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summer issue2015

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4 bcparent.ca • summer issue 2015

Summer Issue 2015Volume 24, Number 2

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

email: [email protected]

inside...14 Taking Back the

Family Bed

16 13 Ways to MakeSummer Learning Fun

18 Summer Camp Guide

5 Shower SOS

6 The Freedom of Play

8 Summer CampingFamily Style

10 Shared ParentingChoosing Equality

12 Backseat Boredom Busters

Publisher/Executive Editor: Forrest Phillips

Editor: Geoffrey Legh

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Contributors: Tiffany Doerr Gueizon, ChristaMeinyk Hines, Malia Jacobsen, Heather Lee Leap,Janeen Lewis, Diane Turner Maller, 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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bcparent.ca • summer issue 2015 5

A ll I wanted was a shower. A long, uninterrupt-ed shower like the ones I took before I hadchildren who come out of the woodwork at

the sound of water running in the master bathroom.It’s like my kids have specialized internal radars thattell them when I am in the bathroom alone. Theseradars also prompt them to get hurt, want a snack orstart World War III with a sibling—all when I am inthe shower. It never fails.

I know, I know. To have a shower of solitude, all Ihave to do is put in ear plugs and lock the bathroomdoor. The Shower Diva, the not-so-perfect angel whosits on my left shoulder, often tells me this. However,Safety Freak Mom, the goody-two-shoes angel whosits on my right shoulder appeals to my naturallyguilty complex with, “What if your kids need you,and they can’t get to you?”

But one day, when I was tired of breaking up quar-rels over all-important things like, for example, whoreally owned a piece of Scotch tape, I decided to get alittle crazy and shake things up. If this meant lockingthe kids out of the bathroom, so be it. Unfortunately,I didn’t get so crazy that I put in ear plugs. Live andlearn.

I grabbed my “Carried Away” shower gel and toldseven-year old Andrew to watch four-year-old Gracie,and to knock on the door in case of an emergency. Iexplained that emergencies involve bleeding or poi-soning, NOT whose turn it is to play a game atNickJr.com or watch a show on Netflix Kids.

The first minute in the shower was glorious. ThenI heard a noise. The Shower Diva said, “Ignore it.They’re fine.”

Safety Freak Mom said, “What if one of them ishurt?” I stayed put. But as I got to my favorite part ofthe shower, the part where I lather shampoo into myhair with all the ecstasy of a woman in an HerbalEssence commercial, I heard the noise again. Therewas a commotion somewhere in the house—I couldfeel it in my Mom bones. I turned the shower off.

“Andrew, is something wrong?”He answered, but he might as well have been

Charlie Brown’s teacher. I couldn’t understand aword he said, so I stepped out of the shower onto thebath mat, every pore of my skin (and The ShowerDiva) shrieking at the chilly air. I cracked the door.

“Andrew, is everything okay?”“NO!” he yelled. “Gracie is getting up on the

stove!”In every mom’s life, there is a time for nerves of

steel. I pray for them daily, my own SOS to God, foroccasions such as computer crashes and cat throw-upon new carpet.

Then there is a time for unbridled panic. This wasone of those times.

“Gracie, get down! You might get hurt!” I yelled asI yanked the towel off the rack and whipped itaround me. I ran down the hall, slipping on the hard-wood floor while Safety Freak Mom scolded, “Whatwere you thinking? She’s practically still an infant!”

As I slid past the kids’ bathroom, I noticed some-thing out of the corner of my eye—and skidded to astop, confused. Both children stood in the bathroom,and while yes, I am a multitasker, no, I have not yetinstalled a stove in the bathroom. Andrew blockedGracie from the sink with his whole body. Arms out-stretched, he shielded her from—gasp!—the soapdispenser. Exasperated, he turned to me and said,“Gracie is using up all the soap!”

From my heavenly little enclave in the back of thehouse I’d heard, “Gracie is getting up on the stove!”

Unfazed by the fact that I wore only a bath toweland a not-so-happy expression, Andrew continuedpleading his case.

“She got three pumps instead of one!”Gracie gave me a mischievous grin.I took a very deep breath. I was kind of glad Safety

Freak Mom was with me. She gently coaxed, “Stepaway from the children, and no one gets hurt.”

As I stood dripping in my towel, I knew the“stove” versus “soap” miscommunication would bereally funny to me the next day.

But that day, as I turned and walked slowly downthe hall to get dressed, I wondered if I would take anuninterrupted shower this decade.

I sighed and sent my daily SOS heavenward.

Janeen Lewis is a freelance journalist and mother of two. She has been pub-lished in several Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies, including The Mom’sMultitasking Survival Guide. She is yet to have an uninterrupted shower thisdecade.Sh

ower

SOS

by Janeen Lewis


I s your child obsessed with computergames, but not thrilled about playingoutdoors? Has their life become so

scheduled that they seem to have no freetime? Or do they complain about beingbored if they have even a few moments of frivolous time spent without a specificpurpose?

“Free” time is decreasing for many chil-dren, reports the Canadian Coalition forthe Rights of Children. “Spontaneous orfree play is important for children in boththe natural and built environments; howev-er, traffic and land-use patterns have bothrestricted and diminished the natural playterritory of childhood. In cities, open spacehas been reduced.”

Free time for children may even becomean “endangered activity.” Some studiesreport that school-age children’s playtimehas decreased by 25–45% since 1981. Un -structured outdoor activities also declinedby approximately 50%. Certain schools evenreduce recess time. Statistics also reveal thatkids spend a startling number of hourswatching screens of one type or another.Likewise, there is increasing pressure forkids to learn specific skills and to conform

to a measurable-achievement mindset.What can parents do to shift the focus

back to encouraging spontaneous, free playopportunities for their children? Well, youare not alone, as a group of parents discov-ered at a recent parenting education pro-gram held in Metro Vancouver. At a programon the topic of: The Lost Art of Play: HelpingChildren Grow Up, Dr. Deborah MacNamarashared information with about 50 parents.Dr. MacNamara is a Vancouver-based coun-sellor and educator, who also works withDr. Gordon Neufeld, developmental psy-chologist and author of the award-winningbook, Hold On To Your Kids.

