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February 2022
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PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER Leo Racioppo leo@mediaclassified.ca CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER John Racioppo john@mediaclassified.ca #L8Eɖ#4ɖ "# Mary Racioppo EDITOR Amanda Pereira ACCOUNT MANAGERS Gina Pappas gina.pappas@mediaclassified.ca
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FEATURE
FEATURE
Learning
Madison Tevlin
Who Do You Think I Am?
What Is Montessori Education?
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BABY Under One
Columns Editor’s Note ................4
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February 2022
Skin deep
Dr. Katie Beleznay’s Tips for Treating Baby Eczema
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Dearcroft Montessori School
Growing with our community! Opening in North Oakville September 2022
ON THE COVER
Dearcroft is one of Canada’s longest serving Montessori Schools with an international reputation for excellence. ¿Ã¯ó»óæļ ɒáæâûÃööæóÐȭ»æá
FEATURE Breathe easy Health masks
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#L8EH NOTE
up front
MODERN MILLENNIALS IN A 8W# ɖƹǁ X8E. It’s an unprecedented time – and it’s left me thinking about how things will change in the world after. This pandemic has had an immediate cause and effect in the way businesses operate; the implementation of curbside pick-up, a heightened focus on online shopping just to name a few. Parts of me can’t help but wonder if this was kick to the butt that many of us needed to shift the way we operate – and it starts with the Millennials. Let’s face it, most of us are at the point that our millennial babies are now millennial adults. They grew up quite differently than we did with technological advancements that we didn’t have. During Simon Sinek’s TED Talk he stated that, ɗ3ÐÜÜÃââЯÜö Đ¯âû Ðâöû¯âû Íó¯ûÐĶ »¯ûÐæâȭ ûÏÃĒ Đ¯âû everything now.” There has been an unfair prejudice directed towards Millennials that’s left them with an unsavoury reputation at times of being demanding and obstinate – but in times like these, I can’t help but wonder: why is that a bad thing? Why do they get a bad rep for wanting to get things done faster and smarter? There is an obvious ambivalence directed towards technology shared amongst some Boomers – a disparity found with their Millennial children. This often stems from a fear of learning, the uncertainty of the unknown, or the underlying anxiety that’s often associated when we’re no longer the smartest
ones in the room. People, regardless of their age, experience a natural resistance when we’re afraid. The Millennial workforce has changed the trajectory in which businesses operate, much like Gen Z (Are we calling them ‘Zoomers’?) will, too. This is the circle of life – they saw what we had, how we did things, and decided they wanted something else. This generation of adults knows how to get the job done quickly; so, they can have time for other things. They desire balance more than anything – they want to work-from-home and not be held hostage ûæ Ƹ æɚ»Üæ»Û ûó¯ÌĶ »Ȩ LÏÃĒ Đ¯âû Ìæýóɍ¿¯Ē ĐæóÛ ĐÃÃÛö like other countries – and I can’t think of any logical reason anymore why these things shouldn’t be the new norm. They want more time to start families and raise those kids, too. This pandemic has forced the world to take a hard look at where we’ve lost time over the years, and acknowledge that the way we’ve always done it, isn’t necessarily the right way. The way I see it, Millennials and their ideas and push for change (pandemic or not) is making it feasible for kids and parents to spend more time together. While lockdowns haven’t been ideal and COVID-19 fatigue is real, we must all continue to do our part. After every rain shower lies a rainbow – we’ll get through this and see the other side together. “Que Sera, Sera, whatever will be, will be!” Mary Racioppo Editor-In-Chief, City Parent
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Your Natural Choice Since 1968 NORTH OAKVILLE LOCATION OPENING SEPTEMBER 2022 Now Accepting Registrations Toddler to Grade 3
