Capital Parent May 2014

Parenting: the marathon to end all marathons

Keeping score: does it help or hinder?

A mom’s story about her karate kid

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SPRING INTO ACTION

PHOTO BY KATE SETTLE

Best places to enjoy Ottawa’s blooms, 10 fun ways to get moving in May, a new addition to our list of top parenting blogs, ... & more!

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From The Editor PHOTO : JASON CODE

One of the interesting things about being the editor of a publication like Capital Parent is that I work in a completely different time frame than the people around me. This is the May issue, and it’s being put together while there’s still snow on the ground. It feels a little odd to write about tulips and outdoor activities, but at the same time it reminds me that it’s not too far away and there is a light at the end of this long, dark, and snowy tunnel.

Given our hunger for warmer weather, this issue has a split focus: sport and spring. We are springing into action!

Katharine Fletcher shares some great destinations for flower gazing on page 5. (Hint: this may be a good Mother’s Day activity!) On the sporty side, Anita Grace asks whether competition helps or hinders kids in organized sports (page 6), and Sarah Niman’s article on page 8 is for parents whose kids are interested in hockey and don’t quite know where to start. And I have no doubt parents will be able to relate to Lynn Jatania’s musings about stay-at-home fitness on page 4!

It wasn’t until we started pulling together this issue that I saw just how many interesting sports are available for kids in Ottawa. I asked Ottawa parents on Facebook what kind of sports their kids were doing, and I loved Jayda Sigger’s experience: “My son races BMX. It has been great for him since he is very active, loves sports but does not like team sports as much.

He races for himself but practices as part of a team which includes all ages and abilities. The older riders teach, support and encourage the young riders. It is a very nice sport culture.”

I had no idea that there was a BMX scene around Ottawa, and her comment made me realize that it’s worth doing a little research to see what options are available for our kids. Whether your child is an independent spirit who enjoys competitive swimming or running, or thrives in a team environment like soccer or hockey – there truly is something for everyone out there. Who knows, you might find a sport your children will enjoy for the rest their lives.

ANDREA TOMKINS andrea@capitalparent.ca

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Who’s on the cover? It’s Graeme Nelson, age 5!

Besides our famous tulips, crabapple blossoms are probably one of Ottawa’s most welcome signs of spring! Photo by Kate Settle.

CAPITAL PARENT SUMMER SURVEY Summer is coming!

Are you ready?

What’s your favourite beach in Ottawa?

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CARING FOR KIDS

10 great ways to spring into motion this May

BY JASON HAUG, PROGRAM & PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICER, OTTAWA PUBLIC HEALTH

M

ay is a beautiful month to get outside and be active.

There are many fun things to do with kids of all ages.

We’ve decided to highlight some suggestions for you this month in case you’re interested in trying something new!

BRING BACK PLAY! You don’t need to sign up for an organized activity to be active. It’s simple! Just play!

Unstructured play is a great way for kids to learn social skills and motor skills. Games like tag, hide-and-go-seek, red rover – basically the games that we used to play as kids – are just as fun today. Check out Participaction’s Bring Back Play website (bringbackplay.ca) for easy-to-find activities to fit your family’s needs.

1

CHALK IT UP! All you need is chalk and a hard surface – like a driveway or sidewalk – to create a fun game.

You can draw a race track, an obstacle course, or a traditional hopscotch grid. Aside from the obvious physical benefits of hopping, hopscotch can also help your child learn how to count, balance on one foot, and explore their creativity.

2

BRING OUT THE BUBBLES! There’s something magical about bubbles, isn’t there? Maybe it’s because they look like mini balloons, or maybe it’s the unpredictable ways they move. Even pets enjoy the thrill of chasing them down. You can have a good hour of fun just letting your kids run after the wild elusive bubbles. You can easily make your own bubbles by combining 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons corn syrup, and 4 tablespoons of dish soap.

3

GO FLY A KITE! Not only will this allow you and your child to run around together on a windy day, but it’s a

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great opportunity to get crafty with your designs.

There are tons of free and easy designs online to help you construct a simple kite. Try my-bestkite.com. Choose one of these designs for your next family project. And beware of power lines and thunderstorms when you go!

EXPLORE THE GREAT OUTDOORS! Ottawa is home to many great nature paths and hiking trails. Whether you use the hike to teach your child about flora and fauna, or just to get some some fresh air, the choice is yours. Pro tip: wear sturdy footwear and bring water, especially if it’s warm. Find a good trail near you at ontariotrails.on.ca.

what our ed Twitter and here’s ce to fly a kite? We ask m (where seu mu r wa the Looking for a good pla by ce spa suggested the “open wn bro river.” @ie the us! off eze told tweeps a good bre are) – you can often get t reminded foo wn Bro oss Bluesfest main stages @R and Park, vote for Walter Baker Thanks guys! @KanataDad cast his Vincent Massey Park. at ce spa at gre the us about

5

PLAY BALL! Whether it’s baseball, basketball, soccer ball, or football, the warmer weather allows you the chance to play some great team sports. Team sports teaches your child commitment, respect, and cooperation. Games can also teach fundamental movement such as throwing, catching, kicking, running, and jumping. You don’t need to be in a league to enjoy the benefits of sports. How about gathering up a family with similarly aged children and challenging them to a game? Grab a ball and head out to an open space. Game on!

6

JOIN THE HUNT! Geocaching is a fun activity for older children who love adventure and exploration. The point of geocaching is to find specially marked containers found at specific GPS coor-

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dinates. It is like a real-life treasure hunt, and can even be done with a smart phone. There’s a lot of great information at Geocaching.com, especially if you’re starting out. If you are looking for something simpler for younger kids, planning a scavenger hunt can be fun too (no gadgets required)!

