed to protect him from overwhelming situations that other children seemed to be able to handle. Wellmeaning friends would warn my husband and me not to over-protect yet is was so clear that we were providing the protection he needed for his brain to
relax. From all my years of being an educator, I knew that children learn and thrive when they are secure and their anxiety is lowered. This is what we endeavored to do to help our son grow and mature. Many parents of sensitive children have learned that too much exposure to overwhelming situations is not a good thing. They also confess they have felt very judged and their child misunderstood. As parents we need to protect our sensitive children from that which would overwhelm and erect too many defenses in the brain. They need those defenses at times—to shut out the noise, to stop feeling the intense emotions, to cope with their world. But at some point, when they are in the safe haven of our care, those defenses need to come down and their hearts need to remain soft so they can feel and grieve and love and care. When the defenses are evoked too often for too long, the brain will become chronically defended and the child will start to harden up. Feelings are lost, attention suffers and sadly sometimes the child will defend against attaching to the adults who were meant to take care of them. When the heart becomes too wounded the brain will take care of the child by building up a wall but emotional growth comes to a halt. As parents of sensitive children, the more we can understand the importance of
protecting our children from overwhelming situations, the more we can protect their hearts and soften their defenses, the more they can feel safe and flourish. This is not to say we need to jump in and fix everything for them, spoiling their opportunity to experience a bit of a challenge and denying them an opportunity to become resilient. As parents we need to be in charge, set limits and nudge when appropriate for them to find their courage to try something new. Our challenge is to protect when necessary and at times help them to adapt to situations they must face or cannot control. All the little losses, disappointments and sadness need to be felt. Tears need to be shed in loving arms. Through their attachment to us, through our insight, warmth and patience, we can protect the hearts of our sensitive children so that their beautiful gifts can be shared with the world. These children have the capacity for great caring, compassion, and empathy as long as their hearts can be protected and remain soft. Although the world can seem too much for them, we can be their best bet in seeing their potential, believing in their capacity to handle things, and knowing when to protect them from experiences that are too much to bear. Educating ourselves and using our intuition to guide us are essential for parenting our children.
From all my years of being an educator, I knew that children learn and thrive when they are secure and their anxiety is lowered.
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The Goh Ballet Academy By Bev Yaworski
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or many of us, ballet brings to mind a fascinating world of wonder, mystery, heart-warming fairy tales and dazzling costumes. It is also a visually stunning display of athleticism and grace. The Carver family chose the Goh Ballet Academy when their two children Sara and Tyler became interested in taking dance lessons. Sara was four years of age and Tyler was twelve when they began ballet lessons at Goh. “The Goh offers so many opportunities to perform, “ says Mom Michele. “The training is exceptional. This is not only in technique, but the Goh gives so many opportunities in performance that the students also learn about the preparation for performance—they are being trained in a vocation. I watch the dancers from the Goh in competition or on stage and they ARE performing. They know what to expect and they are prepared to be professionals, even at such a young age.” Both Sara and Tyler find dance to be “freeing”. “Movement to music soothes and calms them,” adds Michele. “The repetitive 8 bcparent.ca • summer 2012
nature of class is reassuring and helps them to focus. Both kids love the teamwork needed to put on great performances. They know that attending rehearsals, prepping for makeup and costuming are all part of the deal. The audience energy is what they both live for. When an audience is involved, they feel it to their core.”
Research has shown that children who participate in dance develop greater life skills such as self motivation, discipline, self-respect, confidence, and coordination.
The Goh Ballet Academy, since its establishment in 1978, has been fully committed to offering the highest caliber of dance education while becoming an internationally renowned leader in training and performance productions. Located on Main Street in Vancouver, the Academy has over 400 students.
Physical art forms such as ballet offer youngsters many positive benefits, emphasizes Chan Hon Goh, Director of the Goh Ballet. “Research has shown that children who participate in dance develop greater life skills such as self motivation, discipline, selfrespect, confidence, and coordination—along with quicker, more alert brain functions. Dancers even tend to fare better in subjects such as math. Dance encourages the working of different parts of the brain and is a well-rounded art form.” Artistic Philosophy
“Goh Ballet Academy fosters the development of creative innovation and artistic expression,” says Fiona Smith, Instructor and Assistant Director of the Goh Ballet Junior School. An acclaimed, dedicated faculty well versed in the Vaganova and Royal Academy of Dance methods aims to promote each individual talent to reach their fullest potential. Instructor’s qualifications may include, but are not limited to: Royal Academy of Dance Teacher’s Diploma, Canada’s National Ballet School Teacher’s Training Diploma,
American Ballet Theatre Certificate and other credentials. “The Goh Ballet is dedicated to providing programs to individuals of all ages, backgrounds and abilities,” adds Fiona Smith. Staff will assess children age six and up to make sure they are placed in the class that is best suited for their age and ability. Children under the age of six will be placed in the class according to their age. Types of Dance Instruction
The junior school, senior professional school, adult classes and the Goh Ballet Youth Company have been created to provide tailored education and training to dancers of all levels. The Junior School is designed to motivate, challenge and educate young talents while providing training and education to students ages 4 through 16. The focus of this program is to emphasize the importance of expression, musicality, movement quality, flexibility and body conditioning, as well as provide well-rounded education in ballet concepts and steps. The Senior Professional School is available to elementary, intermediate and advanced students ages 12 and above. It is designed to prepare students, through well-balanced and intensive training, for the demands of a successful career in ballet. The Goh Ballet Youth Company provides its members with the opportunity to perform in front of national and international audiences to further prepare them for a professional career in ballet. Its members range in age from late teens to early twenties. Alumni of the Company fill the ranks of the world’s top professional ballet companies.
