Vancouver Family Magazine April 2021

Free April 2021

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Healing with Horses:

Hippotherapy and Trauma Resilience

Local Kid Entrepreneurs

FANTASY PLAY:

THE WORK OF CHILDHOOD

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contents

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FEATURE ARTICLES

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Healing with Horses Two local women, with very different approaches, are on a mission to bring healing through horses.

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Local Kid Entrepreneurs Meet young dreamers who are turning their skills into thriving businesses.

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Fantasy Play: The Work of Childhood How children benefit socially and psychologically from pretend play.

IN EVERY ISSUE

8 18 14 18

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April '21

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • April 2021

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Editor’s Notes

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Mosaic Family Voyage The Messerschmidt family experiences their last winter season in the PNW

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Calendar of Events & Activities

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • April 2021

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EDITOR'S NOTES

Photo by Scarlette Richards

Pure Play I often say I don’t miss my kids being little. I love the freedom of having older kids who can take care of themselves and help out around the house and have mature conversations. But one thing I really miss about having little ones around is their natural impulse to pretend play. The fantastical worlds, stories and characters that kids come up with are truly magical. And on top of the magic, science has revealed that the process by which kids create and act out these narratives is a crucial part of their development. From negotiating conflict to distinguishing good from evil, to developing empathy for others’ experiences, kids learn life lessons from play time that I fear many adults lose as they mature. Kids have so much to teach us if we watch and listen and perhaps even mimic their natural senses of humor, their quickness to love and forgive and their inclination toward pure, unadulterated play.

This month, dive deeper into how kids benefit socially and psychologically from fantasy play (page 18), plus learn how two local women with completely different approaches are on a mission to bring healing to both kids and adults through and with horses (page 10). And from playing hard to working hard, meet a few local kid entrepreneurs who are bringing their imaginative ideas to life (page 14).

www.VancouverFamilyMagazine.com

Volume 20, Issue 4 Publisher

Julie Buchan Julie@vancouverfamilymagazine.com (360) 882-7762

Editor

Nikki Klock Nikki@vancouverfamilymagazine.com (360) 882-7762

Graphic Designer

I-Shüan Warr Ishuan@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

Ad Designer

Philip Nerat addesign@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

Contributing Writers

Kristen Flowers, Rachel Messerschmidt, Sarah Mortensen, Jan Pierce

Ad Sales

sales@vancouverfamilymagazine.com Vancouver Family Magazine is published monthly by Vancouver Kidz Magazine, LLC Address: PO Box 820264 Vancouver, WA 98682 Tel: 360-882-7762 Copyright 2002-2021. All rights reserved.

No portion of Vancouver Family Magazine may be reproduced without the written permission from the publisher.

Vancouver Kidz Magazine, LLC and staff do not recommend or endorse any service, product, or content represented in this magazine or on our website.

The sole purpose of this publication is to provide information on available services and/or products. It is the consumer’s responsibility to verify the accuracy of information given. Vancouver Kidz Magazine, LLC, and/or Julie Buchan and Nikki Klock and staff do not assume and disclaim any liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by error or omission in this magazine or on our website. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.

Nikki Klock, Editor nikki@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

On the Cover: Rachel T. loves horses (and all animals) and is on the Woodland Equestrian Team.

She is pictured on this month’s cover with her neighbor’s horses, Bo and Buddy.

Photo by Heidi Haden Velvet Owl Photography

Lifestyle Family & Wedding Photographer

www.velvetowlphotography.com

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • April 2021

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DreamAhead investment returns are not guaranteed and you •could Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com Aprillose 2021 money by investing in the plan. If in-state tuition decreases in the future, GET tuition units may lose value.

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MOSAIC FAMILY VOYAGE

By Rachel Messerschmidt All photos courtesy of the author.

This last winter was an interesting mix of anticipation, excitement,

Wintertime

Wanderlust

fatigue, and frustration. On one hand, we knew it was our final winter in the Pacific Northwest, and that warm sunny beaches were in our future, as we are currently planning to sail to Mexico later this year. On the other, ongoing COVID-19 angst and general seasonal depression was hanging over our heads.

We really came to love exploring small towns by foot. You interact with a place much differently when you don’t have a car to zip from place to place. We reached our 300-mile goal late in the season—in fact, not even until we were down in Vancouver did we roll over that 300 mark.

But we did it, and have decided it will be a tradition we carry on moving forward.

We decided early on, before even bringing the boat south from the San Juan Islands to Olympia for the winter, that we were OK with being off the boat for the harsh winter season. We’ve lived aboard full time here in the Pacific Northwest for four winters and we no longer feel the need to “prove” ourselves or our commitment to our lifestyle.

Being in Vancouver, though, we did have access to a car and we took advantage of it. Almost every weekend we chose a new trail to hike.

We’d pack our backpacks with snacks, water, and some emergency supplies, stuff our pockets with our masks and hand sanitizer, and head out for a day of fresh air and exciting sights.

