Back to School Issue 2021

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2021 BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION

Take HEE! o Copy me

Calgarys Child '

We Are Family

Get Out & PLAY It’s more than just fun and games

HAVING TROUBLE RECONNECTING? Gentle advice to help you move forward

Calgary’s Best

PUP & PEOPLE WALKS

1 2 0 2 Back-to-School RY ECgrTeaO DIR t start! t off to a Ge

Family DATE Nights

NOW BOOKING!

Fall Classes & Programs from Circus to Softball

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021

Over the past half-century, Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School has helped prepare students for successful lives of purpose and will continue that legacy far into the future.

RSVP AT WWW.STRATHCONATWEEDSMUIR.COM/OPENHOUSE

Contact Us

calgary’s child

Phone Number: ��������������������������������������������������������������� 403-241-6066 Email: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . calgaryschild@shaw.ca

About Us

2021 Back to School Edition Front & Centre Reconnecting is harder than I thought it would be . . . . . . . . . 5 We Love Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Calgary Cares - Calgary Cares is a free forum designed to match those with needs to those willing to help.

Calgary Police Youth Foundation and Kiwanis Clubs of Calgary - cooking for a good cause! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Publisher/Editor: M. L. Ellen Percival Co-Creator: Sherry Kerr – ABC

2021 Back-to-School Directory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Check out our comprehensive list of grade A resources and class and program listings you will need to get your family started on the right path to school success.

2021 Class & Program Directory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Your source for information about extracurricular class and program choices!

Assistant Publisher/Website Manager: Allison Percival Art Director: Amanda Sharp Copy Editor: Melissa Thomson Distribution Manager: Cathy Bontje Sales Director: Eilidh Tait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 587-888-9556 eilidh.calgaryschild@gmail.com Sales Executive: Dan Bontje . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-605-9204 dan.calgaryschild@gmail.com

Gems for Gems - empowering women to empower themselves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Taking the lead in sportsmanship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Non-competitive sports and activities for your pre-teen. . . 38

Cover

Fall Fun

Sports specialization: is it a good idea. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Syda Productions © Adobe Stock

Calgary’s best pup and people walks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

When your guppy gives up - when swim lessons don’t go well. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Six life skills kids learn from playing outdoors. . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

10 tips for terrific tryouts - ease the jitters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Five fun ways to spend an autumn day in Cochrane. . . . . . . 12

Get in the know about sports registration - where to start . 43

Family date nights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Anxiety at school - when talking and doing feels too big . . 44

Keep active outdoors with family-friendly fall fun!. . . . . . . . . 14

5 ways to stop micromanaging your kids’ goals . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Memories made: plan an epic family game night. . . . . . . . . . 15

Helping your child resolve disputes in a healthy way. . . . . . 47

Fall into fun! Harvest events for the whole family. . . . . . . . . . 16

Contests - Enter to Win! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Ages & Stages

Back to School

Toilet training the Montessori way. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

How to ensure a smooth transition - from lazy summer days to when the school bell rings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 The question of homework - what it’s for and how to help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Tips and tricks for back to school - how to make the experience successful and less stressful . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Playful adventures - open-ended materials for endless imagination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Being in love shouldn’t hurt - teach your teen to find healthy relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Parent Connection

Kindergarten-readiness: set your child up for a successful start. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Talking to boys about body image and disordered eating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Homeschooling tips - how to make it work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

10 things you should declutter every time you move. . . . . . 53

Reading is more important than ever. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Back-to-school shopping - the frugal way. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Makers Marketplace A curated collection supporting local artisans and makers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Every issue of Calgary’s Child Magazine includes our family-focused features and departments; plus, each issue also includes comprehensive themed directories – designed to provide busy parents with all the information on local products, support & services – all in one place.

Next Issue Autumn Edition Ad Booking Deadline: September 22, 2021 Release Date: October 13, 2021 The leaves have turned colors and everybody's settled back into their fall schedule - now what? We have tons of ways to keep the fun going as the weather cools off, including ideas for the perfect Halloween, health & wellness advice for the whole family, birthday party ideas (we're all a little rusty!) and early ideas to help you plan your holiday season this year. Don't miss our great contests, advice, events, news and more!

• • • • 4 •

Family Wellness Directory Autumn Fun & Travel Feature Birthday & Celebration Directory Calgary's Child's Guide to the Holidays - Part 1

Find us on

Trista Arney Lori Beattie Kimberly Blaker Klynne Brinas Lizzy Bullock April Clay, R. Psych.

Shannon Dean Lynn Dittmer Ashlee Ellerbruch, M.C., R. Psych.

Ashley Frampton, M.Ed. Jen Goeres Christa Melnyk Hines Mairin Husak Malia Jacobson Lisa Kaldenbach, M.A., R. Psych.

Christina Katz

Tanya Kaynes Tanya Koob Sarah Lyons Carrie Malin Jenna Mazzei Jenelle Peterson Jan Pierce, M.Ed. Steacy Pinney Sarah Reader Judy Riege Lisa Salem Georg Stratemeyer Karissa Tunis Genevieve Yarn Gwen Randall-Young, R. Psych.

Karen Young, Psychologist

Understanding, preventing, and stopping sibling rivalry . . 51

Eight books to help children explore Indigenous culture . . 23

Fun and nutritious breakfast in a hurry!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Contributors

CBE, CSSD, Rocky View Schools & Foothills School Division Parents!

Look for our link on your School’s Website and/or Monthly Newsletters: Connect digitally with Calgary’s Child Magazine for parenting and education support, local resources, programs and activities for kids and families. calgaryschild.com (click on current cover)

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Distribution Calgary’s Child Magazine is available at over 500 locations around Calgary including elementary schools through the Calgary Catholic District, Calgary Board of Education, Rockyview District, Foothills School Division and Calgary Public Libraries. You can also find Calgary’s Child Magazine in stands at all City of Calgary Parks & Recreation facilities, Safeway, Co-op and Sobeys... just to name a few locations.

front & centre

reconnecting is harder than I thought it would be…

Gentle advice to help you move forward

By Judy Riege As we emerge from this pandemic, I’m surprised by the many emotions I’m experiencing as we move into a new phase of reconnection. I have felt relief, optimism, and excitement, blended with fear, foreboding, and a side serving of judgement. I have had moments of feeling socially awkward, exhausted, and stressed about navigating larger group settings and deciding what I am personally comfortable with. Do these feelings resonate with you?

As a coach, trainer, and mentor to educators, business leaders, and high-performance sport coaches and teams, I’ve had to listen to the advice I often share with others and embrace what I call ‘The Power of 3.’ Our collective goal as we emerge from this pandemic needs to be reconnection. Our pandemic pause has caused all of us to be ‘out of practice’ on the relationship continuum.

Like you, I’m at the start line and ready to move forward with different confidence, curiosity, and courage.

‘The Power of 3’: Feelings, Focus, and Friends There is power and perspective in practicing presence (say that five times fast!).

1. Feelings - “Name them to tame them” - Dr. Daniel Siegel, author of The Whole Brain Child. Feelings are messengers. Pay attention to your own feelings, as well as being attuned to the feelings of those around you - feelings are a collective weathervane of sorts.

Our distressing emotions send signals that something doesn’t feel safe or okay. Our more positive emotions say, ‘I’m open, confident, and feeling safe to explore.’

Whatever the emotional landscape - for yourself or for others - validate it. Make it okay to be where you/they are right now.

Ask these simple yet powerful questions: What am I /are you feeling?

• • What is the cause or the trigger?

• What do I/you need right now to feel better?

Emotions are energy and wisdom. When you listen to them, you can learn and consciously decide what your next best move might be in the present moment.

2. Focus - W.A.I.T - What Am I Thinking? The pandemic and its chorus of negative news and uncertainty fired up our survival networks and negativity bias. We actively scan for social and physical risks, threats, what could go wrong, and we tend to have more negative than positive thoughts. The result? We tend to react versus respond and resist versus reach out or in. In short, we tend to lean on comparison and judgement of self and others when we are feeling fear. When we focus on validating our emotions, points of view, experience, and the moment at hand, we all feel seen, heard, known, and understood. This is an act of compassion.

Focus on creating your pause or W.A.I.T moments when you feel some level of stress and uncertainty.

Consider: • What am I thinking?

• Is it true?

• Is it necessary?

• Is it kind - to myself or to others?

“We are all rookies as we emerge from this pandemic. Noticing and naming our feelings and thoughts and surrounding ourselves with supportive friends are key.”

3. Friends - Find those who want to play by the same rules you are comfortable with right now. We are hardwired for connection. Find those who give you energy and meet you with curiosity instead of advice.

Who has compatible ‘rules’ or COVID comfort levels as you? Find those friends who make you/your family feel safe, accepted, and whose company brings out the best in you - not the stress. Do the things that you love and want to do, not the things that you should do or that everyone else seems to be able to do at this time. It’s okay if you (or your family) are just not there yet. Put your phone down and find space for some real conversations and curiosity.

My last ‘Power of 3’ move are three reflection questions: • Did I do my best with what I knew in this moment?

• Did I do the right thing for me/my family in this moment?

• Did I show others that I care in this moment?

When I answer no to any of these reflection questions, I know I get to have a ‘do over’; a ‘do better’; or create ‘repair.’ We are all rookies as we emerge from this pandemic. Noticing and naming our feelings and thoughts and surrounding ourselves with supportive friends are key. Let’s show ourselves and others a little grace and gratitude. We can and will figure it out.

Together is better - one curious, connected conversation at a time.

Judy, Founder of Connected Leaders, helps people discover, define, and become the leaders they were meant to be, personally and professionally. Connected Leaders offers coaching training, facilitation, and program design in leadership, emotional intelligence, strategy, and organizational and team performance. For more information, visit connected-leaders.com.

Feeling Social? Follow on Facebook and Instagram @weareconnectedleaders. CCM

Back to School 2021 • calgaryschild.com • 5

We Love

LOCAL

WILD BEANS PLAY - wildbeansplay.ca Help your kids grow wild with imagination with curated selections from Wild Beans Play! This service offers children’s books paired with unique art, play, and sensory activities.

A great idea for any occasion or age to help promote childhood literacy. We love their The Big Beyond kit, which features a beautiful picture book, materials to create a spacescape, design a rocket, and a special cookie from Yours Truly Cookies your child can paint themselves!

By Trista Arney For even more local picks check out our blog at calgaryschild.com

KAREN LEONE DESIGNS - instagram.com/ karenleonedesigns Are you trying to live a zero waste or lower waste lifestyle? If you’re looking to eliminate single-use products in your home, you’ll want to check out Karen Leone Designs, a local creator on Etsy who creates unpaper towels, reusable baby wipes, sandwich and snack bags, and more! The shop features many fun patterns, so you are sure to find something for every style and personality in your family.

AVERY’S LEGACY - instagram.com/averys_legacy When someone you know is going through the loss of a loved one, it is often difficult to know how to express your sympathy and support. Avery’s Legacy creates personalized bereavement boxes to support the grieving heart after a loss. You can choose from their curated box collection, build your own box, or you can sponsor a Child Loss Bereavement Box (or portion) to be sent to newly grieving parents. You can browse their selections or nominate a bereaved family online at averyslegacy.com.

CHEDDAR DOGS - cheddardogs.ca If you have a furry family member that you are looking to spoil, check out Cheddar Dogs. This local Calgary business creates treats, cookies, and even cakes especially for the dog in your life. They even have a Cookie of the Month club to supply your pet with special treats each month! Their selections are almost as adorable as their taste-testing crew!

A CHEW FOR YOU - achewforu.com Calgary mom Jessica couldn’t find a teether or chewlery that fit her growing family’s style so she decided to start making her own! Check out her collection of food grade silicone chews to find something that suits your style or as a gift for the new addition in your life. All of the products created

by A Chew for You can be customized, too!

6 • Find us on

HASTY COFFEE - hastycoffee.com Does coffee fuel your mornings? Hasty Coffee is a local business that works with Canadian roasters to create instant speciality coffee that doesn’t taste anything like the instant coffee you may have tried before. The perfect brew for mornings when you just don’t have time - or to take with you on camping adventures!

211 Community Connection (24 hours) Dial 211 to get connected to the community services you need ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������211 AADAC Help Line (24 hours) Phone ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1-866-33AADAC (2-2322) Adult Counselling and Prevention Services �������������������������������� 403-297-3071 Youth Services ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 403-297-4664 Alberta Children’s Hospital Child Abuse and Mental Health Program Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-955-5959

calgary cares Calgary Cares is a free forum designed to match those with needs to those willing to help. If you work for, volunteer for, or know of a charity that needs some support, please let us know so we can tell our readers.

Alberta Health Services – HEALTHLink Alberta 24-hour line providing health information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 811 Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse 24-Hour Crisis Line and support for people who have been sexually abused/assaulted and their families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-237-5888 CCIS Parent Link Family Resource Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-266-6686 Children’s Cottage Crisis Nursery 24-hour child care for parents in crisis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-233-2273

Gems for Gems

Child Abuse Hotline Report child abuse-24 hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-387-KIDS

Empowering Women to Empower Themselves!

Community Resource Team 24-hour mobile crisis team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-299-9699 Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre of Calgary Offers a number of respite options for families with a child with a disability 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, voice message after hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-240-3111 Distress Centre Calgary 24-hour crisis line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-266-HELP (4357) ConnecTeen – 24-hour youth support line . . . . . . . . . . 403-264-TEEN (8336) Early Start Support for Families with New Babies Seven days a week, 24-hours a day support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-244-8351 Families Matter Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-205-5178 Hospice Calgary Grief Counselling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-263-4525 Kids Help Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-668-6868 La Leche League Breastfeeding Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-242-0277 Mental Health Help Line 24 Hour Help Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-877-303-2642 Mental Health Crisis Line (Mobile Response Team) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-266-1605 Canadian Mental Health Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-297-1700 Suicide Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-297-1744 Missing Children Society of Canada Organization dedicated to the search for abducted and runaway children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-661-6160 Parent Support Association 24-hour self help for parents of children nine and up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-270-1819 Poison Centre Calgary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-944-1414 Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-332-1414 Ronald McDonald House® Southern Alberta A home away from home for out of town families with seriously ill children in the Calgary Hospitals – 9 am to 9 pm . . . . . . . . . 403-240-3000 Shelters (all 24 hour access) Calgary Drop-In Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-266-3600 Children’s Cottage Crisis Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-233-2273 Women’s Emergency Shelter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-234-SAFE (7233) Sheriff King Family Support Centre Crisis Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-266-0707 Awo-taan Native Women’s Shelter Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-531-1972 Wheatland Communities Crisis Society Shelter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-934-6634 SIDS Calgary Offers support to families who have lost a child to crib death403-265-7437

Provided by Gems for Gems

Cooking for a Good Cause!

Provided by Calgary Police Youth Foundation

The Calgary Police Youth Foundation (CPYF) and the Kiwanis Clubs of Calgary have partnered to create a fun and exciting cookbook for kids, all in support of children and youth initiatives!

Launching in September, Cooking with Kids will feature over 100 favorite recipes from local families and celebrities using local (where possible) ingredients. The cookbook focus is cooking with, and for, kids; bringing families together to enjoy healthy eating with a few treats along the way!

All proceeds from the Cooking with Kids cookbook will be shared equally between CPYF and Kiwanis to support children and youth initiatives in the Calgary community.

CPYF and Kiwanis want to ensure all children have a bright and promising future and, with your support, they know this is possible!

The cookbook retails for $24.99. All cookbooks will be shipped in September. To purchase your copy today and get cooking with the kids in the kitchen for a good cause, visit cpyf-online-store.myshopify.com.

The Calgary Police Youth Foundation has a purpose to keep children and youth safe from crime and victimization. For more information, visit yycyouthfoundation.ca. Kiwanis is dedicated to improving the lives of children and building community. For more information, visit kiwanis.org. CCM

​​Gems for Gems believe the cycle of abuse can only end by igniting the desire to initiate actions which create change. Gems for Gems facilitates this change in collaboration with community, privately within shelters, and exclusively for women who have survived domestic abuse. Gems for Gems has identified the need not only to ease the pain created by the global pandemic of domestic abuse, but to do all within their power to end the cycle for as many women, and their children, as possible.

Gems for Gems invites you to look at their Scholarship Program, Empowerment Series, Jewelry Drive, Ambassador Program, and consider supporting their movement. Ending the cycle of domestic abuse one woman at a time creates a ripple effect. Those ripples reach children, other family members, the community, and all those inspired by witnessing a survivor become the heroine to her own story. Through their initiatives, survivors are shown endless possibilities through economic recovery and personal empowerment. This creates a financially and emotionally sustainable future where survivors may truly thrive.

Shop ‘til you drop!

Be the change you want to see in the world! Purchase from their wide array of Gems swag. 100 percent of the proceeds go directly to fulfilling their mission to end the cycle of domestic abuse. Each purchase made through their online store, gemsforgemsswag.com, fuels efforts to provide life-changing scholarships and empowerment events to local survivors.

You can make a difference. Join Gems for Gems. Be the Change #gemsforgems. For more information, to apply to become an ambassador, to apply for their scholarship program, and more, visit gemsforgems.com. CCM

West Central Communities Resource Centre One-stop approach for family services in the SW communities in regards to early intervention . . . . . . . . . . 403-543-0555 Women’s Health Resources Women’s Health Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-944-2270 YWCA Sheriff King Family Support Centre Non-crisis information - 8 am to 4 pm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-266-4111

Hospital Alberta Children’s Hospital 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-955-7211 Foothills Medical Centre 1403, 29 Street NW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-944-1110 Peter Lougheed Centre 3500, 26 Avenue NE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-943-4555 Rockyview General Hospital 7007, 14 Street SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-943-3000 Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre - Urgent Care 1213, 4 Street SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-955-6200 South Calgary Health Centre - Urgent Care 31 Sunpark Plaza SE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-943-9300 South Health Campus - Emergency Department 4448 Front Street SE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-956-1111

Back to School 2021 • calgaryschild.com • 7

calgary cares

Help is Just a Phone Call Away!

YOUR ONE-STOP HUB FOR ALL THINGS LEARNING Whether your child is going back to school or just starting their ABCs, find tons of fun and FREE tools for learning success at the Library: • Kindergarten Book Bags for new learners • eResources for every subject • Animated storybooks for learning to read • Programs to support caregivers • Tutorials for simple crafts and experiments And so much more!

Visit us in-person or online at calgarylibrary.ca/back-to-school

Fall Fun

13 Family Date Nights

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14 Outdoor Fall Fun

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16 Harvest Events

fall fun feature

Erlton Natural Park

Walks for the WHOLE family!

By Lori Beattie Strolling the same old neighborhood sidewalks and taking in the same scenery day after day with your pup can quickly become a bore… Read on for Calgary’s best urban walkabouts so Fido enjoys marking new territory in town while the rest of the family enjoys exploring unique locales in our great city, making the most of the ‘dog days’ of summer - and fall!

Sandy Beach WALK 1: Sandy Beach, Britannia, Elbow River, River Park Off-Leash, SW. A mix of on- and off-leash, pups will have everything they ever dreamed of on this urban walkabout that follows the Elbow River to escarpment views. Start at Sandy Beach Park and walk along the river pathway to Sandy Beach Bridge. Cross the river and take one of the two paths up the Britannia Slopes to an off-leash area boasting big mountain views. Continue north along the escarpment before taking the stairs down to the fenced Riverdale Off-Leash Park to throw your pup’s favorite ball, stick, Frisbee or to socialize with other pups before heading to the treed river trail. Water dogs can take a cooling dip or play fetch in the water before climbing the forested stairway trail to River Park Off-Leash Park where you can continue walking north to make a loop of the park. From its escarpment perch, River Park offers spectacular views of the downtown core and Elbow River below. Something unique about this area? Keep watch for Bald Eagles at eye level as they soar along the river

valley! Once at the fence, loop back south through the park before dropping to the river valley on one of the many trails or take a detour into the neighborhood to visit Neighbour Coffee at 40 Avenue and 16 Street. This is a wonderful stop for a hot drink, a baked treat, or lunch!

Starting-point parking: Sandy Beach Park official parking: 4500, 14A Street SW. Facilities: Permanent bathrooms at Sandy Beach (May to October); temporary bathrooms at Sandy Beach and River Park year-round.

Tip: Watch for Bald Eagles along the Elbow River Valley.

Dog highlights: Multiple off-leash areas for your dog to run free, meet other dogs, and chase balls, sticks, or Frisbees. For water dogs, the river swim or water fetch is the best!

WALK 2: Stanley Park, Parkhill, Roxboro Off-Leash, Mission, SW. From the Stanley Park parking lot, go uphill to Parkhill, a neighborhood with unique architecture.

Skirt the escarpment along grass paths and soak up big views of the Rockies and the community of East Elbow below. A set of stairs at the end of 2 Street leads you to Mission Road, which is the next green-space gem: Roxboro/Erlton Natural Park. Calgary has an abundance of off-the-sidewalk trails that give the urban hiker and exploring pup the feeling that they are walking in a remote wilderness area. Wolf willow shrubs canopy the trail as you climb from Mission Road into the park space.

Walk the escarpment trail and soak up the big views of Calgary’s towering core before dropping to the Roxboro Off-Leash Park. Continue along Roxboro Road and detour north along 4 Street to find drinks and eats, or cross Mission Road into Rideau and follow it back to the Elbow River Pathway and Stanley Park.

Starting-point parking: Stanley Park official parking lot on 42 Avenue, just west of 1A Street SW. Facilities: Bathrooms at Stanley Park (May to October).

Tip: Great café and bakery stops en route along 4 Street SW in Mission.

Dog highlights: Running free in Roxboro Off-Leash Dog Park: 3010 Roxboro Glen Road SW, swimming in the Elbow River, and finding abandoned tennis balls to play with in the forest beside the Stanley Park tennis courts.

Edgemont Wetlands WALK 3: Edgemont Hills and Ravines, NW. Walk north along Edgemont Hill and watch for the paved path cut through to Edgemont Hills off-leash area. At its highest point of 1245 metres, Edgemont offers expansive views of Calgary. Exposed slopes fill with wildflowers from April through August and host impressive windswept snow drifts in winter. Dogs can run free, explore, and burn off some energy while continuing west on one of the many dirt paths that crisscross the hill.

Stay high and enjoy views throughout or drop low and climb up again for a physical challenge.

Cross Edgemont Boulevard and follow the pathway into Edgemont Park Ravines, a manicured multi-use park with paved paths, art installations, and playgrounds for the kids! The ravine trail offers a relatively flat trek through a pleasant green space. Turn the corner at the T-junction and the park becomes less manicured, more natural. Thick willow shrubs consume the north-facing hillside, creating a sheltered home for mule deer. Listen for the Edgemont Park Ravine. Before reaching the ponds, the bird chatter is loud and clear. Cattails line the sides of the water and attract red-winged blackbirds, which have a distinctive sing-song call.

Starting-point parking: Official parking lot on Edgemont Drive, just north of John Laurie Boulevard.

