Spring2012

Spring 2012

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Asthma: Quick Facts

Why Baby TeethAre Important

5 Skills SmartKids Need

Contributors: Sarah Antice, Michelle Collie, Michale Hartte, Heidi Smith Luedtke, Shylon Mathew, Natalie Mathew-Sanche, Pam Nease, Wayne Terai

Editor & Publisher: Colleen Bezeau

Advertising Inquiries: [email protected] Inquiries: [email protected] 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.

contentsarticlesWaiting for DinnerLearning Beyond the BooksQuitting An ExtracurricularAsthma Quick Facts

columnsEditor’s NoteAsk the ExpertFeatured ParentBusiness SpotlightMichelle Collie: Dance Like No One is WatchingRecipes You’ll LoveStuff We LoveOn the BookshelfSnap HappyResource Directory

Spring 2012

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Asthma: Quick Facts

Why Baby TeethAre Important

5 Skills SmartKids Need

cover photo: Adrian Kids Photography www.adriankidsphotography.caE. [email protected]. 250.863.0176

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Spring 2012 Volume 4, issue 1

editor’s note

Spring is here and that means lots of wonderful local community events are on the horizon. The Babies in Bloom Baby Fair takes place at the end of March, which is perfect for expectant and new parents. The richly sat-isfying Rotary Okanagan International Children’s Festi-val takes place in May in Penticton, BC (well worth the trip no matter where you live!). And July brings Fat Cat Children’s Festival. We’re fortunate to have so many fan-tastic community events here in the Okanagan to enjoy with friends and family.

Enjoy this issue and best wishes for a happy and healthy Spring!

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Spring 2012 l 4 www.okanaganchild.com

Cow bells are especially useful in the country. Not only do they warn of oncoming bovines, but they can summon the family from far and wide to dinner. Friends of mine hang

one prominently by their back door.

The urban counterpart to the cow bell is that image of Mom leaning out the door and yelling, “Dinner!” to her various children scattered around the neighbourhood. Unfortunately, that seems like a throw-back to a bygone era. In our busy lives, many of us have abandoned eating home-cooked meals together. Grocery stores and fast food outlets have freed us from this time honoured tradition, so that we can grab dinner on the run, heating up a frozen Mexican enchilada, or even gourmet Indian Butter Chicken, as we dash out the door to another meeting, another lesson, another midnight shift.

Not too many June Cleavers remain. But let’s remember that it wasn’t just the perfectly coiffed June who organized these family rituals. Almost every family, tight sweatered or not, once enjoyed this tradition. In the days when buying dinner out far exceeded most family budgets, people cooked from scratch. And then they sat down together, passed the potatoes, and dug in.

Television was the first thing that killed family dinners. Instead of talking, people started watching. And soon conversation died. Once we gave up on the benefits of talking together, little was left. When frozen foods came on the market, home cooking died, too. And soon our schedules became so haphazard that herding every-one together was a struggle.

I wonder, though, how many of us have ever calculated the cost? Most of my generation grew up eating dinner with our families. We learned certain skills that we now take for granted. But many of those skills our children will not learn, because they no longer have the opportunity to learn them.

Take, for instance, the idea of “waiting until dinner” to eat. When 4:30 hit and I was hungry for a cookie, my mother wouldn’t let me

indulge because dinner would be served in 45 minutes, and it was out of the question to ruin one’s dinner. If dinner is not going to be served, though, but instead can just be heated up on a whim, children eat whenever they want. No longer do they have to train their appetites to wait. If their bodies want it, they get it. Does this have repercussions in areas other than eating?

And what about the idea of taking one’s turn? Sitting with six peo-ple around the table meant that you couldn’t all grab the mashed potatoes at the same time. You had to decide to pass all to the right, or all to the left, and you had to wait until they arrived, unless you were smart enough to set the table yourself and position the pota-toes right in front of your own plate. Sharing and waiting one’s turn is almost as outdated now as June Cleaver. As long as you’re the one standing by the microwave, the food’s all yours.

Conversation skills are also eroding. At the dinner table you have to wait your turn to speak, and you have to listen to others. Take away the dinner table, and children’s main conversations occur with friends on the phone, online, or on the playground. The rules of etiquette our grandmothers championed are sadly lacking there.

