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• EventsCalendar• PhotoGallery-Shareyourshots!• ResourceDirectory• Contests• EntertobeournextFeaturedParent!• WheretofindOkanaganChildMagazine

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contentsarticles‘O Christmas TreeKeeping Your Marriage HealthySmart Stuff: Discover Your Child’s Innate IntelligenceWhen Expectations Turn To GriefGoing Green Without Going BrokeKids Show Kids How to Stop CyberbullyingStorybooking - Celebrating our Heritage Fighting Head Lice without PesticidesAlternatives to the Word NO!ABC Expo in Las Vegas ReportDelivering A Healthy Community

columnsEditor’s NoteNew Business SpotlightBooks: Give the Gift of ReadingMichelle Collie: Family VacationFeatured Parent: Lori-Anne PoirierFeatured FindsSnap Happy - “In the Moment”

WINTER 09/10 volume 1, issue 2

Winter 09/10

priceless • take one!

SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION!

Keeping YourMarriage Healthy

Fighting Head Lice Naturally

Book Guide for Babies to Teens

Stop Cyberbullying

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cover photo: Adrian Kids Photography www.adriankidsphotography.caE. info@adriankidsphotography.caP. 250.863.0176

Editorial Photography: Poppy Photography, Rhea Taylor Photography

Contributors: Judy Arnall, Angie Bricker, Michelle Collie , Sarah Dakin, Carol Ellison, Gayle Ferrell, Wendy Helfenbaum, Erin McInnis, Diane C. Nicholson, Lora Shinn, Lisa Taron, Wayne Terai, Sheila Wray Gregoire.

Editor & PublisherColleen Bezeau

Advertising Inquiries: advertise@okanaganchild.comGeneral Inquries: info@okanaganchild.comwww.okanaganchild.com 1.888.373.5566

Okanagan Child is published four times per year by Bellhop Media Inc. Circulation: 15,000. Please note that this magazine is solely funded through the support of our advertisers and sponsors. Please support our advertisers! Opinions expressed in this publication may not necessarily reflect those of the Publish-er. All contents copyrighted ©. No part of this publication may be reprinted, quoted, copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the publisher.

To share your feedback, please send an e-mail to info@okanaganchild.com. To submit a local event, please complete the form on our website at www.okanaganchild.com

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1012141618232628

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Winter09/10l 3

Starting at The Penticton Trade and Convention Centre

PENTICTON AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL

Contact the Penticton Arts Council for detailed information: 250.492.7997

Friday, November 27. 10am - 9pmSaturday, November 28. 10am - 5pm

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive via helicopter on November 28th at 11am and touch down at the

Penticton Trade and Convention Centre!

FAMILY CHRISTMAS

Tickets are available at the 250.493.4055Wine Country Visitor Centre. 800.663.5052

Self-guided tour of 5 beautifully decorated homes and 30 Christmas Trees creatively decorated by School District 67.

Twinkling lights, loads of sweets, family, friends and just a touch of magic. The holiday season has long been my favorite time of

year. With a 20 month old, the appeal has increased exponentially. Don’t get me wrong - it’s always rewarding to watch someone open a gift you’ve carefully selected for them or enjoy great conversation over hot chocolate. But there’s something special about the twinkle in the eye of a child taking in the whole experience.

The power of belief is incredibly strong. When I was a child, we weren’t allowed to enter the living room on Christmas morning un-til our dad had a chance to check and make sure Santa had left. The fact that he took a video camera with him (really to film the tree and gifts) and took *forever* to return never phased me. I believed he was quite possibly giving Santa a helpful boost up the narrow chimney. After all, Santa is a busy man and it was perfectly feasible he could be running late. When I swapped post-Christmas stories with friends, I would mention how Santa never wrapped our gifts so we could tell them apart from the gifts our other family mem-bers brought. Consensus on the playground was that my home was an anomaly. But it didn’t phase me: I believed. Then there was my brother, three years my elder. He just always believed, right along with me, likely scared that if he admitted otherwise I would reap the benefits of belief and he would miss out.

No matter your background, religion, or beliefs, we all develop family traditions and distinct ways of celebrating. Our approaches continue because they work for us on some level. They’re familiar, or comforting, or rewarding. But they’re not more “correct” or “bet-

ter” than the approach another might take. They’re simply different and that diversity is a good thing. It makes what we share with our own families - the recipes, the music, the books, the schedule - all that more special.

Winter marks our second issue we’re excited about many new de-velopments. Our distribution reach now includes more Okanagan communities - welcome South Okanagan! I’m also ecstatic to an-nounce a scholarship competition for grade 12 students. The $1000 scholarship will support one local grad in his or her post-secondary studies in the 2010-2011 year. You can find more information about the contest in this issue (see page 17) as well as full entry details on our website www.okanaganchild.com.

Best wishes to you and your family for a happy and healthy 2010,

editor’s note

Winter09/10l 4

Contests

Hey readers, want to win a great package of Lovable Labels, valued at $41.95? Head to the ‘Contests’ page on our website to enter. The Lovable Labels contest will remain open until February 20, 2010.

Tidy Tushees is offering an amazing gift basket worth $100, stuffed full of fantastic Minky Paws products. To be eligible to win, sign-up for our monthly e-newsletter on our website by January 11, 2010.

www.okanaganchild.com Good Luck!

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Milky Paws The package includes the following: 15 Regular Sticker Labels, 30 Slimline Sticker Labels, 24 Iron ons, 16 Press n’ Stick Cloth-ing dots, 8 Shoe Labels, 1 Maple Leaf Bag Tag

When I was in Canadian Tire a while ago I saw an absolutely stunning Christmas tree. It was decorated in silver bows and

balls with purple accents. It was my ideal tree. Such a tree, however, will never grace my living room. No matter how much I want a purple and silver one, I have too many other decorations that ren-der a consistent colour scheme impossible. I have a family Christ-mas tree.

First comes the gold heart embossed with “Keith and Sheila, 1991” that we received at our wedding. Then there are all the Christmas decorations we made as children which our parents thoughtfully gave us our first Christmas together (were they trying to get rid of them, I wonder?). There’s the canvas stitched candy cane Keith made, and the decorated styrofoam balls I did. Other decorations full of childhood memories hang beside them, like the angel candle holders that were on my Baby Jesus birthday cake when I was six.

And now, of course, we have added our children’s decorations. At first they were fairly innocuous ones, like “Baby’s First Christmas”. They have since become more ambitious. One year the girls and I made dough Christmas shapes and then glued little pictures to them. Katie, who is living proof that you can survive your second year of life eating only dried play dough (believe me, it wasn’t my choice), actually left nibble marks in some as she tried to eat them, too, despite the salt content. Add the decorations the girls make at Sunday school out of little paper doilies, and there’s no room for those classy purple balls.

Our lives are very much like these Christmas trees. We spend so much effort trying to have the perfectly decorated life, with the right kids, the right jobs, and the right promotions. But it can be exhausting to live that way. Our work is never done. We’re always on the go, and when we do sit down it’s only to plan how to drive our kids to more lessons, run some more errands or throw on yet another load of laundry before we make dinner.

The family Christmas tree, with all its imperfections, is better be-cause it is uniquely us. Anybody can have a perfectly purple Christ-mas tree. Not everyone can have the one decorated with your own white doily angels and pipe cleaner reindeer. Christmas anchors us and reminds us of whose we are and of what’s important. A sign at Majestic Dry Cleaners recently read, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there”. Many of us are stuck on some sideroad of endless errands and work because we need a road map to get us home, a map that can only come by slowing down and reflecting, if just for a little while. With the busyness of life, we often ignore our spiritual side, never taking time to think about life, death, parenting or our purpose on this earth. Christmas can be our roadmap, a time to take stock of our lives and consider if we’re heading in the right direction.

Whatever your spiritual background is, the challenge is the same: let’s take the time during the holidays to honour it. At my house this week, we’ll have a “Baby Jesus Birthday Cake” (chocolate, of course), to remind us that Christmas is when the all-powerful God became as helpless as a baby so he could live among us and die for us, so we could live forever with him. I don’t want that just to be my Christmas message; I want to live it through the rest of the year. But if I don’t take the chance now to see whether my daily life reflects my spiritual priorities, I may not have time once the daily grind starts anew.

I will gladly take my Baby Jesus birthday cake angels and little dough hearts over purple balls any day. That’s who I am, and who I want to be. Christmas is one of the few times of year when we can contemplate life without someone telling us to move on to the next task. Let’s make sure that this year, we take advantage of the opportunity.

Merry Christmas, everybody!

‘O Christmas Tree by Sheila Wray Gregoire

Winter09/10l 5

It was a Thursday night. My husband had grudgingly agreed to tear himself away from the pressures of work early. We had a

much needed date night. After prying off two clingy children we escaped and headed for the restaurant. As we sat there, across the table from each other, it felt like I was looking at the man I had mar-ried through 10 feet of ice. What had happened to the conversation that had flowed so freely? We both made a few lame attempts to talk, but the sense of distance stayed, stubborn and painful, sitting between us like a grumpy chaperone. Driving home in the car I fought back tears as visions of divorce danced before my eyes.

Date nights are important, but they need to come on a solid foun-dation of positive daily interactions. Dr. John Gottman is an Amer-ican professor of Psychology who has spent a lifetime studying marriage and he is an expert on the subtle differences in tone and wording that create a positive or negative feeling in a relationship. After years of scientific analysis, he now can predict with 91% ac-curacy whether or not a couple is heading for divorce, just from lis-tening to them talk about a heated issue for as little as five minutes! So how can you strengthen your daily interactions?