Instead of suffering through our final Pacific Northwest winter on the boat, we opted to put the boat into a wonderful marina, pack up our things and take our family south to our hometown of Vancouver. We spent weeks at a time bouncing back and forth between staying with Brenden’s dad at his house and alternately staying with his mom at her apartment. We’re thankful that they always welcome us with open arms despite the chaos that a family of four brings into a home accustomed to just one adult.

With spring now upon us, we’re focusing more heavily on getting the boat prepared for another cruising season. But even more so, we’re readying ourselves and the boat for a daunting offshore passage. Mexico awaits.

Sadly, we did not get to spend the same amount of time with my parents.

They live further from town outside of Woodland and their internet connection simply cannot support both Brenden and I working remotely on their network.

Rachel Messerschmidt and her family are Clark County natives currently living and cruising full time aboard their sailboat, Mosaic. In the Pacific Northwest currently, they are preparing to leave for Mexico in August or September of this year. Rachel blogs about her life and journey at www. mosaicvoyage.com and shares her family’s adventures in a monthly column in Vancouver Family Magazine.

Additionally, like so many others this season, we had to make lots of tough choices on whether visiting family and friends was responsible during the winter rise in COVID-19 numbers. We made the hard decision to remain isolated from people we would have loved to have seen and hugged. Still, I am thankful that our choices have helped keep everybody safe.

Last year, when COVID-19 was just hitting the world, we gave ourselves a family goal of walking 300 miles over the course of the cruising season. We knew that getting outside and walking was one activity that COVID-19 wouldn’t be able to take away from us. We could explore our world on foot, get good exercise and see the communities and destinations where we would stop.

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • April 2021

Kayaker. Musician.

Pediatrician.

Meet Curtis tvc.org/meet-curtis

Photos: Page 8, top: The author's daughter, Kali, points excitedly to Oregon's Niagara Falls last winter.

Bottom: The author and her family have enjoyed many miles of hiking this past winter as a safe, COVIDappropriate way to get exercise and explore.

Page 9: Sunlight filters through the trees in this cell phone snapshot by the author on a wooded backroad headed for a remote trailhead.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • April 2021

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Feature: Healing with Horses

Healing with Horses: Hippotherapy and Trauma Resilience

By Sarah Mortensen A young patient waves while on a horse during therapy at Healing Steps Equine Centered Therapy in Battle Ground.

Photo courtesy Kelsey Herman.

“You’ll never lie to a horse,”

Kelsey Herman OTD, OTR/L says to her equine centered occupational therapy patients at Healing Steps Equine Centered Therapy in Battle Ground. As a lifelong lover of horses, Herman began her doctorate program at Pacific University knowing she wanted horses to be a part of her career. “Occupational therapy and horses are a match made in heaven because the horse is very versatile as a tool,” she told me. “Horses can be used to address physical deficits, emotional challenges, social skills, and mental health. But what makes horses irreplaceable in therapy is the connection between the horse and rider.” This connection is more than just friendship between a human and animal—science has proven that horses help patients overcome a variety of conditions.

Dynamic Therapy Partners When Herman says that you’ll never lie to a horse, what she means is that as herd animals in the wild, horses have instinctive skills to sense and match the emotions, and even the heart rates, of those around them.

“Without words they make you feel safe, seen, connected, loved and so many other emotions that are hard to put into words,” says Herman.

Like humans, horses are highly expressive in their faces, using the nostrils, eyes and ears and vocal sounds to express their emotions.

As a patient gets to know the horse, it changes their motivation during therapy. “Kids forget they are doing a challenging task in therapy because of the bond with their horse. I am able to ‘push’ and challenge them far more than I am able to in the clinic setting which in turn, yields growth that is truly remarkable,” says Herman.

The word for equine-facilitated therapy is hippotherapy, stemming from the Greek word hippo, meaning horse; and what sets hippotherapy apart from other types of therapy is the unique feeling that riding a horse provides. “[It is] a dynamic movement that is impossible to replicate in any other

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setting,” explained Herman. “The movement of the horse alone can be used to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system or vestibular and proprioceptive sensory systems that increase body awareness, emotional regulation, and to improve processing of other systems like the tactile or auditory systems.

This means that by solely manipulating the horse’s movement to be slower or faster, inconsistent speeds or directions, I have the power as a therapist to deliver exactly what the patient needs. In a clinic setting I might use a swing or a bolster, but [neither] are as easily and effectively manipulated as the horse.”

Saving Horses, Helping Survivors The horses that Herman uses in her practice live at Grace Therapeutic Horse Program, just outside Battle Ground, and most them have been rescued from the local Clark County Adopt-a-Horse program or a kill pen. After rehabbing the horses to a healthy state, they work toward training the horse to be trusting and patient with their riders. “I believe the rescue horses display more of a connection with the kids, more pride in their ‘jobs,’ and more appreciation for the love they receive than their counterparts who maybe haven’t had as much adversity in their lives. I am a firm believer that the horses at the barn know they have an important job, and they take their job very seriously,” says Herman.