Without family dinners children don’t learn not to burp at the ta-ble, or to keep one’s bottom firmly in one’s seat, or not to interrupt each other. They don’t have to learn how to keep an uninterest-ing conversation going, how to relate to a sullen sibling, or how to describe what happened in school. As a child I had to ask to be excused; I couldn’t just leave when I wanted to, much as I may have desired to escape during those long Christmas dinners when my grandfather waxed on about the latest Matlock episode. And it did me good.

Family dinners aren’t just about food. They’re about family; they’re about life; they’re about civil society. We’re throwing something far too precious away for the lure of the tube, or the beckoning of the drive thru. I think we need more cow bell.

Waiting for Dinnerby Sheila Wray Gregoire

Spring 2012 l 5www.okanaganchild.com

What you will experience:

• Over 30,000 square feet of Baby Bliss

• Babies in Bloom Photo Contest

• Door Prizes

• Indoor Play Area

The Third Annual Okanagan Baby Fair

Saturday, March 24, 2012 10am - 5pmSunday, March 25, 2012, 10am - 4pm

Okanagan College Learning CentreKLO Rd., Kelowna

Admission only

Come check it out

one day or both!

$5

www.BabiesInBloom.net

Take your kids to see Bobs & LoLo LIVE in Kelowna at Babies in Bloom!

The BC-based award-winning duo enchant kids and delight parents.

Raising smart kids isn’t about teaching to the tests, it’s about building brainpower. Kids who can seek information, con-nect ideas and apply what they’ve learned, aren’t just book-

smart, they are life-smart. Cultivate your student’s success with these essential skills.

Growth Mindset

What it isSmart kids define intelligence in terms of learning, not as a fixed trait. Decades of research by developmental psychologist Carol Dweck, PhD, and her colleagues shows kids who think in terms of ability give up quickly when challenged. They see failure as proof that they don’t have what it takes. Kids who believe intelligence is developed are not discouraged by failure. These learners seek chal-lenges, think creatively and thrive despite setbacks.

How to build itReinforce the belief that talents are developed, not a matter of biological inheritance. Praise your child for his or her effort and persistence, rather than intelligence. For example, say, “I’m proud of you for playing such a difficult song, you really stretched your skills” instead of “You’re a talented musician.”

Investigative Approach

What it isSmart kids can define a problem, formulate options, test potential solutions and decide on a course of action. These are important life skills. Zoos, aquariums, parks and science centers are fantastic learning laboratories.

How to build itTeach investigative concepts and skills at each stage of your child’s development. Double your cookie recipe and let kids determine how much butter and flour you need. Study bridges you cross to understand their design. Ask kids how they could get over the river without a bridge. Engage your child’s curiosity outside the class-room and model problem-solving strategies.

Emotional Intelligence

What it isSmart kids recognize and regulate their own emotions and empa-thize with others. “Kids who develop these skills early in life get better grades, are less susceptible to anxiety and depression, and have healthier, more fulfilling relationships,” says Linda Lantieri, co-founder of the Resolving Conflict Creatively Program, a social and emotional learning program implemented in more than 400 schools. Kids who can self-soothe when stressed are ready and able to learn from their experiences, without distracting emotional drama.


Learning Beyond the Books: 5 Skills Smart Kids Need by Heidi Smith Luedtke

or omit key details. Listen deeply and encourage sharing. Validate your child’s perspective even when you don’t agree. Model the use of “I” messages, such as “I think” or “I feel.” Kids who can voice their opinions respectfully become productive members of the community.

Metacognitive Understanding

What it isSmart kids think about their own thinking: they can take multiple perspectives and they’re aware of their own biases and assumptions. “Metacognition isn’t about grades,” says Leif Gustavson, PhD, as-sociate professor of education at Arcadia University in Glenside, Penn., “but it helps kids study efficiently and use knowledge effec-tively.” Students need to understand how and why they are learning the material in a particular class. When students understand teach-ers’ methods, they can direct their own learning.

How to build itWhen your child completes an assignment or exam, ask “how did it go? What went well? What would you do differently next time?” Also, ask kids to connect previous learning to new experiences. This helps achieve deeper understanding. Encourage your child to apply her learning, even if she feels uncomfortable. Reflection is critical.

