Familiesnow Fall 2014 by Coquitlam Now

familiesnow Fall 2014

• FundAid connects communities with residents in need • Healthier School lunches

come inside! • Natural health tips for children • Snooping violates kids’ trust

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Fall 2014

Determining the right amount of Page homework

FamiliesNOW is published and distributed by The Tri-Cities NOW Newspaper, a member of Glacier Media Group. Reproduction prohibited. Copyright protected.

PUBLISHER Brad Alden

Page

EDITOR Leneen Robb

CONTRIBUTORS Lisa King Kathy Lynn Christina Montgomery

How to make school lunch healthier

DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING Lara Graham ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS James Corea Kerri Gilmour Sanjay Sharma Bentley Yamaura

Get your family back on track this fall

Page

GRAPHIC DESIGN Gary Slavin THE TRI-CITIES NOW NEWSPAPER 216-3190 St.Johns St. Port Moody, BC V5C 1A2 Ph: 604-492-4492 Fax: 604-492-4493 www.thenownews.com

On the inside... 4.

Photo credits: Thinkstock Photo services, Metro Creative & News Canada

For advertising information in Winter 2014 edition please call Lara Graham at 604-492-4229 For more information: advertising@thenownews.com

6. 9. 10.

FundAid connects communities with residents in need

Snooping on kids violates their trust The Pros and Cons of using the internet to complete schoolwork Moms Earning More: a marketing group that helps moms earn more money at home

14. 20. 22.

An organized locker can lead to an organized student Try these natural health tips for children A son is just as vulnerable to cyberbullying as a daughter Fall 2014 I familiesnow I 3 FN

crowdfunding

FundAid connects communities with residents in need We all know the giving spirit that runs deep in the Tri-Cities. Every year, charitable organizations, social agencies, youth groups and even local sports teams rely on a little charitable boost from local businesses and residents like you. It helps these important institutions stay viable in the community. But there are also times in our own lives when we need help. Every year, the Tri-Cities NOW pages are filled with the stories of your neighbours battling a severe tragedy in their lives — a devastating illness, a fire, a car crash. In Port Coquitlam alone, the city’s fire department dealt with 159 fires in 2013. The aftermath of such an event can leave a family devastated and in need.

You hear the stories that come out of these unfortunate situations, and you want to help. Glacier Media, which owns the Tri-Cities NOW, wants to be there to help, too. It has launched FundAid, a crowdfunding initiative that taps into its member newspapers’ deep ties to their communities. “The biggest challenge in any crowdfunding campaign is getting the word out,” says Martha Perkins, a former newspaper editor who is spearheading FundAid. “That’s what we’re good at. Our newspapers are built on a strong tradition of sharing stories and information that matter to our readers.” Perkins is available to help individuals and groups come up with effective FundAid

campaigns that will better ensure their success and will let editors know of campaigns that might be of particular interest to their readers. The will to give doesn’t always have to be motivated by tragedy — maybe you have a cause or charity you want to support. There are plenty of TriCities organizations that could use the lift. Or perhaps you are that proverbial person who has everything and wants to celebrate a special milestone in life by paying it forward. Our sister newspapers will also be running weekly ads for FundAid and will help spread the word through their social media channels. “We see this as a way to do some good in our communities,” says Alvin Brouwer, the president of

Glacier Media’s community digital media and newspapers in the Lower Mainland. “Glacier Media has so many resources that can be put to work to help people raise the money that they need.” FundAid is partnering with Fundrazr, a Vancouver-based company that recently won the City of Vancouver Excellence Award for small technology companies. Fundrazr has created a dynamic platform that makes it easy to create a campaign and spread the word through social media. Local businesses can get involved, too, by offering perks or sponsoring the service fees for a campaign. For more information go to FundAid.ca or contact Perkins directly at mperkins@glacier media.ca or 604-630-3525.