“Play is crucial to a child’s development,”says Dr. MacNamara. “It is the work ofchildhood.” She emphasizes that play is dis-tinctly different from work activities. Playfocuses on an actual activity, while work is more concerned with the outcome. Playis more about a child’s imagination, pretend, exploration, discovery and activeexploration.

Technological change, which has createda host of technical devices, has helped tocreate a myth that behaviours such as onlinegaming are about play. In reality, screen

activities and even many organized sportsare structured, controlled activities man-aged by adults that can interfere with achild’s expression and exploration. In con-trast, play is exemplified by a sense of open-ness and pleasure.

How Does Play Enhance Development?“Play is where the self is truly expressed—where wishes, fantasies, deep emotions andcore dynamics show themselves,” says Dr.Mac Namara. “It’s an area essential for healthand well-being, and is therapeutic in effect.”

Research highlights its importance forlearning and development across life. Theseearly experiences become the foundation fora child’s innovation, self-esteem and creativi-ty. Educators tell us play helps kids de veloptheir cognitive, motor, language, social andemotional skills. For example: when chil-dren have had opportunities to freely usetheir imagination, researchers find kids aremore able to be patient and preserving.

What Can Adults Do To Nurture TheirChild’s Play Experiences?“Our role as parents and teachers is to pro-vide conditions that give rise to play—

Rediscovering the Freedom of PlayBy Bev Yaworski


including encouraging spontaneous activitythat can’t be taught or commanded,” saysDr. MacNamara. “A child must be given thefreedom to play by giving them freedomfrom pain, hunger, tiredness and enoughfreedom from screens and scheduled activi-ties.”

Education professors, Doris Bergen andDoris Pronin Fromberg in their book: Playfrom Birth to Twelve, emphasize the impor-tance of adults becoming “advocates andfacilitators of play.” They offer some practi-cal tips on this topic.• Provide play resources—arrange for in -

door and outdoor space and materials thatare have flexible, multiple use applicationsthat will invite children to explore theircreativity on many levels.

• Make time available for freely-chosen,uninhibited play—this is time awayfrom technology, structure and even timeto experience boredom.

• Welcome and appreciate process andeffort—adults should stay away fromevaluating and judging a child’s outcomesduring play interaction. Allow them to

get messy. At the same time, set limits ona child’s participation with digital devicesand organized activities.

• Invite diversity & gender equality—recognize the value of the numerousunique ways children may express andexperience their creativity and imagina-tion. For example: Don’t judge if yourdaughter wants to build Lego bridges andyour son wants to play dress-up.

Attachment Needs Dr. MacNamara emphasizes that “All play isnot created equal and it is not enough tojust provide the space and opportunity.Parents must satisfy their child’s relationalneeds first. Attachment is what most needsto work for a child. A child that is clingingand working for approval is showing signstheir attachment needs have not been met.”

The adult must assume responsibility fortheir relationship with the child. Thismeans preserving contact and closeness tonurture a sense of belonging and signifi-cance. It’s also important to be the child’shome base, safe haven and buffer from soci-

etal pressures. Parents and caregivers shouldprovide more of the child’s attention needsthan is demanded, that is, do more thanjust meet a child’s demands. Provide morecloseness than your child is even pursuing.“To fulfill a child’s attachment hunger, thismeans to find within ourselves our own wellof generosity and grace.”

It can’t be understated the importantrole that parents, care-givers and teachershold in supporting children’s attachmentneeds, and thereby provide the conditionsfor enhancing children’s play experiences.

Right to PlayEven the United Nations Convention onthe Rights of the Child (Article 31) ac -knowledges a number of related but distinctrights which include: rest, recreation, leisureand play. Local organizations, such as theSociety of Children & Youth of BC,through education, advocacy, and com -munity engagement are working towardcreating more child and youth-friendlycommunities by encouraging the importantvalue of play in every child’s life.

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I knew I was doing something right whenmy eight year old daughter exclaimed,“I love camping!” Grinning wide

through a mouthful of pancakes, she was themost contented camper who ever dined atthe tiny table of our weathered tent-trailer.

From the beginning of my parentingjourney, I was very conscious about wantingto share similar camping experiences withmy children that I had experienced whilegrowing up. My childhood perspective sawthat, at camp, the basics of life were fulfilledand life felt unencumbered. Some of themost vivid and treasured memories frommy childhood come from our summercamping trips.

Not everyone had the same outdoorcamping experiences that we did. By the timemy happy camper was in high school, shereported that many of her friends had neverbeen camping. Richard Louv’s landmarkbook, Last Child in the Woods: Saving OurChildren from Nature-Deficit Disorder, doc-uments the dramatic change in modernchildhood that has resulted in childrenspending less and less time outdoors. Luckily,a growing awareness of the developmentalneed for children to experience a connec-tion to nature has spurned widespreadimplementation of programs that aim tosupport children and families with oppor-tunities to get outdoors and to increase vis-its to national and provincial parks.

What if you didn’t grow up camping?You may not have the gear stocked andready for the next outing. Reservationsought to be made and precautions consid-ered before you are ready to pack up the car.

Get-away time is limited and sendingyour kids to camp is growing as an option.However, if you opt to give it a try, you andyour kids could grow to love camping too.

Choose from abundant camping choices.These days you can choose campgroundsthat offer resort like amenities, even Wi-Fi.You can camp in your own backyard. Whenyou are ready to experience wilderness,more primitive accommodations are wait-ing to be discovered.

Once you have your gear together, get-ting to know your provincial parks is a goodplace to start. There is probably one close toyou that is drivable and easy to find. Wellestablished facilities in provincial parks nor-mally provide shelters, bathrooms, garbagedisposal, and access to clean water. Thepresence of equipped and experienced parkstaff gives support to your camping efforts

and peace of mind when you are away fromhome.Slow down. When you arrive at the best lo -cation for your family, camping offers achance to adjust your pace. No calendarswith appointments to keep. Breathing out-door air is the first step in releasing accumu-lated stress from worries at home. Shift yourperspective and notice what is unique andbeautiful in your temporary landscape.Create a simpler life at camp. The basicrhythms of meal times, planned or sponta-neous activities and evening time aroundthe camp fire are enough to structure yourday. Young children are often happy toexplore the microcosm of nature near ashrub, in a puddle, or under a tree.