Heidi Smith Luedtke is a psychologist and mom who enjoys crashing toy cars, making pumpkin cake balls and blowing raspberries on the baby’s belly. You can read her blog on parenting as a leadership experience at www.LeadingMama.com

How to build itRegulating emotions doesn’t mean stifling them, says Lantieri. Don’t diminish your child’s feelings, rather help him understand what’s causing them. Increase his emotion-related vocabulary by introducing him to words like angry, frustrated, jealous, excited and elated. Children should be able to describe their feelings with some specificity, rather than saying they feel good or bad. Use your own upsets as teaching opportunities. Explain step-by-step how you stop, calm down, refocus and then act.

When you give kids the skills to direct their own learning and ex-press their ideas, you facilitate success in school and in life.

Self-Expression

What it isSmart kids develop a strong sense of self. They know their own strengths and challenges and make wise decisions. Kids crave a sense of uniqueness and they may feel pressured by intense de-mands to get good grades, to fit in socially, and to grow up before they’re ready, says Brandie Oliver, assistant professor of counselor education at Butler University in Indianapolis. Finding their own identity can be awkward and frustrating. It also subjects kids to risk. Kids need skills to stand up for themselves.

How to build it“It is common for parents to think they are in the loop when they don’t know as much as they think, says Oliver. “Kids share infor-mation with parents through a filter.” Sometimes they embellish


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Why are a child’s “baby” teeth important? Aren’t they just going to fall out anyway?

Unfortunately, many parents overlook the importance of a child’s baby teeth (sometimes called primary or milk teeth). A child’s baby teeth perform a number of importance functions including : • chewing to help provide nutrition • are involved in proper speech development • set aside / hold space in the mouth for permanent teeth • help children feel good about the way they look to others • are involved in the development of the jaw bones and facial

muscles Just like adult / permanent teeth, a child’s primary teeth are in-volved in chewing, smiling and talking! The primary teeth also play a crucial role in maintaining space for the permanent teeth that follow after them. Unfortunately, if primary teeth are lost before the permanent teeth are ready to come in, there will often be a loss of space and / or shifting of the teeth in the mouth which likely will re-quire future intervention with braces (from an orthodontist). This is why it is very important that a child’s primary teeth are kept in place until they are lost naturall. Remember, many baby teeth will be in a child’s mouth for 5 - 10 years! So yes, absolutely your child will lose his or her primary teeth, how-ever, whether it is primary teeth or permanent teeth, it is important that parents teach and instruct their children on the importance of good oral health from an early age. In fact today, there is over-whelming evidence that children that have cavities on their prima-ry teeth are at a much greater risk / much more prone to developing cavities on their permanent teeth.

Teaching and helping your child to take good care of his or her teeth is so simple, yet can have a profound impact in helping your child achieve a lifetime of good oral health! Dr. Shylon Mathew & Dr. Natalie Mathew-Sanche Specialists in Pediatric Dentistry ToothZone Kids Dental Centre | www.ToothZoneKids.com

What are the pros and cons of soother and thumb sucking? I have friends that swear by (and against) both! Not sure what’s best for my baby.

“You can take away a soother … but you can’t take away a thumb!” How often have we heard that? How many of us have chosen sooth-ers as we have heard about that one person in their 30’s that was still sucking their thumb to sleep? Or, perhaps it is the fear of thousands of dollars in orthodontic work? For some, it is their own painful memories of Tabasco or bridges being put in their mouths to get them to stop.

If you want a great sleeper, then don’t choose the soother. You are simply setting yourself up for failure. The second they fall out of the baby’s mouth, they need someone to put it back in again. By the time they are mentally and physically able to do it, (without calling for Mom or Dad in the middle of the night), they are three to four years old. By then, Mom and Dad are starting to feel the pressure from the Dentist to take it away. And that’s a lot of sleepless nights (1370 in total from 3 months to age 4) which could lead to a lot more serious health and behavioural issues for your child.

Even if they can put it back in their mouths, you are still giving your child fragmented sleep. They will end up having a full arous-al, put the soother back in their mouth and then go back to sleep. This is similar to you waking up to use the bathroom or looking at the alarm clock, noting the time and then going back to sleep. You remember these wakeful periods. Studies have shown that frag-mented sleep is not as beneficial as consolidated sleep. When we get fragmented sleep, our bodies do not go into the deeper stages of sleep, and therefore we do not wake up feeling as refreshed the next morning. The same is true for children.

For babies, sucking on thumbs and fingers is a natural and intuitive process. We have all seen the pictures of babies in the womb, suck-


Have Questions?We Have Answers.