Facilities: Friends Café is close by! This is a great spot to grab lunch for the walk.

Tip: Enjoy a family picnic at one of the many picnic tables in Edgemont Park Ravines.

Dog highlights: Running free, exploring, and burning off some energy in the Edgemont Hills off-leash.

Happy trails and tails, dog-lovers!

Lori’s new guidebook, Calgary’s Best Walks Expanded, has 45 walks with maps and 40 suggested detours (all perfect for people and their pups!). She leads city walks and mountain hikes with her company, Fit Frog Adventures. Grab a copy of her book or connect on Instagram and Facebook @lorifitfrog and at fitfrog.ca. CCM

Looking for an awesome birthday party idea for your child?

Look no further than the Calgary Zoo! Please contact us for more information on our Birthday Party Packages!

Phone: 403-232-7770 Email: salesinfo@calgaryzoo.com

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Photos: Courtesy of Lori Beattie

Calgary’s best pup and people walks

fall fun feature

six life skills kids learn from playing outdoors Build confidence, teach teamwork, and learn to persevere

By Jenelle Peterson Outdoor play has a particular element of risk, which can be beneficial in childhood development. Exploring and having unstructured outdoor play benefit children who are natural risk-takers. Others are not comfortable taking many risks, but outdoor play offers the space to test out new things on their own time. When children learn to take on risks around them, they learn invaluable life skills and support a child’s emotional, behavioral, and intellectual development. Studies have shown that students who learn outdoors develop a strong sense of place and learn observation and problem-solving skills. Outdoor adventures also build confidence, teach teamwork, and how to persevere.

The list of benefits is long and demonstrates how important it is to encourage children to explore the outdoor world around them. Here are six life skills children learn from playing outdoors: 1. Sense of place. Being outdoors brings a better understanding of children’s natural and human communities. When connected to place, children have shown to develop stronger environmental attitudes and civic behaviors. Creating this sense of place lets children know they belong in their physical space and in the social and cultural world they share with others around them. A sense of place gives children a sense of belonging.

Young children come equipped with a lot of curiosity and explore the world with their five senses. They explore and manipulate materials around them to understand the larger world.

2. Observation skills. When exploring a trail, a child becomes an explorer and a biologist. They begin to investigate that rotting tree and observe what creatures rely on it to survive. You can encourage your child to think like animals, see how different plants grow in a different light (remember to look up!). These observation skills just might help them become a great manager of a team or project.

3. Critical problem-solving skills. Many challenges appear when trekking across the vast expanses of a local park or wooded area. A small creek that needs to be crossed brings many options, such as finding the best rock to stop on or would using the log be a better option? Allowing children to figure it out on their own develop valuable critical problemsolving skills that benefit them throughout their lives.

4. Build confidence. Outdoor adventures are a great way to build confidence and allow children to experience what it means to be successful. It might be climbing a tree, taking a long hike, or rafting down a river. Each activity has its challenges to overcome, and the reward at the end will stay with them forever. And isn’t it great to hear the words, “I did it!”?

Building confidence also develops a creative mindset as their imagination is allowed to blossom.

5. Teamwork and negotiation skills. Group activities allow children to work on their teamwork skills. Maybe they work together to move a large boulder to see what is underneath or negotiate who will be the one to pick up the critter they found. There are many opportunities for the impromptu pickup game of baseball or freeze tag with the neighborhood children.

6. Perseverance. Children tend to go just to the point of their own abilities. With your care, your children can learn to take calculated risks in a safe environment. With this new courage, they have the skill to persevere as they move into adulthood. They are tenacious in most things and keep trying until they master a task. Ever learn to skip rocks over a lake? They will also work toward a goal and reach them without the resources you have available to you as an adult.

This is just a short list of the benefits children gain from outdoor play. So, it’s time to put down the electronics and head outside - the location is up to you!

Jenelle is the President and Co-Founder of Wild | Life Outdoor Adventures, a Calgary-based company that delivers outdoor adventure kits for kids. For more information, email support@ jointhewildlife.ca or visit jointhewildlife.ca. Follow their adventures on Facebook and Instagram @thewildlifeca. CCM

Back to School 2021 • calgaryschild.com • 11

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five fun ways to spend an autumn day in Cochrane

By Tanya Koob

white spruce estimated to be over 300 years old. The tree is located uphill on a hiking trail that follows the creek flowing through the park labeled on Google Maps.

Autumn is an especially beautiful time to visit Cochrane Ranche when the large trees beside Big Hill Creek have changed color. Make sure to bring your camera for family photos that you can use for your Christmas cards this year. The kids will also find that several of the trees make for great climbing.

3. Spend an afternoon at Riverfront Park along the Bow River. My family loves exploring the paved pathways along the Bow River starting from Riverfront Park off Griffin Road. In this park, you’ll find a disc golf course, 12 • Find us on

a nature playground, and a beautiful paved loop to bike or walk with your family. The loop is relatively flat and perfect for novice bike riders. We like to stop by the creek to play, and we always head up to visit the tunnel that crosses under Griffin Road. For a longer walk or bike ride, continue heading east toward River Avenue and the off-leash dog park. This part of the pathway is a bit hillier but still makes for a great family bike ride.

If you have youth who like skateparks, the Zero Gravity Skatepark can be accessed from Riverfront Park. Head west under Highway 22 and climb up to the park. It’s one of my family’s favorite skateparks, and it’s popular with youth on skateboards, scooters, bikes, or inline skates. You can check out the paved pathways on Google Maps. They show up as green lines around Riverfront Park.

4. Go fishing at Mitford Pond and tour the trails through West Cochrane. Mitford Pond is located west of Highway 22 and can easily be reached by bike or on foot from Riverfront Park where there are connected paved pathways between the two parks. If you choose to start from Riverfront Park, you can stop to play at the skatepark en route. Alternately, drive to Mitford Park off West Rock Road and you can start your adventure right at the pond. The pond is stocked with trout, and children under 14 can keep what they catch.

Older youth and adults must catch and release.

Aside from fishing, there is a beautiful paved trail that extends farther west from the Glenbow Ranch park heading toward the community of West Pointe. The pathway meanders high above the river for scenic views and is signed as ‘Glen Boles Trail.’ It’s one of our favorite paved pathways to ride as a family but it does have a couple of big hills, so you’ll want to save it for older youth who’ve mastered their bike gears and brakes.

If you bike or walk the full Glen Boles Trail to the final viewpoint, the distance is a 5-kilometre return from Mitford Park. To extend your bike ride, start at either Riverfront Park or even farther away by the River Avenue Bridge where you’ll be able to complete a return ride of 12 kilometres (from the bridge), all of it paved. This is one of our favorite spring or autumn bike rides close to Calgary.

Riverfront Park

Photos: Courtesy of Tanya Koob

The town of Cochrane is located 20 minutes west of Calgary and makes for a great day trip close to the city for a weekend family outing. You’ll experience mountain vibes, fresh air, and country living without having to make a longer drive out to Canmore or Banff.

Here are my family’s favorite places to play and explore in and around Cochrane: 1. Hike and bike around Glenbow Ranch. Glenbow Ranch is a provincial park located west of Calgary off Highway 1A (you’ll see the turnoff as you drive out to Cochrane). From the parking lot, a paved trail takes you steeply down to the river and from there, you can explore both paved and natural trails for hours as you hike or bike around this active cattle ranch through the native grassland.

My favorite natural trails include the Tiger Lilly Loop (a hiking-only trail) and the Badger Bowl Loop (which can be hiked or biked). My family also likes the Bow River Loop because it’s relatively flat and great for a novice bike ride. If you’re looking for paved trails, the Glenbow Trail is relatively flat and very scenic as you walk or bike to the Narrows and back. For more information, trail reports, and maps, visit grpf.ca.

2. Explore the trails around Cochrane Ranche.

Arriving in Cochrane, my family likes to hike around Cochrane Ranche where you’ll find a large parking lot off Highway 1A, east of the intersection with Highway 22. The highlight here is a visit to the grandfather tree, a

5. Go playground-touring around Cochrane.

There are many fun playgrounds around Cochrane, including: • Sunset Ridge (Sunset Road). A large playground with a pond, pathway, and picnic area. Especially great for young kids who may want to bring their bikes with them to ride around the pond.

• Riverfront Park Nature Playground (accessible from the Griffin Road parking lot). This park is fun for young children while exploring Riverfront Park.

• William Camden Park Playground (located between Glenwood Crescent and Glenbrook Crescent in central Cochrane). This playground features a large web climber and a fun hanging bridge. It is a great destination while biking around Cochrane and can be reached from Riverfront Park if you follow the green pathways on Google Maps.

• Centennial Park Playground (William Street and Pope Avenue). This playground has an accessible ramp system, is toddler-friendly, and you’ll see it as you enter Cochrane on Highway 1A from west Calgary. I find it tricky to access from the highway, so consult Google Maps before heading out.

• The LaunchPad Bike Park (Bow Street, downtown Cochrane). Not your traditional playground, this park deserves to be included for the bike lovers in your family. The park has a fun dirt pump track with rollers, wooden bridges, and beginner jumps. Make sure the park is dry if visiting and stay off the pump track if it has rained recently.

Visit the Calgary Playground Review website for more playground suggestions in Cochrane, calgaryplayground review.com/cochranes-best-playgrounds.

We all scream for ice cream!

When you’re done playing, make sure you stop downtown for delicious ice cream at MacKay’s, located on 1st Street. All products are manufactured locally in Cochrane using Western Canadian cream and fresh Alberta grown fruit. There are 50 different flavors of ice cream and you can view them all online, which is good news if you have children who have a hard time deciding on a flavor, mackaysicecream.com.

Tanya is a freelance writer and mom to an energetic boy. She loves hiking, camping, skiing, and all things mountain-related. She is the author of the blog, Family Adventures in the Canadian Rockies, rockiesfamilyadventures.com. CCM

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family date nights Connect and experience joyful moments as a family

By Ashlee Ellerbruch, M.C., R. Psych., and Lisa Kaldenbach, M.A., R. Psych.

One of the easiest ways to connect and experience joyful moments as a family is to have family date nights!

You may be thinking to yourself: Our family spends a lot of time together already or, Our schedules are so busy, this is just another thing to add to the list! But, it is important to make sure that family time is intentional, meaningful, and has purpose. Here are some helpful tips to make the most of your time spent as a family.

GET ORGANIZED To start, try picking out one day a week or a weekend day as a family date night. It doesn’t have to be at night, either. There are lots of fun daytime activities that can be done at home or in the community. By choosing and scheduling a specific day of the week or weekend, you can provide your family with a consistent and predictable schedule that everyone can look forward to. If your children are younger, they may need to be reminded of how many days until it’s family date night. Having a calendar or other visual reminder can keep them excited for the big day! When they ask about it, you can redirect them to the calendar, and count how many sleeps are left until family date night. Remember, starting a family night routine when your kids are a bit younger makes it easier to continue the routine as they get older. It’s important to find purposeful moments to connect with your children as they grow, and family date night makes it easy to maintain those points of connection.

Although family time is fun and exciting, it is important that there are some clear rules that all members follow.

Before starting an activity, begin with some basic rules: use kind words, gentle hands, no phones/emails, etc.

Have each family member provide a rule or allow any suggestions for new rules, and then make sure everyone agrees. Review the rules at the beginning of each family date night so everyone is reminded of what the expectations are (to get you started, download our free House Rules at kidsconnectpsychology.com). Family date night should match where your kids are at. Make sure the activity is at their skill level, keep it short and sweet, and include things like fun treats or snacks that might not be available regularly. You want to make sure that this time is special - so save those special treats for family date nights!

BENEFITS OF FAMILY DATE NIGHT At first, it may be hard to find an empty spot on the calendar, but we promise that family date night is totally worth it in so many ways: Academics. Research has shown that family time helps to boost academic performance in the classroom. Family time gives you an opportunity to check in with your kids. When you show interest in your children’s school experiences by providing them with positive validation and feedback, children are more motivated to perform better in school and are more likely to continue to share their academic experiences with you.

“It’s important to find purposeful moments to connect with your children as they grow, and family date night makes it easy to maintain those points of connection.”

Relationships. More family time promotes healthy and secure attachments. When your children have a good relationship with you, they tend to have a better relationship with their siblings, friends, and future partner.

Communication. A big part of family date night is spent talking with one another. Sharing highs and lows from the week, things that were fun, and things that were challenging. This helps to promote positive relationships but also supports skills like problem-solving, regulation skills, empathy, and more.

Skill-building. Family time can provide opportunities for you to actively work on increasing your parenting skills. This a great time to connect purposefully and work

on skill-building with your children, like active listening, problem-solving, co-regulation, social skills, and self-confidence.

Fond memories. Family time creates opportunities for lots of great memories to be made that your children will remember for years to come. Family time provides opportunities for you to be playful and silly, everyone gets to eat fun and different snacks, or try activities they might not normally do. These memories might fuel your kids’ own family date night traditions when they are parents with their own children!

YYC DATE NIGHT IDEAS Struggling to find ideas for your family date night?

We’ve got you covered! From community outings to indoor crafts and games, there’s something for everyone.

Here are a few of our favorite ideas: • Enjoying movie night - at home or going to the movie theatre • Indulging the taste buds with pizza night homemade or delivery • Challenging one another to a board game extravaganza • Finding hidden treasures in a scavenger hunt indoors or out • Enjoying a family-friendly hike - Troll Falls, Heart Creek, Fullerton Loop, etc.

• Going wild at the Calgary Zoo or pumpkin hunting at Butterfield Acres!

• Relaxing with a home spa night • Swimming at a recreation centre • Baking up a delicious batch of homemade cookies or cupcakes • Putting on a talent, puppet, or magic show For a full list of family date night ideas, visit kidsconnectpsychology.com for our free Family Night download.

Ashlee and Lisa are child psychologists who created KidsConnect Psychology as a place for children and families to access tools, supports, and therapy. Visit the website, kidsconnectpsychology.com, for digital downloads, parenting tool kits, information about parent counselling, school consultations, daycare consultations, and more!

Follow on Facebook and Instagram @KidsConnect Psychology. CCM

Back to School 2021 • calgaryschild.com • 13

fall fun feature

keep active outdoors with family-friendly fall fun!

By Carrie Malin

Fall activities that involve leaves: 1. Dive in (literally) and play with leaves. This isn’t exactly an original idea, I get it. But I feel like the wondrous activity of jumping into a giant, freshly-raked pile of leaves and throwing them all about has faded into the category of ‘warm pastime memories we did as children.’ Revive this activity with your family! It’s worth it. And do it again, and again… and again. Take photos of it, throw the (unwilling) dog into it, and make sure every family member takes a turn!

2. Arts and crafts using real (fallen) pieces of nature.

My family did this activity last year, and it was a big hit!

First, we tried to brainstorm and get an idea of what we wanted to create. My son kept it classic, and decided he wanted to make a tree out of… tree parts (yes, he’s very original). Next, we hit a trail that had ample fallen tree bits. We tried to collect a range of leaves, sticks, pinecones, and rocks, then we set up a little art studio in our backyard. Now it’s time to bring this idea to life! Get

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out the glue, paint, and let your kids get to work! (I still have last year’s tree-art hanging on my fridge because I was so impressed with my son’s creation.)

3. Create a fun, leaf-inspired scavenger hunt, then turn those beauties into art! I love this one! If you’re patient and persistent, you can find almost every color of the rainbow in leaf-form. I challenge you to set out and accomplish this task! It’s well worth the hunt. Once you’ve made your rainbow (and taken photos of it), use the leaves you’ve collected and create leaf animals using paint, google-y eyes, and anything you’d like. Just be mindful while collecting and don’t pull leaves from branches! There is more than enough roaming around on the ground.

Fall activities that involve the sun (rise and set): 1. Chase sunrise and go for a nature walk - shoeless.

At Kids Who Explore, we have been talking a lot about ‘grounding,’ and this activity is perfect for fall! Head out at sunrise (which luckily isn’t an ungodly hour in fall), take your shoes and socks off, and practice being present with your family as the sun rises. The feeling of the earth beneath your feet as the sun peeks through the trees will refresh you in ways four cups of coffee cannot (although, to be honest, I usually do both!).

This activity is simple but difficult. The rush of fall can be overwhelming, so I challenge you to give it a shot.

Couple this with another peaceful activity (such as family Yoga outdoors) to get the full benefits of your morning - or your week!

2. Try taking some creative photos at sunset. I’m a sunset chaser (just ask my son). I’ll get home from work in the fall, run into the house, grab him and my camera, and run outside to shoot the sunset. There’s something about the way the sun feels warmer and more golden in the fall that makes me fall in love with it! I’ve gotten creative over the years and like to play with the light of the sunset.

You don’t need a fancy camera, either. Head out to a spot with a variety of objects (such as a park or playground with trees) and snap photos from different angles. Create fun shadows with your fingers, your body, the trees, or the park swing. The possibilities are endless! If you’re like me, you’ll end up with hundreds of sunset photos of the same chair.

Photo: Courtesy of Carrie Malin

There are countless things about summer that motivate families to get outside, am I right? Long days, warm temperatures, beach parties… you name it! I feel like summer coming to an end is usually equivalent to driving up to a light that turns red way too quickly.

You slam on your brakes, take a deep breath, and contemplate your next steps.

Over the years, I’ve asked people which season is their favorite? Most people immediately scream, “Summer!”, while there is a small portion that prefer summer’s stark opposite: winter. Not many people say spring (sorry, spring, we’re just not that into you, except for puddlesplashing). Then, there’s fall.

Fall is by far my favorite season, barring the fact that by the time we realize it’s here… it’s gone - and winter is laughing at us. That being said, I typically plan for fall while summer is still here. After all, I’m not missing out on the beautiful shoulder season full of all of my favorite things!

As a fantastic fan of fall, I’m here in hopes of motivating your family to keep active and outdoors once the temperature begins to plummet, regular routines set in, and the buzz of summer begins to fade. It’s coming, friends, so brace for it!

Other fall activities outdoors?

There are a few other obvious activities that my family does to stay motivated outdoors in the fall. Every year, for example, we hit the corn maze. We’re also big Halloween fans, so that’s an exciting activity for my family in the fall (decorating can take a loooong time). Last, but definitely not least, is setting up a backyard ‘drive-in movie’ styled movie night. We roll out our sleeping bags, set up some Christmas lights (why not, it’s coming soon anyways), and cozy up with a movie on the tablet. Add some popcorn and it’s a great way to enjoy a crisp fall evening together outdoors!

Just because summer is over doesn’t mean the fun stops! I’m pretty sure I have that written a few times in a few places. Enjoy the short, ever-changing season that is fall. At the very least, drink those Chai Tea Lattes everyone seems to love (I don’t fancy them), bust out the winter boots and high socks a few months early (I do fancy this!), and give at least one of these activities a try.

Happy fall!

Carrie is the Marketing Manager for Kids Who Explore, a Social Enterprise founded in Calgary. Kids Who Explore aims to create a global community of families that are confident in the outdoors, foster positive energy in nature, and promote diversity and inclusion on the trail. Connect at kidswhoexplore.ca or on Instagram @kidswhoexplore. CCM

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memories made: plan an epic family game night!

Parent-tested game picks

By Malia Jacobson Bringing the family together for game night - what could be simpler? After a long pandemic rolling the same dice or shuffling the same cards, you may be feeling less than inspired. I get it. To inspire new rounds of play and plenty of memories, here are some parent-tested game picks complete with family-friendly food pairings, along with my top tips to keep the game night tradition going strong.

WILDCRAFT Type: Board Number of players: Up to four Best for: Ages four+ Plan to spend: 45 to 60 minutes Pairs with: Herbal tea With the recent surge in camping and hiking, parents are fielding more “hey, what’s this plant?” questions than ever before. This simple “Chutes and Ladders” style board game teaches kids about plant safety and first-aid and can be enjoyed by pre-readers and adults alike. The game board and box are made with all recycled materials and printed with vegetable-based inks on Forest Stewardship Council certified paper. A portion of the proceeds benefit United Plant Savers. To purchase, visit learningherbs. com/wildcraft.

CHICKAPIG: A FARM TO TABLE GAME Type: Board Number of players: two or four Best for: Ages eight+ Plan to spend: 30 to 60 minutes Pairs with: Crunchy veggies like carrots, radishes, and sugar snap peas This classic family board game feels as fresh as farm produce with its simple design, wooden game pieces, and organic, folksy appeal. A collaboration between game creator Brian Calhoun (of Rockbridge Guitar) and musician Dave Matthews, this strategy game features fantastical creatures, hay bales, and enough manure to keep kids giggling. “Not going to lie, I totally bought it because Dave Matthews is involved,” says parent Breeayn Douhit. “Glad I did, though. It’s surprisingly fun!” To purchase, visit chickapig.com.

KIDS AGAINST MATURITY Type: Card Number of players: four to eight Best for: Ages 10+ Plan to spend: 30 to 90 minutes Expansions and combo packs Pairs with: Kid-friendly snacks, from fruit roll-ups to cheese crackers

If you want to share the hilarity of the wildly popular “Cards Against Humanity” (CAH) game with your kids but can’t quite get past its famously R-rated content, look no farther. Aimed at kids who are outgrowing the much tamer “Apples to Apples” game but not ready for CAH, “Kids Against Maturity” is suited for family play. Players combine words and phrases to uproarious effect, with plenty of silliness and potty-themed humor to keep kids completely entertained. To purchase, visit amazon.ca.

Searching for a kid-friendly game that’s more collaborative and less cutthroat? If highly competitive games are too intense for your younger children, check out “Gnomes at Night”; a cooperative maze game that allows players to work together. The game builds decision-making and communication as players team up to maneuver adorable magnetic gnomes through a maze.

To purchase, visit amazon.ca; mastermindtoys.com.

SPLENDOR Type: Card and token Number of players: two to four Best for: Ages 10+ Plan to spend: 30 minutes Pairs with: Jewel-tone gummies School-age kids who love Minecraft, or appreciate a well-crafted strategy game, will enjoy “Splendor.”

Players are merchants attempting to build a collection of gem mines and shops and collect jewel-tone chips to acquire points. The game has a historical feel without a complicated narrative, so families can easily enjoy it over and over again. To purchase, visit amazon.ca; mindgames.ca.

WHAT DO YOU MEME? FAMILY EDITION Type: Card Number of players: four to eight Best for: Ages eight+ Plan to spend: 30 to 60 minutes Pairs with: Hot cocoa bombs or another Instaworthy snack Having trouble finding a game even hard-to-please teens will love? Entice reluctant game-nighters back to the table with this side-splitting family edition of the popular “What Do You Meme?” party game. Players use 300 caption cards and 65 photo cards to create the funniest memes, as decided by a rotating judge. This affordable game deserves a spot in your feed (or game cabinet). For more information, visit whatdoyoumeme. com. To purchase, visit amazon.ca; chapters.indigo.ca.