Any early birds in your family can revelin a sunrise while everyone else sleeps peace-fully in the tent. Watching the sun go downas a family offers an opportunity to appreci-ate an everyday occurrence that we often missor take for granted in our day to day life.Connect to nature. When home is deco -rated, edged, mowed, and landscaped, we lose track of nature’s natural tendencies.National and provincial parks that offercamping are all about preserving native veg-etation particular to the region.

Whether high desert, forest, meadow, orcoast line; your chosen campground offersan environment ready to explore. Guidednature walks and evening talks may be pro-

My childhood perspective saw that, at camp, the basics of

life were fulfilled and life feltunencumbered.

SummerCampingForgingOutdoor Funas a FamilyBy Diane Turner Maller


vided. Nature needs to be experienced first-hand by little and bighands. Use all of your senses.Develop outdoor and wilderness skills. Backyard camping is agood way to practice setting up the tent. You may also want to testthe pad or air mattress you plan to sleep on. Do you know how toattach propane bottles to the camp stove?

Building a ten essentials pack can engage kids in learning basicoutdoor skills. A compass, first aid kit, plastic whistle, space blan-ket, and nutrition bars are some of the items to include. Older chil-dren will need guidance in learning to handle fire starting materials.All children can carry a flashlight.Transplant a community for a week. Planning a campout to ac -com modate a community of families that play together, ride bicy-cles together, or go to school together can create an opportunity toexperience an intentional village for a time. Living next door,campsite to campsite, tent to tent, allows children to interact andplay all through the day in a setting that differs dramatically fromthe car-driven routine at home. Adults may get to have conversa-tions that there had not previously been time for. At least one largepotluck meal at a central campsite makes for a festive feeling thathelps strengthen the sense of community.Learn some history and geology. Campgrounds are often locatednear natural areas that feature museums and educational displaysavailable to the public. Investigate these places along the route toyour camp destination. You may be amazed by the colourful char-acters who occupied the territory before you. Watch films thatdetail hundreds of years of geological transformation.Mishaps make for fun storytelling around the campfire.Campfire time offers opportunity to recount the adventures or mis-adventures of the day. Embellishments are allowed and all membersof the family can contribute. Watching the flames dance in thedarkness stirs our sensibilities and has the power to unite familymembers in lasting and memorable ways.Form traditions over time. When you have gone on enough camp-ing trips, favorite camp spots become apparent. Think of all thememories that could be formed over many years of visiting thesame campground or locale. Each return visit feels fresh and new;yet, the familiar landmarks, the places to watch the sunset, thefamiliar trails that meander up the hill all form an imprint thatsteadily builds on previous visits. A camping tradition that you startwith your family may very well be carried on by your children.

From every trip, bring back the best experiences from campingto everyday life at home. There will be gear to put away, clothes towash, moments to remember, and stories to tell. The evening sunsetat home beckons weary campers for yet another view.

Parks Canada: http://www.pc.gc.caParks in British Columbia: http://www.hellobc.com — click oncampgrounds, under the accommodations tab.Great Outdoor Recreation Pages (GORP), www.gorp.com. Guide for finding parks around the world along with practicalcamping advice.Leave No Trace (LNT), www.lnt.org. Education courses and publications to guide Leave No Trace ethics in the outdoors.Ultimate Camp Resource, www.ultimatecampresource.com. Sourcefor campfire songs, stories, and skits.

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It sounds almost too good to be true, butMarc and Amy Vachon, co-authors of Equal - ly Shared Parenting: Rewriting the Rules for aGeneration of Parents, hope to prove thatshared parenting is a viable lifestyle optionfor today’s families. For the Vachons, whoblog at equallysharedparenting.com, sharedparenting was a concept born out of a desireto retain a sense of joy amid the chaos ofearly parenthood.

“I didn’t want work to be all-consuming;I didn’t want to give up the joys in my life, Ididn’t want to give up the joys of being aparent. So we started focusing on balance,”says Marc.

But equally shared parenting (or ESP) isnot without its detractors, or challenges,and research suggests it may increase mari-tal friction. Is equally shared parenting aviable, attainable lifestyle option, or a pie-in-the-sky philosophy that piles more ex -pectations on already overworked parents?

A new pathThe Vachons borrowed the term ‘equallyshared parenting’ from Francine M. Deutsch,whose book, Halving It All: How EquallyShared Parenting Works, was published in2000. In practice, ESP entails both parentstaking responsibility for childcare, house-work, and breadwinning, but it’s not aboutdivvying up duties 50/50. “We’re not talk-ing about ‘equal’ in terms of who doeswhat. It’s about being equal peers,” saysAmy.

A growing trendShared parenting is attractive to increasingnumbers of parents who want success inboth work and life, says Jessica DeGroot,founder and president of Third Path Insti -tute, a Philadelphia-based think-tank devot -ed to work-life balance for parents. Modernparents have different ideas about work andfamily than their predecessors did.

F ather of two Billy Farrow can throw atea party like nobody’s business. Hegets plenty of tea-drinking practice as

the main caretaker for his daughters, Gwen,5, and Jane, 3, while his wife Tanya Farrowworks as a second-grade teacher. In betweenhis night and weekend shifts as a restaurantmanager, he spends most days dressing thekids, making lunches, planning meals, andvolunteering at Gwen’s co-op preschool.But it’s not all dad, all the time: weekends,nights, and much of the summer, Tanya’s onmom-duty, caring for both kids, cleaning,and grocery shopping.

Neither full-time domestic servants norharried breadwinners, the Farrows are a newbreed of modern couple: one in which par-enting and household tasks are shared equi-tably, if not equally, while both partnerscontribute to the household income andspend ample time with their children.

Shared Parenting Why Modern Parents are Choosing EqualityBy Malia Jacobson


The Families and Work Institute’s 2008study on work and home life found thattoday’s employees are less likely to agreethat it’s better if “the man earns the moneyand the woman takes care of the home andchildren.” Just 38 percent were in favor ofthese traditional gender roles—a drop of 25percent since 1977. In 1992, only 21 per-cent of women reported that their partnerspent as much or more time on childcare asthey did; by 2008, that number had jumpedto 31 percent. That means over two-thirdsof moms still perform the lion’s share ofchildcare, but it also means change is afoot.