Ask the Expert

Q.Q.

ing on them. So, if your newborn or infant gravitates to a thumb or finger as a self soothing strategy – embrace it! Celebrate that they have the ability to self soothe and will be better sleepers as a result. When we all sleep, we have partial arousals through the night. We come gently to the surface, scan our environment and then go back to sleep. These are the times that we adjust our pillows, roll over, pull up the blankets or snuggle up to our partner. In the morning, we do not remember them and therefore we wake up feeling more refreshed as we were able to get into the deeper stages of sleep. This is considered consolidated sleep. The same is true for babies and young children.

If you are concerned about the 30 year old or the large orthodon-tic bills or the painful childhood memories, then don’t despair. Just because you don’t use a soother does not mean that your child will automatically choose a finger or thumb. Many babies and young children find other self soothing strategies such as cuddling with a small stuffed animal or a blanket. If they do gravitate to fingers or thumbs, then early intervention is best. Some parents have reported that their babies spontaneously stopped sucking on their thumbs or fingers on or around their first birthday. If that does not hap-pen, then you will want to engage in gentle behaviour management techniques around 2 years old to stop any finger and thumb sucking while awake and then again around 3 to 4 years old for the sleep association. This can be done in a very short period of time – about a week or so. And … in the meantime … you all have experienced 1370 peaceful nights and better naps in the day.

Pam Nease, Licensed Sleep ConsultantSleep Sense | www.sleepsense.net/kelowna

What can I do if my child is constipated?

Constipation can include either a sluggish bowel or having infre-quent bowel movements. Surprisingly enough, diarrhea can also be an outward sign of constipation where the stools are severely com-pacted and only liquid makes it’s way through. In either case, con-stipation is extremely harmful to the body. It has been implicated

Have Questions?We Have Answers.


Q.

with all sorts of digestive disorders - including cancer due to the re intoxication of various dangerous toxins.

What to do? First and foremost, repopulate their bowels with ben-eficial bacteria (therapeutic grade). Next, get enough natural fibre and water. Best fibre sources are: nuts, seeds (ground flax seeds work well), whole fruits and vegetables. Please note: a diet high in fibre from grains (breakfast cereals, bran, etc) has a negative effect on gut flora. Additionally, increase good fats, particularly butter, ghee and sour cream, which can also help. Lastly, elimi-nate all know food sensitivities/allergies. The most common are: Grains (gluten) and dairy (casein), followed by soy, peanuts and corn. Chicken eggs are also found to be problematic. If the situa-tion has not resolved within 1 month (resulting in 1-2 well-formed bowel movements per day), then seek a qualified Natural Heath Care Provider for help.

Michale Hartte, BASc (Nutr), NNCPClinical Nutritionist | www.fitnhealthynutrition.com

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Sarah AnticeBuilding a family.

photo credit: Adrian Kids Photography

A bit about myself...

My husband Ollie and I relocated from London, England to Canada in 2003 after we got married because the cost of living in London was so high and we wanted to try something different for a couple of years and as I had Canadian citizenship through my father so we thought it would be a great opportunity and came to Kelowna, and never left!!

I work full-time at the Cancer Center for Southern Interior as a ra-diation therapist and Ollie now has his own landscaping business.

My journey to becoming a parent...

It wasn’t until we lived in Kelowna for 3 years that we considered having a family - we had both thought previously that parenting wasn’t for us! I think that our perspectives changed when we re-alised how much this country has to offer families in comparison to in the UK where owning your own home is a dream for most cou-ples in our situation. We bought a home here and became settled and then eventually decided to start a family - now I am a working mother of 2 boys, Kieran age 4 and Leo age 1.

The best parenting advice I ever received...

Be Present - I find myself constantly multi-tasking as shuffling the work/home life can be a tricky and you can easily miss the tiny mo-ments of your child’s life when you are too busy trying to do other, less meaningful things. So, everyday, I remind myself that my time with the boys is the most important and I should take in every sec-ond. The laundry can always wait!!

Try your best - I have never been a parent before so have no real benchmarks. My ethos to parenting is to try my best.....I am not and never will be perfect, so striving to be a perfect mother is un-feasible and futile. I try not to let the guilt of being a working mum get me down because I provide for my family and hope the children will grow up seeing that I have other responsibilities as well as being a mother to them.

I never leave home without...

Snacks.... meltdowns tend to be avoided when we are out and about if we take snacks along.



