bc parent spring issue

spring issue 2012www.bcparent.ca

Talkingabout

Bullying

Making Senseof Adolescence

SUMMERCAMPS

2 bcparent.ca • spring 2012

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Contributors: Lela Davidson, Christa Menyk Hines,Jeanne Petit Humphries, Janet J Johnson, Dr. MarisaMarciano, Nikki Renshaw, Bev YaworskiBC Parent is published 8 times per year. The Publisher reserves the right to omit advertisingwhich is judged to be in poor taste or which doesnot conform to the concept of this publication. Canadian Publications Mail Registration No.251836

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inside... 12 Making sense of adolesenceContinue to connect

15 Portrait of a junk drawerEveryone's got one!

16 Pregnancy power foodBuilding your food foundaton

19 Summer Camp Guide

4 Learning french, living french

6 Talking about bullyingChatter as a defense mechanism

9 Morning madnessAnother day in the life of a mum

10 Designing the ultimate kid’s room……to nurture creativity and calmness

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BC Parent Newsmagazine

Spring Issue 2012Volume 21, Number 3


W hen my first daughter was born I realized how many mil-lions of decisions we must make as parents regardingevery infinitesimal aspect of a child’s life. At birth, a

name has to be chosen followed by many other decisions rangingfrom breastfeeding or not to diaper brands to use. As kids grow up,there seem to be even more things to consider such as your chil-dren’s education and what they will, could, orshould grow up to be.

Among the myriad of decisions that I facedregarding my children’s schooling was whether ornot to register them in a French Immersion orFrancophone school program. I worried that mychildren would not have the necessary skills tofunction in English if they did all their schooling in French, thatthey would be too challenged, or not enough, that they would havedifficulty communicating complex ideas in a second or minoritylanguage. And the list goes on. I know I am not alone—these arequalms that keep many parents awake at night well beyond thebaby years.

By Jeanne Petit Humphries

LivingFrenchLearning French,

Despite these French programs’ well established and proven trackrecord that refute these apprehensions, many parents struggle tomake this decision because of one chief concern that relates to theirown abilities. Is it possible to support and follow their child’sprogress at school if they don’t know French themselves? Accordingto the Canadian Parents for French, parents simply need to “[m]ake

French a part of your child’s life by providingopportunities for your child to use French outsideof the classroom.”1 They give examples of lettingyour kids watch TV, read books and, in general,find any and all opportunities to expose your childto French language events and activities. Although seemingly easy and doable suggestions,

most parents still struggle to find concrete ways to help increasetheir child’s fluency in and enjoyment of French. There is only somuch Bob l’éponge a child can watch, after all. In addition, in anAnglophone setting such as ours in BC, there are quite simply notthat many places for your kids to hear French on a daily basis. So,

1. www.cpf.ca/eng/resources tools workbook.html

Another really successfulactivity in my household

is cooking in French.


no matter what, you are going to need to do things both in thecommunity and at home to encourage your child to see French asan authentic and living language.

After watching my zillionth Dora l’exploratrice show, I was sud-denly and rather vehemently inspired to find alternatives to TV andvideos to “support” my kids en français. After asking advice from allkinds of experts and friends and, predictably, 3:00 am musing ses-sions, I came up with a few ideas that I think most parents, eventhose who’s idea of French is to say “parley voo Frenchay tucsonari-zona?” only because they believe it sounds French, could use.

If, like me, TV is not something you want to hear blaring in thebackground all the time, audio books (of songs or stories) are a nicealternative. Vancouver’s public library has a whopping five suchbooks in their collection and these are certainly a good start. Youcould also consider purchasing some French song and book collec-tions. If you type in “comptines chanter” in an Internet searchengine or contact a local distributor of French books, you will finda great selection of these songbooks. Kids respond really well tomusic and will be singing before you know it “coucou hibou,coucou hibou” to the point of making you cuckoo.

Another really successful activity in my household is cooking inFrench. That means finding a French recipe, trying to decipher it tomake sure that coq au vin is a chicken dish and nothing else, mak-ing a grocery list using the French vocabulary, preparing the foodand, with any luck or cooking skills, eating your delicious meal.Although marginally more time consuming than preparing theusual fare of mac & cheese, not only does this activity allow you tospend time with your lovely kids, but it will also have a lot ofimpact on their enthusiasm for learning French because they willsee you make French part of your everyday life. This, after all, is thekey to making French an authentic language, one that has practicaland real day to day applications, and one that kids will see as beinguseful rather that useless.

If, after all these years of parenting you still have some brain cellsleft, you might consider learning a few words of French to play oneof my children’s favorite car games. All you need to know is voiture(v-oh-ah-t-oo-re, car), camion (k-ah-me-on, truck), vélo (v-ay-loh, bike)and ambulance (ohm-boo-lan-ce, try figuring what that means).This game works well when driving down a stretch of road with nottoo much traffic. It is also a good game to play as you watch carsunload while you are uselessly waiting for a half an hour at the ferryterminal despite having paid for a hugely expensive reservation, butI digress. The goal of the game is to guess what type of vehicle willbe the next to come by. Whoever guesses right gets a point. Despitethe simplicity of this game, it works really well to make long drivesless painful and, perhaps more importantly, to show kids that it ispossible for the whole family to have fun in French.

Deciding to put your children in a francophone or French Im -mersion school program is a big decision, especially in an Anglo -phone setting where there are very few resources and places to helpyou acquire a real feel for French. Although you don’t need to speakFrench as a parent, it is important for your child to experienceFrench outside of a classroom. These learning opportunities can,however, go beyond simply plunking your children down in frontof a screen. As parents, we can make learning French an opportuni-ty to connect, laugh and play. That’s one decision that I certainly

don’t regret making when I registered my children in a francophoneschool. It might mean a little bit more effort on my part, but it’s notlike I ever sleep anyways…

Jeanne Petit Humphries has a PhD in French from the University of Toronto, has taughtFrench in schools and universities in Canada and abroad, and is the proud maman of three Frenchspeaking children. She is also the owner of an online French resource store (www.laplacefrench.com).

