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THE FREE PRESS Thursday, February 6, 2014
Family Day 2014 • Spend time together
Cook together ■ If you ask any adult about some of their favourite memories of childhood, you will invariably hear something related to food. Whether it’s baking with Grandma or grilling hamburgers for a cookout with Dad, cooking is always an important part of growing up. Family Day is a great time to dig out those family cookbooks and try a recipe handed down by the older generation. Your mom’s famous meatloaf or your uncle’s recipe for spinach dip are great things to try with family members of all ages. Maybe you’re looking to make
something you’ve never made before, or perhaps you want to try out a new cuisine. Hitting the library or the web will give you ideas for new recipes, whether it’s trying to duplicate your favourite takeout pizza or make an authentic spicy Indian dish. Let each member of the family choose a recipe that they want to try, whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack. That way everyone gets involved and has their say in what the family eats. Maybe you’ll find a new favourite food or discover that your child is aiming to become the next Mario Batali or Julia Child. Your local grocery store is sure to have a wide selection of ingredients that you may never have tasted before. Wandering the aisles may even spark your imagination. Learning about what goes into a dish will set your family on the road to healthy eating. Taking a few minutes to read the labels on a food item will demonstrate how to make healthy choices and help your children in the future. Finding healthy alternatives to not-so-healthy foods can be a fun experiment, and may end up being tastier than the original food. Many stores will have sections devoted to healthier options, whether they’re glutenfree or just lower in calories.
Learn together ■ Having a day off from school doesn’t mean learning stops for the day. There are plenty of educational things you can do in British Columbia, whether in your own home or outside. How about starting with a trip to your local library? It will hold plenty of books on any topic that you can imagine. Maybe a book of science experiments or a historical novel set in the early days of Canada will stoke your imagination. Let the kids each pick out a book to take home with them and start a lifetime love of reading. Your local bookstore will also hold a variety of options if your child can’t bear to part with his or her new favourite book. A local historical attraction is also a great place to pay a visit. Whether it’s Fort Steele or the Fernie Heritage Museum, there is a ton of history right in your own backyard. Most places will have a museum or heritage building around that can serve as a jumpingoff point for learning more about the city where you live. Learning can be more than just reading though. Pull out the laptop and get your kids to type out an email to a family member or friend outside of B.C. Perhaps they can even tell the person about what they learned at the museum or library! Keeping a journal is also a great way to practice writing and literacy skills. Even if it’s not a daily occurrence, sitting down in the evening to write about the events of the day or week can get kids thinking and practicing their handwriting.
Create together ■ One of my favourite memories was creating an enormous piñata in preparation for a multi-family holiday. We blew up a huge bouncy ball and covered it with papier mache. Our children and those of our friends were young so after my young sons painted the ball white, I drew a score of cartoon characters, shapes and funny animals all around it. Filled with age-appropriate, small toys, puzzles and treats, the big white ball became a major activity for everyone in our three-family group. Every age took turns colouring in the shapes through-out the day, knowing when it was completed the ball would be strung up. The anticipation and excitement was heightened because the reward came with activity and was not immediate. Creating something as a family can mark an important time in your family history. It captures the age and ability of your children, your interests and a point in time. By working together on a project your family can develop new skills, collaborate on something truly memorable and enjoy what each family member brings to the endeavor.
Family Day
! N U F HOORAY,
FUN for the WHOLE FAMILY on British Columbia's 2nd FAMILY DAY February 10, 2014!
Come out and enjoy games and prizes!
FREE ADMISSION Fernie Aquatic Centre 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Mining Keeps Communities Moving Teck’s five mines in the Elk Valley produce more than just steelmaking coal. For generations they have supported families, helped to build communities and fostered economic growth. Have an enjoyable BC Family Day.