Say More Thank YousCarol, a Vancouver mother of two, was recommended to me as someone with a wonderful marriage. When asked the secrets of a strong partnership, the first thing she mentioned was not taking each other for granted. “People often say to us, I can’t believe how much you thank each other,” she noted. “It may sound like it would be artificial or meaningless, but is surprisingly powerful.”What can you thank your partner for tonight?

Give Detailed AppreciationIt’s not just saying “thank you” that Carol is referring to. It is choos-ing to focus on what your partner is doing well, rather than picking away at the things you want to change. John Gottman points out “by simply reminding yourself of your spouse’s positive qualities – even as you grapple with each other’s flaws – you can prevent a happy marriage from deteriorating.” Build the habit of frequently verbalizing your appreciation in clear and specific ways.What do you appreciate about your loved one? How can you tell them today?

Tune In To The PositiveRecently my husband and I bought a Subaru Forrester. Suddenly when I was out driving, I started seeing Subarus everywhere! It wasn’t that the composition of cars on the road had changed, but what my brain tuned in to had. This “Subaru effect” also affects rela-tionships. Say your husband forgets to put on the laundry, and you are mad at him. Suddenly your brain is looking for evidence to sup-port the “he’s a jerk” frame of mind, and you will start seeing all the other things he does that drive you crazy. When you find yourself sinking into a quicksand of negativity, actively remind yourself of the things you love about your sweetie.Write a list of all the things you love about your partner. Get really specific and include examples. Bring it out and read it when you need to retune yourself to the positive.

Bring Up Your Concerns With CaringStaying positive aside, it is important to speak up when you are an-gry or upset. Unvoiced negativity will fester. When we bring up a complaint or concern, we need to communicate as gently as pos-sible so that the other person can take in what we have to say rather than getting defensive.

DO DON’TStart with “I” Start with “you”

Focus on how you feel and what you need Use name calling

Stick to the single issue at hand Bring up more than one issue at a time

Describe the problem in terms of your perception, opinion or style

Use generalizations like “always”, “never” or “everyone”

Tell your partner about your needs and desires

Stay silent

Beyond Date Nights: Keeping Your

Marriage Healthyby Sarah Dakin

relationships

Winter09/10l 6

Example of Hurtful criticism:You jerk! We were supposed to meet at 6:00 and you are an hour late! You always do this to me! I can’t believe how rude you are!”

Example of Healthly complaining:Look, I know you are under a lot of pressure at work. It must be tough to juggle all this, but I am really angry. You are an hour late and you did not call me. I felt really worried. Next time, please call me if you are going to be late.What do you need to gently tell your partner? Have Fun Together And Embrace Humour“Happy marriages are based on a deep friendship,” says John Gott-man. “By this I mean a mutual respect for and enjoyment of each other’s company.” He goes on to talk about the importance of keep-ing up to date on each other’s interests and dreams, and of the value of humour. He mentions one couple, who in the middle of a heated argument started sticking their tongues out at each other. Carol added, “we have this habit of using lines from the TV show Seinfeld to lighten it up when things get kind of tense”.What makes the two of you laugh? Changing the patterns of interaction in a relationship takes time. Be gentle with yourself and your partner as you work on building new habits. Remind yourself how important this is. People who stay happily married live on average four years longer and get sick 35% less than those who divorce or stay in an unhappy marriage. A healthy committed relationship is truly one of the greatest gifts you can give yourselves and your children. And when you take care of the daily interactions, date nights will be a source of joy again.

Sarah Dakin is a coach, speaker and facilitator who helps moms stay on track with what matters. Learn more at www.babystepscoaching.com

Books

10 Lessons To Transform Your Marriage By John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman The Relationship Cure: A Five Step Guide To Stengthening Your Marriage, Family and Friendships By John Gottman

Online Resources

www.gottman.comwww.bestmarriages.com

L E A R N M O R E

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Some children excel at arithmetic. But others are wired differ-ently and show off as geniuses at the local gym. Harvard pro-

fessor Howard Gardner suggests that most individuals draw upon “multiple intelligences,” including linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal and naturalist. Even very young children display a tendency toward one or more aptitudes.

Genetics and brain development contribute to natural gifts, but so does environment, according to Thomas Armstrong, educational expert and author of “In Their Own Way: Discovering and Encour-aging Your Child’s Multiple Intelligences.” “Intelligences are not fixed,” Armstrong says. Parents should act as facilitators, without pushing. “It’s not appropriate to give a preschooler formal reading lessons,” he says. Instead, expose her to a “wide range of experi-ences related to all the intelligences.”

Watch your child to figure out her abilities, ready to adjust your ideas about her future. You can use the information below to iden-tify and explore your child’s intelligence — or explore a new one altogether:

Linguistic intelligence. A preschool-age child with a knack for words enjoys reading with parents. Nursery rhymes and poems catch his ear. Picking up foreign languages with ease, he’ll chat with anyone who will listen.Play: Play rhyming games or write letters in sand together. Make up silly jokes, or head to the library and share “The Random House Book of Poetry for Children” by Jack Prelutsky.Famously “word smart”: Maya Angelou, Jorge Luis Borges, William Shakespeare

Logical-mathematical intelligence. This kid loves experi-ments, solving conundrums like, “what happens when Jell-O and

milk combine?” Number sense comes early, and she’ll add and subtract cookies — without prompting.Play: Keep a logical little mind busy for hours with UNO, Go Fish and other card games, or give her a broken clock and a screwdriver. Learn about levers at a hands-on science museum and read David M. Schwartz’s “How Much Is a Million?”Famously “math smart”: Stephen Hawking, Ada Lovelace, Leon-ardo da Vinci

Spatial intelligence. Skilled at drawing, this child takes a pa-per-and-pencil approach to problems. Special spatial abilities lead to plenty of coloring and creating. He loves puzzles and painting, mazes, maps and gadgets.Play: Provide construction toys or encourage her to design build-ings and clothing. Turn her loose with paintbrushes and paper, then read I Spy Shapes in Art by Lucy Micklethwait.Famously “art smart”: Frida Kahlo, I.M. Pei, Vincent Van Gogh Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence. This on-the-go child hates sitting still and loves sports, running and large-muscle movement. She’s a clever mimic of classmates and has excellent fine-motor coordination in preschool classes.Play: Get her outside, rain or shine. Sign up for mommy-n me gym, dance or soccer; take her out to a ballgame. Encourage fine-motor handiness with sewing and crafting, and act out the fast-moving We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen.Famously “body smart”: Jackie Chan, Chris Rock, Cal Ripken Jr.

Musical intelligence. This kid loves tunes, whether singing “Little Red Wagon,” clamoring for a favorite CD or shaking maracas. He easily remembers melodies and lyrics and may be extra-sensitive to loud noise.Play: Make beautiful music together with handmade instruments, using everyday items such as a pop bottle, dried beans and tape. At-tend free concerts or a symphony, then read Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss together.Famously “music smart”: Aaron Copeland, Yo-Yo Ma, Norah Jones

Interpersonal intelligence. Born with a high “EQ” (emotional quotient), this child enjoys discussion and debate. She loves playing with pals, solving problems, being a leader, and she picks up on nonverbal cues.Play: Turn your house into play-date central and enroll in class-es that encourage imaginative, interactive play. Act out nursery rhymes. For a friendly read, pull out Leo Lionni’s Little Blue and

Smart Stuff: Discover Your Child’s Innate Intelligence

feature

by Lora Shinn

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Little Yellow.Famously “people smart”: Abigail Van Buren, Oprah, Martin Lu-ther King Jr.

Intrapersonal intelligence. Following his own road, he gets more out of playing alone. Often lost in thought, he needs downtime to recoup from play group.Play: Provide options for independent projects, or help him keep a journal with paper, pen or photographs. Carve out a “nook” in your home for personal reflection and share Munro Leaf ’s The Story of Ferdinand.

Famously “self smart”: Mohandas Gandhi, Anne Frank, Emily Dickinson

Naturalist intelligence. This child loves animals, sometimes even preferring pets to people. She adores the outside world and collects rocks and other outdoor items; check those pockets for live treasures!

Play: Go on walks through a leafy park or start a kid-size ant farm. Head to an aquarium or zoo to contemplate wild things, then snug-gle at home with Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney.

Famously “nature smart”: Jane Goodall, Rachel Carson, Charles Darwin

Lora Shinn is a Seattle-based writer, children’s librarian and mother.

MoNthly e-newsletter

$100 prize pack?

Thegiftbasketwillbepackedwithgorgeous handmade

productsincludingbamboowashcloths,soakers,wooldryerballs&muchmore!

Milky Paws

Hurrythough...youmustsign-upbyJanuary11,2010tobeeligible!

Want to win a

join the

Winter09/10l 9

“Oh well, dear; you’re young and can always have another one.” I glared at the speaker, wondering if courts would

rule against me should I physically remove her from my sight.

The woman was only one of many who attempted to make me feel better about my miscarriage by diminishing my pregnancy. This was a planned baby, a wanted baby, and only I, as the one carrying him within, had communed with and truly knew him.

My husband felt a sense of bereavement, mostly at the loss of po-tential, but it was I alone, who was devastated. Miscarriage is a lonely grief.

It didn’t take me long to realize that, in order to survive this tirade of well-meaning but hurtful comments, I’d need to be preemptive, and educate. So when I heard the next remark, “Don’t worry, it’s all for the best. There was probably something wrong with the baby,” I retaliated with, “What does that mean? Do you think that I, as his mother, wouldn’t love my child if there were a problem with him?”

I went on to have two more miscarriages before our first son was born. Since I felt that 3 years between siblings was optimal, I planned the next pregnancy accordingly. Our undiagnosed twin sons were born, only 3 weeks early, but without kidneys. Our world shattered as we struggled to cope with reality; we would be going home with empty arms.