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Snooping on kids violates their trust By Kathy Lynn There was a time when parents wanted to know whether they should read their children’s diaries or go through their backpacks. The answer was a resounding no. While parents saw that activity as a way of knowing what was going on with their kids, kids saw it as a lack of trust. And let’s face it, when kids know we are checking up on them they will simply become sneakier. Today the issue is monitoring their activities online. One product, TeenSafe, provides parents the ability to see the text messages and social media activity being sent and received by their children to ensure they are not suffering from the constant harassment of cyberbullies. The tool is designed to allow parents to see their kids’ text messages, location, web browsing history, contacts and call logs.

We know that increasingly, most teens have a smartphone and that the rise of smartphone use by children has dramatically increased the frequency of bullying and, more importantly, cyberbullying. The motivation for parents to buy this product is positive. The advertising material suggests that the information they receive by monitoring all communication can help open lines of communication between parent and child. My guess is that it would do just the opposite. I can imagine the discussion. Parents and child sit at the dinner table and Mom says, “I saw on your smartphone that you are being bullied by one of your classmates. I’d like us to talk about it and

help you to handle the situation.” To the surprise of her parents, 15-year-old Olivia is furious. “You spied on me! Don’t you trust me? I don’t ever want to speak to you again!” Olivia jumps up from the table and races down the hall to her bedroom where she slams the door, throws herself on the bed and bursts into tears. You can count on the fact that Olivia will not be making any future communications on that phone. The problem is that kids are not telling their parents about the bullying. This is not much different from the past but the challenge for victims today is that they can’t get away from the bully. In the past, home was a safe place, but cyberbullying follows you wherever you go.

continued on page 7

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Cyberbullying can lead to low self-esteem, sleep problems, depression and suicide. So parents need to be aware of the issue and they need to be talking to their kids. But when the discussion comes about as a result of spying on your child’s private communications, teens are not open to any discussion. They are angry, they feel betrayed and they are embarrassed. So parents need to introduce the topic of cyberbullying. Ask them about it and let them tell you what they know. Ask them to let you know if they ever have a problem because you would like to help. Explain that you know it can be embarrassing but you also know that it’s hard to handle alone. When you give your

kids the lead and respect their privacy you will find you’ll have more fruitful conversations. If you notice a change in their behaviour, you need to talk to them: “Olivia, I notice that you seem really down in the dumps and tired. Is there something going on I should know about?” She is likely to say that everything is OK and you can respond by saying, “OK, I know you think it’s all OK but I am worried. Please let me know when you’re ready to talk. And if you’d prefer to talk to someone else, I will arrange that as well.” The more we open the lines of communication with our kids, the more we will hear.

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Kathy Lynn is a professional speaker and author of Vive la Différence, Who’s In Charge Anyway? and But Nobody Told Me I’d Ever Have to Leave Home. If you want to read more, sign up for her informational newsletter at parentingtoday.ca.

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Students spend roughly six hours in the classroom each day while their parents could put in eight hours at the oﬃce. When a family returns home in the evening, homework is probably the last thing they want to worry about. Still, homework is part of many families’ daily routines, and chances are it is not going anywhere soon — no matter how much kids complain. There’s no denying homework can be a chore, but how much homework is assigned could make a difference in a student’s overall academic performance. Parents, students and educators have long debated the homework issue, and that debate has included discussions on determining the right amount of homework and if homework has any actual benefits on student performance.

grade level. After reviewing more than 100 studies on the effectiveness of homework, Cooper found high school students who do homework outperform those who do not on standardized tests, and those who do homework earn better grades. Homework is only half as effective for middle school students, while

Is homework beneficial?

at the elementary school level, homework has no apparent measurable effect on achievement.

There are various points of view regarding the benefits of homework. The prevalent philosophy in education for decades has been that students learn better when lessons are reinforced through homework. Yet new findings indicate that homework may benefit certain age groups and grade levels more than others.

Still, some educators are reluctant to stop assigning homework. Some teachers assign homework, but only after fine tuning assignments to be as effective as possible, while others feel homework diminishes interest in learning, especially time-consuming or especially diﬃcult assignments.