Dearcroft...Growing With Our Community! DEARCROFT MONTESSORI SCHOOL | 1167 Lakeshore Rd E, Oakville, Ontario L6J 1L3 DEARCROFT MONTESSORI TRAFALGAR CROSSING | 297 Oak Walk Dr, Oakville, Ontario L6H 6Z3 ȈȶǹɁխǁljƃɨƺɨɁǹɽӸȴɁȶɽljɰɰɁɨȈӝƺɁȴ յ ӯўѕњӰ ѝљљӸїііљ Ӑ ǁljƃɨƺɨɁǹɽӸȴɁȶɽljɰɰɁɨȈӝƺɁȴ
Join Us For A Virtual Open House | Dearcroft Montessori Trafalgar Crossing Wednesday, February 2nd & 23rd, 2022 | 8:00-9:00 P.M. rsvp: info@dearcroft-montessori.com cityparent.com
February 2022 | CITY PARENT
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FEATURE
learning
WHAT IS MONTESSORI EDUCATION? X8E H Z JEN WATSON Montessori education is a classroom strategy that prioritizes self-led learning over simply spoonfeeding children with facts. In this model, children choose their own learning goals and work at their own pace. Teachers lead and guide, but ultimately follow the child’s lead. Montessori education originated when acclaimed Italian scientist and educator, Dr. Maria Montessori, was invited to create a childcare center in San Lorenzo, a poor area in Rome. Her vision was to help disadvantaged, unschooled children receive a quality education. Over time, she developed unique educational materials to help children follow their curiosity and succeed in the classroom. Dr. Montessori found great academic success in San Lorenzo, and her methods are still used today.
Montessori Society (AMS), modern-day schools must follow ûÏà Ķ ďà »æóà »æáðæâÃâûö æÌ ûÏà Montessori Method: 1. Trained Teachers: Teachers »ÃóûÐĶ ÿ ºĒ ûÏà 3H ÏÃÜð maintain the rigor and integrity of the Montessori Method. 2. Multi-Age Classrooms: Classrooms enrol students in three-year age gaps to foster peer mentorship and leadership. 3. Montessori Learning Materials: True Montessori classrooms use the materials originally developed by Dr. Montessori. 4. Child-Directed Work: Learning is selfdirected, which encourages intrinsic motivation and long-term focus. 5. Uninterrupted Learning Periods: Extended periods of “freechoice” encourage students to follow their curiosity and natural desire to learn.
5 Core Components of Montessori Education To be recognized as a quality classroom by the American
ÃâÃĶ ûö æÌ ¯ Montessori Education With a Montessori education, children follow their own
curiosities, passions and interests. HÃďÃó¯Ü ºÃâÃĶ ûö »æáà ĐÐûÏ ûÏÐö self-led learning, including: ȡ óÃÿæá ¯â¿ #â¿ÃðÃâ¿Ãâ»ÃȢ In Montessori classrooms, children direct education. You may see children choosing when to take snack breaks, when to work alone or in teams, or what lessons to start. This freedom fosters independence and helps children learn how to lead. ȡ æâĶ ¿Ãâ»ÃȢ HÐâ»Ã ÜïóâÐâÍ Ðö öÃÜÌɍ directed, children follow intrinsic motivation to learn what interests them most. Pursing their own passions and accomplishing Íæ¯Üö ÐâöûÐÜÜö »æâĶ ¿Ãâ»ÃȨ ȡ »»æýâû¯ºÐÜÐûĒȢ .ïóâÐâÍ Ðö öÃÜÌɍ paced, so children can get a natural sense of consequences. If work is put off one day, children can see they aren’t making progress toward goals, and vice versa. In this way, children learn accountability to accomplish their goals. ȡ #âûÃÜÜûûý¯Ü ÃďÃÜæðáÃâû
Through Play: Scientists recognize that the most intelligent species are the ones that play. Playing is integral to children’s learning – in language development, social skills, intellectual and emotional intelligence. Montessori classrooms encourage children to learn through playing, such as with puzzles, games or hands-on activities. Want to bring some of ûÏà ºÃâÃĶ ûö æÌ ¯ 3æâûÃööæóÐ education home? Try these real Ãöû¯ûà ď滯ºýܯóĒ ķ ¯öÏ»¯ó¿ö that encourage children to build Ķ â¯â»Ð¯Ü ÜÐûÃó¯»Ē ûÏóæýÍÏ ðܯĒȨ Nearly half of parents show some reluctance in talking to children about money, but building Ķ â¯â»Ð¯Ü ď滯ºýܯóĒ »¯â ºÃ invaluable for children. Children as young as two who developed larger vocabularies were: ȡ 3æóà ÜÐÛÃÜĒ ûæ Íæ ûæ »æÜÜÃÍÃȣ invest, and own homes when older ȡ ÃûûÃó ¯û öÃÜÌɍóÃÍýܯûÐâÍ ºÃϯďÐæó ȡ .Ãöö ÜÐÛÃÜĒ ûæ öÏæĐ ¯âđÐÃûĒȨ
Jen Watson is a content marketer in the financial industry. She loves breaking down complex topics into simple terms so even a child could understand. 6
CITY PARENT | February 2022
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FEATURE
Madison Tevlin WHO DO YOU THINK I AM?