Younger parents are leading the chargetoward what ThirdPath calls “integratedwork-life balance.” Millennial fathers (intheir 20s and early 30s) spend 4.3 hours perworkday with their children, compared to 3hours per day for all employed dads. Feweryoung people report intense career ambi-tion: since 1992, the percentage of peopleunder 30 seeking a higher-powered job hasfallen 13 percent for men and 6 percent forwomen.

Culture and biologyHistorically, ESP isn’t an isolated trend. Atturns out, our traditional view of family lifethat includes a breadwinning dad and astay-at-home mom isn’t so traditional afterall; early American couples shared parentingmuch more equally.

“North Americans didn’t develop thisstrong idea that women were the primaryparents until the early 19th century,” notesStephanie Coontz, professor of History andFamily Studies at The Evergreen StateCollege in Olympia and director of researchand public education of the Council onContemporary Families. In colonial times,women were productive providers whooften delegated childcare, and they weren’tconsidered more nurturing than men.

But the spread of wage labour in the 19thcentury divided household tasks in two,with the division falling along gender lines.Men earned while women tended the hearthand raised children, creating a firmlyentrenched ideal that’s been slow to crum-ble. “It’s a very powerful 200-year tradition

that works on men and women in manyways,” says Cootnz: Women are taught thatthey’re naturally superior nurturers whoshould derive intense enjoyment from par-enting at all times—and that they shouldfeel guilty if they don’t—and men are taughtthat childcare and masculinity can’t co-exist.

Fighting for equalityEquitable parenting may be appealing, butit’s hard to achieve and even harder to main-tain. Even parents who want to share tasksequally tend to drift toward inequality overtime, according to Cornell University re -searchers Philip Cowan and Carolyn PapeCowan. Their research found that no mat-ter how couples plan to share parentingtasks, most slide back into traditional gen-der roles, causing both partners to feel lesssatisfaction and more anger.

For some, anger translates into fights.One study from Ohio State Universityfound that when dads share in parentingtasks, parents fight more. But Amy Vachonnotes that families in the study had moretraditional gender roles. “Positioning oneparent as the primary caregiver while thepartner is relegated to secondary status sets

the stage for the conflict seen in this studybecause the primary parent often clings tocontrol over childcare and nitpicks a spousewho tries to assist,” she says.

This practice of criticizing the domesticprowess of a helpful spouse is known asmaternal gatekeeping—and it’s the enemyof equally shared parenting. According toresearch from Brigham Young University,21 percent of mothers are gatekeepers,reluctant to relinquish control over house-hold and childcare tasks even when askingfor a spouse’s help. “These couples have notdecided to cede power for equality,” saysAmy. “So there’s going to be conflict.”

The child’s takeA couple’s discussion of equally shared par-enting shouldn’t overlook the people beingparented. Kids can benefit when momshares at least a portion of breadwinning,according to a recent study published in theJournal of Family Psychology. Numerousstudies show that when dads actively partic-ipate in childcare, children benefit socially,emotionally, and academically. Kids caredfor by dads show better cognitive function-ing as infants, superior problem-solving astoddlers, and enhanced academic perform-ance during the school years; they’re lesslikely to rebel as teenagers.

But the benefits extend beyond the here-and-now. As a strong day-to-day male pres-ence in his girls’ lives, Billy Farrow hopes toinfluence their eventual choice of a partner.“I’m setting a good example in terms of howto act, while also taking the time to showthem how they should be treated by a malefigure; hopefully that will be somethingthey’ll remember when they’re dating.”

Malia Jacobson is a nationally published health and parent-ing journalist and mom of three. Her latest book is Sleep Tight,Every Night: Helping Toddlers and Preschoolers Sleep WellWithout Tears, Tricks, or Tirades.

Parents on unequal footing can work toward more equality athome with these steps:1. Don’t ambush your partner. Arrange a time and day to talk

about the issue in a setting relatively free of distraction.2. Start the discussion by acknowledging the valued

contributions of both partners and that no matter what,there’s never enough time or energy to go around.

3. Using “I” language, outline the problem in detail, withstatements like “This is how I’m feeling” and “This is what Iwould like.”

4. Work together to brainstorm solutions. Avoid slipping into“scarcity mode,” a counterproductive mindset concernedwith protecting your own interests.

5. Consider resources outside the household that may helpbalance the scales. Is there money for outside help? Canextended family or neighbors help with childcare needs?

6. Don’t expect to resolve every thing in one sitting. Agree tospend a set amount of time on the topic, then table thediscussion and set another time to meet.

Millennial fathers spend 4.3 hours per workday with their

children, compared to 3 hours perday for all employed dads.

Tips for parents on working toward equality


A re you looking forward to your nextfamily vacation, but dreading thedrive? There are only so many cho-

ruses of “Wheels on the Bus,” a parent canstand, and maybe you’re already feelingguilty for the hours of screen-time the kidsare going to rack up on the road. What ifthe drive were part of your family-time,rather than something to be endured? Wakeup your creativity and get everyone engagedwith the following games and activities. Youcan limit whining, minimize screen-timeand start your vacation as soon as you buck-le up. Play the alphabet game. Take turns mak-ing sentences, the wackier the better, work-ing your way through the alphabet. Thefirst person starts with “A” and creates asentence such as “Aunt Agatha’s angry alli-gator ate anchovies.” The next person getsthe letter “B,” each person taking a turnusing the letters in alphabetical order. Eachword must begin with that letter, not justthe letter sound. No fair sneaking in prepo-sitions or modifiers that do not start withthe proper letter. It won’t take long to geteveryone giggling over your silly word

Backseat Boredom BustersBackseat Travel PackBefore buckling in for that muchanticipated road trip, pack a fewsimple entertainment items andproven distractions. Provide eachchild with their own bag of goodies,and keep some things in reserve todole out when the whiningbecomes unbearable. Here are just a few suggestions to help youstock-up:• A new book• Notepads, a colouring book,

puzzle and maze books• Pencils (and a screw-top sharpener)• Washable markers• Finger puppets• Yarn for cat’s cradle or finger

crocheting• Brain Quest card decks• Small toys such as Lego, match-

box cars or a Polly Pocket doll(wrap them to increase the wowfactor and slow down acquisitionby a few seconds)