My miscarriages had piqued my interest in grief, so I knew what to do. This had all taken place 26 years ago, and grief understanding was in its infancy. Even though I felt raw and vulnerable, I had to fight for what I knew we needed. I understood the importance of gathering our memories together: our sons were bathed and foot printed, locks of hair were saved, pictures were taken and we kept our babies with us for hours as the coroner waited down the hall. But the biggest fight was when my mom tried to bring in our 3 year-old son, Jordie. The nurses stopped her at the door, “You want to bring a 3 year-old in to see dead babies!”

“They are his brothers and he has a right to see them!” I insist-ed. Besides, I knew that his imagination would take him to places much darker than actuality presented. In fact, Jordie taught them important lessons about how children are amazingly accepting of death as a part of life, as long as we adults simply keep our expecta-tions to ourselves.

In comparison with our miscarriages, the difference in support was immense. People could understand grieving the loss of newborns. These were human beings who could be seen and held. Even the doctors and nurses had cried as our sons died.

My husband and I, in shock and amazement that we’d survived such an event, found ourselves comforting others. People would often say, “I don’t know how you got through that! You are such an incredible person! I would have fallen to pieces.” They no doubt thought it helpful, to have me placed on a pedestal. But I wanted to scream at them, “No! Do not make me into a superhuman. We all have the strength within us when we are called to need it. You possess it too.” I did not want to be elevated; I was fearful of falling from such a height.

If we have not had a pregnancy loss ourselves, chances are that we know at least one person who has. It can be uncomfortable to sup-port someone going through such a difficult situation, but remem-ber that, if no other words flow, a simple, I’m so sorry, is always appropriate.

We quickly discovered who our true friends were when we went through our losses. They were the ones at the door with a basket of food to get us through those weeks of not wanting to cook. They phoned; “I just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you.” They sent hand-written poems and a single rose. They dropped by to do our dishes. They let us talk without wincing and used our twins’ names, Joshua and Cole. They cried with us at the memorial ser-vice. And with no preconceptions, they allowed us to grieve for as long as we needed.

We waited a few years to try another pregnancy, which ended in yet another miscarriage; this time of the daughter I’d always wanted. But that instinct that calls us to procreate is a powerful force and I was certain there was one more child waiting for us. Finally, when Jordan was 7 years-old, we had a healthy, 9 ½ pound son, Benjamin.

This is a yin and yang universe in which we live, and grief is an im-portant ingredient. With every love, there will come a time when we will lose the physical existence of it. When that loss involves our children, the pain is intense, partially because we feel we are also saying goodbye to our future. It is incorrect to say that we will or should “get over it”. Our twins are a part of our daily lives; we have their mementos and my business is named after them. But I’ve gathered the hurt along with the love and lessons they brought, and have woven it into my life’s journey. They are very much a part of who I have become. I think of them with fondness and thankful-ness that I was, no am, their mother.

Diane C. Nicholson is a freelance writer and photo-artist. After her own losses, she spent many years working with grieving parents. She can be reached via www.twinheartphoto.com.

When Expectations Turn to Grief

real life

by Diane C. Nicholson

Winter09/10l 10

As mom to a daughter, age 4, and son, age 2, Carmen Chang-Poulton knows well the challenges involved in traveling with

young children. She and her husband visited a rural Mexican village when their daughter was 5 months old and then again two years later with a 9 month old son also in tow. They had to make do with what they could fit into their suitcases. And let’s face it: As parents we become accustomed to the conveniences of our baby paraphernalia (bouncy seats, bumbo chairs, activity centres, etc).

A keen awareness of luggage space limitations and a desire for more flexibility in her schedule led Carmen to lauch The Tiny Tourist baby equip-ment rental service at the end of last year. With an emphasis on guest service, The Tiny Tourist services Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton and Big White resort. Personal deliv-ery is available to the Kelowna airport, various accommodations and of course, grandma and grandpa’s house! All the comforts of

home can be available once you arrive so you do what you’re sup-posed to do on vacation…relax, unwind and enjoy.

You can check out the equipment available on-line at www.thetinytour-ist.ca. Offering top quality premium brands and an emphasis on cleanli-ness (equipment is sanitized with eco-friendly, hypo-allergenic cleaners thoroughly before and after each rent-al) you can rest assured you’ve made a smart choice.

Happy babies, happy families. After all, family vacations become some of our fondest childhood memories. Happy Travels!

New Business Spotlight

T

Do you have a new business? Tell us about it and we’ll help spread the word. Drop us an e-mail with the subject “New Business Spotlight” to info@okanaganchild.com

4407 29th Street Vernon, BC250.549.1221

www.chickenlittle.ca

Featuring a unique selection of hard to find items from all over the world.

Voted #1 Children’s Clothing Store in the North Okanagan 5 years running!#1

Winter09/10l 11

lous and we can’t afford to keep doing it.”

Tate and her husband vowed to start tracking their spending and sourcing out the best deals in town. “You can’t just throw away ev-erything you own and start from scratch and spend thousands of dollars,” she says, adding that since she discovered a list of foods containing high amounts of pesticides, it serves as her shopping guide. (see sidebar: The Dirty Dozen) She’s also taking cues from eco-friendly friends. “They order organic meats in bulk, throw them in the deep freezer and save money that way,” says Tate, who bought a freezer for exactly that purpose. She recommends The Blue Goose Cattle Company, where organic, free-range meat is just a click of the mouse away. (www.bluegoosecattle.com)

Tate also buys unbleached, disposable eco-diapers, which don’t con-tain dyes or fragrances, and is trying out gdiapers.com, where you can order diapers containing a biodegradable inner section that can be torn apart and flushed down the toilet. It sounds more convenient than it actually is, admits Tate. “It’s hard to balance the desire to not fill a landfill with diapers against the realities of everyday life with a baby who doesn’t want to be put down, a messy house to clean, and a kid to pick up from pre-school. You want to read labels and think aboutwhat you’re buying, but you just don’t have the time to know it all

T H E D I R T Y D O Z E N : S P LU R G E O N T H E S E O R G A N I C F O O D S

These foods contain the highest amount of pesticides and chemicals, even after washing and peeling. (source: U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Meat: beef, pork, and poultry

Dairy: milk, cheese and butter

Strawberries

Apples

Tomatoes

Potatoes

21

3456

Spinach and lettuce

Coffee

Peaches and Nectarines

Grapes

Celery

Bell Peppers (Red & Green)

789101112o

rG

anic

HeaLthycHoiceSfor your Family

Going green Without Going

Broke

If you’re like most parents, the minute you looked into your new baby’s eyes, you felt overwhelmed with the desire to make the

world a safer and better place. Environmental parenting is all the rage, with many of us deciding right then to ‘go green’, only to face a daunting task: where do you start? With precious little time to read labels or comparison shop, coupled with more mouths to feed on less disposable income, many parents become discouraged. But two BC moms believe raising an eco-friendly family isn’t an all-or-nothing choice. Here’s a glimpse into their ongoing journey.

Shortly after her five-year-old daughter was born, Lisa Tate picked up The CancerSmart Consumer Guide and forever changed her shopping habits. The booklet, published by Vancouver-based La-bour Environmental Alliance Society, lists all the chemicals found in everyday products, information that Canadian manufacturers aren’t legally obliged to disclose on their labels. “I won’t use or buy anything that’s listed on their chart,” says Tate. “Having kids made me start thinking about what we eat, how it’s produced, the products we use and how it all affects our health and the health of the world.”

As Tate began shopping at organic grocery stores, her food bills went up. Way up. “Organic produce often costs double, and I’ve been in the habit of buying what I need, and spending $300-$400 per trip on groceries and non-toxic products,” says Tate. “It’s ridicu-

feature

by Wendy Helfenbaum

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Winter09/10l 12

T H E D I R T Y D O Z E N : S P LU R G E O N T H E S E O R G A N I C F O O D S

These foods contain the highest amount of pesticides and chemicals, even after washing and peeling. (source: U.S. Department of Agriculture)

HeaLthycHoiceSfor your Family

and do it all,” laments Tate.

Reducing waste proved easier to accomplish, reports Tate. “I’ve got a network of friends who reuse and recycle baby clothes and equip-ment. A lot of what my son wears has been through two or three other kids in the group, and he’s the sixth kid using his bassinet.”

Karen Anzai channeled her concerns about global warming into grass-roots activism. “I became overwhelmed by the status of the planet and felt compelled to take action and do something con-crete,” explains the physiotherapist and mother of three. Anzai founded Neighbours for a Sustainable Future last year, hosting informal meetings for families in her neighbourhood to exchange information and tips. “I started this group because many families want to make decisions about recycling or buying locally, but don’t have the time to actually become informed.”

Anzai’s children, 11-year-old twins and a seven-year-old, also make her aware of the larger environmental impact of food consumption. “In Vancouver, we’re so privileged, because we get produce from all over the world, but the kids will only let me buy produce from as far away as the United States,” she explains, adding that since last year, her children’s teachers have challenged them to bring garbage-free lunches to school. “Their generation is going to be driving this movement. As moms, we’re trying to do it all, and our generation is so dependent on convenience.”

Anzai and her husband Doug cycle to work and own one car they try not to use very often. “We chose a local school and although we’d love to expose our children to as many activities as possible, we look at the cost of actually driving across town to put our kid in a dance class,” she says. “What’s really cool about my kids’ genera-tion is that for them, concern for the environment is a reality, and they’re willing to think about their choices and make sacrifices.”