special Children Summer Dance Workshops this summer. Katie Weber, Goh Ballet Communications Associate, emphasizes that this series is “is a great way for children to first be exposed to dance in a unique and exciting way where budding dancers ages four to In this fast paced, computerized high tech society, it is important that parents encourage and expose their child to opportunities for physical activity, artistry and musical appreciation.
seven can experience enriching ballet and creative movement.” These summer workshops will see students “Dance with the fairies and storybook characters.” Each one-week session will focus on a different familiar theme/story ballet. Students spend 3 hours a day (9 am–12 pm)
focusing on ballet, creative movement and music, listening to stories and creating fun craft projects which relate to the week’s theme. Dance story themes will include: Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. Parents can support their child’s dance interests by exposing them to a variety of different dance forms, teachers and schools when they are young to gauge the best needs for successful training. It is also important for families to stay involved through volunteering, helping their child practice at home and allowing them to participate in any and all performances provided. “Activities such as dance provide a sense of individual accomplishment and promote teamwork,” adds Fiona Smith. “In this fast paced, computerized high tech society, it is important that parents encourage and expose their child to opportunities for physical activity, artistry and musical appreciation. It is rare to find this combination in any other activity.”
Some Program Highlights
Goh Ballet Academy accepts dancers from ages 4–24 in a vast array of programs. The Junior school program (ages 4–16) sees kids coming in on weekdays after school and weekends (anywhere from once per week to five times per week). The Senior Professional school (ages 12 and up), which is by audition only, sees dancers supplementing a ½ day of studies to achieve their full academic education with afternoons and evenings every day spent training in their artistic studies. The Academy is presenting a series of bcparent.ca • summer 2012 9
Trying
Times
By Sandra Gordon ith all 65 of our guests gathered on the lawn of the Victorian mansion my new husband, Ron, and I had just gotten married in, the cork flew off the champagne and filled flutes were passed. A hush fell over the crowd. “Congratulations Sandy and Ron,” the best man began. “May your lives be long, prosperous and filled with babies!” Clink. Clink. Everyone raised a glass and cheered. For this momentous event, Ron had shaved his whitish beard, the only solid evidence of his edge in the age game. “I don’t want to look so old,” he had said. He was 43. I was 31, an obvious “breeder chic.” Don’t get me wrong. It was love. Still, having babies—and my comparable youthfulness to pull it off—was very much a part of the deal. For some mysterious innate reason, we both looked forward to them sooner than later— or even just one. And our guests had us pegged. Forget about the wedding. Get “busy” you guys, everyone seemed to be saying by their enthusiastic response, suppressed grins and elbow jabs. Fast forward a year and a half. We’re jinxed. Ron and I are honestly trying everything—going on vacation, timing intercourse with ovulation predictor kits and a stop watch (okay, kidding), trying to relax, pretending we weren’t trying. But it was evident. Like about 10% of all couples around the globe, we’re infertile (the inability to conceive after one year of trying). Soon enough I find myself a regular at the infertility specialist, along with the dozens of others I meet along the way who thumb through non-parenting magazines in the reception area. A common bond: We’re all expert at giving blood. We all know which is our “good” arm. The stories I hear. There’s Judy who has been trying for five years and is on her third attempt at in vitro fertilization. Another, Maria, has a similar record, and says she bursts into tears when she sees newborns in restaurants. I’m a newcomer, having just endured one low-tech assisted reproductive procedure, but I can still relate. The name of the game is hyping up your hormones, then tracking your menstrual cycle like the stock market with blood and ultrasound tests. My goal: to nab the whereabouts of that all-elusive egg.
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“I’m pregnant!” Gulp!