Herman is the only certified medical professional at Grace Therapeutic Horse Program. As a Christian-based ministry, they strive to offer community outreach programs for a variety of people who could benefit from spending time with the horses. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, youth from a local youth correctional center would visit the barn for a weekly outing. Additionally, the horse program offered “open barn” hours inviting children to come enjoy time riding the horses, as well as a craft and pancake breakfast. With current restrictions, they are offering a program catered to victims of abuse and trauma and

hope to bring back more programs soon.

“I wish I could better describe the honor I feel each time I work with a horse who chooses to trust me, work with me, love me and respect me, despite the fact that they absolutely do not have to listen to a thing I ask, as they are ten times my size. But they still choose to,” says Herman. “That is powerful, and irreplaceable, and I attribute what I’ve learned from loving and being loved by horses to molding me into who I am today as a wife, sister, daughter, friend, and therapist.”

Holistic Experiences Meghan Hindi, of Yacolt, also attributes much of her life learning to working with horses, and also now shares that connection with others. “My experience with horses has been paramount to my healing, and to my understanding of myself,” says Meghan Hindi, owner of Wildish Way, a farm in Yacolt where Hindi lives and works. As an abuse and trauma survivor herself, Hindi never expected her personal recovery journey to include owning and operating a farm where other survivors would gather to overcome their pasts, and even find joy. But that's just what has happened.

“I want to provide holistic, alternative forms of healing, since traditional therapy can be a real challenge for a lot of people,” explains Hindi. “Healing through horses, dance, art, garden care and a positive tribe of women was what carried me out of the darkest time of my life.” Unlike Herman, Hindi is not a licensed therapist, social worker, counselor or medical professional. She also does not subscribe to any one method for her program, but instead completely individualizes it for each attendant.

She refers to herself as a trauma guide and empowerment coach: someone who has been in a similar place and who helps others to find their own strength and inner light. “I want to create a place where a survivor can feel continued on page 12

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • April 2021

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Feature: Healing with Horses (cont'd) continued from page 10 cherished, wild and truly free, and for there to be a strong sense of community to it.”

Go to healingstepstherapy.org to learn more about Healing Steps Equine Centered Therapy.

Occupational therapist, Kelsey Herman, works with a patient.

At her residence, Hindi invites clients to come experience the transformative power of being with horses through her program. In order to make sure that Wildish Way is a good fit for the individual, Hindi begins with a complimentary phone or email introduction. After that, clients may schedule their first session at the farm. Private one-hour sessions are $80-$120, priced on a sliding scale. During the private session, clients tend to the horses, learn natural horsemanship training and practice skills such as grooming and walking. Throughout this experience, clients learn to set healthy boundaries, speak up for themselves, gain self-confidence and relax under pressure. They also learn to trust the horse and their own intuition, and they are given an opportunity to share their story with someone who truly understands. Not only will Hindi listen to their story, but in many ways the horse will as well. Like most of the horses at Grace Therapeutic Horse Program, all of the horses at Wildish Way are rescued horses who have suffered trauma themselves. For this reason, Hindi invites the horse to choose the client instead of the client choosing the horse. “Then, you have the joy of experiencing what it feels like to deeply connect with an animal and feel that simple, genuine love,” says Hindi. “What is even more beautiful is that as the horse helps them heal, they help heal the horse’s heart and spirit as well. As trauma survivors, most of us have been forced to do things or live in a way we didn’t want to, and the horses are no different. Just like you are free from that when you’re here [with us], so are they.”

“He Chose Me” Hindi’s first experience being “chosen” by a horse happened in a similar way. A week after her mother (and abuser) passed away from ALS, she was looking to rescue her first horse. “I told the woman at the barn that I was pretty open, but that I didn’t want a bay

Photo courtesy Healing Steps Equine Centered Therapy.

thoroughbred. She laughed and said, ‘OK, well I guess that one isn’t for you,’ as she pointed across the pasture,” recalls Hindi.

“As if the horse had heard her, he looked at me and started walking toward us. He walked all the way across the pasture and put his forehead on my chest. I felt the pain of my grief just fall out of me and instantly cried, knowing I couldn’t ever leave him behind. He chose me and I would never be the same again.” This

letter” expressing self-worth and personal affirmations. This letter is left behind for the next client to read and be uplifted as they begin their own experience for the day. “The change I see in these women after only a few sessions is so amazing. They’re so powerful!”

particular horse, Star, had been a severely overworked racehorse and was untrusting of people. “I learned in the next few days that Star could barely be ridden, he just didn’t want to be. He wanted to stand with me, have me hold him, walk with me and just be loved. He was done being used.” It took a long time for Star and Hindi to learn to work together and for Hindi to accept that Star would not be the kind of horse she had originally wanted to own. “Through the next few years, his stubborn spirit taught me how to not only love him through tough times, but also how to love myself, my children and humanity. My journey, my healing and this program, wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for Star.”

retreats. With more land, Hindi also plans on expanding options for clients to come and connect with not just the horses but all of nature. She even envisions inviting other types of providers, including clinicians like Herman, to use her farm and garden space to treat patients in a natural environment. “Everyone that . . . schedules a session or attends an event helps us get a little closer to that dream [of expanding] becoming a reality.”