Most families can’t afford to go completely organic and pesticide-free, says Anzai. “It comes down to finding a balance and looking at your budget to see what you can and cannot do.” For Anzai, or-ganic milk delivered in glass bottles, tops her list. She also takes advantage of a weekly home delivery service of organic produce she orders online, which allows her to save fuel costs.

Anzai admits she has setbacks. “When I’m in a hurry, I struggle with buying the cheapest cleaning product on the shelf at Super-store versus going to a store that carries organic items.” Tate and Anzai are both encouraged that grocery chains are paying attention to their customers’ demand for eco-friendly products. “Our local supermarket, which we can walk to, is starting to bring in more or-ganic produce. And as the demand goes up for it, I’m noticing that prices are going down,” says Anzai.

Tate adds, “I’m happy to see that Superstore now carries organic baby food priced the same as regular baby food, which means that enough people are choosing organic, so they’re able to mass-pro-duce it and offer it at the same price. The more people buy it, the more within reach it becomes.”

Wendy Helfenbaum is a mother, writer and television producer at http://www.taketwoproductions.ca.

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Winter09/10l 13

When the Virtual School Society (VSS) launched its “Cyber Safe with Steve Dotto” initiative targeting parents, it believed

that the best way to combat internet danger was to find a way to get students, teachers, parents and the community all working togeth-er. It seems to have found a great champion for a significant part of the student-focused component in Vernon Secondary School’s media and social studies teacher, Mike Sawka.

Two years ago, Sawka worked with some of his students to develop a high-impact anti-bullying presentation targeting high school students. On presentation day Sawka’s students silently walked the halls at break and lunch holding signs featuring phrases such as “I will step up,” “It happens here” and “I can be a hero.” After lunch, Sawka and his students then broadcast a documentary on bullying,and challenged other students to take a stand against bul-lies in the school. Feedback was tremendously positive. Through an “I can be a hero” mailbox, students began reporting instances of bullying which were then addressed by the principal, teachers, parents and the students themselves.

Last year Sawka and his kids took on cyber bullying—bullying that occurs in an online environment—by ramping up their video with a mix of dramatic vignettes in the form of a play, live music and music videos and taking it to an audience of 1,000 packed into the

school gym. After the event, over 700 students made a commitment to refrain from cyber bullying and to “be the change” necessary to stop this form of harassment.

“For kids, interacting with each other on the internet is as real as seeing each other in person,” says Sawka. “We spend a lot of time ‘street-proofing’ our kids, helping them to deal with potential-ly dangerous or stressful situations out in the community and at school, but so many parents have no idea how to even begin to help their kids address the same types of things when they happen on the internet, and it’s happening every day.”

The school district, local law enforcement and local government encouraged Sawka to deliver his program to all schools in the dis-trict. While he has been able to present to some schools, the reality as he states it is, “I have also declined a large number of schools because I cannot always make it work within my school schedule.”

As a result of the enthusiasm and support shown by kids and adults attending Sawka’s presentations, and because he clearly can’t be everywhere at once, the Virtual School Society is sponsoring the development of a re-usable toolkit that other teachers across the province can use with their students, schools and communities. The toolkit will contain a video, script and other components to make

Kids Show Kids How To Stop Cyber Bullying

C Y B E R B U L L Y I N G Q U I C K F A C T S

What is Cyber Bullying?Cyber bullying is an electronic message or messages sent or posted by one minor intended to frighten, embarrass, harass or otherwise target another minor. Unlike bullying, in cyber bullying, the victim may not know who the sender is. If one of the people involved is an adult, it is called cyber harassment.

how is technology used in Cyber Bullying?A cyber bullying message may be verbal, written, or pictorial. Cyber bullying messages can be sent by a cell phone, or a Personal Digital Assistant, or online by e-mail, in instant messaging or a chat room, or in an interactive game, or posted on a website, blog, voting booth, online profile, or bash board. If someone learns another person’s password, he can even impersonate the other person in an electronic message!

How Prevalent is Cyber Bullying in Canada?Statistics vary in various studies. A reasonable estimate seems to be that between one eighth (12%) and one quarter (25%) of students have been cyber bullied.

Canadian Web Resourceshttp://www.safecanada.ca/link_e.asp?category=28&topic=164

Compiled & edited by Henry D. Johns, Alberta Association for Media Awareness

by Gayle Farrell

Winter09/10l 14

Kids Show Kids How To Stop Cyber Bullying

it straightforward for anyone who wants to replicate Vernon Sec-ondary School’s program. VSS had already produced for parents “CyberSafe with Steve Dotto – Protect your kids in Cyberspace: A how-to guide to being CyberSafe” which is a collection of short videos, hosted by computer guru Steve Dotto. It demonstrates how kids use the internet and explains the responsibilities of being an ef-fective parent in the digital age. This student-focused toolkit seems to be the next logical step.

“Our mandate includes improving educational choices for stu-dents,” says VSS project director Lynne Masse-Danes. “One of the ways we do this is to open up access to a variety of educational resources through the internet. If we open this door for kids we need to make sure we do everything we can to help them stay safe. Providing information and training to both parents and educators through the video series we developed for parents and directly to kids through this incredibly effective resource developed by Vernon Secondary School is one of the ways we can support safe internet use by children.”

The parent-focused resource, as well as a workshop and toolkit helping parents to train each other about this topic, are available at no charge by going to the VSS’s educational portal at www.learn-nowbc.ca/lnbcresources/cybersafe/. The toolkit for teachers and students is slated to be ready in late 2009. You can find out how to get a copy by e-mailing support@learnnowbc.ca. Gayle Farrell provides communications services to the Virtual School Society and can be reached at 604-731-9912 or at gayle.farrell@vssociety.ca.

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If we know where we came from, we’ll better understand who we are and where we’re going. As poet James Baldwin says, “Know

from whence you came. Because if you know from whence you came, there is no limit to where you can go.”

Family values, beliefs and culture give structure and meaning to everyday life. Identifying and recogniz-ing those core guidelines can be done through a pro-cess called “storybooking.” Families can be strength-ened through the process of discovering, preserving and celebrating family stories.

Imagine this. At bedtime, you snuggle your kids on the couch and read from their favorite storybook - the one with a beautiful hardback cover that, on the inside, features the digital images of worn, black and white pictures of your grandmother as a child and tells stories of her growing up during the Great Depression. You read of how lucky her dad felt to have a job and see a picture of him holding a shovel in his hand. You see a picture of their family having a picnic and read that Great Grand-mother’s favorite food was watermelon. You read that they worked the farm together as a family and fished from the stream behind their house. Pictures show the house they lived in and the fish they caught. Your kids discover that as a child, their Great Grandmother

enjoyed reading in the evenings, just as they do.

Do you see how this storybook reinforces family values? Do you see how easily it captures the children’s interest? Do you see how it teaches family history and celebrates family heritage? It’s story-

booking at its finest.

Extended family used to live close to one another - it used to be easier to share stories and pass on traditions. But these days, many of our most treasured family tradi-tions are fading. Today families live farther apart from one another and are under budget and time constraints that don’t allow frequent visits.

If we do not consciously define, recognize and consider the elements of our lives that tell us who we are and how we should live, then society will do it for us. We must intentionally celebrate our family heritage and consider the values of our families. And storybooking can be the bridge be-tween the past and future.

Lisa Taron is a Founding Director (Independent Consultant) with Heritage Mak-ers and can be reached at 250-558-3386 or makebooks@shaw.ca Discover the magic of Heritage Makers by going to www.MakeBooksOnline.com

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Le Conseil scolaire francophone de la C.-B. (SD No 93) accepte les inscriptions dans son réseau de 38 écoles en C.-B. • Unematernelleàtempsplein• Desordinateursportablespourles élèvesdela4eàla12eannée• Unprogrammedefrancisation• Unprogrammed’anglaisdequalité• Uneformationacadémiquede hautniveau• Unhautniveaudebilinguisme• Descoursàdistancevial’écoleVirtuelle

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stone achievements blend into kindergarten and before you know it you’re gussied up to watch your precious one don a cap and gown for high school graduation.

With a firm commitment to supporting community and educa-tion pursuits, Okanagan Child Magazine is thrilled to announce a $1000 scholarship competition for grade 12 students. The single cash prize will be awarded to one lucky winner who goes on to pur-sue post-secondary education in the 2010-2011 school year.

All students currently working towards completion of their grade 12 year, be it in a public, private or home setting are eligible pro-vided they live or attend school within the geographic regions de-fined by the following school districts: 22 (Vernon), 23 (Kelowna), 53 (Okanagan Skaha), and 77 (Okanagan Similkameen).

Life after high-school is about making your own path. We support any kind of post-secondary education, whether it be trade school, college, art school, aesthetics school, university and so forth. There is no post-secondary education choice that is better than another.Rather, what is most important is that each applicant selects the path that resonates most with him or herself. A path that will elicit a desire to learn and foster passion, connection and enjoyment.

The contest begins now and will remain open until May 1, 2010. All entry details and contest rules are available on our website at www.okanaganchild.com. The Winner will be announced in our Fall 2010 issue.

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Winter09/10l 17

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare: The school nurse sends your child home with the ominous diagnosis of ... head lice. Beyond

the overwhelming logistics of removing all these bugs and their eggs from your children, their clothes, their bedding, the furniture, the rugs ... there’s the stigma. How will your child’s schoolmates react? What will the neighbors think?

Take heart. Most parents have been there. Or will be. The Ameri-can Academy of Pediatrics estimates 6 million to 12 million cases of head lice in the US each year. But beware: misinformation abounds – particularly related to pesticide treatments.

