Island Parent Summer 2023

BURNABY ONLINE

A PROVINCIAL ONLINE LEARNING SCHOOL

Learn where you want, when you want

Ministry approved BC curriculum

Kindergarten to Grade 12 program

Contemporary Indigenous Studies 12 available for enrollment

Full time or part time available Grade 10 to 12

Adult learning options

Grade 8 to 12: over 50 course options

Innovative learning management system

Experienced online learning teachers

Opportunities for self-paced, flexible, convenient learning

Direct teacher support available

BURNABY SCHOOL DISTRICT ONLINE PROGRAM

Open to all residents of British Columbia online.burnabyschools.ca

Registration: online.burnabyschools.ca/registration

Develop communication and technical online skills registering full-time or for a single course

Jim Schneider Publisher publisher@islandparent.ca

Sue Fast Editor editor@islandparent.ca

RaeLeigh Buchanan Account Manager raeleigh@islandparent.ca

Kristine Wickheim Account Manager kristine@islandparent.ca

Island Parent Magazine, published by Island Parent Group Enterprises Ltd., is a bimonthly publication that honours and supports parents by providing information on resources and businesses for Vancouver Island families. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. No material herein may be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Island Parent is distributed free in selected areas. Annual mail subscriptions (7 issues) are available for $21 (GST included). Canadian Publication Mail Product Sales Agreement 40051398. ISSN 0838-5505

For distribution inquiries, please email publisher@islandparent.ca

Island Parent Magazine 518 Caselton Place Victoria, BC V8Z 7Y5 250 388 6905

Cover Photo: Kandyce Joeline, songbirdandoakphotography.com

GRAND Cover Photo: Gina Woods, driftwoodsphotography.com, @driftwoodsphotography

5 Game-Changing Apps to Help Gear Up for Back to School

Save time, save money, save sanity. That’s the premise behind Lala Lunchbox, a meal planning app that has been said to “Ingeniously pull your kids in by turning meal planning into a game.” Who knew making school lunches could

This “gamified task manager” makes a game out of habit-forming activities and uses its multiple task-tracking features to encourage follow-though. Kids and parents set to-dos and tasks such as brushing their teeth and leaving for school on receive reminders, among other possibili-

1. Lala Lunchbox

3. Habatica

NEED TO KNOW

Keep On Reading

Make the library part of their summer—and fall! From Baby Times to the BC Summer Reading Club and the Summer Challenge, there is a lineup of programs, with something for everyone. Children participating in the BC Summer Reading Club read (or are read to) for at least 20 minutes each day. The Read and Write Reviews program encourages participants to read and share their thoughts by submitting a book review. There’s also Summer Baby Times, Indoor and Outdoor Family Storytimes and a series of StoryWalks to choose from. For information, visit gvpl.ca and virl.bc.ca.

Taste the Flavour

Take part in North Saanich Flavour Day Festival on August 18–20, a weekend-long community celebration of local farmers, fishers, food producers, chefs, vinters and more. Follow a self-guided tour of local farms, producers and small businesses each with their own Flavour Trail offers. Live music, food trucks, games and more. flavourtrails.com

Orange Shirt Day 2023

September 30 is Orange Shirt Day and Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to remember and raise awareness of the harm caused by residential schools and the ongoing impact it has on Indigenous families, communities and cultures. The Orange Shirt movement was inspired by the story of Phyllis Webstad, a former residential school student who had her brand new bright orange shirt taken from her on

her first day of school in 1973. The orange shirt symbolizes the loss of Indigenous culture and identity that occurred in residential schools. To find Orange Shirt Day events in your area, visit orangeshirtday.org.

Explore Gardens BC In Sight Festival

Connect with nature and explore BC’s gardens for fun, adventure, beauty, rejuvenation, relaxation and learning. Historic and modern gardens offer great trip ideas and itineraries. From rugged coastal rain forests to fertile valleys, from urban centres to mountains—there’s no better time than summer to visit BC’s gardens. Birdwatch, take photos, learn about biodiversity and sustainability and enjoy immersive unique garden experiences. For a list of Vancouver Island’s gardens and itineraries, visit gardensbc.com.

Enjoy a mosaic of live music, childrens’ art activities, aerial acrobatics, a visual art showcase, traditional Indigenous dancers, plein air painting and tasty food at Fort Rodd Hill on September 9–10. Let’s embrace diversity, build friendships, connect with nature and our local community, in one of our most beautiful oceanfront settings. Free Admission Saturday from 11am to 4pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

tourismvictoria.com

I ❤ ISLAND

To help combat lunchbox letdown, here are three Island food producers that have good taste in the bag!

Holy Humous

Looking for an alternative to sandwiches? Try tortilla chips and Island-made Holy Humous. With two versions to choose from—original or roasted red pepper—kids won’t be able to resist. Not only is it tasty, but it’s filling and nutritious, too. holyhomous.com

Tree Island Yogurt

Started by a microbiologist and a whole food enthusiast, Tree Island Yogurt is handcrafted in small batches in the Comox Valley. But better than that? With flavours ranging from Coconut Lime to Okanagan Peach, the taste can’t be beat! treeislandyogurt.com

Hornby Organic Snack Bars

You can’t go wrong with these 100% organic snack bars that feature flavours including peanut butter and jam, chocolate chip banana and chocolate espresso. Or for an afterschool pick-me-up, try Hornby Organic energy bars—delicious and a great source of protein.

hornbyorganic.com

Beat the Back-toSchool Blues

Just got into the swing of summer and now it’s time to start preparing for back to school? Don’t sweat about it! There’s still time to squeeze a little more fun out of summer while gearing up for the fall and getting ready for back to school. Here’s how:

1. Plan an Island Adventure Scavenger Hunt

Organize a scavenger hunt with clues that lead to various outdoor locations in your neighbourhood—or even a farther flung area on the Island. Incorporate fun facts and learning opportunities into the clues to make it not only fun but educational, too. (Where can you find an Elasmosaur dinosaur? Answer: Courtney District Museum…then go there!). Or organize a hunt that follows with the route to school.

2. Schedule a Backyard/Back Porch Camping Night

Set up a mini campground in your backyard—or even on your back porch or living room floor—to bid farewell to summer vacation and hello to the soonto-be school routine. Pitch a tent/string a tarp, sing campfire songs (sans campfire!) tell ghost stories (if you dare!) and stargaze.

3. Make a DIY Summer Memory Collage

Have kids create a visual representation of their favourite summer memories.

Give them craft supplies—a scrapbook or paper, markers, stickers, photos and any other souvenirs/ticket stubs/shells etc they may have collected over the summer— and encourage them create a collage showcasing their favourite summer memories.

