BC Parent Fall Issue

FALL FALL ActivityGuide

EvilStepmom

Growing Uponline

2 bcparent.ca • fall 2013

Le français au CSF, c’est bien plus qu’une langue !

Inscrivez votre enfant dans une des écoles publiques du CSF ! Depuis sa création en 1995, le Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique offre des programmes et des services éducatifs valorisant le plein épanouissement et l’identité culturelle des apprenantes et apprenants francophones de la province. Le conseil compte aujourd’hui plus de 4 700 élèves, 37 écoles publiques et dessert plus d’une centaine de communautés réparties dans l’ensemble de la province.

▪ programme d’enseignement public de la maternelle à la 12e année;▪ services à la petite enfance;▪ service de transport scolaire;▪ programme d’anglais de qualité;

▪ haut niveau de réussite scolaire; ▪ portables pour tous;▪ programmes de musique, théâtre.

Find the best school for your kids and teens

schoolexpo.ca

Meet top PS-12 schools

Attend information seminars

“ How to find the best school”

“ Best ways to pay for private school”

“A must for every parent.”— C. DELANEY

VANCOUVER NOVEMBER 17 The Westin Bayshore 12 - 4 pm

ADMISSION VOUCHERS

FOR A LIMITED TIME

get 50% off

bcparent.ca • fall 2013 3

Fall Issue 2013Volume 22, Number 6

Mail Address: Sasamat RPO 72086 Vancouver, BC V6R 4P2

email: [email protected]

inside...10 Bunking up

Strategies for shared-room success

12 Learning to swimWhy is it important?

14 Growing up onlineProtecting kids from technology

17 Fall Activity Guide

4 Practice, play, performMusic lessons are a family affair

6 I’m not an evilstepmotherTips for stepparent success

8 Is private preschoolan option?What to look for, what to ask

Publisher/Executive Editor: Forrest Phillips

Editor: Geoffrey Legh

Advertising Design & Layout: Julie Cochrane

Editorial Design & Layout:www.retrometrodesign.ca

Advertising Sales: [email protected]

Circulation: Gold Distribution

Contributors: Lori Elder, Kimberly Fowler, GaylaGrace, Carolyn Jabs, Malia Jacobson, MelissaMartz, 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

Follow us on

http://twitter.com/bcparentmag

BC Parent Newsmagazine

want their children to experience music first-hand, especially if it is not offered at theirschool. And increasingly, adults are takinglessons to have quality creative time awayfrom the stresses of work and daily life.

How can taking music lessons benefityou and your family? Consider the follow-ing potential gains.

Improves brain function. Playing musicuses many parts of the brain simultaneous-ly. There are so many things to thinkabout—notes, rhythm, fingering and manymore. It’s multi-tasking for your brain asyou have to concentrate on all this and lis-ten to the result at the same time. Austin Luof Prince George excelled at piano and


Mom, it’s time to do your practic-ing!” Now how’s that for rolereversal? Music lessons are a great

activity for everyone so kids and their par-ents can all get into the act. The benefits ofstudying a musical instrument are wide-ranging, and the learning outcomes and lifelessons are huge. And, the fun-factor is highas well.

Not that long ago family music makingwas a way of life. After dinner, gatheringsaround the piano to play and sing werecommon. Or you could take your fiddledown the street and play along with theneighbours. That’s because the only way tohave music was to make music. All thatchanged however with the phonograph andradio: turn a knob and music was instantlyat your fingertips. Then TV came along andkicked it up a notch with pictures as well.Now there’s endless music, entertainment,news and you name it with the Internet,iPods, YouTube etc.

So does that mean that playing a musicalinstrument has gone the way of the Dodobird? Absolutely not! In fact, music lessonsare more popular than ever. Many parents

school is now on a scholarship at DukeUniversity. “Play ing the piano has greatlyaffected the person he is today. He haslearned lessons of cour age and dedication,”says Austin’s mom Jean Wang. And as foradults and parents, who wouldn’t benefitfrom a daily brain tune-up? (pardon thepun!)

Goal setting. There are many small learn-ing tasks in studying music and studentsmust constantly set new goals. Learning tobreak big jobs into small manageable tasksis a useful skill. And adults’ occupations areoften big and gangly and it can be hard tofeel any progress or satisfaction. When play-ing music, even learning one bar correctly isa step forward.

Practicing builds perseverance and dis-cipline. In an age of in stant gratification,studying music teaches patience. You have topractice, and you have to stick with it to seeresults. Setting a practice schedule will makeall the difference, and if you put in the timeyou will improve. Rome wasn’t built in a day,so just keep plugging along.

“

By Lori Elder, M.Mus.B.Mus. ARCT RMT

Music Lessons area Family Affair

Practice,Play,Perform

Adults often have moreanxiety but that doesn’t

mean they shouldn’t perform.Learning to face your fears is

a valuable life skill.


Performances build courage and confidence. Here’s an areawhere kids and parents often differ. Most children, especially youngones, have no qualms about playing in front of an audience. It’seasy, they just get up there. Adults often have more anxiety but thatdoesn’t mean they shouldn’t perform. Learning to face your fears isa valuable life skill. And no matter how your performance goes, thesun will rise in the east the next day. Just doing it is success rightthere.

Expands your social circle. There are many places to makemusic—school bands, community orchestras and choirs, churches,gar age bands and more. Once you get into the musical communityyou’ll meet many people with the same interest. “One of the bestthings about being a piano parent has been making life-long friends,”says Anne Scott of Prince George. There’s a bond formed doingmusic together that is hard to find in our fast-paced society.

Less screen time. Let’s face it—any activity not done on a screen isworth pursuing. Kids and parents alike are glued to their devises forwork, play, information, education, en tertainment and communi-cation. The list is endless and growing. Give yourself a break andcreate something instead.

So pick up an instrument and give it a try! I guarantee it’ll never bewasted time.

Lori Elder is a piano teacher, music festival adjudicator and workshop presenter. She is a member ofBC Registered Music Teachers, and she lives and teaches in Prince George, BC.

FOR MORE INFORMATION,INCLUDING A VIDEO, VISIT

www.pollockclinics.com

OFFICES IN VANCOUVER AND NEW WESTMINISTER

604 –717–6200

VASECTOMY No-Scalpel No-Needle No Metal Clips

T R U S T O U R E X P E R I E N C E !Dr. Pollock has safely performed over 15,000 vasectomies.

FOR INFANT CIRCUMCISION, VISIT www.circumcisionvancouver.com

• Takes under 6 minutes• Virtually painless• BC’s most referred to

vasectomy physician(10+ years)

• Our Success rate is greater than 99.9%.

• Online registration saves youtime – have a consultation and vasectomy in a single visit.

“YOUR CHILD’S CAREIS OUR FOCUS”

COMMITTED TO . . .

� Building relationships withfamilies

� Promoting good oral healthand well being

� Providing quality preventativeand restorative services

� Creating a caring environmentand a positive experience

Come visit our new officeat 2651 East HastingsOpening Fall 2013!

604-569-3669 www.tot2teendental.com

DR. ANITA GARTNER, Certified Specialist in

Pediatric Dentistry

SING! DANCE! ACT NOW!

The original and largest network of part-time performing arts

schools in the world.

Inspiring and enriching young people through the performing arts

For 4-18 year olds, after school, at weekends and summer camps.

StageCoach has Locations near you across the

Lower Mainland, find us at www.StageCoachSchools.ca

or call 1-877-787-8243

Th i i l d l gest netwo

www.stagecoachschools.caTOLL FREE 1-877-78-STAGE (78243)

Fall 2013RegistrationNow Open!