PLANT A GARDEN! Gardening is fun physical activity with beautiful and edible results. It also teaches kids that it’s okay to get a little bit messy sometimes.

Raking, lifting plants, digging holes, and patting down soil are some of the many ways to keep fit while planting a garden. Perhaps this is the year you plant your own carrots, tomatoes, or herbs? It can be very rewarding to cook with the foods you grow yourself, even if it’s in a container garden.

8

TAKE THE WALK OR BIKE TO SCHOOL CHALLENGE! Walking or biking to school is an easy way to get your kids active before and after school hours. It

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can also give you a chance to have extra social time with them. It’s been shown that kids who are active before school hours tend to perform better academically. A cool way to motivate your child might be to track how far they have walked on a map. Maybe the goal is to walk from Ottawa to Toronto? They can colour in how far they’ve walked at the end of every week.

HAVE A HEALTHY PICNIC! To be active you also need to have the right fuel. A perfect picnic includes a variety of sliced vegetables and fruits, whole grains, cubed cheese, nuts and seeds, or home made trail mix.

This will keep your little ones energized so that they can enjoy ideas #1 through #9 on the list.

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For more information, visit ottawa.ca/health or call 613-580-6744 (TTY: 613-580-9656). You can also connect with OPH on Facebook (facebook.com/ottawahealth), Tumblr (ottawahealth.tumblr.com), Twitter (@OttawaHealth) and on Pinterest (pinterest.com/otthealthsante).

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THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM

Blood, sweat, and tears: a mom’s perspective of exercise

BY LYNN JATANIA

I

had a physical the other day, and all was well until we got to this question: “What are you doing for exercise?”

I had to hang my head and admit that, despite my daily uniform of a t-shirt, hoodie, and yoga pants, I was a poser. My so-called regime consists of a halfhearted weekly visit to the gym (unless a kid is home sick, or I just remembered I haven’t washed the Girl Guide uniforms, or I’ve got a sugar-rush hangover from having two slices of pie for breakfast, which happens more often than I was willing to admit to my physician).

So the doc said, “Good for you!” and then made some notes on her chart, which is never a good thing, and we moved on to the poking and probing bits. But what I really should have told her about exercise was this: I’m in one ongoing, never ending, continuous fitness marathon.

I’m muscling eight loads of laundry a week down a flight of stairs, into the washing machine. I’m snapand-jerking eight loads of wet laundry up into our stacked dryer. I’m folding eight loads of dry laundry with the fast fingers of an NBA point guard, haul-

ing it all back up again, then hopping around and gesticulating wildly while I explain to the children that throwing clean laundry into the bottom of their closet does not qualify as “putting it away.”

I’m hitting the grocery store twice a week – don’t worry, I’m always sure to stretch and do a jog in from my kilometer-away parking spot for a warm up. It’s a speedy 5K race through aisles to get done before school pickup, with the added challenges of pushing a heavy cart, and darting in and among the elderly who have time to costs compare and read labels. I’m loading bins and baskets and boxes and bags into the trunk, then out of the trunk, then into the kitchen, then back out to the garage. I’m balancing six cans of soup in one arm with the grace of a rhythmic gymnast, while trying to figure out how to shift everything in the pantry around to get it all to fit.

I’m sprinting after kids who think it’s hilarious to streak naked and dripping from the bathtub, hur-

dling over furniture while trying to corral them like a rodeo cowboy. I’m squatting down every 30 seconds to pick up used tissues from the floor – the youngest has a cold and not much in the way of germ awareness. I’m kicking aside the perma-layer of small toys that covers the floor, leaping nimbly in a delicate ballet from one small clearing to the next, an epic steeplechase to get a child to the bathroom before vomit coats the floor. I’m leaping up the stairs two at a time to answer the siren song of, “Mom, is it okay if we give each other haircuts?”

I’m driving the kids to gymnastics, swimming, and soccer, and according to TSN, driving is totally a sport. I’m in serious training for when “wrestling with car seats” becomes an Olympic event. I’m taking part in numerous Wii battles, many of which require me to get up off the couch and point vigorously at stuff. I’m staunchly defending my two high scores on Just Dance, and if you want fame, as I do, then right here is where you

sprinting after kids “whoI’mthink it’s hilarious to

streak naked and dripping from the bathtub, hurdling over furniture while trying to corral them like a rodeo cowboy.

”

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start paying – IN SWEAT. I’m speed walking around the city, store to store to – take heart! – the life-sucking endless marathon that is the mall, seeking that one elusive LEGO set that will make for the Best Birthday Ever, with only the power of a Starbucks mochachino to keep me going. I’m hosting birthday parties, and I think we can all agree that’s basically its own extreme sport – TSN, I have a new show to pitch to you.

I shovel snow in winter and garden dirt in summer, slinging away defiantly with the all-over glistening sheen of a badass chain gang member.

I weightlift garbage to the curb like a lubed-up bodybuilder. I’m working up a sweat pushing kids on swings, pulling kids on sleds, running along behind kids wobbling on their first two wheeler, and then (you’re welcome) taking very long showers in which I often hold my hands over my head for minutes at time, to the very point of muscle failure, while washing my hair.

I’m even finding the energy to haul my body up the stairs one last time at the end of each day, which is no easy task, because our couch is really most excellently suited to falling asleep in front of the telly.

I am so fit and pumped! Now I just need TSN to get on board.

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ACTIVE FAMILIES

Blooming good times in Ottawa’s best gardens

BY KATHARINE FLETCHER

S

urely all of us who live in Ottawa equate flowers with May? Specifically, we tend to think of tulips because this month (May 9-19) heralds our renowned Canadian Tulip Festival (tulipfestival.ca).