ECOLOGIES Type: Card Number of players: Up to six Best for: Ages 12+ Plan to spend: 60 to 90 minutes Pairs with: Locally-grown produce and a healthy dip Created by a biology instructor, “Ecologies” is a beautifully illustrated card game that’s educational enough to feel enriching - it’s been used as a teaching tool in science classrooms - with a healthy dose of competitive strategy thrown in. Players build and nurture their own food systems in biomes around the world and decide whether to disrupt their opponents’ ecosystems.

But much like real-world food webs, sustainability isn’t something you achieve alone; trading with other players helps the game feel more collaborative. To purchase, visit thegamecrafter.com/games/ecologies.

GNOMES AT NIGHT Type: Board Number of players: two to four Best for: Ages six+ Plan to spend: 15 minutes Pairs with: Bugles (AKA gnome hats)

CLASSIC SORRY! Type: Board Number of players: two to six Best for: Ages six+ Plan to spend: 30 to 45 minutes Pairs with: Twizzlers, Ritz Crackers, or Tootsie Pops (all popular 1930s snack foods) Patented in the 1930s, “Sorry” is a classic board game that grandparents will remember, and kids still love. Players attempt to knock one another out of the game (“Sorry!”) as they race around the board. The game reinforces sportsmanship and strategy with a fast-moving, familiar feel. The original version has spawned many spin-offs; unlike more modern editions that incorporate electronics, this version features classic graphics and is 100 percent unplugged. To purchase, visit amazon.ca; walmart.ca.

POETRY FOR NEANDERTHALS Type: Card Number of players: two or four Best for: Ages seven+ Plan to spend: 15 minutes Pairs with: Nuts (or allergy-friendly alternatives), seeds, and dried berries Fans of the uproarious “Exploding Kittens” card game will recognize its signature irreverent illustrations in “Poetry for Neanderthals.” This competitive wordguessing game takes just a few minutes to learn, so you can spend less time explaining the rules and more time cracking up together. With each round taking just 15 minutes, you can play more than once (or squeeze in a quick game night before tuck-in). To purchase, visit explodingkittens.com.

Malia is a health and family journalist who loves a good game night. CCM

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fall fun feature

fall into fun! harvest events for the whole family Plan ahead to make the most of it!

By Genevieve Yarn

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FEB 11 – MAR 12 BEDDINGTON THEATRE ARTS CENTRE | AGES 6+

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In Alberta, fall is bustling with life and growth and fun. As the seasons change, many families are looking to get out and experience the harvest feeling. There are U-Pick farms to visit, which are producing the last of their season’s yield, farmers’ markets bursting with fresh seasonal produce and baking, and corn mazes and hayrides just begging to be experienced!

Here are my top 10 fall harvest activities around Alberta for autumn. With so much to choose from, you won’t have to worry about being bored!

1. Harvest Lights at Calgary Farmyard. Exploring a pumpkin patch is fun, but why not take it to the next level with a nighttime glow at Calgary Farmyard in Rocky View County, just south of Calgary. All of the usual farm activities are open under thousands of lights, creating a magical autumn glow. The only attraction that isn’t lit up is the corn maze - which remains dark, so you can pull out a flashlight to navigate through! Don’t forget to pick up a pumpkin while you are there. For more information, visit calgaryfarmyard.com/fall-season.

2. Bowden SunMaze. If you want to be submersed in fall colors, you have to check out the Bowden Sunflower Maze, made up of around 100,000 bright yellow blooms in central Alberta. How can you not feel happy surrounded by yellow in every direction!

While at the farm, you can also explore what’s in season at the three acres of U-Pick flowers and vegetables. For more information, visit sunmaze.ca.

3. Butterfield Acres Harvest Pumpkin Fest.

Picking out a pumpkin is always fun, but do you know what makes it even better? Visiting with all of your favorite farm animals! Butterfield Acres is a Calgary staple for getting up close with a huge variety of farmyard friends! In October, they transform their property to a harvest festival on weekends, which includes festive photo-ops, pumpkins around the farm, and don’t miss out on tractor-pulled wagon rides through scarecrow alley! For more information, visit butterfieldacres. com/harvest-pumpkin-fest.

4. Canmore Mountain Market. For over 20 years, the Canmore Mountain Market has been a tradition not to be missed. Operating every Thursday at the Elevation Place parking lot until early October, you can find locallyproduced items, including fresh produce, baked goods, crafts, and other artisanal products. If you need another reason to visit Canmore, this is it! For more information, visit canmore.ca/residents/mountain-market.

5. Lethbridge Corn Maze. Hayrides, getting lost in a corn maze, and… snuggling goats?! Yes, the Lethbridge Corn Maze has it all for fall. Visit the petting zoo, take a ride on the cow train, and choose from different mazes to explore. In September and October, you can pick out an orange, white, or mini pumpkin to take home! For more information, visit lethbridgecornmaze.com.

6. Millarville Farmers’ Market. Open Saturdays, from June to October, the Millarville Farmers’ Market features growers, makers, artists, and bakers. Their website has an interactive map of each weekly event that shows you which vendors will be in attendance.

Admission to the market is by donation. While you are out that way, make sure to take a detour and visit the

towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley. For more information, visit millarvilleracetrack.com/upcoming_ events/farmers-market.

7. Slacks Market Garden. Take the kids out for a trip to an amazing garden and show them where their food comes from. Located right outside of Medicine Hat, this U-Pick farm’s yield rolls into October - depending on the season’s conditions. Last year, raspberries were available until the first frost in mid-October, along with fresh produce, including various types of squash. Note: U-Pick sessions need to be booked, so get on the list to be called when the fruit is ripe, and don’t miss out! For more information, visit facebook.com/slacksmarketgarden.

8. Kraay Family Farm. Located in Lacombe, the Kraay Family Farm has been showcasing spectacular and unique corn mazes for over 20 years. This year, the design is celebrating one of the most significant medical discoveries: Insulin (honoring the farm owner’s daughter who has type 1 diabetes). A ticket to the family farm gets you access to over 40 attractions, including mini golf, animals, jumping pillows, and gemstone mining. For more information, visit kraayfamilyfarm.com.

9. Cobb’s Adventure Park. Open until Halloween, Cobb’s Adventure Park is a great place to make a full day out of going to pick out a pumpkin with the family.

You will feel the fall atmosphere with pumpkins galore to choose from. Along with tractor rides, various mazes, and giant slides, they also have a kangaroo petting zoo - just you and the ‘roos! For more information, visit cobbsadventurepark.com.

10. Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market. Located in Edmonton, The Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market has been operating Saturdays year-round since 1983. Featuring small, independent businesses, you will find all of the fresh fall harvest you desire. Bring a reusable bag - or two - because you will probably fill them up! For more information, visit osfm.ca.

So go ahead, fall into fun with your family and make the most out of this beautiful season of harvest and plenty!

Genevieve is a mom of two, works in marketing, and writes in her (very minimal) free time. Follow her funny mom alter-ego on Instagram @cryitoutmom. CCM

fall fun feature

contests Purchase at walmart.ca; costco.ca. Feeling Social?

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The Outside is Calling!

The Coleman® Foldable Outdoor Wagon is perfect for camping, groceries, home projects, or spending a lovely autumn day with the family at the park or beach! Tough, heavy-duty polyester fabric, a removable, reinforced bottom, and a steel frame provide reliable hauling season after season. The handle connects directly to the axle, giving superior control. The wagon folds up accordionstyle and fits into the included carry case. Purchase at Canadian Tire; canadiantire.ca.

For your chance to win the Coleman® Foldable Outdoor Wagon, click on ‘Contests’ at calgaryschild.com and enter the code: Wagon. Entry deadline is October 11, 2021.

The Coleman® 4-in-1 Portable Cooking System is a versatile outdoor cooking solution that features four interchangeable cooking surfaces to prepare different types of foods while enjoying the great outdoors. The reversible griddle/grill, stove insert, and wok offers you the ability to cook a variety of foods in an ultra-compact and portable fashion!

The Instastart™ ignition promises simple, matchfree lighting. Removable legs and inserts fit inside the cooking system for easy storage and transport.

Sodor is usually an island in the middle of the ocean. With the Fisher-Price® Thomas & Friends™ Talking Thomas & Percy Train Set, Sodor can be in your living room!

This playset features favorite places from Sodor, including the Vicarstown Bridge, Railyard, Brendan docks, and Blue Mountain. It also includes motorized Thomas and Percy train engines who recognize and talk to each other when they meet on the track! Young conductors can help Thomas and Percy work together by dropping boulders down in the Blue Mountain cave for them to load/unload with other cargo at Bulstrode the boat and create their own adventures! Purchase at walmart.ca; toysrus.ca; amazon.ca. Feeling Social? Follow on Facebook @FisherPriceCanada and Instagram @fisherprice.

For your chance to win the Fisher-Price® Thomas & Friends™ Talking Thomas & Percy Train Set, click on ‘Contests’ at calgaryschild.com and enter the code: Thomas & Friends. Entry deadline is October 11, 2021.

Bundle Up Your Little Bundle of Joy!

Perfect for those cooler days playing outside, the Hatley SherpaLined Baby Bundler comes with an adjustable elastic at leg openings for boots, gusset at the inseam, and Sherpa lining to keep your little one

warm in any weather! The whimsical design provides your baby with an adorable style, while making diaper changes a breeze with a full-length zipper. These warm bundlers will ensure the fun keeps going - no matter how cold it gets!

Machine washable. Loaded with charming details, every Hatley piece is sure to become a cherished memory-maker and future hand-me-down! Purchase at hatley.com. Feeling Social? Follow on Facebook and Instagram @hatley.

For your chance to win the Hatley Sherpa-Lined Baby Bundler in the style and size of your choice, click on ‘Contests’ at calgaryschild.com and enter the code: Hatley. Entry deadline is October 11, 2021.

Back to School Can be Effortless!..

With the Epson EcoTank® ET-2760, a cartridge-free printer with supersized tanks that hold enough ink that can last up to two years. This means less waste and fewer trips to the store for replacement cartridges for those lastminute print jobs for school. Your kids can take advantage of printing school assignments from a mobile device, or using Epson’s Connect Creative Print App to keep them entertained after the school work is done! This versatile all-in-one printer can handle print jobs, regardless of how many assignments are assigned - the ET-2760 can print up to 7,500 black and white pages, or 6,000 color pages, before replacing any ink. For more information on the wide range of Epson products, visit epson.ca. Feeling Social? Follow on Twitter @EpsonCanada and LinkedIn, ca.linkedin.com/company/epson-canada.

For your chance to win the Epson EcoTank® ET-2760, cartridge-free printer, click on ‘Contests’ at calgaryschild. com and enter the code: Epson. Entry deadline is October 11, 2021.

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Send your resume to Ellen Percival (Publisher/Editor-in-Chief) at calgaryschild@shaw.ca TODAY! Back to School 2021 • calgaryschild.com • 17

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Back to School

24 Kindergarten-Readiness

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26 Homeschool Tips

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29 Shopping $Savers

back to school

how to ensure a smooth transition From lazy summer days to when the school bell rings

By Jen Goeres As the days get shorter and the air a little cooler, signalling the end of summer break, you might be dreading the return of a hectic family schedule - the start of a new school year, the ramp-up of after-school activities, and perhaps some feelings of uneasiness having gone through the ups and downs of this past year.

By thinking ahead and using some simple strategies to help your child with this change in routine, you can ensure a smoother transition from summer to fall!

1. Restart routines. To help your child adjust to a more formal schedule, re-establish a family routine two weeks before the start of school that matches what your family’s schedule will look like in the fall.

This routine should include typical wake-up and bedtimes your family needs to have during the school year. To help this transition go a little smoother, a good rule of thumb is to try and aim for one hour of winddown time before bedtime (i.e. if your child’s bedtime is 8pm, winddown time should start at 7pm) and could include reading books, taking a bath, or playing low-energy activities.

2. Foster connection. Going back to school and starting after-school activities may be the last thing on your child’s mind during summer break. However, you can start by carving out some time to foster connection and better understand how you can support your child in this transition.

Some great ways to get the conversation started with your child could include: • What are you most looking forward to this fall?

• What exciting things do you think you will be learning this year?

• What goals do you have for this year (i.e. making three new friends, reading a chapter book)?

• Do you have any worries and anxious feelings that we can work through together?

3. Talk with the teacher. Talking with your child’s teacher before the start of school is a great way to get information about the classroom schedule and routines and will help your child be prepared for the start of school.

When talking with your child’s teacher, ask them: • What is your class schedule?

“Start by carving out some time to foster connection and better understand how you can support your child in this transition.”

• • • •

What are some things I can start working on before school starts to make sure my child is ready for your class?

What are some topics you are covering during the school year that might get my child excited about learning new things?

What rules do you have for your class that I can talk with my child about and reinforce before the start of school?

As a parent, what can I do to support you?

4. Find fun ways to be active. Fall is the start of many sport and recreation programs, and for children who may have missed out on these opportunities last year, starting back up, or even trying something new, can be a bit nerve-wracking.

To make your child’s sport and recreation experience a positive one: • Ask your child what they would like to do, what their interests are, etc. (from rowing to art to BMX biking, there are many organizations across Calgary that offer cost-effective program options to keep your child active and engaged).

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• • • •

Take your child to view the facility/program space and, if possible, have your child meet the leader/ instructor/coach ahead of the first day.

Be familiar with any rules and regulations ahead of time and ensure your child is aware of these (i.e. masks required to participate).

Work together to pack essential equipment/ supplies (i.e. swimsuit, goggles, towel, etc.) before the start of the program.

At the end of each day, take a minute to debrief together by asking your child what they liked about the activity/program, what they found challenging, and what they are looking forward to next time.

Transitioning from the lazy days of summer to a structured schedule can be challenging, but with some planning and some creative thinking, you can ensure your whole family has a smooth transition this fall!

Jen is a mom of twins, avid adventurer, and co-owner of WordPLAY Consulting. She has worked in education, sport, and recreation for over 25 years as a teacher, leader, and advocate for positive child and youth development. For more information, visit wordplaycanada.com. CCM

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back to school

the question of homework What it’s for and how to help

By Gwen Randall-Young, R. Psych.

As the return to school quickly approaches, you may be faced with how to handle your child and their homework. There are strong arguments both for and against homework.

Research has shown that, in the very early years, homework has little effect on academic performance.

For a young child, after close to six hours spent at school, I am of the view that they need to be discovering the world instead of doing homework: bike riding, reading books, interacting with friends and family. These activities build the skills that are not learned while sitting at a desk.

In addition, healthy levels of physical activity can help boost your child’s cognitive function.

However, reading to, or with, your young one has tremendous benefits. But sadly, for many, engaging in screen time has replaced time spent reading books.

Reading to your child from infancy to the beginning of school is likely a better predictor of school success.

Reading to your child also provides some bonding and closeness with you.

has been made that 10 minutes of homework per grade level is about right - 20 minutes of homework in Grade 2, and so on.

Other advantages of homework throughout the grades can include improving performance, helping to reinforce learning, and developing good study habits

“Homework can become a battle when your child feels pressure and anger, and consequently resists any attempts to be forced into doing the work.”

Advantages of homework Small amounts of homework activities can help reinforce what is being taught in school. The suggestion

and life skills. Homework can allow you to be involved in your child’s learning. Homework can benefit those who are struggling to keep up in school. Homework is also a natural consequence of fooling around in school and having to bring work home for completion.

Disadvantages of homework Homework can cause your child unnecessary stress.

Little ones are tired at the end of the school day (think about how you feel when you have to bring your work home). Homework stress can cause your student to feel anxious, unmotivated, and can even lower self-esteem.

This can lead to sleep deprivation and behavioral changes in your child, as well as thinking of school in a negative way.

Homework can take away from your child’s leisure time. Kids need healthy physical activity. Screen time contributes to a sedentary lifestyle. However, to be fair, in limited amounts, screen time can be a fun activity and can take your student’s mind away from school stresses.

Too much homework can be harmful, and you are not in charge of how much homework a teacher assigns your child. In junior high and high school, students may have The Question of Homework – Continued on page 35

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back to school

tips and tricks for back to school How to make the experience successful and less stressful

By Ashlee Ellerbruch, M.C., R. Psych., and Lisa Kaldenbach, M.A., R. Psych.

As summer winds down, your child is probably thinking about the new school year ahead, and they may be feeling a mixture of emotions. It is important to initiate conversations with your child about going back to school: “What are you looking forward to? What makes you feel excited? What might be hard? What will probably go okay?” This is an opportunity to explore with your child how they are feeling, help them focus on the positives, focus on their strengths, and help get them excited for a new school year. If it has been a while since they’ve had a playdate with a school friend, connect with the friend’s parents to plan a little get together for the kids. Put a date on the calendar for some back-to-school shopping. Use books as a tool to talk about school and get your child excited about going back. Some of our favorite books are The Colour Monster Goes to School by Anna Llenas and The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson.

WHAT IF YOUR CHILD FEELS NERVOUS? As you start talking to your child about going back to school - what they are excited about, what they are looking forward to - you might find that they are feeling a bit nervous. Encourage open communication about their fears and problem-solve with them as they share

their worries with you. It’s common for children to be worried about a new school year. One useful tool to help support a child who is feeling nervous is to connect with the school and ask about coming to take pictures of their new classroom, the door they will use to enter the school, the playground, their new teacher, and any other important places in the school. This helps to familiarize them with the unknown. This can be useful for a child who is changing schools or a child who is going back to the same school but is unsure about changing rooms and teachers. Again, using books can help relieve their anxiety, remind them that you are there to support them, and create opportunities for conversation. Some of our favorite books to read with kids who are feeling anxious about going back to school are The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn and The Invisible String by Patrice Karst.

Once you’ve had a chance to connect with your child about how they are feeling, it’s time to work on a back-toschool plan. To help create a smooth start to the school year, here are our top five tips for success: 1. Create a routine. The alarm goes off, you check your phone, get out of bed, and wander toward the smell of brewing coffee. You know what the rest of your morning will look like: Taking a shower, getting dressed,

commuting to work or heading downstairs to the home office. We function best when we have a solid routine, and it becomes your job as a parent or caregiver to help your child find their own morning routine. A summer routine often looks very different from a back-to-school routine, so we recommend getting a jump start before school begins.

Here’s how you can involve your child in the planning to help promote collaboration and independence: • Where will they lay out their clothes?

• Do they want to help pack their lunch before or after dinner?

• Where should they set up their study space for homework time?

• Give them tools for success, like visual routine strips that lay out the steps for the morning or a timer to keep them on track.

• Have a checklist by their backpack to help them unpack their bag after school.

• Create a bedtime routine together that is calming and relaxing.

• Create a chore chart for what people need to help with in the evenings.

If you need help getting started, check out our free Morning Routine download on our website!

2. Just 15 minutes a day. Going back to school can be stressful for you and your child, so it will be important to find those small, purposeful moments of connection.

Think about three points in the day that you want to purposefully connect with your child and plan a couple of minutes to create a ritual during that moment. It can be a morning cuddle, a good-bye ritual on the way out the door, highs and lows together at dinner, or a bedtime story at the end of the day. By the end of the day, you and your child will have spent at least 15 minutes in a purposeful connection that helps to build your relationship, reduce anxiety, and increase happiness.

3. ‘Me Time.’ After school can feel like a chaotic time.

Everyone is flying through the front door, backpacks are being thrown around, you’re trying to remember what you planned for dinner... This is the moment we recommend starting some ‘Me Time’ for everyone. It doesn’t have to be long, just 20 to 30 minutes. This is a time for everyone to decompress, let go of the stresses from the day, and regulate their body and brain. Have designated areas of the house for each member of the family, create a choice chart of activities or have a ‘Me Time’ bin of quiet activities they can choose from. Have a bin of small snacks available, as food can be very regulating and nurturing. Set a timer to let everyone know that ‘Me Time’ is starting. After ‘Me Time’ is over, everyone should feel calmer and ready to spend time together as a family.

4. Be proactive. Set yourself up for success in supporting your child by getting small tasks out of the way before the morning rush begins: • Have them pack their backpack for the next day.

• Get them to check the calendar for any afterschool activities the next day.

• Support them in setting up breakfast for the morning.

• Set alarms so there is ample time for the morning routine.

Small proactive steps can reduce morning stress and start the day off on a positive note.

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TAKING CARE OF YOU Supporting your child in going back to school can be taxing on you, too. Shifting from a summer to a fall routine is hard; along with supporting those big feelings your child might have, you might be feeling some stress.

Make sure you are taking care of yourself, checking in with friends or family members to have your own emotional needs met, and remember, a rested parent is the best kind of parent! As you create a back-to-school schedule, it is important to ensure that you are creating time for yourself. Also, if you are finding that your child is struggling more than you would expect in this backto-school transition, don’t be afraid to reach out to your pediatrician, family doctor, or a psychologist or therapist.

Sometimes having those extra tips and tricks can make the whole experience more successful and less stressful for you and your child.

Ashlee and Lisa are child psychologists who created KidsConnect Psychology as a place for children and families to access tools, supports, and therapy. Visit the website, kidsconnectpsychology.com, for digital downloads, parenting tool kits, information about parent counselling, school consultations, daycare consultations, and more! Follow on Facebook and Instagram @KidsConnect Psychology. CCM

eight books to help children explore Indigenous culture ‘What will I tell my children?’

By Steacy Pinney It’s a question so many parents wondered as their children first heard flickers about the tragic news from Kamloops: 215 children, residential schools, unmarked graves. While the instinct as a parent might be to shelter, to say, “It’s just too terrible,” it is through truth-telling and remembering that you can help your children understand what happened and honor those precious little lives.

Today’s students will benefit greatly from having a deeper cultural and emotional awareness than you might have had at their age, and yet most of us don’t have the anecdotes or the words to explain racism and the residential school experience. So, let us lean on story and language. Let us remember these children in a way that will touch and open our children’s hearts.

In 2021, we are fortunate to have a good number of beautifully told and beautifully illustrated children’s storybooks about First Nations culture and residential schools.

As you continue to navigate all of this with your family, here are eight books with powerful messages and images.

1. Birdsong by Julie Flett. A Cree mother and daughter leave the seaside for Canada’s grassy plains. Told alongside the changing of seasons, this book brings the reader along on a quiet and contemplative journey through

nature, family, and Cree culture. Cree words and customs are woven seamlessly throughout this beautifully illustrated book.

2. Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox by Danielle Daniel. A Métis mixedmedia artist and writer, Daniel’s beautiful story welcomes readers to the Anishinaabe tradition of totem animals. Throughout the book, children don masks that represent their animal and explain why they identify with the creature. In Anishinaabe culture, Daniel explains, totem animals are guides to help children understand themselves and the people around them.

3. Stolen Words by Melanie Florence. “How do you say grandfather in Cree?” the little girl asks her grandfather. Sadness washes over him as he tells his granddaughter that he does not know. His words were stolen from him at a residential school. This book is an illustrated telling of a young girl’s quest to help her grandfather recover his language.