Dr. Terai is concerned about the indiscriminate use of these dan-gerous chemicals, especially on young children. Here is the low-down on head lice – the facts, the fiction and some practical tactics for ridding your house of the pesky bugs, naturally, safely and ef-fectively.

Head Lice Myths DebunkedDon’t believe the hype! You don’t need to burn your mattresses or shave your kids’ heads. The following are a few of the more popular head live myths and their accompanying reality checks.

Myth No. 1: Kids Who Get Head Lice Are DirtyYou don’t get head lice from being dirty; you get them from close contact with someone who has them. Hence, young school chil-dren are the most susceptible. The head lice themselves aren’t even particularly “dirty” – you won’t get any diseases from head lice.

Myth No. 2: The Only Way to Rid Your House of Lice Is to Throw Everything Out Lice can’t bore into mattresses or climb onto your drapes. In fact, they can only live for 24 hours away from a human scalp. So don’t go crazy throwing everything out.

Certainly clean anything your child’s head has been in contact with recently (bedding, clothes, jackets, hats). But, don’t panic if you have blankets, jackets, stuffed animals and other items that aren’t machine washable. Twenty minutes in the dryer will kill all lice and nits. And a good vacuuming of all rugs and upholstered furniture is sufficient. Boil all hairbrushes and combs as well.

Myth No. 3: Pesticide Shampoos are Safe and EfficientThe thought of bugs crawling around in their child’s hair induces panic in many parents, and send them running for a quick fix. That often means over-the-counter or prescription pesticide shampoos. But don’t be fooled by the marketing. Even the over-the-counter pesticide shampoos contain extremely toxic, potentially harmful chemicals. In fact, most of these shampoos are more poisonous than roach and ant killers! Directly applying toxic chemicals to anyone, especially a child, is never a good idea.

Scientific research proves that these shampoos are not as safe – or as effective – as marketers suggest.

For instance, a study published in Occupational and Environmen-tal Medicine found that insecticidal shampoos increase the risk of childhood leukemia. The study looked at 280 children with leu-kemia and 288 controls. The researcher concluded, “insecticide shampoo treatment of pediculosis [headlice] was associated with childhood acute leukemia.”

What is the bottom line on these shampoos? The benefits don’t outweigh the risks. Research has demonstrated that they are not only potential carcinogens, but also ineffective. This often results in multiple applications to the same child. Due to overuse, head lice have developed resistance to these shampoos.

A recent study in the journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery investigated over-the-counter insecticidal shampoos and found that “recorded insecticidal activity of 15 years ago was at 100%. Present over-the-counter products proved to be successful in only 9 of 32 head lice tested (28% insecticidal activity).” The researchers concluded that “over-the-counter head lice preparations no longer achieve high levels of insecticidal activity, suggesting increased re-sistance to these insecticides.”

And it’s not just the over-the-counter medications that are danger-ous and ineffective; a recent study in the American Journal of Man-aged Care found that “Lindane [a prescription head lice treatment] resistance also has been reported, and serious safety issues about lindane have been raised by the Food and Drug Administration.”

In fact, there have been enough concerns raised about the neuro-

Fighting Head Lice Without Pesticidesby Wayne Terai

health

Winter09/10l 18

Helping all children succeed for life.

Celebrating the arrival of a newborn?You can help us deliver a healthy

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honour of a newborn child who is

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toxicity of Lindane to prompt several countries and the state of California to ban the chemical.

Natural Solutions for Head LiceYou can rid your house and your children of head lice without re-sorting to dangerous chemicals. This must be done in two steps: killing the adult lice and then getting rid of the eggs (nits). The adult lice can be killed naturally, by one of three ways:

1. Mayo/Olive OilThe anecdotal evidence for this smothering technique is compel-ling. Many parents swear by the mayo or olive oil technique. Coat you child’s hair and scalp with mayonnaise or olive oil, then wrap the head in plastic wrap and a towel. Let sit for several hours. Fol-low with a natural shampoo. Note: never send a child to bed with plastic wrap on his or her head

2. Neem ShampooPreliminary research into shampoos containing need seed extract is promising. For instance, a 2007 study in Parasitology Research concluded that “the need seed extract shampoo proved to be highly effective against all stages of head lice.”

3. Tea Tree OilThere has also been exciting research into the effectiveness of tea tree oil. A 2007 study in the journal Fitoterapia concluded that “the most effective essential oil against both lice and mites was tea tree oil.”

You may be able to find tea tree oil shampoo, or small bottles of the oil to drop into your child’s shampoo, at stores that sell health foods and natural medicines.

Note: Tea tree oil is a powerful substance with possible estrogenic properties; don’t use it on children regularly. Also, keep it away from cats, which may be allergic to it.

Manual removal of nitsUnfortunately, there is no simple solution to nit removal. Parents must manually remove all nits lurking on their child’s head. This is a time-consuming and tedious task, especially if your child has long hair (hence the term “nit picking”).

Following nit removal, parents must perform a thorough hair check every 2 days, since it is easy to miss a few.

Some tools can facilitate this difficult task. For instance, research has found the Lice Meister lice comb to be an effective nit removal aid. A 2007 study in the International Journal of Dermatology con-cluded that “the Lice Meister comb is recommended as a more ef-fective comb for use in controlling head lice infestations.”

This information is provided by Dr. Wayne Terai, B.Sc., D.C. Dr. Terai is a fam-ily practice chiropractor, Advanced Proficiency Rated in Activator Methods. He has practiced in Kelowna for 15 years, and has recently expanded his practice to include the new Kelowna Laser Therapy Clinic, implementing the BioFlex Low In-tensity Laser Therapy (LILT). LILT is used to effectively treat injuries and chronic and inflammatory conditions.

If you think your child would benefit from a

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Winter09/10l 19

The more that you read, The more things you will know.The more that you learn,The more places you’ll go.-- Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

A book is the gift that keeps on giving.

Okay, we know what you’re thinking: “Yeah, right, kids these days all want iPods and Wii and espresso makers for Christmas.” But amid the gadgets that will be obsolete by the time they’re un-wrapped, the toys that will be forgotten by next month, and the clothes that will be quickly outgrown, the right book – carefully selected and matched to their interests and reading level – can be-come a child’s friend for life.

Books provide hours of entertainment, and give kids a window onto strange new worlds or a better insight on their own. Cher-ished childhood stories are passed from friend to friend, and per-haps even saved for future grandchildren.

And best of all: books rarely require batteries.

Books by Age Group

Board Books for Baby (Ages 0 to 3)

My First ABC by the Metropolitan Museum of Art (September 2009)Artwork from the Metropolitan Museum’s extensive collection liv-ens up baby’s first alphabet primer. $10.99 - Boardbook

Where is Baby’s Christmas Present by Karen Katz (October 2009)Baby is looking everywhere for the Christmas present—but where can it be? Little ones will love lifting the large, sturdy flaps to reveal special, holiday surprises.$9.99 - Boardbook

My First Farm: Let’s Get Working by DK Publishing (November 2009)Introduces babies to the animals and machines found on a farm, with colourful photos, simple labels and stimulating questions.$11.99 - Boardbook

Picture Books (Ages 4 to 8)

Alphabeasties and Other Amazing Types by Sharon Werner and

Sarah Forss (July 2009)From an alligator made of aaa’s to a zebra made of zzz’s, the alpha-beasties in this book are ingeniously built out of multiple typefaces.$23.95 - Hardcover

Big Bear Hug by Nicholas Oldland (September 2009)A contemporary fable about a bear who has an appetite for hugging everything in sight - even creatures that bears have been known to eat. Funny and powerful, with a simple environmental message at its heart.$16.95 - Hardcover

The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear by David Bruins (September 2009)Playful artwork illustrates this fun story about friendship and the importance of accepting and celebrating our differences.$16.95 - Hardcover

Tween Titles (Ages 9 to 12)

Learn to Speak Music: A Guide to Creating, Performing and Promoting Your Songs by John Crossingham (September 2009)Perfect for pre-teens who have mastered the art of Rock Band and never miss an episode of American Idol. From songwriting and artwork to shooting a video and setting up a practice space, every nook and cranny of the world of popular music is explored.$19.95 - Paperback

Give the Gift of ReadingA Holiday Shopping Guide to Books for Babies to Teens

books

Compiled by Erin McInnis

Winter09/10l 20

Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas by Cary Fagan (September 2009)Fans of Mordecai Richler’s original book series or the animated television series will enjoy this new Jacob Two-Two adventure.$12.99 - Hardcover

Return to the Hundred Acre Wood by David Benedictus (October 2009)The first new Winnie-the-Pooh tale in 80 years. Pooh Bear and his friends return in brand new adventures.$25.00 - Hardcover

High School Isn’t Easy (Ages 13+)

Food, Girls and Other Things I Can’t Have by Allen Zadoff (Sep-tember 2009)A compelling - and hilarious - novel about an overweight teen’s tri-als, tribulations and triumphs while trying to figure out where he

Snowy Sports: Ready, Set, Play! by Per-Henrik Gurth (September 2009)An adorable cast of animal characters highlights winter sport activities – skating, sliding, sledding, skiing and more. Ages 4 to 8.$14.95 - Hardcover

How Figure Skating Works by Keltie Thomas (September 2009)Behind-the-scenes information includes the science behind a figure skate’s special design, the most inventive (and strangest) moves, stories of Olympic judging and score-keeping, and the secrets behind some of the greatest partnerships and rivalries in skating. Ages 8 to 12.$12.95 - Paperback

The Complete Book of the Winter Olympics: Vancouver 2010 Edition by David Wallenchinsky and Jaime Loucky (October 2009) A comprehensive guide to the Olympic Winter Games, including history, anecdotes, rules, scoring and results. Ages 9+.$28.95 - Paperback

fits in at high school.$21.99 - Hardcover

I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President by Josh Lieb (October 2009)Twelve-year-old Oliver Watson’s got the IQ of a grilled-cheese sandwich--or so everyone thinks. In reality, Oliver’s a mad evil ge-nius on his way to world domination.$20.00 - Hardcover

Liar by Justine Larbalestier (September 2009)Micah will freely admit that she’s a compulsive liar, but that may be the one honest thing she’ll ever tell you. A bone-chilling thriller that will have readers see-sawing between truths and lies right up to the end. Honestly. $21.00 - Hardcover

British Columbia will host the world’s best athletes when the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games come to Vancouver and Whistler. Get the kids excited with these fun and informative winter sport books.