4. Family Learning Excursions

Plan educational outings as a family to Island museums, historical sites or parks. Hand of Man, Royal BC Museum, Miniature World, Fort Rodd Hill, Nanaimo Museum and The Bastion and Port Alberni Railway, to name a few, will spark kids’ curiosity, helping them switch gears from summer to school.

5. Organize a “Get Ready for School” Party

Turn the process of preparing for school into a fun and collaborative activ-

ity. Let your kids invite their friends over to organize school supplies, decorate backpacks or create personalized calendars. Turn it into a party, a celebration of sorts, with music, snacks and maybe an end-of-summer sleepover.

6. Go on Nature Walks and Beach Explorations

Still have a few places you meant to get to this summer but haven’t yet? Botanical Beach? Strathcona Park? Englishman River Falls. Go now! While you’re there, challenge kids to identify different plant species, collect shells or study tidal pools.

7. Create a Quiet and/or Creative Corner

Okay so it doesn’t have to be in a corner but having a special space for not only homework and reading, but being creative, contemplative or just plain quiet is a great thing for kids to have to help calm the chaos of back to school. Take some time before the school year begins to set up the space and help kids customize it so that it suits their needs. •

Bravery & the Importance of Trying Something New

My daughter decided to try volleyball for the first time and joined the school’s Grade 7 recreation-level team. I was pleased that she had willingly signed herself up for a school sport—an activity that I didn’t have to organize or pay for after years of community sports and other pursuits. No uniforms. No equipment. No early mornings. No crazy parents. I was thrilled.

It didn’t take long to realize that my daughter was average at volleyball. I didn’t expect her to be good. She had never played before. But I think every parent secretly hopes that their kid is an undiscovered superstar with scholarships and excellence in their future and I was no exception.

I needed to believe that the hours I’d put in on bleachers and benches would add up to something.

So, as I sat there on the bench watching my daughter and her teammates make mistake after mistake, it was no surprise that the girls weren’t skilled volleyball players. Most of them had never played before.

And that got me thinking about how uncomfortable it is to try something new and not be good at it. It doesn’t feel good to fumble, to put yourself out there and risk being embarrassed or incompetent. I can recall many times in my own life when I’ve opted out of an activity or invitation because to participate felt too scary and too vulnerable.

Then a moment came in the game when one of my daughter’s teammates bumped the ball off of her arms onto her own bench, causing her teammates to scramble out of the way. She blushed and looked apologetically at her teammates and coach. She then looked over to her dad, who was sitting next to me. He smiled and said, “It’s okay.” She turned back toward the game and got into position.

She had made an error, one that had come at a cost: a lost point for her team, an insult to her confidence and worst of all, in front of an audience. It occurred to me then that I was bearing witness to bravery in action: a girl, willing to stand in front of us in all of her imperfection, exposed and seen.

Vulnerability is not winning or losing: it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.

– Brené Brown

It’s an understatement to say these girls had no control over the outcome. None. It was almost funny how little control they had over the ball. I’m not exaggerating when I say that the girls were terrible. Most of the serves didn’t make it to the net. There was the odd time that the volleyball traveled back over the net but mostly, it was a lot of bad bumps and misfires.

The ball landed on the score-keepers table, on the bench where I was sitting with the other parents and sometimes it just traveled through the air and its destination was anyone’s guess. You had to have your wits about you as a spectator in the game or risk a volleyball to the head.

The benefits of team sports go beyond just the physical. Being a part of a team creates a sense of community in which kids can build connections and grow in a supportive environment. Teamwork fosters compassion and teaches kids to be able to accept the limitations and strengths of others. They get to experience the joy that comes from lifting up a teammate after they’ve missed a shot and encouraging them to keep going.

At the heart of all of this is the building of self-esteem and community, two pieces of being human that are essential in all of our lives.

What was happening on the volleyball court that day was good practice for what will continue to happen in these girls’ lives. They will on occasion be embarrassed. They will sometimes make mistakes that disappoint people. They will always have to push through the discomfort of learning to do new things and develop the grit and tenacity to stick with them, even when it’s uncomfortable to do so.

I left that game feeling so filled with pride for my daughter and her teammates who showed up that day. I’ve always marveled at the duality of life and it was captured so well in that volleyball game: Can you be not good at something and still be worthy enough to try?

To hold both truths at the same time is possibly the most important work a person can do.

Sarah Seitz is a working mother, wife and writer. She spends her free time cutting off crusts and uses good coffee and humour to get through the day.

Make the Most of What’s Left of Summer

As the days grow shorter and the air hints at autumn, it’s an ideal time to slow down and explore our own backyard. Parks Canada has put together a selection of events and activities that are perfect for families on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

Learn About Indigenous Languages and Cultures

September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Indigenous Languages are an essential part of Canadian culture and society, and it’s

crucial to preserve them as outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. Consider learning about the local First Nations language and culture. The WSÁNEC ´ Nations and Gulf Islands National Park Reserve collaborate to create programs like the Coast Salish Campfire Programs at SMONEC ´ TEN Campground (every Saturday at 7 pm in August) near Sidney to further people’s understanding of Coast Salish Culture. There are also self-guided activities like the K ´ ENES SOL- Whale Trail at T EKTEKSEN (East Point) on Saturna Island.

Experience Festivals

Many communities hold cultural festivals and events at the end of summer, showcasing their traditions and heritage. On September 9 and 10, Parks Canada and Arts & Culture Colwood Society present the “In Sight Festival” at Fort Rodd Hill & Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites. This event features music, art activities for children, aerial acrobatics, visual art exhibitions, Indigenous artists and dancers, en plein air painting and delicious food. Let’s celebrate diversity, build friendships, connect with nature and engage with our local community in Colwood’s beautiful oceanfront setting. Admission is free.

Visit Local Attractions

Take advantage of the quieter endof-summer days to visit local attractions like Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site in Colwood or the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea in Sidney. Gulf Islands National Park Reserve’s interpreters offer daily programs until the end of August at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea. Entry fees apply.

As summer comes to an end, take the opportunity to explore different traditions, art forms and perspectives to enrich your life and foster a more inclusive and interconnected society.

For information about learning experiences offered by Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, visit parks.canada. ca/pn-np/bc/gulf/activ/apprentissagelearning . To find out more about programs and events at Fort Rodd and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites, visit parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/bc/ fortroddhill/activ/calendrier-calendar.

Peninsula

Since 1991

NEW! Kid Zone Story Time for Kids

CORN HOLE!