According to Harris Cooper, Ph.D., a psychology professor at the University of Missouri, the benefits of doing homework seem to depend on the student’s

Ultimately, homework is a way for teachers to measure how well their students grasp lessons and concepts. Parents of struggling students can continued on page 9

continued from page 8

always ask for additional work to help kids better understand their coursework. What is the right amount of homework? Homework assignments are on the rise, and that increase may be fuelled by certain factors. Intense pressure on educators to meet national testing standards likely inﬂuences the number of worksheets and assignments teachers send home each night. If students do not get work finished in the classroom, they usually must complete it at home. In addition, the idea that excessive homework is synonymous with a rigorous education is common among some parents, who may feel that extra schoolwork will get their children into top colleges and universities. According to Bruce Ravage, the executive director of Park City Prep in Bridgeport, Conn., homework is only given in his school to reinforce and review what students learned in the classroom. He says the charter school has been emphasizing the quality of homework assignments over the quantity. The National Education Association suggests 10 minutes of homework per night for first-graders is suﬃcient. This amount of homework should increase by 10 minutes per grade level, so second graders would be assigned 20 minutes per night, third graders 30 minutes, and so on. However, the NEA said there should be a cap on homework so that it does not exceed two hours per night. Parental assistance Parents should be available to provide guidance and help with homework when necessary. But parents also should be careful not to do the homework for their children, which only undermines the purpose of the assignments. If homework appears burdensome or a consistent source of struggle for students, parents should speak with their children’s teachers to discuss both the amount and type of homework given. The homework debate figures to continue with each new crop of students entering school. Educators and family can continue to work together to help students make the most of their educations. — MetroCreative

The

PROS and CONS Using the Internet to complete schoolwork The classroom atmosphere familiar to today’s children is likely very different from the atmosphere their parents were accustomed to when they were students. Many of these changes can be traced to technology, which has gradually had an increasing presence in the classroom over the last several decades. But technology has not only changed the classroom experience for kids, but thanks in large part to the Internet, technology also has changed the way kids approach their schoolwork at home. Though a potentially valuable learning tool, the Internet also poses some problems for today’s students. The following are some of the advantages and disadvantages of relying on the Internet to complete schoolwork.

THE PROS The accessibility of the Internet can be a significant benefit to students. Students have a wealth of resources available to them online, and those resources can make it easier for kids to understand key concepts on nearly every subject. Whereas students might once have been forced to trek to the library to research a given subject, now they can do so from the comforts of home. And unlike the library, the Internet never closes, so information is at students’ disposal regardless of when they sit down to do their schoolwork. Another advantage to using the Internet to complete schoolwork is that the Internet can be an extension of the classroom beyond school walls. Educational websites abound on the Internet, and many of these sites are written and monitored by professional educators. These sites can be valuable resources for students who may find themselves struggling with certain lessons. Many of their questions or concerns may already be addressed, and certain topics may be more easily explained on a website written by a professional educator or scholar in a given field. Rather than waiting to address an issue in class, students can visit such websites to find answers to their questions immediately. continued on page 10 Fall 2014 I familiesnow I 9 FN

continued from page 9

The Internet also can provide students with a forum to discuss their studies that does not always exist in the classroom. That forum may engage students and make them better students. A passionate online discussion about a reading assignment may encourage kids to approach such assignments more fervently. Though such discussions may exist in a traditional classroom atmosphere, many students might be hesitant to express themselves in front of their classmates, feeling the anonymity of the Internet is a more inviting and less stressful forum than a classroom of their peers.