Vancouver East & West •Richmond•Surrey•Victoria•Coquitlam•Langley


I ’ll never forget the day my stepson shot back atme, “You’re not my mom, Gayla. My mom wouldsupport my choice.” I had disagreed on an impor-

tant decision he was making and voiced my opinion—because I loved him. But he didn’t see it that way.

Piercing words. I wanted to respond in anger but Ichose to remain silent, recognizing the loss that haunt -ed him as a result of his mother’s death. I understoodthe feelings behind his words. What he was really say-ing to me was, “I miss my mom. I wish she were here soI could have this conversation with her.” But she wasn’t.

Stepfamilies come together as a result of loss.Some stepchildren have experienced multiple lossesthrough death, divorce, and remarriage, with littlehealing or understanding on how to relate to the newstep-relationships in their family. As a stepmom, yourwords and actions can aid or hinder the growth ofyour stepfamily relationships. Here are a few tips tohelp prevent the evil stepmom stigma and promotehealthy relationships in your stepfamily.

1. Commit to the long haul. Decide that you won’tgive up when it gets hard, because it will get hard.Continuously strive for love and acceptance of oneanother, but don’t expect harmony overnight. Theaverage stepfamily takes seven years to integrate.Complex stepfamilies (when both parents bring chil-dren to the marriage) can take longer. You may takeone step forward and two steps backward, but that

doesn’t spell failure. Family identity is establishedthrough challenges, uniting the family in the long run.

2. Make your marriage relationship a priority. It’seasy to put the marriage on auto-pilot when the par-enting demands consume your time and energy. Butwithout the marriage acting as a foundational piece,the challenges of stepparenting can tear a family apart.Stepmom Heather Hetchler, founder of CafeSmomsays, “The marriage relationship has to come first. It’snot at the expense of the children but rather for theirsecurity. Putting the marriage first by backing eachother, being respectful, and modeling love towardone another, positively impacts the children.” Cracksin the foundation of your marriage allow division toseep in and separate relationships.

3. Don’t take everything personally. We make ourstepmom role harder because of our insecurities. We think we’ll never measure up to the biologicalmom, competing with and comparing ourselves toher constantly—always coming up short. If we learnto spend more time improving upon who we arealready, we’ll be more comfortable in our stepmomrole. If our stepchild can’t accept us for who we are,that’s okay—God created each of us as unique indi-viduals. When we’re secure in ourselves, it won’t both-er us when our stepchild questions our choices. Ournatural reaction becomes: I won’t take that comment

Tips for StepparentSuccess

By Gayla Grace

I’m not an evil stepmom!

I’ve been astepmom for 18 years and cannow honestly say,“It’s been aprivilege to takepart in raising mystepchildren.”

I reacted in favourof my biological

children duringtimes of conflict

and was frustratedwith my lack of

patience andfairness toward my

stepchildren.


personally or get defensive. I will accept her thoughts asher own, even if they’re different from mine.

4. Consider it a privilege to impact another child’slife. I remember clearly the day a counselor said thosewords to me when I was crying out for help in thefirst year of our marriage. I didn’t understand how toconsider my stepmother role a positive aspect of mylife. But if we learn to embrace a different perspec-tive, we will create a positive outcome. I love the wordsof stepmom and child psychologist Maria Saugstad,“Look at it as a calling—creating a good home foryour stepkids; it will take sacrifices but also berewarding to create something good.”

5. Work harder at being a friend rather than a par-ent, particularly in the beginning. Developing arelationship with your stepchild is the primary goalfor a new stepparent. Find common ground thatallows time together comfortably, doing things youboth enjoy. Study your stepchild to understand howto relate to him or her. Let the biological parent takethe lead in disciplining during the relationship-build-ing period; moving into a parental role too soon willresult in anger and resentment. Find ways for you tobe the “good guy” as your stepchild gets to know you.

6. Recognize that your needs count too. Give your-self grace, space, and understanding. Admit whenyou’ve failed in your role but don’t get stuck there.During our early years of marriage, the shortcomingsof my stepchildren irritated me. I reacted in favour ofmy biological children during times of conflict andwas frustrated with my lack of patience and fairnesstoward my stepchildren. As I sought to forgive myselfand learn from my failures, I could pick myself upand start again. Take a break from the stepmom rolewhen you’re feeling overwhelmed or defeated. Re -charge yourself with a spa day, coffee with a friend, ordate night with your husband.

7. Create healthy boundaries with the other home.Encourage healthy co-parenting with your spouseand his ex-wife but stay out of the middle of theirdisputes. Define the needs of your home and com-municate expectations to the children that create acooperative environment for managing chores, home -work, schedules, friends, etc. Don’t allow the otherhome to dictate what happens in your home or seekto interfere with happenings in their home.

8. Live in the present—not the past or the future.Celebrate your successes as a stepfamily. Don’t holdgrudges over mistakes of the past or project chal-lenges of the future. Live one day at a time, focusingon the needs of today. Maintain a positive attitude if

possible, thinking good thoughts about your stepchil -dren and expecting healthy interaction. Our thoughtsdictate our behavior, creating a negative or positiveatmosphere in our home.

9. Affirm the value of your stepmother role. Don’tallow others to negate the importance of your role.Yes, it’s a different role than the biological mom, butthat doesn’t lessen its value. A stepmom provides anobjective view that a biological mom cannot. With -out the emotional entanglement of a blood bond, astepmom recognizes unhealthy patterns that a bio-logical parent may not. I learned to listen to my hus-band’s objective opinion during my daughter’s teen ageyears and found wisdom in his stepparenting advice.

10. Don’t quit until you’ve arrived. The statistics ofdivorce in remarriage with children are staggering.According to marriage and family therapist Ron Deal,founder of Smart Stepfamilies, 25% of re-marriedcouples with children divorce within the first twoyears and 50% divorce within the first three. The step -mom journey is difficult but if you quit, you’ll neverknow the impact you could have made in your step -child’s life. Don’t be a statistic—commit to the long run.

Stepparenting is tough. Mistakes are made. Mis under -standings happen. And variables outside our controlinfluence stepfamily relationships. But there are newtomorrows. A fresh start to work through differences.Hope for harmony.

I’ve been a stepmom for 18 years and can nowhonestly say, “It’s been a privilege to take part in rais-ing my stepchildren.” In the end, the rewards out-weigh the burdens. My 21-year-old stepson’s Mother’sDay card brought tears to my eyes, “Thank you forputting up with all my crazy ways and being a greatmother to me!”

As a stepmom, you’ve been given an opportunityto influence a child’s life like no one else can. Are youup for the challenge? I hope so. Because there arerewards to your efforts if you don’t quit, but often-times they’re at the end of the journey

Gaya Grace is a freelance journalist, wife, mom and stepmom to five chil-dren, ages 12-28. She loves encouraging other stepparents on their journey.

Stepparenting Resources

Stepmom Magazine (online only)Stepmonster by Wednesday Martin, Ph.D.The Smart Stepmom by Laura PetherbridgeThe Courage to be a Stepmom by Sue Patton ThoeleThe Smart Stepfamily by Ron L. Deal and LauraPetherbridge

www.stepmommag.comwww.smartstepfamilies.comwww.marriedwithbaggage.comwww.stepparentingwithgrace.com


F or many working families and single parents,third party childcare is a necessity and daycare isoften seen as the only realistic option. Many of

these same parents are astonished when they discoverthat private preschool is just as available to them.Even busy stay-at-home parents are realizing that pre-school can provide their children with a wealth ofadvantages over regular daycare!

Preschool costs the same (or even slightly less)Although the benefits of preschool are far-reaching,parents usually reject the idea in favour of the “lessercosts” traditionally associated with daycare. However,experts note that paying tuition for early childhoodeducation instead of the hourly daycare rate is eitherabout the same cost or sometimes even cheaper!