Vancouver Bilingual Preschool’s 50thAnniversary Celebration

Join the community of past and present students and their familiesin celebrating this special golden anniversary. Founded in 1962,VBP is proud to celebrate 50 years of providing French languagechildcare.

The VBP was set up as a cooperative by parents who wanted theirchildren to have a preschool experience in French. Parentinvolvement continues to be key to the success of the school.

A member of Volunteer Canada and recipients of Child CareLegacy Award for over 40 years of service by the BC Ministry ofChildren and Family Development in 2010, VBP is pleased to beacknowledged for supporting one of our nation’s official lan-guages and for their role in creating community within our city.

Celebrations will include the unveiling of a commemorativeplaque, Sat. May 5th at 3:30 pm at the school, 949 W. 49th Ave.

A Family Fun Event Saturday, May 5th, 1–4 pm

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E ver been stuck in a car with a child who simplywon’t stop talking? As much as we love our chil-dren, for many of us, listening to non-stop gab

feels exhausting. But before demanding your childput the brakes on her motormouth, consider the na -ture of the discussion. A child, who jumps from onerandom topic to the next without saying anything inparticular, might use talk to hide a deeper issue.

Dr. Stephanie Mihalas, a child and adolescent psy-chologist with The Center for Wellbeing in LosAngeles, says children sometimes chatter as a defensemechanism to avoid discussing an anxiety-provokingissue that makes them feel bad about themselves. Forexample, someone is invading their space at school orat home.

“The child doesn’t know how to communicate heis being bullied or teased so he uses talking to protecthimself or his identity. If children talk about some-thing else, they are extending their sense of self andthen they don’t have to go into what is really bother-ing them,” Mihalas says.

Often, children fail to mention they are a targetbecause they feel embarrassed or ashamed. Otherchild ren fear retaliation from the bully or don’tbelieve their parents will do anything to help addressthe issue if they tell. In fact, a 2010 study conductedby Clemson University found as kids grow older theyare less likely to discuss a bullying problem.

A child may ramble or talk too much for manyreasons. Besides a possible predisposition to talk,con tributing factors range from high intellectualfunctioning to ADHD, medications, anxiety and

mood disorders. Examine the complete picture. Doesyour child exhibit other signs she is bullied? Signsinclude a sudden change in disposition, physical ailments like stomachaches and headaches, anxietyabout going to school or riding the bus, torn cloth-ing, missing belongings, unexplained bruises or asudden drop in grades.

To help your child jump off a runaway wagon ofnon-stop talk, grab the reins with a firm “whoa.” Askher to explain in three sentences what she reallywants to say. A child who is simply rambling may saysomething like: “Nothing. I just wanted to talk toyou, Mom.”

If your child articulates in three sentences thatsomething, or someone, is bothering her, then youcan tackle the real issue together.

When Bullying’s the ProblemTake your child seriously if he says he’s getting bullied.

“Validate their feelings, don’t minimize what ishappening,” says Dianna Hall, a licensed clinical socialworker with The Family Conservancy in Kansas City,KS. “For older children, ask the question: ‘What canI do to help?’ Be an advocate for your child at school,too. The school can’t help keep your child safe if theydon’t know what’s going on.”

Praise your child for telling you and ask him whathe has done about the bullying so far. Before contact-ing the school, ask your child for specifics, includingwho was involved, what happened, when and wherethe incidents occurred and if anyone else witnessedthe bullying.

Talking about Bullying

by Christa MelnykHines

Could your chatterbox’stalking be hiding a bigger problem?

“If children talkabout something else,they are extending theirsense of self and thenthey don’t have to gointo what is reallybothering them.”


Discuss ways your child can deal with the bully,ways that don’t include fighting or bullying back,which can get your child expelled. For example:• Tell the bully to stop and then walk away. • Bullies generally seek a reaction. Practice remaining

unemotional by ignoring him or assuming a “pokerface.”

• Hang out with friends to avoid being alone with abully.

• Tell a teacher, school counselor, another trusted adultor a sibling. Be persistent. If one authority figuredoes nothing, find another. “Same thing with parents. Be diligent in continuing

to advocate for your child at school and even outsideof school if needed, by contacting community re -sources like the police or a legal advocate,” Hall adds.

Ways to Support Your Child Boost your child’s self-confidence by enrolling him insports, self defense like martial arts, scouting or othergroups that nurture a network of friends, a healthybody image, and leadership opportunities.

“I also encourage parents to inquire at their schoolabout what they are doing and how to become in volv -ed. The more adults that are present and can supportkids who are being bullied, the better,” Hall says.

Unable to get to thebottom of your child’sconstant chattering?

Does your child refuseto be interrupted, focus

on worries and fears,or get extremely

agitated when hecan’t finish a story?

Consult with yourpediatrician or a child

psychologist for anassessment to

determine if yourchild’s talking is within

the normal range ofbehavior or whether itcould be compulsive.

If you suspect your child is tormented by a bully,but he isn’t forthcoming, look for other ways tobroach the topic. Watch a television show or read abook together in which bullying occurs. Ask if heknows kids who are bullied or discuss a time whenyou suffered bullying. These tactics help a childunderstand he isn’t alone and bullying isn’t tolerated.

To learn more about how to prevent and deal withbullying, check out the books Best Friends, WorstEnemies by Michael Thompson and Blue CheeseBreath and Stinky Feet: How to Deal with Bullies byCatherine DePino. Additional parenting tips can alsobe found at www.thefamilyconservancy.org.

Keep Talking In the end, open communication boils down to trust.On the bright side, your chatterbox wants to talk toyou, even if it’s in a round-about way. By listening toher, offering support and guidance in her communi-cation behaviors, you exemplify how to confidentlymanage the many diverse personalities who willinevitably come in and out of her life for years tocome.

Christa Melnyk Hines is a freelance writer, wife and a mother of two talka-tive boys.