Who Do You Think I Am? is a new program which premiered on January 7 on CBC Gem starring 20-year-old Madison (Maddie) Tevlin. And if you’re wondering who Maddie Tevlin is, she would ºÃ ûÏà Ķ óöû ûæ ðæÐâû æýû öÏà ¿æÃö âæû ¿ÃĶ âà ÏÃóöÃÜÌ ºĒ ÏÃó æĐâ syndrome. Maddie has spent her ĐÏæÜà ÜÐÌà Úý¿Íÿ ¯û Ķ óöû Íܯâ»Ãȣ but it has absolutely nothing to do with who she is or what she can or can’t do. And that’s the magic of the Maddie effect she is defying the odds and not letting the expectation of others characterize her. Born and raised in Toronto, Maddie has quite the social media presence since going viral after posting a cover of John Legend’s “All of Me” on YouTube a few years ago and through her advocacy work for the Down syndrome community. So, how does this YouTube öÃâö¯ûÐæâ Ķ â¿ ÏÃóöÃÜÌ ÐâûÃóďÐÃĐÐâÍ the likes of Canadian singer Tyler Shaw; Ann Pornel, co-host of The Great Canadian Baking Show to name just a few? “My family had the idea that I should host a show,” says Maddie. “I’m so social and love asking people questions. My friend Sylvia, who owns a production company, came over, and we were talking about being judged, and I was surprised that even though she doesn’t have Down syndrome, she felt judged a lot
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CITY PARENT | February 2022
Photo: Courtesy of CBC
WORDS BY MARYLENE VESTERGOM
Who Do You Think I Am? Madison Tevlin with guest Lane Webber (he/they) too. And that’s how the show was created!” The show consists of 10x10minute episodes featuring Maddie having one-on-one conversations with people who, like herself, are often misperceived and misinterpreted by their exteriors, too. The Maddie effect is contagious as it’s hard not to fall in love with her warmth and engaging smile as she eases her guests to reveal and share their own stories. “I learned so much from all the guests. Tyler Shaw is someone I
was so excited to meet because I love his music. But I didn’t know that he struggles with anxiety and nerves. He taught me some amazing techniques on how I can focus and meditate to get through tough times.” It’s easy to understand why this show is so important to her. “There is so much more to us than we think. Everyone is unique in their own way. I want people to see themselves on TV and know they can do anything and that dreams do come true. I also hope people will take a minute to get
to know someone before judging them and to stop assuming you know things about people based on how they look. There is a place for everyone in this world.” For Maddie, the bar is high, and if there is one message, there are no limitations. “I want to do everything everyone else can do. I want everyone to have the »æâĶ ¿Ãâ»Ã ûϯû # ϯďÃȨ Zæý Úýöû have to believe in yourself. My wish would be for everyone to live their best life no matter what people thought of them or what obstacles were in their way.” cityparent.com
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BABY ˍ N4 E 84
skin deep
DR. KATIE BELEZNAY’S TIPS FOR TREATING BABY ECZEMA WORDS BY LORRAINE PELLEY If you have noticed red or crusty patches developing on your baby’s skin, you are not alone. Roughly 10 per cent of infants in Canada and 10 to 25 per cent of children globally get baby eczema. This non-contagious skin condition typically occurs when a baby is four to six months old. Most children æýûÍóæĐ Ðû ºĒ ûÏà ûÐáà ûÏÃĒ ¯óà Ķ ďà years old. Although baby eczema can occur any time, it is more commonly seen in the winter when the weather is cold and dry. Baby eczema is a general term used to describe a variety of skin conditions: Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of baby eczema. It is an inherited chronic condition that is commonly found in infant’s whose family have a history of allergies, hay fever, eczema or asthma. Thirteen per cent of children under the age of 18 months develop this type of eczema. Contact dermatitis is caused when external factors come into contact with and irritate the skin. These factors can include soaps, laundry detergents, pollens, dirt, mould, allergens, pet dander, scented products and weather. Seborrheic dermatitis, or cradle cap, causes oily or crusty scaly patches to develop on a baby’s scalp. The scales are typically white to yellowish in colour. Unlike atopic dermatitis, cradle cap is not itchy. It usually disappears on it’s own within a few weeks or months.