According to the 2013 report, You Bet We Care: ASurvey of Centre-Based Early Childhood Education andCare in Canada, the Canada-wide median monthlyfee at a full-time centre for toddler care is $696, or$674 for preschool care. However, because of thewide provincial range in costs, 25% of monthly feeswere higher: for toddlers $902 or higher, and for pre-school aged children $816 or higher.

Montessori schools offer programs designed specif -ically for young children. Tuition at the average Mon -tessori School costs between $750 and $1,000 a monthaccording to the Canadian Council of MontessoriAdministrators. Schools with different philosophies

like Halifax Christian Academy, Burlington’s HaltonWaldorf and St-Laurent Academy in Ottawa have nur -sery and preschool programs with monthly tuitioncosts between $487 and $1,100 a month.

A variety of financial assistance options are availableto help pay for private pre-school such as supportfrom the school itself, local community programsand sibling discounts.

What’s the difference? Young children who attend private or independentschool have a more hands-on learning environmentand are introduced to many educational topics. Thisis a very different approach to many day-care centreswhere the focus is simply to provide care and oppor-tunities for play.

Why preschool?Private preschool dispels the myths that childrendon’t like to learn, and that ECE will rob them oftheir sense of play. In fact, preschool starts toddlerson a path to lifelong learning through a variety oftechniques “disguised” as play and can help cultivatethe linguistic, logical and social skills needed for success in later school experiences. Preschool alsodevelops emotional intelligence, encouraging respon -sibility and self-expression. But the advantages of private pre-school even go beyond the exceptionallearning environment, including:

Is Private Preschool an Option?By Kimberly Fowlerand Melissa Martz


• Flexible schedules and after and before school careto meet your needs

• A highly secure and safe setting for children • Small class sizes, ensuring that children feel secure

away from home and allowing them to makefriends easier, grow in self-confidence and develop apositive attitude towards authority. Private preschool is also a great way for parents to

test out Montessori school, Christian school or anyother private school and gauge if it is right for theirchild. Experts also insist that it is best to start privateeducation early in order to foster learning in a child’sdeveloping stage. Often, this “trial run” will not onlyprovide children with a mental and social advantage,but also give them an edge when gaining acceptanceinto elementary programs.

What to look for, what to askThe cost and type of childcare varies greatly depend-ing on your location. Contact day-care centres andprivate schools in your area for accurate fees and careoptions. When evaluating the pros and costs of yourchildcare options, make sure to ask the followingquestions:• What is the school’s educational philosophy?

• What is the school’s reputation? • Are meals and snacks provided? If so, are they in -

cluded in the fees?• Is transportation (i.e. school bus) to and from

school included in the fees?• Does the fee cover the entire year, or just the school

year? Are March break and summer programsoffered?

• Is there an extra cost for before- and after-schoolcare? Can the school work within your schedule?What is the fee for picking your child up late?

• Will you have to pay for care when your child doesn’t attend school on holidays, when they are illor on a family vacation?

• Are there any school trips materials, uniforms orother subsequent costs you will need to add to theregular fees you will pay?

Starting school at a young age plays a major role inpreparing your child for the educational challenges ofhis or her future. Learn more about preschool pro-grams at http://www.ourkids.net/preschools-private-pre-school.php.

Kimberly Fowler and Melissa Martz write for OurKids.net, Canada'strusted source for camps and schools.

Experts note thatpaying tuition forearly childhood

education insteadof the hourly

daycare rate iseither about the

same cost orsometimes even

cheaper!


orey and Katey Hage’s second son,Josiah, was destined for a sharedbed room from day one. The Hages

wanted him to bunk up with his olderbrother, Ezra, to conserve space in the fami-ly’s modestly-sized home and help the boysbuild a lasting bond.

But reaching the goal wasn’t easy. Sleep -ing near a sibling took some getting used tofor both boys, and the Hages spent severalmonths moving Josiah in and out of Ezra’sroom. In the end, it took three tries for thenew sleeping arrangement to finally takehold. “There were times when I wonderedif it would ever work,” says Katey.

Their persistence paid off—Josiah andEzra, now 4 and 6, have been happy room-mates for three-and-a-half years. As bunk-mates, the boys enjoy sharing a bedtimeroutine and chatting about their days asthey drift off to sleep. They’ve learned to

compromise and resolve conflict. Most im -portantly, they’ve learned to cherish theirrelationship, says Hage.

“The idea of each child having his or herown bedroom is a fairly recent phenomenon

in history,” says James J. Crist, Ph.D., psy-chologist and co-author of Siblings: You’reStuck With Each Other, So Stick Together.People have shared habitats for ever, so par-ents shouldn’t feel bad if kids need to share

bedrooms, he says. In fact, sharing a bed-room with a sibling can be an irreplaceablebonding experience.

And the early childhood years can be agreat time to try a shared-room arrange-ment, because young kids haven’t had timeto get used to having their own bedroom.“The younger kids are when they start shar-ing a bedroom, the more normal it feels,”he says.

Small homes, big benefitsShared bedrooms are the norm throughoutmuch of the world, and a trend towardsmaller homes is making shared bedrooms areality for many families. The “McMansions”of years past are giving way to more eco-nomical, efficient abodes where affordabili-ty and energy efficiency are prioritized oversquare footage, according to a recent surveyby Better Homes & Gardens.

By Malia Jacobson

Shared bedrooms can be a boon to siblings, helpinganxious kids sleep better and

fostering cooperation,negotiation, and close

family bonds.


Room sharing is a fact of life for familieschoosing smaller houses, or those stayingput in smaller homes as their family grows,like Anna and Aaron Petersen. The familyhopes to eventually add a third bedroom totheir 100-year-old bungalow, but for now,6-year-old Ephraim and 3-year-old Shiphrahshare a bedroom.

Though many families put kids in sharedbedrooms out of necessity, it’s not a matterof making do, says Crist. Shared bedroomscan be a boon to siblings, helping anxiouskids sleep better and fostering cooperation,negotiation, and close family bonds. Somechildren don’t like sleeping alone and wouldactually prefer a shared bedroom over a solobedroom, he notes.

Sleep times twoBut some families will experience a fewbumps on their way to room-sharing success.Sleep problems held up the Hage brothers’move to a shared room. Ezra is an early riser;Josiah still needed multiple daytime naps.Ultimately, the boys were able to bunk upafter Katey worked to get their sleep rou-tines in sync. Success was all about timing,she says. “We had to get them getting up,napping, and going to bed at the same time.Everything works much better that way.”

When one boy goes to bed after theother, the Hages play a “quiet game,” get-ting him ready for bed and tucking him inas noiselessly as possible. To keep early-rising Ezra from waking his brother beforedawn, he has a special clock that tells himwhen it’s time to get up.

To keep Ephraim from barging into thebedroom during Shiphrah’s naps, the Peter -sens moved the kids’ toys to the den. Asidefrom these small accommodations, havingthe kids in one bedroom has been remark-ably easy, says Anna. “We thought they’dwake each other up, but they don’t—kidsare deeper sleepers than we realize.”

Making it workWhen kids share rooms, discipline requiressome parental creativity. The time-honoredtactic of sending each child to their bed-room for time-out doesn’t work in shared-room scenarios. But bedrooms aren’t theonly place that kids can cool off or take abreak, notes Crist. Kids who need solo timecan chill in the bathroom, the den, or evena parents’ room.