• Special snack foods your kidsdon’t normally get to eat

• Travel-sized games• Playing cards

choices. Challenge kids to stretch their sen-tences by adding descriptive words.Give your kids a map. Before major roadtrips, mom Cara Althoff picks up extramaps of their route for her children, Ilexand Zaya. She folds the maps so the route isshowing, and puts each one in a sheet pro-tector. “Give each child a dry-erase markerand let them trace your route as you drive,”says Althoff. The sheet protector keeps themap folded; the marker works on it and themap can be used again. Show your childyour starting point and destination and givethem an explanation of your route. Everyten miles or so, have your kids mark the dis-tance you’ve travelled. Tell them the namesof towns you are passing through andencourage them to check road signs so theycan follow along. When they ask, “Howmuch further,” remind them they have theanswer in their hands.Quiz your kids on math facts. This game iseasy to tailor to individual children. Call achild’s name and ask them to answer anequation. Little kids can try easy additionand subtraction while older sibs can workon multiplication or division facts. Toss

By Heather Lee Leap


some basic algebraic thinking into the mix by asking things like“two plus what equals eleven?”Hold a scavenger hunt. How long will it take to see all the lettersof the alphabet in order? How about numbers zero through onehundred? Keep a tally of license plates from different states.Brainstorm a list of both common and unusual things you mightsee on your journey. Hand this list to the kids in the backseat so theycan work together to spot the different items, animals and people.Create stories about the people you see. Who is that man withthe mustache, and where is he going? Take turns choosing peopleand imagining a life and personality for them. Work together toexpand the story. Leave the story dangling with phrases such as,“until…” or “and then…” for the next person to pick up.Listen to audio-books. “We always listen to audio-books as a fami-ly versus having the kids use headphones,” says Oregon momMadeline Landis, whose family has made the seventeen-hour trip toPalm Springs five times. Sometimes, listening to music in the carsimply adds to the noise, but focusing on what is happening in agood book allows kids and adults to forget the discomforts of travel.Landis finds her kids, ages eleven and nine, are engaged in the storylonger if they all listen together; it becomes quality family time.

And finally, when you’ve exhausted all other resources or justneed quiet, adults can give ear plugs a try. Sometimes kids just needto be rowdy.

Heather Lee Leap is freelance writer and mom. She usually leaves her husband in charge of thedriving while she controls snack distribution.

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over to nurse was infinitely easier thanplodding down the hall.

The first slept with us for eight months,and the other two for somewhere around a year each. Because our three kids were

spaced four years apart, we didn’t complete-ly exit the baby stage for about nine years.

When my third child was about three,my pregnant neighbor asked for advice inusing cloth diapers. Having cloth diaperedall three of mine, I was happy to help. I

went to the garage and pulled out the bigplastic tote that held my diaper stash. As wechatted and looked over the prefolds, velcrocovers and pins, it hit me. I wouldn’t beneeding these again… ever. My friend own -ed a home sewing business and was interest-ed in creating custom sewn cloth diapers.She needed some material to practice pat-terns on, so I offered to sell or trade mystash. It may seem strange, but diapers serv-ices and moms often trade or sell sanitized,used cloth diapers.

“Well, is there anything you need?” sheasked. “I could sew you something.”

I thought about my bedroom. The duvethad shrunk from many washings and thesheets were worn thin. We’d needed bedlinens for years, but I hadn’t wanted to buynew ones until the messy kiddos were out ofour bed. The last child had been sleeping in

A ll of our babies shared our bed.During the years my husband and Iwere raising our family, our bed-

room often more resembled a nursery thana place of rest for adults. A mesh rail wasinstalled on my side of the bed to catchrolling infants, piles of kid laundry dottedthe floor, and both nightstands were litteredwith nasal syringes, burp cloths and wipes.

Despite grandmas’ pointed opinionsand co-sleeping controversy, sleep sharingworked best for us. Due to a medical condi-tion on my part, all three of my childrenwere born small for gestational age. The lit-tlest was four pounds ten ounces and thebiggest weighed in at five-one. These minia-ture versions of already tiny newborns need-ed more calories than the average baby, andfor me that meant frequent feedings—oftenaround the clock. For a tired mom, rolling

Taking Back the Family Bedby Tiffany Doerr Guerzon

As my friend and I lookedover my bedroom and shetook measurements, I sawthe space with new eyes.


his crib for a couple of years, and I’dbrowsed in stores for new linens a fewtimes, but nothing seemed just right. Thiswas my chance. My friend and I agreed totrade my diapers for a new custom-sewnduvet set and matching curtains.

Later that week, my friend took meshopping and I chose my colours in non-kid-friendly charcoal gray and plum. For anaccent, I purchased stainable off-white witha grey leaf print and silver glitter. My excite-ment grew as we discussed patterns and cur-tain styles. I realized that this would be thefirst time I decorated a room for me—forus—since my first child was born. I’dlaboured to create beautiful nurseries andkids’ bedrooms and had even made thepublic spaces in our home stylish—but I’dnever gotten around to the master bed-room.

Experts tell parents that their bedroomshould be a haven—a clean, organized placeof rest and renewal. But for tired moms anddads, just keeping the rest of the houseclean is a challenge, and our bedroom wasalways the most neglected room in ourhome. As my friend and I looked over myroom and she took measurements, I saw thespace with new eyes. The layer of dust onthe nightstands. The pile of folded laundrynext to the bed. The clutter on the dresser. Iwas suddenly seized by a fresh energy totake back our bedroom.

Once I got started, I went a little crazy. Ipurchased lamps, painted the walls dovegray, and placed a purple candle—not achild-safe battery type, but a real one, witha real flame—on my nightstand where allthe baby necessities used to live. I usedsome of the leftover fabric from the renova-tion to cover a bulletin board and repurposeour clothes hamper to match it all.