Eight Books to Help Children Explore Indigenous Culture – Continued on page 35

We’ve spent 50 years raising healthy Calgary kids Quality care for little ones goes a long way.

And in our city, community-minded organizations whose care is truly compassionate are the ones that last.

Here’s to another 50 years of accountable, trust-based quality care and early learning for your kids in Calgary.

www.churchillpark.ca | 403-266-4656 Back to School 2021 • calgaryschild.com • 23

back to school

5. Give it time. Transitioning to the new school year can be fun, but full of changes. And change can be hard.

Pick the tips that will work for you and your child. Start small with achievable routines and habits you can sustain.

Whenever you start new routines, it may feel like it isn’t working, but give it time. Children are learning a lot of new skills during this time, so you need to support their growth by having realistic expectations and assisting them when they need it. After a couple of weeks, new habits will become second nature, and routines will be easier to follow.

back to school

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kindergarten-readiness Set your child up for a successful start

By Ashley Frampton, M.Ed. While many of us are taking a deep breath and still enjoying a much-needed summer break, some of us might have lingering thoughts about our little one’s upcoming transition to kindergarten, leading to feelings of anxiety, excitement, fear, and worry. Let’s be honest, whether you feel ready or not, the shift to school will be an adjustment for everyone in the family. Luckily, there are some simple ways you can help prepare your child for kindergarten now. Believe it or not, most of these readiness skills do not fall into the realm of academia.

Rather, they focus on the social/emotional skills that will set your child up for a successful start to schooling. Here are some suggestions on how you can help get your child ready for kindergarten.

Spend quality time together. Be present. Play. Go on family adventures and hikes (build that physical stamina!). Read books together (daily!). Play sports and games where your child experiences both winning and losing. Go for ice cream, bake, or have a campfire in the backyard. Curl up on the couch, cuddle, watch movies, and do what you love doing together. Make every moment count because this is your time. And like it or not, there will be less of it in the coming months.

Know how to pack personal belongings. The more independence a kindergartener has with daily routines when they enter the classroom, the better. Being able to pack their personal belongings is one of these skills.

Many kinder teachers have looked at their students and said, “Time to grab your snack,” only to get a ‘deer-in-theheadlights’ look from half of the class. Purposefully show your child their school backpack and lunch kit. Have them practice putting their water bottle, snacks, sneakers, sunscreen, and other belongings in their backpack. Let them play with their lunch bag, opening and closing it, and inserting any containers that need to be organized inside. A family picnic is the perfect opportunity for your child to practice these routines.

Stop dressing your child. Can I put on my teacher hat for a moment? I get it, life can be rushed, but it is so helpful when school-aged kids can dress themselves because it minimizes transition time and allows for more time spent on the good stuff (learning)! Lay clothes out for your child the night before but give them independence in putting them on. Have them practice doing up zippers and buttons, putting on toques and mittens. And for the love of every kinder teacher out there: please, no laces! It’s developmentally inappropriate to expect a five-year-old to tie their shoes. Do your child (and their teacher) a solid and buy Velcro. How does my family practice their dressing skills? The kids love playing with dolls and getting imaginative with the dress-up bin.

We also love the Latches Board from Melissa & Doug and the Quiet Books from @myeducatingamy!

Be bathroom-ready. This one is tricky - have no fear if your child still has the occasional accident, we Early Childhood Educators are ready. But for the most part, children coming to kindergarten should be bathroomready: ready to go, ready to wipe, and ready to wash.

Your child’s bathroom routine will likely need guidance from you. Show your child how to wipe from front to back (come on, no one said parenting was glamorous) and what a clean piece of toilet paper looks like (the end goal!). Talk to your child about the water tap and temperature control and practice handwashing while singing a favorite song or using a timer. I love setting up a handwashing sensory play bin for my kids, so they can

practice pumping the soap and practice cleaning all of the nooks and crannies of their hands. Mostly, children need experience with this to learn, so have them go to the bathroom independently whenever possible and monitor the best you can.

Academics Let’s talk about academics but keep it super basic because guess what? The role of the child is not to memorize numbers, shapes, and colors and then be deemed ‘prepared.’ There are many skills (like executive functioning, self-regulation, and problem-solving) that developmentally outweigh academics because without them, learning skills like numeracy and literacy are almost impossible. Some of these academic skills have a huge impact on daily functioning in the classroom and, in the grand scheme of things, are social emotional skills that will help your child function in the world.

“Remember, every child is unique and enters kindergarten with their own personality, interests, abilities, and needs.”

Here are two examples: It is extremely helpful for kindergarten students to know and recognize their first and last name before coming to school. Knowing their identity both orally and in written print helps students navigate their space and belongings: find coat hooks, lunch kits, journals, and other items that might be labelled. Taking attendance is about safety, and knowing their name helps with that, too. You can help your child learn to recognize their name by labelling their items at home, creating sensory bins where they have to dig for their name, or using a letter name puzzle. Some children may be ready to write their name, and that’s great, too!

Fine motor skills are another academic domain you can help in by providing your child with opportunities to draw, write, and create. Activities that require holding a marker, using scissors or a glue stick will go a long way in preparing them for kindergarten activities. My family loves using recycled cardboard to create all sorts of shapes, animals, and 3D objects, as well as following directed drawings on YouTube (Art for Kids Hub has an excellent preschool section). Another fun cutting activity is tying animal or dinosaur toys up with string and having your preschooler practice setting them free.

Remember, every child is unique and enters kindergarten with their own personality, interests, abilities, and needs. As educators, our job is to meet the child where they are developmentally and scaffold them to get to that next milestone. Deep breaths, future kinder families. You’ve got this! For more information on kindergarten-readiness activities, visit my Instagram page @teachthemlittle.

Ashley Frampton is a mom of three, Early Childhood Educator, and Elementary Teacher. She has a Master’s Degree (Instructional Leadership) from the University of Calgary and loves inspiring families, educators, and caregivers to help their children learn at home and at school. For more ideas, follow her on Facebook and Instagram @teachthemlittle. CCM

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homeschooling tips How to make it work

By Sarah Lyons Are you considering homeschooling your kids?

Maybe you tried it during the pandemic, enjoyed it, and would like to consider doing it full-time this year. Maybe you have felt called to homeschool your kids since they were born.

However you have come to this decision to homeschool, it can be overwhelming at first.

It’s okay to feel overwhelmed.

When you are trying something new, it is normal to feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. While the idea of teaching your children at home may seem daunting, try not to worry. No one expects you to have everything figured out right away, not even your kids.

Let them know that you are all trying something new, and it’s fine to allow time for adjustments and frustrations along the way. Do some research and make a list of things you would like to try so you have a place to refer back to if you need ideas.

Create a flexible schedule. Creating a schedule is a great way to keep your kids, and yourself, on task. It can be easy to get distracted when you are adjusting to the idea of learning from home. Home is typically a place where you relax, rest, and play but it will also need to be a place to get work done during homeschool. Create time and space for learning from home and use a schedule that works for your family. If your family is freshest in the

“However you have come to this decision to homeschool, it can be overwhelming at first.”

morning, try to schedule learning right after breakfast. If you are a family of night owls, homeschooling later on in the day may be a better time to focus on school work.

Allow time for outings, errands, play time, and free time in your schedule. Unlike traditional school, you do not need to be working on school work the majority of the day. A great benefit of homeschooling is the flexibility it can give your family.

Follow your children’s lead. Kids are more excited about learning when they have an interest in what they are learning about. When planning your homeschool curriculum, try to include and incorporate things your children are interested in. For example, if a child is interested in learning about animals, have them research different animals by reading books, watching educational videos, or visiting a zoo or nature centre. If a child is 26 • Find us on

interested in cooking, have them plan a meal, shop for the ingredients while learning about money, make the recipe while discussing the math and science of cooking, and have them serve your family their delicious meal.

Serving the meal will help them learn about social skills, such as how to set the table, manners and etiquette, and cleanup. Reading, writing, math, social studies, and science can be incorporated into almost any topic.

Follow each child’s lead and take note of what they are interested in, what type of learning they enjoy, and what works best for your family.

Don’t overdo it. When you are starting out your homeschool journey, it may be tempting to do too much.

Don’t spend a lot of money on curriculums that you may not end up using. Don’t try to cram too much into each day. Try to be flexible while you are learning and see what works well for you, your budget, and your kids while still meeting the requirements. Take it a little at a time and you will become more comfortable and confident.

Enjoy the time. Homeschooling is fun and allows for quality time with your family. You get to be a role model to your kids and you get to learn new things, too! You do not have to know about everything you teach prior to teaching it to your kids. Have fun learning along the way. Enjoy reading new books with your kids, enjoy watching them discover new things, and enjoy quality time spent together.

Give yourself and your kids grace to make mistakes, to have days where homeschooling doesn’t work, to adjust, learn, and grow. It’s enough to do your best each day, one day at a time. If you think homeschooling is a good option for your family, start by talking to some friends that have experience with homeschooling; they will be a great resource and support system.

HOMESCHOOL 101 For local resources and advice on first steps, how-tos, school boards, Alberta government updates, and more, visit albertahomeschooling.ca.

Sarah is a mother of six children, including triplets. CCM

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fun and nutritious breakfast in a hurry!

Easy, delicious solutions

By Tanya Kaynes There isn’t a family out there whose home isn’t like Union Station at rush hour first thing in the morning. You are trying to get ready for work while trying to get the kids dressed for school while trying to find backpacks, laptops, and probably matching shoes... for both you and the kids. Who has time to eat food, let alone healthy food on rushed weekday mornings?! It is definitely an afterthought, and I get it! I’m one of those people, too.

‘Just get everyone to their intended destination on time.’

That is the goal.

So, how do you get everyone out the door on time and get some healthy food into everyone’s tummy? Well, it does take a little pre-planning (sorry, no magic wand here), but I’m not talking about a full Sunday of meal prep!

I’m a big fan of protein in the morning because it doesn’t spike your blood sugar and it satiates you. Hard boiled eggs are the unsung heroes of the breakfast world!

So quick and easy, hard boiled eggs take 20 minutes to make, five of which you actually need to do something.

Pair a hard boiled egg with string cheese, a pepperoni stick, and a piece of fruit and voila! You have a great breakfast on the go. Pre-peel the eggs for the kids and have the eggs ready in baggies in the fridge.

“I’m a big fan of protein in the morning because it doesn’t spike your blood sugar and it satiates you.”

If you want something more fun for the kids to take on the run, think pancakes! No, I’m not kidding. I know you’re thinking: But the syrup, butter, it’s so messy! Well, you don’t need those things with these pancakes. These pancakes are high in fibre and protein and you can avoid the extra sugar with the syrup. They can be made ahead of time and frozen for whenever you need them. When you take them out of the freezer, by the time you get to your car, bus, other chosen mode of transportation or destination, they will be defrosted!

BREAKFAST PANCAKES: ½ cup almond butter • • ½ cup pumpkin puree 2 whole eggs • • ½ tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice or preferred spice • (cinnamon is my favorite, but you could use nutmeg, ginger, or cardamom) • ½ tsp. vanilla extract 1 tsp. honey or stevia to taste • Instructions 1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients and mix until smooth batter forms.

3. Use a ¼ cup to scoop the batter on the parchmentlined baking sheet, forming about four pancakes per baking sheet (I use two pans, to bake them all at once!).

4. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the pancakes are fluffy and golden. (No need to oil a frying pan, and no need for flipping. It doesn’t get much easier than that!)

Once they are cooked, you can create sandwiches with them! Smear them with the nut butter of your choice or you could also use cream cheese, goat cheese, or even cheddar slices for your pancake sandwich filling. You can also add your favorite fruit like bananas, strawberries, or apple slices. Pancake sandwiches are delicious and nutritious! And not too bad on the prep time - a halfhour max!

But for the ultimate grab-and-go item, I say let them eat cookies! Yes, cookies! Breakfast cookies, that is! These are completely customizable to your family’s likes and tastes and can be prepped in 35 minutes, including baking time. Use this recipe as the base and feel free to add your favorite nuts, seeds, or dried fruit.

GRAB-AND-GO BREAKFAST COOKIES: • 1 ¼ cup gluten-free rolled oats • ¼ cup almond flour (can substitute any type of flour) • ½ cup raw sunflower seeds • ¼ cup pumpkin seeds • ¼ cup sliced almonds • ¼ cup sesame seeds

Get Back to routine

• • • • • • • • •

3 Tbsp. chia seeds ¼ cup dried cranberries dark chocolate chips (as many as you like, I use about ¼ cup) 1 tsp. cinnamon ¼ tsp. salt ½ cup maple syrup 1/3 cup tahini or almond butter (I like to mix both) ½ tsp. vanilla extract 1 egg (or flax egg)

Instructions 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking pan with parchment paper.

2. Mix all of the dry ingredients together in a bowl.

3. Mix all of the wet ingredients together in a separate bowl.

4. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and mix together until well-combined.

5. Use a cookie scoop to scoop evenly-sized cookies onto the baking sheet. Press down with your hands (these cookies won’t spread).

6. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes.

So easy and quick! And what kid is going to say no to cookies for breakfast?! You can make these in advance and freeze them, so they are ready on those mornings when you’re running Mach nine with your hair on fire and need sustenance! Nutrition in a hurry is possible, my friends!

Tanya is the Head Curator at Menagerie Parties & Cakes, handcrafting boutique party experiences through custom décor, engaging activities, and show-stopping sweets for people living full, productive lives wanting to celebrate life to its fullest. It’s a Party in a Box! For more information, call 403-890-4803, email tanya@menagerieyyc. ca, or visit menagerieyyc.ca. Feeling Social? Follow on Facebook and Instagram @menagerieyyc. CCM

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Back to School 2021 • calgaryschild.com • 27

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reading is more important than ever How to get them caught up from COVID-19

By Jan Pierce, M.Ed. Many children have been through the pandemic mill when it comes to their classroom experiences, and they need extra support to maintain their reading skills.

Some children in primary grades have not had ‘normal’ educational direct instruction for two years. While we all applaud the efforts of classroom teachers during this challenging time, the instruction may not have been optimal.

Don’t panic. With regular reading support, you can boost your child’s reading confidence and skill levels.

Here are some ways to sharpen your child’s reading skills.

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Review the basics Take the time to review all of the letter sounds, vowel sounds, and the sounds of blends and digraphs (dr, br, tr and ch, ph, sh, for example). Sometimes errors slip into basic skills without your notice. Classic examples are the sounds w and y make as they are not phonetic.

Then review things like periods and question marks at the end of sentences, characters and settings, and beginning, middle, and endings of stories. Simple conversations about these as you read a book together aloud will suffice.

You might also talk about the structure of a book: cover, title page, table of contents, pictures and text, indexes and glossaries, etc. Children who are familiar with these have a deeper understanding of books and all that they offer.

“With regular reading support, you can boost your child’s reading confidence and skill levels.”

Review strategies Children need to have an arsenal of strategies at the ready when they get ‘stuck’ in reading. It may be as simple as a reminder of a letter sound or a vowel sound, but often they need to know how to ask themselves a question or think about the context of the story.

Give your child prompts such as, “What makes sense?

What sounds right? What does the ‘e’ do at the end of a word?” Another good strategy is to go back and re-read or read on. Sometimes that solves the reading problem.

Or find a part of the word that is familiar; for example, ‘dog’ in ‘doghouse.’

Picture clues are a great help to young readers as they provide context and can help children anticipate what might be said. And finally, children need to know that if they’ve tried some strategies and still need help, it’s okay to ask for help.

Reading is a complex skill and a bit like solving a puzzle. You can help your child be a good thinker as they read.

Practice for fluency Young children are often so focused on decoding the words that they lose the rhythm and intonation of the

words as they read. They sound like robots. Give your child the opportunity to gain fluency and ‘sound good’ as they read. You can read a sentence and have them repeat it with good inflection. They can practice on a book they know well, and work on stopping at periods and making a question sound like a question.

Focus on comprehension Without understanding, reading can become an exercise in ‘barking at the moon.’ Many early readers need help to think about the meaning of the words they read. You can enhance this process by asking questions, helping your child make predictions (“What do you think the dog will do next?”) and having your child retell the story back to you after reading it.

A few minutes spent in previewing a new book, looking at the title, the pictures, identifying the characters, and predicting what will happen in the story is a great way to focus on meaning. This is called a ‘book walk’ and is definitely worth the time spent doing it.

Retellings are a good way to evaluate your child’s understanding of a book. Do they include the beginning, middle, and ending? Do they leave out a major element of the story? Do they understand why the characters did what they did, or do they get why a story is funny or sad?

Acting a story out with stuffed animals or other toys is another way to get to the heart of the meaning in the story.

Practice Nothing improves reading skills as much as… you guessed it, time spent reading! It is vitally important that regular reading sessions take place. Don’t think of reading as a chore or a punishment. It’s a normal part of every day. Make it fun and plan some activities that relate to reading good books. Reward reading sessions with small treats. Choose a theme and read a series of books about it or join a local library or book store’s reading program.

If your child can read, they can learn anything. It’s important. So, get on the reading bandwagon and let those skills flourish!

Jan Pierce, M.Ed., is a retired teacher and reading specialist who writes about education, parenting, and family life. Find her at janpierce.net. CCM

back to school

back-to-school shopping - the frugal way Easy ways to save money (and time)

By Klynne Brinas Whether you are looking forward to it or not, back to school is right around the corner. As a parent, aside from enjoying summer, you always have back-to-school shopping in the back of your mind (pun intended!). But there’s no need to fret. Your family can transition into the new school year with ease with my frugal back-to-school shopping tips!

Shop online If you are like me, who hates the frenzy of mall shopping during the back-to-school season, this is a double win for you! Shopping online allows you to find the best deals before clicking the ‘buy’ button. Coupon stacking is hard to come by in Canada, but did you know this can be easily done online? Shop through the Rakuten website or app to get cash back and use store-specific coupons to get more savings on top. Rakuten gives you cash back just from shopping online. There are many stores who participate in the program and, yes, it is legit.

I have been a Rakuten shopper since 2015 and my lifetime cashback total is $1,495.42!

Schools in Calgary are also subscribed to the schoolstart.ca program where you can buy all of your required school supplies online. Your school will receive part of the profit and you can also donate extra dollars for teacher supplies. This saves you from running around to six different stores to check off all of your kids’ school lists, which saves you gas money, eating-out costs, and your sanity!

School start bundles are available online at the beginning of June and they ship the package to your home for free. They even include name sticker labels for free! Order before the previous school year ends and you will not have to think about school supplies all summer long.

Shop off-season Speaking of shopping for school supplies in June, another tip is to shop off-season. I typically purchase my kids’ winter outerwear at the end of the previous winter.

Usually around February or March, I start stalking the sales for good deals on outerwear for next winter. As long as your kids do not have an extreme growth spurt, this technique works! It has been working for my family for

“Your family can transition into the new school year with ease.” several years. You can find excellent quality outerwear marked down up to 70 percent during off-season. In fact, I generally follow the shop-off-season rule when purchasing all of my kids’ clothes.

Shop second-hand Kids outgrow their clothes and get bored of their stuff so fast nowadays that it is best to save your money by shopping second-hand. The biggest tip I have for shopping second-hand is the ‘rule of one-third.’ When a second-hand item costs one-third or less of its retail price, that’s the only time it is worth buying.

Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji are the two most common online second-hand items websites I use. I always haggle for prices when dealing with sellers online.

No harm in trying to get a better deal, right? There are also a lot of thrift stores scattered around Alberta if you

prefer in-person shopping. A bonus of shopping secondhand is you are saving those items from ending up in the landfill. Not only are you saving money, you are saving the planet.

Also, I usually sell the clothes my kids have outgrown to second-hand shops. The money I get from selling their clothes usually pays for at least 30 percent of their new wardrobe.

Shop ‘just enough’ My rule of thumb for kids’ wardrobes? Have enough for three weeks. Why three weeks? I usually do the family laundry weekly but if I don’t, my kids will still have clothes to wear if I choose to slack off for a week. Also, when my family goes on holidays, we typically go for one or two weeks. Having that third week of clothes handy allows me time to catch up on the dirty laundry after we return from holidays. Remember to tailor your ‘just enough’ to your family’s needs.

I hope you had a fun summer, and I hope these tips help ease the burden of back-to-school shopping.

Find more tips for frugal living on Klynne’s blog, thisfamilylifewelive. com. Feeling Social? Chat with Klynne @thisfamilylifewelive. CCM

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Back to School 2021 • calgaryschild.com • 29

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Back-to-School Directory Going back to school means hard work for parents, too. Let us help you take the frenzy out of fall!

Check out our comprehensive list of local grade A resources and class and program listings you will need to get you and your family started on the right path to school success!