What about opposite-sex bunkmakes?Crist says the arrangement can work well inthe early years, before kids approach puber-ty and develop a sense of modesty abouttheir bodies. Kids who feel self-consciouscan dress and undress in the bathroom oranother room in the home. Opposite-sexroom-sharing generally works better whensiblings are close in age, he notes—kids atvastly different developmental stages maynot feel as comfortable sharing close spacewith an opposite-sex sibling.

Siblings now, friends foreverAfter getting off to a bumpy start, room-sharing has been smooth sailing for the Hagefamily. It’s not about splitting the roomdown the middle or dividing things up 50-50, says Katey. “We don’t want them to seethis as an obligation—this something excit-ing that they get to do. This is their specialtime together, and it won’t last forever.”

Malia Jacobson is a nationally published sleep and healthjournalist and mom of three. Her most recent book is Sleep Tight,Every Night: Helping Toddlers and Preschoolers Sleep WellWithout Tears, Tricks, or Tirades.

Transitioning kids to a shared room?Here’s how to smooth the bumps.

• Validate Feelings: Ask the child howthey feel about sharing a room, andvalidate their feelings. Instead of tellingkids “Too bad, you have no choice,” letthem know that you understand thismight bring up lots of feelings for them.

• Prepare the Room: Before transitioningmoving a sibling into a child’s bedroom,physically prepare the bedroom for itsnew inhabitant. Moving a crib or bedinto the room in advance helps theolder child get excited about the newarrangement.

• Create Sacred Space: Give each childa private space within the shared bed-room, whether it’s their own bed, abookshelf, or a bulletin board. Let eachchild help decorate their private space,and designate it off-limits to sibs.

• Pick Cool-Down Spots: Designate“cool-down” places in other rooms inthe house where kids can take a solobreak without their sib.

Happy Roommates: Making SharedRooms Work (Source: James J. Crist, Ph.D.)

Visit www.bcparent.caRead our new blogs… catch

up on past issues… enterour contests and find out

about great family events inthe Lower Mainland.

Have BC ParentNewsmagazine delivered

directly to your inbox. Visit bcparent.ca to

subscribe.

recent survey reported by the Lifesaving Society showedthat over 60% of Canadian children have not had swim-ming lessons. Drowning is the second leading cause of

preventable death for children under 10 years of age. Children un -der 5 are most at risk. The profile of drownings in Canada is shift-ing, contributing to an upswing in the past five years.

Many of the most tragic drownings involve children too youngto swim, or those in the company of others unable to swim or per-form a lifesaving rescue. Organizations such as the Red Cross andthe Lifesaving Society encourage parents to ensure that all familymembers obtain swimming and lifesaving skills so that they are pre-pared to save themselves and others in an aquatic emergency.

Why is it important for children to learn to swim? Learning to be safe around water is a lifelong skill. Along with theobvious safety aspects, learning to swim is great exercise that devel-ops a child’s endurance and muscles.

Sharron Crowley, swim instructor, owner and founder of Aqua -ventures Swim Centre, feels it is important to develop happy, safeand confident swimmers. “Helping children love to learn to swimand remain safe from harm will also give children a sense ofachievement through mastery of new skills.”

When youngster Reilen first began swimming lessons at the ageof three, his Mom Michele says he refused to come into the pool

and told his mom to cancel all lessons! Today he is an accomplishedswimmer who says: “I can’t believe how much I learned, especiallywhen I didn’t even want to put my head in the water at first. Iwould never have thought I could swim 32 lengths of the pool, butnow I can. I also always had a lot of fun with the other kids I met inmy swim classes.”

Reilen took swim lessons from a young age at AquaventuresSwim Centre. Mom Michele is very thankful for “the exceptionalfun and very special learning environment created for Reilen overthe years.” She particularly appreciates the style of teaching thatfocuses on care, support, enthusiasm and discipline all at once. “It’sbeen rewarding watching Reilen’s skills evolve lesson by lesson,year-by-year.”

When is the best time for children to be exposed to water andswim lessons? Crowley believes in safely exposing children to water as early as pos-sible—even as babies. “Early mastery of water movement gives chil-dren a head start in learning the basic swimming skills,” saysCrowley. “Stroke instruction can begin as early as 3 years for chil-dren who have had the proper preparation.”

She further highlights how researchers have documented thatthe stimulating effect of child-paced infant and toddler swimminglessons has the potential to increase intelligence, concentration,


by Bev Yaworski


alertness and perceptual abilities. Improvement in social, emotionaland physical development has also been noted.

Which swim classes to take will depend on conditions such asage, skill competency, previous experience and readiness. At Aqua -ventures Swim Centre, classes are offered at various levels for infants,toddlers, preschoolers, school aged kids and for adults.

Staff are particularly passionate about their infant and toddlerclasses including: Waterbabies for ages 6 month to 18 months,Parent and Tot for ages 18 months to 3 years and Family Tot forages 6 months to 3 years. Emphasis in these classes is on learningthrough fun by the use of songs, games and colourful equipment.Participants are introduced to basic water orientation, floatingskills, breath control and gentle water submersion.

Aquaventures Swim Centre Aquaventures Swim Centre offers a number of unique features forparents considering placing their children in swim lessons. Thecolourful and vibrant facility features a tropical warm water poolwith filtration using an enhanced ultra-violet disinfection process.Teaching staff are hired for their dynamic and child-friendlyapproach that emphasizes teaching principles such as: keeping kidssafe, unconditional respect and teaching with creativity, variety andfun.

Classes are kept small to provide a more individualized studentteacher ratio. For example, classes for children 3 to 5 years old andlessons for school-aged kids 6 to 14 years both have student/teacher

ratio of 4 to 1 to provide optimalpersonal attention.

Parental Involvement Sharron Crowley enthusiast -ically invites parental invol -vement and parent supportfor a child’s swim experiences. Here aresome of her tips for parents:• No child is ever drown proof. There is no

substitute for parental supervision. Neverleave a child unattended near any amount of water.

• Encourage positive safety behaviours in and around a pool. It isalways good practice to carry a young child or hold your child’shand while walking on a pool deck or when entering a pool.

• Relax around water because children can easily sense your appre-hension or excitement.

• During swim lessons, smile, laugh and give plenty of encourage-ment to your child.

Note: Most swimming lessons are eligible for the Federal Children’sFitness Tax Credit, but keep your receipts and check with CanadaRevenue Agency for exact details.

Resources:Aquaventures Swim Centre www.aquaventuresswim.com Life Saving Society BC www.lifesaving.bc.ca Red Cross www.redcross.ca

Aquaventures Swim staff are hired for their

dynamic and child-friendly approach.

Accepting Wait List Applications for SY 2014-15VANCOUVER BILINGUAL PRESCHOOL949 West 49th Avenue (at Oak St.)Vancouver, BC V5Z 2T1Phone/Fax: 604.261.1221

GIVE YOUR CHILD THE GIFT OF A SECOND LANGUAGE

The ability to learn languages is highest between birth and age 6. Our French-English preschool program maximizes a child’s natural curiosity and ability to learn a second language during this important window of opportunity.

• Established in 1962 • Caring, experienced & highly qualified bilingual teachers • Bright, extra-spacious classrooms • Private indoor & outdoor play areas • Introduction to French, reading, math, science and nature, music, crafts • Educational field trips

[email protected] • www.vancouverbilingual.com

CELEBRATING OVER 50 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

At the York House Little School, girls explore,discover and grow their passions.

To find out more about our exceptional early learning program, please go to: www.yorkhouse.ca/littleschool


Any adult who spends much time withtechnology knows that it can causephysical strains ranging from head -

aches to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Child -ren who use computers, laptops, mobiledevices and video games can also be vulner-able to these problems—both because theirbodies are developing and because they maynot notice the twinges that signal overuse.Fortunately, parents can take relatively sim-ple steps that will protect kids from thephysical wear and tear associated with tech-nology. Helping children establish goodtech habits now makes it less likely that theywill have problems later. Here are sugges-tions about how to protect the moving partsyour children will need for the rest of theirlive.

