Ottawa Parenting Times Magazine WINTER 2014-2015 Issue. by Ottawa Parenting Times Magazine

FOR OTTAWAʼS PARENTING COMMUNITY

winter 2014/2015

MAGAZINE

Ottawa’s Most Read Local Parenting Publication

Ottawa’ sM o

lar Local Par ent opu st P

2015

lication Pub ing

www.ParentingTimes.ca

5th Annivers ar y

Winter Family Fun Great spots for winter delights & hot chocolate in the capital

40 Years of Caring CHEO celebrates four decades of treating and healing children

Bully Breakdown

Is your child a bully? How to recognize the signs

2 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

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Small Drive,

Big Adventures… INSIDE

Y o r k

L o G o

U s a G e

G U I d e L I N e s

• Experience Kid’s Place at the Frederic Remington Museum (minutes from the Prescott/Ogdensburg international bridge) • Stroll through Potsdam and Canton shops and catch a college hockey game • Visit the shopping centers in Massena and Ogdensburg for great deals

Logo in black

f d

Logo in white

……

s. ed

d y MS

the ty,

OUTSIDE Logo in two colors

• Rent snowshoes and explore the Nature Center at Robert Moses State Park (minutes from the Logo in two-color reverse Cornwall/Massena bridge) • Cross country ski on free trails across the county • Explore frozen waterfalls in the foothills of the Adirondacks Logo in four colors

To plan your family getaway in upstate New York, visit

® NYSDED, used w/permission. to:

www.NorthCountryGuide.com

Call the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, 1-877-228-7810 or emailLOCAL us atPARENTING info@stlawrencecountychamber.org OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 3 Logo in four-color reverse

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On Your Cover:

Contents

e Vol. 4 Issu

Bob the BuilderTM invites kids to spend time at the Children’s Museum with him, Wendy and the rest of the Can-Do Crew. Help them repair sinks, design blueprints, work with tools in Bob’s workshop and climb aboard building machines!

www.historymuseum.ca/bob

In this issue

Entertainment

Limited and Ke

ith Chapman.

All rights reserv

Family Fun Events 10

FEATURE: 14 10 steps to building a gemstone ice castle

46 Ottawa Independent School Directory

Ages & Stages: Prenatal 18

34 FOCUS ON EDUCATION: Q&A with parenting author Kristine Barnett

ed.

48 DAD’S CORNER Joe Banks & Chris Hunt

Ages & Stages: Baby 20

52 Just for Moms

Ages & Stages: Kids 24

Ages & Stages: 26 Tweens & Teens

Professor Mom 28

FEATURE: Bully breakdown 30

32 52

54 Just for Kids 56 PARTY PLANNER 58 Family Recipes 60 WINTER REGISTRATION GUIDE

Photo: Bilal Hamdan

Photos: depositphotos.com

Ages & Stages: Toddler 22

Just for Parents: 32 The telltale signs of burnout

Need more copies of this publication?

64 Motherhood Musings 66 Winter FAMILY FUN GUIDE 80 Community Profile: CHEO

Ottawa Parenting Times Magazine can provide free copies of the magazine to your organization, school, or business. To receive copies, please send your request to info@ OttawaParentingTimes.ca. Thank you.

Photo: depositphotos.com

82 FEATURE: Spinal pain 86 MARCH BREAK & SUMMER CAMP GUIDE 98 Book Review

Head Lice Problems? CALL THE PROS HEAD LICE TREATMENT SERVICE

Home or clinic appointment options Pesticide free products Check-A-Head Programs for schools, camps, and daycare centres Educational Seminars Safe, effective, and affordable TM

Lice Squad Canada Inc. Leading the Head Lice Eradication Industry

613-482-1432 (Ottawa) www.licesquad.com 1 888 542-3778

Attention Nurses, Hairdressers and Child Care Workers. We need you to join our team. 6 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

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Ottawa Gymnastics Centre

Advertorial

Helping Develop Healthy Active Children

t the Ottawa Gymnastics Centre we teach your children the ABC’s of athleticism: Agility, Balance and Coordination. Participation in our Gymnastics programs also: • brightens healthy minds and bodies for an active lifestyle at any age • develops strength and trains the body for life’s challenges • improves agility and coordination, allowing the body to move quickly • teaches posture and positive body image • challenges the body and mind to set and reach goals • prepares the body and mind for other sport endeavours Gymnastics is the ideal sport to teach skills for life including focus, self-discipline and determination – skills that are attributed to self-esteem, mental and physical development.

Why the Ottawa Gymnastics Centre?

established in 1960 and has been servicing the community for over 50 years. We offer daytime, evening and weekend programs for children aged 8 months to adult. Here’s what we can do for you: a) Recreation Classes – once a week for participants from 6 months plus b) Drop In – Saturdays for teens and Monday and Wednesday evenings for adults c) Circuit Training – daytime classes for adults; customized to your specific needs d) Group Visits – daycare, home school, nursery school, Montessori schools, recreation centres, etc. e) Competitive Gymnastics – Men’s Artistic, Trampoline and Women’s Artistic Programs for all level of athlete f) Special Needs – integrated programs

The Ottawa Gymnastics Centre, located in the community of Westboro, is a not for profit organization that was

For more information visit our website at www.ottawagymnasticscentre.ca

life.

participation. leadership. excellence. integrity. self sufficiency. accountability.

building blocks for Agility.

GYMNASTICS is the ideal sport to teach skills for life including focus, self discipline and determination. Skills that are attributes to self-esteem, mental & physical development.

Balance. Coordination.

We strive to provide an environment, facility and coaching that allow all participants to achieve their best. We are a registered High-Five organization and believe strongly in the principles of healthy child development.

WE TEACH

CHILDREN NOT SKILLS.

Contact us at 613-722-8698 or visit ottawagymnasticscentre.ca OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 7

FOR OTTAWAʼS PARENTING COMMUNITY

Winter is upon us again, and as the holidays loom, it is, of course, a magical time of year, and so we have put together a very special issue of Parenting Times, filled with stories, helpful info, recipes and activity ideas that will inspire you to make the most of our frigid yet beautiful Ottawa winter. Looking for a great outdoor activity the whole family can partake in? You’ve got to see the gorgeous gemstone ice castle made by writer Leslie Foster and her family on page 14, with step-by-step instructions on how to do it yourself, a gallery of photos and even a time-lapse video, which you can watch at parentingtimes.ca Seeking winter vacation or staycation ideas? Check our special winter fun guide on page 66. Whether you’re planning a quick local escape or enjoying the capital region, we’ve got plenty of thrilling winter fun activity ideas for your family. And writer Sonia Mendes recently spoke with an Ottawa nutritionist about what to keep in mind when looking for nutritious, delicious lunch ideas for your child. For her advice, and some hearty recipes, see page 58. With the advent of a new year, many moms look to freshen or change up their look. And I was looking for some inspiration to add a bit of “glam” to my beauty routine for a self-image (and energy!) boost. So I enlisted the help of Ottawa makeup artist Tracey Lahey and her team to come to my home for a mobile mom makeover, and on page 52, you can see the results. I felt like a star for a day, and every mom deserves to feel that way, so consider treating yourself! It’s well worth it, and it can all be done in the comfort and convenience of your own home. These are just a few of the highlights; there’s much more to discover in our new issue and we hope you’ll enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together. We’d love to have your questions, story ideas and comments. Follow us on Twitter: @ParentingTimes, Facebook (search Ottawa Parenting Times Magazine) and visit parentingtimes.ca to find more stories and video, read back issues, and enter to win great prizes. Wishing all the best to you and your family over the holidays and have a spectacular New Year!

MAGAZINE

Opening Notes

From the Editor

www.ParentingTimes.ca

EDITOR Kelly Roesler editor@OttawaParentingTimes.ca SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR (Twitter, Facebook et al.) Kelly Roesler CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Joe Banks Dani-Elle Dubé Renee Flax Leslie Foster Chris Hunt Sonia Mendes Jeff Moat Judy Mouland Stephen Nason Sarah Niman Kelly Roesler Dr. Paul Roumeliotis Abeer Sami Dianne Sarasin Rebecca Steffan Meghan Wright WEB DESIGN InternetStudio.ca

Graphic DESIGN Billie MacDonald PRINTING Norecob Imprimeurs

ADVERTISING SALES Peter Ausland Account Representative Peter@OttawaParentingTimes.ca 613.656.3430 Ottawa Parenting Times and Ottawa West End Living magazines are published by Family Media Publishing Inc Advertising inquiries can be made by telephone or email. Family Media Publishing Inc. 67005 – 421 Richmond Road Ottawa, Canada K2A 4E4 info@OttawaParentingTimes.ca Tel.: 613.656.3430 Fax: 613.656.3424 www.FamilyMediaPublishing.ca Ottawa Parenting Times reserves the right to edit any submissions for clarity, space, and style. © Family Media Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Articles, artwork, graphics, and photographs are protected by copyright and cannot be used without permission.

PUBLISHER Peter Ausland Peter@FamilyMediaPublishing.ca

The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Unless otherwise stated, articles do not imply a product, or service endorsement by the publisher.

Circulati on

40,000

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Ottawa Parenting Times Magazine is published six times per year Ottawa Parenting Times Magazine is listed with Canadian Advertising Rates & Data (CARDonline).

A financial donation has been made to Trees Ontario to reduce our environmental impact of producing this magazine. www.treesontario.ca

Thank you / Merci Ottawa parents for making Ottawa Parenting Times Magazine the capital’s most popular (and most read) local parenting publication. Ottawa Parenting Times Magazine is provided free of charge for readers thanks to the support of our advertisers. Please take a moment to let them know you saw their advertisement in our magazine. Follow us on…

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Our Contributors

Kelly Roesler

Joe Banks

K I D D Y

Kelly Roesler is a writer and print/digital editor, raising her three beautiful children — including a toddler, tween and teen — in Ottawa. She studied and taught journalism at Algonquin College, and is passionate about storytelling, current affairs and musical theatre. She also enjoys poetry, punk rock and almost any type of sweets. Joe Banks is the coordinator/professor of the Journalism program at Algonquin College. He is a former rural affairs columnist for the Ottawa Citizen and worked as a reporter/photographer, editor and publisher in the Ontario community newspaper industry from 1978 to 2000. Most importantly, he is the father of two adult daughters who absolutely adore him and his wife Diane because they were superbly raised as children. (That last part is entirely true and devoid of bias).

Leslie Foster is a marketer, writer, and entrepreneur. She is a family experience enthusiast and enjoys travelling and trying new activities with her husband and son. You can often find them out and about exploring, building weird contraptions, or working on gemstone ice castles in the yard.

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“The hardest thing about being a parent?” says local journalist and first-time father Chris Hunt. “All that time spent being awake ... and sober.” An award-winning feature writer, Chris’s work has appeared in newspapers and magazines across Canada. Recently, he has developed a sincere intolerance towards floor lamps. And house cleaning. But mostly floor lamps.

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When she’s not elbow-deep in crafts or reading Harry Potter books with her two daughters, ages nine and six, Sonia Mendes can usually be found working on a feature article. Her writing has appeared in publications such as the Ottawa Citizen and Today’s Parent magazine, and she holds a journalism degree from Carleton University. You can also read Sonia’s musings about life with two kids – and a sports-obsessed husband – on her blog, www.themotherofadventure.com. Meghan Wright is a Certified Life Coach and Professor of Early Childhood Education. She has worked with children and families for over 15 years in a variety of child care settings. Reach Meghan at www.theprofessormom.com, her blog, www.theprofessormom.blogspot.ca or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProfessorMom.

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Christmas Crafternoons

When: Dec. 6-28, Saturdays and Sundays Where: Bytown Museum, 1 Canal Lane, at the Rideau Canal locks between Parliament Hill and the Château Laurier hotel What: Bring the family to enjoy First World War-themed holiday crafts and learn how Ottawa families celebrated the holidays 100 years ago. Website: www.bytownmuseum.com

Arctic Voices Exhibit When: Dec. 5-April 30, 2015 Where: Canadian Museum of Nature, 240 McLeod St. What: Challenge your perceptions about the Arctic in this new interactive exhibition that journeys to a rapidly-changing land. The Arctic is more than just snow: it is land, water, and ice; home to people and wildlife. Find out what affects the Arctic and how the Arctic

rist

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Lights Across Can

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Great Family Fun Events

By OPT staff

impacts Canada and the planet. Website: www.nature.ca

Christmas Lights Across Canada When: Dec. 3-Jan. 7, 2015 Where: Confederation Boulevard, Parliament Hill What: In Canada’s Capital Region, the winter landscape glows with hundreds of thousands of multicoloured lights during the holiday season. The festivities continue until early January, as Ottawa and Gatineau glow with breathtaking Christmas lights at many sites along Confederation Boulevard. Website: www.christmaslights.gc.ca

Toopy and Binoo: Fun and Games When: Dec. 7-8 Where: Centrepointe Theatres, 101 Centrepointe Dr.

10 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

Mickey’s Music Festival

What: The zaniness continues as best friends Toopy and Binoo return to the live stage in a new theatrical production. Filled with whimsical exuberance, families will have a blast dancing and singing along with the dynamic duo’s latest musical extravaganza. Website: www.centrepointetheatre.ca

Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival When: Dec. 14 Where: Canadian Tire Centre, 1000 Palladium Dr. What: Mickey Mouse and his friends – Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy – will perform in a musical mash-up when Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival makes its Ottawa debut with three performances. Young concertgoers will hear their favourite hits from Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story remixed to rock, pop, reggae, hip hop, jazz and country. Website: www.capitaltickets.ca

Join our 5,000+ Facebook fans at www.ParentingTimes.ca

Photo: depositphotos.com © Murdocksimages

14 Ch

Photo: depositphotos.com © zaitsevainna

Family Fun Events

Arctic Voices Exhibit

Photo: (Middle) depositphotos.com © Aikon2010

Photo: Billie MacDonald

Bell Capital Cup

Bell Capital Cup When: Dec. 19-Jan. 2, 2015 Where: Various locations What: More than 500 teams of young hockey players from Europe, Canada, and U.S. compete in the Bell Capital Cup, which is more than a hockey tournament; it’s a festival that celebrates the beloved game in the capital region, in which teams from all around the world joyously participate. Website: www.bellcapitalcup.ca

Rick Chiarelli’s Alcohol-Free Family New Year’s Eve When: Dec. 31, 6 p.m. Where: Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Dr. What: College Ward Councillor Rick Chiarelli and his family host this annual family New Year’s Eve event, where everything is free (except the canteen, where the proceeds go to anti-impaired driving initiatives such as MADD and OSAID). The activities begin with the Nepean Skating Club performing on the outdoor rink, and include public skating and sleigh rides. Indoor activities feature face painting, a harp concert, and children’s entertainers, with a magician, jugglers, bouncy castle, games room, and a talent show featuring dancers from Les Petits

Ballets, Classical Dance Academy, and the Ottawa Hallyu Dance Team. The fun continues until the countdown and dazzling outdoor fireworks at 10 p.m. Website: www.rickchiarelli.com

Winterlude When: Jan. 30-Feb. 16, 2015, weekends Where: Various locations in Ottawa and Gatineau What: Celebrate the joys of winter in the Capital at Winterlude, which runs over three fun-filled weekends in February. Skate on the world’s largest skating rink, check out the amazing ice sculpture competitions, or play at North America’s largest snow playground. There’s fun for the whole family, and all sites are open on Family Day. Website: www.winterlude.gc.ca

Peter and the Wolf When: Jan. 31, 2015, 4 p.m. Where: Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Blvd. What: The National Arts Centre Orchestra and Shenkman Arts Centre, in partnership with Jeunesses Musicales of Canada, present exciting chamber music concerts for kids aged 3 to 8. Created for younger fans, the Kinderconcert

Bob the Builder series delights families with imaginative storytelling and glittering musical magic. Website: www.shenkmanarts.ca

Rink of Dreams When: Until March 16, 2015 – weather permitting Where: Marion Dewar Plaza, Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave. W. What: Enjoy skating on the refrigerated ice rink while, say, eating a delicious Beavertail, an Ottawa winter staple. Then take a tour inside City Hall with the family and visit the Barbara Ann Scott Gallery, Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame and the Karsh Masson Gallery. All are free of charge. Weather permitting, of course, the rink is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Bring your own skates. Website: www.ottawa.ca

Winterlude

Bob the Builder at the Canadian Children’s Museum When: Until March 22, 2015 Where: Canadian Museum of History, 100 Laurier St., Gatineau What: Children and their families can spend time in Sunflower Valley with Bob, Wendy and the rest of the crew. Work together to design blueprints, do repairs and explore the building machines at the Machine Shelter. Website: www.historymuseum.ca/bob – cont’d on page 12

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 11

Family Fun Events

– cont’d from page 11

Canadian Veterinarians Caring for War Horses When: Until March 31, 2015 Where: Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, 901 Prince of Wales Dr. What: 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War, and this exhibit showcases one of the conflict’s forgotten stories – the war’s horses and the veterinarians of the Canadian Army Veterinarian Corps who cared for them. With artifacts from the CAV Barker Museum of Canadian Veterinary History, this display explores how the Canadian Army Veterinary

Corps worked to prevent and treat disease and injury among the horses used in a time of war. Website: www.cafmuseum.techno-science.ca

Ottawa Senators When: Until April 2015 Where: Canadian Tire Centre, 1000 Palladium Dr. What: Catch some intense NHL action and enjoy family bonding time as the Ottawa Senators take to the ice for the remainder of 41 regular season home games at Canadian Tire Centre during the 2014-15 hockey season. Website: www.ottawasenators.com

Cross-country skiing and other outdoor fun When: Until March 31, 2015 Where: Gatineau Park, Gatineau What: Beautiful Gatineau Park has one of the largest networks of cross-country ski trails in North America. Enjoy classic crosscountry skiing and skate skiing in this lovely conservation area, as well as snowshoeing and even overnight camping in this picturesque winter retreat, located just 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa. Website: www.ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places-to-visit/ gatineau-park

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FEATURE

10 steps to building When cabin fever hits, bundle up and head outdoors to create a dazzling ice castle your kids will tell their kids about. Story and photos by Leslie Foster

irst things first: constructing a gemstone castle is a labour of love. Don’t underestimate the work involved. Our castle took over 80 hours of work from start to finish. But don’t let that deter you. It’s a fabulous outdoor winter activity, fun for the entire family and the results are worth it.

Supplies • Ice brick moulds (We used disposable tin loaf pans.) • Food colouring (Lots!) • Buckets/pitchers • Turkey baster • Sheets of plastic • Sleds or a wagon

Steps Purchase supplies. We bought disposable tin loaf pans as moulds to create our ice bricks. You can find larger quantities at online commercial kitchen retailers. Remember, the smaller the container, the more bricks you’ll need to make. We used 200 tins and made over 500 bricks. Keep in mind that after freezing three rounds of bricks, some of the tin containers started to deteriorate. Line up the containers on a level surface. 2 We did this on our walkway. Then fill with cold water. Before the water begins to freeze, add 3 drops of food colouring; the more drops, the more saturated the colour. We used approximately 10 drops per container. Mix and match to create a rainbow of colours. Let freeze completely and then unmould the 4 bricks. Depending on when you will be constructing your castle, place a sheet of plastic between layers of bricks to prevent them from sticking together. The day before you start building, prepare 5 your pad. Select the area where you will build your castle and measure out your dimensions. Our castle was approximately two metres by three metres. Make sure you pack down the snow very well. You can use snowshoes or pieces of wood to do this. We tried to leave the snow in the immediate vicinity untouched, to make for better photos.