Don’t miss the tulip beds all aglow with their extraordinary hues of scarlet, crimson, gold, pink, white – and more. Neighbourhoods such as Little Italy and the Glebe reflect the drama, so don’t forget to take your cameras and capture selfies and “kidpix” with these gorgeous natural backdrops.

However, beyond the festival dates – both before and after – many other glorious flowers await discovery. Here are our top fave places in the city, with one special extra in Gatineau Park, to tip toe through the tulips and celebrate spring’s arrival and the disappearance of that white stuff!

OTTAWA’S BLOOMING GARDENS THE ROCKERIES, ROCKCLIFFE PARK More than 2.5 hectares of golden yellow and bright white narcissi and daffodil flowers carpet the lawns at the Rockeries, located in Rockcliffe Park between Acadia and Acacia avenues. Paved walkways permit easy access to strollers – but our bet is you’ll park them alongside the blossoms and carefully wander among them. These fragrant flowers create a magical background for celebratory spring photos with your little ones.

Discover the bronze cherubs adorning a fountain and also some stone pillars which create “garden art” here.

RIDEAU HALL While in Rockcliffe Park, take the time to visit Rideau Hall, the home of governor-generals since the late 1800s. The gardens are gorgeous. Crocus and scilla are the earliest spring bulbs here, then daffodils and tulips, followed by trees unfurling their pretty, tender young leaves, hostas, flowering shrubs and other blossoms that welcome the sunshine. In the summertime there is a beautiful rose garden to be found at Rideau Hall too.

This place gets extra points for excellent washrooms. Also? Don’t skip looking out from the Rockcliffe Pavilion over

the Ottawa River. Pack a picnic and enjoy a lazy afternoon in Rockcliffe!

MAPLELAWN HISTORIC GARDEN Visit an extremely rare walled garden in Ottawa’s Westboro ’hood, at 529 Richmond Road (home of The Keg restaurant). The garden was originally designed in the late 1880s for this home, and is now a National Historic Site. Stone walls are useful: not only for privacy, but also to shelter plants from wind and cold. This would have been an ideal place for a kitchen garden.

On a fine day, often you’ll find volunteer gardeners here from the Friends of Maplelawn, and sometimes, even come across artists painting at their easels.

Bring your binoculars to watch wildlife, as well as your smart phone or camera. If you’re very lucky you might spot the resident rabbit and the many red-winged blackbirds that make their home in the tall hedges nearby.

CANADIAN WILDLIFE FEDERATION’S DEMONSTRATION GARDEN In Kanata, head out to the CWF headquarters (350 Michael Cowpland Drive) and stroll through the demonstration gardens around the office block.

There are all sorts of garden themes, so you can learn about ponds, xeriscaping (drought-resistant plants), pollinators (bees, butterflies and moths), birds, bogs, and shade beds. Here you’ll learn about what sorts of plants can grow in each micro-environment. On a sunny day you will undoubtedly find butterflies and other wildlife visiting and feeding. It’s a great place to go to learn (there are many signs) and teach youngsters how they can create gardens for wildlife in the heart of the city.

Grayson (6) and India Mulder (7) love sprin g!

dens. He hired locals to construct dry-stone walls to fence in his sheep. Although these animals are long gone from the Estate, the walls remain and add a picturesque Victorian aspect to the landscape.

Recently, the National Capital Commission renovated the estate buildings, which include Kingswood, the cottage he purchased in 1902.

This is a great spot to let youngsters run

Enjoy a taste of spring in these tranquil gardens: The Rockeries, Rockcliffe Park: bit.ly/1ileHVD Rideau Hall: bit.ly/1lvBdOk Maplelawn Historic Garden: maplelawn.ca Canadian Wildlife Federation’s demonstration garden: bit.ly/1oyAAIy Mackenzie King Estate: bit.ly/1dUx86I

about and play. The lawns are spacious and well shaded by lovely old trees.

Katharine Fletcher is author of Capital Rambles: Exploring the National Capital Region and other companion guides to our region. She invites you to visit her blog at spiritwoodnotes.blogspot.ca; follow her @Spiritwood.

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QUEBEC: GATINEAU PARK MACKENZIE KING ESTATE Canada’s tenth prime minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King, frequented his beloved Moorside – his home in Gatineau Park – as much as his busy political schedule permitted. Here, he enjoyed the life of a country squire, developing gracious grounds artistically punctuated with “follies” such as his collection of built stone ruins – and now-heritage gar-

PHOTO BY KATE SETTLE.

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CARING FOR KIDS

Should there be winners & losers in children’s sports?

BY ANITA GRACE

W

hen children are learning to play organized sports, does competition help or hinder them? Is winning a good motivation, or does it distract from skill development? It’s a hot topic in the playground, and in the playing field.

“Organized sports get kids active and gets them outside,” says Blossom Park mom Delta Jones. Most parents would agree with this, but whether or not there should be winners and losers in these sports is a question that gets jostled around more than a soccer ball chased by a group of four-year-olds.

It’s not about “ winning or losing…. It’s about working together to improve skills.

”

Westboro mom, Jodie MacInnis, is glad her daughters’ soccer league is a friendly one in which points don’t count. “Soccer for [my girls] is just fun,” she says. “Right now I want them to be evaluated for trying.”

But Barrhaven dad, Mark Riley, says a lot of “old school” folks roll their eyes when they hear about games that don’t keep score. “Part of sports is feeling the satisfaction of winning,” he says.

NON-COMPETITION LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD Sarah Wray, 15, is a goalkeeper for the Nepean Hotspurs, one of Ottawa’s competitive regional

soccer teams. But when she began playing in 2007, she was in a friendly league where she and her friends were “just playing for the popsicles after the game.”