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Winter09/10l 21

If there is such a thing as not packing enough on a family vaca-tion, there is certainly such a thing as packing too much. Or at

least that is what my husband would tell you.

Case in point: over the summer we drove to White Rock and Se-attle. The kids were crammed in the backseat amongst snacks that never got eaten, dolls that did not get played with, and backpacks full of coloring books and crayons that were never touched. Just packing the car (never mind getting the kids in and out at every rest stop) required a highly detailed and well-executed plan.

Or, how about that time we flew to Mexico. My poor husband had to drag two five-point-harness carseats and our luggage through the airport while I pushed the baby in a stroller and kept a watchful eye on the two-year-old. While we were able to vacation once we deposited and organized our things at the resort, you can bet he was silently cursing my thorough need for safety and being prepared.

Especially when we got to the car-for-hire at the Cabo airport only to realize there were no tether bolts in any of the vehicles and those darn heavy carseats could not be installed properly anyway.

My husband was able to convince me to pack a little lighter for last winter’s trip to Florida. With a booster seat, a folding carseat with backpack-style straps designed for easy airport carrying, less than one piece of luggage each, and kids who could (but didn’t necessar-ily want to) walk on their own, we thought we had it made.

But it would not be quite so easy. After all, we hit Disney World, and as it turns out, my then 3-year-old son has the same liking for gift stores and souvenirs as his mother. If your family has been bit by the Disney bug then you will know exactly what I am talking about.

There was no way all of our stuff was going to fit into our luggage and be under the weight limit for the plane ride home. Neverthe-less, we travelled home with one more suitcase (full of stuff) than what we had arrived with.

As we plan this year’s winter vacation, a repeat trip to Florida, my husband is already scheming for ways to pack less. It’s me who can’t stop wondering, “what if we need it?”

But here’s the thing: the kids barely touch the things they bring along on vacation, we always have extra clothes with us, and there is something to be said about having extra room in one’s suitcase (for shopping and souvenirs).

Furthermore, the hassle of lugging all of us and our stuff through airports, or squeezing it into the car for roadtrips, is not worth it. After all, even though a family vacation is something of an oxymo-ron and is more like a working-trip than a holiday, the memories you make and the experiences you share will more than make up for all the stuff that comes along with travelling with kids in tow.

So pack light or pack heavy for your next family vacation and in-stead of getting caught up in the packing and organizing, lose your-self in the fun and the memories. While taking a family vacation can seem like more work than spending the day at the office, there may come a day when your kids will no longer want to travel with you. Remind your overly luggage-loaded husband of that next time, and watch for him to smile. Hey, it’s not that he doesn’t want to travel with the kids, but .... it’s all that luggage!

Michelle Collie is a wife, mom, freelance writer and child chauffeur who lives in West Kelowna, B.C.

Family + Vacation = More Stuff Than Dad Can Possibly Carry

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Winter09/10l 22

One day it happens. Your cute, adorable, cuddly baby has turned into a toddler. And she’s discovered the word, “NO!” Emphat-

ic, heart-stopping and powerful. The word no is a favorite among children because they hear it so often from parents when they mean business.

Children are corrected many times in a day. That’s a lot of negativ-ity thrown at them. Eventually, the word “No” loses its impact and children get so tired of hearing it, they learn to tune parents out.

How can we avoid overuse of the word “No” when relating to our child, but still get the message across that some limits have to be respected? Try using some positive alternatives:

• “Yes, later.” Works well when you want to delay something such as a cookie before dinner.

• “Not for _______________.” The child’s name can go here. • “Not today.” Tells the child that the possibility is open, but tim-

ing is wrong.• “When……,then……” This technique is especially good for

transition times. “When we get in the car, then we can watch the hot air balloons on the way home.” “When we get to Grandmas, then we can have the ice-cream we brought.” This works great to establish a routine and help toddlers discover the order of events in their world. One event often follows another.

• “Let me think about it.” Instead of an automatic no, you always have the right for time to think about your decision. We often make better parenting decisions, ones we don’t regret later, but feel we have to follow through for consistency sake, when we’ve allowed ourselves time to think about what we are really being asked, and what response we want to give.

• “Yes, did you bring your allowance with you?” You are getting across the point that child can purchase the treat/toy/treasure but you are not paying for it.

• “Yes, (with qualifier inserted here).” For example, “Yes, you may eat your Easter chocolate after breakfast.” “Yes, you may ride your bike after your homework is done.” “Sure, lets play after the dishes are done.”

• Perhaps give a reason instead of a “No”, such as “Ouch, hitting hurts people!” instead of “No hitting”!

• Be sure to tell what to do, instead of what not to do. Instead of “No running!” try “Please walk.” Instead of “No jumping on the sofa.” Try “Sofas get broken when jumped on. Please jump on the floor cushions.” Or “Let’s use our church voices, instead of our outside voices.”

There is always a more positive way to state a rule. Personally, when I hit a barrage of “No this, no that.” I start to feel negative and un-cooperative. No matter what their age, all people respond better when rules are communicated positively. For example, “ I’m wor-ried about dirt on the carpet. Let’s take our shoes off in the house.” will elicit much more cooperation then “No shoes in the house”. For just one day, try to avoid the No word and rephrase all your correctives in positive language. Save your No’s for absolute safety reasons. See what a difference it makes in the cooperation of your children!

Judy Arnall, B.A, is a Discipline Expert, Parent Educator, and Speaker as well as the mother of five children. Judy is also the author of Discipline Without Dis-tress: 135 tools for raising caring, responsible children without time-out, spank-ing, punishment or bribery www.professionalparenting.ca

Alternatives to the word“No!” by Judy Arnall

J

Home Shows School Fairs Direct Sales Consultants needed

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Winter09/10l 23

A bit about myself. I’m a mother, a daughter, a sister, a wife, an auntie and a friend. I’m a second-generation Kelowna girl who loves to travel whenever and wherever the opportunity arises. I’m a musician, but not a very good one, and a lover of old books with a good story. Sometimes I’m as immature as a two-year-old and sometimes I’m wise beyond my years – but not as often as I wish. I’m also a freelance writer and photographer-cum-budding entrepreneur with a new website: www.thepeartree.com. Oh, and I love a good adventure.

How I’ve grown as a person through motherhood. I think my eyes have been re-opened to a lot of living that I had dis-carded in my journey through adulthood – simple pleasures, such as puddle jumping or the taste of a fresh peach or the wisdom of Winnie-the-Pooh. Looking at the world as my son must see it has brought back some of the excitement and adventure that I – and I dare say the majority of adults – lost to the pressures of work, bills and expectations to “act your age.”

My favorite part about being a mom.I know it probably sounds selfish, but it’s an amazing thing to be at the centre of somebody’s world. When Oliver gets hurt, he wants me. When he learns a new skill, he looks for my praise. Right

now, Amélie is completely dependant on me for everything from warmth and comfort to nourishment and a clean bottom. I know it won’t always be this way – the older they get, the less dependant they’ll be, and someday a spouse and kids of their own will take my place of honour, so I’m trying to enjoy it while I can – and hopefully it will be the foundation for a strong connection later.

The greatest challenges in my role as a mom. I tend to do things quickly and practically, and have for a very long time. So it’s a real challenge to loosen up and meander a bit – to stop and let my two-year-old make friends with a caterpillar or take a long-cut somewhere or struggle to put his shoes on himself when I could do it three times as fast. I have to keep reminding myself that he’s not just a doll to drag around with me but a little person who needs to experience and enjoy things, too.

The difference between life with one child and two. The first time I became a mother I didn’t have the confidence to trust my instincts. All the conflicting advice I got from everyone I came into contact with – friends, family and even perfect strangers – was confusing and stress inducing. When the second one comes along you realize, hey, I can do this! So, strangely, life with two is, in many ways, less stressful than life with one child was. I guess you learn to let things go because you realize you can get through it.

Lori-Anne Poirier shares her take on mommy-hood.

photo credit: Adrian Kids Photography

Winter09/10l 24

All new parents should know... Someone who can share the load. If not a spouse then a friend, sister, mother or other support person. I can’t imagine how difficult it would be to raise a child or family all by myself.

Favorite ways to unwind. My needs are simple: an evening in a coffee shop with a chai latte and a good book or magazine, an independent movie on DVD, cuddled up on the couch with my husband, or (blushing now) on my computer, surfing Facebook and my favourite blogs.

I never leave home without... My clothes on. Everything else – cell phone, wallet, lipstick, pen and paper, even nappies – I can survive without (if needed), at least on short trips. I have come to learn this by going through life as a rather forgetful person.

New holiday traditions I’m creating for my children. Some of the most cherished family traditions just evolve – you can’t plan them. That said, I want to fill our holidays with together time – not just present opening around a tree and Christmas specials on TV. Think cookie bakes, tobogganing, musical get-togethers where everyone plays something, and story telling by the fireplace.