14 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

Transport your bricks to your building pad. We used sleds to make this a lot easier. – cont’d on page 16

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a gemstone ice castle

Photos: Leslie Foster

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 15

FEATURE

– cont’d from page 15

You’re ready to start building

We used a long piece of string staked with pegs to make sure we were building in a level, straight line. Take extra care when placing this first layer of bricks to ensure you are starting from a solid foundation. If it’s crooked or not level, you will find each subsequent layer more difficult to build without your walls caving in. We used snow as mortar and a turkey 8 baster to saturate each joint with water. This creates a strong ice “glue.” We repeated the process on each joint until it was completely filled with ice “glue” mortar. Remember to leave yourself a doorway. Build up to your desired height. Ours was 9 1.25 metres tall. We used disposable paper cups to create a few cylindrical ice blocks to decorate the top level. We used a soft brush to remove excess 10 snow and ice covering our colourful gemstone bricks. It’s best if you do this as you are building, so excess mortar doesn’t freeze onto the surface of the bricks, diminishing the gemstone-coloured effect. Then we used the turkey baster to wet each brick. You want to do this when it is very cold, to avoid melting any of your mortar and to minimize colour running to bricks below. You can skip this step if you wish; however, it helps the colour show through and makes your bricks sparkle in the sunlight.

Photo tips Choose your construction area wisely. If you want it to last longer, avoid areas exposed to the highest sun of the day. If you want fabulous daylight pictures, place it in a sunny area to catch glinting sun, but remember that most daytime pictures are best taken in overcast conditions. For nighttime photos, run an extension cord out to your castle and place a soft light inside. We found that we achieved the best results with a dimmer switch. When we used a brighter light, most of our photos were overexposed. Take pictures to document your process. We took pictures after each layer was constructed and then created a really cool time lapse video.

Watch online Visit parentingtimes.ca to see Leslie Foster’s time lapse video illustrating how her family created their own colourful gemstone ice castle – then try it yourself! Send your photos to editor@ ottawaparentingtimes.ca 16 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

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Photo: (Top) Jonathan James

Photo: Peter Ausland

Photos: Leslie Foster

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 17

By Abeer Sami

very parent eagerly anticipates the day that they can welcome their child into the world. For some, this day comes earlier than expected. The duration of a normal pregnancy is 40 weeks, and a premature, or preterm, baby is one that is born before 37 weeks. In Canada, 1 in 12 babies is a “preemie” baby. The in-hospital preterm birth rate in 2010/2011 was 7.9 per cent. Ontario had the second highest rate at 8.1 per cent. “There are many cases in which there is no apparent cause for the premature birth, and nothing could have been done to predict or prevent it,” says Dr. JoAnn Harrold, a neonatologist at CHEO. One of the most important predictors of a premature birth is having delivered a premature baby in the past. Being pregnant with twins and triplets also increases the risk. Because mothers conceiving through in-vitro fertilization are more likely to have multiple births, they are at a higher risk of going into preterm labour. Some risk factors related to the mother’s health can be minimized: reduce exposure to cigarettes, alcohol and drugs, and focus on proper nutrition supplemented with prenatal vitamins, iron and folic acid. Anemia, hypertension and diabetes, as well as certain infections, also increase the risk of premature delivery. When a “preemie” comes into the world, there may be complications, either short-term — dealt with immediately after birth by hospital staff — or long-term, those for which parents have to be extra vigilant. One of the most significant possible complications is cerebral palsy. It affects different muscles of the body and manifests in early childhood. It can lead to altered muscle tone, exaggerated reflexes, abnormal muscle movement, difficulty swallowing, speech delay, and impairment of fine motor skills. The rate of cerebral palsy in developed countries is between 2 to 2.5 per 1000 live births. If a child is born at an increased risk of cerebral palsy, parents are encouraged to attend all scheduled well baby visits and pediatric appointments. The doctor will monitor the child’s growth, muscle tone and strength, co-ordination and posture, motor skills, and sensory abilities, such as vision and hearing.

18 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

Because cerebral palsy can have far-reaching consequences, follow-up appointments may include visits to a pediatric neurologist, an orthopedic surgeon, a physical/ occupational/developmental therapist, a speech language pathologist, a social worker and a special education teacher. This team-based approach has been shown to yield the best results. Premature birth can also lead to visual problems. The most common cause of this is retinopathy of prematurity, which occurs in babies born before 30 weeks and is caused by improper retinal vessel development. All very premature babies should be screened for ROP. Screening appointments are with an ophthalmologist who specializes in neonatal disorders and start as early as four to eight weeks after birth. These appointments are conducted in the hospital before the baby goes home, followed by an appointment after 6-9 months. Screening and monitoring for ROP are advised until retinal vessels have sufficiently grown, or further treatment is required. Most cases of ROP are mild and do not lead to visual impairment, but proper screening allows for early treatment and reduced impairment in more severe cases. Parents of preemies should also watch for cognitive delays. Studies comparing school performance in kindergarten students have shown that preemies have an increased risk of school-related problems. It’s important for parents to schedule regular visits with the pediatrician during the first year of the baby’s life to monitor when the baby achieves developmental milestones. These milestones are important social, language, cognitive and motor skills that a child must achieve in a timely manner. Delayed or inability to achieve these milestones is a strong indicator of future problems. The survival rate of premature babies has improved significantly over the past few decades because we are now able to safely deliver and care for them. The related health concerns can greatly add to the stress of being a new parent. However, with better management of these complications, we can provide the best possible future for these babies. Abeer Sami is a medical graduate from the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan, and has a BSc. in Biochemistry from Carleton University, Ottawa. She is currently with the Public Relations department at CHEO. Join our 5,000+ Facebook fans at www.ParentingTimes.ca

Photo: depositphotos.com © photomim

Ages & Stages Prenatal

Preemies: What to expect as parents

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Safe Sleep Environment

Ages & Stages Baby

Book excerpt from Baby Comes Home: A Parent’s Guide to a Healthy and Well First 18 Months

s most parents know, there are plenty of opinions out there on the best way to put your baby down for naps or bedtime. But the safest method for putting your baby down to sleep is more than just a matter of personal preference. Research has shown that some methods carry serious risks, including accidental injury, suffocation, or SIDS. However, you can lower these risks by making sure your baby has a safe sleep environment. Experts on child health and sudden infant death agree that the safest place for a baby to sleep during the first six months of life is on his or her back, in a crib in your room (which should be smoke-free). Having your baby close to you will make night-time breastfeeding easier, and may help reduce the risk for SIDS. It’s also safer than having your baby in bed with you, since bedsharing has been shown to increase the risk of suffocation and SIDS. Below are Current Sleep Safety Recommendations for a safe sleeping environment for infants.

Don’t Bed-Share Sharing an adult bed, sofa, or other soft sleeping surface with your baby increases the risk of SIDS. Your baby is also at risk of becoming trapped, smothered, or suffocated.

Use a Crib Place your baby to sleep in your room, in a crib, cradle, or bassinet that meets current applicable safety regulations. Your baby’s mattress should be firm, flat, and fit snugly in the frame. Strollers, swings, bouncers, and car seats are not intended for sleeping infants. Never put a baby to sleep on a waterbed, sofa, couch, soft mattress, pillow, adult bed, or other soft surface.

Place Your Baby on His or Her Back To Sleep While babies should spend some supervised time every day on their tummies to help them develop their neck muscles, at naptime and bedtime, they should be put on their backs.

Keep Soft Materials out of Your Baby’s Crib Don’t use sleep positioners, or place bumper pads, comforters, stuffed animals, pillows, or other items in your baby’s crib or bassinet.

Make Sure Your Baby’s Room Is Not Too Warm Dress your baby in light sleepwear that’s comfortable at room temperature, 20° C (70° F). If a blanket is needed, use only a thin, lightweight, and breathable one.

20 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

Keep Your Baby Away From Tobacco Smoke Make your baby’s room and your house smoke-free, and choose a non-smoking caregiver. Don’t allow anyone to smoke around your baby.

SIDS: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Tragically, SIDS, sometimes referred to as crib death, is a leading cause of death in babies. In the USA there are more than two thousand SIDS deaths per year. Ninety percent of SIDS deaths occur during the first six months of life, most between two and four months of age. The SIDS death rate has been steadily decreasing since the new recommendation was issued to place all babies on their backs to sleep. SIDS occurs more often in male babies. Also, African-American and Native American infants have a higher rate of SIDS as compared with Caucasian, Asian, and Hispanic babies. It is also known that SIDS victims are more likely to be born to a young mother with a lower educational level. SIDS tends to occur more in colder geographic areas and during the winter. Recent illness, such as an upper respiratory infection or gastroenteritis, is commonly reported in relation to the baby’s death.

What Causes SIDS?

SIDS is technically defined as the sudden death of a previously healthy baby younger than one year of age. An infant’s death is attributed to SIDS only if no other cause of that death is found after a thorough investigation. There are many misconceptions about what causes SIDS, and although the exact cause is not understood, it is known that SIDS is not caused by infections, vaccinations, or immunizations. SIDS is not thought to be caused by suffocation, vomiting, choking, or child abuse. The current thinking seems to focus on three main factors: the age of the child, combined with a problem in the control of breathing, as well as the presence of certain risk factors. These risk factors include the following: • Prone sleeping position (sleeping on the stomach); • Soft bedding; • Cigarette smoke exposure (even during pregnancy); • Overheating; • Prematurity. NOTE: Prone sleeping (sleeping on the stomach), the most important risk factor within a parent’s control, increases the risk of SIDS by ten to fifteen times. Join our 5,000+ Facebook fans at www.ParentingTimes.ca

Prevention of SIDS The only and best approach to SIDS is prevention, aiming to eliminate some of the risks that are within a parent’s control.

Sleep Position Sleeping your baby on her back is the most effective way to reduce the risk of SIDS. This applies to nighttime as well as daytime naps at home, at the babysitter’s, and even in daycare. SIDS can occur during the day and 20 percent of SIDS deaths occur in childcare settings, while a baby is at the babysitter’s or at daycare. Remember that a baby can be in the prone position (on their stomach) while he is awake. Since experts began promoting the baby-onback sleep position in 1992, the number of SIDS deaths in the US has declined by 40 percent from 1.2 to 0.7 deaths per thousand births. Important: Babies who sleep on their side are at twice the risk of SIDS as babies who sleep on their backs. The side position is not very stable, so a baby can easily roll onto the prone (on stomach) position. Here are some other tips on how to make sure your baby’s sleep environment is safe: • In baby’s crib: Avoid soft bedding, including blankets, comforters, quilts, pillows, stuffed toys, sheepskins, and crib bumpers. • If blankets are necessary, only one thin blanket should be used, and it should be tucked in so that it cannot cover baby’s head. In cold weather, a blanket sleeper is an alternative to a blanket. • Select a crib that conforms to current safety and consumer standards, which has a firm and snug-fitting mattress. • Never put a baby to sleep on a waterbed, sofa, couch, soft mattress, pillow, adult bed, or other soft surface. • Avoid overheating your baby. Use light clothes for sleep and keep the room at a temperature of about 20° C (70° F). • It’s important to realize that removing risk factors decreases but does not completely eliminate the risk of SIDS.

No Smoking Cigarette smoke exposure during pregnancy and secondhand smoke exposure after birth are important risk factors for SIDS. The more a baby is exposed to smoke, the higher the risk. This is one risk factor that parents can definitely control.

Breastfeeding Protects Against SIDS For reasons not well understood, breastfeeding may have a protective effect against SIDS. This is yet another good reason to breastfeed your baby.

Practical issues Are There Adverse Effects if Babies Sleep on Their Back all the Time? Very few. Studies have shown that babies who sleep on their backs have a slightly higher incidence of diaper rash and cradle cap as compared with babies who sleep on their stomachs. A flattening of the back part of the baby’s head (positional occipital plagiocephaly) tends to be more

Dr. Paul Roumeliotis Ontario-based pediatrician Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health and CEO, Eastern Ontario Health Unit, and Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics, McGill University, is a writer, publisher, and producer of multiformat health and wellness resources. Dr. Paul’s first published book, Baby Come Home – A Parent’s Guide to a Healthy and Well First 18 Months, focuses on early child development support and its effects. For more information: www.drpaul.com. common in babies who sleep on their backs. See the chapter on Head, Neck, and Related Concerns in the previous section of this book. Can My Baby Choke When Sleeping on his Back? Multiple studies have not shown any increase in the rate of choking (aspiration of spit-up) related to sleeping on the back. Can I Ever Put My Baby On His Stomach? Yes. The baby-on-back position recommendation applies only for sleep time. As a matter of fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants spend time on their tummy every day while awake and supervised. This decreases the incidence of positional plagiocephaly and also promotes motor development. Is Sleeping With Baby Dangerous? Co-sleeping (sharing a bed with your baby) on the surface seems to make breastfeeding easier and is more convenient for tired parents. Sleeping with baby in the same bed as the parents occurs in many cultures outside North America. However, there is much controversy about the benefits and risks of co-sleeping. The fear is that although co-sleeping may facilitate breastfeeding and promote bonding, it may also result in overheating, exposure to passive cigarette smoke, and the risk of smothering or suffocation, all factors known to be associated with SIDS. For years, health experts have been warning parents that babies need to be put to bed in a safe sleep environment. Unsafe sleep environments include parents’ beds. Babies can be accidentally smothered by a parent, and adult mattresses are not suited for babies. Experts also fear that baby may be sleeping on a soft mattress with pillows and quilts, and may be at risk of getting caught or trapped between the bed and the wall, or the bed and the headboard. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, co-sleeping does not protect against SIDS and in fact, may increase the risk of accidental suffocation. My recommendation is that parents can be close to their baby by placing the baby’s crib next to their bed. In this way, they can respond to baby’s needs immediately, including quick access to breastfeeding, while not putting the baby at risk. I do not think that this prevents effective breastfeeding or bonding with baby. Our babies are among our most precious treasures in life. It is worth every effort to make sure that their home and sleep environments are as safe as possible!

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 21

Ages & Stages Toddler

Help your child be ready for school

Is my child ready for school? Will he be able to keep up with the class? Will she make friends? What can I do to prepare my child?

s a parent of a preschooler, you may often ask yourself these questions, especially as kindergarten registration approaches. Although starting school is an exciting time, the transition can be overwhelming and stressful, for parents and child. Sending a child to school for the first time can even be unsettling for parents, who may have questions related to how to support the transition to school best, and ensure it is an enjoyable experience for the whole family. Helping your child be ready to start school confidently goes beyond teaching them the ABCs. “School readiness” means that a child is ready to start school with the basic skills needed to learn to read, write and count, is able to follow instructions, solve problems, work well on his own, stay focused on a task, and is healthy and able to get along well with others. Research indicates that a child’s experiences in early childhood set the stage for future development and success in school and life. We also know that children who are meeting developmental milestones have an easier transition into a learning environment. 22 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

As a parent, how can you know if your child is progressing well and meeting these developmental milestones? You can assess your child’s growth and development using the Nipissing District Developmental Screen. This quick and easy screening tool is a short checklist of important skills (emotional, physical, social, self-help, communication, learning and thinking, vision and hearing) that a child should master by a particular age. It is not a tool to diagnose your child or a formal assessment, but a quick check to help identify areas that may need extra help with learning age-appropriate skills or that may require further assessment. How do you know if your child is doing well? • Assess your child’s overall development by completing the NDDS checklist, available free online in multiple languages for children between one month and six years of age. For more information, visit www.ottawa.ca/ndds • Assess your child’s overall nutrition and physical activity levels by completing the NutriSTEP, a nutrition screening tool for children between 18 months and five years, available free online in eight languages. For more information, visit www.ottawa.ca/NutriSTEP Join our 5,000+ Facebook fans at www.ParentingTimes.ca

• Have your child’s vision and hearing checked • Schedule a dental health check-up • Talk to your child care or health care provider if you have any questions or concerns Information on these screening tools and community resources are being added to kindergarten registration packages in the City of Ottawa. You might also see promotional materials during a visit to a playgroup, the school or your doctor’s office.

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If you have concerns

How is your child developing? Register your child today at endds.ca and you’ll get... • A checklist that captures a snapshot of your child’s development • Email reminders when it’s time to do the next checklist • Tips and activities to encourage your child’s development

It is no longer recommended to take a “wait and see” approach when a developmental concern is suspected. Early identification and intervention lead to better outcomes for children. It really does make a difference in a child’s life when services are accessed early. In Ottawa, First Words offers speech and language services for families with children from birth to kindergarten, and the Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre provides specialized care for children with multiple developmental concerns. If you have concerns about your child’s speech and language development, visit the First Words website at www.firstwords.ca to find strategies or to book an appointment to attend a community screening clinic. This information can also be obtained from the Ottawa Public Health Information Line at 613-580-6744. If your preschooler presents speech and/or language delays and developmental concerns (play, motor skills, socializing), consult your family physician or contact the Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre at 613-737-0871.

How can you help your child prepare for kindergarten? Encourage social interaction with other children to help them learn to share, wait, and take turns. Play dates, playgroups and early years centres are excellent opportunities for interactions with other children. • To find a free early years program, playgroup or circle time in your area, visit the Community Playgroups page at www.parentresource.ca, or call 211 for community information. • For more information on Ontario Early Years Centres, visit www.oeyc.edu.gov.on.ca. • Start healthy routines early (morning routine, meal time, bed time). • Help your child develop independent toilet skills. • Update your child’s immunizations. • Limit screen time (computers, smartphones, tablets) and stay active. Get outside! • Encourage your child to practice dressing him/herself. • Talk to your child throughout the day, every day. Children who hear a lot of language will develop more language. Talk about the things you and your child do, see, and hear. Say the names of objects and actions. Repeat the words often.

• Encourage questions and give your child time to respond. • Teach your child the importance of listening. Take turns listening and talking. • Include learning in your child’s everyday life by singing songs (i.e., alphabet, rhymes), playing word or counting games and introducing numbers and shapes. • Read to your child every day. Read children’s stories about starting school as it approaches. Children who are read to often and from an early age do better in school than those who are not read to. Read the same books over and over to teach new words. • Visit your local library for a free story time or to choose a new book to read together. Find program information at www.biblioottawalibrary.ca. • Visit the school with your child to make it a familiar place. Play at the playground and attend the kindergarten registration night to meet the teachers. Visit local school board websites for more information: • Ottawa-Carleton District School Board www.ocdsb.ca • Ottawa Catholic School Board www.ocsb.ca • Conseil des écoles publiques de l’est de l’Ontario www.cepeo.on.ca • Conseil des écoles catholiques du centre est www.ecolecatholique.ca Parents are a child’s first teacher and play a crucial role in preparing children for school and for life. By promoting learning at home, creating opportunities to socialize and encouraging independence, you can help make the transition to kindergarten easier for your child and for your whole family. This article was contributed by the School Readiness Task Group, a subcommittee of the Ottawa Child and Youth Initiative. Growing Up Great is a collaboration of community organizations with a shared commitment to ensuring all children and youth in Ottawa achieve their full potential. www.growingupgreat.ca

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 23

Ages & Stages Kids

Teaching children about dogs A dog can be a child’s best friend, but it’s crucial to educate children on how to behave properly around dogs in order to stay safe. Ottawa certified behaviour therapist and master trainer Dianne Sarasin explains how to talk about dogs and safety with your kids.