THE CONS As beneficial as the Internet can be to students, it’s not always what it’s cracked up to be. Much of the concern about using the Internet to complete schoolwork is the reliability of the information on the Internet. Many sites offer reliable and well-researched information, but many do not. Students, especially younger students, may not be capable of discerning fact from fiction and will simply take the written word on the Internet as truth. That may land students in hot water or make it more diﬃcult for them to understand their subjects. Another significant disadvantage to using the Internet to complete schoolwork is that students may be tempted to cheat. Because the Internet is so vast, students might be tempted to cut and paste answers to homework problems from the Internet or copy information from websites and claim it as their own, feeling as if there is no way their teachers will ever find out. Some students may not even understand that such cutting, pasting or copying is wrong. But in addition to being wrong, such behaviour, whether students are caught or not, also makes it harder for students to learn the material, which will make it more diﬃcult for them to grasp key concepts going forward. The Internet can also be a significant distraction to students. Social networking sites can quickly distract kids from their schoolwork, costing them valuable time they should be devoting to their studies. For more than a decade, the Internet has proven a valuable resource for students across the globe. But students must recognize there are advantages and disadvantages to relying too heavily on the Internet when pursuing their studies. — MetroCreative 10 FN I Fall 2014 I familiesnow

When life happens, things can get really busy It’s especially true for the modern mother who’s often faced with juggling a busy career and spending quality time with the family. That was the predicament for Laurie Proskin and Krista Geremia, both friends and moms. With young kids at home, Proskin said she was looking for a way to work at home, while supplementing an income that would allow her to afford living in the pricey Lower Mainland. Geremia was in a similar boat having established a career in real estate, but wanting to be at home with her children. The two found there was very little opportunity that met their needs or didn’t require a huge capital investment. That’s when they got together to co-create their own business called Moms Earning More: a marketing group that helps moms earn more money at home. “There are so many women today struggling to find that balance of contributing to their households financially, while keeping their family a priority,” Proskin said. Based in Coquitlam, the women have partnered with an eco-friendly North American consumable goods manufacturer that ships concentrated products to save on plastic and fuel consumption. The company also manufactures biodegradable cleaners without phosphates or fillers to harm the water system. “We find great joy in helping educate families on ways that they can make simple changes in their everyday purchasing that will have a huge impact on the environment,” Proskin and Geremia said. But as Geremia explained, the business isn’t like the more commonly thought of companies that specialize in selling kitchen products door-to-door or through parties — there’s no start-up fee and no inventory to purchase.

Moms Earning More works more like referral marketing and helps people shop for safer products, with a customer base of about 1,000 and growing. “We really do operate uniquely in the marketplace unlike any other homebased business out there,” Geremia said. Besides earning a real income, the company gives women the ﬂexibility to choose when they work: sometimes it’s just a couple hours in a day and other times it could be 10 hours. In the end, it’s all about offering ﬂexibility to busy moms. “Life throws women’s lives curveballs and with Moms Earning

More we have the ﬂexibility to handle the curveballs while earning an income,” Proskin said. So how do you get involved? The pair behind Moms Earning More said most of their team has come onboard through word of mouth. However, interested women are encouraged to check out the company’s website at www. westcoastmomsearningmore.com to learn more. From there, the pair will give any potential team members a call personally and host a live webcast to show people exactly what they do and then go from there. “It’s a great way for friends and likeminded women to work together,” Geremia said.

Fall 2014 I familiesnow I 11 FN

Get your family

Back on Track this fall By Christina Montgomery

The worst part of getting her daughter ready to head back to school last year was helping her deal with being away from the family’s new puppy. Second worst? The days in late September when it would be warm for a day or two, and then time to put a sweater on, and Janice would pretty much have to wrestle her six-year-old daughter Jen to the ﬂoor of her Coquitlam bedroom. This year, as parents across the province fretted about the teachers’ strike and how to plan for an uncertain school start, Janice’s primary goal was to prevent a repeat of last year’s tears on those two fronts.

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In early August, she took a little photo of the dog sitting beside a sign that says “I’m at work too,” laminated it with strips of clear packing tape and had it ready to tuck into her daughter’s school jeans so she can remind herself during the day that “everyone is doing what they’re supposed to be doing.” And yes, she had two back-up prints made. To solve the wardrobe wars, Janice planned on having Jen pick out two outfits she likes every night, and letting her choose when she gets dressed. If she wears something that’s not warm enough, “I accept that she will survive,” the work-at-home mom laughs. Every kid is different, and every age presents its challenges as the fall season