My fridge is always stocked with...

Dairy products - cheese, milk, yoghurt are all firm favourites at our house. The kids love fruit too so we try to make sure there is always a good selection for them to choose from.

What I want most for my children...

I would like them to truly find what in life makes them happy. Favourite ways to relax and enjoy self time...

I try to find time to meet friends for coffee, or go for dinner or a movie and get some social time in for myself but we definitely do not have ample amount of self-time. I love to knit and I find it very relaxing so after the kids go to bed, I curl on the couch to knit, or I will read. In the summer, we like to go for a walk in the evening which can be very self-soothing.

My favourite part about being a mom...

I love seeing the kids grow, change, learn and adapt. It is fascinat-ing how quickly children pick things up. I also love their smiles and listening to them laughing. I enjoy watching the facets of their personalities as they are quite different- Kieran is very mellow and easy going where Leo is busy and inquisitive; amazing considering they come from the same set of parents!!


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By now, your child has likely chosen and settled into extra cur-ricular activities that many fill their after school and weekend hours with. My 12 year old, Chloe’s choice, is a no brainer.

She’d dance at Attitudes Dance and Performing Arts Studio every night of the week if she could. Each year she adds another class to her repertoire and hasn’t tired of it over the past five years. I don’t care if she ever auditions for ‘So You Think You Can Dance.’ I’m just happy that she loves dancing in a non competitive environ-ment with many of her school friends and that she’s developed the confidence to perform in front of an audience at the end of the year recital.

I must admit that there have been years when I tried to encourage – even bribe – her to try something else. Like the time I enrolled her in piano lessons because I have always wanted her to play the piano as beautifully and effortlessly as my husband does. Having heard stories from my mother in law about how my husband wanted to quit, how she wouldn’t allow him to, and now seeing the fruits of her labour, I thought that we could go down the same path. How-

ever, each child is different and eventually, she negotiated her way out of piano lessons.

Deciding when to allow children to quit lessons or an activity that you feel is best for him or her, is difficult. It really comes down to how much consideration we should give to our child’s wishes and when, as a parent, we have to make a decision that we hope our child will ultimately thank us for. I am reminded of a conversation I had with a good friend recently. Years back, it was determined that her daughter was eligible for the gifted stream following her grade 3 year. As a family, they determined that she would be better served by being withdrawn one day a week as opposed to attending a full time gifted program within the public school system. Over the past three years, my friend has noticed her daughter’s increas-ing resentment at being withdrawn. Rather than feeling privileged at being given the opportunity to attend a program that stretched her thinking, she felt that she was being punished for being bright. She hated the one day of the week that she missed activities that her good friends shared at their home school.

Before the end of her grade 6 year, she became increasingly vocal about wanting to remain in her home school every day of the week. Her parents, loving that their daughter had been given the unique opportunity of expanding her thinking, were reluctant to let her leave. So, my friend turned to me for advice. After some careful reflection, I shared that since her daughter had given the one day a week program a full three years of her time, and since she was already a bright and logical thinker, did not rush into making deci-sions and was very responsible, that I felt that she should give more weight to what her daughter wanted at this point. I recommended that instead of throwing her hands up and saying “Fine, do what you want. Quit!” (which I doubt she would have done anyway), that she let her daughter know that because they trusted and respected her opinion, that they felt that they could trust her to help make this important decision. To actually put into practice what she had learnt to do in her gifted classroom. If they felt it necessary, they could even sit as a family to record the pros and cons of staying in the program before making an absolute decision.

Quitting an Extracurricular:How Much Say Should Your Child Have?by Sara Dimmerman

to stand aside and make room for their inclusion in a democratic decision making process.

Sara Dimerman is registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario and pro-vides counseling to individuals, couples and families. A parent herself, she is the au-thor of two parenting books, ‘Am I A Normal Parent?’ and ‘Character Is the Key.’ Find out more at www.helpmesara.com.

I also suggested (although my friend had already considered this), that there may be other after school programs that their daugh-ter could enrol in. For example, being a whiz at math, she could take part in an extra curricular math program for students with a strong aptitude for numbers. I suggested that they might even want to make this a condition for leaving the one day a week program but that they could re evaluate this program at the end of the school year or sooner.