Eventually, Hindi would go on to rescue four more horses, each needing their own special care and each teaching her something about herself in return, such as how to relax her body, be present in the moment and become more patient. “Once I know more about my client’s story, we work on learning methods for anxiety release and feeling safe in our bodies. I want to help them leave that first day with real tools to improve their quality of life. I want them to have easier days, less anxiety, better sleep, more self-awareness and confidence, and ultimately, I want them to find true love for themselves.” At the end of each session, the client is invited to write a “love

The long term vision for Wildish Way includes obtaining a larger property in order to build a designated space for day and weekend

Whether you or a loved one would benefit from Herman’s clinical training or from Hindi’s alternative approach, you might say both women are following the “Hippo”cratic oath to protect their charges (both equine and human) and help them all toward healing.

Sarah Mortensen recently completed her degree in marriage and family studies and works for Vancouver Public Schools as a paraeducator. When Sarah is not reading to her kids or students, she is probably in her backyard taking care of her garden. She also enjoys hiking, hot chocolate, and dressing up for Halloween. She lives in Vancouver with her husband, son and daughter.

Go to WildishWay.com to learn more about Meghan Hindi’s work with trauma survivors, and visit VancouverFamilyMagazine. com for our editor’s review of Hindi’s children’s book “The Healing You Can Do” (self-published, 2019).

Meghan Hindi laughs with her horse, Bentley, at Wildish Way.

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • April 2021

Photo courtesy Meghan Hindi.

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Feature: Meet the Young Dreamers

Meet the Young Dreamers: Local Kid Entrepreneurs

By Kristen Flowers

W

hen asked by an adult what she wanted to do when she grew up, 10-year-old Amira Ashley announced she wanted to a be a boss. With her ambition and determination on display, her enthusiasm should have garnered support and encouragement. Instead, the adult in her life who heard Amira say this tried to crush her dreams before they could blossom. Amira’s mother, Amber-Ashley Dines, is still shocked when she recalls that adult’s response: “Little girls that look like you can’t be bosses. You might need to pick something else. What about a cashier or something else?”

dreams,” she says. “She does all the work.

She works her business and goes straight for it. They call me the boss with the gloss.”

Dines knew racism was and is alive and well, but surely not for her kids, and not in 2020? “I was mortified, and her little heart just broke into pieces.”

At the rate Amira is going, there is no doubt that she will succeed. She’s putting in the practice to run a corporation one day.

With the strength and resilience of someone twice her age, Amira wiped off the tears, confidently put the ugliness behind her, and went after her dreams anyway. Last year, with Dines’s support, Amira created Boujee Vegan Girl, a beauty line featuring lip glosses in vibrant shades and delicious scents like pineapple, tangerine, bubblegum, and wild cherry. But Amira says it’s not just about the fun colors and scents—it’s how her makeup can make someone feel, and she wants everyone to feel like her when they put on her makeup. “It makes me feel so happy inside and so pretty,” she says, “and you just feel like a princess in a castle.”

For a business to sell out of its products consistently in any situation is cause for celebration, but to do so after launching during a pandemic requires a little special something.

That special something is Amira.

Her sweet, bright voice commands you to listen as she talks about the future. At 10 years old, she is already a boss, and she knows what that entails. “The boss, she goes for her

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In addition to going to college, Amira already has future business expansion in mind for her future. “I want to have so many other products.

I would like to have sleep masks because sleep masks are my favorite. I wear one every night. I would like to have shirts. I would also like to have purses cause I’m very into purses.

And I would also like to have jewelry like rings or necklaces, or bracelets and headbands.”

Leah Remillet is a former resident of Clark County and the founder of TheCEOKid. com, a step-by-step online program for kids who want to start a business from home.

Remillet says kid-run companies provide the practice children need to be future leaders of industry. “I have had a lot of fun [discovering] incredible people that we admire, who were kid entrepreneurs,” she says. Remillet cites Walt Disney and Bob Iger, a businessman and former CEO of the Disney corporation, as two who reminisced about their childhood businesses while running successful companies.