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Morning Madness


O ur family had overslept!I threw on my robe anddashed for the kitchen.

Pouring cereal I warned Jared,my very excited nine-year-oldbirthday boy, to calm down ashe bounced around the kitchen.The cat strolled across the pop-corn strewn living room, a messfrom the night before.

My book group was due toarrive in three hours. I had toshower, eat breakfast, get Jaredto school, buy ice cream bars forhis classroom, deliver them, andclean up the house before mygroup got here. My husband tookJared to school, so I clean ed thekitchen, and then jump ed intothe shower. I had just soaped upwhen the phone rang. Clutch -ing a towel, I dripped globs ofsoap all the way to the phone.

It was Jared calling fromschool. “Momma?” he said meek -ly. “I forgot my backpack. Canyou bring it?”

I grumbled good-naturedly,“Good thing it’s your birthday.”

After I rinsed, I dressedquick ly and drove to the school.Jared searched through the back -pack frantically. “My math book’snot here.”

“Where do you think it is?” Iasked.

“Under my bed?”As I turned to leave, his

teach er asked, “Do you have hisbirthday treat?”

As I ran from the building, Iglanced at the clock. There weretwo hours left. I stopped at thestore, purchased the ice creambars, and zoomed home for themath book.

I ran for our freezer, know-ing it could take awhile to findthe math book. In my haste Istepped on a dustpan, whichbecame a wheel-less skateboard.After my body slammed into the

room cabinet for a bandage andburn ointment. No bandagesleft. Blue painter’s tape from thegarage would have to do!

I vacuumed despite the pierc-ing sound of the vacuum cleaner.

Ten minutes left. Ambiencewas next.

My ankle throbbed as I start-ed a fire in the fireplace, put thekettle on the stove for tea, andtossed a bag of popcorn into themicrowave. As I lugged the vac-uum to the hall closet, twosmoke alarms began to shrieksimultaneously. I dashed for thefireplace. All was well there.

The popcorn! Scrambling forthe kitchen, I saw flames as theyleapt toward my kitchen cabi-nets. It wasn’t the popcorn. I’dturned on the wrong burner forthe tea kettle, and a dish towelwas on fire.

I hopped on my good foot tothe sink, and used the sprayer,but the water didn’t reach. I grab -bed the flame-free end of thetowel and threw it—flames andall—into the sink. Then I yank -ed the shrill alarms off the ceil-ing and ripped out their batteries.

Two minutes left. Thank good-ness no one had arrived early.The exhaust fan sucked outsmoke as I wiped up the wateron the floor. I quickly movedthe tea kettle, put the popcorninto a bowl, took two calmingbreaths, and shuddered.

The doorbell rang. I calmlygreeted the first to arrive.

“A fire!” said Lill as she walk -ed into the living room.

“Fire?” I gasped.She smiled at me oddly. “In

your fireplace.”I laughed, “Oh, that fire.”She sat on the couch, petted

the curled up cat and said,“What a serene setting you’vecreated for us.”

Morning MadnessBy Janet J. Johnson

washer, I crumpled to the floor.Trying to stand, I felt pain screamthrough my twisted right ankle.

The cat yawned as he watch -ed me crawl to the freezer andfling the ice cream bars inside.

I hobbled to Jared’s room forthe missing book. Unearthinghis math book would require ex -cavation. Burrowing under hisbed, I shoved aside a mound ofdirty socks and discovered mymissing soup tureen. Somethingsmelled suspicious. The tureenwas filled with one of Jared’s“magical potions”—green sham-poo with bark mulch. Behindthe tureen was the missing book.I limped to the car with the book,and raced back to the school.

“And the birthday treats?” histeacher asked with a smile.

No! I’d forgotten them.There was forty-five minutes left.I drove home, retrieved the icecream and returned to school. AsI made a gimpy-legged trot tothe teach er’s lounge, the secre-tary called after me, “There isn’troom in the freezer for those.”

Oh yeah? With a powerfulshove, I made them fit.

Home again with twenty min -utes left I turned on the vacu-um. It shrieked like a dentist’sdrill. The cat disappeared underthe couch. I took the vacuumapart, but couldn’t tell what waswrong, and burned my fingeron the motor.

I ran for an ice cube to holdagainst my finger as I vacuumed.The empty ice cube tray mockedme. Next I headed to the bath-


brightly coloured toys but will still be ableto she what is inside at play-time.

Interior Designer Carolyn Feder createsrooms for children with Sensory IntegrationDisorder, a condition where children arehyper sensitive to light, sound and touch.Although the spaces she designs are for chil-dren with specific needs, she is convincedthat all children can fall prey to sensoryoverload so even regular families can benefitfrom the tips and techniques she imple-ments in her design.

“I’ve had children tell me that they feellike their rooms are screaming at them be -cause they are so aurally and visually busy,”

A s an Interior Designer I have helpedplenty of parents navigate the trickyterrain of creating the perfect bed-

rooms for their growing families. Metal orwood? New or vintage? Single use or multi-purpose? Pink or blue?

Just when you’ve decked out the nurseryin pale pastels, they’re walking and talkingand demanding day-glow pink walls. Howdo you transform the nursery into a play-room/bedroom where they can play princ -ess or pirate with their pint-sized pals?

At a recent dinner party a mom, who’sfive-year old still wasn’t sleeping throughthe night, asked me if I could design a room

that could help her son sleep. Loving a challenge I took on the project.

De-clutterAccording to Child Psychologist MicheleKambolis clutter is the biggest de-stabilizerin the quest for a harmonious space. “Kidsdon’t need to be overly visually stimulated,”she says. “Piles of books or toys everywherewill keep a child’s eye jumping all over theplace.”

If you don’t have large walk-in closets,invest in milky coloured plastic containerswhich will mask the contents enough sothat they child won’t be stimulated by

Designing the ultimate kid’s room...

...to nurture creativity and calmnessNikki Renshaw


to this space when they become angry orout of control. “This special spot is a posi-tive place where they can go to settle down,sort things out or just hang out when theyneed to be alone,” she says.