In Sarah’s league, like in most friendly sports, everyone got equal playing time. Looking back, she thinks this was a great way to be introduced to a sport. She thinks this, and the lack of pressure to win, allowed kids to discover what they loved about the sport.

“Declaring winners or losers can completely ruin that whole equal playing thing,” she says.

When she began playing in competitive leagues she noticed that the best people get to play while the less talented players “ride the bench.” This can be very discouraging, especially to those who are new to the sport and do not get the opportunity to develop their skills.

MacInnis would agree. Her daughters, ages 5 and 6, are enrolled in the friendly soccer league at Fisher Park. “I want them to get the skills first,” she says, “before learning about competition.”

MacInnis’ daughters are also enrolled in Churchill Alternative School where non-competition is integral to the school’s philosophy.

“We focus on developing an intrinsic motivation,” explains Tricia Eddy, Churchill’s vice principal. While Churchill students learn how to play organized sports, they don’t keep score. “It’s not about winning or losing,” she says. “It’s about working together to improve skills.”

COMPETITION TEACHES IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS “Losing is disappointing,” says Jones, whose three kids play a variety of organized sports.

“But it’s not the end of the world. They can pick themselves off and try again – such an important life skill.”

In organized sports with competition, teams score points and individual players are ranked.

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For some parents, learning to win or lose graciously is a skill just as important as dribbling a ball or navigating a racecourse.

Karim Belem says his 6-year-old son, Youssouf, has learned how to handle winning and losing from playing soccer. He admits that his son gets mad when his team loses, but Belem and his wife view this as a learning opportunity that “helps him understand that he can win sometimes and lose other times.”

Riley’s son, Curtis, 7, has been competing in BMX racing since he was four. His younger brother Nathan started racing with his Strider bike when he was two. Even the youngest competitors in these races are ranked, and gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded.

Having been exposed to competition for so long, Curtis handles it like a pro. “He has realistic expectations about winning,” Riley says. Curtis also focuses more on his own accomplishments than on where he positioned in a race.

Curtis’s hockey team had a long losing streak and Riley knew it was hard for his son to watch the opposing teams celebrating their wins. But he explained to his son that the other team is “celebrating what they’ve achieved, not that you lost.”

When Curtis’s team finally managed to pull off a win, the kids were overjoyed. “Kids’ sports are about being able to celebrate,” Riley says.

In the debate between competition and friendly leagues, both sides are scoring convincing points.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Capital Parent would like to hear your position!

Send your feedback to editor@capitalparent.ca and you may see it in our next issue.

Have you ever been to sports camp?

Summer sports camps are a fantastic way of trying something new, especially for first timers. Here are a few ideas for young athletes! Do note: all of these organizations offer many different camps, so make sure you check out their websites for other fun options: Golf camp, at the Ottawa Athletic Club (age 5-13): ottawaathleticclub.com Ringette camp, at Carleton University (age 6+): athletics.carleton.ca Skateboard camp, at Dovercourt Recreation Centre (5-12): dovercourt.org Young equestrian camp, at the YMCA/Camp Otonabee (8-13): ymcaywca.ca Ottawa Senators hockey camps, at the Bell Sensplex, (7+): sensplex.ca Canoe camp, at the Rideau Canoe Club (7-12): rideaucanoeclub.ca Fencing camp, at the University of Ottawa, (10-14): geegees.ca

New season starting September 2014. Beginner & advanced programs for children & teens. www.ottawapirouetterg.org pirouetterg@rogers.com 6 MAY 2014 | c a p i t a l p a r e n t . c a |

Curtis Riley was four when he began BMX racing. Here he is in 2011, his first racing season, at the Ottawa BMX track on Ogilvie Road. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK RILEY.

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Building confidence with rhythmic gymnastics

BY STEFANIA MOFFATT

R

hythmic gymnastics is a sight to behold. Wonderful to watch, it combines ballet and creative movement to music, and is always performed on the floor without the tumbling and apparatus of artistic gymnastics.

Typically, a rhythmic gymnastics club trains in two streams: rhythmic gymnastics (RG) and aesthetic group gymnastics (AGG). The RG gymnasts work on individual, duo or trio routines with apparatus (ribbon, ball, hoop, rope or clubs) set to music. AGG routines are done in a group with the emphasis on natural, harmonic, flowing movements. Value is placed on the total unity of the group performance. The AGG groups consist of a free routine (without apparatus) and a fun creative routine in which there is an assigned theme.

The beauty of the sport is a draw for kids and parents; teaching kids posture, grace, coordination, balance and strength. Moving through the streams of various levels of training kids can benefit in all areas of the sport while building confidence and friendships.

Pirouette Rhythmic Gymnastics is a club in the Ottawa area that offers recreational, precompetitive and competitive levels with training beginning at age four. Pirouette is located in Barrhaven with gymnasts training in a couple of school gyms.

“Pirouette has come a long way since starting in 1996 in six different schools in Nepean,” says Eva Sokol, Pirouette’s head coach. “I’m very proud that today Pirouette is a strong rhythmic gymnastics club, offering many great programs and providing a healthy, safe and stimulating environment for training.”

Typically at most clubs, good stretching and basic body technique are taught at the recreational level. Gymnasts also get to practice using various apparatus and participate in

Prism testing. Prism is a nationally recognized skill-development program in which gymnasts collect pins according to the new skills they develop in class.

The precompetitive program is designed to prepare gymnasts for demonstrations, shows and potentially for competitive performance.

The gymnasts focus on body and apparatus technique and ballet training, and the development of specific rhythmic gymnastics skills, flexibility, hand-eye coordination, overall coordination, balance, endurance, speed and strength.