kicks into gear. Some kids can’t let go of summer or can’t face bad memories of school the year before. Some are excited but can’t keep organized. Others muddle through no matter what. Janice, like a lot of Tri-Cities parents dealing with the transition from summer holidays to school scheduling, has it a little easier than some. She’s a web editor who works from home and can usually juggle her work around family demands. Still, life with a young daughter and a nineyear-old niece who is over several days a week has its unexpected moments, and asked about advice she might offer other parents, she offered one tip she says works magic for her family. Janice and her sister, who lives in Vancouver, keep both girls enrolled in summer swimming classes and a winter soccer league. The weekend events lend a permanent structure to the week continued on page 13

wrinkles arise, and tweak the plan if you need to. It’s a great opportunity to have a chat with the kids about how to handle time, and how to check in now and then to see you’ve all made the right choices. Pruning and editing is a life skill, right?

structured learning. Start an art project that has nothing to do with school.

tweaking seasonally. Have a spot for coats, backpacks, sports gear and musical instruments. Make folders for paperwork. Organize school supplies and desks or work areas. Check periodically to make sure it’s all working.

all, smile. It’s the 10 Above circle of life, right? The

your gear and space 5 Get organized and keep

continued from page 12

that keeps the girls focused and gives them something to do with kids other than classmates. “It just works,” Janice says. “Good or bad week at school, they practise sports and the mood from school never overlaps with that. It’s very routine, very regular, very physical and it says to them that they are more than a student. They’re a person with a life out there beyond home and school.” Janice‘s approach ticks a number of boxes for parents aiming to see September nerves fade into autumn peace. A survey by the Tri-Cities NOW of online advice on holding the back-to-schoolblues to a minimum produces a Top Ten list like this:

month or two of classes start. Ideally, you celebrated with a last bit of fun to close the summer out. Now it’s time to be equally enthusiastic about the fall season. Get excited about school and whatever goes with it at your kids’ ages: new skills, new adventures, new responsibilities. Autumn brings them new sports routines, lessons and playdates too. back to a school3 Get friendly bedtime routine.

That means the whole evening routine, not just the hour for lights out. If you have a special family ritual that everyone’s attached to, stick with it. Or start a fresh ritual. Stack up some new library books for bedtime reading; invest in some new “school” pyjamas, or maybe even some “weekend PJs” to give the school week its own rhythm and the weekend a special ﬂavour.

about your fantasies. 4 Get your morning routine 1 Forget going too. Most important Accept that there are going to be some bumps in the road as you get the school season relaunched — especially this year. They’re kids. You’re human. And at some point this fall, the gears will grind smoothly again. So plan, but with realistic expectations. upbeat about the 2 Betransition time as the first

is leaving enough time to get ready stress-free. Pencil in time for clothes, food, lunches, a few minutes to check the calendar, gather paperwork and hug the pet. Sort something out for yourself too, even if it means getting up an hour early for tea and yoga. Remember to pay attention as September ﬂows into October and scheduling

your digital act 6 Get together.

The fall to-do list will firm up at some point. Get the family’s dates, contacts, sporting events and club meetings sync’d on iCal or Google Calendar. Consider finding older kids a way to track afterschool chores on a site like www.goalforit. com. Set up a digital photo album for each child. Get your tech gear sorted and find chargers a permanent home. Keep on top of a supply of ink and paper for the printer. sure there are clothes 7 Make ready for September and

update them as the weather cools off and the kids pick up new sports and activities. everyone’s summer 8 Get brain switched off. Start

the summer 9 Readjust social brain too. It’s time to

polish school skills. Plan some activities that require sharing, cooperation and listening. Tighten up the rules on TV and chores if you need to, just to get everyone into “rules” gear.

lesson for everyone is that life is long and grand, and there are always new adventures to get ourselves ready for. Right now it’s school, and the more you can do to help it seem fun, challenging and doable

for kids, the more competent they’ll feel. Help them with their worries and bad days, let them know you’re there to help them through whatever comes along during the year, and it will all work out. And anyway, before you know it, summer’s back.