Saturdays 9am – 1pm

June 3 – Oct 7 at Saanich Fairground

1528 Stelly’s Cross Road, Brentwood Bay/Saanichton

Weekly Kid Zone Activities

Storytime: 9:30am

Interactive Educational Activities: 11am

Full schedule on our website: peninsulacountrymarket.ca

Balancing Exercise & Relaxation

Maybe you have moved into your new house after separating from your spouse. Or your family went on vacation, and you had to stay behind to work. Or you’re travelling for business and have just got to your hotel room. Whatever the scenario, you’re now faced with silence when you are used to the hustle and bustle that is family life.

This may be the first or hundredth time you’ve been here. Your thoughts start pacing and you start listening to the voice in your head that accompanies the absence of sound. However, you’re not used to it and you don’t like it.

You think to yourself, who can I call or text? What’s been posted on social media? What’s on TV? Should I play some music?

How many times do we choose these options rather than embrace this rare chance to get to know ourselves better, or to allow our brains to decompress from the preceding days, weeks or months.

We live in a world where we are constantly plugged in to technology—social media, gaming, listening to music or watching tv with our friends or families. We also plug in socially, by meeting friends for drinks, coffee or to eat, play dates with our children, dog dates, gym buddies, running groups, the lists are endless.

Yet in an age where we are constantly seeking ways to optimize ourselves and lives, we overlook one of the most basic tools which I believe is undervalued and underpromoted. We stress to our children how important quiet time is for them, but rarely do we adopt the same principles.

Many of us live fast paced lives and do not entertain the idea of self-imposed quiet time as we think that it involves being in a house and sitting still as we try to stop ourselves from thinking. However, it can take any form that you want as long as the only noise that exists is from your natural environment.

For me when I was faced with my “quiet house,” I gravi-

tated towards exercising. I began running and hiking with a friend’s dog, not listening to music so I knew where she was at all times. We would spend hours in the mountains, not coming home until I had enough of what I thought we needed, which was to burn off energy. What I didn’t know at the time, was that what I actually needed—and got from my runs and exercise—was a place free from distraction and noise so I could productively make sense of everything that was happening in my life.

Since then, my exercise practice has evolved and now not only do I use this time to unplug, but also to think about decisions that need to be made in the upcoming week, or have been made, and to reflect on the social or professional interactions I’ve had, analyzing whether they could have been improved. In fact, the longer I am out running, the more I mentally accomplish, and I always come back refreshed.

By no means am I an expert in this field, I am more a be-

ginning practitioner. In fact there are articles written by more reputable authors, so I will not be listing ways that you can get structured periods of silence into your own lives. A simple audit of your day could potentially provide you with an insight into areas where I hope you could find time to incorporate this. For me, quiet time is as necessary as food or water on an almost daily basis. So much in fact, that whenever I see the toll of life weighing down my friends, I not only ask them what “me time’ have they had recently but I also try to emphasize that “me time” should involve quiet time.

Henry Ogwudire is a proud father of two and a self-described fitness enthusiast who is passionate about ensuring parents commit to being ready for life’s challenges by staying mentally and physically active.

Lean into Learning

Well, another summer has come and gone. I hope you were able to spend some of your time watching the ocean waves, visiting exciting places, meeting new people and, of course, reading. But with the end of the summer comes a new school year and that can have all sorts of mixed feelings for our children. So this year, let’s strive to teach our children to be more accepting of others and more comfortable in their own skin. To help you, here are a few books that you can read with your children to start the conversation.

This book might seem like an odd addition to a beginning of the year reading list, because Frankie’s Favourite Food by Kelsey Garrity-Riley (Tundra, 2019) is about an end of the year school play. However, this story is all about learning how to be happy and excited for others, how to solve problems creatively and how to embrace everything you love. The brightly coloured picture book starts by introducing us to Frankie, a young boy who loves ever kind of food so much that he can’t pick his favourite. This is a problem, because everyone is dressing up as their favourite food for the school play. For ages 4 to 7.

While it’s not about traditional school learning, The Most Magnificent Idea by Ashley Spires (Kids Can Press, 2022) can help spark some ideas in your own children’s minds. In this tale, a young girl loves to make things and she always has a new idea about what to make. Until one day when she doesn’t. If you and your children can relate to that, don’t worry, the story doesn’t leave her there, but follows her along as she tries to find something that will give her brain the idea-creating boost it needs. Along the way she learns about perseverance, noticing the needs of others and problem solving—all of which are great skills to remember at the beginning of a new school year. For ages 4 to 7.

The summer is also a time when a lot of people move

around, and so your child might have a new child in their class (or they might be one). If that’s the case than Tayra’s Not Talking by Lana Button and illustrated by Christine Battuz (Kids Can Press, 2022) is a good book for them. This book is told from the perspective of all of the other kids in Tayra’s class, which is a smart idea on the author’s part because we get to see the kids’ thought processes as they struggle to understand and include the new girl Tayra because she won’t say anything. But as the book moves along, the classmates learn that it’s okay if Tayra isn’t vocal, because they can learn to communicate and include her in other ways. For ages 4 to 7

If your children love learning and don’t want to stop when the school day ends, they may enjoy these next two books. The first is Elinor Wonders Why: Hiding in Plain Sight, which was

created by Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson (Kids Can Press, 2022) and is based off of the TV show with the same name. This science-based graphic novel teaches children about camou flage using the game of hide-and-seek, so be prepared for them to get a bit better at the game if they read this book. The story also has discussion questions sprinkled throughout to keep your kids thinking and, if talking about it isn’t enough, there is an activity in the back that your kids can do to bring their newfound knowledge to life. For ages 5 to 8.

Finally, for children who love all things that are gross and yucky, you can try Poopy Science: Getting to the Bottom of What Comes Out Your Bottom by Edward Kay and illustrated by Mike Shiell (Kids Can Press, 2022). This non-fiction book is filled with all sorts of gross facts. If your children ever wondered how people in the past dealt with poop, if they want to know what paleo poop is (and where they can see the biggest paleo poop ever) or if they want to know why human poop and animal poop is different, this book is for them. For ages 7 to 10.

And there you have it, five books to help your children start their school year off right. I hope they all find themselves in classrooms with friends and teachers they can connect with, so they can learn, play and grow. Good luck everyone and have a great year!

Guests & Activities

All Summer!

Guests & Activities All

Animal Encounters • Rock Wall Climb Visiting Artists • Stage Performers • Nature Play

Christina Van Starkenburg lives in Victoria with her husband, children and cat. She is the author of One Tiny Turtle: A Story You Can Colour and many articles. To read more of her work and learn about her upcoming books visit christinavanstarkenburg.com Facebook: facebook.com/christinavanstarkenburg and Twitter: @Christina_VanS.