For two weeks, I’m lubed up with HCG and Clomid, infertility wonder drugs, and though I’m glad for the technology, I’m resentful. “I just don’t feel right about this,” I say to Ron. Deep down, I just know we can do it on our own. But of course, isn’t that what 10 bcparent.ca • summer 2012
every woman who is trying to get pregnant thinks in the beginning? Meanwhile, our friends begin leaving us in the dust. There is Anna and David, for instance, a couple so perfect looking their wedding photo was featured in a local magazine advertisement. “We’re going to start trying,” Anna confides to me one evening at a neighborhood party. “What about you?” “We’ve been trying for a year and a half,” I reveal. Two months later, when all four of us are out to dinner, Anna gets quiet. “We have some news. I’m pregnant.” My stomach lurches. After only two months? Suddenly, I can’t see my salad, the first time I nearly come to tears because I had been trying so hard to be optimistic. Luckily I pull myself together quickly. The conversation turns to sonograms and baby heart beats and not being able to drink. Out of spite, I signal the waiter and order another glass of chardonnay just because I can. Our attempt at intrauterine insemination (IUI) didn’t work. Later, as the guys talk, Anna turns to me. “It’s a relief to know you can,” she says, as in conceive. I can’t believe she’s actually saying that—to me. “It must be,” I say, just to be nice. It’s not like I want a child so badly that I had to have one, like a drink of water on a scorching day. It’s just that being pregnant and raising a child is a life experience I would rather not pass up. After a while, when you don’t get pregnant like you thought you would, you start to get a little crazy. Strollers in shopping malls pop out at
you, especially those with kids who match your or your husband’s hair color. You feel like clobbering unknowing coworkers who’ve calculated how long you’ve been married and then say, “So, do you guys want kids?” Granted, not getting pregnant on schedule has its moments. “Did you ever think we’d be infertile?” I say to Ron one day as we’re driving home from the health club in a haze of endorphins. “We’re not infertile,” he replies with characteristic optimism. “We’re… fertilely challenged.” During this time, a realization comes to light. I’ve never had I child, so I really don’t know what I’m wishing for. Will I be patient and selfless like my mother? Or will I be short tempered and bothered by the minutia of it all, like my father? I can’t really even imagine what our child would look like. Ron is a red head and I’m blonde. Wouldn’t that make our baby…orange? And after listening to friends who have kids, I’ve even had second thoughts. “Had I known it was going to be this hard, I wouldn’t have become a parent,” says a writer friend from college, the weary stay-at-home dad of a charming six-year-old girl. But every so often, I get a hint of the good stuff. One morning during the holidays a few months later, for instance, when I pick up my mother and grandmother at the bed and breakfast they’re staying at while they’re in town, the proprietor’s 4-year-old granddaughter is there, in the main living room, opening presents. We all sit down for a minute. “Look Ruby,” the little girl says to my grandmother. “A tea set.” Making her way through a mound of wrapping
paper, the little girl carries the porcelain pot and teacup over to gram, who is sitting on the sofa. “Oh!” gram says, throwing her hands back in exaggerated delight, just like she used to when I was little. “How pretty!” My mother, grandmother and I watch the little girl play with the tea set, mesmerized. Then, I remember. This is not my child. We don’t even know these people. My mother looks at me and shifts in her seat. The spell is broken. Time to go. The following September, though, after nearly three years, we finally get lucky. Two months after a round of infertility surgery on both our parts to fix some “plumbing” issues, Ron and I try on our own and get two pink lines on the at-home pregnancy test. At the ripe age of 35, I’m finally going to be a mom. “So that’s how it works,” I jokingly tell a friend. Soon, my elastic pants are tight and my boobs are heavy as grapefruits. Who knew pregnancy could feel this good? After nine and a half months, Rebecca is born by C-section, weighing in a nearly 9 pounds with a full head of dark hair (surprise!) and long eye lashes. “She’s pretty,” Ron says, sniffling in the OR. I’m in disbelief. What can you say about finally giving birth after not knowing if pregnancy is even possible? Nothing short of “this is the best day of my life.” Suffice it to say that Rebecca was much more than we had ever bargained for and definitely worth the wait. Sandra Gordon is a Journalist and author. Her most recent books are The Reunion Diet and Consumer Reports Best Baby Products. www.sandrajgordon.com
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Flying Solo Tiffany Doerr Guerzon
s I walk away from the van of crying children, I feel… light. Unfortunately, this feeling is immediately followed by crushing guilt. I am flying to Las Vegas to meet my mom and sister for a girls’ weekend, and not one of my three children is happy about it. I make my way to the counter, trailing my impossibly small suitcase. The attendant asks if I have any bags to check. I don’t. I haven’t flown without checking bags for years. Ten years to be exact, since my first child was born. Since then, I’ve traveled frequently with and without my husband— but never without kids. Boarding pass in hand, I stroll to the security checkpoint and take off my shoes. I marvel at how quickly I pass through when I’m not shoving the stroller into the X-ray machine while simultaneously trying to corral three shoeless children. After clearing security, I stand for a moment, contemplating checking out the bookstore or getting a coffee. I decide to do both—I have an entire hour. That time would normally be spent handing out gum and mints, trying to keep my children from bothering other passengers, and making trips back and forth to the airport bathroom because my kids are scared of the one on the plane.