Tips for children when approaching a dog: Don’t pet him or her without letting your dog see and smell you first (and don’t let your fingers stick out). When you pet a dog, at first try scratching under his chin and even gently rubbing his chest. If this is OK with him/her, then you can try gently scratching behind their ears or the top of their head. Dogs are just like us. If you stare into a dog’s eyes, this is the way another dog would pick a fight or even scare another dog. Even though you don’t mean 24 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

to, you will confuse the dog and he/she may be scared or think you are trying to pick a fight When a dog jumps up on your leg, this is the way dogs play rough. Even though it seems like fun, this is where the trouble starts because you are actually telling the dog that it’s OK for him/her to play rough with you.

If your child thinks a dog may bite them or is biting, tell them: If you have a bicycle, a jacket, a wagon, a tree branch, or anything else lying around, try and put it between you and the dog. If you have some food, something in your pocket, or can pick up a stick, a ball, or even a stone, throw it as far away as you can behind the dog; the dog may run after it. If you think the dog is going to bite you, try your hardest not to scream or run away because this will only show the dog that you are afraid and likely cause the dog to bite you. Never turn your back on a dog and try to run away, because the dog will always run faster than you, and you won’t be able to keep your eyes on the dog. If the dog does knock you down, get on your knees and cover your neck with your hands and face with your forearms. Make like a rock, and count in your head to the highest number you know; eventually the dog will lose interest and go away. Finally, parents should never under any circumstances, leave the family dog alone with infants or small children. Join our 5,000+ Facebook fans at www.ParentingTimes.ca

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ogs are one of the greatest friends your family will ever have. They are friends, playmates, companions, and even heroes. Dogs can teach children responsibility and respect for others. When teaching your children about dogs, teach them to respect rather than fear dogs. But also teach them prevention and to be calm, gentle and as quiet as they can around dogs. Tell them dogs get tired, cranky, and excited just like they do. Explain it in a way children will understand. Tell your children not to try and pet a strange dog, even if the dog is with its owner and the owner says it’s OK. Sometimes even a dog’s owner doesn’t always know how their dog will behave around children. Tell them to never approach a dog that is tied up or in a small space. Although they don’t mean to, this can frighten the dog, or cause him/her to try and protect their space in the same way they might not want to share their favourite play space with another child.

Photo Insert: Courtesy of Dianne Sarasin

Dianne Sarasin

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Mental Health & Depression Watch for the four symptoms of youth depression

Six tips when talking to your teen about mental health

he school year can be a stressful time for parents and youth alike. In Canada, data show approximately five per cent of males and 12 per cent of females aged 12 to 19 have experienced a major depressive episode. Here are four symptoms to look out for, from the Partners for Mental Health’s parent guide: 1. Loss of interest in life and activities If your youth shows a lack of interest in day-to-day events, a negative attitude or an unwillingness to partake in activities they usually enjoy, they may be facing a mental health problem or illness, such as depression. 2. Change in behaviours (eating/sleeping) Changes in sleeping and eating patterns may also be a sign that an issue exists. Symptoms can include anything from overeating, to not eating enough, to sleeping long hours, or sleeping very rarely. 3. Use of drugs or alcohol An increase in reckless behaviour, including drug and alcohol use, may also be a sign of a mental health problem or issue. Check in with your kids and make sure they have a healthy attitude toward drugs and alcohol. 4. Changes in personality If you notice that your youth has experienced a drastic shift in personality, or sense of low self-esteem, it may be more than just the typical adolescent mood swing. More information is available within the free parent guide from the national charity partners for Mental Health at www.rightbyyou.ca. Jeff Moat is the President of Partners for Mental Health, an organization that seeks to transform the way Canadians think about, act towards and support mental health and people living with a mental illness.

iving with youth can be stressful for parents. Often they seem to change overnight, from friendly and agreeable children to difficult strangers. In the adolescent years, the brain is experiencing a lot of changes, and youth may be less able to manage emotions, make good judgements and control impulses. Most of the time, this is just a natural part of growing up. Young people are simply searching for their own personal identity. Sometimes, however, there are signs that can point to something more serious, such as ADHD, anxiety or depression. Mental illness, which data show affects one in every five youth in Canada, can prevent a young person from performing in school or making friends, and in some instances, may lead to depression and even thoughts of suicide. Equally alarming are the reports showing that three out of four children and youth with a mental health problem or illness will not receive treatment. So now is the time to open the door to a conversation about youth mental health. Here are six things parents can do: 1. Demonstrate that you value and accept them for who they are. 2. Build in special time together every day. 3. Try asking them questions and listening without judgement. 4. Try to eat together whenever possible – mealtimes are good times to talk and listen – and be sure to avoid allowing family members to email, text, or watch TV during this time. 5. Boost their self-confidence by supporting good decision-making, assertiveness, coping skills and perseverance. Help your youth create a wider network of support and develop strong relationships with others, from hanging out with friends to joining team sports or participating in other activities. 6. Try to avoid involving them in adult problems.

– newscanada.com

26 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

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Ages & Stages Tweens & Teens

By Jeff Moat

Is your child being bullied because of their weight?

reset reset

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Childhood obesity isn’t Childhood obesity something that a childisn’t can cure, but it is something something that a child can In a recent national survey that a family can change. cure, but it is something

of Childhood sixth with excess that agraders family obesity can change. isn’t weight, 24 percent of the boys something that a child can and 30 but percent of the girls cure, it is something experienced daily teasing, that a family can change. bullying, or rejection because of their size. That number more than doubles by high school with 58 percent of boys and 63 percent of girls experiencing daily weight related teasing and bullying. 2013-08-29 8:18 AM

2013-08-29 8:18 AM

Unfortunately not only are children with overweight or obesity at an increased risk of potential medical problems, they’re also at a higher risk of: • Poor self-esteem • Feeling socially isolated • Depression • Impaired social skills • Higher levels of stress and anxiety • Behaviour and/or learning problems as a result of psychological difﬁculties related to childhood obesity

Fewer than 1 in 5 kindergarteners identified in at-risk weight categories outgrow their at-risk weight by 5th grade Partnering with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, the Bariatric Medical Institute is now offering a FREE program delivered exclusively to parents of children between the ages of 5-12 whose weights are of concern. Our Family Reset program takes place over 12 months with the first 6 months allowing for unlimited access to our registered dietitians, social worker, personal trainers and physicians, followed by 6 more months of careful follow-up with the same team. By working with parents directly on weight related issues, rather than with the children, we eliminate the potential risk of harming a child’s body image or relationship with food. And while you’re working with our team on how to help your child with their health and weight, you’ll be given the opportunity

to enrol your child in a 5 week program designed to address bullying, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and anger management. Because this program is free and fully funded by Ontario’s Ministry of Health please note that space is limited. If you are concerned about your child’s weight and the impact it might be having on his or her life please call us at 613-730-0264, visit us at www.bmimedical.ca/family-reset.aspx, or talk to your family doctor to find out more about our program and how we can help. Childhood obesity isn’t something that a child can cure, but it is something that a family can change.

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I am having a difficult time teaching my three-yearold not to hit or push other children. I worry about taking him to playgroups or the park, because he often becomes aggressive with others. What can I do to stop this kind of behaviour? Concerned Mom

hen children are young, they don’t always have the words or patience to express their needs in appropriate ways. Without the necessary words, children will use their hands (hitting and pushing), feet (kicking) and even their mouths (biting) to express their feelings. Try these tips for encouraging your children to regulate their own emotions.

Be positive Although it can be alarming to see your child act aggressively, try and stay positive. Instead of running over and saying, “Don’t hit! That’s not nice!” make it a teaching moment. Use this opportunity to teach your child how to treat others by phrasing it in a positive way. Once you have stopped your child from hitting and pushing (by placing your body between the two children and crouching down to their level) you could say, “Be gentle with your friend, hands are not for hitting or pushing.”

Apologizing Instead of forcing your child to apologize, it is more important to help your child understand how their actions make others feel. “When you hit someone, it hurts their body and makes them feel sad. But when you use your gentle hands, it makes others feel safe and happy.”

Reflect on what you saw After you have intervened and have taken the time to teach your child about the way we treat others, reflect on what you saw and ask yourself, “What is my child trying to tell me through his/her behaviour?” When you see your child hitting another child, they could be telling you that they are angry, frustrated, bored, overwhelmed, tired, sad, or even playful.

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Redirect Once you have established what your child needs and supported them in dealing with their feelings, encourage them to go back and play. Stay close to where your child is playing without interfering in their play. If you see your child is getting upset and starts to hit again, reinforce that they need to “use gentle hands” and redirect them to another area in the playground.

Choices You have redirected them, played Bakery, Tag, or some other fun game, but your child is still being aggressive toward other children. It is important to remember that children at this age are starting to learn that they have power in their relationships. They like to feel like they have a say in what happens, and so they should. It is important to involve our children in making decisions, because it teaches them to problem solve and establish appropriate boundaries for themselves. At this age, give your child only two choices. Any more would be too overwhelming.

Time In vs. Time Out You have redirected your child and given them choices, and they are still being aggressive. Instead of giving a Time OUT – where you place them somewhere by themselves for a few minutes – try a Time IN. This involves sitting with your child (in this case, on the bench at the park) and talking to them about how they are feeling and digging a bit deeper into what their behaviour is telling you. Take a few minutes to sit with them while they calm down, and find ways to connect. In a traditional Time Out, parents set the time and decide when their children can return to an activity. In a Time In, children learn to

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Professor Mom

Dear Professor Mom,

regulate their own emotions and decide when they are ready to play. Only give your child two Time Ins (if needed) before moving onto something else.

Natural/logical consequences Your child has returned to play, but is still having a hard time regulating their emotions. After giving your child two Time Ins, you may need to establish some consequences. Consequences should be done in a positive way, teaching your child that life has natural consequences for doing certain things. Often we come up with consequences that don’t relate to the situation. Example: “Because you were hitting other children at the park, there will be no watching television for the rest of the day.” These kinds of consequences are confusing for children and don’t teach them the direct connection between their actions and logical outcomes. A logical consequence to hitting other children at the park is that your child will need to leave the park and try again another day.

Try again another time When deciding to implement a consequence, use positive wording. Instead of saying, “You have to leave the park because you are being bad,” tell your child what you see and assure them they will have another chance at a later date. Example: “It looks to me like you are tired and having a difficult time being gentle; let’s go home and we will try again another day.” If they protest, continue to assure them that they can try again at another time and talk about the different things they can do when they get home.

e l b m an tu

c e n o Any

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OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 29

As the prevalence of bullying continues among Canada’s youth, Dani-Elle Dubé looks at the various factors that make a child more likely to become a bully, and explains the warning signs you should be looking for.

e all know that bullying is and has always been a problem in schools. But with research revealing almost a third of Canadian children say they’ve been victims of bullying, one’s got to wonder: who’s doing the bullying? Having a better understanding of bullies could benefit those who feel like targets. And it could help parents identify if their child has become an aggressor in the school yard. According to Statistics Canada, 41 per cent of students surveyed in 2010 said they were victims as well as perpetrators of bullying, and this number has remained largely unchanged since 2002. Those who tend to bully the most are boys in grades 6 and 8 and girls in grades 8 and 9. But what distinguishes children who bully? There are several traits that are common to children who bully others. Children who bully tend to have a more positive attitude toward violent behaviours in general, according to a 30 30 OTTAWA OTTAWA PARENTING PARENTINGTIMES TIMES MAGAZINE MAGAZINE || WINTER WINTER 2014 2014 // 2015 2015

report from the U.S.-based National Association of School Psychologists And according to The Bullying Project, an online resource for school administrators and teachers, people who bully often have aggressive personalities, with a tendency to react combatively in a number of situations. A child’s aggression is heavily influenced by their family situations. Bullies rarely have the feeling of closeness and unity within their family dynamics and power struggles often occur within the family unit. This, in turn, causes many kids and teens to use bullying as a way to gain attention and control. Bullies also lack empathy and fail to recognize anyone’s desires but their own, according to About Parenting (about. com/parenting). They also have difficulty following rules and lack respect for authority. Boys tend to be physically stronger than the other children they bully, and girls who bully are often perceived as popular. But there is no single cause of bullying among children, Joinour our5,000+ 5,000+Facebook Facebookfans fansatatOttawaParentingTimes.ca www.ParentingTimes.ca Join

Photo: depositphotos.com © wrangler

FEATURE

Bully Breakdown

“We tell them that happiness comes within you and you can’t get it from hurting other people to make yourself feel better,” said Shannon, a counsellor at Kids Help Phone. “Kids bully when they feel disempowered. It’s a way for them to be seen or to have a sense of power.”

• The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario www.cheo.on.ca/en/cheobullying • Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868) www.kidshelpphone.ca • Ontario Ministry of Education www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/safeschools/prevention.html • PREVnet www.prevnet.ca • Stop a Bully www.stopabully.ca

and different factors such as family life, among many others, can come into play. But there is help for children who feel they’re bullying others and want to take the steps toward stopping. The Kids Help Phone offers that help. The Kids Help Phone is a safe place for kids, teens and young adults to call and receive counselling about issues affecting them. The service is free and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Nearly 3,500 of the program’s counselling sessions anually relate to bullying, while about nine per cent of contact made over the phone and online is bullying-related. “Sometimes we’ll get a call from a kid who says they’re really worried about how they treated a kid at school that day,” said Shannon, a counsellor at Kids Help Phone. “What we do is we explore the issue with them and sometimes they’ll say they don’t know how to control their anger…so we’ll talk about how to manage their reaction and anger to different situations.”

ResourCes

Common reasons she has heard as to why kids bully include low self-esteem and because they’re experiencing problems at home. “We tell them that happiness comes within you and you can’t get it from hurting other people to make yourself feel better,” she said. “Kids bully when they feel disempowered. It’s a way for them to be seen or to have a sense of power.” Research also shows that kids who bully on a regular basis are more likely to get into fights and sustain injuries, vandalize or steal property, drink alcohol, smoke, drop out of school and carry a weapon. That’s why it’s important for kids, as well as their parents, to learn how to control their anger and know when it’s time to seek help. This might mean that parents will have to swallow their pride and accept that their child — their pride and joy — is doing the unthinkable. But accepting it sooner rather than later, and intervening as soon as possible, could make a significant difference in their child’s future.

OTTAWA’S OTTAWA’S MOST MOST POPULAR POPULAR LOCAL LOCAL PARENTING PARENTING PUBLICATION PUBLICATION || WINTER WINTER 2014 2014 // 2015 2015 31 31

Feeling sick, exhausted and overwhelmed between work, parenting and all the daily demands? Ottawa life coach and mom of three Judy Mouland describes her recovery from severe burnout and offers advice on what to do when you feel like you’re drowning.

few years ago, I had 14 different ailments in one year. I was exhausted, anemic, had bouts of hives, my mouth had swollen shut — twice — leaving me running for the closest pharmacy. I had sinus problems, swollen joints, high blood pressure, a weird sound coming from my heart, pneumonia, respiratory problems, my anxiety was mounting and depression came and went. I would see my doctor, an allergist, and my new naturopath and kept hearing the same word: stress. As the mom of three exceptional children, the demands were crazy high. Each of my children had a portfolio of needs and managing their files took a tremendous amount of brainpower, acquired knowledge and years of history. Delegating was not an option. I couldn’t just run away to a spa for three weeks or head off to a mountain retreat. I was also the CEO of the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada and I had people counting on me: my employees, board members and those we served. How could I stop when one in 10 Canadians needed our help? So onward I went — until one day, I finally fell over. I was in full burnout. My naturopath started me on a regime for adrenal fatigue and my doctor gave me medication, and I went home to bed. I then took the time to really listen to my body. Here is what I heard: 1) Everything felt overwhelming – we all have days when we are juggling multiple demands, but this feeling is different. The smallest task feels like a massive chore and it feels like one more thing will break your back. 2) I was physically exhausted – I would have sold my soul to the devil for an extra hour of sleep. I tried to ramp up the exercise, thinking it would be good for me, but instead, I felt worse. And once in bed, the anxiety would take over, making it impossible to get a good night’s rest. 3) I was emotionally dull – I didn’t experience any highs or lows and lived in a state of neutral. I would cry at weird times, and couldn’t help it. And the crying felt like more of a release than actual sadness. 32 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

4) I was always sick – this is when I took the time to list my ailments and I realized I had gone from the person who always said, “I never get sick” to suddenly being sick all the time. 5) I was constantly forgetful and couldn’t concentrate – it would take three trips to finally get the car out of the driveway. My mind kept wandering and the piles on my desk had really grown. 6) Nothing gave me pleasure – I could not find joy in anything and no experience gave me any real pleasure. During this time, I started with a life coach. In the beginning, it was a tough and very uncomfortable journey. I felt vulnerable. I hated crying. It made me feel weak and out of control. But over time, I got inside myself in a way I had never allowed before and began to find ways to change. And for the first time, I allowed failure in my life. I stepped down from LDAC. I enrolled in the CTI coach training program and began a six-month process of deep discovery. I made changes in my personal life and soon my home became a place where I had true support and unconditional love. And I accepted that I couldn’t control everything. And I slept. I put the energy I had into my children. I brought our household budget down to a bare minimum, pulled out some RRSPs, learned to endure a messy house and said no to most everything. I found out that my kids thought I was pretty great, even when they discovered that I wasn’t a superhero. And I realized I had raised some smart, kind and insightful kids. I spent the summer recovering and when I knew I was better, I began to coach. I now practise a short yoga routine daily, spend time walking my dog in the woods and I close my eyes for a few minutes every afternoon. I see the result of having invested so much time teaching my children to be self-advocates and I let them lead, whenever they can and want to. I also sit back on my heels and let them figure things out instead of swooping in with a solution. I now listen to my body. Join our 5,000+ Facebook fans at www.ParentingTimes.ca

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Just for Parents

The telltale signs of

burnout How about you? If you feel like you are too busy drowning to ask for help, then you need to regroup. First, take some time to breathe and then look at your priorities. Give some things up and learn to say no. Do something that is good for you every day – walk, do a short yoga routine at home, have a hot cup of tea. Make it manageable. Take time to read something you like and put on your favourite music while you cook. If you need help, then talk to a friend, find a support group or hire a coach. Most importantly, be kind to yourself. Just focus on doing the very best you can each day and being OK with it.

Judy Mouland

Judy Mouland loves to challenge the status quo and chip away at the word “normal.” Over the years, she has learned to embrace and use her own quirky brain to succeed and is passionate about the power of self-awareness. She became a CTI (Coaches Training Institute) Life Coach for people with ADHD, LD, OCD (and their favourite cousins: anxiety and depression) after serving for 20+ years in local, national and international settings, most recently as the CEO of the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada. She works to empower her clients to live life on their own terms – no excuses – and to uncover their brilliance so they can shine. She is a member of the International Coaches Federation and freely admits that most everything she knows she has learned from her three exceptional children, who never let her brain become idle. Her empowering blog posts can be found at www.judymouland.com/blog.

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 33

Focus on Education

If someone had told me then that Jacob would become a theoretical physicist, I don’t know that I would have believed them. I didn’t understand that when we were looking at the stars, Jacob was doing math and calculating angles and distances.