Major

Major Festival Support

Major Festival Support:

Major Festival Support:

Major Festival Support:

Summer Hours, May 1 to Sept 30: 10am to 4pm, Thurs through Tues

Winter Hours, Oct 1 to Apr 30: 11am to 3pm, Thurs through Tues

For special days and events go to bcam.net.

Teaching Healthy Eating Through Lunch

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits are often more popular with kids than vegetables. The textures and flavors of vegetables can be difficult for them to get used to. So offer a variety of different options and they’ll be sure to find something they like. My secret to getting them to eat vegetables is to serve it first, while I’m cooking the rest of dinner. Hungry kids are way more likely to enjoy a salad.

• Carrots, cucumbers, peppers, cherry tomatoes are classic.

• Raw green beans and snow peas are popular.

• Microwave frozen edamame until it is just warm.

• Serve defrosted mixed frozen vegetables.

• Steamed broccoli and cauliflower are nice with a dipping sauce.

• Offer salad or leftover cooked vegetables.

• Try kohlrabi or diakon radish spears.

• Dust apple slices with cinnamon to prevent browning.

When my kids were just starting school, we invested in a whole set of lunch containers. They came in different sizes (small and large), were dishwasher safe and easy for the kids to use themselves. They were a bit more pricey than other lunch containers, but 10 years later we’re still using them.

It wasn’t just getting high-quality lunch containers that was an important part of our lunch routine, it was teaching our kids about what went into those containers that mattered. The small container was for treats. Two large-size containers were protein and carbohydrates. And two large-size containers were for vegetables and fruit.

It was a simple way to teach healthy eating as set out by the current Canada Food-guide: food-guide.canada.ca/en. The recommendation is for half of what we eat to come from the vegetable and fruit food group, whereas treats should only make up a small part of our diet.

We started right away, letting our kids decide what they wanted for lunch in preschool. By Grade 1, they were filling their lunch containers and by Grade 3 they were chopping up their own vegetables and fruit.

Now that our oldest is in high school, obviously he is packing his lunch without any parental involvement. But I’m pretty sure he’s still following our traditional lunch set up because we keep buying vegetables and they keep getting eaten.

Involving your kids in food prep, is parenting for the future. It takes time to teach and supervise a seven-year-old in the kitchen. However, the skills they learn and the established routines are so powerful that they’ll keep them up, even when they’re in high school. And that is pretty powerful.

Healthy lunches can look like whatever your kids enjoy eating. The key is to offer a variety of options and teach them about proportions.

Here’s some suggestions for filling healthy lunch boxes.

Carbohydrates

Carbs are the quintessential kid-friendly food. Whole grains pack in a lot more nutrition than processed food. So try switching up your white rice for brown basmati or jasmine rice instead. Whole grains more appealing when accompanied by a flavorful sauce.

• A slice of bread with butter

• Whole wheat pasta

• Crackers and corn chips

• Rice, millet, quinoa

Protein

Nuts are generally not allowed in school lunches, but if your kid loves peanut butter or roasted almonds, be sure to stock them in your snack cupboard. Then they can help themselves after school. Here are some school-friendly options.

• Pumpkin and sunflower seeds

• Hummus or chickpeas

• Cooked meat and smoked salmon

• Hard-boiled egg

• Tofu (tofu puffs are popular)

• Cheese

Treats

Treats are anything that is high in salt, sugar, or unhealthy fat. So vegetable chips, sesame snaps and rice crackers are treats. They are perfect for putting into a small lunch container. Small containers are also the perfect place for muffins, cookies and pretzels.

Dips and sauces are a great way to make healthy lunches more fun! They are good for dipping vegetables or pouring over rice. Here are two dips that really make my kids happy!

Creamy Herb and Yogurt Dip

(Prep time: 10 minutes)

This dill and green onion is popular with our kids. Feel free to leave out the garlic powder or swap the dill for basil or parsley. It’s perfect for your favourite dip flavours.

1 green onion

11⁄2 cups of full-fat yogurt or Greek yogurt

1⁄2 cup mayonnaise

1 tsp lemon juice

1⁄2 tsp garlic powder

1⁄2 tsp dried dill

1⁄2 tsp salt and black pepper, to taste

Dice the green onion. Measure the yogurt, mayonnaise and other ingredients into a serving bowl. Stir to make sure everything is well mixed. Taste and add more salt, if needed.

Cover with an air-tight lid and place the dip in the fridge at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavours to infuse. Use within one week.

Emillie Parrish loves having adventures with her two busy children. You can find more of her recipes in her recently released cookbook Fermenting Made Simple. fermentingforfoodies.com

Dill Pickle Dip

(Soaking time: 2 hours, Prep time: 5 minutes)

This vegan-friendly dip is hugely popular with kids. If cashews aren’t allowed in your child’s classroom, swap them with sunflower seeds instead. It won’t be quite as creamy, but it will still be delicious!

1 cup of cashews (or sunflower seeds)

2 cups of water

1⁄2 cup of dill pickle brine

1 tsp dried dill

1⁄2 tsp garlic powder

1⁄2 tsp onion powder

1⁄2 tsp salt and sugar, to taste

Measure the cashews into a large measuring cup. Cover with water (approximately 2 cups) and leave the cashews to soak for 1 to 2 hours. Sunflower seeds will need to soak for 2 to 3 hours.

After the cashews have soaked, drain the water. Place the cashews in a blender with the pickle brine, dill, garlic powder and onion powder. Grind on high until the cashews are a smooth paste. Add additional water at this point to get it to the desired consistency (dip or sauce).

Taste and add salt or sugar if needed. It will depend on the flavour of the pickle brine. Sometimes really sour pickles need a bit of sugar to balance the acidity.

Store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Students of any age, any instrument, and any level are welcome.

The Value of Pushing Past Where You’re At

When I first considered writing about fatherhood, I wasn’t sure what fresh perspective I could bring to the conversation. Still reeling from my recent separation, adjusting to my new life as a single dad and focused on holding all the shards of my life together, I decided that any relationship-related topic was off the table—except perhaps as a cautionary tale.

My confidence was shattered and scrolling through my social media feed, I could find dozens of people I felt may be better suited to talk about parenting, as they were continuously delivering family, relationship and parenting advice on the daily. My knee jerk reaction was to decline the opportunity.

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wanted to contribute to this community and took time to hone in on my personal motivation for that desire.

Let me be clear, I’m not a writer; I’m far too painstakingly analytical. It takes me forever to write, revise, rinse, repeat. Any infrequent writing that I do is as a domain expert, providing technical advice and speaking from a position of comfortable confidence to industry clients with whom I share a working relationship. The thought of writing about a personal topic for an audience of strangers triggered a fair amount of anxiety as I was well outside my comfort zone.