At many rhythmic gymnastics clubs you will find gymnasts who have made a long-term commitment to the sport at an early age and lifelong friends. For instance, many of Pirouette’s gymnasts have been with the club since an early age.

Vikki Fowke is one of those gymnasts.

“Vikki joined Pirouette at age four. She started as a recreational gymnast in a class with three other girls. Two years later she was competing at her first Red Ribbon competition in Toronto,” says Sylvie Fowke, Vikki’s mom. “She has built strong friendships and had wonderful opportunities for travel in Ontario, across Canada and even to Europe, representing Pirouette. [It has] helped Vikki grow from a shy little girl to a confident young woman while learning important lessons, such as the value of hard work and perseverance through to how to win and lose gracefully. Pirouette has been a huge and positive part of Vikki’s life for 14 years as a gymnast and for the last three years as one

Little Stars, an AGG competitive group, are all between the ages of 8 and 10.

Barrhaven celebration in 2013.

Pirouette group performance at Canada Day in

of the recreational coaches.”

Currently, some of Pirouette’s competitive gymnasts are preparing to participate in the 2014 Canadian Gymnaestrada in Calgary and World Gymnaestrada in Helsinki, Finland in 2015. Pirouette’s gymnasts performed at World Gymnaestradas in Lisbon, Portugal (2003), Dornbirn, Austria (2007) and most recently in the Canadian Gymnaestrada in Winnipeg (2010).

Pirouette is hosting an in-house Gymnaestrada on June 4 at Pierre Elliott School (601 Longfields Dr., in Barrhaven) from 6:30-8:00 pm. This is an opportunity to see gymnasts in action, speak to the coaches, register for the summer camp and get information about the 2014/2015 season.

Pirouette is offering a summer camp July 28 – August 1 at Pierre Savard Secondary School (1110 Longfields Dr., Barrhaven). If you would like more information about the in-house Gymnaestrada, summer camp and/or the new training season starting in September, visit the website at ottawapirouetterg.org.

Summer Language Experience 2014 is July!

Have fun th

For details, please call 613-239-2703 or visit InternationalLanguagesinOttawa.com

For students 5-12, Offerings include: • International Language Classes (July 2-25) • “Los Amigos” Spanish Camp (July 7-25) • “Les Amis” French Camp (July 7-25) • “Die Freunde” German Camp (July 7-25)

Continuing Education 440 Albert Street

MAY 2014 7

ACTIVE FAMILIES

Has hockey mania hit your family?

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2014-0308

March 2014

BY SARAH NIMAN

W

aking early on weekends, leaving home before the sun rises to sit in a cold arena may not sound appealing to many parents, but we do it because we want our kids to be happy and active. But before your little goal scorer steps onto the ice, there are a few things to know about enrolling in minor league hockey.

For those new to the brigade of fleece-wearing, coffee-sipping hockey parents, the first step is to track down the right team. You can find out using your child’s age and home address.

The Ottawa District Minor Hockey Association governs 12 geographic districts that are broken down into local hockey associations.

Players register with these teams, and can choose between playing house league or competitive.

Whether your child has imitated Sidney Crosby since the womb or has just recently warmed up to the idea of being a hockey player, there is a team for everyone.

Ottawa’s hockey programs are offered to kids starting at age five, and run through to age 20.

Registration for the 2014-2015 hockey season is currently underway in most associations.

Ottawa hockey coach and dad, Darren Cousineau, wants parents to understand that the only real pre-requisite to playing hockey is access to equipment and commitment to the team.

“You don’t need to know how to skate well to start playing hockey, no matter what age,” he says. He recently wrapped up the hockey season coaching his five-year-old son’s Initiation-level hockey team in Orleans.

He saw many families, new to Canada, establish roots in the community by enrolling their kids in Canada’s token winter pastime. Indeed, joining a hockey team goes far beyond agreeing to show up for designated games and practices.

“It’s about families, and how everyone can get involved,” says Cousineau.

It can be a great way to make friends with other parents, especially as kids grow up together on the ice, season after season.

There is a certain, unspoken bond that develops among parents when they squat down, shoulder-to-shoulder in arena dressing rooms, lacing their kids skates over talks of playoffs, tournaments and hockey heroes.

Before the season starts in September, parents need to start collecting the gear their players will need:

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helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, sticks, skates, shin guards, pants, mouth guards, neck guards, socks, jocks (or jills for girls), gloves and a bag to put it all in.

The initial costs can be intimidating, but Ottawa’s minor hockey roots run deep enough to provide a number of options for outfitting players.

Equipment can be bought new in local shops, or second hand. Play It Again Sports has a buy, sell and trade program for used gear, with locations across the city. Second-hand equipment can also be bought online, through sites like Kijiji, or even at garage sales. Better yet, if parents can align with families whose kids are a little older, they can score hand-me-downs for free.

Parents may groan about the hours spent sitting in an arena, but there is definitely some satisfaction in watching a child learn to fly down the ice, fueled by determination and enthusiasm for Canada’s game.

Hockey equipment 101 The right equipment is important and contributes to overall enjoyment of the good ol’ hockey game. It may seem daunting, but with a little know how you can navigate it in a way that’s good for the player and a little easier on the wallet.

Skates: Skates are a crucial element to a hockey player’s comfort and success. It’s best to buy skates that fit snug at the time of purchase, rather than ones to grow into. This is because loose skates will provide less ankle support, less on-ice control, and probably more blisters.

Shin guards: A good pair of shin guards is a must, long enough to fully cover the knee and reach the bottom of the shin where the skate ends. As long as the shin is covered, you’re good to go.