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After spending a blissful forty-five minutes browsing, I make my way to the gate. I sit, not quite sure what to do with myself. Normally during this time, I would be obtaining a tag for the stroller, and trying to keep my kids from doing gymnastics in the gate area. I open one of my new magazines and smile sympathetically at the other couples wrestling with strollers and infant seats. I’m still smiling as I board the plane with the other grown-ups instead of the pre-board crowd. Once seated on the plane, I buckle in and take a sip of the hot coffee, a luxury I wouldn’t have if flying with children. A hot drink on an airplane with kids is an invitation to disaster, as one or more of them would surely crawl into my lap or jostle my elbow, burning themselves, or more likely, me. I sit back and listen to the melodic sound of French being spoken by the family in the next row without having to explain why those people are talking funny and that the language is called French; a conversation which would have probably ended with me drawing a map of Europe on the back of the in-flight safety card to show my inquisitive six-year-old where France is located. And, instead of trying to keep my twoyear-old from sitting on the tray table, the
other two from hanging their heads over the seat in front of us, or any of them from pushing the call button—I choose a movie for myself that is entirely inappropriate for children. Then it happens. My nirvana is interrupted by the sound of a baby howling. Soon the other infants on the plane join him. I sigh—so much for my peaceful, child-free journey. But then the flight attendant hands me my headphones, which I immediately slip on to muffle the noise. The babies may be howling, but they aren’t mine. After I enjoy the movie, I sit and gaze out of the plane window at the endless blue sky. My mind returns to my children, as I wonder what they are doing without me. Despite their tears when I left, I know that they are in capable hands with their father. It’s funny, even though they are miles away, I can still feel them, like the ghost of a missing limb. As much as I will enjoy my weekend of freedom, I also know that I will be ready when it’s time to go back home. Flying solo is every now and then is wonderful, but home, chaos and all, is where I belong. Tiffany Doerr Guerzon is a freelance writer and mother of three children. www.tdguerzon.com.
bcparent.ca • summer 2012 13
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Teaching your child to cook healthy meals at any age by Natacha V. Beim
aving your child prepare a healthy meal for the family seems like an unattainable dream for most parents. However, if you instill the habit of cooking in your child at an early age, you are providing them with the skills they need to live a healthy life and you’re having fun while doing it! When children are young, there is nothing they want more than to help in the kitchen. Granted, that help is not always needed, but with patience and a little direction, you can nurture that passion into a desirable talent. Here are some tips to get you started:
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Starting with babies and toddlers
Involve your little one by asking them to measure and mix ingredients, wash fruit and vegetables—never raw meat or eggs—or cut items with a plastic disposable “party” knife. Talk about the aromas, the colors, the textures of the different ingredients, and invite your child to taste along the way. Talk about the food you are cooking, and its health benefits. Involving your child when preparing meals will also help with picky eaters, as children are more likely to eat something they have helped prepare. Starting with young children
If your child is naturally interested in cooking, involve them in as many aspects of the meal preparation as you can. At this age, you can be more specific about what you need, and give more complex directions. For example, ask your child to chop three carrots, or one cup of mushrooms. Explore together what foods can be eaten raw and which ones need to be cooked. Visit a community garden or plant vegetables at home, for your child to understand where food comes from and how it grows. This encourages a healthy lifestyle from an early age. If your child is not naturally eager to cook or loses interest, don’t give up! Instead, prepare cookies or decorate a cake together, and find recipes that appeal to your child, still choosing healthier options, lower in sugar and fat. Try making a fruit salad, some fresh fruit juice, a delicious smoothie, or real fruit “popsicles”. When children view cooking as a fun science experiment or an opportunity to express their creativity, they are excited to join in!