SCHOOL BOARDS CALGARY BOARD OF EDUCATION (CBE) Website: cbe.ab.ca CALGARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT (CCSD) Phone: 403-500-2000 Website: cssd.ab.ca FOOTHILLS SCHOOL DIVISION Website: fsd38.ab.ca PALLISER REGIONAL SCHOOL DIVISION Website: pallisersd.ab.ca ROCKY VIEW SCHOOLS Website: rockyview.ab.ca

ALTERNATIVE, INDEPENDENT & CHARTER SCHOOLS ATLAS LEARNING ACADEMY Phone: 403-912-1133 Email: enrolment@atlaslearningacademy.com Website: atlaslearningacademy.com BANBURY CROSSROADS SCHOOL Phone: 403-270-7787 Email: general@banburycrossroads.com Website: banburycrossroads.com CALGARY ACADEMY Phone: 403-686-6444 Email: info@calgaryacademy.com Website: calgaryacademy.com

FOOTHILLS ACADEMY Phone: 403-270-9400 Email: intake@foothillsacademy.org Website: foothillsacademy.org HERITAGE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Phone: 403-219-3201 Email: HCA_info@pallisersd.ab.ca Website: hcacalgary.com JANUS ACADEMY Phone: 403-262-3333 Email: contact@janusacademy.org Website: janusacademy.org LYCÉE LOUIS PASTEUR Phone: 403-243-5420, Ext. 123 Email: admissions@lycee.ca Website: lycee.ca NORTH POINT SCHOOL FOR BOYS Phone: 403-744-5214 Email: info@northpoint.school Website: northpoint.school PROVIDENCE Phone: 403-255-5577 Email: providencechildren.com Website: providencechildren.com RIVER VALLEY SCHOOL Phone: 403-246-2275 Email: admissions@rivervalleyschool.ca Website: rivervalleyschool.ca

CALGARY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Phone: 403-242-2896 Email: admissions@calgarychristianschool.com Website: calgarychristianschool.com

RUNDLE ACADEMY, COLLEGE, AND STUDIO Phone: 403-291-3866 Email: contactus@rundle.ab.ca Website: rundle.ab.ca

CALGARY FRENCH & INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Phone: 403-240-1500 Email: admissions@cfis.com Website: cfis.com

ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY COLLEGE Website: stmu.ca

CALGARY JEWISH ACADEMY Phone: 403-253-3992 Email: info@cja.ab.ca Website: cja.ab.ca

STRATHCONA-TWEEDSMUIR SCHOOL (STS) Phone: 403-938-8326 Email: admissions@sts.ab.ca Website: strathconatweedsmuir.com

CALGARY WALDORF SCHOOL Phone: 403-287-1868 Email: info@calgarywaldorf.org Website: calgarywaldorf.org

WEBBER ACADEMY Phone: 403-277-4700 Email: hblake@webberacademy.ca Website: webberacademy.ca

CLEAR WATER ACADEMY Phone: 403-240-7924 Email: admissions@clearwateracademy.com Website: clearwateracademy.com EDGE SCHOOL Phone: 403-246-6432 Email: info@edgeschool.com Website: edgeschool.com 30 • Find us on

ASSOCIATIONS, FAMILY ADVOCACY & HEALTH SUPPORT ALBERTA ASSOCIATION OF OPTOMETRISTS Phone: 1-800-272-8843 Website: optometrists.ab.ca

CALGARY YOUTH PHYSIOTHERAPY (SOUTH) Two Locations in Calgary Phone: 403-259-8534 Email: info@calgaryyouthphysio.com Website: calgaryyouthphysio.com DISCOVERY PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES Phone: 403-818-0371 Email: discoverypsych@shaw.ca Website: discoverypsych.ca LEARNING DISABILITIES & ADHD NETWORK Website: ldadhdnetwork.ca LUNA - CHILD & YOUTH ADVOCACY CENTRE Phone: 403-428-5300 Email: reception@calgarycac.ca Website: calgarycac.ca SHELDON PSYCHOLOGY GROUP Phone: 403-618-8288 Email: info@sheldonpsychology.com Website: sheldonpsychology.com WELLNESS STUDIO (THE) - FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS CARE Phone: 403-228-5433 Email: info@thewellnessstudio.ca Website: thewellnessstudio.ca YW CALGARY Phone: 403-232-1594 Email: childcare@ywcalgary.ca Website: ywcalgary.ca/childcare

EARLY LEARNING & CHILDCARE BANBURY CROSSROADS SCHOOL Phone: 403-270-7787 Email: general@banburycrossroads.com Website: banburycrossroads.com BELLA CASA MONTESSORI SCHOOL/DAYCARE Phone: 403-313-7235 Email: bellacasamontessori@shaw.ca Website: bellacasamontessori.com CALGARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT (CCSD) Phone: 403-500-2000 Website: cssd.ab.ca CALGARY WALDORF SCHOOL Phone: 403-287-1868 Email: info@calgarywaldorf.org Website: calgarywaldorf.org CITY OF CALGARY PLAYSCHOOL PROGRAMS Southland Leisure Centre: 2000 Southland Drive SW Phone: 403-648-6555 Village Square Leisure Centre: 2623, 56 Street NW Phone: 403-366-3900 Inglewood Bird Sanctuary: 2425, 9 Avenue SE Phone: 311 Website: calgary.ca/playschool

EARLY DISCOVERIES Phone: 403-239-3444 Email: info@earlydiscoveries.ca Website: earlydiscoveries.ca EDELWEISS PREPARATORY SCHOOL Phone: 403-282-4220 Email: epschool@telus.net Website: epschool.ca

SEEDLINGS SPANISH PRESCHOOL Phone: 403-210-0604 Website: seedlingspreschool.ca SPRINGBANK PLAYSCHOOL Phone: 403-830-7294 Email: springbankpsinfo@gmail.com Website: springbankplayschool.ca

THINK SUN PRESCHOOL ACADEMY (THE) Phone: 403-240-4466 Email: info@thethinksunpreschool.com Website: thethinksunpreschool.com

GLENBROOK COMMUNITY PRESCHOOL Phone: 403-686-6868 Email: registrar@glenbrookpreschool.org Website: glenbrookpreschool.org

TOT SPOT PRESCHOOL Phone: 403-271-8894 Email: info@totspotpreschool.ca Website: totspotpreschool.ca

KALEIDOSCOPE KIDS PRESCHOOL Three Locations in Calgary Phone: 403-547-1020 Email: office@kalkids.com Website: ​​kaleidoscopekidspreschool.com KIDS@ CHURCHILL PARK Phone: 403-266-4656 Email: admin@churchillpark.ca Website: churchillpark.ca KINDERHOUSE PRESCHOOL CALGARY Phone: 403-975-0103 Email: info@mykinderhouse.org Website: mykinderhouse.org KINDERVALLEY MONTESSORI ACADEMY Phone: 403-454-6889 Email: info@kindervalleyacademy.com Website: kindervalleyacademy.com KING’S KIDS PRESCHOOL Phone: 403-285-4855 Email: preschool@kingskidsfoundation.com Website: kingskidsfoundation.ca LEARNING ADVENTURES PRESCHOOL (AT CALGARY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL) Phone: 403-242-2896, Ext. 312 Email: admissions@calgarychristianschool.com Website: learningadventures.ca LEARNING EXPERIENCE PRESCHOOL AND CHILDCARE Phone: 403-256-1417 Email: learningexperience@shaw.ca Website: learningexperience.ca PRE-KINDERGARTEN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES Email: Register@PreKindergartenEd.com Website: Pre-KindergartenEd.com PROVIDENCE Phone: 403-255-5577 Email: providencechildren.com Website: providencechildren.com RIVER VALLEY SCHOOL Phone: 403-246-2275 Email: admissions@rivervalleyschool.ca Website: rivervalleyschool.ca

CHILDCARE IN INGLEWOOD

SUMMITKIDS Phone: 403-477-5437 Email: hello@summitkids.ca Website: summitkids.ca

FUN 2 LEARN PRESCHOOL Phone: 403-239-2033; 403-880-6711 Email: anita@fun2learnpreschool.com Website: fun2learnpreschool.com

HEART SMART MONTESSORI Phone: 403-284-4510 Email: heartsmartmont@yahoo.ca Website: heartsmartmontessori.com

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DALHOUSIE COMMUNITY KINDERGARTEN Phone: 403-288-1050 Email: dcakids@telus.net Website: dcakids.com

TRAIL KIDS Apple Tree Preschool - Bridlewood Email: info@appletreepreschool.ca Kids@Play Preschool - Cranston Email: register@kidsatplaypreschool.ca Supported by TRAIL Kids ECS Email: admin@trailkids.ca UNIQUE EDUCATION ACADEMY Phone: 403-869-6391 Email: letstalk@uea-yyc.ca Website: uea-yyc.ca YMCA CALGARY Email: info@ymcacalgary.org Website: ymcacalgary.org

SUPPLIES & SERVICES AMARANTH STORES Three Locations in Calgary Website: amaranthfoods.ca BEANERS FUN CUTS FOR KIDS Four Locations in Calgary Email (Northeast): ljeventures@gmail.com Email (Northwest): calgary.northland@beanersfuncuts.com Email (Southeast): calgary.southland@beanersfuncuts.com Email (Southwest): calgary.westsprings@beanersfuncuts.com Website: beanersfuncuts.com CANADIAN HOME EDUCATION RESOURCES Phone:​​ 403-243-4443 Email: cher@canadianhomeeducation.com Website: canadianhomeeducation.com

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Back to School 2021 • calgaryschild.com • 31 Ad_3x12.65_vertical_childcare_Jul.8.21.indd 1

7/9/2021 4:26:06 PM

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Class & Program Directory Your source for information about extracurricular class and program choices!

ART

MUSIC

ALIKI’S ART HOUSE Phone: 403-667-7020 Email: info@alikisarthouse.com Website: alikisarthouse.com

CHINOOK SCHOOL OF MUSIC - MUSIC KIDS Phone: 403-246-8446 Email: info@chinookschoolofmusic.com Website: chinookschoolofmusic.com

VIN GOGH PAINT SIP STUDIO Phone: 403-475-4644 Email: info@vingogh.ca Website: vingogh.ca

KEYBOARD ACADEMY OF MUSIC Phone (North): 403-277-2987 Phone (South): 403-255-0010 Website: keyboardacademy.ca

CULINARY ARTS AS YOU WHISK Phone: 403-277-2776 Website: asyouwhiskyyc.com

DANCE COUNTERPOINT DANCE ACADEMY MARDA LOOP Phone: 403-201-5519 Email: office@counterpointdancemarda.com Website: counterpointdancemarda.com CREATIVE EXPRESSION DANCE ACADEMY Phone: 403-809-6931 Email: admin@creative-expression.ca Website: creative-expression.ca FREE HOUSE DANCE PLUS LTD. Phone: 403-282-0555 Email: fhdp@telusplanet.net Website: freehousedance.com

MARTIAL ARTS MASTER RIM’S TAEKWONDO Phone (Southwest): 403-460-2472 Phone (Northwest): 587-535-6560 Email: info@masterrim.com Website: masterrim.com

KODÁLY MUSIC EXPLORERS CANTARÉ CHILDREN’S CHOIR Phone: 403-685-1132 Email: catherine@cantarechildrenschoir.org Website: cantarechildrenschoir.org LISA GRAHAM MUSIC Phone: 403-862-9232 Email: lisa@lisagraham.ca Website: lisagraham.ca LONG & MCQUADE MUSIC LESSONS CENTRES Email: calgarychinooklessons@long-mcquade.com Website: long-mcquade.com/lessons/Alberta/Calgary Email: calgaryeastlessons@long-mcquade.com Website: long-mcquade.com/lessons/Alberta/Calgary_East Email: calgaryroyalvistalessons@long-mcquade.com Website: long-mcquade.com/lessons/Alberta/Calgary_North MRU CONSERVATORY Phone: 403-440-6821 Email: conservatory@mtroyal.ca Website: mru.ca MUSICA ACADEMY YAMAHA SCHOOL LTD. Phone (Northwest): 403-681-3117 Phone (Southwest): 403-619-9990 Email: info@musicaacademy.com Website: musicaacademy.com VIOLINO SCHOOL OF MUSIC FOR GIFTED YOUTH Phone: 403-836-6403 Email: violino@shaw.ca

YOUTH SINGERS OF CALGARY - KIDS & MUSIC Phone: 403-234-9549 Email: yscadmin@youthsingers.org Website: youthsingers.org

RECREATION GROUPS & CENTRES CITY OF CALGARY RECREATION Various Locations Phone: 403-268-3800 Website: calgary.ca/register ​ APERNY FAMILY JCC P Phone: 403-253-8600 Email: info@cjcc.ca Website: calgaryjcc.com REPSOL SPORT CENTRE Phone: 403-233-8393 Email: info@repsolsport.com Website: repsolsportcentre.com UNIQUE EDUCATION ACADEMY Phone: 403-869-6391 Email: letstalk@uea-yyc.ca Website: uea-yyc.ca YMCA CALGARY Email: info@ymcacalgary.org Website: ymcacalgary.org

SPORTS & RECREATION GLADIATORS FENCING CLUB Phone: 403-685-3733 Email: info@gladiators.ca Website: gladiators.ca GREEN FOOLS CIRCUS & AERIAL CLASSES Phone: 403-273-9010 Email: hq@greenfools.com Website: greenfools.com/kids-classes Class & Program Directory – Continued on next page

WALDORF KINDERGARTEN Imaginative play Purposeful work A sense of wonder make life meaningful

calgarywaldorf.org Back to School 2021 • calgaryschild.com • 33

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TEACHING BOYS curious, eager, & energetic

the way BOYS LEARN Class & Program Directory – Continued from previous page

WE SPECIALIZE IN Personalized Learning Hands-on Learning Small Class Sizes Outdoor Education Increased Physical Activity Mentorship Character Development

WE OFFER Enhanced Math and Science program through Financial and STEM Academies Annual Business Fair PEP Hockey Academy Grades K-12

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RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS ALBERTA Phone: 780-427-8152 Email: rgalberta@gmail.com Website: rgalberta.com

CALGARY YOUNG PEOPLE’S THEATRE Phone: 403-242-7118, Ext. 1 Email: cypt@cypt.ca Website: cypt.ca

ROYAL CITY SOCCER CLUB Phone: 1-800-427-0536 Email: info@royalsoccer.com Website: royalsoccer.com

CANTARÉ CHILDREN’S CHOIR Phone: 403-685-1132 Email: catherine@cantarechildrenschoir.org Website: cantarechildrenschoir.org

WINSPORT Phone: 403-247-5452 Email: info@winsport.ca Website: winsport.ca

SUPPORT FOR LEARNING DISABILITIES FOOTHILLS ACADEMY Phone: 403-270-9400 Email: info@foothillsacademy.org Website: foothillsacademy.org LEARNING DISABILITIES & ADHD NETWORK Website: ldadhdnetwork.ca

QUEST THEATRE Phone: 403-264-8575 Email: admin@questtheatre.org Website: questtheatre.org WP PUPPET THEATRE Phone: 403-228-3373 Email: admin@wppuppet.com Website: wppuppet.com YOUTH SINGERS OF CALGARY Phone: 403-234-9549 Email: ​​yscadmin@youthsingers.org Website: youthsingers.org

THEATRE & MUSICAL THEATRE

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T: 403.744.5214

www.northpoint.school

34 • Find us on

CALGARY CHILDREN’S CHOIR Phone: 403-210-3499 Email: info@calgarychildrenschoir.com Website: calgarychildrenschoir.com

Please research carefully and choose the company that meets your family’s needs best. CCM

back to school

The Question of Homework – Continued from page 21

many teachers who all assign homework. While each assignment in itself may be reasonable, the total load can get overwhelming.

As a psychologist, I have seen the dark side of homework that has little to do with a child’s school; a parent sees their child as a reflection of them and wants their child to be close to perfect in their studies.

Homework can become a battle when your child feels pressure and anger, and consequently resists any attempts to be forced into doing the work.

Tips for homework success When your child has homework, always make it a fun, positive experience. You can even plan something special for a child who doesn’t like doing homework but completes it anyways.

Don’t get overly emotional or punitive when a child is having difficulty. If you lack the patience, try to get someone else to help them with their homework.

And last but certainly not least, demonstrate unconditional love to your child, so they know love is not contingent on school performance.

Gwen Randall-Young is an author and award-winning psychologist.

To obtain books, CDs, or MP3s, visit gwen.ca. For daily inspiration, follow Gwen on Facebook, facebook.com/GwenRandallYoung. CCM

Eight Books to Help Children Explore Indigenous Culture – Continued from page 23

4. The Girl and the Wolf by Katherena Vermette. A girl in a red dress meets a wolf in the woods. But this isn’t the wolf-demonizing trope we know. Instead, when the little girl wanders too far into the woods, she meets a wolf who helps her find her way back home. This book is a heartwarming illustration about reconnecting with nature.

5. Trudy’s Rock Story by Trudy Spiller. Everyone experiences negative feelings. In this book, a young girl from the Gitxsan Nation is arguing with her brother when she remembers the teachings of her grandmother. Instead of taking her anger out on her brother, she searches for and shares her feelings with a rock. This timeless story teaches readers how to process and release negative feelings.

6. When We Are Kind by Monique Gray Smith. Children know they should be kind, but what does it mean to be kind? In this book, Smith explores acts of everyday kindness and empowers readers to bring joy to others. This touching story for readers of all ages is beautifully illustrated by Nicole Neihardt.

7. When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson. “Why do you wear clothes of so many different colors, grandma?” a young girl asks at the beginning of this empowering story.

She asks her grandmother about the language she speaks and the braid in her hair. This book tells the story about a grandmother’s life in a residential school when her culture was taken away from her. Among its many powerful messages is the need for children to have stories in their own language.

8. You Hold Me Up by Monique Gray Smith. Danielle Daniel’s colorful illustrations meet Smith’s clear narrative to create an empowering story about kindness, relationships, and compassion. The book encourages readers to show their love and support for one another. This book shows how even the smallest action can have a big impact on those you love.

Steacy is the CEO of Calgary Reads, an early literacy organization changing the lives of children and their families. Calgary Reads believes reading can change the world, and the world can be changed by readers. The Little Red Reading House in Inglewood is an entire home dedicated to inspiring family reading. Visit littleredreading.house for a host of book picks categorized by experiences and feelings, as well as great resources to guide family reading fun! CCM

SIGN UP TODAY! Join as early as August 1st! As a Calgary Flames Grade 6 YMCA Member, you’ll have free access to all YMCA Calgary locations any time throughout your grade 6 year. Don’t forget that students that have memberships in the 2020/21 cohort have been extended until December 31, 2021.

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www.ymcacalgary.org/grade6 Back to School 2021 • calgaryschild.com • 35

How to support your kid and teach them what it means to be a good sport

By Kimberly Blaker We’ve all seen it - the parent standing on the sidelines criticizing the decisions made by coaches and officials, yelling at their own child for making a mistake, hurling rude remarks at the opposing team, or always placing blame. In some cases, these parents have even gotten into brawls.

What’s in winning?

There’s no question, winning is rewarding and boosts self-esteem. However, well-meaning parents are sometimes so caught up in the competition that they lose sight of the real value of sports. Winning is not just being the victor of a game. It’s becoming the best allaround person one can be. Children who carry this with them will be the ones to prevail.

What’s in losing?

Plenty. It teaches lessons in perseverance, humility, respect, and acceptance of defeat.

What does losing mean? It means to come out second best. Defeat is not a failure. A child or parent who walks away satisfied, whether victorious or not, is the real winner.

What else do sports offer?

Opportunities to build friendships, lessons on the importance of rules, fairness and honesty, anger management and leadership skills, and how to work as a team. In short, sports teach valuable life principles that will be of immense value in the years to come.

• •

• Tips for supporting good sportsmanship: • Make the most of your child’s involvement by showing your support and what it means to be a good sport.

Avoid pointing out your child’s mistakes or • criticizing them. This only serves to make kids feel worse. Your child is most likely already aware of the error.

• Practice with your child, but don’t push. Offer pointers and demonstrate proper techniques but allow mistakes to go without frequent correction.

• Praise your child’s efforts.

Allow coaches and officials to do their jobs. If • you feel an error was made, remember that it’s a tough job, and we all make mistakes. Realize it will probably come out in the wash.

Cheer on your child and their team.

•

•

• •

Don’t put down the other team’s players and be courteous and respectful of the other team’s fans.

When talking with your child about a game, point out specific displays of sportsmanship that took place to show the difference between being a good sport and a poor one.

If your child isn’t enjoying the sport, don’t force them to stay in it. For many children, team sports aren’t the answer. Help find another activity or a solo sport that is more suited to them.

Set up a sportsmanship recognition program for your child’s team offering Certificates of Outstanding Sportsmanship to players who set examples of being a good sport. If your child is struggling with sportsmanship, look for opportunities to help them brush up on their skills, and reward accordingly as reinforcement.

Acknowledge and show interest in team members whose abilities don’t stand out.

Don’t place blame when your child’s team loses.

Kimberly is a freelance parenting writer. She’s also founder and director of KB Creative Digital Services, specializing in SEO content writing, at kbcreativedigital.com. CCM

FALL REGISTERED PROGRAMS! Swim Lessons for all ages, Aquatic Leadership Courses, Active Living Programs, PD Camps AND Muay Thai Kickboxing are all available here at Repsol Sport Centre for you and your family this Fall.

forever active. forever strong.

Back to School 2021 • calgaryschild.com • 37

class & program feature

taking the lead in sportsmanship

class & program feature

non-competitive sports and activities for the pre-teen in your life All movement is good movement

By Mairin Husak Every child deserves a positive sport and movement experience, one that meets their needs and brings them joy. Being active and engaged is an essential part of a pre-teen’s growth and development, positively impacting their mental and physical well-being. But what do you do if your pre-teen who doesn’t want or shies away from the pressures or commitment of a competitive sport? What if it’s just not the right fit for your child?

If this sounds familiar to you, we share a similar struggle. This past February, my 11-year-old daughter announced that she wanted to play volleyball. As a parent who has spent years trying to find ‘that’ activity for my child, I was ecstatic! Still, my excitement turned to worry, even though I’ve spent the better part of two decades teaching and coaching within the sport and recreation community. Why? Volleyball is outside my wheelhouse, and I was eager to find a program that met my daughter’s skill level and desire to participate at a recreational level.

Like mine, your pre-teen is at a unique time in their physical and emotional development. Research supports the positive impact physical activity can have on the developing adolescent. Physically, significant changes are happening with your child - the onset of puberty and unexpected growth spurts - all of which can affect your child’s sensory and motor development. Your once nimble child may now appear clumsy and awkward. The good news is that regular exercise can help improve your child’s coordination and positively affect their self-concept.

The pre-teen years are a time of increased independence, self-awareness, and desire for autonomy.

Your child will also begin to connect what they do now with the long-term effects of those actions. Why is this important? The pre-teen years offer an incredible opportunity to sample and try new activities that support their ever-changing body and competencies while promoting a positive self-concept.

Recreational activities are the perfect platform for your developing pre-teen to experience new sports and activities in non-threatening, non-competitive environments; ones that are focused on fun, enjoyment,

38 • Find us on

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• • • •

What training and expertise do their coaches have? (Just because it’s recreational programming doesn’t mean standards should drop or are less important.)

What is the expected commitment level?

How many classes and hours per week?

Do they offer a free class trial or a 10-visit card?

What sort of equipment is needed, and do they supply it? If not, what are the additional costs?

Here are a few of the samplings the Calgary recreation scene has to offer your developing pre-teen. There are many options, from team sports to individual pursuits and everything in between.

“Try new activities that support their everchanging body and competencies while promoting a positive self-concept.” and the development of physical skills and competencies but also support your child’s developing autonomy.

And there’s more good news: Calgary boasts many fantastic, recreationally-focused sports and activities.

Here are a few questions to consider when looking into recreational programming for your non-competitivelyminded pre-teen: What is the organization’s mission statement? Do • their values align with recreational and inclusive programming?

RECREATIONAL SPORTS PROGRAMS Individual activities with limited equipment required: Calgary Skip Squad: calgaryskipsquad.com/ • recreational • SOGO Adventure Running: sogoadventurerunning.com/level-1.html • Repsol Sport Centre Junior Master Swim Club: repsolsportcentre.com/programs/swim-aquatic/ junior-swim-clubs Kyle Shewfelt Gymnastics: • kyleshewfeltgymnastics.com/about-us • Soul Connexion (dance, Yoga, and fitness); offers a free trial class: soulconnexion.ca • Invitation to Dance: invitationtodance.ca/about/ about-us.html • Bow Waters Canoe Club: bowwaters.org/ lessons-3/ • Gladiators Fencing Club: gladiators.ca/aboutgladiators.html • The Flip Factory (drop-in pass options): flipfactory.com/about • Breathe Parkour (trial month or a 10-visit pass): breathepk.com/first-visit Team sports: • Stryker Sports Development - volleyball and basketball: strykersports.ca

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Calgary Rugby Union: calgaryrugby.com Calgary Youth Flag Football League: cyffl.ca/ pages/About Calgary Foothills Little League: foothillslittleleague.org

Girls-only groups: • Calgary Girls Flag Football League: cgffl.ca • 100% Skate Club (for women, girls, and nonbinary skaters): 100percentskateclub.ca Starting a new sport or activity can require a financial commitment toward gear and equipment. If your child’s chosen activity requires gear, consider many of Calgary’s second-hand sports stores or gear-swap options.