Pet peeves. When people count to get kids to comply (“I’m counting to three!”). I have yet to see it work in the long term, probably because there’s usually no consequence when they finish counting, so what’s the point. My son, Oliver, has been known to count along with my hus-band when he does it, but still not do what he’s supposed to!

What I want most for my children.Like most parents I want all good things for my children. But if I had to pick just one, it would be for them to appreciate that they are a child of God, that their life has a purpose and there is something amazing waiting for them.

Do you want to be our next FEATURED PARENT?

We love all parents:

New parents, seasoned ones, step-parents, single parents, parents of multiples, grandparents.

What’s involved: *Share your experience as a parent in a

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*Receive a photo shoot in Kelowna courtesy of Adrian Kids Photography

*See your interview and photos in print!

How to apply:(1) Visit our website at www.okanaganchild.com

(2) Complete our ‘Featured Parent’ form under the Explore menu.

(3) We’ll let you know if you if you’ve been selected.

photo credit: Adrian Kids Photography

photo credit: Adrian Kids Photography

Winter09/10l 25

You want Natural andHealthy products for yourBaby

Your Family.

And our Earth.

Find them atThe Natural Baby Shop

#109, 1980 Cooper Road,Orchard Plaza 2 Kelowna250.763.7514

FIND US AT OUR NEW FABULOUS LOCATION JANUARY 2010 IN KELOWNA’S ARTS DISTRICT! VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS:

www.thenaturalbabyshop.ca

The ABC Kids Expo is the premier juvenile products specialty show in North America.

With more than 900 exhibitors in over one mil-lion square feet of exhibit space, it is now one of the fastest growing trade shows (TSW - Trade Show Week 2005-2009). Las Vegas Convention Center is the venue for this huge event, drawing retailers and manufacturers from all over North America and the world. Store owners from as far away as Australia were in attendance.

All the ‘Big Name’ store owners attend (e.g., Toys R Us), but the heartbeat of the show is the small and medium size baby shops that offer niche products unique to their region. Upon entering the Convention Center, you witness a never end-ing view of booths and signs. Born Free (lead-ers in bpa-free baby bottles) had golf carts with huge blow-up bottles mounted on the roof trav-eling around the aisles willing to give free rides to attendees to get them to their destinations. Some exhibit booths were as large as 3000 square feet or more!

Organics & Sustainables PrevailPrevalent at this year’s show was a bounty of organic, sustainable and natural product lines. There was an entire section dedicated to mom and baby organics – clothing, skin care, bedding and fur-niture. Despite the clear trend towards organics, one store owner from Texas commented that in his area, organic products are not in demand and would not sell in his shop. Most interesting to note in contrast to Canada where naturals and sustainables rule customers’ worlds!

It was also interesting to observe a handful of manufacturers who seemed somewhat opportunistic when claiming to be “green.” In a few cases the movement had the appearance of “bandwagon jump-ing.” Nonetheless, it is great to see a trend towards so many lovely and earth friendly products.

Modern Design is Hot.Still red hot and smoking is Modern! Although the exhibit areas for Natural Baby and Modern Baby were separate, these themes essen-tially are interchangeable and work well together. Of eye-catching note was a new baby bouncer seat that swirls and twirls and dips and swoops in a rather alarming manner! Very futuristic – Gong! The clean and elegant lines of modern baby furniture seem to reso-nate well with parents.

Go Canada!One booth of particular note was Natura World bedding and mat-tress booth – a Canadian company (www.naturaworld.com). An-other great booth was Tike Tech. The owner, David Ambar from Toronto, impressed with his passion for a line of baby buggies. The Tike Tech is designed for outdoor living but with the quick and easy fold that parents require. Although the stroller line is virtu-ally unknown in Canada, the U.S. sales for this very new line are remarkable indeed (www.tiketech.com).

Other Canadian attendees were Bummis, sporting a refreshed look with their cloth diapering products (www.bummis.com), Perlimp-inpin, offering very popular bamboo sleepwear for babies (www.perlimpinpin.com) and Stroll-Air, a European style stroller line (www.stroll-air.com).

Angie Bricker owns The Natural Baby Shop, a baby boutique in Kelowna (www.thenaturalbabyshop.ca). With a dedication to sourcing innovative, unique prod-ucts, Angie is excited to share many of the new products she discovered in Las Vegas with her customers.

The All Baby and Child Show in Las Vegas Report

Teens lose trust in par-

ents who won’t

admit that they’re

wrong, espe-cially if

ABC Show Las Vegas, 2009

Winter09/10l 26

Ahoy matey! The Plan Toys pirate ship summons your child’s imagination. Manu-factured out of sustainable rubberwood and other non-toxic, natural materials, this ship sails on ultra green seas.

53.99owlshollow.com

If you are looking for a zinc-free natural diaper cream for your baby, search no longer. Made locally in Kelowna, Lal-abee’s Bottom Balm features organic, unscented, preserva-tive and dye free ingredients. The best part? It really works!

7.95lalabeebathworks.com

A leather bib might be luxe, but it’s also extraordinarily practical. You only need *one* and it will always be clean and dry. No fading, no shrinking, no staining. Just rinse or wipe. Oh, and did we mention reversible with a handy catch-all pocket on the back? A magnetic closure means you can even store it on the fridge door. Now that’s money well spent.

32.95mallybibs.com

Formoregreatgift ideas,

checkoutthegiftguideon

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This clever Catch Bowl by boon helps direct food that misses the mouth back into the bowl thanks to a soft ‘catcher’. The bowl even features a suction base to eliminate unexpected flight patterns. BpA-free, phthalate-free and PVC-free too!

12.95chickenlittle.ca

Us parents all know how popular a good old fash-ioned cardboard box can be. Crazy Forts ups the ante offering kids an easy way to build all kinds of fun structures - tunnels, igloos, you name it. With the potential to entertain your child for *hours*, we think this one makes the ‘must have’ list.

59.99modernbabybarn.com

Featured Finds...

The perfect gift for any little girl. Adorable ‘Little Miss Clips’ will stay put in even the finest hair. The only tricky part is trying to decide on your favorite pattern!

4.00littlemissclips.ca

Winter09/10l 27

With 25% of children in the Central Okanagan not ready to succeed in school by age six, paying attention to your child’s

early development seems more important now than ever. Success By 6 initiatives can help you.

Success By 6 is a United Way initiative that is dedicated to decreas-ing the number of vulnerable children. In 2004 it started with a partnership of community leaders who are working together so that every child six years or less has access to programs that sup-port their health and development.

Success By 6 Initiatives Helping ParentsIn communities where Success By 6 is already embraced by par-ents, educators and early childhood professionals, the results are remarkable. You will find moms and dads reading with their chil-dren, improving their parenting skills in parent education and sup-port programs, and learning more about nutrition and wellness so that they can give their families a healthier start. And, you will see children playing together, learning to share and take turns, follow-ing rules in games and making new friends. A Child’s Success Starts with YouIt is important to listen and talk to your children. Take the time to play, read stories, and sing songs with them. Nourish your child’s imagination. Teach your children about sharing and respecting others. Your positive parent-child interactions help a child develop confidence, resiliency, a love of learning, and the ability to make friends. Children who get a good start in life are less likely to have behavior problems, drop out of school, become involved in crime, or experience health issues.

We know that if you build healthy children you build healthy fami-lies. Healthy families build a healthy community. When communi-ties are healthy everyone benefits.

Celebrating the Arrival of a Newborn?Help deliver a healthy community with a new United Way – Suc-cess By 6 Initiative. Celebrate the arrival of a newborn child who is important to you with a donation in their honor to Success By 6.By sending a lovely newborn card you share in the happiness and pride of celebrating a new life by helping children across our com-munity become successful in life.

The idea came to Elizabeth Woods, Director and Past Chairperson of Central Okana-gan United Way after the birth of a new cousin. The parents requested only best wishes for their new-born. “I thought it would be nice to make a charitable donation to commemorate the birth of my new cousin.” says Woods. “I believe parents would appreciate knowing a donation made to honor their new baby will benefit others who may be less fortunate.”

• 90% of the brain’s growth happens before the age of six. • At birth the child’s brain already weighs 25% of its adult weight and

consists of 100 – 200 billion nerve cells.• By age three a child’s brain is developing a dense network of wires that

help them to organize information. 15,000 wires are developing for every one nerve cell present.

• By twelve years of age the brain is already pruning away what is not be-ing used.

• What this means is in the first six years a child’s brain is growing faster than at any other point in a child’s life!

Delivering a Healthy Community

B R A I N D E V E L O P M E N T F A C T S

community

By Carol Elilson

Winter09/10l 28

Responding to the needs of young families, Success By 6 supports collaborative efforts of agency partners from Lake Country south to Peachland. The focus of the programs and services is on literacy, nutrition, child play, and parent and family support.

“By supporting Success By 6 the United Way is promoting preven-tion” adds Harry Grossmith, CEO. “We may not solve all the prob-lems that face our community but investing in the future through Success By 6 is something we believe will make a difference in young lives.”

Doesn’t every child deserve to be a Success By 6?To learn more about Success By 6 visit www.unitedwaycso.com , call 250-860-2356, or visit your United Way at 249 Lawrence Av-enue in Kelowna.

Breastfeeding Clinics / Support La Leche Leaguewww.lllc.caKelowna, BC: First Wednesday of the Month, 7pm, 630 Cadder Avenue (The Parent Place)Penticton, BC: Third Tuesday of the Month, 10am, Penticton Health UnitVernon, BC: First Tuesday of the Month, 10am, Vernon Alliance Church, 2601 - 43rd Avenue

Rutland Health Centre Breastfeeding Centre155 Gray Rd , Kelowna, BC 250.980.4822

Car Dealerships Penticton Toyota2405 Skaha Lake Rd.250.493.1107www.pentictontoyota.comSee ad on page 15.