‘We have to change the way we’re looking at these beautiful, autistic children’ K ristine Barnett has lived through every new parent’s nightmare: being told to “adjust her expectations” for her firstborn child. Jacob, diagnosed with severe autism, was just three years old when a special education teacher visited his home in Indiana and suggested Barnett take away her son’s beloved alphabet cards. Barnett and her husband, Michael, were told Jacob would never read. The so-called experts were, in fact, dead wrong. Through an unconventional approach to working with Jacob’s autism, Barnett not only “mainstreamed” her son in time for regular kindergarten, she also unearthed a young mind brilliant beyond her wildest dreams. At nine years old, Jacob started working on an original theory in astrophysics that many believe might someday put him in line for a Nobel Prize. Now 16, Jacob is considered to be one of the world’s most promising physicists, with an IQ higher than Einstein’s. Since his family relocated to Waterloo, Ont., last year, Jacob completed the PSI Master’s-level program at the Perimeter Institute and is now working on his PhD research. Barnett – a warm, soft-spoken mother of three – has a crystal-clear mission in life: To fight to change the perceptions that we have of children on the autism spectrum. She recently spoke with Parenting Times about her incredible parenting journey and her best-selling book, The Spark: A Mother’s Story of Nurturing Genius.

34 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

Mother and author Kristine Barnett, whose teenaged son Jacob was diagnosed with severe autism and now considered one of the world’s most promising physicists, is fighting to change perceptions and misconceptions about children on the autism spectrum. She spoke with Sonia Mendes about her parenting journey and her mission.

Parenting Times: In September, you were a keynote speaker at the Ottawa School Council Training Day – how was that experience? Kristine Barnett: It was beautiful…we talked about communicating with parents and teachers, and from school board to teachers, and it was great to start some honest conversations about autism. I want to speak wherever I can because I have this message that is so important – that we have to change the way that we’re looking at these beautiful, autistic children in our communities. When you’re faced with autism, it is so difficult and there is so much stigma and judgement in the way that you approach the world, so for me, I will always fight to change those perceptions and advocate for true acceptance. Join our 5,000+ Facebook fans at www.ParentingTimes.ca

Phtos: Drew Endicott

PT: Undoubtedly, your book will resonate with any parent of an autistic child who faces never-ending therapy sessions and worries that their child is falling short of developmental milestones. What would be your words of advice to a parent in that situation? KB: Therapy is important, but give yourself permission to have fun. When I work with new autism families, I’m always struck by how many of them have lost that basic ability to have fun. When a parent is faced with an autism diagnosis, there is an overwhelming sense of urgency – a feeling of being left behind and worry about never catching up. When you’re so involved with the autism therapy schedule, you’re always thinking of goals. We have to remember the intrinsic value in playing in the sandbox, heading to the beach, playing under the stars or building a fort. The wonderful thing about the newest research is that it indicates these relaxing activities – the simple, everyday childhood experiences – can boost the progress being made through therapy sessions. As parents, we have to be able to let go of the guilt and just be in the moment with them. PT: Back in Indiana, you created two grassroots programs – the Little Light program as a mock

kindergarten for autistic kids, and later the Youth Sports for Autism group. Both of these programs had a very strong sensory component, to make them attractive to the autistic brain. Tell me more about the importance of engaging the senses of autistic children. KB: When I started out with Jacob, one of the things I realized is that he might be missing childhood experiences – that was the root of all the programs I did. Most of these experiences – like being up to your knees in sand, feeling the wind, jumping in mud puddles – are things a therapist would call “sensory experiences.” These things are so important – we recognize the power of nature in healing – and I really feel that the more we’re able to let go, as busy parents and as professionals working with autistic kids, the greater the outcomes. These can be defining moments for our kids…like the times I spent taking Jacob out at night to look up at the stars. If someone had told me then that Jacob would become a theoretical physicist, I don’t know that I would have believed them. I didn’t understand that when we were looking at the stars, Jacob was doing math and calculating angles and distances; sometimes what children do does – cont’d on page 36 not look like a checklist for success.

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Focus on Education

– cont’d from page 35

PT: You have faced more than your fair share of adversity – Jacob’s autism diagnosis, your second son, Wesley, being diagnosed with a neurologic disorder and your own health issues – a stroke at age 30 and a subsequent lupus diagnosis. When reading The Spark, I was struck by your incredible grit and determination – what kept you going during those difficult times? KB: The truth is, we all have similar stories – we all have struggles, whether they are with an autism diagnosis or dealing with cancer or divorce. What’s important is to realize that you’re never alone – there is always someone in your community who is going through the same thing. Building community is very important to me, and it’s really grounded in my faith and my upbringing in a “modern” Amish family. After Jacob’s diagnosis, we were able to build this autism community and my faith made me stronger and better able to lead people. When you struggle, you feel things in your heart and your spirit; by going through these challenges we have an opportunity to learn how to reach out and help another person. PT: Your book has touched many lives and expanded our collective understanding of autism. In the years since Jacob’s diagnosis, has the perception of autistic children changed and where do we go from here? KB: The idea that there is possibility in a child with autism is relatively new; when I first started talking about skills in children with autism, people thought I was crazy. To start looking for skills and talents is so tremendously powerful – that’s where we need to head in developing programs for children. Every single one of the children that I’ve worked with – and I’ve worked with thousands – had a skill and an ability that they loved. I also don’t believe that autism is a rigid rainbow of low functioning and high functioning; Jacob was originally diagnosed as being severely autistic and he jumped around on that rainbow. The ability may not be astrophysics – it may look different, but it’s there. I truly believe that every person on this planet is beautiful and has something to offer. If you are parenting an autistic child and would like to connect with Kristine Barnett, she welcomes your emails at kristineshouse@yahoo.com.

36 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

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OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 37

Focus on Education

Mining mad coding Leslie Foster explains how the wildly popular video game can teach your kids all about computer science and programming.

f you have a tween or teen in your house, you more than likely hear a lot about Minecraft — possibly more than you ever wanted to hear about a video game. You may, however, want to be all ears when ThoughtSTEM, a U.S. computer science education company, launches LearnToMod in January. It’s a software that teaches code by focusing on something your child already loves — you guessed it — Minecraft. The creators hope they can leverage children’s love of Minecraft to teach valuable programming skills. On its own, Minecraft is an immersive game that

lets you create your own world of mountains, castles, volcanoes and more; a little like Lego in a virtual space. This open-sandbox game (with a structure that allows kids to “play” in the world and choose to participate in the story at their own pace) has many features. However, LearnToMod (www.LearnToMod.com) takes the game even further by allowing users to build modifications into the game, called “mods.” Mods are an important part of Minecraft’s success, making the game truly limitless. The software, targeted at kids ages eight to 15, includes hundreds of lessons, tutorials, and puzzles.

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Images: Courtesy of LearnToMod

skills from Minecraft

Through progressive lessons and achievements, children learn how to code hundreds of different mods. They can start with something simple, programming a specific event like a lightning strike. Once they become more

proficient, they can program much more complex mods, like a game of “capture the flag”, or create a special bow that shoots “portal” arrows (your child will think this is cool, even if you have no idea what it means.) – cont’d on page 40

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OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 39

Focus on Education

– cont’d from page 39

“Kids are already spending ridiculous amounts of hours on Minecraft, so we thought this would be a good way to help them learn skills,” ThoughtSTEM co-founder Stephen Foster said in an interview with Wired magazine. Kids start with Google’s Blockly programming interface, where they click and drag virtual blocks to create code instead of typing it. This is the first step in learning many of the basic programming concepts such as loops and Boolean logic. As they progress, they will begin to learn Javascript, the programming language of the web. The fundamentals of programming are similar across platforms, so skills developed in LearnToMod are transferable to other types of programming, like mobile app development. For an additional fee, kids of any age can enrol in a special Learn ToMod online course and earn college credit at the University of California in San Diego. This is likely to be a powerful motivator for some kids. Other companies use Minecraft for educational purposes as well. TeacherGaming sells a custom built version called MinecraftEDU (www.MinecraftEDU.com) that helps educators create virtual classrooms to teach various subjects like history, math, and science.

And instead of using Minecraft as a virtual classroom, ThoughtSTEM built its own web-based interface. Once you have “written” code in LearnToMod, the application connects to your Minecraft account to make the mods available in your game. So if you have a Minecraft nut in your family, you may want to consider LearnToMod as a holiday gift. In a decade from now, your child may be the creator of the next big hit.

Helping your child build a successful future Register for Kindergarten at an OCSB school

ocsb.ca/kindergarten 40 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

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An n é e s

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en-year-old Lauren Jane Hudson reflected on her tentative entry into classes at OYP Theatre School five years ago. “On the first day when I walked in, I was very shy and I didn’t really interact with anybody,” said Hudson. “Then I found a friend and I was able to expand and gain confidence…and I still act with that same friend today.” At the time of the interview, the upbeat Grade 5 student was busy with rehearsals for OYP Theatre’s rendition of 42 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

Performing arts help children and youth grow confidence, unleash creativity and discover new opportunities, say students and staff at Ottawa’s theatre schools. Sonia Mendes explains. The Nutcracker in late November, her early shyness long forgotten. She played the role of Marie, one of the main characters in the much-loved Christmas classic. – cont’d on page 44 Join our 5,000+ Facebook fans at www.ParentingTimes.ca

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Focus on Education

‘Theatre breeds kindness and empathy’

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OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 43

Photo: Barry MacDonald

“I like that I get to make the character my own – it’s cool to be able to play a different character in different plays,” said Hudson, who added she was excited to wear a beautiful nightgown with lace and ribbons as one of her costumes. For Kathi Langston, the artistic director at OYP, watching a child’s confidence level grow through theatre classes is a thrill that never grows old. “Their confidence level is so beautiful to see – seeing them happy in their own skin,” said Langston, who has worked with OYP for 13 years. “Theatre breeds kindness and empathy – because without those qualities you’re not going to be a very good actor; it encourages the shy person to take chances.” Celebrating 25 years as an organization, the OYP Theatre School became a resident arts partner in the Shenkman Arts Centre in 2009. Considered a creative hub, where artists and audiences meet to create and explore the arts, the Shenkman Arts Centre is located in the east Ottawa community of Orléans. “We went from having one studio – in a shared space with a daycare centre – to having two gorgeous, state-ofthe-art studios that also double as performance space for smaller shows,” said Langston. Today, the OYP Theatre School offers over 30 different classes and summer programming in English and

Lauren Jane Hudson in the OYP Theatre’s Christmas 2013 production of The Nutcracker.

French. Classes range from the increasingly-popular musical theatre to specialty classes such as improv, on-camera, fundamentals and even radio play, which gives kids the chance to work with sound effects in a radio studio. And at the Ottawa Little Theatre – located in the heart of downtown – staff are already gearing up for March Break drama camp. The theatre offers a full-day, week-long camp for kids aged nine to 12, with an option for parents needing after-hours care.

always welc en om li dr

Join us for our OPEN HOUSE Saturday, January 24th, 2015 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Where the Journey Begins

Focus on Education

– cont’d from page 42

At the Greenwoods Academy Montessori School, we take pride in offering a unique educational experience for young children. Through multifaceted hands-on learning, your child’s experience is fun, engaging and practical. We cater to the tactile, visual and auditory learner. • Certified accredited Montessori teachers provide a nurturing and enriching low-ratio classroom environment. • Our diverse Montessori curriculum includes French as a second language, music, the arts, cultural and peace education. • After school clubs and monthly field trips are available for the Senior Casa Kindergarten program. • Large bright classrooms and indoor playrooms offer a variety of programming.

Accepting Registrations 14 months – 6 years 44 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

• Beautiful and spacious natural outdoor playgrounds maximize outdoor activities. • Healthy snacks and nutritious lunches are prepared on-site and are included in some of the tuition fees. • Our Toddler and Casa Preschool are 12 month programs. • Casa Kindergarten runs 10 months with a themebased Summer Camp available. • We offer an Extended Day Program (before and after school) which is billed separately on a monthly basis.

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Photo: Ottawa Little Theatre

March Break drama camp offers kids a chance to produce a play from start to finish, which includes writing, directing, making props and even choreographing their own production. Evan Clark, director of marketing and communications for Ottawa Little Theatre, said drama camp really gives kids the chance to unleash their imaginations. “If it’s even a notion in their minds, this is a place with a large number of resources,” said Clark, noting their building is home to a 462-seat theatre. Clark said drama helps to build self-esteem and self-awareness in kids, which translates into real-life skills such as public speaking in adulthood. It can also be a great way to improve language skills for kids who are learning English as a second language, he added. “Drama provides the opportunity for kids to use language in a creative way; there’s “We see lots of kids who come from an ESL no rigidity,” said Evan Clark of Ottawa Little Theatre. kind of background – it’s great to see their confidence grow from the beginning to the end of the week in “Theatre classes offer a really open environment,” said drama camp. Clark. “When the kids are brainstorming ideas, things can “Drama provides the opportunity for kids to use language get really loud and silly and fun – but what they end up with in a creative way; there’s no rigidity.” at the end of a camp is always neat to see. Most of all, it’s a place where kids can express themselves “It really does make a difference to the richness of a child’s in a supportive space. life.”

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Focus on Education Ottawa Independent School Directory

Turnbull School

1132 Fisher Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1Z 6P7 Contact: 613-729-9940 Year established: 1992 Maximum Enrolment: 330 Grades: JK to Grade 8

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Heritage Academy

207 Bayswater Ave. Ottawa, ON K1Y 2G5 Contact: 613-722-0133 Year established: 1989 Maximum Enrolment: 100 Grades: 1 - 12 www.heritage-academy.com

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Orchardview Montessori

1367 St. Joseph Blvd., Orleans, ON Contact: 613-424-7601 Year established: 2012 Maximum Enrolment: 39 Grades: 15 months to 6 years old www.OrchardviewMontessori.com

Calvary Christian Academy 9749 – Hwy 15, Franktown, ON Busing from Stittsville available Contact: 613-283-5089 Year established: 1997 Maximum Enrolment: 150 Grades: Preschool to Grade 8

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Bishop Hamilton Montessori School

2199 Regency Terrace, Ottawa, ON K2C 1H2 Contact: 613-596-4013 Year established: 1983 Maximum Enrolment: 220 Grades: Toddler – Junior High

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An n é e s

The Greenwoods Academy An n é e s

Westboro Academy

St-Laurent Academy

641 Sladen Ave., Ottawa, ON K1K 2S8 Contact: 613-842-8047 Year established: 2005 Maximum Enrolment: 250 Grades: Daycare – Grade 8 NEW in 2015 – Grades 9 & 10

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1056 Klondike Rd. Ottawa, ON K1Y 2G5 Contact: 613-591-3100 Year established: 2008 Maximum Enrolment: 70 Ages: 14 months to 6 years old

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46 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

200 Brewer Way, Ottawa, ON K1S 5R2 Contact: 613-737-9543 Year established: 1993 Maximum Enrolment: 220 Grades: Kindergarten – Grade 8

www.WestboroAcademy.com

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OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 47

Chris Hunt recalls the day he looked at his naked, spatula-wielding two-year-old son and realized he had finally found his confidence as a father.

48 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

Photo: Angela Jacques

had an epiphany the other day. I was, as is usually the case when one has a major revelation, in the bathroom. I was brushing my teeth when my son kicked open the door. He was naked, except for socks, and he was brandishing the remote control for the TV in one hand, and a spatula in the other. And he was smiling, as though I should know why he was there, why he was carrying household sundries the way Conan carried swords and why he had to do all of that naked. “Riley …” I began, but that was as far as I got. He squealed, did this zany tap dance thing, and haphazardly scurried from the room. I followed him into the living room, chuckling softly. Our main closet is set in a shallow alcove. He was hiding in this recess, though his head poked out from behind the wall. When he saw me coming, he spit out a shrill laugh and whipped his head back behind the wall. That’s his game, is it? Hide and seek. So I played it up. I walked about slowly and loudly in the living room. I talked to myself. “Hmmm,” I said, my finger tapping my lips as I walked. “Where could Riley be? Is he … UNDER HERE?” I lifted his favourite tiny arm chair and held it over my head. “Nope … not there. Gosh, he’s a good hider.” He started squealing the moment I touched the chair, and he didn’t stop until I “found” him. I “searched” the entire living room, save for the area by the closet. Finally, I pretended to give up. “Hmmm … he must be in his bedroom!” When I started walking down the hall I heard his tiny voice, pregnant with broken consonants and perforated with whispery pauses, “Noo … ooo … waa.” He doesn’t really get hideand-seek yet. So I followed his happy laugh and “found” him. He was so excited, he ran at me and tried to jump into my arms. Of course he didn’t tell me this, so what actually happened was he used his forehead to spear my knee. He rubbed his head, “Owwiee!” And then he laughed. I picked him up to hug him. He wiped his nose on my collar and then told me by way of trying to squirm out of my grasp that he wanted down. So I put him down and watched as he walked toward his little chair. He dropped the remote on the floor, put his finger to his lips and said quietly, “Hmmm.” And then he tries to lift it. It was then, looking at my two-year-old, naked, spatula-wielding son, I realized I wasn’t afraid anymore.

Regular readers of this column might remember I frequently wrote about the anxiety I felt about being a dad. Tension was a constant companion for me. I was worried I wouldn’t be a good father, worried I’d be lazy, negligent, indifferent, or even resentful. When he was around one, I stopped reading newspapers. Bad news involving children would not only keep me up nights, it’d also haunt me during the living day. It still does, in fact. The story of the little girl who was lost overnight on a cornfield in southern Ontario brought me to tears, both when I heard she was lost, and again when she was found the next day. She was around Riley’s age, I thought to myself. What if it were him lost overnight? Those sorts of thoughts, they linger in the cruelest possible way. Heck, a few months ago I wouldn’t have let him be alone in any room at home. Somewhere along the way, I guess I stopped worrying. I can’t tell you when, or even why, but I stopped letting those everyday fears rule my life. And then I started enjoying him. Watching him evolve and learn, watching him develop his own unique and buoyant personality has been a gift. It was a transition, I guess, from being afraid of being a dad, to actually becoming a dad. He saw me watching him, stood up, waved the spatula at me and gushed, “Dadda, hum.” Daddy, come. And of course I went, happy just to be happy with him. In fact, the only thought lingering in my mind was, “Where the heck are his pants?” Join our 5,000+ Facebook fans at www.ParentingTimes.ca

Photo: depositphotos.com © Vitalinka

Memoirs of a New Dad

The epiphany

By Joe Banks

et’s call it Trickster Parenting. It’s original, because I googled it and it came up blank. Thus, it’s a concept that we’ve just invented, right here in the pages of Parenting Times. No need to thank me; for you, parenting reader, anything. Trickster Parenting is when one applies a brilliantly simple tactic to get the offspring to do something they’d rather not do, like cleaning their room or stopping them from blowing milk out their nose. I’ve done the latter on occasion myself, usually in response to a dare or blackmail from one of my older brothers. I believe it’s why our cats like my face so much. But I digress. But Joe, I hear you ask, does Trickster Parenting involve doing something that disorients, stupefies, shocks, distracts and otherwise knocks my child off their intended misbehaving trajectory? Isn’t that dishonest? Aren’t I teaching my child, in turn, trickery? Let me allay your concerns with this highly complex, field and peer-tested qualification: Yes, of course you are. But like a needle in the arm, it’s over before they understand what happened to them. Now stay with me as I divulge some of the Banks family secrets. Trickster Parenting is done without harping or carping, or empty cajoling or bribery. No threats of the tooth fairy or Santa not showing up.