Bottom line is that it’s best to try to make these decisions as a fam-ily. If a child feels that he or she has either been forced into a pro-gram or is being forced to stay, then he or she may develop not only resentment towards the program itself (and then not receive the maximum benefit from it) but also resentment towards you for not hearing his or her point of view. As parents it’s okay to choose programs and activities for our very young children without much say from them. Then, as they grow older and we want to encour-age independent thought and individual expression, we may need


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Whether you’re in the prenatal or postnatal stage, your body undergoes copious changes. Although it is always great to be conscious of working to strengthen your body, the

transition before and after childbirth is a key time to make a special effort. Laura-Mae Johnson is a certified fitness trainer who special-izes in pre and postnatal fitness. She runs Training for 2, a Kelowna-based company designed to provide services for pregnant and non-pregnant clients.

Depending on your preferences, you can select from one on one training, small group personal training, or regular classes. Educa-tion is a key part of Laura-Mae’s classes as she considers it extreme-ly important to understand what is safe and what is not and how to apply it to one’s own circumstances.

No matter your journey, it can be wonderful during the pregnanacy and post-natal period to connect with other moms and moms-to-be. It’s important to take time out to stay healthy and fit so you can enjoy a positive pregnanacy and after-birth experience. Check out the class offerings and times, along with lots of other useful infor-mation at the website www.trainingfor2.ca

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At eight years old, my daughter has the grace, poise and pos-ture of a kid enrolled in dance. She can memorize dance combinations and routines quickly and can perform in front

of a large audience. She can speak the language and terminology of dance as though it is everyday English.

While it may have been the sparkly costumes, fun shoes, and beau-tiful music that sparked her interest in her favorite activity, it is the built-in learning opportunities that have sparked our interest in helping her nurture her passion.

We’ve had a front-row look at the positive impact dance has had on her life. She was a shy and anxious little three year old when she took her first dance class. When the teacher shut the door and closed the blinds, I fully expected her to run out of the room and never go back. Instead, thirty minutes later, she exited the class with a beaming smile and couldn’t wait for her next class.

Dance has helped her gain confidence in herself. The shy, little three year old has been replaced by a chatty, confident eight year old who can dance in front of an examiner during exams, knowing his or her main focus is to critique. She can dance in front of adjudicators, parents and friends at a competition. She can allow music to help her body move. Dance has given her a focus, a goal.

While she has had the opportunity to try other activities, in her own words, she’d rather be at dance. So, we nurture and support that as much as we can. Even though she is only eight!

She takes examinations for dance and works hard to achieve a score she can be proud of. Of course, we’re proud of her for simply trying. She is involved in competition and her entire group always tries their hardest. We’re proud of them for simply getting up on stage.

They have learned to perform, win and lose with grace and man-ners. They perform at a year-end recital that culminates a year of hard-work. It’s not all fun and games, but to her it is always fun.

We are often questioned on our decision to allow her to focus so much of her free-time on one activity. We’ve been asked what she will do with it when she is older, after all “ it isn’t a life-long skill like swimming or hockey”, or so some would say.

But, when I walk into her dance studio and watch how hard the kids work, or I watch the year-end recital and notice the improve-ment in the dancers, or I watch as the cycle of younger dancers looking up to the older dancers and the family atmosphere that creates, I know that these kids are learning a lot of life-long skills. Not to mention, that excellent posture!

Aside from their ability to quickly learn and memorize a number of routines, aside from their ability to perform in front of audienc-es, aside from their ability to compete and take exams, aside from the rhythm and musicality they are learning on a daily basis, aside from all that dancing, they are learning poise, grace, teamwork, goal-setting and determination that will stick with them whether or not their future occupations have anything to do with dancing or not.

Whether our kids are enrolled in hockey or soccer, dance or guitar, art or swimming the simple fact that they are developing an interest is reason enough to allow them to be involved if they love it. Like any young child involved in any activity, she may hope to make it big one day and that may very well be her motivation for working hard.

Dance Like No One is Watchingby Michelle Collie


As her parents, our motivation has far less to do with what she will do with it when she’s older and far more to do with what she will do with it now. Work hard. Have fun. Enjoy. Be happy. Dance. Come what may, as long as that is our goal, the rest will be picked up along the way.

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

• Funspringbreakcampsforkidsofallages

• RedCrossswimmingprogramsforchildren6monthsandolder

• 25meterpoolandchildren’splaypool

• Art,dance,music,sports,fitnessclassesandmuchmore

PARKINSON RECREATION CENTRE 250 469-88001800 Parkinson Way kelowna.ca/recreation

Are you looking for activities to keep your child busy this spring?