your child that if they would like to help you cook, you would be delighted to help set the table. Ask your child what they would like to do to help, and gradually they will become more skilled in the kitchen and require less help. Invite your child to look for recipes they would like to try, give them healthy recipe books to look through, or invent recipes together. As they gain more confidence, teach them to read labels and plan balanced meals. Another skill to foster at this age is the art of entertaining. It can be as simple as preparing something special to eat when friends come over, or as intricate as preparing food for a party. Count on your child once a week or more to prepare a meal for the family. It’s important to show your child that you trust them in the kitchen and you view them as capable, no matter how simple the meal is. What to do if you can’t cook
Starting with older children and teens
If your culinary skills are less than adequate, learn with your child. Buy a simple and nutritious cookbook designed for children, and plan to cook at least one meal a week together. Your child will love your openness to learn and will be eager to learn with you. Start with simple meals and gradually move on to more complex recipes together. Cooking with your child is a fantastic bonding activity, provided you are open to suggestions and not too focused on teaching a recipe “your way”. It is also an opportunity to express a person’s uniqueness, and a great way to introduce a healthy lifestyle from a young age. More importantly, cooking healthy meals together will ensure your child has the necessary skills to not rely on fast food or other unhealthy choices when they go out on their own. Bon Appétit!
One of the most effective ways to entice a reluctant child to cook is to trade cooking for a before or after dinner chore. Simply put, tell
Natacha V. Beim is a writer, speaker, teacher, and CEO & founder of the Core Education & Fine Arts Junior Kindergarten schools (www.cefa.ca). You can reach her at natacha@cefa.ca
bcparent.ca • summer 2012 15
Let your child’s dental visit be a positive experience. Prevention and maintenance of good oral health is our focus. LITTLE SMILES DENTAL CENTRE Dr. Jong Hyun Ban DDS, FRCD(C)
Certified Specialist in Pediatric Dentistry 3770 West 10th Ave Vancouver, BC
www.thelittlesmiles.com
(604) 222-2206
WIN
passes for the 35th annual Vancouver Folk Festival This annual event runs from July 13th to 15th at Jericho Beach Park. Enjoy over 60 artists from all over the world. Contest ends July 5th. Enter at bcparent.ca
DR. DELLA CHOW 2589 WEST BROADWAY (KITSILANO) OPEN MONDAY TO SATURDAY Our child friendly office has a great kids play area!
742.3937 WWW.DELLAOPTIQUE.COM 16 bcparent.ca • summer 2012
All Children should Have a Complete Eye Exam by Age 3
summer camp guide
Photo: Camp Qwanoes
art, music, drama & dance
Cowboys and Angels 604/568-6673 www.cowboysandangels.ca
The Arts Connection 604/241-0141 www.theartsconnection.ca Richmond
Dance Co 604/736-3394 Dance Co provides unparalleled dance training for all ages and levels. Providing technique and performance while developing confidence and creativity. Programs start throughout the year, for more information visit our website: danceco.com
Arts Umbrella 604/681-5268 www.artsumbrella.com Get inspired this summer! Through hands-on visual, media and performing arts programs, children and youth ages 3–19 are immersed in creative, discovery and fun. Two sessions available: July 3–13 and July 16–27. Registration available now! Classes also available year round. Check the website for details. Bard on the Beach: Young Shakespeareans 604/737-0625 www.bardonthebeach.org Vancouver Our Young Shakespeareans workshops deliver an interactive fun-filled theatrical adventure. Professional actors lead dynamic workshops on the Bard stages all summer. Camp Monarch, Music, Art & Dance 604/723-8151 www.campmonarch.ca North Vancouver
Evergreen Cultural Centre 604/927-6555 www.evergreenculturalcentre.ca Coquitlam Gateway Academy’s Summer Camp 604/247-4975 www.gatewaytheatre.com Richmond Goh Ballet 604/872-4014 admin@gohballet.com Join us this summer to experience unique and enriching ballet and creative movement workshops designed specifically for budding dancers ages 4–7.Call or email to register. Jean Lyons School of Music 604/734-4019 www.jeanlyonsmusic.com
Place des Arts 604/664-1636 www.placedesarts.ca Coquitlam Place des Arts Summer Fun! Art Camp 6 weeks: July 3 to Aug. 10, 2012 Summer Fun! offers flexibility, choice and lots of summertime fun for children ages 5–7 & 8–12. Our half-day, week-long workshops for 12–14 year olds provide more intensive experiences in a range of visual and performing arts disciplines. www.placedesarts.ca Prussin Music 604/736-3036 www.prussinmusic.com Want to play in a Jazz Ensemble? Interested in Fiddle orSongwriting? How about Girls with Guitars or Campfire Songs? Does Music for Children sound interesting? All at Prussin this summer. StageCoach Theatre Arts – Summer Camps 877/78-STAGE (78243) www.stagecoachschools.ca Sing, Dance, Act! For 4–18 yr olds. The world’s largest part-time theatre school network, with over 700 locations worldwide in 10 countries! We offer classes in Singing, Dancing and Drama every weekend alongside the school term as well as week long summer camps. Schools throughout the Lower Mainland; Vancouver
Eastside/Westside, Richmond, Surrey, Langley, Coquitlam Stagecraft Theatre Schools Ltd. 604/267-7287 www.stagecraft.ca Vancouver/North Shore/West Van Week-long Summer Camps with BC’s Biggest Musical Theatre School for Children! Camps for ages 6–14. For more info please call 604/267-7287 or visit www.stagecraft.ca “Summer in the City” weekly Art Camps Suzy Birstein www.suzybirstein.com 604/737-2636 Summer Music at UBC 604/822-3113 www.summer.music.ubc.ca The UBC Summer Music Institute provides an intensive and fun musical experience for ages 10 to 18 in two levels of concert band and jazz band workshops, as well as two singing workshops. Overnight or daycamp. Vancouver Academy of Dance 604/231-8293 www.vancouverdance.com Vancouver/Richmond. Quality dance training. Starting this July, 5 weeks of summer programs in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, breakdancin’, Chinese dance, Ballroom and Acrobatics.