Trickster Parenting is when one applies a brilliantly simple tactic to get the offspring to do something they’d rather not do, like cleaning their room or stopping them from blowing milk out their nose.

I’m not sure, for example, how long my parents made us turn our plates over for pie. But it’s a memory that keeps on recycling itself any time I ponder plates. Which actually isn’t all that often, but I’m in need of a transition here. You see, in a house of five boys and two adults, in 1960s Southern Ontario, washing dishes was not a matter of loading and unloading a machine. The task meant keeping the crockery and cutlery used to a bare minimum, lest it be you chosen to wash, dry or stack your way beyond the Ed Sullivan Show. At the same time, getting five mewling sons to eat their supper was no easy feat. And spilling any food on the table upon plate inversion invited dad’s wrath, which we preferred not to face. And so, it went like this: (a) eat food (b) turn plate over (c) receive pie (d) eat pie. Dessert was a luxury of the highest order and anything sweet such as cake or pie was as prized as a June bug is to a duck. But we only got it by turning a clean plate over. It was reserved for one Sunday a month and those most cherished of events – holidays. I mentioned Santa. Well, in a house as strapped as ours, the jolly old elf had a budget, which mom conveyed to us. Twenty dollars each was our budget, and the SimpsonsSears Christmas catalogue was our shopping mall. We were handed a pencil and told to select our wishes and mark the pages. After a week, the catalogue was so dog-eared and smudged with peanut butter, it was nearly unreadable. But our math skills or lack thereof were put to the supreme test as we added and subtracted a Hot Wheels here, a Coleco air football game there. We were told we didn’t have to worry about taxes. Apparently Santa had a zero-based tax rating from Revenue Canada. That also didn’t include stockings, which we were told to hang or place at the foot of our beds. No fireplace mantle in our house. Santa, after all, needed to know who was who. He didn’t want to confuse the parties in question. The older boys wouldn’t want to get a squirt gun and the little ones, a Timex watch two sizes too big. It wasn’t until we were out of the house many years later, that mom divulged the thinking surrounding the stockings in bed. It was an excellent way to keep us in bed longer so that she and dad could sleep in beyond 5 a.m., when the excitement of Christmas morning was too much to bear. Their sole error was to allow Santa to insert chocolate in all stockings, which led to pre-light sugar highs, and then mid-morning crashes that led to mid-day snoozes. Which was probably their plan all along.

A Dad Looks Back

Holiday advice from the Original Trickster Parent

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 49

Snowy family fun

with

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day on the mountain skiing or riding can be a multigenerational memory maker! Liz Murphy of Calabogie Peaks Resort says it’s hard to think of any other sport in the world that multiple generations can enjoy together for a full day of fun. She said “our three kids began skiing with their Grandparents, aunts, uncles and Mom and Dad. The experience brought everyone closer and generated enthusiasm to keep going back. They learned very quickly, gained a lot of confidence and loved the fact that they could keep up. It didn’t take long before we were trying to keep up with them.” Calabogie Peaks Resort is committed to making learning fun, safe and result driven encouraging a lifelong enjoyment of skiing and snowboarding. To keep up with the demand for beginner programs and terrain The Peaks has almost doubled the beginner bowl affording learners with progressive terrain for graduated learning.

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50 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | Winter WINTER 2014 / 2015

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At ie t! n og or b es Learla R s Caak e P

lasting memories New this year is a Parent and Tot program where a child 2 to 4 yrs. can learn to ski with Mom and Dad by their side in a hands-on private lesson or a small group 5 week program. This program reduces the anxiety for both the parent and the child and teaches the parent how to manage the newest little tyke on the hill. Also, new this year, any child or teen in one of our programs gets their 8 day mountain program ticket upgraded to a full season pass. And don’t forget that Calabogie Peaks participates in

the national “SNOWPASS” program allowing 4th & 5th graders to ski for free. Go to www.snowpass.ca for more information. No equipment – no problem. With an exceptional fleet of skis and boards our rental technicians outfit customers with safe and size appropriate gear. Come stay mountain side in our boutique hotel or one to three bedroom condos and make memories at the mountain. Go to www.calabogie.com for more information about the Mountain, Lake and Land at the Peaks.

Country charm meets modern convenience in our family friendly hotel, condos and cottages. Stay after a fun day on the mountain. Enjoy Canthooks Restaurant, our indoor swimming pool, outdoor hot tub, or simply kick back and let us take care of everything. Get the most out of your visit with one of our Stay & Play packages. Visit our website & book at the Big Mountain Close to Home!

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR OTTAWA LOCAL PARENTING PARENTING TIMES PUBLICATION MAGAZINE || WINTER Winter 2014 / 2015 51

Parenting Times editor Kelly Roesler gets the full star treatment – professional hair, makeup and photography – all within the comfort of her home.

uggling multiple kids with several jobs and trying to run a household is exhausting. It can be overwhelming. But I’ve recently made a pledge to myself to reduce stress, live healthier, strike a better work-life balance, and spend more time enjoying my children. And I’m also vowing to take more time for the indulgences that boost my self-image and make me feel happier and more confident. For me, that means spending a bit more time on my beauty routine, which often falls by the wayside with the intense demands of parenting and my career. Lately, I haven’t been putting in as much effort, and I’ve been feeling – and looking – more sluggish, tired and old. But changing and enhancing my look has always been empowering and fun for me. So when I recently had the chance to get a makeover from Ottawa professional makeup artist and certified esthetician Tracey Lahey, I embraced it.

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Lahey, founder of Beauty by Tracey (www.beautybytracey.com), has a background that includes television, theatre, bridal, photography, film and beauty industries, having done makeup for many local celebrities, including Justin Trudeau, the late Jack Layton and others. She offers a variety of in-studio and mobile services, including airbrush makeup, spray tanning, makeup lessons and more. And her mobile spa service – she will come to your home, office or hotel suite – is a super convenient option for busy moms. Lahey, a mother of five, also offers children and teen spa parties, for which she says there is huge demand. For my makeover, she arranged for Ottawa hairstylist Cynthia Truong (search her name on Facebook) to do my hair, while photographer Bilal Hamdan (search Bilal Hamdan Photography on Facebook) would photograph the process.

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52 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

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Photos: Bilal Hamdan

Just for Moms

Mobile makeover

Photo: depositphotos.com © hitdelight

THE HAIR I’m very into a classic-glam look, and always dreamed of having long, soft, flowing waves, which I mentioned to Cynthia, who quickly went to work to carry out my wish. Starting with a flat iron, then using a curling iron, she was able to create gentle, cascading, luxurious waves that took my breath away, locking them in with hairspray. It really didn’t take long, and the result was incredible: my hair was thick and lustrous, the loose waves softly framing my face and accentuating my ombré hair colour. I loved it.

THE MAKEUP When my hair was done, Lahey set to work on my face, beginning with a primer to vanish fine lines and prepare my face for the airbrush makeup (the only type she uses). Among her top makeup tips: invest in a great foundation. Lahey was precise and masterful as she swept neutral shades of shadow, and then a light smoky shade along the outer corners of my eyes. I was excited about wearing the false lashes she applied (made with human hair). They felt heavy, but the look was sultry and dramatic. She filled in my brows with colour and clear gel, then my lips with a nude liner, wine colour and gloss. A black liquid eye liner, blended carefully with my lashes, was next, followed by mascara. She also applied concealer under my tired eyes, not only to get rid of the dark circles, but as a highlighter. Her handiwork was simply gorgeous. I definitely felt ready for the limelight.

THE PHOTOGRAPHY As if I wasn’t pampered enough, my beauty “team” was joined by photographer Bilal Hamdan, who documented the whole makeover process. He captured a series of candid shots as Tracey and Cynthia worked their magic, and then worked carefully to create the perfect settings – amid the purple tones of my living room – for the post-makeover shots, and his photos are magical. The makeover was a quick, fun and powerful boost, and while the average working mom can’t keep a crack team of stylists at hand (unlike, say, J.Lo), there are things we can take the time and effort to do to enhance our natural beauty. It was exciting to get a glimpse of my most glamorous self, and these photographs are a treasured reminder of how it felt to be a star – at least for a few hours.

Are You Ready for Winter? “What’s Your Pick?”

• Effective Parenting through Positive Discipline SEMINAR: Thursday Jan. 22 • FRIENDS for Life (anxiety prevention program for children 10-12 yrs.): Wednesdays, Jan. 28 – April 1 (Mar. 18 excluded) • Parenting through High Conflict Separation and Divorce: Tuesdays, Feb. 3 – Mar. 10 • Parenting your Anxious Child SEMINAR: Thursday, Feb. 19 • You’re not the boss of me... positive discipline for 0-6 yr olds: Mondays, Feb. 23 – Mar. 30 (Mar. 16 excluded) To Register for Parenting Edge Workshops call: 613•725•3601 ext. 207 email: parenting@familyservicesottawa.org

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OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 53

Just for Kids Sonia Mendes offers up some fabulous indoor activity ideas to keep your family warm and cosy with plenty of fun during the frosty winter days ahead.

Scratch & Sniff Storybooks ($17.99). Each kit includes eight markers – just add drawings, photographs and your own imagination! Ages 5-95. www.fabercastell. com/creativity-for-kids

Sniff out a great story: Writing your own book is easy – and it even smells great! Kids will love creating new stories and designing unique illustrations with the help of Create Your Own Pop-up Books ($19.99) and

Think outside the can: Leave structured activities behind and let young imaginations flourish with The Big Creativity Can. Filled with colourful, craft materials – like clay, pipe cleaners, plastic wheels and googly eyes – this can o’ fun is designed to let kids explore the simple joy of creativity. The only instructions are to have fun! Ages 4-94. Pricing: $19.99. www.fabercastell.com/ creativity-for-kids

h, the weather outside is frightful…but these toys are so delightful! It’s inevitable – with cold temperatures settling in for the season, Ottawa parents will be faced with days where it’s tough to keep kids outdoors for too long. So when little toes get cold on the sledding hill, and it’s time to cosy up inside, be prepared with an arsenal of cool toys and crafts to keep kids stimulated and screen-free.

5 Steps To Positive Parenting For real tips to help you practice the 5 steps, contact triple p TODAY! We are proud to bring this program to parents in Leeds & Grenville Counties:

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call 1-800-660-5853 or visit Triplepontario.ca the message is paid for by the government of Ontario

54 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

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Photo: depositphotos.com © Sonar

Let it snow

Photo: International Playthings

Photo: Uncle Milton

Build it & break it: Ka-BOOM! What kid doesn’t love building something, then blasting it to pieces?! The Demolition Lab allows kids to construct a building and then demolish it with the powerful quad-blaster. Young demolition scientists will learn about energy, momentum and gravity. Ages 8+. Pricing: $26.95 (Breakdown Building) and $53.95 (Triple Blast Warehouse). www.familyplayroom.com

Photo: PlaSmart Inc.

Photo: Smart Lab

Get squashed! Created by an award-winning, 16-yearold inventor, Squashedtm is a 3D game of strategy that adds a whole new dimension to board games. Players are required to strategically eliminate their opponents by turning the cubed game board and “squashing” them right out of the game! Two to four players, ages 6+. Pricing: $34.95. www.familyplayroom.com

See fun in a new way: That dark basement takes on a whole new appeal with these cool Uncle Milton National Geographic Night Hawk UV night vision goggles! Make hidden animal tracks with the included UV pen and stencil, then use amazing UV vision to reveal them! Includes: Night hawk goggles, pen, animal track stencil and instructions. Ages 6+. Pricing: $23.95. www.familyplayroom.com

Pirates & princesses: Nothing says “cosy” like having your own dedicated fort! These easy-to-assemble tents are generously sized to fit two or more little princesses or pirates. Ages 3+. Pricing: $34.95. www.familyplayroom.com

Bob Monette Councillor, Orléans Ward

Conseiller, quartier Orléans

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OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 55

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| WINTER2014 5656OTTAWA TIMES OTTAWAPARENTING PARENTING TIMESMAGAZINE MAGAZINE| WINTER 2014/ 2015 / 2015

613-276-8614 • tracey.lahey@sympatico.ca www.beautybytracey.com Join Joinourour5,000+ 5,000+Facebook Facebookfans fansatatwww.ParentingTimes.ca www.ParentingTimes.ca

Holiday Entertainment Ideas for Kids & Adults! This holiday season make appetizers that you can incorporate into many different dishes. My top choice for easy, stress-free party food is Ontario slow cooker pulled pork that can be used in a variety of ways! Put the pulled pork in the slow cooker in the morning and while the pork is cooking (8 hours on low or 4 hours on high), you will have plenty of time to get ready for your guests. Once done, shred the meat and add your favourite BBQ sauce or mix of flavours. Need some creative ideas? Serve the pulled pork on a bun for a main meal, on a crostini for an appetizer, or as a topping for baked potatoes and hot dogs. If you add Texmex flavours to the pulled pork, use it in tacos, lettuce wraps, or add it to a fiesta dip with nachos. Bring out your slow cooker and Ontario pork this holiday season for an easy and delicious meal that your friends and family will be sure to love.

Yield: Serves 8 Cooking Time: 8-10 hours Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Ontario Pulled Pork - Slow Cooker

Ingredients

3-1/2 lb (1.75 kg) Ontario pork shoulder blade roast 1/2 tsp (2 mL) EACH: salt and pepper 2 Tbsp (30 mL) canola oil 2 onions, chopped 4 garlic cloves, minced 2 Tbsp (30 mL) chili powder 2 tsp (10 mL) ground coriander 3 bay leaves 1/4 cup (60 mL) tomato paste 1 14 oz (425 g) can tomato sauce 2 Tbsp (30 mL) packed brown sugar 2 Tbsp (30 mL) Worcestershire sauce 2 Tbsp (30 mL) cider vinegar 2 green onions, thinly sliced

Nutrition Facts (per 1 person serving or 1/8 of the recipe):

341 Calories, 13 g Fat, 324 mg Sodium, 10 g Carbohydrates, 1 g Fibre, 45 g Protein

ontariopork.com/recipes

What are you getting in one serving of Ontario Pulled Pork - Slow Cooker Vegetables & Fruit Grain Products

0 servings 1 serving

Meat & Alternatives Milk & Alternatives

1 serving 0 servings

Cooking Instructions

1. Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat and sear pork until brown all over. Transfer to slow cooker. 2. In the same skillet, add onions, garlic, chili powder, coriander and bay leaves. Fry ingredients while stirring occasionally, until onions are softened, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste, tomato sauce, sugar, Worcestershire sauce and cider vinegar, scraping any brown bits from bottom of pan; bring to a boil. Pour sauce into slow cooker, cover and cook on low until pork is tender, 8 to 10 hours. 3. Once cooked, transfer pork to cutting board and tent with foil; let stand for 10 minutes. With two forks, shred or “pull” pork. 4. Meanwhile, pour liquid from slow cooker into large saucepan and skim off fat. Bring to a boil over high heat and let boil vigorously until reduced to 3 cups (750 mL), about 15 minutes. Discard bay leaves. 5. Add pulled pork to reduced sauce mixture and lower heat to simmer until hot, about 4 minutes. Sprinkle with green onions. Serve on crust rolls with a green salad. For an appetizer, place pulled pork on a crostini and top with caramelized onions.

Andrea Villneff is the Nutritionist for Ontario Pork, and wants you to know that you don’t have to sacrifice taste for health. She has a degree in Applied Human Nutrition (BASc), is a Professional Home Economist and a member of the Canadian Society of Nutrition Management.

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 57

Family Recipes

Nutritious, delicious lunches I

f you listen carefully each weekday morning, you can hear it – the collective sigh of exasperation from parents of school-aged children. Whether downtown or in the suburbs, the eternal question rings out, “What on earth am I going to pack in the kids’ lunches today?!” The daily scramble to prep lunches can be further complicated by picky eaters – not to mention the fact that, as parents, we’re always seeking to put the most nutritional options in front of our families. Parenting Times went to a local woman in the know – registered holistic nutritionist Stefania Moffatt (www.stefaniamoffatt.com) – for some tips, tricks and recipes to inspire our daily lunch box routines. Moffatt – who offers customized eating plans and food log reviews – is quick to emphasize that it’s important to implement small nutritional changes. “If you want to improve your child’s diet, work on one thing at a time,” says Moffatt. “If you try to overhaul everything at once, you’re going to feel overwhelmed and your family will revolt.”

When it comes to packing lunches, common nutritional pitfalls include too much sugar and food colouring – whether in the form of a drink or a treat – and too much processed food, says Moffatt. While it can be difficult to remove a favourite food item from your child’s lunch, Moffatt suggests looking for ways to substitute healthier options. “Many kids love those yogurt tubes, but they are just full of sugar and food colouring,” she says. “Instead, try buying a plain yogurt and adding a spoonful of jam in a favourite flavour. “If your kid likes something, ask yourself how you can modify it to make it healthier.” Moffatt, who has two school-aged daughters, shared a couple of her family’s lunchtime favourites – Squash Soup and Pumpkin Spice Muffins. Both are simple to prepare and pack a powerful, nutritional punch to fuel kids for an afternoon of focused learning.

Squash Soup “This soup has been in my repertoire for 10 years – I love it! It also freezes really well.” ~ Stefania Moffatt Ingredients: • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) vegetable oil (sunflower oil also works well) • 1 small onion, chopped • 3 cups (710 grams) butternut squash, chopped • 1 apple, chopped • 2 cups (500 ml) vegetable broth (or 2 cups / 500 ml of water and 1 bouillon cube) • 1.5 cups (355 ml) milk (or non-dairy milk) • pinch ground nutmeg • salt and pepper to taste Directions: 1. Rinse squash and pat dry with a paper towel. Make several quick piercings in the squash’s skin with a fork, then microwave for about three minutes to soften slightly. 2. While squash is cooking, core and chop apple, then chop onion. Set aside. 3. Remove squash from microwave; allow to cool for a minute or two if hot. Peel and chop into small pieces (roughly two-inch / five-centimetre squares).

58 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

4. In a large saucepan, heat oil on medium-low and gently sauté squash for about five minutes. Add onions and apple, stirring to combine. Continue to sauté ingredients for two to three more minutes, stirring frequently to avoid squash from sticking to the bottom of the saucepan. 5. Add vegetable broth and bring mixture to a full boil. 6. Reduce heat and slowly stir in milk, then season with nutmeg, salt and pepper. 7. Cover and simmer on medium-low for 20 minutes. 8. Remove lid and allow to cool. Working in batches, purée in food processor or blender, then return to pot briefly to reheat before serving. Makes: Approximately 7 cups / 1.65 litres.

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By Sonia Mendes

Pumpkin Spice Muffins Ingredients: • 1 3/4 cups (400 ml) spelt flour (this produces a denser muffin) • 1 tsp. (5 ml) baking soda • ½ tsp. (2 ml) salt • 1 tsp. (5 ml) cinnamon • ½ tsp. (2 ml) nutmeg • ½ tsp. (2 ml) ground ginger • ½ cup (125 ml) vegetable oil • 2 eggs • 1 tsp. (5 ml) vanilla • 1 cup (225 ml) brown sugar • 1 cup (225 ml) unsweetened pumpkin puree (canned)

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C) and line a muffin pan with paper liners. 2. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking soda and spices. Set aside. 3. In a large bowl, whisk together oil, eggs and vanilla. Add sugar and pumpkin, stirring until well blended. 4. Add flour mixture to wet ingredients. Stir until just combined. 5. Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling 2/3 full. Bake for 18 - 20 minutes. Insert a toothpick in one of the muffins – if it comes out clean, the muffins are ready. Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes; remove and let cool completely on rack. Makes: 12-18 muffins, depending on pan size.