Hands. Repetitive stress injuries occur whenthe same motion is repeated over and over,something that’s hard to avoid when playing video games or using a cellphone.Encourage your child to develop a light,relaxed touch to minimize stress on fingers.To prevent wrist strain, rest devices on a pil-low and position keyboards at elbow heightso wrists are loose instead of flexed. Armsshould hang rather than being outstretched.

Back. You may feel self-conscious abouttell ing your child to “sit up straight,” but

slumping over a handheld device createsstrain on a child’s back and neck. Wheneverpossible, encourage your child to do ex -tended projects such as homework or evenlengthy gaming sessions at a work stationset up to promote “neutral” posture. Feetshould rest on the floor (or on a box foryounger children). The chair should pro-vide support for the lower back (a rolled up

towel may help). Screens should be at eyelevel. Adding an inexpensive keyboard to alaptop or tablet allows you to put the screenat eye level so your child won’t have tohunch over the device.

Eyes. Computer Vision Syndrome won’tnecessarily cause long-term damage to yourchild’s eyes but can result in fatigue, blurryvision and headaches. Show your child howto increase font size so devices can be heldcomfortably about 20 inches from the face.Reduce glare by adjusting the position of

screens and, if necessary, adding an anti-reflective filter. Clean screens (and, for thatmatter, eye glasses) by wiping them gentlywith a soft, damp cloth. Kids in front ofscreens blink less often, so their eyes mayget dry and irritated. Teach your child toshift his focus to something else every fiveto ten minutes.

Ears. One in five teens already has hearingloss caused by extended exposure to sound—especially music—that is too loud. Setthe volume for devices that have head-phones and tell young children they’ll needyour permission to make it any louder.Instead of earbuds, get your child earphonesthat cover the ear so there’s less need toincrease volume to block out environmentalsound.

To make children more aware of soundlevels, try installing an app like Sound Met -er for Apple products or Sound Level forAndroid. Although the top decibel meas-urement in these apps is limited by the micon the phone, they are a graphic way of let-ting kids know when sound approaches thedanger zone.

Brain. Even though the research is incon-clusive, many experts recommend that par-ents err on the side of caution when ex posingchildren to the electromagnetic waves creat-

By Carolyn Jabs

The best way to protect your child from the health

issues associated with usingtechnology is to encourage

breaks—lots of them.

Protecting Kids from theHealth Hazards ofTechnology


ed by mobile devices. Dr. Devra Davis, au -thor of Disconnect: The Truth About Cell -phone Radiation urges parents to limit youngchildren to very short conversations on cell-phones. Older children should get in thehabit of using the speaker phone or a head-set. Some kids will find it amusing to use aninexpensive retro handset, readily availableat sites like Amazon.

Somewhere in the fine print, most cell-phone manufacturers recommend thatphones not be pressed against the side ofthe head. Study the manual to find the idealdistance from phone to ear. To find out howmuch radiation a particular phone routinelyemits, check its SARS level at http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phone-radiation-levels/.Dr. Davis also recommends other precau-tions that will limit exposure to unnecessaryradiation: Turn off WIFI whenever it’s notin use or set the phone to airplane mode soit doesn’t emit a wireless signal. Avoid usingthe phone in a moving vehicle or whenreception is poor because the phone willemit more radiation in its effort to find arelay antenna. Keep phones and tablets outof the bedroom when your child is sleep-ing. If your child (or for that matter, you)uses your cellphone a lot, consider investingin a case that redirects radiation like the oneavailable from Pongresearch.com.

The best way to protect your child fromthe health issues associated with using tech-nology is to encourage breaks—lots ofthem. Try installing a timer app or use anold-fashioned kitchen timer. Set it for 20 to30 minutes. When the timer goes off, haveeveryone stop what they are doing andMOVE for at least five minutes. You mayalso want to help your child become awareof the aches and pains that indicate overuse.Teach your child simple stress reduction ex -ercises like shoulder rolls and yoga stretches.Have a squishy ball available for soothingcramped hand muscles.

All of this advice is, of course, for adultsas well as kids. In the end, the very best wayto get your kids to develop healthy habitswith technology may be to adopt them foryourself—and tell your kids what you aredoing and why

Carolyn Jabs, M.A., raised three computer savvy kids includ-ing one with special needs. She has been writing Growing UpOnline for ten years and is working on a book about constructiveresponses to conflict. Visit www.growing-up-online.com to readother columns.

from the start.!BRIGHT

Forget those new jeans and superhero lunchbox. Confi dence is the best school supply you can give your kids to set them up for school success.

SYLVANLEARNING.CA

1.800.EDUCATEAbbotsford Coquitlam Delta Kelowna

Langley North Vancouver Richmond Surrey Vancouver West Vancouver White Rock


Win two tickets to the wonderful film Harmony Lessons, part of the 2013 Vancouver Film Festival.

Harmony Lessons by Emir BaigazinKazakhstan/Germany/France

With its culture of intimidation, the playground has alwayseerily resembled a prison yard. Equally lyrical and jarring,Emir Baigazin’s commanding debut centres on a teenagertrapped in a cycle of mind games and bullying.

“Grimly poetic, formally disciplined and psychologically gripping...”—Hollywood Reporter

Winner, Best New Director, Seattle 2013

Outstanding Artistic Contribution, Berlin 2013

Visit www.bcparent.ca to enter and preview.

Film Fest Contest!

STRESSED BY YOUR

BOOKKEEPING?

LET US DO IT!

WWW.SIMPLYBACKOFFICE.CA

#810 - 675 WEST HASTINGS ST.VANCOUVER, BC V6B1N2

[email protected]

TO GET STARTED SIMPLY CALL (604) 398-2640

BOOK-KEEPING

EEEESRDDDDDSTSTRRREEEEE

DD

E

D

E

D

EE

S

E

S

E

S

E

E

P

E

PPB PB P

O

P

O

P

OOOOOL IL T

N

L

O N

L T

O N

L T

O GO GO GB NG

E T

O G

E

O G

E !E !T

KKKKKKKKKRRBBYY YYBB

T USSS

Y

TL TE T

RUOOU

O

UR

L I

OYYYSSSSS

RYE

R

K

S

O GO

D

B NEB N

E T

R

OD

R

US

KR

T SR

E

S

T

?

S

EO

ESSEDSSSSTTUUOOO RUU

DDDD

E

D

PEEEE

S

PP

E

B IB IB IB

O

RRREEE

YYYBB

TE !T

O ?

T

O GO GO G

E T

O N

D

O N

S

O GK

U

K

UUU

Y

US

E

S

KEK

E

K

E

E

E

KKKO ?

T

O ?

D

O NO

SO

LET US DO IT!

BOOKKEEPING?OUR BY YYO

STRESSED

KEEPINGBOOK-

Y CALLSIMPLLYO GET STT

YBINFO@SIMPLLYANCOUVERVVA

#810 - 675 WEST HASTINGS ST

YB.SIMPLLYWWWW.