In digesting all these mixed feelings, I realized this process was what I wanted to write about.

My son is a naturally talented and gifted child who excels when he participates in most activities. He has an innate curiosity for nature and love for art, a remarkable amount of emotional intelligence and seemingly boundless energy.

However, sometimes he loses interest when he’s not immediately good at something or if it takes too long or requires too much effort to reach his desired outcome. He wants to return and play the “fun” games he’s already mastered, where he always wins, instead of pushing through the challenges of learning and mastering a new activity.

As a parent, I often encourage him to stick with these new activities, enjoy the learning process, as he builds his skill set and pushes his own abilities. His smile when he achieves a goal that he struggled at minutes earlier is all the reward I need to keep supporting him in this manner and I’m confident that each of these little wins is building his own

sense of self-worth and helping him grow as a person. I love watching this evolution within him, each victory padding his intrinsic value and helping shape the man he’ll one day become.

It occurred to me that these same virtues I’ve asked him to embrace had also taken hold of me. I needed to push my own boundaries despite the discomfort of sharing my thoughts on parenting in a space where I feel vulnerable. In doing so, I would be more in line with my personal values, leading by example and acting as a role model for my son. By espousing these values of lifelong learning and personal growth, my encouragement for him would carry more weight for me personally and hopefully resonate better with him.

So here we are… it’s been a minute for you, but over a week since I wrote my first sentence above. I’ve written, revised, removed, replaced and refined my thoughts you’ve just read. In the meantime, I’ve stalled, procrastinated and re-prioritized.

Through the process, I’ve grown a real compassion for how frightening it is to try something new, how raw it feels to put yourself out there when the result may fall flat of your objectives and seen firsthand how easy it is to retreat back to the comfort of where you’re at and not put yourself out there at all.

There’s an expression “The child is the father of the man” which implies the values instilled in us and behaviours of our childhood shape the person we become as an adult. I hope that the virtues I’m trying to extoll are setting my boy on a path for happiness, fulfillment and success, that I am embracing his inherent love and natural gifts while providing the leadership to show that his path requires not only talent but also initiative and dedication.

Geoff Spears is a mobile app developer living in Colwood with his adorable son and their tiny gold dog. When he’s not chasing them in opposite directions at the beach, he may be playing music or wondering what became of his other hobbies. geoff.spears@gmail.com

Symphony & Opera in the Park

Have you always wanted to take your child to the opera or symphony, but you weren’t sure which concert to choose, or the tickets were a little too much for your budget? Well, look no further, because the Victoria Symphony and Pacific Opera Victoria are offering two free full orchestral concerts on August 4 and August 5. These special concerts are called “Symphony and Opera” and it will be performed at the Cameron Bandshell in beautiful Beacon Hill Park. Cameron Bandshell, also known as The Stage in the Park, is located in the middle of the park, off Arbutus Bridge Way. Since it is an outdoor event it’s best to bring folding lawn chairs or a blanket

for your family to share. There are also outdoor benches at the Bandshell. Another good idea is to pack a food hamper or small cooler with water and snacks.

The symphony will be playing a variety of orchestral and opera pieces. On the program is Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Vaughan-Williams Sea Songs, Bernstein’s West Side Story, John Williams’ Flight to Neverland and much more.

Listening to the symphony and hearing opera singers is a wonderful way to spend time with your family, especially when it is presented in an outdoor venue in the park. As parents, we should encourage our children to listen to all

forms of music including symphonic and operatic music. Research suggests that classical music can have numerous positive effects for children, including memory development, creativity and self-expression.

Listening to a selection of symphonic and operatic music before attending the concert is a good idea. This will give your child an idea of what instrument and vocal sounds to expect at a concert. For operas, start with childfriendly plots and characters, such as The Magic Flute by Mozart. This opera features enchantments and silliness with some of the most memorable music of all time. Or listen to Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. It is a fun opera

Opera can be a great way to introduce kids to music and storytelling. Here are a few ideas to make it fun for them:

Use visual aids. Watch videos of operas online and show your kids the sets, costumes, and singers. You could also use picture books to help them understand the story.

Attend an opera together. Many opera companies offer family-friendly performances, with shorter running times and interactive elements.

that features Figaro, the barber who charmingly masterminds a successful ending for two lovers. The opera is full of funny scenes and music that you will never forget.

As well, an excellent book to read before attending the concert is Meet the Orchestra by Ann Hayes. It is a lively book that explains the orchestra sections with colorful illustrations. Another informative book is Zin!Zin!Zin a Violin by Lloyd Moss. It is written in rhythmic verse with bright detailed artwork of the various instruments.

By taking the time to explore music and attending the Symphony and Opera concert you will be expanding your child’s music appreciation and creating memories for your whole family.

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Jerri Carson is a retired music teacher. She now spends her time playing the piano and cello.

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Many couples are sure that learning better communication skills will fix their relationship. If this were true, why weren’t your communication skills a problem back in the romance stage? While learning more effective ways of listening, speaking and taking turns is important, research shows, it’s only a small part of a healthy relationship.

While we need the foundation of trust and commitment, we also need to be on the lookout for bad habits and our own immature reactions. We all have immature parts that stop us from using all our great skills. Over-reactions, pouting, criticisms, sour tones, defensiveness and throwing the blame ball sum up just a few behaviours to catch and extinguish. First step; notice if you are doing these things. Second step; stop yourself, breathe and take some time to access a little calmness. Slow things down and connect to your values. Who do you want to be in relationship? What do you have control over?

There are certain values, that if shared by a couple, can guide a relationship. They are:

Responsible communication where you listen effectively, use safe language and show respect.

Protecting your relationship from intrusions (children, extended family work, hobbies…). Obviously, our children need us but that shouldn’t be our main focus. If it is, we can lose sight of important issues to resolve as a couple and our children will carry that anxiety.

Being accountable and doing what we say we are going to do, even if it means putting the toilet paper on the right way. Yes, there is a right way.

Take responsibility for your feelings, needs and wants. Your partner can’t and shouldn’t read your mind.

Commit to personal growth and development.

Among these values is the ongoing curiosity about your partner. Ask how they feel about their day rather than what they did. Nurture a friendship and play together. Not every thing has to be so serious. Try getting together and not talk about the kids and recycling.

Share your dreams, your goals and challenge one another to get there. Above all, make the comfort of your partner’s nervous system your top priority. If they are upset or feel hurt by something you have said, stop talking. Turn toward them and give them your loving, mature reassurance reminding them that you are their loving other.