Putting it all togetherI was now ready design the ultimate calm-ing room for this little boy to sleep in.

The room was painted a gentle baby blue,with soft velvet curtains, lined with black-out fabric to keep light out at night andmuffle outside noise.

His bed was moved to keep it as far awayfrom the family room television and thekitchen appliances below. A white stainedwooden bed and matching bedside tableswas installed, with organic cotton beddingand pillows with different soft textures thathe could stroke as he drifted off to sleep. Abean bag was placed on a fluffy rug at theopposite end of the room with a pile ofbooks to create a reading nook. The over-head light was replaced with floor and bed-side lamps on dimmer switches and a wallof closets was installed to hide all his toys,clothes and books.

Within a week, the little boy’s sleep pat-terns had greatly improved, but my friendthen had a new problem—she kept fallingasleep after story time because the environ-ment was so soporific! I’m now researchingrestful rooms for busy moms and dads…

Nikki Renshaw is an Interior Designer who specializes indesigning children’s rooms. She can be reached at 604 537 7050or [email protected]

she says. “Don’t cover the walls in images. Ifyou have to hang pictures, make sure that itis limited to one per wall, framed in non-glare glass of a nature image that is soothingand calming.”

LightingAccording to Feder, light is a key factor tocreating the perfect restful environment.Fluorescent and halogen lighting should beavoided, and all lighting should be on dim-mer switches and only turned on fully forspecific tasks. Exposed bulbs created visualdisturbances and can over-stimulate a child,so layering lighting through table and floorlamps is preferable to harsh overhead fix-tures.

“Harsh lighting can actually hurt andcause distress,” she says.

Exposure to natural light is essential toregulate the circadian rhythm, which regu-lates our sleep cycles, but unwanted light,especially at night can interrupt sleep pat-terns. “I recommend investing in black-outlining for drapes that fit windows properlyso no unwanted shafts of light can pene-trate,” she suggests.

SoundNoise can also be a disturbing factor. Ifthere is environmental noise like a loud tel-evision set or music in an adjacent room,this can also prevent sleep. White noisemachines, fans or even sleep enhancingmachines can be soothing. “Some childrenfind complete silence as upsetting as noisepollution,” says Feder. She suggests playingclassical music as a background sound,which can lull them to sleep.

Colour ChoicesKambolis says colours can have an effect onthe psyche: red is associated with aggression,green can be demoralizing and pink can helpcalm temper tantrums and enhance sleep.“Avoid primary colours,” she says. “Theyare over-stimulating.”

The tone and shade of the colour can beas impactful as the hue. “Bright pinks andpurples will short circuit the brain and causea child to be overly hyped up, followed by acrash,” says Feder. “Choose soft pastel blues,pinks, lilacs and mauves for the most restfulenvironment.”

While plain white walls may seem like theperfect solution and look clean and bright,

Feder says they are actually too harsh and willbounce light, causing a hotspot on the wall.

TexturesIf a child can stroke a fluffy blanket or cud-dle a soft pillow it will soothe them. Naturalfabrics are the preferred bedding material,as they won’t overheat a child while theysleep. A gentle soft repetitive pattern withgentle curves and shapes is easy on the eyeaccording to Feder. If they can run their fin-ger along the curve of the pattern it willcalm their minds.

Metal furniture should be avoided be -cause it can be very cold in temperature andfeel. Furniture made from real wood is pref -erable and should be stained rather thanpainted to keep an identifiable grain whichis once again nice to touch and restful forthe brain.

According to Mary Cordaro, an Advis oryBoard member of Healthygreenhome.comand a sick building expert, metal furnitureconducts EMF’s (electrical magnetic fre-quency) which alternative health practition-ers claim disrupt the bodies cell activity andcan cause cancers and mood disorders. Toavoid EMF exposure, Cordaro recommendsbattery-operated clocks and baby monitorsinstead of electronic ones, and no televisionor computers in bedrooms.

Hardwood flooring with visible woodgrain and fluffy rugs made from organicmaterials are the preferred floor covering, sothat a child can sit and play on the floor,but won’t get static electrical shocks fromsynthetic carpets which can also harbourgerms and dust mites.

Furniture PlacementCordaro recommends that a child’s bedshould be placed as far away from any elec-trical appliances like the fridge or micro -wave below or a television set in an adjoin-ing room to reduce EMF exposure.

Kambolis recommends separate zones fordifferent activities. “The working zone forhomework should be away from the sleepingzone which should be restful,” she suggests.

Jeanine Virtue, a journalist and motherof a child with ADHD recommends a quietzone which can be as small as a portion of awalk-in closet that is a designated relaxationspace with a bean bag, a few books, colour-ing books or other quiet-time activities. Sherecommends encouraging your child to go

Bright pinks and purples will shortcircuit the brain and cause achild to be overly hyped up.

Instead, choose soft pastel blues,pinks, lilacs and mauves for the

most restful environment.


H as your 15-year-old daughter beensneaking out of school early andhanging out at the local mall? Is

your son staying out late with his friends onschool nights without keeping in touchwith home? Well, you are not alone, as agroup of parents discovered at a recent parenting education program held in theLower Mainland.

The transition from child to adult can bea tough time. Psychologists often describethe adolescent teen years as a developmentalstage of disorientation and discovery. No

longer children but not yet adults, teenswrestle with issues such as autonomy andidentity. Parents of adolescents may feelfrustrated with how to make sense of thisphase in their maturing child’s life. Whatcan parents learn about this time in theirchild’s life? How can parents help their teenthrough this stage?

“The adolescent time period is a bridgebetween childhood and adulthood,” saysDr. Deborah MacNamara, counsellor andeducator. “Teens will flip back and forthbetween being childlike or adultlike. They

Making sense ofhave an adult body, but their brain, psy-chology and emotions are still under devel-opment. It’s a place of great transition, butalso a wonderfully exciting time.”