GET ACTIVE, STAY ACTIVESpring into fun with our great programs

Training For 2 Jumpstart your new life by getting fit! Build the strength and energy you

need for pregnancy, labour, delivery and parenting!

Exercising while pregnant has proven to help uncomplicated pregnancies with quicker deliveries and faster recovery!

Personal Training Services as well as Pre/Post-natal Classes offered through World Gym Kelowna

www.trainingfor2.ca

South Okanagan Salmon Arm/ Vernon 778.516.1505 250.558.5437


Recipes You’ll

LOVE

Feeling breathless at the thought of having asthma? There may be a genetic predisposition, but there are ways to reduce or avoid having this life-limiting condition! Here are some facts

about asthma for you to think about…

• Children whose mothers took acetaminophen (Tylenol) while pregnant have a 30 percent heightened risk of asthma and a 50 percent bolstered risk of wheezing (CHEST 2009;136:1316-23).

• According to a study of over 24,000 women, pregnant women who take antibiotics increase the risk of their children having asthma by 43 percent (GP 2002:4).

• Consuming apples and omega-3 rich fish during pregnancy significantly decreases the odds of having a child who develops asthma (Thorax 2007;62:772-8).

• Cesarean section delivery may predispose infants to develop-ing asthma (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Im-munology).

• Babies breastfed exclusively for the first four months of life have a 27 percent reduced risk of developing asthma (Ameri-can Lung Association).

• Studies in mice show that repeated exposure to disposable diapers significantly increases the risk of asthma-associated breathing problems (Arch Environ Health 1999;54:353-8).

• Children raised in a home with two or more dogs/cats dur-ing their infancy have 45 percent lower rates of respiratory hyper-reactivity, a significant risk factor for asthma (JAMA 2002;288:963-72).

• Exposure to cigarette smoke skyrockets an individual’s risk of asthma.

• A study of 445 youngsters found that those who received anti-biotics during the first year of life were 2.5 times more likely to develop asthma by age seven (European Respiratory Society).

• “Exposure to chemically based cleaning products could ac-count for as much as 15 percent, or one in seven of adult asth-ma cases.” (Am J Respir CritCare Med 2007; 176:735-41.)

• Exposure of “off-gassing” from new plastic products, furniture, paint and other items boosts the risk of asthma (Environ Res 2006;102:1-8).

• Overweight boys have approximately twice the risk of asthma, compared to thinner boys. Overweight girls have 1.5 times the risk.

• A diet rich in a wide array of fruits and vegetables prevents asthma. Children with diets low in vegetables and Vitamin E are almost three times as likely to suffer asthma symptoms (Thorax 2000;55:775-9).

• Exposure to pesticides significantly boosts a person’s risk of asthma.

• Children who eat fresh, oily fish at least once per week were much less likely to develop asthma (Med J Aust 1996;164:137-40).

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

Asthma Quick Factsby Dr. Wayne Terai

Spice Up Your Life! Love fabulous food? Want a source of employment without sacrifice?

Join one of Canada’s fastest growing companies! Have fun and make money while sharing an easy, cost-effective approach to home cooking. Part-time or full-time, enjoy a flexible, rewarding, exciting new career with your own home-based Epicure Selections business.

Let you inner entrepreneur and home chef shine! It’s easy with Epicure!

Contact your Indepdendent Epicure Consultant today!Jenn [email protected]

Discover the delicious possibilities of an Epicure career!www.epicureselections.com

If you like this information, check out Michale Hartte’s, BASc (Nutr), NNCP new book, “The Fit n Healthy Plan – The nutritional diet & lifestyle plan made easy!” found online at www.fitnhealthynutrition.com

Super Seedy Snacks

Ingredients

• 2 cups raw seeds, ground (any combo of: hemp, sunflower, pumpkin, chia, flax or sesame).

• ¼ cup raw seed butter (try sunflower or pumpkin)

• ¼ tsp Celtic or Himalayan salt

• ½ tsp blackstrap molasses

• ¼ tsp stevia

• 3 tsp Vanilla brown rice protein powder

• 1/8 cup coconut oil

Optional additions: raisins, gogi berries, coconut flakes, or dark chocolate and/or carob chips

Directions

Grind all seeds in coffee grinder or equivalent and place into food processor. Next add all other ingredients in order as it’s listed. Stir in any optional additions, then either spread into a 5 by 7 inch glass container or make into funny shapes with your cookie cutters and have fun with them!!