Once my friend was busy sewing up mynew stuff, I got out the tote filled with dia-per supplies again and started to go throughthem. While I was at it, I also pulled out allthe other baby stuff. I laid everything on myliving room rug and made little piles of allthe different accoutrements. I picked up atiny velcro diaper cover, so small it fit in thepalm of my hand. My eyes welled up withtears as I remembered those dainty, preemie-sized newborns that had all three wornthese diaper covers. I unfolded the bed railand was overtaken by the memory of lyingon my side in bed, nursing a hungry baby

while half asleep as the clean, sweet smell ofbreastmilk drifted in the air. When I sawthe sling, I recalled the stiffness I felt in myshoulder after a long day of babywearing.Memories clung to each and every piece.Sitting there crying over diapers, I realizedwhat I was really mourning—the last of thebaby stage.

When my friend presented me with thefinished bedroom set, I was speechless. Theduvet and throw pillows—combined withthe custom curtains and bed skirt—were

worthy of a lifestyle magazine cover. That,combined with the new paint, lamps, andabsence of nursery supplies made the bed-room ours again. Although I was sad toleave that stage behind, our shiny new roomand bed gave me a glimpse into the nextchapter of my life.

My husband came in to see the big revealand slipped his arm around me. I leanedinto him and realized that I’d had traded indiapers for something equally precious—us.

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W ondering how to help your childretain reading, writing and mathskills she gained over the school

year this summer without making it feellike work? Weave learning into daily errandsand interactive activities found in your ownbackyard.

“Summer is a great opportunity for par-ents to participate and come up with proj-ects on their own and learn what their kidsare interested in,” says Dr. Ashley Norris,assistant dean, University of Phoenix Col -lege of Education.

According to the National SummerLearning Association, students who don’tparticipate in any summer enrichment oreducational activities lose about 22 percentof knowledge and skills gained during theschool year. Teachers generally spend thefirst two months of school reviewing pastmaterial.

Help your children make the connectionbetween what they learn in school and howit relates to the real world. They’ll retainmore of their new skills and grow into moreengaged, enthusiastic learners.

Calculate tips. Next time you and yourfamily eat dinner out, help your child deter-mine the tip when the bill arrives.

Grocery shop. Dictate your grocery listto your child and have him keep track ofthe list. As you shop, talk about prices, salesand healthy choices.

Visit the farmer’s market. Peruse season-al produce native to the area. Ask aboutfruits and veggies you and your kids havenever heard of before. Practice math skillsby giving your child a list, a budget andsome money to shop at the market.

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Grow a garden. Your child can learnmore about her environment by cultivatingher own fruits and vegetables. No room inyour yard? Grow a container garden togeth-er. Your child can take pictures or makenotes in a daily gardening notebook detail-ing the life cycle of the plant, any problemsencountered and how she worked to solvethose issues.

Cook together. Involve your child inmeal planning and preparation. Dependingon your child’s age, Jessica Velazquez, ahealthy living director for the YMCA, sug-gests putting him in charge of a meal once aweek. “I remember being in third grade andhaving one night a week where I was incharge of dinner,” she says. “And yes, we oftenhad cereal or mac ‘n’ cheese.” Following arecipe also helps your child practice frac-tions and reading.

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Ways to Make SummerLearning Fun13by Christa Melnyk Hines

Visit www.bcparent.caRead our new blogs… catch up on past issues…enter our contests and findout about great familyevents in the LowerMainland.


Play travel agent. Thanks to the inter -net, your child can easily research your fam-ily’s vacation or a hometown field trip. Giveher a list of questions to answer about thelocation, cost and hours of a specific site shewants to visit. Continue the learning whenyou arrive at your destination. CatherineElder says she and her 8-year-old daughterlike to observe and talk about the tides, cli-mate and sea life on their annual beachvacation.

Tune in. If your child is passionate aboutmusic, attend local concert series in parks,which are often free. Encourage her to learnabout the history of the music she’s interest-ed in and read biographies of favorite musi-cians.

Explore nature. Apply what your childhas learned in life science to your backyard.“We always talk about different birds, bugs,and how flowers and trees grow. My daugh-ter actually teaches me some things thatshe’s learned in school. It makes her feelgood to know she is helping me learn, too,”Elder says. Science museums and natureoutreach centers also offer inexpensive class-es and camps.

Go digital. Got a bug or plant enthusi-ast? Have him grab the camera and go on ascavenger hunt for different species. Whenhe’s done he can make a digital presentationof his discoveries. “Many elementary kidsknow how to use multi-media even morethan parents. They find it fascinating andthink it’s fun,” Norris says.

Nurture creativity. Art education en -hances creative thinking, motor skills andsocial and emotional development. Have asplatter paint party on canvas in your back-yard. Water colour on textured paper. Makecollages out of old magazines. Furtherexplore the visual arts at pottery cafes andart museums.

Journal. Purchase an inexpensive jour-nal or notebook that your child can person-alize. Write a prompt or a question at thetop of the page. Take turns writing messagesand stories back and forth.

Read together. “Children often say theydon’t like to read because they’ve only read

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things chosen for them by others,” saysHelma Hawkins, a children’s librarian.Summer is the perfect time to help yourchild find books and magazines that matchhis interests. Read together or start an infor-mal book club with your child and a fewfriends. Schedule an afternoon to discussthe selection over milk and cookies.

Practice time management. Assign aweekly project for your children with adeadline to help them practice time man-agement skills. “Base it on their interest so itdoesn’t feel like work,” Norris says. Theycan select and research a specific topic, cre-ate a digital slide show about what theylearned and then present it to you orextended family.

Freelance journalist, Christa Melnyk Hines, and her husbandare the parents of two boys. She is the author of Happy, Healthy& Hyperconnected: Raise a Thoughtful Communicator in aDigital World.