Child Care - preschools, daycares, nannies Nannysitters250.575.6645www.nannysitters.caKelowna’s premier nanny and babysit-ter agency. Specializing in providing thoroughly-screened local childcare pro-fessionals. Nannysitters is fully licensed, bonded and insured.See ad on page 21.

North Okanagan Childcare Society250.558.9963 www.noccs.caSee ad on page 19.

Okanagan Montessoriwww.okmontessori.comWe provide a prepared environment where children are guided through activities by trained Montessori teachers. Children learn as they experiment with and activtely participate in activies.See ad on page 23.

YMCA-YWCA of the Central Okanaganwww.ymca-ywca.comThe Y is th elargest not-for-profit child-care provider in Canada.See ad on page 7.

Childcare Resource & Referral Kelowna Child Care Resource & Referral1890 Ambrosi Rd, Kelowna, BC 250.763.3536

Penticton Child Care Resource & Refer-ral 330 Ellis St., Penticton, BC 250.492.2926

Vernon Child Care Resource & Referral 3300- 37th Avenue, Vernon, BC250.542.3121

Chiropractic Care Burtch Chiropractic, Dr. Wayne Terai250.860.4518229-1634 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna BCDr. Wayne Terai is a Doctor of Chiro-practic practicing in Kelowna for over 15 years, helping Okanagan families be well without the use of drugs and surgery.

Diaper Service Tidy Tushees Diaper Service

Resource Directory250.870.4106info@tidytushees.cawww.tidytushees.caWe help families with all their natural parenting needs including cloth diaper-ing. Whether you choose to let us do the dirty work for you, you need help troubleshooting your system or you are on the hunt for products, we are here to help!See ad on page 13.

Doulas Doula Services Association, BC604.515.5588www.bcdoulas.org

Education CSF Schools1-888-715-2200www.csf.bc.caThe Couseil scolaire francophone de la C.-B. offers French language public edu-cation across the province. It has schools in Kelowna and Penticton and elsewhere in the province. See ad on page 17.

Events Penticton and District Community Arts Council Family Christmas.Friday November 27 10am - 9pmSaturday November 28 10am - 5pmPeak inside Santa’s Workshop, enjoy choirs of all ages, cast a vote for your favorite Christmas Tree and more! Start-ing at the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre.See ad on page 3.

Bellies in Bloom Baby FairApril 24 -25, 2010Babies in Bloom is the Okanagan’s only Baby Fair, - coming to Kelowna featuring over 30,000 square feet of Baby Bliss. Lots of great features and events to experience. Held at the Kelowna Curling rink.See ad on page 22.

Fashion for Moms Haute Mamawww.hautemama.caHaute Mama is the upscale boutique for pregnant women who love clothes. Visit our online shop at www.hautemama.ca to see our beautiful collections from around the world.See ad on page 11.

Lawyers Gordon and Company102 - 1433 St. Paul Street, Kelowna, BC250.860.9997With over 30 years of professional expe-rience, Gordon and Company offer an extensive range of serices including all types of litigation, family law, wills/estate disputes and personal injury.See ad on page 15.

Midwives Midwives Asscoation of BC604.736.5976www.bcmidwives.com

Music Music for Young Childrenwww.myc.com

Winter09/10l 29

It’s time to call your Welcome Wagon

representative.

She will bring congratulations and

gifts for the family and the NEW BABY!

1.866.856.8442

NEW BABY?

Resource DirectoryCelebrating its 30th anniversary, Music for Young Children has been among the world’s leading music-learning systems. The hour-long classes include rhythm ensembles, singing, ear-training, sight-reading, note-reading, theory and composing techniques.See ad on page 16.

Parent & Tot Storytimes Your local library branch offers story-time sessions and fun seasonal events! Check out their website for up-to-date dates and times. Your little one will thank you!www.orl.bc.ca

Photography Adrian Kids Photography250.863.0176www.adriankidsphotography.ca info@adriankidsphotography.caKelowna photographers Jon + Jenny bring their fresh and creative style to kids portrait sessions. Visit them online or give them a call to book your kids session. See ad on page 9.

Poppy Photographywww.poppyphotography.ca250.863.5309poppyphotos@gmail.caCapturing life’s unforgettable moments everyday. Okanagan Photographer.See ad on page 17.

Rhea Taylor Photographywww.rheataylorphotography.comChildren and Family Portrait Photogra-pher. Cpature your precious smiles and love with Rhea Taylor Photography.See ad on page 21.

Twin Heart Photowww.twinheartphoto.comYour snapshots fixed, augmented and designed into works of art, suitable for dispaly in your home with pride. Human or animal loved ones treated with respect

and dignity.See ad on page 23.

Public Health Services/Nurses Kelowna Health Unit1340 Ellis Street250.868-7700

Penticton Health Unit740 Carmi Avenue250.770.3434

Rutland Health Unit155 Gray Road250.980.4825

Summerland Health Unit12815 Atkinson Road250.404.8050

West Kelowna Health Unit160 – 2300 Carrington Road250.980.5150

Vernon Health Unit1440 – 14th Avenue250-549-5700

Retail Angel Babies Kids Shoppe375 Main St., Penticton, BC250.493.8823Calling mamas-to-be, parents and grand-parents! With a great mix of consignment (maternity & kids) and new clothing, products & gear, Angel Babies is a must visit for young families.See ad on page 8.

Chicken Little4407 - 29th Street, Vernon BC250.549.1221Chicken Little is a great place to shop for your kids, grandkids, family and friends. For shopping 24 hrs/day, visit us online at www.chickenlittle.caSee ad on page 11.

Felt Fantasiawww.feltfantasia.com

Felt Fantasia provides creative wall designs for children’s rooms. These fun decorations will tell any story on a lucky kid’s wall. Shop online at www.feltfantasia.comSee ad on page 13.

Kermode Kidswww.kermodekids.comA family-run company, Kermode Kids produces children’s card games that celebrate the wild diversity of British Columbia. Our games highlight the two things that young children adore: art and animals.See ad on page 7.

Little Miss Clipswww.littlemissclips.cainfo@littlemissclips.caCanada’s premium collection of slip-proof hair clips for baby and toddler girls. Enjoy $1.50 shipping everyday and free shipping on orders over $20.See ad on page 16.

The Natural Baby Shop#108 - 1980 Cooper Road, Kelowna, BC250.860.0307 1.866.763.7214www.thenaturalbabyshop.caOffers customers a unique opportunity to select from not only the latest and most highly respected brands for moms and babies, but also introduces many yet unknown locally produced productsdestined to be appreciated. See ad on page 25.

Stonz Wearwww.stonzwear.comCanadian-made infant and toddler gear. Our Stonz booties, made for newborns to walkers slip rigth over shoes, socks or barefeet. They stay on! Matching Hatz, Mittz, and Linerz for iside the booties!See ad on back cover.

Usborne Books - Karen McGrath250.868.3232 karen.mcgrath@shaw.ca www.usborne.ca/titlesGuaranteed to be your children’s favorite books! Interactive, award-winning titles including fiction, art, science, puzzle and flap books! Host a home show or become a consultant today!See ad on page 23.

Support Services Aboriginal Infant Development Program442 Leon Ave , Kelowna, BC 250.763.4905

ACHIEVE BCToll Free: 1-800-514-0554Website: www.AchieveBC.ca Advice on prenatal care, nutrition and

developmental guides. Parenting tips and information on stimulating your child’s mind and body through reading and play. Learn more about the services offered through the Government of British Columbia by calling the toll free number or visiting the website.

Association for the Benefit of Children with Disabilities250.763.4663

BC 24- HOUR Nurse LineCall: 8-1-1Website: www.bchealthguide.com BC Nurseline gives you 24 hour, 7 day toll-free access to registered nursed specially trained to provide confiden-tial help on the telephone. Available to answer medical enquiries free of charge - carecard required

BC Council for Families204-2590 Granville St , Vancouver, BC1.800.663.5638The BC Council for Families works to help create healthy families in a healthy society. Our goal is to empower families. We provide educational resources on topics such as parenting, childhood development, parent-teen relationships, work-life balance, suicide awareness and more.

BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities250.763.0899

Big Brothers and Sisters of the Okana-gan151 Commercial Dr , Kelowna, BC 250.765.2661www.bigs.bc.caBig Brothers Big Sisters of the Okanagan provides children and youth ages 7 - 12 (‘Littles’) with volunteer adult mentors (‘Bigs’) who provide a positive influence in their lives.See ad on page 19.

Success by 6www.successby6bc.caSuccess By 6 is an early childhood devel-opment initiative dedicated to providing all children with a good start in life. It helps to ensure that children ages 0 to 6 develop the emotional, social, cognitive, and physical skills they need as they enter school.See ad on page 18.

Welcome Wagon1.866.856.8442www.welcomewagon.caIt’s time to call your Welcome Wagon representative. She will bring new con-gratulations and gifts for the new baby and family.See ad page 29.photo credit: Poppy Photography

Winter09/10l 30

Winter09/10l 31

Snap Happy Adorable kids captured “In the Moment”

Bubble Monster Ryan

I blew bubbles!

Levina and the praying mantis

Just relaxin’

Hangin’ On

Summer fun on Vancouver Island for Josh & Family

Monkey Around

Looking Smart

Share. . . Smile

Next Theme: “Smiles & Laughter”Sort through your albums...we love all shots whether they are just snapped or vintage 20th century! Upload your

pictures to our photo gallery on www.okanaganchild.com