reading again. Do some Fall 2014 I familiesnow I 13 FN

clutter-free life

An organized locker can lead to an organized student Students learn many important lessons while in middle school and high school. Assignments get progressively

more diﬃcult, and students grow accustomed to being independent thinkers and largely responsible for their educational accomplishments. In addition, students may learn other lessons, such as how

organization can play a critical role in success and benefit them both in the classroom and out of it. Students are typically introduced to lockers during high school or middle school. As elementary school students, kids use classroom desks to store books and supplies, and how desks are organized is often governed by teachers who have firm rules regarding the condition of desks. Lockers are an entirely different story. Students are solely responsible for organizing and maintaining their lockers and may be tasked with following a few rules set forth by the school. Students may overlook the importance of organized

lockers, and in such instances lockers can easily become disaster areas. But a messy locker can add unnecessary stress to a school day. Getting lockers organized requires some effort and upkeep. • Colour code the locker. Grouping subjects by colour can make it easier to find notebooks, textbooks and folders in a locker. If materials necessary for math class are colored in red, students can quickly find these materials en route to class. • Remove trash. Remove anything that does not belong in the locker, including garbage and old projects. Students should not use their lockers to store items they don’t need for school. That only takes away space for the stuff kids do need for class.

• Group according to schedule. In addition to employing a colour-coding system, students also can group books by daily schedule. Organize the locker based on which classes are held in the morning and afternoon. This makes it less likely that students will forget supplies they need for class. • Think about extra accessories. Lockers have the basics, which are usually a shelf and a hook for coats. All sorts of locker accessories exist to customize the interior. An extra shelf may be helpful for storing books or smaller supplies. Look into a message board or more hooks that can be hung on the inside of the door. Figure out what your child can use to keep items from piling up on the ﬂoor. — MetroCreative

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School trustees will provide more details on proposed cuts at a meeting Tuesday at the districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offices.

District to cut 142 jobs PROJECTED OPERATING DEFICIT ESTIMATED AT $12M Jeremy DEUTSCH

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A self employment opportunity

jdeutsch@thenownews.com School District 43 officials knew they would have to make cuts to deal with a ballooning deficit, and on Tuesday employees and the public learned just how deep the reductions will be once the budget is done. To make up for a $12.1-million projected operating deficit for the 2013/2014 school year, the district is looking at cutting six per cent of its staff across the board. More specifically, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposing to cut 142 pos-

itions within the district. A further breakdown of the numbers has the district cutting 81 teachers, 19 teacher assistants/special education assistants/youth workers along with 32 clerical/custodial/IT and facilities positions and 10 from administration. The staffing cuts add up to $11.5 million in savings. Some of the positions being cut will be offset by attrition, with as many as 30 staff in various positions already putting in their retirement papers for the end of the year. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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How to make

School lunch healthier

he benefits of a healthy diet are clear and well documented. In addition to providing the nutrients a growing body needs, consuming a balanced diet helps children maintain a healthy weight. Obesity continues to be a growing problem among schoolaged children and can contribute to the onset of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol and many other adverse medical conditions. Children attending school will eat at least one meal away from home each day. A healthy lunch provides sound nutrition to give students energy to do well in school and for the rest of the day. Children who do not eat well at lunch may have diﬃculty concentrating, while others may feel sluggish or tired. As part of the 2010 Healthy, HungerFree Kids Act, the United States

Canada is one of the few leading industrialized countries that does not have a national nutrition strategy to implement healthy school lunches. It’s estimated that only 10 to 15 per cent of Canadian children have access to school meals. These meals are not provided by a well-funded national program, but by a patchwork of individual volunteer efforts, some provincial government funding and corporate donations.

National School Lunch Program was revised to guarantee healthy, nutritionally sound choices, as established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for lunch. America’s school menus were altered to be healthier than ever, including more fruits and vegetables while limiting calories. Despite some controversy through the years, including some students saying the smaller portions and food choices aren’t always satisfying, states suffering from high child obesity rates have seen marked improvements.