Even if it’s just knocking on neighbors’ doors and asking to mow their lawns, kids learn and develop essential skills in the process of running a business, such as crucial communication skills. Talking with potential and current clients, interacting with workers at the post office when they ship out their products—all of these experiences provide practice for in-person dialogue that is vital for future business leaders. It’s a hands-on skill that requires practice, and one you can’t learn at a computer.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • April 2021

Learn more about all of these kid entrepreneurs here: www.shopboujeevegan.com www.keychainsforkindness.com www.facebook.com/lillys.aplacafarm If your child is interested in starting a business, check out TheCEOKid.com to access the course and valuable resources.

Photos: Left: Keoni of Vancouver holds one of the keychains he made to raise money for fellow students in his Keychains for Kindness.

Photo courtesy April Ching.

Right: Amira Ashley shows off her vegan lip gloss line. She calls herself the Boss with the Gloss.

Photo courtesy Amber-Ashley Dines.

Another key business skill is kindness, and it’s something Keoni of Vancouver has already learned. The 8-year-old caught the eye of national news outlets around the country in early 2020 when he used his business proceeds to pay off all of the student lunch debt at his school. It all started as a craft he made for Kindness Week at Franklin Elementary in Vancouver. Once the week was over, he decided to turn it into a full blown business after hearing his parents talking about how football player Richard Sherman paid off a school’s lunch debt. There was no doubt in his mind he could do the same thing.

The reason was personal for Keoni. After being $0.50 short one day at lunch, the school announced he was out of money, and the feeling of insecurity stayed with him. His mother, April Ching, remembers fixing the slight oversight right away by adding more money in his account. Still, she saw how acutely the moment stayed with him. “It made him fearful that he wasn’t going to get lunch,” she says. “We saw the impact that it had on continued on page 16

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Feature: Meet the Young Dreamers (cont'd) continued from page 14 him, and so when he said he didn’t want other kids to feel that way, it was pretty impactful.”

Enlisting the whole family, Keoni got to work making keychains. They initially thought they would sell a few to friends and family, but orders started coming in from around the country. Flocks of reporters started calling.

Although Keoni was scared to see himself on television, he persevered until he paid off the entire $4,015 school lunch debt. It’s a moment that Ching will never forget. “We had so much gratitude for everyone who was willing to help with the project. When you see your child wanting to help someone else and wanting to do it just because they want to help, and not even really understanding the impact, it can’t help but make your heart swell.”

Amie Adams feels the same way about her daughter when she makes a sale. Lilly’s greatgrandmother taught her how to sew, and she picked it up quickly. She started making stuffed alpacas just because she liked them.

When Ridgefield Elementary held a craft fair, she decided to put her creations on sale.

That’s when Lilly’s Alpaca Farm was born.

At that first craft fair, Lilly sold out of alpacas before the craft fair even opened. They were so popular that people began placing orders for them—not just kids but also adults. When she brought them back the following year, people knew not to wait, and she sold out and took even more personal orders.

If these were just normal alpacas, they might not have sold out as they did. But these were born of Lilly’s love and creativity. Each alpaca is unique and comes with a character “care kit.” It tells the owner where the alpaca was born and what hobbies they enjoy. One alpaca was sports-themed, and one even came with

an ice cream truck. It takes Lilly 30 minutes to hand-sew an alpaca, but the care kits take much longer. This is where Lilly shines. She delights in seeing people pick out the alpaca that’s perfect for them. “It makes me really excited because a lot of the times, they’re excited too.”

For Adams, it’s gratifying to see her daughter succeed. It’s also a heartwarming family affair to watch Lilly’s business through the eyes of her great-grandmother, who taught her the skills. “She just loves having Lilly come over and watching her imagination go wild,” says Adams. “And it’s so fun watching all the work she puts into this and how motivated she is to do it.”

Amira, Keoni, and Lilly all have unique businesses and different stories behind what fuels them. So, if your kid has an idea, let them go for it. Remillet from TheCEOKid. com reminds us that it’s OK if they don’t have all the answers yet. “Entrepreneurship, as a whole, is all about learning as you go. Nobody starts a business having all the answers, and nobody gets it all right all the time. So, [starting a business as a kid] is a really safe space where they can make mistakes, learn, grow, and push themselves to get out of their comfort zone.”

TEEN-PRENEURS: The Bear Game

By Nikki Klock

During the COVID-19 school and business closures, while many of their peers were struggling to find activities to fill their time, Austin Lee and Colton Harris, both Union High School students and friends since kindergarten, found a way to take advantage of the extra time. One day in summer 2020, Austin called Colton out the blue and asked, “If you could make a board game, what would you do?” It kicked off a project which

they

eventually

called

The

Bear Game, an original strategic card game similar to Exploding Kittens and Unstable Unicorns, where opponents

Kristen Flowers is the host of the morning show, Nick and Kristen in the Morning on 99.5 The Wolf. She lives in Vancouver and currently blogs for her own website, AccordingtoKristen. com. She moderates the Positive Parenting Posse group on Facebook, a page dedicated to sharing positive and helpful tips about parenting. In her spare time, she’s working on her debut novel and making everything she possibly can on her new Cricut maker.

play various delightfully designed bear cards to attack others and defend themselves.