bcparent.ca • summer 2012 17
summer camp guide Vancouver Academy of Music 604/734-2301 www.vam.bc.ca Experience a taste of what VAM has to offer during our one-week summer camps, Soundfest, July 9 – August 3. Contact us for details and registration. Vancouver Tap Dance Society 604/253-0293 Vancouver Westside Dance Centre 604/736-1000 www.westsidedance.ca Visit our website for details on summer camps.
general activities Alexandra Neighbourhood House 604/535-0015 Programs for children and families throughout Metro Vancouver. Residential Summer Camps include a 5 day camp for Families with limited resources, as well as a weekend Family Camp for families with teens/preteens with developmental challenges. False Creek C.C. Daycamps 604/257-8195 www.falsecreekcc.ca Vancouver Offers canoe/kayak camps, recreational camps and leadership camps for ages 3–14.
In Wonderland Summer Camp 604/872-4665 www.inwonderland.ca Our camps offer a creative fun and artistic experience for your child. Visit our website for details Langara Family YMCA 604/324-9622 www.langarafamilyymca.org Ages 3–16; Hours 8 am–5 pm Preschool, Adventure, Leadership, and Counsellor in Training Camps. Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House Licensed Out-of-School Care at Florence Nightingale School 604/879-8208 www.mpnh.org 8 weeks of licensed summer care for 20 children 5–10 years old North Vancouver Recreation Commission 604/987-PLAY (7529) www.northvanrec.com SFU Summer Camps 778/782-4965 www.sfu.ca/camps Sunset Community Centre 604/718-6505 www.mysunset.net Vancouver Vancouver College: A Finnegan Summer 604/261-4285 www.vc.bc.ca
18 bcparent.ca • summer 2012
residential camps Camp Qwanoes 250/246-3014 www.qwanoes.ca Qwanoes is a youth-oriented highadventure Christian camp seeking to encourage biblical discipleship through relationship-focused, fun-oriented, and Christ-centred programs. Wild action and pure fun, real relationships, awesome counselors, great music, a world of discovery, all in one amazing setting. Outward Bound 1-888-OURWARD (688-9273) ext 209 www.outwardbound.ca Webbs Holiday Acres 604/857-1712 www.webbsholidayacres.ca
specialty BC SPCA Among Animals Camp 604/599-7297 www.spca.bc.ca/youth/whats-happening Camps are held in various locations around the province. Participants will learn about animal care, welfare and environmental issues in a safe and fun environment. Bricks 4 Kidz 778/822-5672 www.bricks4kidz.com/vancouver With our unique, motorized Lego®
models, Bricks 4 Kidz® Vancouver is offering an exciting lineup of summer camps.From our popular Space Adventures Camps and Robotics to our new Bricks Olympics Camp, kids will have a blast with hands-on, activities and challenges. Christianne’s Lyceum of Literature and Art 604/733-1356 The Lyceum encourages young people to see themselves as readers, writers and artists as they engage with abstract ideas and reflect on their own place in society. Programs include: bookclubs, writers’ workshops, literature and art classes and holiday and summer camps. FUN Camps www.funsociety.ca FUN Camps is a hands-on environmental leadership camp that makes caring for the environment and exploring the natural areas in our cities FUN and interactive! Runs in Victoria and Vancouver each week of summer, 9 am–4 pm. Heritage Summer Daycamps 604/592-6956 Spend a summer day on the farm at Historic Stewart Farm doing things the old-fashioned way! Tend the garden, go on a nature walk, play games, be a river pirate, and more–there is a different theme every day!
summer camp guide
Summer is coming... let the adventures
begin!
Jump into the adventure and let friendship ďŹ ll each day. Experience a world of discovery, all with an amazing staff.