Whether students purchase lunch from school or bring lunch from home, there are ways to guarantee a more diverse offering and better nutrition. Here are some guidelines to follow. • Oﬀer nutrient-dense foods. Foods should contribute to the daily recommended amounts of protein, iron, calcium, vitamin A and vitamin C. Provide a selection of foods, such as lean protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, that will give children the nutrients they need. Nutrientdense foods also help kids feel fuller, longer. • Limit fat intake. Avoid foods that do not get their continued on page 17

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fat from polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. Saturated fats can lead to obesity and clogged arteries. The American Heart Association recommends kids get no more than 25 to 35 per cent of their calories from fat. Fish, nuts and olives are healthy fat sources.

lunches and cut back on snack foods. Eating meals regularly will keep energy levels up during school and make kids less likely to reach for unhealthy snacks to fill hunger gaps. • Make small changes that add up. Switching from white bread to whole grain breads, and opting for low-fat dairy products instead of full-fat dairy products can make a world of difference. Kids may not notice a change in texture or ﬂavour, and many of kids’ favourite foods, such as chicken nuggets, pizza and macaroni and cheese, can be made with healthier ingredients. • Remember, beverages count, too. Giving children a healthy lunch and then packing a sugar-filled, high-calorie drink negates your efforts. Calories from beverages can quickly add up. Water is always the best option for a healthy drink. Low-fat milk and real fruit juice consumed in moderation also make healthy alternatives to sugary beverages.

• Let kids choose some of their food. Allow kids to pick some of the healthy foods they will be eating. Giving kids a say in their diets will make them more likely to enjoy their

Offering healthy school lunches is an important step to raising healthy kids. New guidelines and offerings make it easier for kids to get the nutrition they need for their growing bodies. — MetroCreative

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Try these

natural health tips forchildren As our kids settle in for another school year, it is also the time for parents to prepare and plan ways to ensure their children thrive, both in school and at home. The Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) has a few tips to help your child have a healthy and successful school year.

a well-functioning digestive and immune system. Many children won’t appreciate the fermented foods in which probiotics are found, so consider a probiotic supplement specifically for children.

Balance Blood Sugar Starting the day with a good breakfast is a vital way to ensure your child leaves home feeling energetic and ready to face the day. Many breakfast cereals designed for children are high in refined sugar with little nutrient value. Eggs are nature’s fast food, rich in protein and B vitamins for energy, so try introducing some boiled or scrambled free-range eggs for breakfast. Pack brain-boosting essentials in their lunchboxes that include sources of polyunsaturated fats, which are excellent for brain health as well as providing energy. Rich sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids include nuts, pumpkin seeds and avocados. The brain’s fuel of choice is glucose, so supporting balanced blood sugar levels throughout the day will help the brain function at its best. Opt for whole grains and fibre-rich fruits and veggies, which are better for balancing blood sugar.

Healthy Hygiene Schools are a breeding ground for germs. Encourage your kids to wash their hands with soap and warm water to help kill off the bugs that may cause an upset tummy, a cold or the ﬂu. In contrast, the good bacteria found in probiotics are essential for 20 FN I Fall 2014 I familiesnow

Boost Brain Power Interactive reading, enrolment in early childhood education and preschool are all linked to increased intelligence, but a fourth factor — supplementing with DHA, a long-chain fat in fish oil — can accelerate reading ability in children who are under-performing. DHA not only provides the building blocks for a healthy brain today, it is also essential for a lifetime of memories. The brain experiences massive growth over the first five years of life, so supporting that growth with DHA present in fish-oil supplements not only fosters brain development, but can provide vital fuel for active bodies. A probiotic supplement can also be helpful for strengthening the immune system, as well as for improving digestion and helping the body absorb essential vitamins and minerals. You can prepare for a healthy and natural back-to-school season with the online information at chfa.ca. www.newscanada.com

Make the most of your

local library By Christina Montgomery

he long, lazy summer afternoons have faded to memory. Play dates are pencilled in, lessons are scheduled. And everyone is constantly off in a different direction.