At a recent parent program, Dr. Debor -ah MacNamara shared information on thetopic of “Making Sense of Adolescence”with a group of about 50 parents. Dr. Mac -Namara is a Vancouver-based Counsel lorand Educator who works with Dr. GordonNeufeld, developmental psychologist andauthor of the award-winning book, “HoldOn To Your Kids”.

Adolescents are presented with a numberof challenging developmental tasks. They areseeking their capability as a separate beingfrom their parents and finding out how theyfit in the larger society. Three significant psy-chological changes are occurring for teens.Their awareness is expanding as they begin tosee things they never saw before. Childhoodattachment to parents is separating, while teensare striving for greater freedom and autonomy.

How do parents help their adolescentsnavigate through this developmental timeperiod? What practical strategies can par-ents use to guide their teen through thisjourney of discovery? Dr. MacNamara of -fers some valuable suggestions: • Show patience and care for your teen.• Encourage them to have a relationship

with themselves.• Draw out and affirm what is there, while

avoiding asking them a direct question.• Create space for their discovery.• Normalize their sadness or anxiety.• Allow them to experience disillusionment

naturally.• Understand this is just a temporary stage

they are going through. In this developmental transition period,

it is critical that a parent still holds onto

KidsBestBet: Facebook

Dr. Deborah MacNamara:www.macnamara.ca

Hold On To Your Kids by Dr. Gordon Neufeld

CHIMO Crisis Services:www.chimocrisis.com

Canadian Mental Health Association:www.cmha.ca

Resources

By Bev Yaworski


their teen and prevents peer attachmentfrom replacing them. Teens need someoneto listen to them. Parents should hold ontotheir teen by maximizing attachment be ha -viours, such as listening with full attention,feeding them and interacting over meals. It’simportant to learn about your teen’s in ter -ests and chat with them about their interests.“Get in their face in a friendly way,” advisesDr. MacNamara. “Mini mize their peerinteractions. Set limits and encourage spacefor their self reflection and self-expression.”

Gloria Pan, counsellor with CHIMOCrisis Services in Richmond BC, based onher experience working with families, alsoemphasizes the importance of maintaininga relationship with your teen by continuingto connect with them through the good andbad times. Once a child enters their teenyears, the parental relationship needs tochange into one of a “consultant,” advisesPan. This can involve parents actively listen-ing, asking questions and sharing informa-tion with their child in a 2-way dialogue, incontrast to “telling them what to do.” Anddon’t be hesitant to ask for outside help, if afamily situation becomes unmanageable.

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“My little brother won’t stop crying and I don’t know when she’s coming home.”

Kids Help Phone is a national charity dedicated to the well-being of children and youth. Whatever the problem, from abuse to neglect to the death of a parent, Kids Help Phone is there — providing help and hope through its professional phone and web-based counselling services, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

We need your support to be there for kids. To donate visit www.kidshelpphone.ca

You can help make a difference to the kids in your community with a gift to Kids Help Phone.

OPENING NIGHT GALANOT JUST FOR KIDS WITH THE ALLOY ORCHESTRA

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 6:30 PM, VANCITY THEATRE“The best in the world at accompanying silent films.” Roget Ebert

WAPOS BAY: LONG GOODBYES

SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 1:00 PM, VANCITY THEATREBAGELS AND BANNOCK ANIMATION BRUNCH 11:30 AM -1:00 PM

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First, I root out garbage because trashgives respectable junk drawers a bad name. Idon’t need an old church program or lastMay’s third grade spelling list. I toss card-board boxes and brochures for $45 bottlesof acai berry juice. Of course, not all trashstarts out as such, but is rendered uselessover time. What good is $3 off a car wash in2004? Was I planning to time travel? I findidea notes for stories scratched off on index

cards: Red Explorer-leaf pile playhouse-child - hood dream with circus rat. That’s useful.

Some things inspire guilt, like my daugh -ter’s crumpled artwork. While my firstborn’searly masterpieces hold a place of honor in aplastic tub somewhere, the second child willsurely need art therapy later. There is theScalpicin I bought before I realized theitchy scalp really was lice and not just someother irritant that, God forbid, the neigh-

A s a kid I once opened the wrongdrawer at a friend’s house. Insteadof the spoons her mother had ask -

ed for, I found a broken ruler, chewed pen-cils, and a padlock splattered with paint.

“Junk drawer,” the mom said. “Every -body’s got one.”

What a relief. We had a drawer at homethat held hair bands, restaurant matches,and inkless pens. I’d assumed this was ourfamily’s particular shame. Learning thatother people suffered the junk-sickness wascomforting, but still, I wanted better formyself. When I moved away from home, Itried not to repeat the pattern, but some-how ended up maintaining my own junkdrawers in apartments and houses across the country. All the while I dreamed of anor ganized space with cubbies for keys, picture hanging hardware, and miniaturescrewdrivers.

I’m not quite there.We have two junk drawers now: his and

hers. His catches manly items like lighters,electrical tape, and the occasional nut andbolt. Mine is for the stuff of daily life. Iopen it no less than ten times a day and Iorganize it over and over in my continuouseffort to get it to close properly.

PORTRAIT OF A

By Lela Davidson

All the while I dreamed of an organized space withcubbies for keys, picturehanging hardware, andminiature screwdrivers.

bors might mistake for lice. I debate whereto put the telephone number to PoisonControl (in case I splash nail polish removerin my daughter’s eye again).

Then there are essentials. Sure, I can livewithout the nutritional information for Mc - Donald’s and Starbucks, but not my bentand faded Weight Watchers Points Counter.That stays. Also, Post-its, Sharpies, tape,and paper clips. These are must-have sup-plies in a well-stocked kitchen.

I finally reach the bottom of the drawer,only to find that uncapped pens have creat-ed inkblots that inspire me to peer deepinto my psyche. Not good. The ink needscovering up—quick. Back into the drawergo immunization records, pencils, candy,scis sors, and erasers. Back in for binderclips, thumbtacks, and take-out menus.