“These muffins remind me of Christmas cookies – they’re so yummy!” Official taste-tester Lily Mendes, 7

Shortcuts to a Healthy Lunch Time is of the essence for all parents, so why not streamline your lunch-making routine? Moffatt shares her top tips and tricks for making weekday mornings smoother: • Pre-chop fruits and veggies – A bit of organization at the start of the week makes the day-to-day prep that much simpler. • Make big batches – Whether you’re cooking soup or baking up a batch of muffins, why not double it? Many recipes – like those here – freeze well and can be pulled out as needed. • Rediscover the thermos – “When I was young, my mom often packed my lunch in a thermos, but I find we’ve trended away from that,” says Moffatt. She suggests making a bit extra at dinner time – then packing the extras for tomorrow’s lunch.

• Set a schedule – “Parents shouldn’t feel that they always have to reinvent the wheel – you can repeat,” says Moffatt. Kids like a sense of routine, so put a schedule on the fridge and they’ll know what’s coming next; Monday is sandwich day, Tuesday is soup day, etc. • Stock up on finger foods – Kids love finger foods, says Moffatt, so keep your cupboard stocked with some healthy options to pop into your little one’s lunch box: • Canned chickpeas (room temperature or out-of-the-fridge) • Popcorn (preferably without heavy butter and salt) • Crackers (Moffatt suggests Triscuit are a healthy choice) • Edamame (shelled is easier; top with a bit of salt and lemon) • Unsweetened applesauce, topped with hemp seeds and cinnamon

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 59

Photo: depositphotos.com © Epitavi

Photo: depositphotos.com © jamdesign

Photos: Billie MacDonald

to fuel your youngster

Winter Registration Guide

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• Full season equipment rentals (adults: $75 & kids $55); • Discounted lift tickets at all the local hills; 2015 Ski Vacations: • Discounted group lessons (adults & kids); Mammoth California, • Weekly day trips to Mont Tremblant; Killington Vermont & Whistler/Blackcomb, BC • Discounted Tremblant weekends; and Join for as little as $25 • Merchant discounts for goods & services.

For more details: www.ncskiclub.ca

We offer pottery classes, professional workshops, private lessons, studio m’ship, and birthday parties

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the City of Ottawa

245 Centrum Blvd.,Orleans www.gloucesterpotteryschool.com

Admin 613-580-2763 Registration 613-580-2787 birthdays@gloucesterpotteryschool.com

Kanata Rhythmic Sportive Gymnastics Club

hoolol Scho ngg Sc AC Tin CTi Join the A Jo Something for everyone age

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The Shenkman Arts Centre 245 Centrum Blvd. www.oypts.ca 613-580-2764

Ages four and up.

613-867-5774 | www.krsg.org | info@krsg.org 60 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

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Winter Registration Guide

West African Drum & Movement classes for Youth & Children Community Arts since 1995 Artistic Director: Kathy Armstrong www.baobabtree.org info@baobabtree.org (613) 729-0987

Preschool Programs

School Programs

Instructional Programs

Birthday Parties

Specialty Programs

Seasonal Camps

Winter fun skiing and snowboarding for all levels

West end: 1140 Morrison Dr. Ottawa central: 2766 Lancaster Rd, Ottawa orléans: 520 Lacolle Way, Orléans

We offer GREAT DISCOUNTS on trips, ski passes, lessons at local hills and stores.

Visit us in person or at www.starrgymnastics.com

www.skiextreme.ca

3 Locations serving You:

613-721-4868

Visit our website or come and meet us at one of our pub nights.

Friday Night 4-on-4 starts January 9, 2015 ages 10-13 & 14-16 Jr. Fusion/Synergy II/Synergy I-BYOP starts Saturday, January 10, 2015 ages 6-14 To get info and to register:

To get more information on our programs and to register: www.ottawafusion.ca/r1 www.ottawafusionvolleyballclub.camp8.org/events 62 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

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Go Green

This Winter: Inside & Out!

South Nation Conservation encourages your family to turn winter blues into shades of green with exciting, environmental activities the whole family will enjoy! We encourage you to step outside and experience the natural beauty of the region. Did you know, there are many educational and experiential things you can do this winter? Ideas include: outdoor photography; snowshoeing; windowsill gardening; geocaching; building bird feeders; and animal tracking…to name a few!

Our local Conservation Areas provide fun, educational, active ways to spend quality time with family and friends: all that’s missing is you! For more information please visit our website www.nation.on.ca or contact us at: 1-877-984-2948.

South Nation: Your Watershed to Protect

Giving is in your nature.

Got a watershed lover on your list? How about the gift of cleaner water...or improved habitat wildlife...or outdoor educational programs for the environmental leaders of tomorrow? A gifted donation to your South Nation Conservation does it all!

Online gifted donations can be made using major credit cards, Paypal, or Interac at www.nation.on.ca.

You may dedicate your donation to where it’s needed most, or choose a specific project or cause, like tree planting. You can even dedicate your gift in memory of, or in honour of an individual, group, or organization. As a registered charity and not-for-profit organization, South Nation Conservation accepts donations from the public through its website. For more information or to donate by cheque via regular mail, please contact Ronda Boutz at rboutz@nation.on.ca or 1-877-984-2948, x 251

38 Victoria St., Finch, On | 1.877.984.2948 | nation.on.ca SNC_gifted_donations_ad_2012.indd 1

13-10-15 10:25 AM

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 63

Photos: Courtesy of Kelly Roesler

By Kelly Roesler

y youngest child turned four last November. Four. For some reason, I find this number, this age, staggering. It seems so grown up, all of a sudden. It’s as if, with the flick of a switch, my baby, the youngest of three, has entered a whole new stage, which I suppose she has. She’s a school aged child; not a toddler, not a baby. And it’s surreal. Chloe had been a happy surprise, coming along when I was 30, and fairly well-established in life and my career, with two older children who were very independent. But when she was born, I was happy to hit the pause button on my frantic life and focus intensely on mothering a newborn: breastfeeding, making food from scratch, and getting to experience, once again, those delicious days of nurturing an infant and the pure glee of playing and discovering with a bouncing, exuberant toddler. I felt so lucky to have another chance, and I sensed it was crucial to enjoy and make the most out of every moment with this new, final baby – and I did. But somehow, the time still flew by way too quickly. She started school this September, and I marked the occasion by Instagramming an old photo of us, when she was about three months old. I captioned the photo: “She started junior kindergarten today, and while I’m proud and all, I really miss the days when we had nothing to do but hang out together all day.” I added the hashtag #wistful. 64 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

As my youngest child enters full-day kindergarten, hits up birthday parties galore and masters the art of printing, I’m faced with the cold realization that the baby and toddler years are behind me, this time for good. A distinct pattern has emerged in my social media posts; maybe just a whiff of desperate, a bit lonely, and very classic mom in tone. To commemorate Chloe’s fourth birthday, I Instagrammed another old photo, this one of her in hospital, shortly after her birth. She was wearing the sweetest little green hat, her first hat ever. But there, I’m choking up again. At the still-tender age of four, Chloe is more fun than ever: she’s smart, sassy, adorable, sensitive and kind, possessing pretty much all the great qualities I hoped for. She’s turned out wonderfully and I’m still in awe as I watch her hit a range of new milestones. They’ve just come alarmingly quickly. I’m so grateful for the last go-round with the baby stage, and I am definitely in a kind of mourning for those precious days. I’m sure there are a variety of reasons for this that involve not only Chloe’s rapid development, but my own neuroses as well, not least that the end of baby-making is a super strong marker of the aging process, and of course, a reminder of the cycle of life. The other day, I actually found my thoughts wandering to grandparenting, and not in a bad way. I felt a distinct surge of excitement as in my mind’s eye, I saw myself, once again cradling a small baby, purely and utterly joyful. But in this reverie, the baby is my grandchild. Almost involuntarily, I whispered to myself, “I can’t wait.” Because I really can’t. Join our 5,000+ Facebook fans at www.ParentingTimes.ca

Photo: depositphotos.com © egal

Motherhood Musings

Bye, bye, baby

A AD L I V W C E O N E

THE NATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA

Photo : Christopher Wahl

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nac-cna.ca Made possible by Jerry and Joan Lozinski and The Honourable Margaret McCain, C.C. Rendu possible par Jerry et Joan OTTAWA’S Lozinski, et l’honorable Margaret McCain, C.C. MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING

PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 65

Winter Family Fun Guide

Hot chocolate heaven

There’s nothing more soothing on a frosty winter day than a steaming cup of the classic drink. Parenting Times recently dropped in on some of Ottawa’s most popular spots for this delicious treat.

ot chocolate. It’s the hallmark of winter. Families bond over it while taking a break from outdoor play. Friends enjoy it together, sipping as they chat and laugh in the frigid Ottawa air. Paired with a Beavertail, it makes for the ultimate Canadian snack. It offers comfort, warmth and a rich chocolaty taste that’s irresistible. It nourishes the soul.

But where are some places in Ottawa that serve really good hot chocolate? As the season begins, we wanted to investigate this important question. Turns out, there are many places in the city that serve an excellent cup of hot chocolate. Here, we list some of the ones we visited; you may have your own favourites. If we’ve missed a place that you think offers an unbeatable cup, drop us a line at editor@ottawaparentingtimes.ca.

Truffle Treasures

Photo: depositphotos.com © kozzi2

Where: Two locations: 314 Richmond Road in Westboro, and 769 Bank Street in the Glebe. What makes it special: Truffle Treasures takes pride in its “exceptional and deliciously rich and exotic hot chocolates.” Choose the type of chocolate you want your hot chocolate made with, and they will make it before you. Available with skim milk or soy milk, their hot chocolate is made from real chocolate, cream, spices and so on. For a full list of the various flavours, see their website. Our publisher, Peter Ausland, tried the Pumpkin Spice flavour. He described it as rich and creamy, and very decadent. Website: www.truffletreasures.com – cont’d on page 68

Truffle Treasures Pumpkin Spice

66 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

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IC MUS EDY

FAMIL Y

VA RIET Y

M cO

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 67

Wild Oat Bakery Café

Bridgehead

Where: 817 Bank St., in the Glebe. What makes it special: This drink, served in a simple ceramic cup, is all natural – pure cocoa, no sugar. You have to add sugar yourself. Our editor Kelly Roesler (also a diehard plain coffee and tea drinker) didn’t add any sugar and enjoyed the unsweetened cocoa flavour. She found it a refreshing change as hot chocolate can so often be overly sweet, creamy, heavy or rich. She found it a satisfying, authentic cup of cocoa to enjoy amid a warm, lively atmosphere. Website: Search for “Wild Oat Bakery” on Facebook.

Where: Various locations. What makes it special: Bridgehead is an Ottawa fair trade coffeehouse chain with several locations throughout the city. If sustainability is important to you, you’ll feel great about indulging in a cup of Bridgehead’s hot chocolate, and supporting cocoa growers La Cooperativa Agroindustrial Tocache in northwestern Peru, which has won awards for best international cocoa. Publisher Peter Ausland recently tasted a cup of Bridgehead’s hot chocolate, and he found their take on the drink “tasty, not too heavy, and the price and atmosphere was great.” Website: www.bridgehead.ca

Stubbe Chocolates Where: 375 Dalhousie St. What makes it special: In 1845, Johannes Heinrich Petrus Stubbe established Stubbe chocolates in the northern German city of Meppen, laying the foundation for six generations of chocolate making. In 1989, the Stubbe family moved the company to Canada, and today, their passion for chocolate lives on in boutique shops in Ottawa and Toronto. Editor Kelly Roesler sat down for a cup of regular hot chocolate, and savoured the warm chocolate aroma of the store. The drink, made from pure origin chocolate, was served in a lovely glass mug with cookies. The flavour was rich, creamy and delicious – an ideal reprieve from a wintry day. Website: www.stubbechocolatesottawa.com

Photo: depositphotos.com © grafvision

Winter Family Fun Guide

– cont’d from page 66

Simply Biscotti Café Where: 307 Richmond Rd. and 354 Preston St. What makes it special: Publisher Peter Ausland, who stopped by for a sample, described Simply Biscotti – which offers homemade biscotti and other Italian pastries, as well as a lunch menu and coffees – as a cosy setting with friendly service, “yummy looking hot chocolate with whipped cream, and lots of amazing-looking biscotti and other treats and desserts.” Website: www.simplybiscotticafe.com

Simply Biscotti 68 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

Bridgehead

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From long, leisurely skates on the canal to romping in the snow at Winterlude or spending family time in the warmth of a museum or theatre, Ottawa has much seasonal fun to offer.

Photo: depositphotos.com © dedukh

Winter Family Fun Guide

A sparkling winter in the capital W

Winterlude

Ice skating

Winterlude, the capital’s ultimate winter celebration, is held in Ottawa and Gatineau every February to celebrate Canada’s unique northern climate and culture. This year, Winterlude runs from Jan. 30 – Feb. 16, 2015. Festivities take place in three main spots: ❄ The Crystal Garden in Confederation Park, where you can see breathtaking ice sculptures; ❄ The Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park is a child’s (and winter lover’s) paradise, with thrilling snow slides and plenty of other outdoor activities; ❄ The historic and awe-inspiring Rideau Canal Skateway, which winds through downtown Ottawa and is the world’s largest skating rink.

The spectacular Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest naturally frozen skating rink, is Ottawa’s crown jewel in the winter. The Skateway is 7.8 kilometres long, begins just steps from the Parliament Buildings, and extends to Dows Lake. *Always check the ice conditions before you head out: www.ncc-ccn.gc.ca And if canal ice conditions are less than ideal, bring the family to Ottawa City Hall, where the Rink of Dreams, a refrigerated outdoor skating rink, is open from November to March, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., featuring LED lighting, a heated change hut and picnic tables and benches. – cont’d on page 72 www.ottawa.ca

| |WINTER 70 70 OTTAWA OTTAWAPARENTING PARENTINGTIMES TIMESMAGAZINE MAGAZINE WINTER 2014 2014/ /2015 2015 Rink of Dreams

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Photo: NCC-CCN/Winterlude

Photo: Courtesy City of Ottawa

inter in Ottawa is beautiful. Even as the snow and bone-chilling temperatures set in, it’s a season to be savoured. Whether you’re here for a family vacation, or enjoying a staycation, there are plenty of activities, indoors and out, to make the most of the season in the nation’s capital.

Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ballet JĂśrgen Introducing Children to a Seasonal Favourite

The Nutcracker, a Canadian Tradition

he Nutcracker, A Canadian Tradition brings out the quintessential magic of what is Canada thanks to choreographer Bengt JĂśrgen taking inspiration from Kleinburgâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worldrenowned McMichael Canadian Art Collection. Twentieth Century landscapes make up the stunning 30-foot backdrops, including Franklin Carmichaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church and Houses at Bisset (1931), Tom Thompsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Snow in the Woods (1916), and L.L. Fitzgeraldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trees and Wildflowers (1922) all enhanced by well over 100 costumes in richly coloured fabrics. This is a beautiful Canadian work performed by JĂśrgenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ballet company of the same name, and audiences are naturally charmed by Klaraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s familiar, magical dream journey as she arSeason Sponsor

rives in Canada and experiences winter landscapes filled with snowflakes, lumberjacks, Mounties, and creatures of the woods. This celebration of the wonder of the season is based on the popular traditional story The Nutcracker and the King of Mice by E.T.A. Hoffman, that has been enjoyed by audiences for decades. The balletâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second act is remembered for its celebration of varied dances, and Ballet JĂśrgenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s charming divertissements of raccoons, loons, dragonflies, and bears (made up of young dancers from Ottawaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dance schools, who successfully auditioned for their roles in October) demonstrate Klaraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s longing for the summer months as she travels excitedly through her dreams. The iconic, show-stopping pas-dedeux in the final act is lovingly danced by Lord and Lady Birch as they usher Klara safely home at the end of the adventure.

Dec 13, 2014 CENTREPOINTE THEATRE

Dec 14 & 15, 2014 SHENKMAN ARTS CENTRE 613.580.2700

www.centrepointetheatre.com www.shenkmanarts.ca R0012919479

Ballet JĂśrgenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nutcracker is destined to be a national treasure that will warm the hearts of young and old alike. It is becoming a holiday tradition with families in the Ottawa area who have the joy of seeing this special presentation returning for another successful run. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the perfect opportunity to introduce young children to ballet and the wonderful world of theatre.

Performances take place at the Centrepointe Theatre: Dec 13 at 1 pm and 4:30 pm; and at the Shenkman Arts Centre: Dec. 14 at 7 pm and Dec. 15 at 1:30 pm and 7 pm. Visit www.centrepointetheatre.com and www.shenkmanarts.ca for further information. OTTAWAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 71

Downhill skiing and snowboarding For the downhill ski enthusiasts and thrill-seekers in the family, the Ottawa area offers many challenging hills within a reasonable driving distance, including: ❄ Calabogie Peaks ❄ Camp Fortune ❄ Edelweiss ❄ Mont Tremblant ❄ Mont Cascades ❄ Mont Ste. Marie ❄ Mount Pakenham ❄ Vorlage

Snowshoeing and hiking On a crisp Ottawa winter day, bring the family to explore the Greenbelt by snowshoe. While most trails are used for cross-country skiing in the winter, there are some great spots for snowshoeing and walking. Or enjoy a walk through the lovely Gatineau Park. Featuring 12 trails for snowshoeing, the park offers three groomed trails for winter hiking, ideal for an invigorating walk through the snow-covered forest, an idyllic family winter day outing. www.ncc-ccn.gc.ca

Tobogganing There are many local options for this classic winter family activity, with several tobogganing hills in and around the Ottawa area. The National Capital Commission has set aside three Greenbelt areas for tobogganing: ❄ Bruce Pit (hill is not lit at night). ❄ Conroy Pit: In the city’s south, on Conroy Road, south of Hunt Club. ❄ Green’s Creek: Just west of Orléans. And the City of Ottawa has designated 56 local sledding hills. See the full list at www.ottawa.ca.

72 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

Indoor fun ideas

Photo: Beavertails

Grab your skis and take the family to Ottawa’s trails this winter! The Greenbelt has over 150 kilometres of cross-country ski trails. You can use the trails for free and all are perfect for beginner and family outings. www.ncc-ccn.gc.ca And Gatineau Park, just 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa, has one of the largest networks of cross-country ski trails in North America. You’ll find over 50 trails, with various levels of difficulty. www.ncc-ccn.gc.ca

*Be sure to take a break and enjoy a Beavertail, the mouth-watering Canadian winter staple: whole-wheat pastries served piping hot, topped with butter and your choice of many delectable flavours. www.beavertailsinc.com

When you’re ready to take a break from the elements, there are many fantastic Ottawa-area attractions to keep your family entertained and warm and cosy.

Museums and galleries The variety of museums and galleries in the Ottawa area allow your family to explore everything from Canada’s social and military history to natural wonders and world-class art, an educational and entertaining indoor option for those chilly winter days. And the Canadian Children’s Museum, located inside the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, is always a major hit with little ones. They can get a feel for other cultures through various exhibitions, props, costumes and hands-on artifacts, with a large variety of toys and games. www.historymuseum.ca/childrens-museum

Watch a show Take in some family-friendly theatre at one of the city’s venues, including Centrepointe Theatres, Shenkman Arts Centre, the National Arts Centre or Canadian Tire Centre. Some upcoming shows that will delight your youngsters this season include The Little Mermaid, Toopy and Binoo: Fun and Games, Disney Live! and Alice Through The Looking-Glass (the sequel to Alice in Wonderland).