Once

the

game

was

developed, a plea to friends and family to preorder the game funded the first print run, which they promptly sold out of—both direct to consumer and at local stores like Kazoodles and Bat Cave Games. When I met Austin and Colton to learn their story and play a round of The Bear Game, they were in the process of preparing to order their second run, and hoping to continue to expand discovery and sales of The Bear Game.

Learn more about their story, their team and their game at www.threefreetrees.com.

16

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • April 2021

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • April 2021

17

Feature: Fantasy Play: The Work of Childhood

a t s n y P l : a y a FTHE WORK OF CHILDHOOD

By Jan Pierce

We’ve all heard that play is the work of childhood, and it’s true. And fantasy play in particular—pretending to be a dinosaur or a king or queen—is a kind of play that children especially benefit from.

Cheryl Johnson, M.Ed., former child development program coordinator at WSU Vancouver says, “Fantasy or imaginary play is crucial in a young child’s life. The research shows that when children pretend play, higher order thinking skills take place. They are enriching their language development, practicing negotiation skills, problem solving and learning social skills.”

Leah Pickering, owner of Kazoodles in Vancouver and a certified play expert through American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) agrees, saying that open-ended imaginative play is a recipe for happy, healthy kids. When children play without overdirection from adults, they enter the world of imagination. They’ll live in magical settings

and pretend worlds. They’ll not only have fun, but they will find ways to work through reallife problems. They’ll learn to resolve conflicts through role play and work through any tendencies to behave in impulsive ways that would have consequences in real life.

We don’t have to encourage most children to pretend; in fact, pretend play is universal amongst children from about the ages of 2 1/2 to 6 or 7 years of age. Left to their own devices, children will engage in an endless variety of imaginary conversations, storylines and adventures. And research has shown that children engage in fantasy play with more intensity and intentionality than in more formal play such as a baseball game or a board game.

The Value of Fantasy Play When children engage in fantasy play, they’re doing a lot more than playing. First, one of them comes up with a play idea, creates the play scenario and convinces others to join in the fantasy. Then the negotiations begin as to which role each will play. What will happen?

What is the story they will act out? Children act out the fantasy, pretending and allowing the story to unfold as they go. Maybe there is a spaceman and a pet monkey, both set to explore. And, then in the course of the acting out, they may encounter a problem to be solved. The monkey gets scared and won’t enter the spacecraft. Just think of all the creativity and problem solving that is happening in that story.

All of the above activity involves the social skills of negotiation, empathy for others and the ability to orchestrate a plan. In addition, children will share their joint knowledge of the vocabulary involved with a certain scenario.

For example, in playing King and Queen they may use such words as castle, moat, prince and princesses, and knights. And, they may

18

experiment with kingly and queenly language such as “You shall serve me.” Or “Yes, Your Highness.”

As the fantasy play continues, there will invariably be opportunities for social skill development. When a child goes off-script, the others may have to pull him back in. If an argument arises, one of the group needs to intervene with a solution. The rules must be decided on and then implemented. Often the negotiations for rules and how to play take up a major part of the fantasy session. Not to worry. These negotiations are an important part of the entire process.

In fantasy play, major life themes are explored.

The superhero wants to save the world, fears and insecurities are overcome and good always wins out over evil. This is important work for young children. Some of the universal themes recurring in fantasy play are: good vs. bad, big vs. little, brave vs. cowardly, oppressor vs. oppressed (good guys, bad guys), security vs. fear and love vs. hate.

How Parents Can Foster Fantasy Play In many schools today, fantasy play has been taken out of the curriculum in favor of “lessons.” So it’s even more important for parents to encourage this sort of open-ended but extremely important play in the home. Here are some things you can do to encourage your children to jump into fantasy.

• Read children's books that are rich in fantasy. Fairy tales, folktales and adventure stories help children envision other worlds and environments. They also provide basic vocabulary for play in a new realm.

• Provide props and dress-up clothing to invite fantasy play. It doesn’t take continued on page 20

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • April 2021

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • April 2021

19

Feature: Fantasy Play: The Work of Childhood (cont'd) continued from page 18 much: an old scarf, a bike helmet, a plastic sword, whatever you have that can spark imagination.

• As your child plays, ask leading questions such as “What are your animals up to today? Are they on a camping trip or are they flying to the moon?”

Once children get the idea of fantasy play, they’ll come up with their own ideas and plans.

• As much as possible, allow your children to organize and play out their scenes independently. Even if arguments ensue, it’s best to let children find their own solution to the problems. You might want to ask questions after the fact such as “How did your trip to the moon go?” or “What else could you have said when Jon became angry?”

• Be a cheerleader for your child’s creative ideas. In all areas of play—arts and crafts, handson creation with play dough or water, and in fantasy play—be the encourager who invites your child into the world of fantasy and champions their efforts.