Dr. Allison Rees is a parent educator, counsellor and coach at LIFE Seminars (Living in Families Effectively), lifeseminars.com.

Celebrating Dead Wood

When I was a youngster, I made a discovery so shockingly glorious that I still search for the feeling it gave me to this day. I decided for the first time to flip a decaying log. What was under this log awoke something in me that felt like it predated back thousands of years. The feeling was so alluring, soothing and utterly thrilling! Finding things. This feeling is everything…searching and finding, and relishing at nature’s magic. What did I find? An Eastern Red-backed Salamander.

The thing was, I had absolutely no idea that salamanders existed! To me, this animal was completely novel. It was snakelike, but with the most adorable little limbs! It looked waxy, smooth and shiny, boasting two large eyes and a handsome red stripe. It was the greatest creature I had ever seen and my heart filled with awe.

What are the happenings at the site of a single dead log? Who shows up? Who stays, comes and goes? Why should you love your local dead logs as much as you love your local birds and flowers? I’ll tell you.

It is so often the underappreciated parts of an ecosytem that form the building blocks for the elements that are most cherished by humans. The things we label as gross or burdensome in fact play indispensible roles. They are the life source for the charismatic creatures that are popular and loved, and they are incredibly neat!

Home

Dead wood is an ecological house party and many are invited. The variety of species that live inside, around, on top of and underneath dead wood is astounding. This list includes the obvious: worms, isopods, salamanders, centipedes, ants…. And the not-so obvious: bears, bats and even large cats! A single stick could be home for fungi, protizoae, bacteria, springtails, mites and many other micro-fauna.

Consider ants. Their bodies are built for incredible feats of strength and enduarance. Living up to 30 years and having jaw parts that can move at a speed of nearly 400km/hr, these tiny creatures are rather impressive. Dead logs are a prefered habitat for many ant speices, and ants are a prefered food souce for certain bear populations! Some BC populations of bears are dependent on ants as a food source when berries become sparse. The roles of ants go far beyond this example, but it gives us an idea of the connections to be made.

Food

Dead wood is an ecological house party and the food is pleantiful. The creatures that dwell near or within dead wood are an important food source for the forest, as is the dead wood itself.

Fungi, for example, are a major food source for many animals like slugs, squirrels and deer. Fungi love dead wood and

are consummate decomposers. Consider a tree that has fallen after 800 years of life. Who has walked by this tree in the past 800 years? What has happened above its root system? What has this tree witnessed?

An organism this old has aquired mass amounts of nutrients in its voyage to become a towering and fantastical old growth tree. Within the now-dead tree is a cache of nutrients, but not just anyone can eat dead wood!

Fungi, using fine filliments called mycelia, excrete enzymes that break down dead wood for their consumption. Tree’s cell walls contain lignin which allows them to stand tall and avoid rot—it is very difficult to break down. In fact, fungi are the only major group that can break down lignin. They are effectively a giant digestive tract for the forest! They take the nutrients in wood and turn it into food for the whole ecosytem.

Function

Dead wood is an ecological houseparty and the performers are incredible! Dead wood isn’t just an important habitat and part of a diverse food system. It provides numerous ecosytem functions. It stores carbon which is slowly released as it is broken down and can be used by the forest and its organisms. Removing the wood robs the soil and micro-organisms of carbon stores, and burning the wood releases carbon into the environment too quickly.

Logs, snags, and trunks create habitat diversity and can provide shade for new seedlings, or help keep moisture in the ecosytem during dry seasons. In areas near water (riparian zones), dead logs can stabilize soil, provide nutrients to the aquatic ecosytem, divert waterflows…the list goes on and on.

Wonder

Dead wood is an ecological house party and you are invited (if you follow house rules).

While I don’t recommend flipping over dead wood all over the forest (it could be disruptive to its inhabitants), I invite you to spend some time with it.

Find a log and imagine all that has happened at the site of this once tree, now log. What has it seen? How many organisms have used this wood? Thousands? Millions? Billions? How many nutrients have cycled through this microhabitat? How many connections have been made?

Perhaps the dead wood will spark a poem, a painting, a one-act play, a conversation or even just an acknowledgment. “Good job wood, you’ve done more than I can imagine.”

Join Us

Join us this summer at the Nature Sanctuary for one of our children’s, family or adult programs and you will also find wonder in nature! See our calendar, register, and learn about our programs on our website: swanlake.bc.ca or follow us @SwanLakeNature.

You could win WildPlay Season Passes for your family by sharing your Family Favourites!

Madi Haller is a Community Educator at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. Madi is enthralled by the often unnoticed corners of the natural world, like slime molds, fungi and insects!

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Island Parent Group—BC’s largest publisher of parenting content—is expanding its editorial team. We publish Island Parent Magazine, WestCoast Families, GRAND and Tweens & Teens. We are looking for someone who is passionate about sharing the joys and struggles of parenting through multiple mediums. This position will help shape the editorial direction of our magazines, websites and social media. We are looking for a growth-minded star who wants to be a part of a mighty team!

PRESCHOOL & CHILDCARE SPOTLIGHT

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Nestled on 4 acres of lush west coast forest, our Award winning, Nature based program will not disappoint! While firmly embracing the Reggio-Emila (Italy) Philosophy our dedicated team of educators use the environment as the third teacher as we encourage your child throughout their day. Our purpose built facilities have been handmade using the trees from our forest. Come take a virtual tour on our website! lexieslittlebears.ca Waitlist: 250-590-3603

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Licensed child care facility with spots available for children aged 3-5 years. Contact us to book a tour today! Victoria Social Innovation Centre: 1004 North Park St littlephoenixchildcare.ca director@littlephoenixchildcare.ca 778-269-2273

SunFest 2023

Get your tickets now to see this incredible family-friendly country music festival in Lake Cowichan! Grab a campsite and take in some or all the concerts from August 3–6. You’ll enjoy shows by big international stars such as Blake Shelton, as well as show your support for local bands such as The Country Line. sunfestconcerts.com

Nanaimo Blues Festival

The Nanaimo Blues Festival will be at Matteo Sutton Park in Nanaimo from August 10-13, 2023. Bring your blankets and beach chairs to sit back with your family and enjoy music from new local artists to famous names. Pack a picnic or purchase food from a variety of trucks on-site. Get your tickets now!

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Cumberland Wild

One weekend. One stage. Three shows! Get your tickets now to Cumberland Wild, happening at Cumberland Village Park on August 19 and 20. This incredible non-stop weekend of food, fun and music—including a silent overnight dance party—will provide all different types of world class music and dance in the picturesque village of Cumberland. cumberlandwild.com

Day of the Dog

Bring your entire family—including your furry friends—to Bullen Park in Esquimalt on August 12 and 13! This free event offers fun, food and all the festivities to have a great day out in the park. You’ll find pet products, pet activities and everything else you need to make your dog a happy pup!