Y CALL (604) 398-2640

TEDARSTTA

YBACKOFFICE.CAANCOUVER, BC V6B1N2

.#810 - 675 WEST HASTINGS ST

OFFICE.CACKAYB


academicAcademic Advantage Tutoring604/439-1790www.schooliseasy.com

ADNC Neurofeedback Centre of BC604/730-9600www.neurofeedbackclinic.ca

Canada’s Best IndependentSchools—Our Kids Go To Schoolwww.ourkids.net

Googol Learning604/720-9377www.googolpower.com

Ho Math and Chess Learning Centre604/263-4321www.mathandchess.com

Language Tutors604/338-9598www.languagedesigns.ca

Mimic Baby Sign Languagewww.mimicbaby.com

MPM Math604/266-6762www.mpmmath.com

PD Plus Tutoring Service604/421-6101www.pdplustutors.com

The Reading Foundation604/222-2254www.readingfoundation.com

Silbury Education and Resource Centre604/261-4696www.silbury.caFull and part time education for giftedand creative learners K–8.

Spirit of Math SchoolsRichmond 604/304-4032Vancouver 604/568-0018www.spiritofmath.com The leader in math enrichment inCanada for over 25 years. Visit ourwebsite for details.

Sylvan Learning800/EDUCATE www.educate.com

TOC Education Resources604/603-7017www.toceducationresources.comChinese language and culture programfor 3 years to adult.

The Whole Dyslexic Society604/921-1084www.dyslexiacanada.com

danceA-Star Performing & Fine Arts Studio604/266-3053, Vancouverwww.astarstudio.com

Al Mozaico Flamenco DanceAcademy604/671-9182, Vancouverwww.mozaicoflamenco.com

Anna Wyman School of Dance Arts604/926-6535, West Van

The Arts Connection604/241-0141, Richmondwww.theartsconnection.ca

Arts Umbrella604/681-5268www.artsumbrella.com

AUUC School of Dance604/254-3436danceschool@auucvancouver.cawww.auucvancouver.caExperience for yourself the joy andartistry of Ukrainian dance! Quality &creative instruction in Folk-Stage,Ballet & Contemporary Dance. 85years of arts programs reflecting amodern multicultural experience. Ages3 to adult.

The BrightStars Program604/662-8554, Vancouverwww.brightstars.caVancouver’s only professionalPerforming Arts program for youngchildren ages 1–13. Dance, sing andact to the melody of life. Classes runyear round.

Crystal Ballroom Dance School604/323-1238www.crystalballroom.ca

Dance Co604/736-3394, [email protected] Co provides unparalleled dancetraining for all ages and levels.Providing technique and performancewhile developing confidence and cre-ativity. Programs start throughout theyear, for more information visit ourwebsite: danceco.com

Dance Expressions604/574-2277, Surreywww.dancexp.com

Douglas Ballet Academy604/420-0204, Vancouverwww.douglasballet.homestead. com

Academy of International Dance Arts604/327-9313www.academyofinternationaldancearts.com

Gabriela’s Movement Studio604/[email protected]

Goh Ballet Academy604/[email protected] institute of provincial champions in the Junior, Intermediate& Senior levels as well as InternationalGold Medal Award Recipients. Wellbalanced curriculum, RAD examina-tions & extensive performance opportunities.

hz Ballet Classique604/299-9698, Burnabywww.balletclassique.com

Just for Kicks School of Dance604/596-4161, Surrey

North Shore Academy of Dance604/987-3814

Northwest Academy of Performing Arts604/306-7390www.NAPAdance.com

Pacific Dance Arts604/738-8575www.pacificdancearts.ca


Place des Arts Centre & Music Shool604/664-1636, Coquitlamwww.placedesarts.caPlace des Arts provides high qualityarts education for all ages and abilities.Over 30 music teachers offer privatelessons in a wide range of in struments.Ongoing lessons in music & dance runSept–June; session classes in music,dance, theatre, visual and literary artrun fall, winter and spring.

Port Moody School of Dance604/936-0966www.portmoodydance.com

Precision Dance Academy604/939-8277www.precisiondance.ca

Spotlight Dance Centre604/299-6111, Vancouver

Surrey Dance Centre604/599-9961www.surreydancecentre.com

The Landing Dance Centre604/325-8653www.thelandingdance.com

Tri-City Dance Centre604/523-6868, Coquitlamwww.tricitydance.com

Unhinge Dance778/[email protected]

Vancouver Tap Dance Society604/253-0293www.vantapdance.bc.ca

Vancouver Academy of Dance604/231-8293www.vancouverdance.comVancouver Academy of Dance offerssummer dance camps in ballet,jazz/lyrical, tap, hip hop, acrobatics,ballroom and Chinese Dance at theirmain location in Richmond.

Westside Dance Centre Ltd604/736-1000www.westsidedance.caWe offer great classes in Tap, Jazz,Ballet and Hip hop for kids as youngas 3 years old, right up to adults.

specialtyBricks 4 Kidz778/822-5672www.bricks4kidz.com/ vancouver Bricks 4 Kidz® provides programs thatinspire kids to learn about architecture,engineering and design concepts whilehaving fun building with LEGO®

bricks. Now offering After SchoolEnrichment Classes, Camps andBirthday Parties. Ages 5–12.

Christianne’s Lyceum of Literature and Art604/733-1356

www.christiannehayward.comThe Lyceum encourages young peopleto see themselves as readers, writersand artists as they engage with abstractideas and reflect on their own place insociety. Programs include: bookclubs,writers’ workshops, literature and artclasses and holiday and summer camps.

The Dizzy Whisk – Cooking Classesfor Kids778/998-3530 www.dizzywhisk.com

Kimiko’s Japanese Kitchen604/727-5331www.kimikoskitchen.com

Sewing with Frances604/433-1030www.francessewingschool.com

Vancouver Aquarium604/659-FISH www.visitvanaqua.org

musicAllegro Music School Inc.604/327-7765, Vancouver

Arbutus Music Academy604/736-8767www.arbutusmusicacademy.com

The Arts Connection604/241-0141, Richmondwww.theartsconnection.ca

BC Conservatory of Music604/299-2984, Burnabywww.bcmusic.ca

BC Registered Music TeachersAssociation604/733-5531www.bcrmta.bc.caVisit our website to find a qualifiedregistered music teacher. Be assured ofknowledgeable, competent and quali-fied instruction.

The BrightStars Program604/662-8554, Vancouverwww.brightstars.caLearning life long skills through thestudy of dance styles, music and move-ment. Classes range from 2 to 5 yrs.

Campos Music604/325-0480

Carillon Music604/591-1161www.carillonmusic.com

Clavimusic Piano Studios778/881-0329www.clavimusic.com

Colourstrings Music Studio604/730-5418, Vancouverwww.colourstringsvan.com

Delta Community Music School604/946-1280, Delta

fall activity guide

Pre-K to Grade 12 Reading Writing Math French

With 7 locations in the Lower Mainland

Act Before You ‘C’ Poor GradesMake this year the best yet with Oxford Learning.All Ages. All Grades. All Subjects.Enrol Today!All Ages. All Grades. All Subjects.Enrol Today!

oxfordlearning.com


fall activity guideDominanta Music School604/767-0949, Burnabywww.dominanta.ca

Jean Lyons School of Music604/734-4019www.jeanlyonsmusic.com

Jumpstart Music & Movement604/777-7179www.jumpstartmusicandmovement.com

Langley Community Music School604/534-2848www.langleymusic.com

Long & McQuade Music Education Centreswww. long-mcquade.comLong & McQuade’s Lesson Centres –comfortable studios, qualified instruc-tors, low rates, no registration fees, andlessons for every age, level and style.

Music for Young Children800/828-4334www.myc.comMusic for Young Children provides acomprehensive music program thatintegrates keyboard, singing, ear train-ing, sight reading, creative movement,rhythm, music theory and music com-position for children age 3–11.