Skate indoors City of Ottawa arenas charge a small fee for public skating (typically between $1.50 and $2.50 per person). Public Skating Information Line: 613-580-2666.

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Photo: (Middle) Museum of Nature

Cross-country skiing

Photo: NCC/Gatineau Park

Winter Family Fun Guide

– cont’d from page 70

By Rebecca Steffan

A family adventure for all ages, just south of the city

Winter fun in the

he Adirondack Mountains of Northern New York state are just a few hours south of Ottawa, offering endless opportunities for family fun, inside and out. Ski the greatest vertical drop (1,045 metres) east of the Rockies at Whiteface Mountain, enjoy factory outlet

shopping in Lake George, or pursue the freedom of the trail with your family on snowmobile. Winter is a time of celebration in the Adirondacks, when ski resorts and frozen lakes offer postcard-perfect moments – cont’d on page 74 to cherish all season long.

n o i g e R e g r o e Lak e G irondacks d A e th to y a w te a G

Visit Lake George and see for yourself why it’s the place to go no matter what time of the year.

ile in Snowmob winter! rge this Lake Geo

Are you planning to ski or snowmobile in Lake George this winter? If so, let us be of assistance with: Lodging • Trail Map • Ski Areas Restaurants • Shopping • Family Activities Lake George Winter Carnival every weekend in February! Call or email to request our Four-Season Travel Guide Winter in Lake George: There is no better place to inhale.exhale…smile

Winter Wonderla nd

Fa m ily

Ski A

reas!

www.lakegeorgechamber.com • 518-668-5755

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 73

Adirondacks

Adirondack alpine skiing forecast With snowflakes already falling, ski resorts and communities are gearing up for a winter filled with ski resort offerings, world-class sporting events and many holiday festivities. Located about 250 kilometres south of Ottawa, the Adirondack Region presents its winter preview: • Gore Mountain in North Creek, recently named one of SKI Magazine’s Top 10 Mountains in the East by readers for its value, lifts, scenery and terrain variety, debuts a new high-speed quad lift dubbed the Adirondack Express II for the 2014-15 season. • For the non-alpine skier, Garnet Hill Lodge in North River offers cross-country ski and snowshoe events all winter long, including full moon and nighttime ski outings, just a few kilometres from downtown North Creek. The full-service lodge offers access to 55 kilometres of groomed cross-country ski and snowshoe trails, lessons, a ski shop and complimentary bus service to Gore Mountain for alpine-minded guests. • Oak Mountain in Speculator has been undergoing serious upgrades over the past couple of years, and this winter is no different. Expanded snowmaking and a new chef at Acorn Pub & Eatery, Lou Petrozza, who happens to be the runner-up from Season 4 of Hell’s Kitchen, tops the family-friendly ski mountain’s 2014-15 winter season updates.

Winter Family Fun Guide

– cont’d from page 73

Snowmobiling the Adirondacks Home to hundreds of kilometres of snowmobiling trails that connect to statewide and Canadian trail corridors, the Adirondacks are one of the Eastern United States’ premier snowmobiling destinations, with additional connections to more than 16,000 kilometres of groomed and backcountry snowmobile trails. Head to the Moose River Plains in the central Adirondacks to ride the largest block of remote Adirondack public land accessible by snowmobile, with trails accessible via State Route 28 in Inlet. Or head to the Adirondack’s Tug Hill Region, featuring endless kilometres of groomed and backcountry snowmobile trails at the western edge of the Adirondacks.

iskiny.com

Home of the 3rd and 4th Grade Ski & Ride Passport Program. 3rd and 4th Graders Ski For Free. Also discounted daily lift tickets at over 25 ski areas around New York State, up to the minute ski reports, mountain info and more!

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Bookmark it Today!

74 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

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Winter fun in the

Adirondacks

Winter hiking in the Adirondack Mountains Pack your family’s long johns, snowshoes and lots of water when hiking this winter in the mountains. The Adirondacks are home to over 3,000 kilometres of hiking trails – and when winter comes, the hearty still head into the wilderness.

From trails that wrap around Henry’s Woods community preserve in Lake Placid and Point au Roche State Park on the Adirondack Coast, to the programs offered by the Newcomb Adirondack Interpretive Center and the Paul Smith’s College VIC, a winter hike is a great way to stay active in the Adirondacks and glimpse the region’s wide array of wildlife, – cont’d on page 76 from birds to woodland critters.

Ski Free/Stay Free

Here’s one board meeting even your kids would attend.

2 3 8 4 S A R A N AC AV E L A K E P L AC I D, N Y • 1 .800.755. 5 598 HI GHPEAKSRES ORT.COM

The Peak of Winter

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 75

Winter Family Fun Guide

Winter fun in the

Adirondacks – cont’d from page 75

Family shopping in the Lake George Region The Lake George Region is home to Gore Mountain, a world-class alpine skiing and riding resort offering exciting family activities, on the slopes and off. It’s also home to the Lake George factory outlets, a shopping complex located just off of NY Interstate 87, Exit 20.

76 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

The Factory Outlets of Lake George include several women’s, men’s and family clothing stores, with Banana Republic and J. Crew, home decor and outdoor recreation equipment, and much more. Shopping the Lake George outlets makes for a great après ski family activity. You can bring the Adirondacks home with authentic fine furnishings, luxury goods and tasty gourmet items. Find retailers at www.visitadirondacks.com/shopping.

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OPEN YEAR ROUND! Snowshoe & Ice Cleat Tours

More to Explore May-October, Open Daily November-April, reservations suggested

EXIT 34 AND 35 OFF I-87 • 12 MI. SOUTH OF PLATTSBURGH ON ROUTE 9 (518) 834-7454 • AUSABLECHASM.COM GPS COORDINATES/44.525149 -73.462702 OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 77

Winter Family Fun Guide

A spectacular winter getaway to Syracuse, New York

By Leslie Foster

yracuse is the winner of the Golden Snow Globe, celebrating the American city (population over 100,000) with the greatest snow fall. It gets over 300 centimetres of snow each winter, which qualifies it as a true winter destination.

Outdoor fun There are more than 50 state, county and city parks and several nature centres in and around Syracuse. Many offer winter activities for families. Highland Forest (www.onondagacountyparks.com/ highland-forest) features sleigh rides, snowshoeing,

Clinton Square Ice Skating

cross-country skiing, and more. Beaver Lake Nature Centre, west of Syracuse, is home to over 16 kilometres of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails. You can ice skate in Clinton Square (www.clintonsquare.com) in the downtown. You may also wish to visit the Rosamond Gifford Zoo (www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org) at Burnet Park, home to over 1,000 animals. Visiting a zoo in winter lets you observe completely different animal behaviour. Lights on the Lake (www.lightsonthelake.com) is a three-kilometre drive-through holiday lights spectacular celebrating its 25th year. With themed sections and

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life-size displays, the show wraps up with a grand finale at Onondaga Lake Park; 5 p.m.-10 p.m. nightly until Jan. 4. Monday to Thursday, $10/car; Friday to Sunday, $15/car. Syracuse Winterfest (www.SyracuseWinterfest.com) runs from Feb. 12-22. Enjoy fireworks, skating, snowboarding, sledding, skiing, human dog-sledding, a kids zone, and more.

Something different Looking for something a little unusual? Consider taking a self-guided tour of the Haunted History Trail of NY State (www.hauntedHistoryTrail.com). There are maps and audio tours online, with seven stops in the Syracuse area and another dozen a little further out. Discover bone-chilling history and meet ghosts from the past. One of the stops is the Erie Canal Museum (www.eriecanalmuseum.org). The museum is committed to preserving the only weighlock building in the U.S., as well as conserving and collecting canal historical material and promoting the canal’s transformative effects through time.

Museums and Galleries If it gets chilly, you can head indoors and visit one of the area’s 40 museums and galleries, including the widely recognized Everson Museum of Art designed by I.M. Pei (www.Everson.org) and the Museum of Science and Technology (www.MOST.org). The Everson Museum offers an Art Zone, located on the lower level, where kids can create pottery and other works of art. Check the schedule for special family programming on weekends. Also at the MOST, you can enjoy an IMAX movie and over 200 hands-on exhibits and displays.

Destiny USA Destiny USA (www.DestinyUSA.com) is a large shopping centre and indoor entertainment complex, featuring Wonder Works, Canyon Climb, Pole Position Raceway, Dave & Busters (a restaurant and video arcade), and much more. What are you waiting for? Start planning your Syracuse family getaway today.

Must present coupon at time of purchase. Valid toward admission and combo packages. Expires 28/02/15

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 79

Community Profile

In 2014, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario celebrated 40 years as a pediatric health and research centre. Widely known for providing outstanding, family-centred care, it has become the third-largest pediatric research hospital in Canada. Sonia Mendes explores CHEO’s history and what it has meant to the Ottawa community and beyond.

O E H C f o c i g The ma

“In December of 1964, Don Reid decided to run against Charlotte Whitton for mayor,” Post wrote in a document aureen Tourangeau was a young mother in a sharing her CHEO memories. “Wanda and I approached brand-new neighbourhood when she joined a him and he agreed to make a children’s hospital part of his grassroots campaign to build a children’s hospital platform. All of our moms supported him and he WON!” Soon afterwards, Post and O’Hagan presented the in Ottawa. “We started raising money in 1965,” recalls Tourangeau newly-elected mayor with a cheque for $150 – money of the Citizen’s Committee on Children. “I had a baby raised from the coffee parties that the mothers had held and we had just moved into Parkwood Hills – the streets – and requested that he set up an account for a chilweren’t paved or anything – and I went up and down the dren’s hospital. “He was quite speechless,” Post recalled of Mayor Reid. street delivering invitations for a coffee party.” Our vision, Post wrote, was that it should be a standTourangeau and other members of the committee alone children’s hospital serving all of would take turns providing coffee and refreshments to neighbours “There will be 70,000 more Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. It would be a bilingual, multi-disciplinary in their living rooms, requesting a children and youth in our teaching and research hospital affiliated small donation, which was diligently set aside towards the idea of a new region in 20 years than there with the University of Ottawa, and it would be a family-centred place. hospital. are today. The need for our Gaining the support of the Ontario “If you got a five-dollar bill you were living high,” she laughs. “Our group services will continue to grow government and raising funding for was 99.9 per cent stay-at-home moms, and, in the context of an the hospital were uphill battles, but in April 1966 the Ottawa Citizen declared, so we had the time to do these parties aging society, we will have a “Ontario Gives in, Ottawa Gets Children’s and things that aren’t done anymore.” In addition to staging small fund- more crucial role than ever.” Hospital.” When the Children’s Hospital of Eastern raising events, says Tourangeau, the ~ Alex Munter, Ontario officially opened its doors on committee spent much time and energy President and CEO, CHEO May 17, 1974, it was an emotional day raising awareness of their cause. for all those who had worked so tirelessly “We wrote to every politician in the province of Ontario,” she says. “Every councillor, the to see it happen. “We stood out on Smyth Road – dressed in our Sunday mayor – they all heard from us. At first it seemed that nobody was interested – they felt we already had a hospital best – and we were so proud,” says Tourangeau. “We all cried.” – but slowly the idea began to grow.” Post, who had joined the staff before CHEO opened, Shirley Post was a nurse who had just moved to Ottawa with her young family when Wanda O’Hagan, the president helped select other staff members and equipment. She of The Citizen’s Committee on Children, asked her to join went on to become CHEO’s first director of nursing. The mothers from the early days of fundraising were their efforts. Post recalls that Mayor Charlotte Whitton was organized into 10 guilds, and continued to raise money against the idea of a children’s hospital. and support for the hospital. After CHEO opened, they became the volunteers and the auxiliary, and ran the gift shop and the coffee shop. In 2014, CHEO celebrated 40 years as a pediatric The hospital’s well-recognized, huggable health and research centre, widely known for providing mascot CHEO Bear was born on May 17, 1984. outstanding, family-centred patient care. The treasured CHEO Bear enjoys long walks and cuddles, community fixture has grown to become the third-largest and favourite foods include berries and figs. pediatric research hospital in Canada.

Making things ‘bearable’

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CHEO by the numbers – 2013/14: • 6,678 admissions to CHEO • 143,798 babies screened through Newborn Screening Ontario • 69,747 emergency department visits • 171,143 ambulatory clinic visits • 10,443 medical day visits • 7,796 surgeries

On May 17, 1974, CHEO opened its doors.

Photos: Courtesy of CHEO

Photo: Courtesy of Tim Inglis

“CHEO now helps more than 500,000 kids each year through the unique combination of expertise and caring that makes me so proud,” says Alex Munter, CHEO’s president and CEO. “CHEO also has one of the fastest-growing research institutes in Canada. That means our work not only serves our local community, but contributes to the health of children around the world.” While CHEO’s reach extends far beyond Ottawa’s city limits, some of the most incredible success stories come from right here in our own backyard. Tim Inglis is one such example. In 1999, at the age of 11, Inglis was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma, a tumour in his leg, very similar to Terry Fox’s condition. He recalls CHEO being his second home for nearly a year of his young life. “I don’t remember the treatment, but I remember the child-life professionals,” says Inglis. “I actually had a lot of fun during my time at CHEO; I did a lot of throwing up, but they’re pretty good at handling that, and there was always something to do, something to play with. “Part of the magic of CHEO is the design of the building,” he continues. “It’s not a dreary, drab place, it’s a place where people are getting healthy; it’s a bright, friendly atmosphere.” While he lost part of his leg, CHEO surgeons were able to use his ankle and foot to provide Inglis with a working knee, to which he attaches a prosthesis. “Because I’m walking on a foot instead of walking on a stump, I can be more aggressive in terms of physical activity,” Inglis explains. It would seem he hasn’t taken this benefit for granted, either. Now 26, Inglis is an accomplished athlete who enjoys rock climbing, longboarding, snowboarding, kayaking and canoeing. Fittingly, he has used his talent as a scuba instructor to work with the non-profit group Freedom at Depth, teaching people who are quadriplegic and paraplegic how to scuba dive. “For people who are confined to a wheelchair, scuba offers a sense of weightlessness and freedom, as well as the confidence to engage in recreational activities,” says Inglis. “I just adore it – it’s the most fun activity ever; to be able to put a smile on people’s face is worth it a thousand times over.” With a degree in biomedical and electrical engineering under his belt, Inglis says even his professional life is coloured by his relationship with CHEO; he’s now part of a startup company working to develop sensors for use in prosthetics and other medical applications.

Former CHEO patient Tim Inglis fondly recalled his stay at the hospital.

Alex Munter, CHEO’s president and CEO. Maureen Tourangeau, one of CHEO’s many volunteers.

Molly Penny, CHEO’s therapeutic clown shares a moment with a young patient. “To me, CHEO defines Ottawa – it was so central to my growing up and it’s really a fundamental part of our community,” says Inglis. “The way I see it, CHEO has more than doubled my life. “I’m so incredibly fortunate to have come out the other side – I am forever grateful.”

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 81

Feature

‘Pain is a signal our bodies give us’ N

atalie Castonguay has five kids under age six, so when back pain started preventing her from parenting, she knew she needed outside help. “The severity and intensity seemed unique,” said the Stittsville mother, 33. Neck tension, muscle spasms, chronic lower back pain and headaches only got worse with each baby-carry, car seat-hoist or feeding session. Other mothers she spoke with sympathized and encouraged her to seek treatment beyond Tylenol and heat pads. Like Castonguay, many parents dismiss their pain, figuring things will sort themselves out. But like a cracked foundation, back pain can grow from a nagging problem to a full-scale crisis. Shelagh Haynes, a massage therapist and physiotherapist, said patients have limped into her office in tears, suffering back pain so severe it prevents them from parenting. “They put the child first, and that’s only natural,” she said. “I see people at the point where they can’t lift their child, so coming in before it gets to that point is ideal.” Time comes at a premium with new babies, said Dr. Kelly Norman-Lamontaigne, a chiropractor at Back in Balance Chiropractic. Many new parents find it difficult just to leave the house, so they suffer through pain, instead of heeding early warning signs. “Pain is a signal our bodies give us, and picking up on it early is key,” she said. Muscle strain, lower back pain, neck tension, spinal disc injuries and repetitive stress injuries are common, but not normal, said Norman-Lamontaigne, a mother of two. – cont’d on page 84

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Many harried parents ignore the onset of back pain until it becomes unbearable and near-crippling. Sarah Niman explains why maintaining spinal strength is crucial, and how to do it while parenting.

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 83

Feature 84 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

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– cont’d from page 82

The big issue, she said, is making back health a priority for all parents. While there are heightened risks associated with the hormonal changes of pregnancy and birth, fathers and adoptive parents are also in danger of muscle strains and injuries due to improper lifting and holding. Parents are required to hunch over cribs, hoist babies into high chairs and hold them on their hips, sore backs or not. “Use the proper lifting techniques we are taught in the workplace,” said Norman-Lamontaigne. “Bend at the knees and use your legs to do the lifting.” She also recommends baby-wearing with a properly fitted carrier, lying back when nursing or bottle-feeding and using pillows to support arms when seated and holding baby. Haynes advises parents to practise standing properly to avoid repeat stress injury. Line up ribs over hips, pelvis tucked in. Memorize the feeling, she said, and commit to standing this way from now on. She also suggests new mothers relearn how to breathe. “You have room now, but your motor systems are stuck in your upper chest, which can tighten back and chest muscles,” she said. A good start, she said, is to lie down, inhale and

exhale deeply, and let muscles practise expanding fully. Haynes also cautions mothers against jumping right back into high-intensity workouts, saying impatience can cause major problems down the road. “Your body is new, alignment is different,” she said. “Take the time to retrain your postural cues.” Professional treatments, like the eight-week postpartum health series Haynes offers, are often covered under extended health benefits. Castonguay said a regimen of chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage, medication and physiotherapy complement her daily exercises and posture awareness. While there are many options available across the city, parents can also keep back pain at bay with home exercises. Straighten Up Canada is a free app from the Canadian Chiropractic Association that comes with a three-minute stretching routine to help parents strengthen posture and combat back and neck strains. Castonguay said her initial treatments have helped her get through severe pain. With five little people looking to her for comforting hugs, maintaining her spinal strength has become a lifelong practice.

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 85

March Break & Summer Camp Guide

g n i s o o h c r o Seven tips f By Renee Flax

ou are beginning to search for a summer camp for your child, but with all the options, how do you choose? The good news: there is a camp for every child with any interest. For generations, summer camp has been providing children with the opportunity to learn life skills such as self-esteem, leadership and confidence, take part in new activities and participate in hands-on learning. When sorting through the many summer camp day and overnight choices, we recommend families consider the following:

Philosophy and program emphasis Each camp is unique, and provides different programming and approaches. Families need

to consider carefully whether the camp’s philosophy matches their own. Asking questions about learning approaches, how behavioural and disciplinary problems are handled, and how adjustment issues are addressed will give families a better understanding of the camp’s position. Don’t be afraid to ask about policies regarding discipline and communication. The more open families are with camp directors, the better informed they will be when it comes to making a decision.