Done. One little spot is relatively organ-ized and I feel lighter. Though my drawermay not be perfect, it gets me through theday. And it shuts—for now.

Which is more than I can say for the sil-verware drawer.

Lela Davidson is the author of Blacklisted from the PTA, acollection of irreverent essays about motherhood and the modernfamily. She still has two junk drawers, unless you count the bath-room. http://leladavidson.com/


T he great thing about a great diet isthat whether you’re trying to get preg-nant or not—it’s going to do your

body good. However, planning for a bun inthe oven means aiming to choose the bestingredients, and in the best amounts. Morethan just adding in calories, what your bodyreally requires is way more nutrients tocarry out the unfathomable number offunctions that go into forming your new-born bundle of joy.

When planning to conceive, we ask morefrom our bodies both physically & emo-tionally, and ensuring adequate amounts ofkey nutrients becomes crucial to keep usfeeling strong and stress-free throughoutthe process. A good prenatal supplement is important, but optimizing nutritionthrough food is a deeply satisfying and nat-ural way of supporting both yourself andbaby.

Making wise food choices reinforcesconfidence in our capability for decision-making, while bringing us closer to ourenvironment and our loved ones. Nutritionand nourishment are both rooted from thesame word, and incorporating a few of thesesuggestions into your daily routine is sure toleave your mind, tummy, and taste budssatisfied.

Variety—the spice of lifeTry a new ancient grain. Experiment withraw foods and new styles of cooking. Sinceevery food has a slightly different nutrientprofile, variety helps decrease the risk ofmissing out on some nutrients while alsoreducing the chance of food allergies. Youmay find yourself craving different foods ornew ones all together. Embrace their deli-cious diversity.

Consume More ColoursYellow and Orange Vegetables are rich incarotenes, contain potent antioxidants, boostimmune function, aid the growth andrepair of tissue, and support eye and skinhealth. Top choices: carrots, yams, pump-kin, squash, and sweet potatoes.

Dark Pigmented Berries are also high inantioxidants and rich in fiber, potassium,vitamin C, and flavonoids known as antho-cyanins. Berries boost the immune systemand reduce free-radical damage and inflam-mation in the body. Top choices: blackber-ries, blueberries, raspberries, and cranberries.

Dark Green Leafy Vegetables are trulynature’s fast foods, as they cook quickly andmany can even be eaten raw. They are full ofvital nutrients such as calcium, magnesium,B vitamins, iron, trace minerals, folic acid,and vitamin K. Top choices: kale, bok choy,cabbage, dandelion greens and swiss chardshould be your go-to-food for both mealsand snacks.

Foundational FatsEssential fatty acids (omega 3 & 6) arethose that the body requires us to consumein the diet because we can’t make them effi-ciently ourselves. Both omega 3 and omega6 fatty acids need to be present during preg-nancy, however omega 3’s are where we moreoften become deficient and play a vital rolein fetal brain and eye development. Qualitysources of omega 3’s are found in organicanimal products, cold-water fish, eggs, andto a lesser extent flaxseed, walnut, pump-kinseed, and dark leafy green vegetables.

Good Quality Protein Pregnancy is a time of growth, and a wo -man’s need for protein is even greater thanusual. Amino acids in protein are the build-ing blocks for the growth and maintenanceof bones, teeth, organs, and tissues. To meetprotein needs, aim to have a small amountwith every meal, and make them a staple forsnacks when you’re on the go.

Top choices are: legumes, whole grains,raw nuts & seeds, organic yogurt with livecultures, cold-water wild fish, and free-range or certified organic meats. Free-range organic eggs are rich in protein, zinc,and vitamins A, D, E, and B12. They arealso a great source of choline and betaine,with choline being necessary for the struc-

Pregnancy Power FoodsDr. Marisa Marciano

Great Books on Building Resilience


avoid fat-free or sugar-free varieties and justgo fot the real thing.

When it comes to nutrition in pregnan-cy the take home message is choose wholefoods first. Whole foods are those that haveone ingredient—itself! By eating closer tonature, we choose foods that inherentlycontain the complete set of nutrients need-ed for our bodies to be able to process themwith ease.

While every woman’s experience will bedifferent, what remains constant is the pos-

sibility of pregnancy’s transformative poten-tial. We are all unique, and a healthy dietcomes from an open mind and commit-ment to paying attention to your personalneeds. Build your food foundations andthen allow room for some flow, as a bowl ofchocolate coconut ice cream can sometimesbe the very best choice of all.

Dr. Marisa Marciano is writer a Naturopathic Physicianwho specializes in Mind-Body medicine and Women’s health. Shepractices at YYoga Flow Wellness downtown Vancouver, BC andyou can read her blogs weekly at www.doctormarciano.com.

ture and function of cell membranes andneurotransmitters.

Carbohydrates: Whole Grains & Legumes When we eat refined carbohydrates (such asa white-flour or sugar), glucose moves rap-idly into the bloodstream, and can also easi-ly cross the placenta. Without fiber beingpresent in our grains, this sugar & insulinspike can contribute to gestational diabetesand possibly insulin resistance later in life.Besides fiber, whole grains are superiorbecause they have more protein, B vitamins,calcium and iron as well. Top choices:brown rice, barley, steel cut oats, corn,buckwheat, rye, millet, quinoa, spelt, ama-ranth, and teff.

Also, the regular consumption of legumeshas shown to stabilize blood sugar, reduceobesity and high blood pressure, and relieveconstipation. Top choices: black beans,chickpeas, lima beans, mung beans, adukibeans, white beans, lentils, peas, and greenbeans.

Nuts and Seeds Nuts and seeds are high in essential fattyacids, vitamin E, and concentrated protein,all of which help influence cellular strength,balance hormones, protect nerves, and re duceinflammation. They are also concentratedsources of vitamins and minerals like calcium,magnesium, and zinc, are best consumedraw or as cold pressed oils. Top choices are:Cashews, almonds, walnuts, sunflowerseeds, flax seeds, and sesame seeds.