There’s an answer for those days when you’re looking for a simple way to bring the family back together. It’s the public library. The Tri-Cities are home to comfortable, accessible, freeof-charge libraries that offer a wide range of programs and services that are easy to structure your days around — everything from books

and magazines and public computers and homework tutors to a chair by the fireplace and a convenient, central spot to relax and keep warm while you’re waiting to meet up with the kids. A detailed list of offerings for each city’s library is accessible online at www.library. coquitlam.bc.ca, www.library. portmoody.ca or www.fvrl. bc.ca/locations/terry_fox_ library.php. Here’s how to get the most out of them: When you need quiet time: When the house gets too noisy and everyone needs a quiet break, think of the library the way you always have: a quiet refuge. Find everyone a chair or a corner of carpeting and a book to read. Let little ones pick out a picture book. Let older kids find a CD, DVD or an audio book to download onto their favourite device and hand them some earphones. Borrow a computer and tap the endless offering of online

newspapers that are normally locked behind paywalls. Or borrow an eReader for digital reading. When you need social time: Tri-Cities libraries offer an incredible array of group activities. Check out regular story times, singalongs and play groups for kids and socialize with other caregivers while they’re busy. Dip into Tumblebooks, a collection of interactive talking picture books, or try the children’s digital collection. Teens can get help with homework, hook up with a mentor for their tech challenges or volunteer as a reading mentor for a younger child. For adults, there are book clubs and literacy groups. In partnership with Simon Fraser University, local libraries are helping older adults share their life stories using digital media. Many of the offerings are available in languages other than English and are designed for recent immigrants.

When you need professional help: Libraries offer computers, computer classes and wireless access. Staff can help with most research, job searches and employment resources. Or they can help you tap into online language lessons. Just tell them what you’re trying to figure out. If you can’t get in, you can ask online. When shopping’s not an option: When you’re done your day at the library branch, there’s always something to tuck in your bag and savour at home. All branches have book, movie and music collections, and ebooks that can be downloaded and read at home. For days you can’t make it into a branch to pick something up, a library card and a PIN number will get you access to free online books, audio books, newspapers, magazines, databases and learning resources 24 hours a day. Fall 2014 I familiesnow I 21 FN

cyberbullying

A son is just as vulnerable to cyberbullying as a daughter New data about cyberbullying in Canada reveals that parents worry more about how their daughters will be treated online than they do about their sons. Fifty-three per cent of parents with daughters between the ages of eight and 16 said they were concerned about online bullying, compared to 43 per cent of parents with sons, according to an online survey. The survey Protecting Canadian Families Online, was conducted by Leger on behalf of Primus Telecommunications Canada among parents with children between eight and 16, who had Internet access in their homes.

“It could be that it’s more common to see girls who cyberbully on TV and in movies, or that we tend to stereotype girls for this behaviour, but the truth is that both genders are

The Primus survey also revealed that mothers are more likely than fathers to be concerned about their child’s exposure to sexual content online. Sixty-four per cent of mothers said this issue was a concern, compared to 50 per cent of fathers. Furthermore, half of Canadian parents surveyed said that they themselves had been bullied at some point, a detail that inﬂuenced their concerns about their own children.

equally at risk,” says Dr. Wendy Craig, scientific co-director at PREVNet, a national anticyberbullying organization. Although cyberbullying by girls may look different from cyberbullying by boys, both genders need education on how to prevent and respond to the behaviour.

Thirty-nine per cent of parents who were bullied were concerned about their own children experiencing cyberbullying, versus 31 per cent of parents who share the same concerns but were never bullied. www.newscanada.com

4 ways to protect your child from cyberbullying Online safety is a big concern for Canadian parents. Consider these four tips from Primus Telecommunications Canada in partnership with PREVNet, a national anti-cyberbullying organization: Start talking to children earlier about the dangers of cyberbullying. This conversation should begin as soon as children have access to the Internet. Save messages and share with parents and/or teachers. Show children how to save all threatening or hurtful messages they receive via the Internet. Block harassing or threatening messages online. Make use of online privacy tools to block bullies. Teach children to be a part of the solution, not the problem. Passing along a private or hurtful image is still online bullying.

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