Jock / Jill: Best to buy these new; if you take good care of them they will last a long time. Old timers will remember the ones with clips, but most come with Velcro to attach to

the hockey socks. This may seem like a small change but it is definitely a time saver, and easier for kids to use.

Hockey pants: These are necessary for protecting the lower back, hips, and thighs. If you’re buying a pair for a young player, room to grow is okay, just make sure they have good mobility and the pants aren’t too cumbersome. Grab a pair that fit snug against the waist and reach the top of the shin pad.

Gloves: Gloves protect the hands and wrists. Make sure they go over the wrist as this is a common place to get hit by sticks and pucks. If you get a pair with a leather palm, remember to let them breathe after use, and not to spray them with Febreeze!

Mouth guard: Mouth guards are designed to protect the teeth and mouth as well as minimize

concussions. Buy one that is moldable from a sports store, or from a dentist if the child has braces.

Helmet: Last but certainly not least, the brain bucket! Most helmets are adjustable so they can last a while, barring any serious hits. If you are going to splurge on one piece of equipment, this is where you want to do it.

Shoulder pads: Shoulder pads provide protection for the shoulders, chest and back. It’s best to try these on before purchasing, preferably with a jersey on top.

Get a pair that fit comfortably, but make sure mobility and peripheral vision aren’t impaired.

Elbow pads: Elbow pads protect the elbows and forearms from falls, sticks, pucks and other players. Get a pair that end close to the end of the gloves, and the shoulder pads on the other.

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Thank You

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CAPITALPARENT & Kids Show

WHAT A SUCCESS AT THE 13TH ANNUAL KIDSFEST OTTAWA, A CAPITAL PARENT NEWSPAPER EVENT. WE WELCOMED WELL OVER 5,000 VISITORS TO THE SHOW OVER THE 2 DAYS! THANK YOU ALL THAT WERE ABLE TO JOIN US & HOPE TO SEE YOU ONCE AGAIN NEXT YEAR! UR O Y K R MA DAR CALEN

APRIL 11-12, 2015

FOR ALL THE EVENT HIGHLIGHTS, VISIT US AT k i d s f e s t o t t a w a . c a .

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THANK YOU TO OUR VALUED PARTNERS

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FAMILY MATTERS 613-562-5800 ext. 4475 ccll.uOttawa.ca

One family discovers the power of karate

BY JEANETTE DOUCET

H

e’ll never be in the Olympics, but with a little luck, he could live a very normal life.”

I heard those words from the pediatric cardiologist at CHEO – through tears, shock and utter disbelief. These were the words that followed the diagnosis: tricuspid atresia, a rare and complex congenital heart defect. Heart defects are never good, but this was one of the bad ones. The oncoming storm would test our limits as a family.

That was nearly nine years ago and the storm has mostly passed. We named him Isaac, the Hebrew word for laughter, because we knew he’d need it to get him through. True to his name, Isaac laughs a lot and lives life to the fullest every single day.

Isaac’s heart does not have a tricuspid valve, which normally allows blood to flow from the heart’s right atrium to the right ventricle. Because the valve didn’t form, neither did his right ventricle. A quarter of Isaac’s heart simply does not exist. Three openheart surgeries before he was three, the first when he was ten days old, allow him to live by re-routing the blood flow to the lungs. I won’t lie. I barely understand how Isaac’s cardiovascular system works. But it does work.

It works well enough for Isaac to be pursuing a black belt in karate. As I write this, he’ll be testing for his green belt in five days.

Not the Olympics, it’s true, but far more than we’d ever dared hope for our little guy.

Heart defects don’t usually travel solo, as luck would have it. The trauma of early-life surgery, not to mention oxygen deprivation and other complications, can have some pretty serious impacts on these kids’ cognitive and emotional development. Sadly, Isaac is no exception. He’s had some pretty nasty PTSD, though he’s mostly recovered, and he struggles with anxiety and some shortterm memory deficits. He gets overwhelmed easily, especially when he’s confronted with something new to learn. School has been rough. Then along came karate...

Isaac met Michèle O’Leary, or Sensei Michèle as she became known to us, during his one and only year at Montessori, where she was teaching karate after school. This turned out to be a life-changing year for Isaac. We had enrolled him in Montessori after a negative experience in kindergarten.

Not only did he regain the ground he had lost here – learning to read and exploring his natural curiousity about the universe – he began to learn karate. When his year at Montessori was over, he stuck with karate, staying with Sensei Michèle and her inclusive philosophy of teaching martial arts.

Sensei Michèle made a commitment long ago to teaching martial arts her way.

She noticed that the get-tough approach to teaching martial arts left too many kids feeling bad about karate and about themselves.

Suspecting as much,

karate would not have been a sport we would have chosen for Isaac. How pleasantly surprised were we, as parents, to witness the extent to which Sensei Michèle understood Isaac’s limitations and her willingness to work within them. More importantly, she saw Isaac’s potential. Nearly three years since their first encounter, she continues to help him reach that potential.

Michèle’s approach was so open, so family friendly, that when she opened her very own dojo, Strive Martial Arts, our entire family joined. Now Isaac trains beside his big brother and his mom and dad.

The benefits of karate for Isaac really crystallized this year. Now in third grade, I noticed he was sometimes overwhelmed when the teacher introduced something new. He assumes, quite mistakenly, that he doesn’t have what it takes to learn. When we talked it over, Isaac’s dad and I compared learning something new in school to learning karate katas (intricate patterns of karate moves). We reminded him how he had had to work hard to learn them, but that he had learned them... it was like a light bulb went off for him.

There is no doubt in my mind that karate is empowering for kids. Isaac’s success has shown him that goals are within his reach.