Plain, Organic Yogurt with Live Cultures This fermented food enhances digestionand is a great source of complete protein,calcium, B12, potassium, and zinc. Try to

Daily Recommended Portions of Selected Food Groups

Protein 4 ServingsWhole Grains & Complex Carbohydrates 4–6 ServingsVitamin C foods 2 ServingsCalcium foods 4 ServingsDark Green Leafy Vegetables 2 ServingsYellow/Orange Veg/Fruit 1 ServingOther Vegetables & Fruit 2 ServingsIron-rich foods Some dailyHigh Quality Fats 2 ServingsFluids 6–8 glasses

Taken from The Natural Pregnancy Book byAviva Jill Romm

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artsArbutus Music Academy [email protected] us this summer for a musicaladventure! From beginner violin tomusical theatre there is something foreveryone. RCM theory examination preparation available.

The Arts Connection604/241-0141www.theartsconnection.caRichmond

Arts Umbrella604/681-5268www.artsumbrella.comVancouverArts Umbrella offers visual, applied,digital, and performing arts summerprograms as well as outdoor art pro-grams for young people ages 3 to 19.

Bard on the Beach YoungShakespeareans Workshops604-737-0625bardonthebeach.org/about-bard-educationProfessional actors lead participantsthrough an abridged version of one ofShakespeare's great plays. Two-weekinteractive summer workshops forJuniors (ages 8–13) and Seniors (ages13–18) on the Bard stages in Vanier Park.

Dance Co604/736-3394www.danceco.comDance Co offers summer dancecamps, workshops and weekly classesfor the beginner to advanced dancer,preschool to adult.

Gateway Academy’s Summer Camp604/247-4975www.gatewaytheatre.comRichmond

Summer Fun! art camps at Place des Arts604/664-1636www.placedesarts.caCoquitlam

StageCoach Theatre Arts Summer Camps 20121-877-78-STAGE (78243) www.stagecoachschools.ca Vancouver/Richmond/Surrey/Coquitlam/LangleyStageCoach Summer Camps are theweek of the summer they will talkabout until next year! Week longTheatre Arts camps ending with a liveperformance for family and friends.Camps for 4–16yrs.

Stagecraft Theatre Schools Ltd.604-267-7287www.stagecraft.caVancouver/North Shore/West VanBC’s largest family run Musical

Theatre School offers year-round pro-grams and Summer Camps for stu-dents ages 4 to 14. Intensive yet funtraining in singing, dance and drama.let your talent shine!

Summer Dance Program for Creative Kids604/926-6535West Vancouver

Vancouver Academy of Dance604/231-8293www.vancouverdance.comVancouver/Richmond. Quality dancetraining. Starting this July, 5 weeks ofsummer programs in Ballet, Jazz, Tap,Hip Hop, breakdancin’, Chinesedance, Ballroom and Acrobatics.

summer camp guide

www.inwonderland.ca � 604-872-4665

www.sportball.caFOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL: [email protected] OR CALL: 604.688.3157

SPRING 2012


summer camp guide

Vancouver Academy of Music604/734-2301www.vam.bc.caExperience Vancouver’s newestsummer music program,Soundfest, at BC’s most estab-lished music school, theVancouver Academy of Music.Soundfest combines innovativemusic programs for all instru-ments and performance levels,combined with an array of culturalexcursions involving our VanierPark partners: Space Centre, BardOn The Beach, Museum ofVancouver, and the MaritimeMuseum. Unleash your child’sinner-Mozart, experience our iPadorchestra, share the fun of friendsand music—Soundfest will stimu-late the senses and spur creativity.Ages 4–8, 8:30–12:30; ages 8–18,9:00–5:00. Register for one ormore weeks: July 9–August 3.

Vancouver Tap Dance Society604/253-0293Vancouver

Westside Dance Centre604/736-1000www.westsidedance.ca Visit our website for details onsummer camps

general activitiesAlexandra NeighbourhoodHouse604/535-0015http://campalex.com/about/overview.php

False Creek C.C. Daycamps604/257-8195www.falsecreekcc.caVancouverOffers canoe/kayak camps, recre-ational camps and leadershipcamps for ages 3–14. Most campsrun 8:30 am–6 pm.

In Wonderland Campwww.inwonderland.ca604/872-4665Creative Arts Summer Camp InWonderland. Fun exploration ofarts, music and nature in a sup-portive, loving and friendly envi-ronment, just a few blocks awayfrom a park playground.Professional approach directingenthusiasm towards learning.

Vancouver College—A FinneganSummer604/261-4285www.vc.bc.ca

Langara Family YMCA 604/324-9622www.langarafamilyymca.orgAges 3–16; Hours 8 am–5 pm

Mount Pleasant NeighbourhoodHouse Licensed Out-of-School Careat Florence Nightingale School604/879-8208www.mpnh.org

North Vancouver RecreationCommission604-987-PLAY (7529)www.northvanrec.comVariety of 1/2 and full day sum-mer camps for preschool throughteens. Art, drama, sport, swim,out trips and more!

SFU Summer Camps778/782-4965www.sfu.ca/camps

Sunset Community Centre604/718-6505www.mysunset.netVancouver

residentialcampsCamp Artaban604/980-0391www.campartaban.com

CNIB Bowen Lodge250/519-1102www.cnib.ca

Camp Columbia866/946-3751www.campcolumbia.com

Why count sheep when you can count belugas?

Book a sleepover at our house.Your kids will get a behind-the-scenes look

at the nocturnal habits of marine life. They’ll

nibble late night snacks. Then head off to bed

with the belugas. To book call 604.659.3552.