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CITY PARENT | February 2022
CONTACT DERMATITIS IS CAUSED WHEN EXTERNAL FACTORS COME INTO CONTACT WITH AND IRRITATE THE SKIN. Symptoms of baby eczema range from mild, moderate or severe and include: ȡ »Ðó»ýܯó óÿ æó ÜÐÍÏû »æÜæýóÿ patches on the skin’s surface ȡ ¿óĒâÃöö ȡ ûÃâ¿ÃóâÃöö ȡ Ðû»ÏÐâÃöö ȡ LÏлÛȣ ÜïûÏÃóĒ ûÃđûýóà ȡ ó¯»Ûÿȣ »óýöûĒ æó ö»¯ÜĒ öÛÐâ ȡ ææĕÐâÍ ºÜÐöûÃóö Ðâ öÃďÃóà »¯öÃö Eczema is often seen on a baby’s face or extremities. It commonly appears on the hands, feet, knees or elbows of older children. Dr. Katie Beleznay is a leading practitioner in medical and cosmetic dermatology in Vancouver, B.C. who treats baby eczema and other skin conditions. She Ðö ¯ ºæ¯ó¿ »ÃóûÐĶ ÿ dermatologist in both
Canada and the United States. Along with her private practice, Dr. Beleznay is a Clinical Instructor at the University of British Columbia’s Department of Dermatology, a frequent guest speaker at various international conferences and an author. She has written over 40 peer reviewed articles and textbook chapters. As an expert in dermatological conditions, Dr. Beleznay has the following recommendations for treating baby eczema: ȡ óÃöö Ēæýó º¯ºĒ Ðâ »ÜæûÏÃö ûϯû are made of 100% natural and breathable fabrics like cotton or linen ȡ Nöà áÐÜ¿ȣ Ìó¯Íó¯â»Ã ÌóÃà öæ¯ðö only.
ȡ EÐâöà ûÏà öæ¯ð ûÏæóæýÍÏÜĒ æÌÌ your baby’s skin so there is no residue ȡ .ÐáÐû º¯ûÏö ûæ ƴƸ áÐâýûÃö ¿¯ÐÜĒ Ðâ warm water ȡ ÃâûÜĒ ð¯û ûÏà öÛÐâ ¿óĒȣ âÃďÃó óýº ȡ ððÜĒ áæÐöûýóÐĕÃó ûĐлà ¿¯ÐÜĒ ȡ ððÜĒ áæÐöûýóÐĕÃó ÐááÿЯûÃÜĒ after your baby’s bath while the skin is still damp ȡ Nöà öæ¯ðö ¯â¿ áæÐöûýóÐĕÃóö ûϯû ¯óà öðûÐĶ »¯ÜÜĒ ᯿à ûæ ¯ÜÜÃďЯûà symptoms like AVEENO® Baby Eczema care products ȡ ďæп ûóÐÍÍÃóö ûϯû »¯â ÐóóÐû¯ûà the skin If your baby’s eczema is severe, see your doctor. Your doctor may recommend diluted bleach baths or prescribe topical creams or corticosteroids to treat the eczema.