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Click into your virtual backyard.Download a creative app or head tothe web for educational sites andresources for kids:Create comic strips: www.pixton.comor download the free app www.makebeliefscomix.comNature and art projects: www.artfulparent.com orhttp://www.artprojectsforkids.org/Home science experiments:http://www.sciencebob.com/experiments/Writing prompts: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/story-starters/

Resources


art, music, drama & danceThe Arts Connection604/241-0141www.theartsconnection.caRichmond

Arts Umbrella604/681-5268www.artsumbrella.com

Bard on the Beach: YoungShakespeareans604/737-0625www.bardonthebeach.orgVancouver

Camp Monarch, Music, Art & Dance604/723-8151www.campmonarch.caNorth Vancouver

Colourstrings Music & MovementSummer Session778/846-1287www.colourstringsvan.comStarts the first week in July, one classper week for 6 weeks. Registrations areopen to all. World Explorer Camps2015: Integrating music, movement,drama and visual art, children learn toexpress themselves using Colourstringseducational principles, as theybecome intrepid ‘explorers’ on anadventure weaving singing, movement,

percussion, games, drama and art intoa traditional story from around theworld.

Dance Co604/736-3394Dance 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

Douglas College Community Music School604/527-5469www.douglascollege.ca/cms Come Play with Us this summer! Weoffer summer music camps and classesfor children, youth, and adults of alllevels: Jazz, Guitar, Rock, DJ’ing,World Drumming and more. Enjoyprofessional level instruction at com-munity prices. Call us today to register!

East Van DanceSummer Camp at AUUC School ofDancewww.auucvancouver.ca [email protected] Join us in East Vancouver for a week ofdancing, crafting & summer fun. Danceinstruction in a range of styles for youngmovers of all skill levels – don’t miss out!

Evergreen Cultural Centre604/927-6555, Coquitlamwww.evergreenculturalcentre.ca

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

Goh Ballet604/[email protected]

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

Place des Arts604/664-1636www.placedesarts.ca CoquitlamPlace des Arts Summer Fun! Art Camp6 weeks: July 6 to Aug. 14, 2015.Summer Fun! offers flexibility, choiceand lots of summertime fun for chil-dren ages 5–7 & 8–12. Our half-day,week-long workshops for 11–14 yearolds provide more intensive experiencesin a range of visual and performing artsdisciplines.

Prussin Music 604/736-3036www.prussinmusic.comWant to play in a Jazz Ensemble?Interested in Fiddle or Songwriting?

How about Girls with Guitars orCampfire Songs? Does Music forChildren sound interesting? All atPrussin this summer.

StageCoach Theatre Arts Schools1-877-787-8243www.stagecoachschools.caSing, Dance, Act! For 4–18 yr olds.The world’s largest part-time theatreschool network, with weekend schoolsacross the Lower Mainland. We offerclasses in Singing, Dancing and Dramaevery weekend alongside the schoolterm as well as week long summercamps. Building confidence in youngpeople since 1988! Come join the fun!Schools are located in VancouverEastside/Westside, Rich mond, Surrey,Coquitlam, Langley, Victoria

“Summer in the City” weekly Art CampsSuzy Birsteinwww.suzybirstein.com604/737-2636

Summer Music at UBC604/822-3113www.summer.music.ubc.caThe UBC Summer Music Instituteprovides an intensive and fun musicalexperience for ages 10 to 18 in two lev-els of concert band and jazz bandworkshops, as well as two singingworkshops. Overnight or daycamp.

summer camp guide


Half day camps

9am - noon

for 3-6 year oldsin our bright,

air-conditioned indoor/outdoor

classroom

wma Summer camp 2015

July 6-31

Westside Montessori Academy, 3075 Slocan St, Vancouver 604-434-9611

wmasummercamp.com

Week 1: Wonderland! - A trip down the rabbit hole!

Week 2: Music Adventure-land! - Nature, Music and Art

Week 3: Tomorrowland! - Robots, science and trips to the moon!

Week 4: Neverland! -Pirates, Mermaids and .... treasure!

Full day camps 9am - 3:30pm for 5-12 year olds(before and after camp care available)

in our secure, air-conditioned Elementary wing.

Week 1: Baking science, cartooning, dance!

Week 2: Magical clowns, puppetry!

Week 3: Improv, musical theatre, Illustrating!

Week 4: Crafts, pianos + paint, WMA film school, WMA Rock school!

Theatre and Mask camp 2014

Cooking + Gardening 2013

Half day camp outdoor space

Fairy Camp 2014

Half day camps

9am - noon

for 3-6 year oldsin our bright,

air-conditioned indoor/outdoor

classroom

Full day camps 9am - 3:30pm for 5-12 year olds(before and after camp care available)

in our secure, air-conditioned Elementary wing.

Clown camp 2014


summer camp guide

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.

Vancouver Academy of Music604/734-2301www.vam.bc.ca

Vancouver Tap Dance Society604/253-0293Vancouver

Westside Dance Centre604/736-1000www.westsidedance.ca Visit our website for summer camp info.

general activitiesAlexandra Neighbourhood House604/535-0015Programs for children and familiesthroughout Metro Vancouver.Residential Summer Camps include a 5 day camp for Families with limitedresources, as well as a weekend FamilyCamp for families with teens/preteenswith developmental challenges.

False Creek C.C. Daycamps604/257-8195, Vancouverwww.falsecreekcc.caOffers canoe/kayak camps, recreationalcamps and leadership camps for ages3–14.

In Wonderland Summer Camp604/872-4665www.inwonderland.ca

Langara Family YMCA 604/324-9622www.langarafamilyymca.orgAges 3–16; 8 am–5 pmPreschool, Adventure, Leadership, andCounsellor in Training Camps.

Mount Pleasant NeighbourhoodHouse Licensed Out-of-School Careat Florence Nightingale School604/879-8208www.mpnh.org8 weeks of licensed summer care for20 children 5–10 years old

North Vancouver RecreationCommission604/987-PLAY (7529)www.northvanrec.com

St. John’s Summer to Discover DayCamps604/732-4434Ms. Alexis Carlson, Summer CampsCoordinator,

email: [email protected] this summer – the Summer toDiscover Day Camps at St. John’sSchool in Kitsilano. The Summer toDiscover Camps promise to provide afun, safe and adventure-filled experi-ence for all ages, interests, abilities andpassions. From sports, visual arts, sci-ence, music and technology, there issomething for everyone. Visitwww.stjohns.bc.ca/camps to registertoday.