Or visit vanaqua.org/sleepovers.


summer camp guide

Educo Adventure Camp877/245-9191www.educo.ca

Evans Lake Forest Education Centre604-294-CAMP (2267)www.evanslake.com

Island Escapades Adventure Camp888/529-2567www.islandescapades.com

Keats Camps604/432-6799www.keatscamps.com

Pioneer Pacific Camp800/784-1415www.pioneerpacific.ca

Camp Qwanoes250/246-3014www.qwanoes.caQwanoes is a youth-oriented high-adventure Christian camp seeking toencourage biblical discipleship throughrelationship-focused, fun-oriented, andChrist-centred programs. Wild actionand pure fun, real relationships, awe-some counselors, great music, a worldof discovery, all in one amazing setting.

Webbs Holiday Acres604/857-1712www.webbsholidayacres.ca

YMCA Camp Elphinstone604/857-1712www.vanymca.org

specialtyBC SPCA Among Animals Camp604/599-7297www.spca.bc.ca/youth/whats-happeningCamps are held in various locationsaround the province. Participants willlearn about animal care, welfare andenvironmental issues in a safe and funenvironment.

Bricks 4 Kidz778/822-5672www.bricks4kids.com/vancouverCheck out Bricks 4 Kidz VancouverLego® Summer Camps. With a widerange of themes we offer programsfrom robotics and stop motion anima-tion to our ever popular space adven-ture and remote control mania camps.

Christianne’s Lyceum of Literature and Art604/733-1356www.chistiannehayward.comExceptional and inspiring camps forchildren ages 3 to 19 that focus on literature, creative writing, visual artsand the environment.

Eagle Awareness Schoolwww.EagleAwarenessonwildearch.com Join us this summer to enhance yournaturalist knowledge and your survivalskills. Explore the forests of Vancouverthrough learning edible and medicinalplants, bird identification, wildlife track-ing and primitive skills like friction fire!

See the Young Shakespeareans video • Get full registration details

Visit bardonthebeach.org/about-bard-education

Bard education programs supported by

LimitedSpacesRegister Today!

All the World’s a StageAnd your child can be one of the players!

Our Young Shakespeareans workshops deliver an interactive, fun-filled theatrical adventure. Professional actors lead

dynamic workshops on the Bard stages all summer.Two-week workshops for ages 8 – 18.

Summer Programs in July Get inspired on Granville Island this summer!

Visual, media and digital arts programs for children and youth ages 3-19.

Two sessions available: July 3-13, and July 16-27.

Registration available now!

photo by Kyoko Fierro

www.artsumbrella.com Arts Umbrella is a non-profit organization, dedicated to inspiring kids for life through the arts!


FUN Campswww.funsociety.ca for more info.

Jellico Stationwww.jellicostation.com

Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre604/990-3755www.dnv.org/ecologyNorth Vancouver

Oxford LearningNorth Vancouver 604/990-8850Coquitlam 604/464-3090Richmond 604/233-5566South Surrey 604/575-1494Langley 604/534-4089www.oxfordlearning.com

Science Camps – HT Science Made Fun778/737-5277www.ScienceMadeFunBC.net

Science World at TELUS World of Science604/443-7443www.telusworldofscience.com/vancouver

UBC Botanical Garden – YoungExplorers Summer Day Camp604-822-3928www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/kids/campYoung Explorers is a weeklong environ-mental and recreational adventure forchildren aged 7–11. Children createconnections between nature and sci-ence through games, crafts and explo-ration. Details and registration infor-mation on website

Dive into Summer Camp at theVancouver Aquarium604/659-3552www.vanaqua.orgKids explore the intriguing world ofmarine mammals, fabulous fish andother cool creatures through hands-onactivities, science exploration, gamesand crafts. They will even check outbehind-the-scenes action and meetmarine scientists! Remember, registra-tion is limited and Aquarium Memberssave 20%. We offer camps for childrenin Kindergarten to Grade 8, rangingfrom 4 to 5 days long. Register by call-ing: 604.659.3552 For more information visit:www.vanaqua.org/education/camps

Westside Church Day CampsCosmic City & Beyond!604/263-2314, Kistilanowww.churchonthewestside.com

YWCA Camp Fun Girl604/895-5844www.ywcavan.org

Writing and Book Camp (VancouverPublic Library)604/331-4093www.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca/events/details/bookcampThis unique day Camp lets youth witha passion for reading and writing con-nect with well-known authors andillustrators. Each morning features anew keynote speaker from theCanadian literary world. After lunch,campers experience a variety of differ-ent creative workshops. Ages: 11–13and 14+.

sportsAthletes in Action604/514-2079www.athletesinaction.com

Atlantis Programs604/874-6464www.atlantisprograms.comVancouver

Cartwheels604/275-0020 or 604/594-1555www.cartwheelsincorporated.comRichmond/Surrey

Exceleration Multisport SummerCamps504/718-6252www.excelerationtriclub.ca

Fitba—Soccer Player Development604/340-1263www.fitba.ca

Jump Gymnastics604/568-9690www.jumpgymnastics.ca

Langara Family YMCA604/324-9622www.langarafamilyymca.org Financial assistance available.

The Little Gym604/539-2543www.thelittlegym.comCall for summer day camp details.

Marina’s Swim School604/818-4650www.marinaswimschool.comMarina’s Swim School is offering swimlessons for kids and adults of all agesand abilities. We have the unique style

and methods, semi-private teachingenvironment, tropical warm water.

Pedalheads Bike Camp604/874-6464www.pedalheads.caVancouver

Sportball604/688-3157www.sportball.caSportball Camps for ages 3–10 years—what a fantastic experience for a child!Available in morning or afternoon half-day sessions. Sportball camps focus onthe eight core Sportball sports, arts andcrafts, snack time, stories, music, co-operative games and theme days.Camps are run outdoors and indoors,depending on the location and weather.

Super Summer Soccer Camp1-800-427-0536www.royalsoccer.com

UBC Sport Camps604/822-6121www.ubccamps.caVancouver

Vancouver Phoenix Gymnastics604/737-7693www.phoenixgymnastics.com

Windsure Adventure Watersports604/224-0615www.windsure.com

summer camp guide

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Documents

french programs

childs life

childs dental visit

myriad of decisions

mail address

positive experience

bev yaworskibc parent

little smiles dental