SUMMER! T S A O C T S E W N A I D A N A C A F O ENJOY THE BEST
summer camp guide
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Young Explorers Summer Day Camp Biodiversity and Nature for kids aged 7–11
info & register:
botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/camp
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introduction to reading
summer camps are back! These camps are designed for Pre-school and Kindergarten students and feature: * a small group setting (no more than four per group) * personalized attention * instruction in basic letters and sounds * fun, creative, and exciting activities * a good start in beginning reading activities * a total of 30 hours of instruction Camps run for a TWO WEEK PERIOD throughout the summer July 2â&#x20AC;&#x201C;13, 2012 from 9:00 a.m.â&#x20AC;&#x201C;12:00 p.m. (Mon through Fri) July 23â&#x20AC;&#x201C;August 3, 2012 from 9:00 a.m.â&#x20AC;&#x201C;12:00 p.m. (Mon through Fri) August 20â&#x20AC;&#x201C;31, 2012 from 9:00 a.m.â&#x20AC;&#x201C;12:00 p.m. (Mon through Fri)
cost: $1200 One-to-one intensive regular program also available for students of all ages. Give your child the boost they need in academics and build their confidence. We offer programs in: READING/SPELLING * MATH * READING COMPREHENSION * WRITING PLEASE CALL THE READING FOUNDATION FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
THE READING FOUNDATION 3730 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6R 2C1 * 604.222.2254 readingfoundation@telus.net * www.readingfoundation.com 20 bcparent.ca â&#x20AC;˘ summer 2012
summer camp guide K12 Plus Learning 604/767-0949 We offer special summer programs at our centre or your home.
Science World at TELUS World of Science 604/443-7443 www.telusworldofscience.com/
Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre 604/990-3755 www.dnv.org/ecology North Vancouver
The Reading Foundation 604/222-2254 www.readingfoundation.com Our introduction to reading camps are designed for pre-school and Kindergarten students. This is a good start in beginning reading activities. Call for details.
Midnight Cheer Athletics 604/263-6436 Vancouver www.midnightcheer.com Oxford Learning N. Vancouver 604/990-8850 Coquitlam 604/936-1371 Richmond 604/233-5566 South Surrey 604/575-1494 Langley 604/534-4089 www.oxfordlearning.com St. George’s Summer Programs 604/221-3601 www.summeratstgeorges.ca Vancouver, Dunbar area Science Camps – HT Science Made Fun 778/737-5277 www.ScienceMadeFunBC.net High Touch is offering our hands-on science camps throughout the Lower Mainland at a location near you. For a complete listing of our location and camps please visit our web site.
UBC Botanical Garden – Young Explorers Summer Day Camps 604/822-3928 www.bucbotanicalgarden.org/kids/camp Send your child on an adventure exploring nature and biodiversity. Campers will learn about the natural world through a variety of indoor and outdoor activities and games. Two programs to choose: Eco Explorer and Garden Explorer (Ages 7–11) For more info and registration visit botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/camp Dive into Summer Camp at the Vancouver Aquarium 604/659-3552 www.vanaqua.org Kids explore the intriguing world of marine mammals, fabulous fish and other cool creatures through hands-on activities, exploration, games and crafts. Plus check out the behind-the-
scenes action! Remember Members save 20%. Westside Church Day Camps Cosmic City & Beyond! 604/263-2314, Kistilano www.churchonthewestside.com Visit our website for all the details on our outer space themed camps packed with games, crafts, science, singing and local trips. YWCA Camp Fun Girl 604/895-5844 Writing and Book Camp (Vancouver Public Library) 604/331-4093 www.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca/events/ details/bookcamp
Atlantis Programs 604/874-6464 www.atlantisprograms.com Vancouver
Webb’s Holiday Acres
ESC Bike Camps 604/307-BIKE (2453) www.escbc.com North Vancouver
Fitba—Soccer Player Development 604/340-1263 www.fitba.ca
The Academy at Richmond Stables 604/275-1830
Athletes in Action 604/514-2079 www.athletesinaction.com
Cliffhanger Indoor Rock Climbing 604/874-2400 www.cliffhangerclimbing.com
Exceleration Multisport Summer Camps 504/718-6252 www.excelerationtriclub.ca
sports Aquaventures Swim Centre 604/736-SWIM www.aquaventuresswim.com Vancouver
Cartwheels 604/275-0020 or 604/594-1555 www.cartwheelsincorporated.com Richmond/Surrey
Jump Gymnastics 604/568-9690 www.jumpgymnastics.ca Langara Family YMCA 604/324-9622 www.langarafamilyymca.org Ages 6–12: Hours 8 am–5 pm Basketball, Soccer, Hockey, Tennis and more! Girls and Boys only options offered, as well as a UBC Wrestling Camp for ages 12–16. Financial Assistance available.