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February 2022 | CITY PARENT
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Fogblockers Patent-pending nano-cellulose cloths were created by scientists to provide lenses with fog-free use for up to 24 hours. The solution can be used on the front or back of lenses and will not irritate the eyes. As part of your morning routine, keep a wipe on your desk, purse, or backpack. $14.99 for everyone, available at fogblocker.com, and amazon.ca
Sensate Darkness and depression can accompany the winter season for many–but don’t be afraid, we have Sensate! As a wearable, palm-sized device and an audio app developed by experts in stress management, Sensate Infrasound Resonance Technology tones the vagus nerve, which helps you to self-regulate your stress response and stay calm naturally. $249. available at getsensate.com Headache Hat With the Headache Hat this winter, you can say goodbye to stress-induced headaches! Created by a migraine sufferer, the Headache Hat features a patented wrap design that can precisely target your pain points. You can wrap this around your eyes for a cool sensation on your temples, wear it like a hat as you tackle your »ÏæóÃöȣ æó ÃďÃâ Đó¯ð Ðû ¯óæýâ¿ öæóà áýö»ÜÃö ¯â¿ ÐâÚýóÐÃö ûæ óÿý»Ã Ðâķ ¯áá¯ûÐæâȨ $39.99 available at theheadachehat.com
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CITY PARENT | February 2022
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FEATURE
breathe easy HEALTH MASKS
WORDS BY MARYLENE VESTERGOM
As you walk around your neighbourhood, have you noticed the number of disposable face masks lining the walkways? In a recent issue of Canadian National Geographic, a November 2020 report by Tony Walker, an associate professor at the School for Resource and Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, an estimated 129 billion face masks are used globally every month. That’s three million masks a minute.
“AT THE ONSET 8 8W# ɑƴƼȣ # WANTED THE BEST MASK FOR MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND 3Z ƼƳɑZ Eɑ 8. L" Eȣ WITHOUT TAKING HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS AWAY FROM FRONTLINE WORKERS.” There had to be another option. For Mississauga’s Mike Donato, President of POD Retail Inc., he decided it was time to set a
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CITY PARENT | February 2022
benchmark within the category of reusable masks. “Little government policy on reusable masks means masks have gone unregulated – so people don’t know how safe they are,” says Donato. “We decided to lead by example and to set a benchmark by providing clarity ¯â¿ »æâĶ ¿Ãâ»Ã ĐÏÃâ »ÏææöÐâÍ ¯ safe mask and doing what other reusable masks didn’t do – invest in testing against the highest international standards set by the
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).” To test the POD 3-Layer Comfort-Fit™ Reusable Mask, Donato sought out the expertise of Kinectrics, Canada’s premier analytical and environmental services laboratory located in Etobicoke. “We followed the science and invested in testing our masks from an accredited ASTM laboratory, ensuring safety, »æáÌæóû ¯â¿ Ķ û óÃá¯Ðâ ¯ÌûÃó
every wash. We met two levels of ASTM standards and also met Antibacterial Testing Standard AATCC TM100, achieving 100% antibacterial reduction after 30 washes. No other reusable mask has achieved this,” says Donato. From an environmental perspective, it’s the only reusable mask that, after 30 washes, means: ȡ ƶƳ ÜÃöö ¿Ðöðæö¯ºÜà á¯öÛö polluting the environment ȡ ƶƳ ûÐáÃö ûÏà ö¯ďÐâÍö ¯â¿ the same cost as disposable masks “At the onset of COVID-19, I wanted the best mask for my two young children and my 90-year-old father, without taking healthcare products away from frontline workers.” As a lifelong entrepreneur, this was personal for Donato. “We believe we’ve gone further than any company in designing, developing and testing a reusable mask by meeting ASTM standards. Our test result has shown our mask’s inner layer kills bacteria, providing antibacterial resistance to help reduce the spread of droplets from the wearer’s nose and mouth into the air. Just one way to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, while helping the planet limit the use of disposable masks.”
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