He gets discouraged, but he perseveres, both at school and at the dojo. Did I mention he has his sights set on a black belt?

For many parents of single-ventricle kids (which is what they call kids who have undergone the same set of surgeries), there’s reluctance to have them participate in physical activity. These kids fatigue faster than other kids because their blood has less oxygen in it. Despite the cardiologists who say that sport is OK, there are images of things coming apart in those tiny hearts. The “what ifs” haunt us.

As far as Isaac is concerned, when a “what if” comes to mind, I go back to that first day... Diagnosis Day. Isaac will never compete in the Olympics, it’s true, but most people never do, and that doesn’t matter one little bit.

Want to give karate a try, in a fun & safe environment?

) t) with Zacharie Buell (in the back Karate kid Isaac Buell (forefron p. killo Mac mer Sum and along with Safeyyah Darwish ARY. PHOTO BY SENSEI MICHÈLE O’LE

Strive Martial Arts is offering a summer camp for kids. Find out more at strivemartialarts.ca.

Are you a 3- to 5-year-old?

We need your help!

• We invite you (and your parents!) to participate in an hour-long study at the University of Ottawa!

• Our studies consist of enjoyable games that children play with our friendly researchers.

• Free parking is provided, and kids get a prize at the end!

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www.campotterdale.com MAY 2014 11

ParENtiNg BloGs

we LOve Postcards from the Mothership

BY LYNN JATANIA

D

ani Donders is a blogging legend in Ottawa – her love of this city, her celebration of family life, and her cheerful good humour have been delighting her readers for several years. If you want to be inspired and entertained, there’s no better place on the web to be than Postcards from the Mothership (danigirl.ca).

The thing you’ll notice first about her blog is her passion. Dani is the most enthusiastic of writers, and her zeal is contagious, no matter the topic.

She’s full of dozens of dazzling ideas about what to do in this town with your family – hers is the first place to look if you’re stuck at home for March Break, or looking for something new to do this summer, or hunting for a kid-friendly adventure that’s off the beaten path. Her reports on her own excursions with her three adorable boys are fun reads, full of funny anecdotes, delightful details, and of course, dozens of her top-class photos.

Dani’s got plenty to say on other topics, too. She’s got great information on her blog about the business of blogging itself, the delicate balancing act of

being a working mom, and the homeowner issues that arise from living in an older (but lovely) house in Manotick. Photography is her other great creative passion, and she loves nothing more than generously sharing her tips and inspirations about her side project (which has grown into an actual business, Mothership Photography) – you’ll always find beautiful pictures alongside her effervescent words on her blog.

Above all else, Dani’s blog is funny, warm, and good hearted. It’s a place that will make you feel good about family, good about Ottawa, and good about life. Dani’s life is one long story – a story we’re very happy to be able to share along with her.

Noteable Quote Before I had kids I used to be secretly horrified by the conditions of the cars of my friends with kids. How hard is it to keep your car clean, I wondered sanctimoniously. Ha. Shame on me.

Meet Danielle Donders, from Postcards from the Mothership PHOTO COURTESY OF DANI DONDERS.

How hard indeed. My little Mazda 5, a car I continue to adore into its fifth year, is filthy. Despite my ongoing (oh fine, occasional) efforts to keep it tidy, I have failed.

My car is a mess. I have managed to keep the outside more or less clean, depending on the season, but the inside is no match for me. Candy wrappers, hot chocolate cups, bits of crayon, goldfish crackers, and pieces of dollar store crud toys are just a few of the things ground into the uphol-

stery and carpet. I’ve slopped enough coffee in it to fill a kiddie pool, and you could make four whole dogs out of the dog hair in every crack and crevice. And why why WHY Starbucks, do you insist on giving me those little green stopper sticks that serve no purpose whatsover except to migrate into unreachable fissures and reproduce?

Read the rest of Dani’s post at Postcards from the Mothership (danigirl.ca).

M OTH ER’S DAY

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top 5 books

best

M 1

artha Hodgson from the Metcalfe branch of the Ottawa Public Library shares some of her favourite “old and new” reads this month.

Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures,

by Kate DiCamillo

2

3 4

5

(Age 8 and up) My two teens, who remember DiCamillo’s last Newberry winner, The Tale of Despereaux, laughed out loud at this 2014 Newberry medal winner. 10 year-old Flora meets an unlikely superhero, and together they learn to believe in the unbelievable. This one-of-a-kind tale is guaranteed to make your heart sing... and will make you look at the squirrels in your neighbourhood in a very different light this spring!

Little House on the Prairie,

by Laura Ingalls Wilder (Age 6 and up) Laura Ingalls Wilder’s classic pioneer story celebrated its 75th birthday recently! Enjoyed by generations, this second book in a series follows Laura and her family as they travel by covered wagon from the snowy big woods of Wisconsin. They reach Kansas in spring, just in time for ploughing, planting and playing under prairie sky. Wonderfully descriptive text, favorite characters and Garth Williams’ beautiful pencil drawings bring this historical fiction alive year after year.

Top toy picks

BY ANITA GRACE

The Space Scooter is a revolution in scooting! Kids can use it like a traditional kick scooter, or they can zoom forward with an easyto-master up-and-down teeter/totter motion. Made in Canada, this dynamic scooter has a sleek and sturdy design and is perfect for encouraging outdoor activity. The handlebars adjust for height and the whole thing folds up for easy storage.

Toy testers with the Canadian Toy Testing Council gave this scooter the 2014 Children’s Choice Award for kids ages 8 and up. As one tester put it, this scooter is “way cool!”

For more information about this and other award-winning toys, visit www.toy-testing.org.