Music Teachers on the Go778/882-7603info@musicteachersonthego.comwww.musicteachersonthego.com

North Shore Music Academy604/925-3403, North Van

Noteworthy Music604/270-3620, Richmond

O Music Studios604/321-1551www.omusicstudios.com

Oakridge Music Studio604/321-1551www.omusicstudios.com

Pacific Academy for Music604/944-0336, Port Coquitlamwww.musicinstructor.net

Pacific Piano Studio604/329-7290

Place des Arts Art Centre & MusicSchool604/664-1636www.placedesarts.caPlace des Arts provides high qualityarts education for all ages and abilities.Over 30 music teachers offer privatelessons in a wide range of instruments.Ongoing lessons in music and dancerun Sep to Jun; session classes inmusic, dance, theatre, visual and liter-ary art run fall, winter and spring.

Prussin Music604/736-3036www.prussinmusic.comPrussin Music has been serving familiessince 1985. We offer instrument sales,

rentals, repairs & lessons. Our teachersare enthusiastic and active in Vancou -ver’s musical community. We have les-sons for all levels and all ages includingsummer camps and Suzuki classes.

Richmond CommunityMusic School604/272-5227, Richmondwww.richmondmusicschool.ca

School of Music and Dance604/951-3725, Surrey

Shadbolt Centre for the Arts604/291-6864, Burnaby

Staccato Music Studios604/421-3753www.staccatostudios.com

Steveston Music Centre604/271-3545, Steveston

Tom Lee Music604/685-8471, Vancouverwww.tomleemusic.caAt Tom Lee Music Learning Centre,you can enjoy excellent music educa-tion in a fun community atmosphere.Students of all ages come together for apositive music making experience atour four key and satellite locations onVancouver Island. To register, pleasecall 604.688.8929.

Vancouver Academy of Music604/734-2301www.vam.bc.ca Kodaly and Orff musicianship classes.

Suzuki violin, viola, piano, cello, andflute. Piano group class (ages 4–9).Ballet (ages 31/2–18). RCM music his-tory and theory. Private instruction inpiano, classical guitar, band andorchestral instruments.

The Violin ABC’s778/896-5729www.violin-abc.com

Western Conservatory of Music604/530-0317, White Rock

performing & visual artsThe Arts Connection604/241-0141, Richmondwww.theartsconnection.ca

Arts Umbrella604/681-5268www.artsumbrella.com

Artspace Children’s Arts Centrewww.artspaceforchildren.com

Bard on the Beachwww.bardonthebeach.org/about-bard-educationOur Young Shakespeareans workshopsdeliver an interactive fun-filled theatri-cal adventure. Professional actors leaddynamic workshops on the Bard stagesall summer.

... to the top of the Nation

... to the top of the Nation

Call to book your

FREE ENTRANCE

INTERVIEW

Visit:www. spiritofmath. c o m

Call to book yourFREE TRIAL CLASS

The leader in math enrichment in Canada for over 25 years.

After-school classes for high-performing students now in

Richmond for grades 1 - 6 and Vancouver West 1-8.

Taking Students

from the top of

the class ...

Taking Students

from the top of

the class ...

Top doctors, professors, and engineers

send their children to Spirit of Math®.

Find out why.

Students with a B+ or higher are considered for acceptance.

Releasing the Genius®

Vancouver West Campus

(604) 568-0018St. James Community Sq.

3214 West 10th Ave.

New Richmond Campus

(604) 304-4032St. Anne’s Steveston

Anglican Church4071 Francis Rd.


Core music skillsare developed through playfulactivities that captivate each

childs imagination.

All childrenare reading & writing basic

music by age 5.

An innovative, internationally reputable

program combining Kodaly-Orff-Dalcroze.

Violin lessons – 5 yrs

Why Study with aRegistered Music Teacher?

Because your children deserve the best !

Assurance of knowledgeable,

• • Workshops and Master Classes•

•

Choose the Right Teacher


fall activity guideCarousel Theatre for Young People604/669-3410 www.carouseltheatre.ca

CircusWest604/252-3679www.circuswest.com

E.J.S. School of Fine Arts604/596-4883

Gateway Theatre604/247-4975www.gatewaytheatre.com

In-Studio Art Classes/ MartaRoberson Smyth604/254-0961www.martademaria.comMentoring children from six to sixteenwith personalised instruction in smallgroups.

JCC Performing Arts School604/257-5111, Vancouver

Performing & Fine Arts Studio604/266-3053, N. Vancouver

Place des Arts604/664-1636www.placedesarts.caWith small classes, quality instructionand a welcoming environment, Placedes Arts Art Centre and Music Schooloffers arts education in a variety of dis-ciplines for all ages and abilities.

Rainbow Art School Ltd.604/[email protected]

Shadbolt Centre for the Arts604/291-6864, Burnaby

StageCoach Theatre Arts Schools1-877-78-STAGE (78243)www.stagecoachschools.ca Sing, Dance, Act! For 4–18 yr olds.The world’s largest part-time theatreschool network, with over 700 loca-tions worldwide in 10 countries! Weoffer classes in Singing, Dancing andDrama every weekend alongside theschool term as well as week long sum-mer camps. Schools locations through-out the Lower Mainland: VancouverEastside/ Westside, Richmond, Surrey,Langley, Coquitlam, Victoria.

StageCraft Theatre School604/267-SCTS (7287)[email protected]

Surrey Art Gallery604/501-5566

Vancouver Film School604/685-5808

Vancouver Youth Theatre604/877-0678www.vyt.ca

sportsAquaventures Swim Centre604/736-SWIMwww.aquaventuresswim.comAward-winning program in tropicalwarm water.

Atlantis Programs 604/874-6464, Vancouverwww.atlantisprograms.com

Club Aviva604/526-4464, Coquitlamwww.clubaviva.citysoup.ca

Dynamo Swim Club778/866-6604www.dynamoswimclub.net

The Edge Climbing Centre604/984-9080www.edgeclimbing.com

Jump! Gymnastics604/568-9690www.jumpgymnastics.ca

Kids in Motion604/970-7945www.kids-inmotion.ca

Langley Gymnastics Foundation604/532-1022www.langleygymnastics.org

The Little Gym of Langley604/539-2543www.thelittlegym.com

Marina’s Swim School604/818-4650www.marinaswimschool.com Marina’s Swim School is offering swimlessons for kids and adults of all ages

and abilities. We have the unique styleand methods, semi-private teachingenvironment, tropical warm water.

Maynard’s Pony Meadows604/261-1295

Midnight Cheer Athletics604/263-6436 Vancouverwww.midnightcheer.com

North Shore Equestrian Centre604/988-5131www.wecreateriders.com

Quantum Gymnastics Centre604/465-9293, Maple Ridgewww.quantumgym.com

RBL Basketball604/269-0221 or 604/253-5295www.RBLBasketball.caInstructional programs, leagues, holi-day camps for boys and girls fromKindergarten to Grade 10.

Richmond Gymnastics Association604/278-3614www.richmond gymnastics.com

Richmond Olympic Oval778/296-1400wwwrichmondoval.caVisit our website for details about ourprograms.

Sportball604/688-3157www.sportball.ca Sportball is a non-competitive sportsprogram for children 16 months to 12years. Children are introduced to eightpopular sports: soccer, hockey, football,basketball, baseball, volleyball, tennisand golf. Sportball offers weekly pro-grams, outdoor soccer, camps duringschool holidays, and birthday parties.Come try a free trial class! See ourwebsite for a location near you.

Twin Rivers Equestrian Centre604/574-5481www.twinriversequestrian.com

UBC Gymnastics604/822-0207

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

White Rock Gymnastics604/542-0386www.whiterockgymnastics.com


LITTLE SMILES DENTAL CENTRE

Dr. Jong Hyun BanDDS, FRCD(C)

Certified Specialist inPediatric Dentistry

3770 West 10th AveVancouver, BC

Let your child’s dental visit be a positive experience.