When children are left on their own to create their unique fantasy experiences they’ll be honing their communication and negotiation skills. They’ll be extending their vocabularies and learning to compromise and cooperate.

They’ll try to keep the story going and they’ll problem solve when it stalls. And as they’re through flying to the moon or saving the planet from disaster, they’ll be done just in time for dinner.

Left to their own devices, children will engage in an endless variety of imaginary conversations, storylines and adventures. And research has shown that children engage in fantasy play with more intensity and intentionality than in more formal play such as a baseball game or a board game.

Jan Pierce. M.Ed., is a Vancouver retired teacher and writer. She is the author of “Homegrown Readers” (Homegrown

Publications, 2015) and “Homegrown Family Fun” (Homegrown Publications, 2016). Find her at www.janpierce.net.

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • April 2021

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • April 2021

21

CALENDAR OF EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Calendar

March '21 S

7 14 21 28

M 1 8 15 22 29

T 2 9 16 23 30

W 3 10 17 24 31

T 4 11 18 25

F S 5 6 12 13 19 20 26 27

1 THURSDAY

The Clark County Historical Museum’s Speaker Series (online). A monthly exploration of Clark County history with industry experts, community members, and local artists. For the 2021 season, the Speaker Series central theme is “The Stories that Shape Our Community: Past, Present, Future.” Explore the stories, struggles, and triumphs of the various people that call Clark County home. Attendance is free for members, $5 for non-members. Find viewing instructions and purchase tickets at cchmuseum.org. 7-8:30 pm

2 FRIDAY

Downtown Camas First Friday – “Spring Into History.” Explore the history of Downtown Camas. Take part in a self-guided historic walking tour, art shows, after-hours shopping, games, prizes, the unveiling of 3 historic interpretive panels and more. Virtual activities start on Monday, March 29 and in-person First Friday activities are on First Friday April 2, 5-8 pm. Downtown businesses will be open and have specials at select locations. 5-8 pm

3 SATURDAY

Vancouver Farmers Market in Downtown Vancouver, at 8th St and Esther St. Fresh produce, flowers, prepared food, artisans and more! Go to vancouverfarmersmarket.com for up-to-date safety guidelines. Saturdays and Sundays through October 31. 9 am-3 pm

4 SUNDAY

Vancouver Farmers Market in Downtown Vancouver. (See Apr. 3) 10 am-3 pm

6 TUESDAY

Gentle Yoga (Online through FVRLibraries).

Free yoga class focused on gentle strength and stretching as well as calming the nervous

22

of events

activities

Have a community event that you want to share?

Go to www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com and click on “Calendar” to submit your event. Deadline for print calendar submissions is the 1st of the month prior to the issue.

Check out our website for even mo re local events .

Events are subject to change. Please contact organization directly to confirm. All library events are free and open to the public.

system. Class will include poses on the floor, seated, and standing and adaptations will be given to make class as accessible as possible. Go to fvrl.org to register and for viewing instructions. 3-4 pm

10 SATURDAY

Vancouver Farmers Market in Downtown Vancouver. (See Apr. 3) 9 am-3 pm Sensory Storytime (Online through FVRLibraries). Emphasizing interaction and movement, designed for children on the autism spectrum, those with difficulty processing sensory information, or any who prefer an alternative to a traditional storytime.

View on FVRL’s YouTube channel at youtube. com/user/FVRLvirtual. 10-1:30 am

Pacific Northwest! From Seattle’s Harry Allen (born Nell Pickerell) to Idaho’s Joseph Monahan (born Johanna Monahan) and beyond, Peter shares their stories, their society’s understanding of their gender identities, their relevance to our contemporary times, and how historians uncover and make sense of the challenging, problematic, at times heart-breaking, and at times triumphal stories of past peoples like them and like ourselves.

Tickets are $10 for a virtual showing and includes a 32-oz growler from Barlow’s Pub. Find viewing instructions and purchase tickets at cchmuseum.org. 7-8:30 pm

17 SATURDAY

Vancouver Farmers Market in Downtown Vancouver. (See Apr. 3) 9 am-3 pm

Virtual Trivia Night, through Camas Public Library. Enjoy a lively trivia night from the comfort of your own home! Join with a team, or be assigned a team at the event. You must have a computer with video/audio and Zoom.

Free to play, and we encourage you to have snacks and beverages handy. For adults and teens. The second Saturday of every month.

Registration required at cityofcamas.us/ camaspubliclibrary. 7-8:15 pm

18 SUNDAY

11 SUNDAY

19 MONDAY

Vancouver Farmers Market in Downtown Vancouver. (See Apr. 3) 10 am-3 pm

13 TUESDAY

Gentle Yoga (Online through FVRLibraries).