There is a camp for every child, but not every camp is for every child

Know your child’s interests. There are so many camp options to choose from, but it is important to match your child with a camp with programs that interest him or her.

Club de gymnastique Les Sittelles

Camp d’été Du 22 juin au 21 août, 2015!

Gymnastique artistique et trampoline, jeux, sortie et bricolage!

Gymnastique artistique pour les 4 ans et plus. Entraîneu Trampoline pour les rs bilingues! 7 ans et plus. 2760, ch. Shefﬁeld, Ottawa (Sortie chemin Walkley de l’autoroute 417)

613-742-5098 • www.sittelles.ca 86 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

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p m a c r e m m the right su 3

for your child

Involve the camper

It’s crucial for families to involve the camper in decisions about camp. Search camp options in magazines and online together and, if possible, take a tour of the camp with your child. The more involved children are in the selection process, the more ownership they feel. This helps ease concerns about camp, and can help make a child’s camp experience more successful.

Training and education

Don’t be shy about asking about the education and background of the camp director and staff. We recommend that directors possess a bachelor’s degree, have completed in-service training within the past three years, and have at least 16 weeks of camp administrative experience before assuming the responsibilities of director. At a minimum, camp staff should be trained in safety regulations, emergency procedures and communication, behaviour management techniques, child abuse prevention, appropriate staff and camper behaviour, and specific procedures for supervision. Families should ask about camper-to-staff ratios, and supervision in cabins and for various activities, like swimming and athletics. – cont’d on page 88

with $40+ custom order & promo code CAMPFUN

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OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 87

The cost It’s hard to put a price tag on children’s learning and growth, but parents certainly have their family budgets to think about when considering camp.

For a Day Camp that has

p! i r G try ClimbinG at

Day camp or residential camp? Consider your child’s age and whether your child has had good overnight experiences away from home. This can help you make an informed decision.

REAL

adventure

accomplishment friendship nature

tradition

confidence

MEMORIES

altituDe Day Camp !

March 2 to 6 & 16 to 20 | June 22 to August 28, 2015

Free childcare on site | Registration per day available for Spring Break

reGister online at www.altituDeGym.Ca Please note that this is a French camp. Instructions will be given in French but all counselors are bilingual and will translate guidelines to ensure all activities are understood.

Information 819 205-0959, x205 campdejour@altitudegym.ca

35 St-Raymond Blvd Gatineau QC J8Y 1R5

88 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

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March Break & Summer Camp Guide

– cont’d from page 87

Need more information? Here are some online resources to help you make a well-informed decision about your child’s summer camp experience. Association des camps certifiés du Québec www.camps.qc.ca Canadian Camping Association www.ccamping.org Christian Camping International www.cci-canada.ca Ontario Camps Association: OCA www.ontariocampsassociation.ca The good news is that there is a camp program to fit Newsday, The Journal News, Parent Guide and New York Family. nearly every budget. Some camps offer early-bird specials Renee attended summer camp for 15 years as a camper, counsellor, and group leader. She is the mother of two daughters who were for registering early, payment plans and sibling discounts.

also longtime campers, and grandmother to four grandchildren.

References

Parents shouldn’t be afraid to ask for references. This is generally one of the best ways to check a camp’s reputation and service record. Ask if the camp is accredited. If not, ask why. Accreditation is the best evidence parents have of a camp’s commitment to providing a safe and nurturing environment for their children. Renee Flax is the director of camper placement for the American Camp Association. She has been helping area families find the right camp experience for their children since 1998. Renee has an extensive knowledge of camp programs and philosophies. She is recognized as an authority on camping and has been featured in The Associated Press, The New York Times, The New York Post,

JUNIOR GOLF CAMPS This summer, your child could have a lot of FUN, be SAFE and really IMPROVE their golf game at Pine View Golf Course’s Summer Golf Camps. Junior golf campers will work on golf fundamentals, such as: • Short Game • Course management

• Full Swing • Rules and Etiquette

Signup upfor for summer summer 2014 now! Sign 2015 now! Space is limited! Contact Pine View Golf Course: 613-746-4301 or email camps@pineview.com

5563245

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 89

ages 9-12

March 16-20

from 9 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4 pm

$225 tax incl.

Before and after care available

On the Stage of the OLT!

To register call 613.233.8948 or www.ottawalittletheatre.com

400 King Edward Ave. 613-233-8948

March Break & Summer Camp Guide

On the Stage March Break of the OLT! Drama Camps

SADDLEWOOD Riding Camp Since 1968

Since 1968, Saddlewood has been a dream come true for girls age 6 to 16 who love horses. This unique riding camp offers a superb riding experience in a beautiful setting for the beginner, intermediate and advanced rider. Campers receive two riding lessons per day (English), attend daily horse care and stable management classes, and have a horse of their own to ride and care for. Other activities include swimming, tennis, archery, arts and crafts, drama, dance, guitar lessons and sports activities. RIDING CAMP

Contact: Tel: 705-277-2029 or jjs@saddlewood.ca

749 Bethany Hills Road, Bethany, Ontario, L0A1A0

www.saddlewood.ca

CAMP WANAPITEI

For over 77 years Camp Wanapitei on Lake Temagami has been leading wilderness canoe trips all throughout Canada, including the Arctic. We provide comprehensive in camp and canoe tripping programs focusing on skill development, environmental sensitivity and community. Campers aged 7-18 come for one to eight weeks depending on their program. We instill conďŹ dence, independence and a high level of self esteem in all our campers.

Visit us at www.wanapitei.net or call 888-637-5557 90 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

SALAMANDER THEATRE DRAMA CAMPS for kids ages 10-18, all levels. Register now!

www.salamandertheatre.ca Join our 5,000+ Facebook fans at www.ParentingTimes.ca

Nepean Corona School of Gymnastics Where every child can achieve success!

Recreational Gymnastics Classes for Boys & Girls:

• Dynamo & Spartan: 5 & 6 year old. Classes are 1.5 hrs. • Novice: 7 years old & up. Classes are 1.5 hrs. • Intermediate & Advanced: 7 years old & up. Classes are 2 hrs. (2x per week recommended for advanced)

Winter Session: Dec. 7th Spring Session: March 22nd

Pre-School Gymnastics Classes for Boys & Girls:

Day Camps:

Winter Holiday Camps, March Break & Summer Camps! Full and half day options, with before and aftercare available.

Speciality Programs:

Cheerleading, Acro for Dancers, Trampoline, Private Lessons, PD Days

Birthday Parties are offered Saturdays and Sundays:

• Gymbabies: 6 to 18 mths. Classes are 45 mins • Squirt: 18 mths. to 3 years. Classes are 1 hour • Mighty Squirt and Kindergym: 3-5 years. Classes are 1 hour • Playgym KinderSchool: Twice a week, 3 & 4 years old From 9:15 – 11:15 am. • Preschool Drop-In

Call today to book your child’s next big B-day, for our FUN filled popular parties catered!

Competitive Programs:

Developmental, Invitational, Provincial and National Competitive Programs For Girls and Boys ages six and up – please call to arrange a tryout.

155 Colonnade Road South • 613-224-6524

Celebr atin Excelle g nc since 1 e 972

Visit our website: www.CoronaGym.ca

Depuis

1957

Portes ouvertes: Samedi 6 et dimanche 7 juin 2015

Since

Équitation, tennis, tir à l’arc, chaloupe, pédalo, mini-ferme (chèvres, chiens, chats, lapins, cochons, moutons, paons, poules, etc.), natation, canot, escalade, hébertisme, excursions, athlétisme, artisanat, feux de camp et soirées animées, bricolage, sciences naturelles, mini-golf, jeux (ballon, badminton, jeux coopératifs, etc.). Et plein plein d’autres découvertes !

Apportez votre pique-nique !

10% de rabais avant le 15 avril

Programme de formation pour aspirante-monitrice (PAM)

CAMP MÈRE CLARAC – SAINT-DONAT camp.marie-clarac.qc.ca | camp@marie-clarac.qc.ca 819-424-2261 or 514-322-6912 (sans frais / toll free)

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 91

Celebrating 68 Years of Christian Camping

The Museoparc Vanier Vanier Museopark 2015 Summer Camps

Ages 5-15: One-week residential camping Ages 15-16: Two-week leadership training

July 13-17th July 20-24th August 10-14th August 17-21st

hyanto@ontario.anglican.ca website/registration:

www.ontario.anglican.ca (613) 544-4774 ext. 122 registration opens:

March 2015

Full Camp Program Small Camp Atmosphere

Owned and operated by the Anglican Diocese of Ontario Camp Hyanto 90 Johnson Street, Kingston, ON K7L 1X7

92 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

Information + reservations 613 580-2424 ext. 32001 projet@museoparc.ca 300 des Pères Blancs, Ottawa

www.museoparc.ca

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March Break & Summer Camp Guide

What to look for in a summer day camp

By Stephen Nason

ou know it when you see it: the little things that make you cringe and afraid to leave your child in someone else’s care. Actions speak louder than words, and many parents don’t have much to work with when choosing summer care for their children. Advertising and the reputation of the organizations they are considering are strong factors in decision making. There are various guides to choosing a camp, but many of them suggest calling and speaking to the camp director with a long list of questions.

So how does a parent choose? Look for something of interest to your child

The top five things to consider when choosing your child’s camp – and some important warning signs that should give you pause

You may need child care, and you want a safe place, but you also need to sell your child on why it is going to be fun if you want to get them happily out the door each morning.

Investigate Ask other parents about their camp experiences and consider calling the director of the camp you are considering if you need more assurance – ask about ratios, training, and scheduled activities. Keep in mind: the answers are not as important as the reception you get and the comfort you feel. Now let’s look at those cringe-worthy factors that really demonstrate the ability of the camp to be a safe and positive experience for your child. Here are five things that should give any parent pause for thought as they consider day – cont’d on page 94 camps for their prince or princess.

Fun in FRENCH... On s’amuse en FRANÇAIS

BILINGUAL DAY CAMP (near Carleton University)

Weekly Registration June 22nd to July 31st, 2015 9:00 am – 4:00 pm $190 8:00 am – 5:30 pm $240 For 4-9 year olds Qualified French Teachers Bilingual Counsellors French Class, Sports, Crafts & Water Activities

613.737.9543 www.WestboroAcademy.com OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 93

A cup of joe in one hand and a cell phone in the other Nothing says “I think this job is easy and requires nothing more than my presence” than sipping a cup of coffee and texting. Anyone who has children wishes it were – but it is not!

Fail to plan, plan to fail It’s a business truth that is magnified when it comes to child care! There must be a plan; if there is no minute-

“THE VIDEO GAME PROGRAMMING CAMP with the smallest class size of all computer camps”

A maximum of 4 kids per instructor makes RP4K’s class sizes the smallest in the computer camp industry. RP4K instructors use C#, XNA, Unity 3D, Visual Basic, Java or C++ These are the same tools the pros use! We are now using Java to teach Minecraft Modding and Android Mobile game programming. Summer 2015 will be RP4K’s 12th summer in Ottawa teaching 7 – 17 year olds. Register early and you can choose a 1 or 2 week summer programming camp from 9 different weeks in July and/or August. RP4K is located at Turnbull School on Fisher Avenue.

Call Real Programming 4 Kids™ at 1-877-307-3456 to schedule a FREE TRIAL CLASS. www.realprogramming.com

94 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

by-minute schedule, then you know the staff is pulling activities out of their____, and we all know how well that works for an eight-hour day!

What makes it ‘wow’? Theme parks do this well, and day camps are no different. What is the theme and are there any special attractions that bring the theme to life? Without these attractions, the camp will be boring, and bored kids either create their own excitement or simply refuse to go to camp. – cont’d on page 96

TURNBULL SUMMER LEARNING Grades 1 to 8 • July & August

Summer at Turnbull Offers Something for Everyone

A wide variety of programmes to choose from: • Skill Builders for: 29 successful summers of academics and recreation • Language Arts • Math • French • High School Prep • Writing and Research Skills • Dovercourt Rec at Turnbull • Soong Badminton Camp • RP4K Game Programming

For further information, please call 613-729-9940, or visit our website www.turnbull.ca Join our 5,000+ Facebook fans at www.ParentingTimes.ca

March Break & Summer Camp Guide

– cont’d from page 93

Gee-Gees sPORTs CamPs aRe a sTeP abOve The ResT ChOisiR un CamP des Gee-Gees, C’esT ChamPiOn J A convenient downtown location J Free before and after childcare J Morning snack and daily lunches included J High-quality sports instruction from

Gee-Gees athletes and coaches J Recreational swim sessions J Bilingual camp setting

POuR ObTeniR Plus d’infORmaTiOn fOR mORe infORmaTiOn visiT

J Emplacement pratique au centre-ville J Service de garde gratuit le matin et l’après-midi J Collation du matin et diners quotidiens compris J Enseignement de haute qualité donné par

les entraîneurs et les athlètes des Gee-Gees J Baignades récréatives J Contexte de camp bilingue

www.GeeGees.Ca

613-562-5800 exT/POsTe 4477 GGCamPs@uOTTawa.Ca

OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 95

Where two or three are gathered It should be easy to pick out the staff members – most will be dressed in uniforms and about two feet taller than the kids. But when it is easy to find staff because two, three or more of them are gathered together, then the staff-tochild supervision ratio the management is so proud of means nothing!

The boss is in the office Camp staff members usually include youth and this does not mean that they are not good at looking after

children, but adult eyes and experience provide wisdom and judgement for these “greenhorns.” An adult need not be the counsellor, but there should be some supervision, and the best way to do that is to get out of the office and see what is going on. In the end, if you walk in on the first day and see anything that makes you cringe, ask to speak to the adult in charge and demand better. Stephen Nason is a father of two boys, senior director of programs at Dovercourt Recreation Centre, and teaches part-time in the recreation program at Algonquin College.

S.M.A.R.T. Summer Camp Ages 4-8, Camp from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Highly Qualified Instructors 1 hour before and after care

CAMP INCLUDES:

Safety Lessons Riding the Kiddy Cars Special Guests Crafts & Games Health & Fitness Activities Subsidized spaces available

LESSONS INCLUDE: Home Safety Street Proofing Bullying Prevention Fire Safety Internet Safety Lost in the Woods …and more

Promoting Safety in Ottawa for over 50 Years!

REGISTRATION INFO: Ottawa Safety Council

Tel. 613-238-1513 info@ottawasafetycouncil.ca

www.ottawasafetycouncil.org/childrens-programs/summer-camp

Camp Woolsey

BIG FUN NEW ADVENTURES GREAT FRIENDS DAY AND OVERNIGHT CAMPS

DAY AND OVERNIGHT CAMPS Call 1-877-323-4545, ext. 2461 Call 1-877-323-4545, ext. 2461 or visit girlguides.ca/ON or visit girlguides.ca/ON

A camp for boys since 1925 • Family Camp in August

Where your summer adventure begins… www.nominingue.com 1-866-910-1551 96 OTTAWA PARENTING TIMES MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014 / 2015

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March Break & Summer Camp Guide

– cont’d from page 94

DARE TO EXPLORE

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www.BishopsCollegeSchool.com Summer@BishopsCollegeSchool.com • 819-566-0238 ext. 210 • Sherbrooke, QC OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 97

By Kelly Roesler

An intriguing new biography, You Might Remember Me, recounts the remarkable life of the Ontario-born comedian — an actor, artist and father who became famous for his versatility on Saturday Night Live — and his tragic death at the hands of his wife in 1998.

was just a child, really, when I got hooked on Saturday Night Live in the late 1980s. I was a bit precocious, and developed a strong early love of comedy, particularly satire. A shy, withdrawn child, it was an escape for me. And so when I started watching the iconic sketch comedy show, I fell deeply in love. Admittedly, many of the political sketches went over my head at the time, but there was always much in the 90-minute show that I understood, and made me belly laugh. Most of them involved the Ontarioborn Phil Hartman, who often played authority figures or slick, buttery-voiced shysters, but was a true character actor and could slip into any role seamlessly. Hartman was best known for his brilliant turns in sketches such as “Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer,” “The Anal Retentive Chef,” and for his many impressions, such as former U.S. president Bill Clinton and Frank Sinatra, among others. In my mind, every sketch in which Hartman appeared was a classic, and he quickly became my first favourite comedian. He was always funny but in a brilliant, nuanced way – he didn’t have to rely on shtick or build a larger-than-life persona, as so many other SNL stars did. Hartman’s comedy was pure instinct, skill and genius. But the laughter ended when, on May 28, 1998, Hartman was shot and killed by his wife Brynn, who then killed herself, leaving behind their two children. While the loss of Hartman was grieved by his family, friends, colleagues and fans around, it was only this fall, 16 years after his death, that the first official biography of Hartman was released, written by Chicago journalist Mike Thomas. The book, smartly titled You Might Remember Me – The Life and Times of Phil Hartman, is thoroughly reported, providing a detailed, compelling account of Hartman’s life and death. He was born and spent his first 10 years in Brantford, Ont., before moving to the United States with his family. He built a career as a graphic artist and screenwriter before joining the improv comedy troupe The Groundlings and eventually being recruited for Saturday Night Live, where he was affectionately nicknamed “the Glue” that held the cast and the sketches together. After a hugely successful run on SNL, he left in 1994, andPARENTING took a role onMAGAZINE the NBC| sitcom, Newsradio, 98 OTTAWA TIMES WINTER 2014 / 2015 on which

he worked until his death. The book touches on all aspects of Hartman’s life, including his childhood in Ontario, during which he was reported to have felt emotionally neglected, which seems to have laid the framework for his offstage personality (many described him as passive, detached, remote) and his own parenting. Among the many interesting insights from the book include a glimpse of Hartman as a father. He was described as a loving if preoccupied father to his son Sean and daughter Birgen, who were raised by Brynn Hartman’s family after the couple’s death. “I’m sure that the kids would (have wanted) to have more time (with him) and I’m sure Phil would have wanted to work out more time for them. But he loved them, and they loved him, and they probably would have enjoyed more attention,” Hartman’s brother John said in an interview quoted in the book. But when they were together, Hartman was a dad who loved to play and laugh with his children, Thomas’s book reveals, while Brynn Hartman took on most of the parenting duties, and by all accounts, did it well. The night of the murder-suicide is recounted in detail, of course, and Thomas’s careful, even reporting illustrates the complex dynamic between Phil and Brynn Hartman, as well as the enigmatic personality of Phil Hartman. You Might Remember Me is a compelling read about a truly great pop culture icon who many parents my age and older – and all who enjoy The Simpsons in syndication (Hartman provided many voices over eight years for the show) – likely remember fondly. It has been 16 years since his death, but today, when I watch my treasured collection of Phil Hartman’s best Saturday Night Live sketches, the humour is as fresh, funny and clever as I remember it being at the tender age of nine, and I am transported back in time. To a time when a shy, awkward, child would escape from a lonely childhood to a delightful world of comedy, drawn in by a charming and versatile comic with a warm smile and honeyed voice. I only hope that knowing of the creativity, entertainment and joy Phil Hartman brought to the world in his lifetime, and his enduring legacy as one of the comedic greats, has brought some comfort to his children, as they go on Join ourtheir 5,000+ Facebook fans at www.ParentingTimes.ca without parents.

Photo: St. Martin’s Press

Book Review

Remembering Phil Hartman

It’s time to register for Kindergarten!

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OTTAWA’S MOST POPULAR LOCAL PARENTING PUBLICATION | WINTER 2014 / 2015 99

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