For a couple local second-hand options, try: • Switching Gear YYC Sports Consignment: switchinggearyyc.ca • Play It Again Sports: playitagainsports.com

class & program feature

• •

The most important thing is that your pre-teen is enjoying their movement experience and reaping the mental and physical benefits of living an active lifestyle.

Helping facilitate your pre-teen’s recreational movement opportunities will affect their long-term participation and provide many real-time benefits such as mood, physical health, and sense of belonging.

This is the perfect time in your child’s life and stage of development to try something new, and actively search out activities in different environments that focus on different skills. The variety of each experience will help build a confident mover. So, move and move often! All movement is good movement!

Mairin is a third-year MRU Physical Literacy student, a sport and recreation educator, and a mother of three active children. CCM

KEYBOARD ACADEMY OF MUSIC ORGAN

PIANO

KEYBOARD

SPECIAL

Beginners 8 week Trial Program Includes 8 lessons, music book and the loan of an instrument

www.keyboardacademy.ca Southwest • 403-255-0010 8411B Elbow Drive SW

EXAMS • THEORY CONCERTS • COMPETITION

Northeast • 403-277-2987 #203 - 4803 Centre Street N

Back to School 2021 • calgaryschild.com • 39

class & program feature

sports specialization: is it a good idea?

Judging when (and if) your child is ready

By Christa Melnyk Hines While sports can provide a multitude of emotional and physical benefits for kids, specializing in a single sport at too early of an age can pose risks. How do you know when - or if - your child should specialize in a sport they love?

What is sports specialization? Brian Harvey, O.D., a pediatric sports medicine physician, says that sports specialization is defined as playing and competing in one single sport exclusively for more than eight months out of the year.

Advantages of multi-sport athletes. You may worry that your child won’t have a competitive advantage later on if they don’t specialize early.

Karen Hughey, co-founder and CEO of Team Cura, works with scholarship-seeking athletes and their parents. As a former sports parent, Hughey says her children played a variety of sports. She and her husband left it up to their children to decide which ones they wanted to pursue as they got older.

Although he was a talented golfer, her son Rob, cofounder of Team Cura, opted to quit golf early in his high school career to participate in other activities. But, by his junior year, he decided that he wanted to return to golf and play at the university level. “He had to work harder to reach out to coaches at that point, but he still was fine. He found a great school and a great fit for himself. So, leave it up to your kids. They’ll find their way and figure it out,” says Hughey.

Prevent injury. “We see that kids who have had experience playing a multitude of sports have fewer difficulties learning new skills and, generally, don’t suffer from the overuse injuries and burnout that are common with youth athletes specializing in one sport,” says physical therapist Tim Cummings, PT, DPT. An overuse injury occurs as a result of repetitive motion and impact on one area of the body. “Overuse injuries occur as a result of repetitive motion and impact on one area of the body. “Overuse injuries are those injuries that cause an athlete to lose more than a month of their sport. Those are the biggest ones that we see in the developing athletes that do sports specialization,” says Dr. Harvey.

Cummings says the most common overuse injuries he sees in his younger patients include ankle sprains, knee pain, Little Leaguer’s Elbow, ACL tears, and OsgoodSchlatter. “Osgood-Schlatter is a traction injury on a

special type of growth plate called an apophysis, which is at the top of the shin bone. The traction comes from strong and relatively tight muscles that develop during puberty and high activity levels. Pain, and sometimes swelling, can be felt directly over a bump at the bottom of the knee,” explains Cummings.

Avoid burnout. Participating in different sports throughout the year is easier on developing bodies, and kids are less likely to get bored or even anxious or depressed. “Athletes wanting to perform at their best, but not being able to, whether it’s due to injury or their fear

sport, try a little bit of different types of sports. Learn how to be athletic first and foremost, and then really have fun with those sports,” says Dr. Harvey.

When to specialize. “This isn’t a black and white, good or bad issue. Sports, like figure skating, gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, and diving require early specialization due to the high demand to acquire specific sports skills early on. Peak performance in these sports most often happens before reaching full physical maturity,” says Cummings. But, he emphasizes that early specialization combined with decreased recovery time

“Participating in different sports throughout the year is easier on developing bodies, and kids are less likely to get bored or even anxious or depressed.” of disappointing a coach or a parent or even themselves, plus that chronic daily physical demand, can lead to higher rates of burnout and quitting their sport,” says Dr. Harvey.

To allow the body time to rest and recover, kids shouldn’t train for more than eight months out of the year. “And really try not to practice, train, or compete more than their age in years per week,” says Dr. Harvey.

(For example, no more than 12 hours per week for a 12-year-old.)

Striking a healthy balance between sports and other interests is also beneficial. “Some of the high school athletes we work with have stressed the importance of needing downtime and being able to spend time with their friends,” says Hughey.

Encourage free play. Whether they toss a football around with friends, shoot hoops in the driveway, play tag, or make up competitive games, kids develop motor skills, creativity, and social/emotional skills through unstructured play. “When we start to look at young athletes, the body really needs time to develop, learn how to run, learn how to jump - really learn how to use their bodies and play. Instead of focusing on one exact

does put an athlete at increased risk for overuse injuries, no matter the sport chosen.

Dr. Harvey recommends gauging your child’s specialization readiness according to their physical and mental maturity. Although he’d prefer kids to wait until they are at least 12 (ideally, 14 or 15), “there’s probably not a specific age that I would say is perfect,” he says.

Dr. Harvey says a child who is physically and mentally ready to specialize: • is goal-oriented • understands that the sport should be fun • comprehends the complex rules of the game • recognizes the demand that a sport can put on the mind and the body • can cope with those demands in a healthy way Above all, “you’ve got to listen to your child,” says Hughey. Countless coaches have told us that you will know when the time is right. If you’re pushing it, it’s not the right time.”

Christa is a nationally-published freelance writer. She and her husband are the parents of two active sons. CCM

Try Fencing!

Gladiators has joined EPIC fencing club. A non-profit fencing club offering all levels of classes: "Pirates" ages 5-7, age group classes for children 8-11, 12+ and adult beginner classes. Home to 3 Tokyo 2020 Olympic Team members! We are excited to announce a new central Calgary Fencing center coming this fall! Try fencing in one of three Olympic disciplines - foil, epee or sabre.

Now offering classes for beginners, athletes and recreational fencing in three Calgary locations. See www.epicfencing.ca or TEXT 403 685-3733 for your free trial introduction today! www.gladiators.ca/epic.

40 • Find us on

class & program feature

when your guppy gives up when swim lessons don't go well How to help them succeed

By Lizzy Bullock Sometimes swim lessons don’t go as planned. I’ve witnessed this situation from time to time in my many years as a swimming instructor. Anything can go wrong: from crying and screaming to refusing to participate to ignoring the swim instructor. Maybe your child was excited about swimming lessons before you left the house but fell apart at some point before or during the class. Or maybe your child didn’t want to go in the first place. These situations can be frustrating because you’re spending valuable time and money on swim lessons with the hope that your child will learn to be safe and confident in the water, and then your child doesn’t want to participate.

If things aren’t going well, don’t give up! Before you abandon swimming lessons, try these tips for quelling flare-ups and adjusting your child’s attitude: Remember (no offence intended), children can be master manipulators. Kids know how to get what they want. The bond between you and your child is strong.

It started before they came into the world, sharing genetics, blood, and hormones. As soon as they exited the womb, they started developing a chemical bond with you through skin-to-skin contact. This touch-relationship increases oxytocin production. Known as the ‘love hormone,’ oxytocin cements feelings of affection and tenderness. This is a wonderful sensation, and it shouldn’t be discounted. But it also creates a loophole for your child to manipulate you. When it comes to necessities, like learning how to swim, it benefits your child to be detached from you. Thankfully, because the instructor doesn’t have the same chemical bond that you share with your child, it’s easier for them to judge your child’s level of fear of swimming.

Be patient and positive. The most common cause for misbehavior at swim lessons is fear, followed closely by a ‘I-don’t-wanna-do-it’ tantrum. Your kid wants to please you, but they also know exactly what they can get away with, without crossing the threshold for getting into trouble. A tantrum paired with a declaration of “I’m scared!” is a great way for your child to maneuver their way out of something they don’t feel like doing. But swim lessons are not the time to allow your child to have their way. Learning to swim is lifesaving and necessary. The

best thing you can do is to keep pressing onward.

Be patient and encouraging, but don’t give in to your child’s tears. Some kids just need more time to warm up to the idea of swimming or to the pool environment.

Change it up. If you’ve been going to your child’s lessons for a while and you always receive the same reaction from your child, try making a change to the pattern. The solution could be as simple as having a different person bring your kid to swimming class.

Kids know what they can get away with, with each parent. I’ve seen kids who cry as soon as they get to class when one parent brings them but come with a smile when the other takes them.

If that doesn’t work, try sitting out of sight or leaving when it’s lesson time. This makes putting on a show a futile effort, and kids often calm down quickly when there’s no one around to humor them.

Of course, you’ll want to let the instructor know that you plan to do this, so they can reassure your child that you’ll be back when the lesson is over.

Trust your instructor. If your instructor has been teaching for a while or has children of their own, they’ll have a good sense of who is scared of swimming and who is putting on a show. I’ve worked with children for many years teaching gymnastics and swimming, as well as serving as a summer camp counselor. I’ve seen every kind of outburst. In all my years watching over children, I’ve developed a sixth sense for crocodile tears and how to work through them.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is not talking to the swimming instructor for advice. You may think that as the parent, you know best, but sometimes you can fall victim to the bond you have with your child.

Children who are coddled have a harder time working with an instructor and often try to get out of swim lessons. Try to follow the swim teacher’s lead. If you undermine the instructor or make deals with your child that aren’t on the teacher’s agenda, you’re thwarting the teacher’s efforts to adjust your child’s attitude. I find that being firm and presenting a united front is more effective than pitting parents against teachers. It’s the same concept as one parent being lenient and the other

enforcing all of the rules. Don’t make your swim teacher ‘the bad person.’

Take some time off. If you decide to take some time off from formal swim lessons, don’t quit pool time. Go swimming with your child regularly, but don’t push an agenda on them. Play games in the water, splash each other, be silly! You can throw some balls out into the water and help your child retrieve them or sink some dive toys on the pool steps and have them reach down to grab them. This valuable playtime builds your child’s relationship with the water. That way, when you do begin swim lessons again, their association with water will be a good one. You don’t want their most recent memory of the pool to be of throwing a fit, being frightened, or having a bad time.

Following these tips can make swim lessons a valuable experience rather than one of fear and frustration for your child - and you.

Lizzy is a WSI-certified Red Cross swimming instructor with many years of experience teaching infants, children, and adults how to swim. CCM

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10 tips for terrific tryouts Advice to help ease the jitters

By April Clay, R. Psych.

Tryout season can be tough! The new school year has just begun, and already your tw/een is being asked to put themselves out there in front of their coaches. Tryouts can be a huge source of anxiety for your child. Read on for some great advice you can pass on to them to help ease their jitters.

1. Don’t focus on making the team. If your tw/een walks in to a tryout thinking, I have to make this team, I must make this team, my goal is to make this team, they will send their pressure gauge through the roof. While making the team may be something they really want, using it as a goal is not going to be effective.

The truth is, your tw/een is not 100 percent in control of making the team. What they are in control of is the way they play and their attitude, so focus on those things instead. Have your tw/een choose a goal and choose carefully. Goals can be calming and focusing if the right kind is chosen. They can set goals like: ‘No matter what happens today, I will stay positive’ or ‘Today, I will skate hard.’ Make sure their goals are about the process of what they need to do out there and the things they can control.

This will help keep their mind where it is most effective and, yes, up their chances significantly of making the team.

2. Review strengths. When they attend a tryout, they are going to want to shine. Everyone does this in a different way because everyone has different strengths.

Your tw/een needs to focus on what they have to offer.

Have your tw/een make a list of why they are prepared to do their best this season. Maybe their level of fitness has improved. Maybe they are a more positive person.

Perhaps their ability to influence a team has grown. Have them choose their top three strengths from this list and write them on a cue card to keep in their bag. They can take their strengths with them - literally.

3. Show team skills. Being a good team player goes a long way. This means knowing how to communicate with and work with fellow athletes, even if they are participating in an individual sport.

Showing their team skills is good for everybody. When your child encourages other players, they are showing their ability to be a team leader. And positive talk helps your child stay positive. Positive talk can greatly decrease the butterflies as it takes their focus off of nervousness and places their focus on what is happening around them. That’s good for playing, too!

4. Start fresh every day. Tryouts often take place over more than one day. That means your tw/een might have a bad tryout day and then have to go back and try again.

The last thing your tw/een wants to do is drag that bad day of tryouts with them to the next day. This can leave them feeling mentally and physically tired and focused on the negative.

Make a point of doing a quick review. I like to call this the ‘2/2 Formula.’ Have your tw/een choose two things they are proud of, and two things that need ‘sharpening’ for the next day. Then move along and relax with something non-sport related. Remember the motto: ‘Every day is a fresh start’ - meaning, this new day is full of opportunity.

5. Watch the language. Make sure your tw/een has positive self-statements at the ready. Stress naturally causes us to focus on the negative. Have your tw/een choose a key word to keep coming back to for the day, something that reminds them where they want their focus to be. Choose words like ‘fast,’ ‘commit,’ or choose a phrase like: ‘Do your best and forget the rest’ or, ‘Stay in the here and now.’ If they have positive language ready, they are less likely to have headspace for that nasty gremlin of doubt.

6. Focus on their own page. There is no doubt that when your tw/een walks in to a tryout, they will want

to check out who is there, their competition. Do I know them? Have I played with them before? But this can quickly turn into, Are they better than me? What if they are better than me? There are only so many spots on the team. I can’t blow this. Not exactly helpful thoughts when it comes to bringing out your child’s best. Remember how you were taught in school to focus on your own page? Have your tw/een do just that. They should focus on what they came to a tryout to do and do it well. Advise them not to give their attention to the next person - they’ll just be handing them an advantage. Instead, they should keep their energy and focus on themselves.

7. Be prepared to accept mistakes. There is no way anyone gets through life, sport, and certainly a tryout without making a mistake. But it is not the end; it is only one moment in time. In fact, it could be that some mistakes are made because they are showing their ability to take risks. Coaches tend to like that sort of thing. When your child does make a mistake, have a reboot strategy ready so they can get over it and get on with the tryout.

8: Forget perfection. Perfection is not an ideal; it’s not even possible. What happens when your child starts to focus on the impossible? They become frustrated, impatient, and angry with themselves. As you can guess, this means your tw/een will likely not perform to their full potential. Think of a new ideal to go after: excellence, mastery of skills, continuous improvement. If their mindset is positive and focused on the possible, they will get the best from themselves.

9. Everyone is human. Don’t forget that the fellow competitor next to your tw/een is likely just as nervous.

Superstars do not surround your tw/een; only others with strengths and weaknesses, just like your child. Whew!

10. And if your tw/een doesn’t make it… Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.

Keep things in perspective and be sure your tw/een gets some extra help and support. They can talk to people they trust. They will probably want to understand as best they can why it happened, so they can move forward and set new goals. And that’s the good news: there are always new goals to set.

April Clay, R. Psych., is a Calgary-based sport and counseling psychologist who works extensively with youth sport. Find out more by visiting her website, bodymindmotion.com. CCM

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With so many options, it can be difficult to know where to start!

By Karissa Tunnis Most parents agree that encouraging their child to try a new sport or activity can be beneficial! Not only can it provide an additional opportunity to get exercise but mastering new skills, forming new friendships, and learning teamwork all have its advantages. Nowadays, there are many sports to choose from; some offer team involvement and others, kids can perform solo. Some sports can be played outdoors, and others are enjoyed year-round and indoors. But with so many options, it can be difficult to know where to start. That is why I came up with this list of questions to consider before signing your child up for something new, before registration opens.

“Start by encouraging your child and help pique their interest by taking them to a sporting event - even if it is just to watch a local high school team play or a local semi-pro team.”

Before registering for a new sport When deciding on a new sport, start with your child’s focus. Oftentimes, there is something they are already gravitating toward more than others. Keep their age, maturity level, and physical abilities in mind when making your selection.

Start by encouraging your child and help pique their interest by taking them to a sporting event - even if it is just to watch a local high school team play or a local semi-pro team. The environment can be very exciting, and it can be helpful to see what possibilities are out there if they stick with it. Sharing your own sporting

interests with your child may be helpful and provide an excellent opportunity for more bonding time.

What to ask before sports registration Find out ahead of time what the schedule demands of a particular sport will be. The registration process can even take a while between sign-ups, try-outs, evaluations, etc. Ask ahead of time.

Don’t forget to ask about practices. Some coaches require in-person practices a few times per week, or else your child might not receive playing time in the game/ competition. Be honest with yourself and your child - are they ready for the added discipline and responsibility that comes along with a particular sport? Additionally, some coaches ask the kids to commit to practicing at home for an additional 10 to 20 minutes per day.

By knowing what is involved and expected, this will allow you to figure out if you can realistically fit this activity into your family’s daily routine.

How safe is the sport?

This question is important! Does the coach take safety seriously? Don’t be embarrassed to ask or assess the following questions. Talk to other parents of kids that are on the team or that previously played on the team. Watch a practice. Do your research before sports registration.

Here are some questions you may want to ask depending on the sport: 1. Does the coach require that players follow the rules?

2. Does the coach and league require the use of proper safety equipment?

3. Do players take time to warm up and cool down before and after each practice or event?

4. In hot weather, does the coach pay attention to hydration, humidity, and the temperature?

5. Are the players taught proper movement and body positioning?

6. Is the coach attentive to the prevention and recognition of concussions?

Consider the coaching style Attend practices or talk to the coach to determine their attitude toward the game and the kids. How

much does each child play and how is playing time determined? If a coach consistently yells at the children or lets only the most skilled players into the game, your child might become discouraged. Beware of a win-at-allcosts attitude but at the same time, you want someone that will encourage and push your kid in a positive and helpful way.

Every child responds to different personality types.

But by doing a little investigating ahead of time, you will hopefully be able to pair your child with someone that will enhance their love for the sport, not crush their spirit.

Be honest before sports registration Lastly, it is important that you have an honest conversation with your child. Nowhere does it say that your child has to play sports. Maybe they enjoy drama, choir, playing an instrument, or are really into creating artwork. Some children find their passion at a young age, and others need to try a variety of interests before discovering what they love.

Whatever it is, ask yourself and your child these important questions: 1. Is my child really enjoying or benefiting from this activity?

2. Is it worth the time that we are missing from being at home as a family?

3. Is my child handling the demands of their schedule both mentally and physically?

If the answers to these questions are yes, then keep going! If the answer to these questions are no, then there is nothing wrong with taking a little break and waiting a few weeks (or even years) before jumping into something else. (In fact, you can do a lot at home for free!)

There is no right or wrong answer on what age your child should be involved with activities. It all depends on your family, the child, and their personal interests.

Good luck!

Karissa is the co-owner of the parenting website, adorethem.com.

Adore Them strives to share positive, practical advice and resources to help you find joy in your own parenting journey. CCM

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anxiety at school When talking and doing feels too big

By Karen Young, Psychologist Children and teens with anxiety have much to offer in the classroom, but too often, anxiety can keep this hidden. I often say that if you want to know what’s happening, ask the anxious one in the room. Because of their need for safety, children who tilt more toward anxiety might be more likely to take things in, watch, notice things that might otherwise go unnoticed as they try to get a sense of what it all means - but they won’t always share their insight.

Too often, that silence or lack of involvement can be misread. Sometimes silence means, ‘I don’t have anything to say.’ Sometimes it means, ‘I have plenty to say but I don’t want to share it right here and right now.’ Whenever anxiety is fueling silence, it’s likely to mean, ‘I don’t feel safe enough - yet.’ We want to move children toward taking safe risks and finding their voice in the classroom, but the more we rush this, the more unsafe school is likely to feel, and the more we lose precious opportunities to help these kids and teens discover their potential.

Anxiety doesn’t always mean, ‘I’m not safe.’ Often it means, ‘I don’t feel safe enough yet.’

Anxiety is a felt sense of threat. It’s not about what is actually safe, but about what the brain perceives. For kids and teens with anxiety, seemingly benign things might count as ‘threat.’ ‘Threat’ means different things for all of us. For kids with anxiety at school, asking questions, contributing to class discussions, asking for help, or trying something new might all count as ‘threat.’ It is not for us to question the rationality of their fears. We don’t need to talk them out of how they feel. We couldn’t if we wanted to. The truth is, they can feel anxious and be brave anyways - but only if they feel safe enough and held enough by the important adults beside them.

If anxiety is a felt sense of threat, the antidote to this is a felt sense of safety. For children, a felt sense of safety starts with the adult in the room, but this will take time. A child can have the safest, most loving, brilliant teacher, but until there is a felt sense of connection with that teacher (or another adult in the room), anxiety will interrupt learning, behavior, and their capacity to show the very best of what they can do. And what they can do will often be surprising - insightful, important, beautiful things.

We have to be patient. Relationships take time. Safety and trust take time. The teachers who take this time are the ones who will make the world safer for these children - all children, and change their world in important, enduring ways. This is when learning will happen. It’s when we’ll stop losing children who fly under the radar or whose big behavior takes them out of the classroom or shifts the focus to the wrong things (behavior, learning, avoidance over relationships).

Why learning needs relationships The greatest way to support learning and behavior is with safe, warm, loving relationships. It’s just how it is, and there are no shortcuts. We can pour all of the resources we want into learning support or behavior management, but until children have a felt sense of safety and connection with the adult in the room, the ‘thinking brain’ won’t be available. This is the frontal cortex, and it’s the part of the brain needed for learning, deliberate decisions, thinking through consequences, rational thinking. During anxiety, it’s sent ‘offline.’ It can only ever be ‘online’ when there is a felt sense of safety.

This safety will only happen through relationship - not

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just any relationship, but one in which that child feels seen, held, and safe. This isn’t a child thing or an anxiety thing. It’s a human thing. We’re wired to feel safe when we’re connected to the people around us.

There are a couple of reasons for this. The first is that relational safety is an instinctive need. Babies wouldn’t survive if there wasn’t an adult to take care of them, so children are wired to feel safest with an adult they feel close to and threatened in the felt absence of one. It’s why relationships are key to anxiety. Parents can’t be everywhere all of the time - we were never meant to do this parenting thing alone. Another adult can provide a felt sense of safety in the parent’s absence, as long as the relationship is safe, warm, and loving. Any adult in the child’s community - teacher, coach, grandparent, aunt, uncle, family friend - has a profoundly important role to play in nurturing and growing that child and opening up their world.