(See Apr. 6) 3-4 pm

15 THURSDAY

History on Tap Presents: “History of Transgender People in Washington and the American West” with Peter Boag, PhD (Virtual Showing). Raise a glass with Clark County Historical Museum and Kiggins Theatre as we explore the history of the

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • April 2021

Spring Classic Duathlon, Half Marathon, 5K & 10K. Benefits Special Olympics Oregon.

Kids 12 and under race free, ages 13017 race for 50% off. Register and details at whyracingevents.com. 7:45 am Vancouver Farmers Market in Downtown Vancouver. (See Apr. 3) 10 am-3 pm

Re-Imagined Radio presents The Immortal Sherlock Holmes. Get out your Deerstalker hats, and dust off your powers of deduction as Metropolitan Performing Arts and other community volunteers air a recorded performance of “The Immortal Sherlock Holmes.” Tune in on partner radio station KXRW FM, Vancouver. 12-1 pm

20 TUESDAY

Gentle Yoga (Online through FVRLibraries).

(See Apr. 6) 3-4 pm continued on next page

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continued from previous page

21 WEDNESDAY

Washougal READS (Online through FVRLibraries). Washougal Community Library is partnering with Washougal High School to provide community book discussions through Washougal READS. We will read and discuss books over the fall of 2020 through Spring of 2021. Everyone in the community from students, business owners, and your next door neighbor are invited to participate. The discussions will be online in a positive and safe space led by Rachael Ries, branch manager of Washougal Community Library, and Hillary Marshall, librarian at Washougal High School. Let’s keep Washougal reading and having important conversations to truly see #WashougalRising.

April 21 title: “The 57 Bus” by Dashka Slater.

Go to fvrl.org to register and for viewing instructions. 11:30 am-12:30 pm

23 FRIDAY

There’s No Business Like Share Business – Share Virtual Gala. Entertainment, food, auction items and more, all to benefit Share.

Individual tickets: $25, or tickets for

2 (includes charcuterie and wine): $100.

Register at sharevancouver.org. 4:30-9 pm

24 SATURDAY

Vancouver Farmers Market in Downtown Vancouver. (See Apr. 3) 9 am-3 pm Camp Hope Discovery Day Camp at Camp Hope, Battle Ground. Come experience: History challenge course, nature walks and hiking, horseback riding, orienteering, archery, arts & crafts projects, woodworking, outdoor survivor skills and team building, scavenger hunts, fire starting, caving, plant identification, games, making new friends and memories.

Snacks and lunch provided. $40/Camper (Regular rate), $30/Camper (Family/Discount rate), Scholarships available! T-Shirts $10.

Register at camphope-wa.org.

9:30 am-3:30 pm Bakeology for ages 6th-12th grade. Calling all Teen Bakers! Join Camas Public Library every month for Bakeology, a group where we’ll meet virtually to share a new recipe we’ve worked on. We’ll go over what went well, where we can improve, and learn new things

along the way. All levels of bakers welcome!

Register at cityofcamas.us/camaspubliclibrary.

3-4 pm

25 SUNDAY

Vancouver Farmers Market in Downtown Vancouver. (See Apr. 3) 10 am-3 pm

27 TUESDAY

Gentle Yoga (Online through FVRLibraries).

(See Apr. 6) 3-4 pm General George C. Marshall Public and Youth Leadership Awards Ceremony (Online through The Historic Trust). Keynote speaker: Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Keith W. Dayton, director of George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies. Virtual Happy Hour begins at 6:30 pm and the ceremony will kick off at 7 pm. Although this event is free to attend, donations are welcome. Supporters may also purchase gourmet dinner and wine packages to enjoy in the comfort of their own homes. All donations and dinner packages support education programs at The Historic Trust. Register at thehistorictrust.org. 6:30 pm

advertiser index Events Haag Lake Triathlon and Trail Festival...........21 Reflection Run................................................21 Spring Classic................................................21 Financial OnPoint Credit Union.....................................11 WA529 College Savings Plans.........................7 Warner Brown Financial.................................13 Fitness Naydenov Gymnastics Fun Center................23

Health Barnick Chiropractic.......................................23 Child and Adolescent Clinic..............................2 Evergreen Pediatrics......................................19 PeaceHealth.....................................................5 Priority Life Chiropractic and Massage...........20 Storybook Dental............................................17 Tristar Family Chiropractic..............................13 Vancouver Clinic...............................................9 Legal Schauermann, Thayer, Jacobs, Staples & Edwards PS...................................15

Resources Applied Team Insurance.................................13 ESD 112.........................................................17 Gifted Journeys................................................2 Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Seminars.............19 Natura Pest Control..........................................3 WA529 College Savings Plans.........................7 Retail Kazoodles Toys..............................................17 Vancouver Mall...............................................21 Schools, Education & Child Care ESD 112.........................................................17 St. Andrew Preschool.....................................20 Southwest Washington Learning Center........24

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • April 2021

23

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