Prevention andmaintenance of good oral health is our focus.

www.thelittlesmiles.com (604) 222-2206

MarpoleBilingual

Montessori (Est. 1985)

Pre-School, Junior Kindergarten& Kindergarten Celebrating Over 25 years of MontessoriTeaching in the Community

Our enriched Montessori curriculum includes: The Phonetic approach to Reading & Writing,

Mathematics, Geography, Science, Music, Art, French,Yoga and a variety of Cultural subjects. Children are

required to wear school uniforms.

We offer 2-1/2 hour and 3-1/2 hour programs for 2-1/2 to 5 year olds as well as an Extended

day program for 5 year olds. Private English Tutoringand Afterschool Phonics classes are also offered.

1296 W 67TH AVE., VANCOUVER, BC V6P 2T2FOR AN APPOINTMENT PLEASE CALL

TEL: 604-266-1091 � EMAIL: bilingualmontessori@hotmail.comwww.marpolebilingualmontessori.com

Experienced and loving teachers use the Montessori

method in a loving and joyful environment to give your

children a good foundation forlife. The method fosters

independence, confidence, self discipline and a love

for knowledge in the developing child.

LESCO MONTESSORIpreschool & daycare

[ESTABLISHED IN 1995]

12720 Cameron Dr, Richmond

604/279-4228

VILLAGE MONTESSORIpreschool & daycare

[ESTABLISHED IN 1975]

2770 McKenzie Ave, South Surrey

604/535-0660

SPACES AVAILABLE � CALL FOR INFORMATION

ssey LHarmonGermanan/takhsaz(K

culturits With esembled a prison yaralways r

Emir Baigazin’trapped reganeet

ing. “Poetic, formally disciplined and psychologicallygripping...”—

Seattle ectorDir

onss, 110 min.)eancr/Fyy/German

ound playgrthe intimidation, of e culturyrical and d. LLyesembled a prison yar

es on as commanding debut centrEmir Baigazin’and games mind of cycle a in trapped

ing. “Poetic, formally disciplined and psychologically—Hollywood Reporter. , BesWinnerr,

ContriArtistic Outstanding 2013; Seattle

hasound yrical and jarring,

es on aylluband -

ing. “Poetic, formally disciplined and psychologically, Best New

Contri

Seattle , ectorr,Dirbution, Berlin 2013.Sat. Sep 28, 12:20 pm, VSat. Sep 28, 9:00 pm, Intl VThu. Oct 3, 10:50 am, Intl V

ContriArtistic Outstanding 2013; Seattle bution, Berlin 2013.

ancitySat. Sep 28, 12:20 pm, Village 8Sat. Sep 28, 9:00 pm, Intl Village 8Thu. Oct 3, 10:50 am, Intl V

GENERSPONS

Contri-

YOUSLLYGENERYORED BSPONS

elix FFe 7 min.)a, 9fricouth AS(rhythms joyous the by Guided

owd-pleaser centrousing crthis rn between honourisaxophonist torteenaged

the past go. , Audience AWinnerr,2013. Sat. Oct 5, 6:30 pm, Rio

Jazz,Cape of es on aowd-pleaser centr

gnn between honouri

d, DurbanwarAAw

en olf ChildrW Japan, 117 min.)(“Anime helmer Mamoru Hosoda tenderly

complications the imagines

patient, poetic style the masters as Ozu and Mizoguchi... this elegant

tradition.”— arietyVVae, Sitges 2012.Featur

Note: Families welcome at the matinee scr

Sat. Sep 28, 4:20 pm, Intl V

Japan, 117 min.)“Anime helmer Mamoru Hosoda tenderly

whenfollow that complications

Japaneseof such patient, poetic style masters as Ozu and Mizoguchi... this elegant

.tyy. , Best AnimatedWinnerr,e, Sitges 2012.

eenings!ome at the matinee scrre

illage 10Sat. Sep 28, 4:20 pm, Intl V

he RT

fortunes by constructing a prize-winningocket. Making exemplary use of his Laosr

setting, Kim Moriurb

WinnerFeaturAudience A(PG - Coarse language; nudity)

t eockhe R 6 min.)hailand, 9/Tsalia/LaotrusA(

fortunes by constructing a prize-winningocket. Making exemplary use of his Laos

daunt crafts “a lush andsetting, Kim Mor...”— coming-of-age storygnis

d, Best Narrativewar, Audience Annerr,ribeca 2013;, Te, Best ActorFeatur

d, Sydney 2013.warAudience APG - Coarse language; nudity)

6 min.)

fortunes by constructing a prize-winningocket. Making exemplary use of his Laos

daunt crafts “a lush and

d, Best Narrativeribeca 2013;

adjda W 8 min.), 9yGermanabia/audi ArS(

Sat. Oct 5, 6:30 pm, Rioue. Oct 8, 1:30 pm, RioT

8 min.) Ali 5 min.)Spain, 8(

Sat. Sep 28, 4:20 pm, Intl VSat. Oct 5, 1:00 pm, CentrFri. Oct 11, 6:00 pm, Rio

illage 10Sat. Sep 28, 4:20 pm, Intl Ve for ArtsSat. Oct 5, 1:00 pm, Centr

Fri. Oct 11, 6:00 pm, RioThu. Sep 26, 4:00 pm, SFU-GCASat. Sep 28, 3:40 pm, Intl Vue. Oct 1, 6:30 pm, CentrT

INFFILM INF

OBIN-PERS118

Thu. Sep 26, 4:00 pm, SFU-GCAillage 9Sat. Sep 28, 3:40 pm, Intl V

e for Artsue. Oct 1, 6:30 pm, Centr

TIONORMAATINF gor.VIFFF.O LINE:FILM INF 3-FILM-68604

X OFFICEO ONLINE gor.at VIFFF.ONIN-PERS . 14 tepom Sfr hey TancitV

vie (Noon – 7 pm, at Dateetrymour Se1 S118

,eatrhe)vie (Noon – 7 pm

adjda W 8 min.), 9yGermanabia/audi ArS(

ector Haifaa Al Mansour’Arabia, female diradjda as she-old Wdrama follows 10-year

serts her independence and negotiates thesaowing up a woman in that nation. ealities of grr

endearing tale...”— dian.Guarrd WinnerFilm, Dubai 2012; Audience AAngeles 2013. (G - No advisory)

e for Artsue. Oct 8, 1:30 pm, CentrTThu. Oct 10, 6:00 pm, Playhouse

8 min.)

i dsector Haifaa Al Mansour’

adjda as sheserts her independence and negotiates the

owing up a woman in that nation.

, BestWinnerr,d, LoswarAAw

(G - No advisory)e for Arts

Ali 5 min.)Spain, 8(Chain-smoking and peddling booze, teena

abilities and thoughtfully explorA coming-of-age tale hinging on har

performances earthy its it.”—rips

Thu. Sep 26, 12:15 pm, VSun. Sep 29, 4:00 pm, Intl VFri. Oct 4, 6:45 pm, Rio

d egChain-smoking and peddling booze, teena

-es her insecurities.tfully explorre

d-wonA coming-of-age tale hinging on har

ofosity generand performances

ancityThu. Sep 26, 12:15 pm, Village 8Sun. Sep 29, 4:00 pm, Intl V

Fri. Oct 4, 6:45 pm, Rio

TICKETdult $13AeekWudenttS

outh under 18: $Y

STICKETdult $13

y Matinee $11daeekenior $11/ Sudent

9outh under 18: $

BC Parent Fall Issue

Documents

Transcript of BC Parent Fall Issue