Eight books to help children explore Indigenous culture

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.

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

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