Blueberries for Sal,

by Robert McCloskey (Age 5–8) This Caldecott Honor book was originally published in 1948, and still brings “all the colour and flavor of the sea, and pinecovered Maine” with each reading. On a warm morning a little girl and her mother take their tin pails up a hill to pick berries.

On the other side of the hill, a young bear and his mother are picking berries too. Will the little ones get mixed up and follow the wrong mama home?

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild,

by Peter Brown (Age 3–7) Brand new to the library shelves, this picture book tells the story of Mr. Tiger’s adventures as he leaves his peaceful, but boring, life behind. First he starts walking on four legs, next he takes off his fancy suit and top hat, and before you know it he is even ROARING! While his new life in the jungle is very colourful, it is a little lonely, so he returns to his city home and friends feeling free to be himself.

The Animal Book: A Collection of the Fastest, Fiercest, Toughest, Cleverest, Shyest and Most Surprising Animals on Earth, by Steve Jenkins (Age 6 and up) Steve Jenkins’ colourful cut-and-torn paper artwork strikingly illustrates this fact-filled encyclopedia detailing more than 300 animals. A fascinating juxtaposition of science and art, the book closes with an interesting description of the artist’s bookmaking process from the spark of an idea. This is a fun and informative book to linger over on a warm spring day.

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MAY 2014 13

FAMILY FUN We are doing something a little bit different with our Family Snaps feature this month. Ottawa, meet Gilles and Christina Beauparlant and their children Ellie and Brody! They were

one of the many Ottawa-area families we met at Kidsfest on April 5 & 6. Thank you to everyone who came out! We look forward to seeing you again next year!

SEND US YOUR PICS We’d like to see your BEST family photos! Submit your favourites and you might see one or two in a future issue. For more details go to capitalparent.ca

family snap PHOTO BY COLE BURSTON

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Rentals

Our family

starting at

calendar Ottawa Comicon MAY 9-11

Heroes and villains from all corners of the fantasy fiction world will once again converge at the EY Centre for the third edition of Ottawa Comiccon. Last year, over 30,000 fans came out to meet their real-life heroes and partake in the joys of cosplay. Featured guests this year include Christopher Lloyd from Back to the Future, and Karl Urban, who played the role of Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy in Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness (2013). Children 5 and under get in free but there is a limit of two children per adult ticket. We recommend buying your tickets online ASAP at ottawacomiccon.com.

Ottawa International Children’s Festival MAY 9-14

Six days of finest family friendly theatre, dance and music from award-winning artists from around the globe, and it all takes place at Lebreton Flats. For tickets and information go to ottawachildrensfestival.ca.

Tulip Festival MAY 9-15

Ottawa’s ties with tulips dates back to 1945, when the Dutch royal family donated 100,000 bulbs in gratitude of their safe haven in Canada during World War II. This connection continues to be a very proud tradition; in fact, it’s probably safe to say we go a little crazy with tulip adoration. Go to tulipfestival.ca to find out the locations of the city’s tulip beds. One of the prettiest is at Commissioners Park near Dow’s Lake, where 300,000 tulips (60 different varieties!) bloom each year across 30 flower beds. Now that’s a flower show! Don’t miss our article about Ottawa area gardens on page 5!

Mother’s Day MAY 10

Although we don’t really need a special day to remind us how much we love our mothers, it is still a good opportunity send a little bit of extra love her way. Check capitalparent.ca as we get closer to the date for some great ways to honour the mothers in our lives!

Sheep shearing MAY 17-19

This is a great time of year to visit the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, and the annual sheep shearing is an Ottawa tradition

for many families. Highlights include shearing demonstrations, border collies at work, spinning and weaving, felt-making, and much more. It’s free with admission and activities take place between 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Check the website at cafmuseum. techno-science.ca for more information.

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Great Glebe Garage Sale MAY 24

Whether you’re buying or selling, the Great Glebe Garage Sale is the stuff of legends. Pro tip: don’t drive! Get a friend with a mobile phone to drop you off. After you’re done treasure hunting, call for a pickup. If you’re loaded down with purchases you’ll be grateful you chose this route. (And buy your friend a coffee because he’ll definitely deserve it.) Info is available at glebeca.ca.

Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend

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MAY 24-25

This year is the 40th running of the Ottawa Marathon. Last year, a record 44,123 runners participated in six events over the weekend, and that number is expected to be even bigger this time around. Did you know that you don’t need to run in order to get in on the fun? There will be cheering stations set up all across Ottawa, and it’s great thing to do with kids. Check the website for locations: runottawa.ca.

Bird Day Fair MAY 31

An initiative of Nature Canada, the Bird Day Fair celebrates the incredible migration journey of birds with a day of fun activities for the whole family. There will be nature walks, crafts and activities, a live raptor demonstration, and an opportunity to meet local groups working to protect wildlife.

It’s all taking place at Andrew Hayden Park between 10:00 a.m and 4:00 p.m. For more information go to naturecanada.ca.

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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

DO YOU KNOW OF AN EVENT THAT CAPITAL PARENTS WOULD LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT? Submit your information to

editor@capitalparent.ca

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www.KanataTremblant.com Appelez-nous au 1-877-734-3414 ou écrivez-nous : promo3@kanatatremblant.com MAY 2014 15

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ocsb.ca/7-12 Ted J. Hurley

Julian Hanlon

Hurley Julian Hanlon TedTedJ.J.Hurley Julian Hanlon Chairperson Director Ted J. Hurley Julian Hanlon Chairperson Director of Education J. HurleyJulian Hanlon Chairperson Director Director Ted J. Hurley Ted Chairperson HanlonJulian Chairperson ChairpersonDirector

Ted J. Hurley

Director

Julian Hanlon