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

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

Vancouver College: A Finnegan Summer604/261-4285www.vc.bc.ca

residential campsCamp Qwanoes250/246-3014www.qwanoes.caQwanoes is a Christian camp builtfrom the ground up for kids to experi-ence an unforgettable life-changing

week. Qwanoes is wild action and purefun, sun-soaked days, new friendships,tasty food, great music, over 75 activi-ties, and all in a spectacular settingwith amazing staff from the around theworld... all who love kids. Life like noother awaits!

Outward Bound604/901-0013 (ext 221)www.outwardbound.ca

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

specialty campsBC 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 Kidz®778/822-5672www.bricks4kidz.com/vancouverWith our unique, motorized Lego®

models, Bricks 4 Kidz® Vancouver isoffering an exciting lineup of summercamps. From our popular SpaceAdventures and Robotics Camps to our

Internationally reputable, innovative programs combining

Kodaly-Orff-Dalcroze.

Summer Camps3-7 yrs.

Music & Movement0-7 yrs.

Playful singing games developcore music skills and literacy

Piano, Percussion,Violin, Viola, Cello, Guitar,

Flute lessons 5 yrs+

778-846-0127www.colourstrings.ca


summer camp guide

new Mining & Crafting and Bricks 4Girlz Camps, kids will have a blastwith hands-on activities and challenges.

Burnaby Village Museum604/297-4565www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca/campsIn a 1920s setting, children play gamesand sports, enjoy activities, and enjoydaily carousel rides! There are themedweeks for specific age groups.

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

FUN Campswww.funsociety.ca

Heritage Summer Daycamps604/592-6956Spend a summer day on the farm atHistoric Stewart Farm doing things theold-fashioned way! Tend the garden, goon a nature walk, play games, be a riverpirate, and more–there is a differenttheme every day!

K12 Plus Learning604/767-0949We offer special summer programs atour centre or your home.

Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre604/990-3755 North Vancouverwww.dnv.org/ecology

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

Oxford LearningN. Vancouver: 604/990-8850Coquitlam: 604/936-1371Richmond: 604/233-5566South Surrey: 604/575-1494Langley: 604/534-4089www.oxfordlearning.com

St. George’s Summer Programs604/221-3601www.summeratstgeorges.caVancouver, Dunbar area

Science Camps – HT Science Made Fun778/737-5277www.ScienceMadeFunBC.netHigh Touch is offering our hands-onscience camps throughout the LowerMainland at a location near you. For acomplete listing of our location andcamps please visit our web site.

East Van Dance Summer Camp 2015

Join us in East Vancouver for a week of dancing crafting and summer fun. We

are excited to offer dance instruction in a range of styles to young movers of all

skill levels. There will be creative crafting and interactive activites so

don't miss out!

July 13th to 1

7th

full day camp at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre

Info and registration at www.auucvancouver.com collective

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www.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca/events/details/bookcamp

sportsThe Academy at Richmond Stables604/275-1830

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

Atlantis Programs604/874-6464www.atlantisprograms.comVancouver

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

Cliffhanger Indoor Rock Climbing604/874-2400www.cliffhangerclimbing.com

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

Jump Gymnastics604/568-9690www.jumpgymnastics.ca

Langara Family YMCA604/324-9622

www.langarafamilyymca.org Ages 6–12: Hours 8 am–5 pmBasketball, Soccer, Hockey, Tennis andmore! Girls and Boys only optionsoffered, as well as a UBC WrestlingCamp for ages 12–16. FinancialAssistance available.

RBL Basketball604/269-0221 or 604/253-5295www.RBLBasketball.caWeek long camps for boys and girlsfrom kindergarten to Grade Ten. Twoto three hours each day.

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

Oval Sport CampsRichmond Olympic Oval778/[email protected] We offer 49 different sports camps forages 6–16. Visit our website for details.

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

Royal Soccer800/427-0536www.royalsoccer.com

Royal Soccer is excited to offer our #1grassroots soccer camp in Canada.Open to boys & girls ages 5 to 13 atmultiple BC locations during July &August.

Sportball604/688-3157Sportball 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 Sport Camps604/822-6121www.ubccamps.caVancouver

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

summer camp guide

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

Dive into Summer Camp at theVancouver Aquarium604/659-3552www.vanaqua.org

Westside Church Day CampsCosmic City & Beyond!604/263-2314, Kistilanowww.churchonthewestside.comVisit our website for all the details onour outer space themed camps packedwith games, crafts, science, singing andlocal trips.

Westside Montessori Academywww.wmasummercamp.com Westside Montessori Academy’sSummer Camps are professionally-ledhalf and full day camps for 3–12 yearolds in East Vancouver. Taking advan-tage of their secure, air-conditionedclassrooms and adjacent BeaconsfieldPark, they make summer full of learn-ing, exploring and fun!

YWCA Camp Fun Girl604/895-5844

Writing and Book Camp (Vancouver Public Library)604/331-4093


Minimum 8 packages required for birthday rate.

BIRTHDAY PARTIESAT PLAYLAND

May 16 ‘til Sept 20

Take the party outside your house and leave the preparation, mess and fun to us! We’ll do the legwork so you can join in on the party!

Starting at just $26 Packages include invitations, lunch, access to over 30 rides and attractions and more.

BOOK YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY TODAY!604.252.3663 •

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.

VANCOUVER’S NEW ROCK

+ MANY MORE

Taj Mahal Richard Thompson Blind PilotTrampled by TurtlesAdam CohenHawksley WorkmanSaid the Whale Rising Appalachia PhosphorescentFrazey Ford Basia Bulat

Bongeziwe Mabandla

M a m a K i nSon Little • Jenn GrantAnnie Lou • Perch CreekThe Sadies • Lindi Ortega

C H I L D R E N 12 + UNDER GET IN FREE W I T H A N A D U LT !

38th ANNUAL

INTRODUCE YOUR KIDS TO THE MUSIC OF THE WORLD!OVER 60 ACTS FROM 14+ COUNTRIESF E AT U R I N G T H E L I T T L E FOLKS VILLAGEFULL OF FUN ACTIVITIESA N D S O M U C H M O R E F O R K I D S A N D F A M I L I E S

BC Parent Summer 2015

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Transcript of BC Parent Summer 2015