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Sooke: 250-642-5152 ext 239 West Shore: 250-940-4882

Cowichan Valley: 250-746-4135 local 231

PacificCare (Ladysmith North): 250-756-2022 or 1-888-480-2273

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GREATER VICTORIA

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Relearning History

A Tour to Kiixin

The sky is overcast but the rain is holding off as we gather at the Kiixin Tour Office on the East Government Dock in Bamfield. There are 10 of my family members present, spanning three generations, all eager to follow a Traditional Knowledge Holder through lush rainforest to an ancient village site on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Stella Peters introduces herself as our guide for the morning, and it’s clear at once that we’re in good hands. There’s a final washroom run once we’ve signed our paperwork, and then we pile into our cars and following Stella’s truck a short distance back down the Bamfield Highway and onto a private gravel road.

With two giant carved figures to welcome us, the trailhead is impossible to miss. The figures are Nutchkoa and Hominiki, we later learn, the first ancestors of the Huu-ay-aht, one of the Nuu-chahnulth peoples. As impressive as they are, the two figures are significantly smaller than the original carvings first erected in the village of Kiixin over 160 years ago. Taken from Kiixin in 1911, the original figures now stand watch in the lobby of the Royal BC Museum. New, full-size figures were carved and installed at the entrance to the House of Huu-ay-aht at Pachena Bay in 2000.

As we join the other tour participants in the shelter at the trailhead, Stella shares this and more. “Journey with our

ancestors” is one of the taglines of the tour—and with Stella’s guidance that is exactly what we do. Her words and visual materials take us from the distant past to the present. We learn about the ancient site itself, a 19th century village and fortress that shows evidence of continuous occupation for at least 3,000 years—and as much as 5,000 years, according to oral tradition. We learn about the archeological surveys that Stella participated in— and her Nation’s decision not to proceed with a full-scale excavation. We learn about the traditional skills and practices that allowed the Huu-ay-aht to live in this area for millennia. Best of all, we receive this information from a Traditional Knowledge Holder rather than an “outside,” non-indigenous source.

As we move through time, Stella’s words inevitably lead to more painful territory—the decimation of the Huu-ayaht population as the result of European diseases, the loss of cultural treasures to 19th and 20th century collectors, and the tragic consequences of the residential school system. These are difficult but necessary subjects, and Stella discusses them in a manner that is both matterof-fact and sensitive to the presence of children on the tour.

With our guide’s introduction complete, we start down the rainforest trail towards the village site. The trail is not particularly long (at least not for our family of hikers), but we take our time, moving carefully down flights of stairs and over long sections of boardwalk. There are frequent stops as well, as Stella points out things of interest. I’m fascinated by the culturally modified trees—ancient cedars with strips of bark removed for clothing and basket-making, and other trees with entire planks missing for cradles, boxes and houses.

Finally, we reach our destination. I’ve had the privilege of visiting many west coast beaches and coves, but this one is particularly breathtaking. It’s a strategic

location as well as a picturesque one, set for defensive reasons “between the rugged outer coast and the protected inner waters of Barkley Sound.” Today there’s a bear waiting to greet us as we reach the sand. We keep a respectful distance, and the bear eventually wanders off—into the very section of the forest where Stella was planning to lead us. While we wait for the bear to wander a little further, we take out our packed lunches and have a quick picnic.

Kiixin was the traditional capital village of the Huu-ay-aht, and it remains a sacred site. According to Parks Canada, “it is the only known First Nations village of more than 100 villages on the southern B.C. coast that still features significant, standing traditional architecture.” To see the remains of these structures in person, and to hear dramatic stories from a descendant of the resourceful and courageous people who lived on the site for millennia, is an unforgettable experience.

As a child growing up in Nanaimo, I had very little knowledge of the complex indigenous cultures that existed on Vancouver Island before the first newcomers

disembarked from their ships. The curriculum didn’t cover much local history back then, and what I did learn mostly began with the arrival of European explorers in the 1700’s.

Things are different for my grandchildren—and for that I am profoundly grateful. I am especially grateful to Stella Peters and other Traditional Knowledge Holders across the Island who are sharing their stories and cultural teachings so generously. We can’t change the past, but we can certainly be intentional about how we go forward—and learning what we didn’t know before is an essential part of that process.

Kiixin Tours are offered from the May long weekend to Labour Day. While the 4-hour morning tour worked best for our extended family, there is also an evening tour, which includes songs and drumming on the beach. Headlamps or flashlights and a towel or blanket to sit on are required on the evening tour. The hike into Kiixin is rated “moderate plus,” thanks to uneven terrain, potentially slippery boardwalks and a steep flight of stairs down to the beach. According to the tour website, people with injuries, mobility challenges or hiking-restricted medical conditions cannot be accommodated.

Children aged seven and older are welcome on the tour, as long as they are accompanied by a parent or guardian aged 19 years or older. For more information, visit kiixin.ca/tour.

Rachel Dunstan Muller is a children’s author, storyteller, podcaster and grandmother. You can find her podcasts Hintertales: Stories from the Margins of History and Sticks and Stones and Stories through her website at racheldunstanmuller.com

Helping Kids Face Their Fears

Every child passes through that stage of being afraid of monsters—under the bed, in dark corners, down in the basement—it seems to be a universal childhood fear. This fear can take root before a child is at an age when a parent can even reason with them and provide logical explanations, and even then, that assurance rarely seems to allay such deep-seated phobias. And some children’s fairy tales only serve to fan the fire—the witch in Hansel and Gretel who cooks children, the giant in Jack and Beanstalk who will “grind Jack’s bones to make his bread” or the big, bad wolf in The Three Little Pigs who is out to devour some piggies.

I’ve had these experiences with my own sons, and now predictably, my young grandson seems to be going through the same phase. This was made clear to me on a recent trip to the public library. Whenever we visit the library, I turn my grandson lose in the children’s section where he will often tuck himself away with a book

that catches his interest. On this particular visit, I didn’t notice he had his nose in a book about monsters until he asked me to put it back because it was scaring him. As we walked home afterwards, I noticed he wouldn’t hold my hand. Any time I extended my hand to him, he shied away from me to the other side of the sidewalk. When I asked him what was wrong, he said he didn’t want to hold my hand because he was afraid I was going to turn into a monster. So I asked him: “You’ve known me seven years now, have I ever turned into a monster?” His answer? “I don’t think so, but sometimes you look pretty scary.”

Well…I asked.