The second reason a relationship is so important is because it can unlock the door to that child’s world.

When children feel safe, they will show us more clearly what they need. More importantly, they will let us be the one that provides this in meaningful ways, whether it’s validation, trust, confidence in their capacity to cope or do hard things, cues of safety.

We can offer all of these things from outside their world, but it might not hold as much heft until they let us in. Only then will they grant us enough authority to guide and influence them. When they open the door to us, they will be more likely to believe us when we tell them they are safe, they are brave enough and strong enough, and they can do hard things.

How can we build relationships at school that build brave behavior?

Entry into their world only happens by invitation, and only when they’re ready. We can’t rush our way in or force our way in or talk our way in. It doesn’t work that way, for any of us. It takes time, a gentle hand, and an open heart.

Here are some ways we can nurture this along: 1. Be curious. To provide children with a felt sense of safety, we first need to understand how that child sees and experiences the world. This happens by being curious, and eventually being invited into their world not to change it, but to understand it, strengthen it, and soften it where we can. From there, we will be more able to understand what that child needs and provide it in meaningful ways.

2. Why, ‘There’s nothing to worry about,’ doesn’t work. It’s not enough to tell them not to worry. Think of it like this: Imagine that someone you don’t know or don’t trust enough is telling you to close your eyes and follow them across a bustling freeway, assuring you that it’s safe. Would you feel safe enough? Now, what if it was someone you felt close to, and who you knew you really mattered to? You might still feel terrified, but you’d be more likely to feel ‘okay enough.’

Children are no different. Just because an adult tells them they’ll be okay doesn’t mean they’ll feel it or believe it. What they need is to be given time to experience the environment and the person as being safe, supportive, and ready to catch them.

It’s also important to remember that during anxiety, we’re dealing with an amygdala (the seat of anxiety in the brain) that has registered threat and recruited you for support. The amygdala doesn’t care for rational

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conversation. It just needs to know it’s been heard, and support is here. This is why validation is important.

Something like, ‘I know how big this is for you. I really get it,’ sends a message to the amygdala that it’s done its job, support is here, and it can rest.

3. 2 x 5 x 5. Building relationships takes time, but it doesn’t have to take a lot of time, each time. If you are a teacher or any important adult in a child’s world, frequent small conversations can build a connection.

Try for 2 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for 5 weeks. The conversation can be about anything, as long as it shows interest in their world - what they’re reading, what they did on the weekend, what they had for breakfast, noticing something they’ve said or done, pets, sports, music practice - anything.

4. Find similarities. Similarities build connection. It’s the power of sports teams, neighborhoods, communities.

Notice similarities whenever you can: ‘We’re both wearing blue today!’ or ‘You have a dog! So do I!’ 5. Let your face light up when you see them. When children walk into a room, they will be looking to the adult in the room for signs of safety. They will read non-verbals more than anything we say. Whenever you can, let your face and your voice make your intent clear. Neutral faces and monotone voices (which we often use as a ‘calm’ voice, but which isn’t always calming) can register threat in an anxious brain because the intent isn’t clear. Let your face light up when you see them, mirror the feelings they’re feeling, and let your voice do the same.

6. Let them see their important adults speaking with big hearts about them. If you are a parent, ask your child’s teacher to let you know (maybe once a week) about anything significant - even if it’s just a teeny bit significant. Then, share that with your child, ‘Miss Kelly told me that you asked a great question in class today.

She said she loved that you were brave enough to do that.’ Then, let your child’s teacher know little snippets that your child is happy for you to share, so it can be a point of connection between your child and their teacher.

7. Let your child see who has the baton. For a while, some children might need to see who has the ‘caring for me’ baton. Until they feel safe enough, let them see the baton pass from the parent to the teacher. Some children will benefit from being ‘handed over’ to the same person

at drop-off each day. This can be done through words, ‘Mr. James is going to take you for the day now. I know he’s going to take great care of you.’ Then, Mr. James says, ‘I’m so pleased you’re here! Do you have everything you need for today?’ For younger children, it might also involve a physical handover where a parent takes the child’s hand from theirs and puts it into the hand of the teacher.

8. Any loving adult can fill the void, not only the classroom teacher. Even for teachers with big hearts, and who understand the importance of building an attachment relationship, it can be difficult when they have to split their attention between a room full of other children who need them. This is when another adult in the school can play an important part in filling the void as long as that adult is loving, warm, and willing to do the work to connect with that child. It might be the librarian, the school counsellor, the person in the office, a teacher aide. It doesn’t matter who, as long as it is someone who can be available for that child at drop-off or when feelings or behavior get big during the day and who can do little check-ins (see the 2 x 5 x 5 strategy) along the way.

We all need certain things to feel safe enough to put ourselves into the world. Kids with anxiety are thoughtful, observant and insightful, and their wisdom will always have the potential to add something important to the world. Until they have a felt sense of safety, though, we won’t see it.

Relationship is key - isn’t it for everything? The need for safety through relationship isn’t an ‘anxiety thing.’ It’s a ‘human thing.’ When we feel closer to the people around us, we can rise above the mountains that block our way. Even as adults, we never forget the ones from our childhood who took the time to let us know we matter.

Sometimes it is not even about having someone believe that we can, but about knowing someone will still believe in us and care about us if we can’t. A teacher or any important adult in the life of a child can make a lasting difference by asking, ‘How do I build my relationship with this child, so they trust me when I say, ‘I’ve got you, and I know you can do this’?

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Karen Young is a psychologist who has worked in private practice, organizational settings, has lectured, and has extensive experience in the facilitation of personal growth groups. Check out her blog, heysigmund.com. Reprinted with permission by Karen Young. CCM

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5 ways to stop micromanaging your kids’ goals Working on your own insecurities

By Christina Katz Teaching your kids to have goals, do their best, and leverage personal momentum to succeed are all good ideas. However, there is a difference between supporting a child’s efforts to reach their goals versus taking control of the results you deem the best possible outcomes for your kids. If you habitually steamroll your kids, you rob them of personal experience on multiple levels. When you overstep, your kids can lose their point of view; their self-esteem may go down; they may feel confused, anxious, or depressed; and they may focus too much on pleasing you instead of honoring their own desires.

Don’t let your children miss out on opportunities to learn from their own life experiences. Healthy kids are not confused about who they are and what they want. In fact, a lack of assertiveness and self-expression in children may be a signal that you push too much and may need to back off and give your kids a chance to assert themselves.

If you tend to push too much, what are you so afraid of? If you are afraid that your kids will set goals differently than you, don’t worry; this is the way it should be!

People are stories. We have beginnings, middles, and ends. As long as we are here, our story is still in progress.

Sometimes progress is messy, and we are never done growing, until we are done living. If we can allow each other to be unique works in progress, we don’t have to put so much pressure on ourselves to achieve everything right this very minute.

2. Distinguish. You are not your child, and your child is not you. Maybe it’s time to ease up on comparing and contrasting family members. Who says parents and children have to be anything alike? Maybe every single person in your family is a unique individual and you all have varied perspectives on any topic. This is likely true.

Forget pressing for family groupthink. You can’t make your kids into you, nor should you ask them to be you. All you can do is be yourself and let them be themselves.

3. Moderate. Be a ‘good enough’ parent, not a ‘perfect’ parent. If you have to be a perfect parent, then everyone in your family has to be perfect, too, and this is exhausting for everyone. If you put unrealistic pressures

“If you tend to push too much, what are you so afraid of? If you are afraid your kids will set goals differently than you, don’t worry; this is the way it should be!”

Insecurity and poor boundaries are two reasons you take over your children’s goals and make them their own.

So, if you’re well-meaning but have some teeny-weeny control issues, what do you do? Plenty. You can foster healthier relationships with yourself, with your child, and with other family members, so each person in your family can focus on setting and achieving goals without interference. Then, when each of you inevitably succeeds, you will all have something to genuinely celebrate.

Here are five ways to detach from your kids’ goals: 1. Accept. Your kids are unfolding individuals-inprocess and you are a unique person-in-process, as well.

on yourself and your family members, stop. Try not to judge your family by appearance. External indicators are not the measure of internal happiness. You are imperfect, you make mistakes, you do the best you can, and this is all good enough. You can only feel like enough if you can let yourself and others embrace imperfection.

4. Strive. Have your own goals, not just goals for each of your children. Do you have a vocation or avocation beyond parenting? If not, you need to get one - or several. Parents who put all of their identity eggs in one parenting basket are destined for a big fall once children grow up and leave home. Because, yes, parenting is a fulltime job; but it’s not supposed to be your only identity

in life. If you cling to your parenting role too much, ask yourself what other life challenges you might be trying to avoid? Chances are good that you are anxious about stretching your own wings. Focusing on your own goals and taking pride in each baby step toward those goals will make you feel better than staying stuck.

5. Reach out. Get your own emotional needs met, rather than using your children for inner fulfillment.

You may not realize you are doing this, but if you have unresolved childhood issues you have not yet faced, it is probably time to heal your past. The emotional work you are not willing to do can have long-term negative effects on your children. Don’t try to sort everything out without assistance. If you are aware of your family’s history of addiction, neglect, mental illness, divorce, narcissism, abuse, or control issues, then you are likely going to need professional input to sort it all out and get yourself on a healthy emotional track. For your family’s sake and yours, don’t put this off.

The ‘Don’t’ list for parents: Don’t try to write your child’s story for them.

• • Don’t fantasize about your goals for your child.

Don’t compare your kids to others.

• • Don’t manipulate situations.

• Don’t covet rewards other kids have earned.

• Don’t fixate on having a perfect child.

• Don’t talk smack about decision-makers.

• Don’t overreact when your child fails.

• Don’t try to fix it when your kid makes a mistake.

• Don’t assume your child’s innate superiority.

• Don’t keep everyone on an intense schedule 24/7.

• Don’t be addicted to the rush of constant striving.

• Don’t forget to ask kids how they feel and what they think.

• Don’t rant, rage, or give anyone a piece of your mind.

• Don’t neglect your own ambitions.

• Don’t think parenting is the only role you are playing in life.

Author, journalist, and writing coach Christina is proud to say that her daughter is nothing like her and is under no pressure to become her anytime soon. Playing Christina is a role that has already cheerfully been taken. CCM

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helping your child resolve disputes Teach your child how to resolve disputes in a healthy way

By Georg Stratemeyer What do you do if there is a fight at an after-school class or program between your child and another? As a father and a grandfather, I have witnessed my share of disagreements. And as a mediator and a restorative justice counsellor, I ought to have some tools in my toolbox to manage such a situation. Here are my two parenting lessons from a long career of working out children’s conflicts.

Conflict is normal. Fighting, arguing, and disagreeing are all healthy and normal ways to expand boundaries, grow, express oneself, and learn about relationships.

Instead of preventing conflict from occurring, celebrate the fact that your child is developing confidence, even when the moments chosen by them are not the best ones.

How conflict is resolved teaches your child important lessons about interacting with others. If the resolution of the conflict is about winning and losing, then: A. Conflict can become a tool to get something, and B. To avoid conflict is a way of avoiding losing something.

From a relationship point of view, learning these lessons early as a child influences their future relationships in a negative way. A different lesson that you can teach your child is how to resolve conflict in a way that repairs the relationship, teaches empathy, and maintains dignity.

How do you teach conflict resolution skills to your kid? While in practice things seldom evolve in a discreet, step-by-step way, there are three distinct phases: One is establishing an account of what happened. Another is exploring the impact of the disagreement on the other child (or you). The final step is a discussion of what repair to the relationship can look like.

Establishing an account of what happened is about creating a timeline of the events. The purpose is to build a joint story, one that everyone can agree with. It is important to avoid establishing the ‘truth’ to assign blame. By using questions like, “What happened next?” and “What did you do then?” and by summarizing and combining everyone’s contribution to the story, you are helping your child to retell the events as concretely as possible as an observer, not as a participant. The observer perspective helps your child to gain some distance from the situation and become more objective about their own role in the event.

When exploring the impact of the event, the goal is to teach your child compassion and empathy. These skills

“How conflict is resolved teaches your child important lessons about interacting with others.” are not easily learned and require practice. The second function of this stage is to help your kid acknowledge and process their own feelings. Asking questions like, “How did that make you feel?” and “How do you think this made Susan feel?” enrich your child’s emotional intelligence and establish a connection between actions and emotions.

The final step, exploring what a repair to the relationship can look like, is about connecting in a normal, healthy way. Asking questions like, “What would make you feel better?”, “How would you want to be treated?” and “What would be helpful to Bob?” encourage your child to think about the future.

Like most things in life, to make a new skill part of your skill set takes time and practice. Be patient with yourself and your child. Every child and every situation is different,

requiring you to adjust how you apply each step. The best advice is to practice with good intentions and positive results will follow.

TIPS AND HOW-TOS Establishing a joint story sample questions: “What happened then?”

“What did you do next?”

“How did you react?”

Summarize the answers in a story that follows a timeline and incorporates everyone’s responses. For example, “If I understood this correctly, Chris was playing with the toy when you came into the room, then…”

Exploring the impact sample questions: “How did that make you feel?”

“How do you feel now?”

“How do you think this made Chris feel?”

Repairing the relationship sample questions: “What would make you feel better?”

“What do you think would make Chris feel better? How can we fix this?”

“What should we do differently next time?”

Georg Stratemeyer is a Family Mediator. He has a Master’s Degree in Conflict Analysis and Management and has worked with conflict for more than 20 years as a youth counsellor, facilitator, and mediator.

For more information, visit georgstratemeyer.com. CCM

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ages & stages

toilet training the Montessori way Work smarter, not harder

By Jenna Mazzei It’s time to talk about potty-training or as I prefer to call it, ‘toilet learning.’ Within the Montessori approach, we call it toilet learning rather than potty-training because we know that toileting is a skill to be learned when your child is ready - not necessarily when you decide you are ready to train your child. Referring to it as a ‘learning experience’ helps frame the whole toilet learning process in a positive light that revolves around the child, instead of adult convenience.

Let’s start with the philosophy! Maria Montessori discovered that children go through sensitive periods of learning throughout their first six years of life. These sensitive periods are developmental windows where it is easier to learn certain skills. The sensitive period for toileting is from 18 months to three years and, therefore, it is easier for a child to learn toileting during this time.

I know this surprises a lot of people. Most people wait until their child is older to start the toilet learning process because they think it will be easier, but they are making it much harder for themselves.

“Most people wait until their child is older to start the toilet learning process because they think it will be easier, but they are making it much harder for themselves.”

Here are my favorite step-by-step tips for making your child’s toilet learning experience natural and as stress-free as possible: The first step is to talk about your child’s bodily functions. When doing so, avoid any negative connotations that come along with these functions. Stay away from the typical ‘ewww, stinky’ and ‘yucky poo’ reactions. You need to remember that eliminating is a natural process. When you associate this natural process with negativity, it insinuates that it is something to be ashamed of.

I suggest introducing your child to a potty early, usually around 12 months. Doing this helps them get comfortable with the potty, setting them up for success when they are ready to use it for its intended purpose.

Put a clean potty in your main living area and have your child practice sitting on it. I recommend using a potty instead of a regular toilet as a potty is child-sized, a lot less intimidating than an adult-sized toilet, and much easier for them to be successful with independently.

A Montessori secret: Buy a potty with a removable bowl. This will make your life much easier when it comes time to empty and clean it!

Once your child starts showing signs of readiness, such as staying dry for a longer period, vocalizing 48 • Find us on

Photo: Courtesy of Jenna Mazzei

How and when should you start your child’s toilet learning process?

Although the sensitive period for toileting starts around 18 months, it is important to set your child up for success in their toileting journey by starting the preparations early.

before or after they go, hiding away to eliminate or ripping off their diaper, it’s time to set up an optimal toileting environment. The secret to success when setting up a toileting environment is ensuring it encourages independence. To do this, you need to provide your child with their own mini bathroom setup, where everything they need to be confident in their toileting is readily available and within reach. Ideally, this should include a potty, wipes, toilet paper, clean underwear and pants, a laundry basket, a garbage can, easy-to-use soap, a stool for reaching the sink, and a couple of their favorite books for longer sitting periods.

Now it’s time to start adding toileting to your routine. Start small with something like toileting before bath time and add to the routine over time. The more consistent you are in your routine, the more success you’ll see.

Another Montessori secret: Help your child take ownership of their toilet learning by including them in the cleanup.

Children in this age group love mimicking adults and allowing them to help clean up themselves and their accidents acts as a motivator for them to use the potty. It helps them develop a sense of ownership of their toilet learning and confidence in their abilities.

Now it’s time to make the switch to underwear.

Diapers are designed to keep your child comfortable, even when full. The quicker you make the switch from diapers to underwear, the more success you will see.

At the beginning, this transition can be a little tricky for some kids. I find the best way to help them be successful in transitioning to underwear is to allot bare bum time for a few days before you make the switch. When you have some extra time to spend at home, let your child go naked from the bottom down to help them adjust.

Another Montessori secret: Drop the questions.

When approaching your child about toileting, use direct language instead of questions. Drop the question, “Do you need to go?” and replace it with, “It’s time to use the potty.” If you’re noticing some resistance, a great trick is to give your child choices but remember, the choice isn’t about going potty or not, it’s about when they go.

Try using, “Would you like to use the potty now or in five minutes?” This gives them a sense of control over the situation.

One of the most important things I want you to remember about your child’s toilet learning is to keep your reactions gentle and positive. Punishing your child only deters them from using the potty. You should always respond in a factual, gentle, and positive way.

I also recommend staying away from unnecessary rewards, such as stickers, as rewards link an extrinsic motivation to the learning process. This can cause setbacks when you decide to stop giving your child rewards. Toilet learning is a natural process that you want your child to do because they are ready. The most effective reward is the intrinsic one of being proud of themselves.

Lastly, make sure to have developmentallyappropriate expectations of your child. Toileting is not something that will magically happen overnight. It is a skill to be learned, likened to walking; it takes time, practice, and patience.

Jenna is a mother, Montessori teacher, and owner of Evolve Montessori. Evolve Montessori is proud to be offering unique and exceptional Montessori programs for kids ages two to four starting this September. For more information, email evolvemontessori@gmail.com or visit evolvemontessori.com. Feeling Social? Follow on Facebook @EvolveMontessori and Instagram @evolvemontessori. CCM

ages & stages

playful adventures Open-ended materials for endless imagination

By Sarah Reader “Wow,” the young boy says as he swings back and forth on the simple swing he made from rope and a piece of two-by-four. “I can’t believe I built this. This is the best idea that has ever come into my brain!” “Yeah, it’s so cool!” says another boy, grinning from ear-to-ear. “I am so proud of myself for coming up with the idea for the steps and building them, so other little kids can use the swing, too!” Both boys are beaming with joy and pride.

The teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and imagination that happened from this seemingly small activity is something that can never be replicated with traditional, static play materials - this is the magic of loose parts.

Loose parts are any materials that can be moved, carried, built and taken apart, lined up stacked together, and tinkered with. The theory of loose parts was created in 1972 by architect Simon Nicolson, who said, “In any environment, both the degree of inventiveness and creativity, and the possibility of discovery, are directly proportional to the number and kind of variables in it.” He believed that children are not born more or less creative. Instead, all children love to play, experiment, discover, invent, and have fun - they just need to be given the opportunity and the materials to do so.

One of the many beautiful benefits of loose parts play is its inclusivity. There is no prescription to play, no set outcomes or rules. It’s not a sport or game played to reach a set goal (get the ball into the net, tag friends, score more points than your opponents). Loose parts such as tires, spools, rope, PVC pipe, and sticks - don’t have an inherent use; therefore, the play possibilities are limitless. A stick can become a wand, fishing rod, or sword. A bucket can become a helmet or drum. A spool can become the wheel of a car, table, or bird feeder.

Pieces are snapped, glued, taped, bent, hidden, and tied to something else or used as decoration. The play is directed by the child based on their own needs, desires, and imagination, which empowers them to take charge of their own play environments. There is no gender, social, cognitive, physical ability, or age bias with loose parts. The materials are open-ended and encourage children to invent, construct, imagine, manipulate, and play in their own way.

While participating in unstructured loose parts play, particularly outdoors, children move more, sit less, and

“Loose parts are any materials that can be moved, carried, built and taken apart, lined up stacked together, and tinkered with.” play longer. It increases their physical activity level, physical literacy, reduces stress, builds self-esteem, and engages all of their senses. They get the opportunity to engage with challenges and risky play, and learn how to recognize and overcome physical, social, and emotional risk. Children gain a sense of autonomy, responsibility, and confidence when they get to control the content and intent of their play.

When you give your children permission to play in a way that is meaningful to them, you allow them the opportunity to truly be themselves and express themselves in a way that feels safe. There is no right or wrong way to play with loose parts; children can create

whole worlds without the fear of being judged. Loose parts play offers them the chance to be brave, vulnerable, and feel a sense of pride and confidence in their own abilities. Children are better able to focus, regulate emotions, and control their behaviors. They learn to problem-solve, take turns, negotiate, interact with their peers, and decide when to engage in group play or be alone to enjoy solitary play.

Some of my fondest memories from childhood are when I was outdoors with my peers, building and creating, without guidance from adults. We would spend hours building villages in the woods - adding to the villages each day, working as a team, deciding which materials would be sturdier to withstand the weather, and who was better skilled at which task. Our imaginations would turn scrounged-up material into furniture or decorations for our sanctuary away from the adult world.

When we were engaged in play, we were free! We were the kings and queens of our own world. The critical, healthy child development skills that were forged during loose parts play was an incredible bonus that should be shared with all children.

Sarah has a Bachelor of Physical Education from the University of Alberta and was the supervisor for The City of Calgary’s Mobile Adventure Playground. As the owner of Playful Adventures (IG: @playfuladventures), she is passionate about bringing back unstructured, loose parts, outdoor play. Reach her at hello@ playfuladventures.ca. CCM

Back to School 2021 • calgaryschild.com • 49

ages & stages

being in love shouldn’t hurt Teach your teen to find healthy relationships

By Lynn Dittmer Your teen is starting to date and you are worried: ‘Will they be safe? Will they have made good decisions in their relationship? Will they know where to go if they need help?’ A healthy dating relationship can help your teen develop a positive self-image. It is an opportunity for them to learn how to empathize and understand others.

However, your teen also needs to be aware of red flags that can exist in an unhealthy relationship.

Your starting point is as simple and as tough as a conversation. Quiz your children.

Encourage your teen to ask themselves if they would: A. Stay in a relationship; B. Leave a relationship; or C. Stay in a relationship but proceed with caution if their partner: • doesn’t seem to ever want them to go out with their friends.

• tells them what they should or should not wear. accuses them of paying too much attention • to someone else or accuses them of flirting or cheating on them without good reason.