SUMMER PROGRAMS REGISTER ONLINE NOW
Summer Camps Ages 6–14
Horseback riding, swimming, campfires, hayrides, arts & crafts, games, great home cooked meals 쑺 Summer
Weeks from $398-$505 (HST Incl)
45 minutes east of Vancouver
TEL: 604-857-1712 www.webbsholidayacres.ca
Sportball Junior (16-24 mos) Parent & Child/Me & My Dad (2-3 yrs) Multi-Sport (3-9 yrs) Outdoor Soccer (2-9 yrs) Camps (3-9 yrs) Sportball Fitkids (6-12 yrs) Birthday Parties (2-12 yrs)
WWW.SPORTBALL.CA
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION: 604.688.3157 | VANCOUVER@SPORTBALL.CA
bcparent.ca • summer 2012 21
summer camp guide RBL Basketball 604/269-0221 or 604/253-5295 www.RBLBasketball.ca Week long camps for boys and girls from kindergarten to Grade 10. Two to three hours each day. The Little Gym 604/539-2543 www.thelittlegym.com Call for summer day camp details. Oval Sport Camps Richmond Olympic Oval 778/296-1400 www.camps@richmondoval.ca We offer 49 different sports camps for ages 6–16 Visit our website for details. Pedalheads Bike Camp 604/874-6464 www.pedalheads.ca Vancouver Royal Soccer 800/427-0536 www.royalsoccer.com Royal Soccer is excited to offer our #1 grassroots soccer camp in Canada. Open to boys & girls ages 5 to 13 at multiple BC locations during July & August. Sportball 604/688-3157 Sportball is a non-competitive sports program for children 16 months to 12 years. Children are introduced to eight popular sports: soccer, hockey, football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, tennis and golf. Sportball offers weekly pro-
grams, outdoor soccer, camps during school holidays, and birthday parties. Come try a free trial class! See our website for a location near you. Summer Smash! Community Tennis Camps at Elm Park 604/257-8100 http://vancouver.ca/parks/cc/kerrisdale/ website/ Email: spencer.mackoff@gmail.com New this summer! Come learn tennis from our team of experienced and enthusiastic coaches at the beautiful Elm Park courts, located in the heart of Kerrisdale. There is a group for every age, from “Mini-Hitters” (5–7yrs), to “Junior Aces” (8–12yrs), all the way up to “Teen Aces” (13–18yrs). We’ve got a group for you! Sign-up through the Kerrisdale Community Centre.
CELEBRATING 17 YEARS OF DANCE EXCELLENCE
2012 SUMMER SCHOOL July 14 - August 17 | Register NOW
BALLET JAZZ TAP HIP HOP ACROBATICS CHINESE DANCE BALLROOM MUSICAL THEATRE
Twin Rivers Equestrian Centre 604/574-5481 www.twinriversequestrian.com Twin Rivers is a great place for campers to improve their riding skills and learn all about horses in an indoor riding facility. We invite campers of all different levels of ability. For further details and registration forms see our website.
Artistic Director/Principal: Anabel Ho, ARAD, RAD RTS, AISTD
UBC Sport Camps 604/822-6121 www.ubccamps.ca Vancouver
Build confidence, self-discipline and self-esteem in a fun and nurturing environment. Train with VAD’s distinguished faculty and guest teachers: Simon Sylvain Lalonde & Heather Laura Gray Vancouver Academy of Dance Main Office: 118-12838 Clarke Place Richmond, BC V6V 2H6 CANADA Phone: (604) 231-8293 | Fax: (604)231-8280 info@vancouverdance.com | http://www.vancouverdance.com
Vancouver Phoenix Gymnastics 604/737-7693 www.phoenixgymnastics.com
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TAP JAZZ BALLET Hip Hop
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www.westsidedance.ca
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Dr. Marisa Marciano
COUNCIL OF
Naturopathic Physician
IN B.C.
Core music skills are developed through playful activities that captivate each childs imagination. All children are reading & writing basic music by age 5. An innovative, internationally reputable program combining Kodaly-Orff-Dalcroze. Violin lessons – 5 yrs
22 bcparent.ca • summer 2012
Looking for the best preschool education? We offer the highest quality programs for children and their families 38 Award Winning Preschools in B.C. For the preschool nearest you
www.cpppreschools.bc.ca
or call (604)435-4430
dr.marisamarciano@gmail.com doctormarciano.com 604 355 71o6 쐍 LICENSED NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR 쐍 B.A KINESIOLOGY 쐍 CRANIOSACRAL & ACUPUNCTURE THERAPY 쐍 BOTANICAL MEDICINE NUTRITION & LIFESTYLE COUNSELING 쐍 CREATIVITY & COMPASSION Free introductory consultations available by request.
2012 Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Summer Dance Workshops