How best to handle this touchy subject of childhood fears and phobias?

In my own childhood, the prevailing approach by many parents at that time was a no-nonsense one—there are no such thing as monsters. Period. Simple as that. It was as if a child’s fears were not be “indulged.” I was raised with this approach and can attest that it did

nothing other than cause me to feel ashamed and somehow inadequate. Although on one level, I trusted the word of my parents (that they wouldn’t lie to me), but their logic simply could not quell my fears. I still took the basement steps two at a time and insisted on my bedroom door being left open with the hall light on. My fear of the dark was so innate and so irrational that it overruled all common sense until I was well into my teens.

As a result, my approach with my own children was very different. Having been a victim of my own fears, I didn’t want to make my children feel bad about experiencing their own. So I listened, hugged and validated their concerns. I actually found it helpful to confess my own childhood fears to them as a way of illustrating that at some point, these anxieties which seem so overwhelming when we’re young, gradually lessen or fall away as we grow into adulthood. And yet, I also readily admitted to them that even in adulthood, I still have some fears I continue to grapple with.

I am pleased to see books in the public library that address the topic of childhood fears. I’ve read several stories with my young grandson that illustrate the mastering of a particular phobia. While reading these stories, I am quick to point out the accompanying feeling of accomplishment and pride the child experiences by the end of the book. Many of these books employ a well-trusted behavioural therapy technique in which children are gradually exposed to their fears in a safe, secure environment. Take the fear of spiders, for instance, yet another phobia of mine! Reading books together about spiders and their importance in our ecosystem might be a way to start addressing this fear. Having a child look at illustrations and photos, even gently encouraging them to touch those photos, can help to desensitize their fear.

Pointing out spiders in one’s outdoor environment and watching them build a web or collecting a spider in a bug box are some further ideas to help with desensitising. I am a firm believer that steps like this help make fears more manageable. Those fears may never be calmed, but at least we can develop coping skills that can serve us well later on in life.

Susan Gnucci is a local author and a proud “nonna” to two young grandsons. She enjoys sharing her experiences as a grandparent.

Summertime Is Grandparent Time

Summertime often means more time for grandparents to spend with grandchildren. Sometimes that’s a vacation or cottage getaway. Sometimes it’s a childcare-in-the-city situation. Either way, it may be a time where grandparents get more day-to-day interaction with their grandkids who are not in school. With lots of activities and destinations to choose from, how does a grandparent decide what to do?

Baking is also an opportunity for practicing fine motor skills, pouring, cutting (butter, with a table knife, for example— nothing sharp!), blending butter into flour. It gives kids a chance to experience and talk about textures (powdery flour, greasy butter) which they don’t feel every day, as well as smells: cinnamon, lemon peel, cloves. Not to mention the way soft dough become crisp cookie—it’s not magic, it’s chemistry!

don’t require small kiddy-hands to hold fanned-out cards (that’s a difficult fine motor skill!). By the time kids are 6 or 7, they can learn Crazy Eights or Gin Rummy. And I know eight-year-olds who play Bridge!

Outdoor play is a great time to develop gross motor skills, like running, kicking and throwing.

These skills take a long time to develop and kids need a lot of practice! Take the opportunity to discuss things we CAN kick and throw (balls in the field, stones into the water) and those we must not. There are lots of games you can create around throwing stones into the ocean or a lake: who can throw it farther (of course), who can hit that log, who can do the silliest throw, who can throw over their shoulder. But just meditatively tossing stones in the water can make space for conversation and connection.

Time outdoors also promotes healthy eye development. Studies have shown that spending a couple of hours a day outdoors reduces the incidence of myopia (short-sightedness). It seems that the bright light of the outdoors, and the opportunity to focus on the far-away things give the eyes the stimulation they need.

You may want to think about activities, which, while being fun and novel, will also support academic learning. Some of these will be obvious, but some might have benefits you have not thought of.

Take the dolls tea party, for example. Set the table for tea time with the dolls, stuffed animals and action figures—don’t forget about the beloved cars and trucks. Discuss patterns, distributing one napkin to each creature, anticipating the needs of others. Pouring out the “tea” and passing the cookies provides practice in turntaking and polite pleases and thank yous.

If you want to go all out, how about baking the cookies? Choose a really simple recipe with few ingredients. But even a three-year-old can help to measure and pour and stir. Cooking is a great way to reinforce math concepts (measurements of volume and weights, setting timers, talking about temperatures).

Building with blocks provides lots of opportunities to practice fine motor coordination and engineering skills. Of course it all starts with you building a tower and your grandchild knocking it down. A great exercise in turn taking! A little later, set up a small construction and challenge your grandchild to copy it. Then ask them to set you a challenge. Create enclosures for toys animals and dinosaurs. Make a house for the dolls. Lots of opportunities for telling stories. With older kids (4 and up) grandparents can teach them card games. Start with sorting the cards into red and black, or suits, or numbers versus face cards. Progress to Memory where all the cards are laid out face down and each player turns over two at a time. The goal is to remember where the cards are and find matching pairs. Games like War and PishePasha great starting games that

On Vancouver Island we are so lucky to have relatively easy access to the shore and the ocean.

There are so many opportunities there for wildlife observation, exploring tide pools, building sand castles, collecting pebbles or driftwood. But remember that just being outdoors, with unstructured time is hugely beneficial for children— and everyone else. The fresh air, the sunshine (remember sunscreen, hats, and the hydrantion), and the freedom is what summer is all about!

Eva Bild, MA, AdvCD(DONA), LCCE is a Childbirth and Lactation Educator, and Birth Doula Trainer. She has been teaching and supporting childbearing families in Victoria since 1994. She become a grandmother this year!

Did you know 8 out of 10 struggling readers have an eye tracking problem?

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If your child’s eyes cannot track properly, they will not be able to see the words the same way you do. When the eyes aren’t perfectly aligned, each eye may end up jumping to a di erent letter, further confusing your young reader.

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• Skipping lines and losing their place

• Not recognizing a word they just learned

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• Missing small words

Dr. McCrodan and Dr. Irvine have been working with patients for over 10 years, and have helped thousands of children improve their reading and learning.

Dr. McCrodan shares his journey in neuro-visual optimization through the eyes of his patients.

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Dr. McCrodan supports patients of all ages and abilities, including those with reading and learning issues, head trauma, concussions, and sports vision needs. He is a published author and has presented for TEDx on his discoveries.

Dr. Irvine has dedicated his career to connecting with patients and helping to improve their quality of life. He specializes in helping patients overcome visual problems related to concussion, dizziness, reading and learning.

Dr. Scott Irvine

Dr. Cameron McCrodan