• throws things when they get angry.

• constantly follows them.

• tries to pressure them into doing things they are not comfortable with.

Some characteristics of healthy dating relationships are trust, equality, compassion, valuing each other’s differences, honesty, support, and respecting boundaries.

Communication is one of the most important aspects of any relationship.

There are three ways that people communicate, and two of them can be unhealthy: 1. Aggressive communication. Not listening, overruling the other person’s input, and ignoring their feelings.

2. Passive communication. Not communicating. If a person doesn’t express what they are feeling, hurt, anger, anxiety, and frustration can bottle up inside of them. This can lead to depression, low self-esteem, substance abuse, self-harm, or violent reactions.

3. Assertive communication. Communicates what they are honestly feeling without being aggressive or abusive. A youth might say, for example, “Honestly, I’m feeling so angry right now. Can we talk about this tomorrow?” Listening with a genuine effort to understand the other person is essential.

Ways to identify what violence and abuse are in a relationship There are three types of violence and abuse that can exist in a relationship: physical, emotional, and sexual.

Youth need to realize if they experience physical or sexual assault, they are also being emotionally abused. If they don’t get the right support, they can carry lifelong emotional scars.

1. Emotional abuse. Is your teen being ignored, isolated from others, controlled, corrupted, terrorized, degraded, or exploited (used) by their partner? Does their partner threaten to harm themself or others if they don’t get what they want? Emotional abuse is a chronic attack on a person’s self-esteem. Unfortunately, youth might not get the support they need to deal with emotional abuse, which can lead to depression or violence.

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“Some characteristics of healthy dating relationships are trust, equality, compassion, valuing each other’s differences, honesty, support, and respecting boundaries.”

2. Physical abuse. It is illegal to shove, grab, slap, or threaten to physically harm someone. Your teen might not be aware that a seemingly ‘little’ push could evolve into something much worse.

3. Sexual abuse. Regardless of your family’s values, your teen should know about sex, the age of consent, and that engaging in activity without knowing, enthusiastic consent is sexual abuse. Coercing, guilting, or refusing to use protection or divulge sexual history, shaming, anger, withdrawing emotionally, or threatening to leave are all behaviors which make sexual activity non-consensual.

If your teen has a friend who is being abused or assaulted, there are few simple things they can do to help. Your teen can: • listen to their friend.

• express regret and empathize.

• affirm that their friend did the right thing by telling someone.

• encourage their friend to report the incident and refer them to resources available.

• respect their friend’s privacy and not spread rumours.

Is your teen trapped in a cycle?

This is what the cycle of violence looks like: • Two people start out in a ‘honeymoon’ stage: they are passionate and happy.

Tension can start to build up.

• • Different kinds of abuse occur.

• Things escalate into a physically, sexually, or emotionally violent episode.

• The tension is released.

• The couple goes back to the ‘honeymoon’ stage.

The abusive person feels bad about what they did. They usually promise that ‘it will never happen again.’

What else can you do to support your teen?

Believe them and support them. Often, your teen won’t tell you that they are being abused because they fear your disapproval and disbelief. And sometimes, your teen won’t let you know they’ve been abused or assaulted because they may have broken your rules at the time. You might want to let them know now that if they are ever in a desperate situation, their safety and emotional well-being are more important. Identify an adult you both trust that they can talk to, if they ever feel uncomfortable discussing certain things with you. They might not tell you certain things because their desire is to maintain that independence. A conversation with your teen is the first step to helping them develop lifelong healthy relationship patterns.

But the cycle of violence will continue until the relationship ends or their partner gets help to deal with their issues. It is important to emphasize to your teen that it is not their fault, empathize with them, and get them the support they need. Getting help is critical.

The Canadian Red Cross promotes safe and supportive relationships and healthy communities. For more information, visit redcross.ca. CCM

ages & stages

understanding, preventing, and stopping sibling rivalry Work together to create a family team

By Shannon Dean We’ve all seen an older sibling hug the baby a little too hard. We’ve witnessed a weary parent’s unsuccessful attempts to referee yet another round of, “He stole my toy!” Like many parents, I wanted to avoid these scenarios when I became pregnant for the second time, so I took my oldest son to sibling classes and included him in baby preparations. Once we became a family of four, I attempted to divide my time and attention equally amongst my kids. I hoped that this strategy would encourage sibling harmony, but wondered if my efforts would matter. Thankfully, experts confirm that you can significantly impact sibling relationships. “Parents can make a difference,” says Adele Faber, author of Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too. “Our attitude and words have power.

We can lead rivals toward peace,” she says.

“Most children sometimes feel like the least favorite.

Why do some kids shrug off perceived slights while others develop severe sibling rivalry?”

Evolutionary influences. An Oakland University survey found that 35 percent of adult siblings have a hostile or apathetic relationship. Scientists believe this rivalry has an evolutionary component. Children may compete over a parent’s time and attention because humans are hard-wired to protect essential resources. But nature proves that living things must cooperate to survive.

It is important to boost collaboration and discourage competition because the strongest families function as

a cohesive team. While one person’s success benefits everyone, conflict weakens the family.

Perceptions of favoritism. Although you may vow to treat your children all the same, each child in your family is different. An effective approach for one child may be a disaster for another. Unfortunately, children can mistake these adjustments for preference or favoritism.

To avoid misunderstandings, highlight each child’s value by honoring what makes each child unique. Don’t deny diversity, celebrate it!

Early conflict-resolution. Routine sibling conflict is healthy. Dr. Laura Markam, author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How to Stop the Fighting and Raise Friends for Life, says “the sibling relationship is where the rough edges of our early self-centeredness are smoothed off, and where we learn to manage our most difficult emotions.” These benefits make it tempting to allow children to negotiate for themselves. But they rarely have the skills needed for conflict-resolution. Show your kids that loving families do not solve problems in physical ways. Nor do they belittle one another. Instead, they listen, negotiate, and compromise.

When negotiations fail. Children who understand expectations can become effective negotiators. Still, you should intervene when one child hurts another. Be careful not to model the behavior you wish to discourage by making accusations. Instead, use descriptions like, “I see two angry children who need a break.” Then separate the kids until things cool down and discuss how to improve the next time.

Limit labels. Experts caution that children may internalize negative phrases. For example, your child chastised for being a ‘bully’ may assume that they will always be the aggressor. To counter this, use creative spin during an intervention. Instead of labeling your child’s behavior as mean-spirited, tell them that you know them to be kind. If a sibling complains, “Sam never shares and is selfish,” your response might be, “Try asking him differently since we both know he can be generous.”

The power of self-esteem. Most children sometimes feel like the least favorite. Why do some kids shrug off perceived slights while others develop severe sibling

rivalry? Often, it comes down to how a child feels about themself and their place in the world. A child who feels competent and valued is less likely to engage in or create conflict. A child with high self-worth can brush off perceived favoritism.

Lasting rewards. No one else shares your child’s history in the way a sibling will. No one else understands the events that shape who you are. Siblings “serve as witnesses to what occurred and provide vital links to the past,” says Linda Sonna, Ph.D., author of The Everything Parent’s Guide to Raising Siblings: Tips to Eliminate Rivalry, Avoid Favoritism, and Keep the Peace. Facilitating loving sibling relationships is a long-term investment. While a parental relationship may last for 30 to 50 years, the sibling bond can span 80 years. It’s easy to prioritize this relationship when you realize that the brothers bickering today may be the elderly men who share each other’s triumphs and burdens tomorrow.

Shannon is the mother of two sons with very different personalities.

Thankfully, they usually treat one another with mutual respect. CCM

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Back to School 2021 • calgaryschild.com • 51

parent connection

talking to boys about body image and disordered eating Eating disorders among youth are on the rise worldwide

By Malia Jacobson When Kristine Strange talks about fitness with her two school-age sons, she’s careful to focus on effort, rather than physical appearance. “We talk about how strong our bodies are and how much work they can do, rather than what they look like,” she says. Parents of sons may not realize the impact of comments and conversations about size, weight, and fitness, says Yolanda Evans, MD, clinical director of Adolescent Medicine at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Boys develop unhealthy relationships with food and body image nearly as often as girls, but their struggles are often unrecognized by parents and caregivers. Because traditional medical assessments for eating disorders are often gender-biased, the conditions may be underdiagnosed in males, according to Stanford University researchers.

Eating disorders among youth are on the rise worldwide, with more boys seeking treatment, says Dr. Evans, who works with boys as young as eight. “I have definitely seen an increase in the number of boys over the past 10 to 15 years, and the number of referrals to our eating disorder clinic has quadrupled.” Around a quarter to a third of those struggling with an eating disorder are male, says clinical psychologist Michelle P. Maidenberg, Ph.D., a family therapist. Boys tend to experience different types of eating disorders than girls, making them harder to detect by parents and healthcare providers, she notes.

“On average, boys develop eating disorders at a slightly younger age than girls do. They usually have binge eating disorder or not otherwise specified eating disorders, rather than anorexia or bulimia.”

Who’s most at risk?

The boys who seem to be most vulnerable to struggles with body image, eating disorders, and disordered (or abnormal) eating are those with a keen desire to be fit, lean, and thin, says Dr. Maidenberg. Boys involved in sports or activities where body weight is emphasized, like track, rowing, gymnastics, or wrestling, are vulnerable.

“Socio-cultural and socio-economic factors also put boys

“On average, boys develop eating disorders at a slightly younger age than girls do. They usually have binge eating disorder or not otherwise specified eating disorders, rather than anorexia or bulimia.” at risk, particularly for boys who come from families with high levels of stress, poor patterns of communication, unrealistically high expectations, and under-developed problem-solving skills,” she says.

Boys with a close family member or parent with an eating disorder are more likely to develop one themselves. Research shows that having a gender identity different from the one assigned at birth increases vulnerability for eating disorders. “In our gender clinic, we see youth restricting food intake to delay puberty,” says Dr. Evans.

Words - and signs - to watch for Everyday conversations may hold clues that signal your boy is struggling with body image and food, says Dr. Evans. When terms like ‘cut,’ ‘shredded,’ and ‘ripped’ terms for an extremely defined, muscular physique - start showing up more frequently, listen closely.

“When your boy says he wants to ‘eat healthy,’ you should really listen and ask what that means to him,” suggests Dr. Evans. “The challenge with eating disorders is they can start with the child wanting to improve their health and fitness, and the parents want to support that.

Then it spirals out of control.”

Signs that your boy is struggling with food or developing an eating disorder include sudden weight loss, obsessively reading about nutrition, a fixation with ‘clean’ eating, excessive exercise, using supplements aimed at increasing muscle mass or cutting fat, and avoiding social gatherings and family meals, says Dr. Maidenberg.

You may notice your younger boy moving food around on their plate, cutting food into tiny bites, and bringing home a nearly full lunchbox after school. “Parents have told me they’ve found food hidden in their child’s glass of milk or napkin after dinner,” says Dr. Evans.

Left unchecked, these behaviors can lead to physical signs of malnourishment, including low heart rate, low blood sugar, constipation, dizziness, and feeling cold, says Dr. Evans. Eating disorders are linked to depression and anxiety; researchers estimate that nearly half of teens with an eating disorder are also depressed.

Talking about bodies You can support a healthy body image by talking openly - and factually - about the physical form. Don’t shy away from questions about the body or how it works, says Dr. Maidenberg, whose book, Free Your Child From Overeating, helps parents encourage a healthy relationship with food. Instead, use your son’s questions about his body as opportunities to talk about self-care, she says. “Part of loving himself means taking care of his body and keeping it strong and healthy by eating healthfully.”

Talking openly about bodies means being real about the physical changes that accompany puberty. “Before and after puberty, our bodies change dramatically, and weight gain can be a normal part of the process,” says Dr. Maidenberg.

In conversations with boys, be careful about confusing health and fitness, a common but potentially damaging mistake. Tell boys that it’s possible to be fit without being healthy - there are plenty of examples of exceptionally fit professional or elite athletes who experience serious health problems, from frequent bone fractures to heart disease to depression.

“Our health is important because it helps our bodies grow, function properly, and become strong,” says Dr. Maidenberg. Healthful behaviors like eating a balanced diet and resting enough give the body energy. Behaviors like overtraining and food restriction that seem to boost fitness temporarily detract from health.

When talking about food choices - including yours focus on balance instead of restriction, says Dr. Evans.

“The dietitians I work with like to say, ‘Every food has a purpose.’” Instead of talking about losing weight or cutting foods out of your own diet, talk about what the food you’re taking in is doing for you.

Communicate unconditional love and that physical attributes don’t determine his worth as a person, says Dr. Maidenberg. “Our body size and shape are in part due to heredity, much the same as eye color and height. His worth to you is not determined by his shape or size or what he looks like. How much he weighs is not a measure of who he is as a person.”

Malia is a health and family journalist. CCM

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Tips to help you streamline your next move

By Lisa Salem Moving can be an exciting, pivotal time in your life.

Maybe you just purchased your dream home for your family, or your grown kids have left the nest and you are ready to downsize, or you want to downsize your space in order to live a simpler lifestyle. However, relocating can also be an overwhelming process. Read on for some helpful tips that can take the stress out of moving to ensure a smooth transition into your new space.

Preparation is key Start by getting things organized early on to avoid the stress of last-minute packing or the possibility of running out of boxes and other moving supplies. One of the best ways to save additional packing and unpacking time is to declutter before you move. This is the ideal time to donate or toss items you have been meaning to get rid of. If you are storing stuff for friends or family, arrange for them to pick their stuff up before you move, if possible (especially if downsizing).

This is also the perfect opportunity to minimize your belongings and only keep items that truly matter to you.

Sometimes, out of habit or comfort, we unknowingly hold on to things that are no longer useful or meaningful to us. Consequently, all this stuff tends to unnecessarily move with us from space to space. If this scenario sounds familiar, ask yourself: ‘What purpose are these items serving me being stored away in a box somewhere?’

While we all have items that don’t get used as frequently as others, like holiday décor, if you tend to stow away these types of items, they should be sorted through to see what can be tossed or donated.

“While we all have items that don’t get used as frequently as others, like holiday décor, if you tend to stow away these types of items, they should be sorted through to see what can be tossed or donated.”

One helpful way to aid in the decision-making process of what stays and what goes is to go through your items and try to visualize where they will be placed in your new home. If you can’t picture where something will go, or you don’t have the space for it, then it probably should not accompany you. The exception includes items that are valuable or sentimental, like family heirlooms. In regard to decision-making, these items require more time to think through and process. These decisions should never be rushed, as there is often a deep emotional connection to these items.

Now let’s dive into my helpful list of 10 things you should declutter every time you move!

1. Closets - clothing/shoes/accessories. Edit out items that no longer fit, are out of style, or you don’t feel confident in. Pieces that haven’t been worn within

the last year should also go. Items that are stained or an improper fit should only be kept if you plan on having them professionally cleaned or tailored.

2. Kitchen items. Toss expired food from your fridge, freezer, and pantry. If you have multiples of identical opened items, like spices or teas, seal and combine them into one container to save space. This is also a great time to decide about larger appliances that may not get used often, like food processors, mixers, waffles makers. Weed out any dishes, pots and pans, Tupperware you have an excessive amount of.

3. Toys. Work alongside your children to decide what will be brought to the new home and what can be donated. If there will be less space where you are moving, have your children pick out only their favorite toys to bring to your new home.

4. Cosmetics and toiletries. Discard expired items. Try to use up any products that are almost empty before you move (if you take them with you, cover them up tightly to prevent leakage). Go through your bottles of nail polish and toss the ones that have dried or cracked.

5. Multiples of miscellaneous items. Unless you are a professional chef, nobody needs 10 whisks! Keep one or two items of multiples you have (minus things used consistently, like dishes, linens, etc.). Many items end up getting repurchased if they cannot be found when needed or you forget you had them in the first place!

This is another great reason to consistently keep a tidy, organized home. If similar items are always kept together and easily located, you save money by not having to buy them repeatedly.

6. ‘Just in case’ items. Aka, things you rarely use, but are saving for ‘just in case’ you may need them down the road. These items aren’t worth holding onto (unless they are expensive or hard to find) as they will take up extra space in your new home and can be repurchased.

7. Hobby supplies/projects. Think of unfinished projects that have been sitting around and decide:

‘If I haven’t completed these projects by now, do I plan to in the near future?’ Come up with a completion timeline for these projects and get rid of the rest. Consult with friends or check local ads to see if there are any organizations, seniors’ homes seeking extra supplies like yarn, fabric, beads, reno materials, etc. Maybe someone would love to finish a project you started or reuse the materials for their own project. Leave anything you feel could be useful to the new tenants or homeowners, like paint samples, extra flooring, baseboards and safely dispose of old chemicals, varnishes at your local hazardous waste dropoff location.

8. Furniture/lamps. Sell or donate large items that will not fit in your new home. This will save the hassle of transporting them and the stress of storing them. If you have dimming switches or pot lights in your new space, bringing additional lamps may not be necessary.

9. Electronics/cords. Does your new home have the space to set up all of your current electronic devices? If not, consider getting rid of unusable items prior to moving. As for the infamous miscellaneous cord collection (which a good portion of the population owns!), go through them and match them up with their devices. If you don’t have the matching components, there is no point in keeping them. Do some quick research online, and you will discover some companies recycle these items.

10. Paperwork and books. Start shredding! Paperwork takes up a lot of space. If you have the time to shred or recycle irrelevant paperwork before you move, then you won’t have to worry about packing and unpacking it at your new space. And sort through your book collection.

Keep your must-haves, but consider donating books you have read numerous times or don’t reference anymore.

Little community libraries are great places to leave your books for others to enjoy!

Additional tips • To ensure no items get left behind, check all spaces that are hard to see or reach, like high, deep shelving in kitchens and closets.

• Clearly label boxes containing fragile items. Set them aside together in a separate area, if possible, so they can be easily identified and handled with care.

• Hiring professional movers/packers is worth the investment. They will assist in taking the stress out of the moving process, and will get items packed/ moved quickly, yet safely, so you can start enjoying your new space sooner.

Now relax and enjoy your new space - welcome home!

Lisa is a Trained Professional Organizer. Check out her personal blog on Instagram, Light at The End of The Clutter. She also works with Daughter On Demand, assisting elderly clients and clients experiencing health and mobility issues with organizing, downsizing, and everyday tasks.

For more information, visit daughterondemand.ca. CCM

Back to School 2021 • calgaryschild.com • 53

parent connection

10 things you should declutter every time you move

! e e S a tt o G

STUFF YOU

THESE DAYS, SUPPORTING LOCAL IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER! Our Makers Marketplace celebrates the many businesses in Calgary that operate out of homes, garages, and out of the backs of minivans - all big dreams start small and you can help them grow!

BRIGS S&P Instagram: @brigs_s_and_p All items are carefully handcrafted for you and your pup. All of our products are custom-made with the mindset of quality over quantity. Biothane and Paracord products. Made to last a lifetime!

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_DISTRICT_ Email: info@districtbox.ca Instagram: @_district_ Website: districtbox.ca Mindfully-chosen and locally-gathered. Our curated gift boxes feature beautifully-made goods gathered from within Alberta.

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KATHRYN KAZOLEAS Email: k.kazoleaswriter@gmail.com Instagram: @kathrynkazoleas Website: kathrynkazoleas.ca Gibson the labradoodle is training to become a dog park ambassador, but things don’t go as planned. Join her adventures in the chapter book, Dog Park!

KOKO MADE Email: ritasamrai@gmail.com Instagram: @kokomade Website: facebook.com/ kokomadedesigns Home décor - Personalized gifts - Custom gift baskets Pet accessories.

54 • Find us on

RILYN’S RAINBOWS Email: rilynsrainbows@hotmail.com Instagram: @rilynsrainbows Website: rilynsrainbows.com. company.site Handmade rainbow home design and décor. Heirloom quality pieces, handcrafted with nothing but love by a local YYC mama and her kiddos.

SUGAR RUSH Phone: 403-807-3842 Email: sugarrushyyc@gmail.com Website: facebook.com/YYCFudge Bite-sized pieces of the creamiest, most delicious fudge you have ever tasted! Sugar Rush currently has 40 flavors and changes up to meet the season’s flavors! Sold in fantastic gift boxes!

YYC BEESWAX Email: info@yycwax.com Instagram: @yycwax Website: yycwax.com We mind your beeswax. From candles to bath and body products, enjoy our locally-handmade beeswax-based products and supplies or let us assist you in making it yourself at one of our workshops!

ARE YOU A MAKER OR ARTISAN WITH A SMALL, HOME-BASED BUSINESS? WANT TO BE INCLUDED IN OUR NEXT MAKERS MARKETPLACE? Contact us at advertising@ calgaryschild.com for rates and details

LAVA® LAMPS: Let’s throw it back and reminisce on the most iconic room accessory, LAVA® Lamps. These colorful and groovy lamps will add the perfect pop!

We know the 90s are making a comeback and it doesn’t just stop at your fashion pieces. LAVA® Lamps provide relaxing and soft lights and are the perfect size for your desks, rooms, and even man caves! For more information, visit lavalamp.com.

ONO DIAMOND: Sun, heat, and dryness can be harsh on the skin so it’s important to practice a good skincare regime. Wet washcloths or facial brushes left out in the bathroom often harbor bacteria and germs like E Coli and Staph bacteria. TAO Clean has recently introduced the ONO Diamond - an updated line of self-cleaning sonic facial brushes, which use UV light to kill any bacteria or germs between uses. The TAO Clean ONA Diamond Orbital Facial Brush comfortably cleanses and gently exfoliates using powerful rotational technology more capable than manual washing. Find it at amazon.ca.

THE SHARK® IQ ROBOT: As we get back into our fall routine, here’s a cleaning routine that will get straight A’s when the kids hit the books! Whether the kids are in the classroom or learning from home, using this innovative tool will ensure your home is always clean and clear of dirt and debris.

The robot learns your floor plan to make sure there are no areas that get missed and when it’s full, it will self-empty and pick up where it left off, freeing up the time you would normally spend cleaning. For more information, visit canadiantire.ca.

GOSUN SOLARLIGHT: Stop worrying about batteries, and harness the power of the sun instead. The SolarLight features multiple modes (lantern mode, emergency, spotlight, etc.) and a built-in rechargeable battery compatible with a USB cord or the sun. Its USB adapter allows you to charge other electronics using the SolarLight. For more information, visit gosun.co/products/solarlight.

GOSUN SOLARLAMP 50: Need something more stationary to provide some light while you set up or take down camp?

The SolarLamp does the job! Packing 50 lumens of light, this handy lamp only weighs six ounces and features a lower setting of 20 lumens that can last up to six hours. For more information, visit gosun.co/products/solarlamp-50.

W I N N E R

2019

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COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR

CALGARY REGION

A Lake Community with so much more...

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As four time Community of the Year in prestigious Springbank, Harmony offers an amenity rich lifestyle only eight minutes west of Calgary.

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See programs for all ages at calgary.ca/register