Best served chilled. Easy to freeze too (last in fridge for about 10 days).

Recipes You’ll

LOVE


Ever wonder what it’s like to work for yourself, set your own hours, or have a hobby make you money?

We have all the tools you need to succeed: newsletter, website, online shopping, & an array of teas and accessories.

Become a Tea Party Consultant Today! Contact me to learn more...Laura Zacharuk E. [email protected] P. 780.984.8986

Get Paid to Par-Tea!

Tea consumption in Canada is expected to jump 40% by 2020.


Get out and enjoy the Spring ssason with this fantastic run bike! Perfect for any little one who can walk; teaches balance and skips the need for any training wheels later on!

chickenlittle.com

Swaddle your little one with these beautiful, classic saddles in natural muslin by Aden & Anis. So soft you just might be tempted to snuggle up to one yourself.

chickenlittle.com

These adorable plush animals are sized for optimal hugging and suit kids of all ages. No harmful plastic pieces and tested lead free and phthalate free.

raspberrykids.com

All aboard is right! We can’t get over how AWESOME the Le Toy Van London Bus with it’s own driver is. The wooden bus is painted bright red and if it could talk, we believe it would have quite the British accent.

raspberrykids.com

STUFF WE

LOVE

Add some pizazz to bath time and bubbles with these fun natural rubber toys! Your little one won’t want to stop splish splashing away!

naturalbellyandbaby.com


Snap Happy

Share . . . Smile

SHARE YOUR SHOTS! Upload your pictures to our

photo gallery at

www.okanaganchild.com under the

‘Kids’ menu and we’ll share some in

every print issue! OR...post your photos on our facebook wall!www.facebook.com/OkanaganChild

On the BookshelfThree great books to check out for your preschooler!

The Hunter and the Animals - A Wordless Picture Book

By Tomie de Paolo

Doctor De Soto

By William Steig

Toby, Where Are You?

By William Steig

Attractions & Recreation City of Kelowna - Recreationwww.kelowna.caCity of Kelowna, Recreation and Cultural Services offers programs and activities for individuals of all ages and abilities in neigh-bourhoods throughout Kelowna, including swimming, dance, karate, sports, Mom & Baby programs and more.

Davison Orchardswww.davisonorchards.ca3111 Davison Rd.Open Daily May 1 - October 31st.Davison Orchards is a three generation farm which grows 70 acres of fresh produce, offers Orchard tours, and has many great activates for children includingfarm animals and the New “Crazy Cow Kids Corral” play area. Fresh baking, spe-cialty foods, country gifts, & so much more!

Maple Springs Bible Campwww.maplesprings.ca

YMCA-YWCA of the Central Okanaganwww.ymca-ywca.comThe YMCA-YWCA is a trusted charity committed to building strong kids, strong families, and strong communities. The Y proudly operates the Kelowna Family Y, the H20 Adventure and Fitness Centre, 3 out of school care centres, a childcare and preschool, and the Y Career Contact Centre for Youth.

Birthday parties Face to Face Face PaintingAll [email protected]

Kiki the Eco Elf250.549.1234

Breastfeeding Clinics / Support La Leche Leaguewww.lllc.caKelowna, BC: First Wednesday of the Month, 7pm, 630 Cadder Avenue (The Par-ent 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

Okanagan Breastfeeding Coalition330 Ellis St., Penticton, BCwww.okanaganbreastfeeding.org

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

Child Care - preschools, daycares, nannies Bricks 4 Kidzwww.bricks4kidz.comAfter school programs, preschool classes,

birthday parties, in-school field trips, day campsSouth Okanagan: 778.516.1505Salmon Arm/Vernon 250.558.5437

Building Blocks Educational Childcare Ltd.buildingblockseducare.com778.478.1818

International Nannies and HomecareMake your life easier with a nanny. 250.862.4949www.internationalnannies.com

Little Owl Academywww.littleowlacademy.ca250.764.0122contact@littleowlacademy.caInfant/Toddler Care, Daycare, Preschool, Out of School Care.

Mosaic Learning Academy2463 Pandosy St., [email protected]

Nannysitterswww.nannysitters.caKelowna’s premier nanny and babysitter agency. Specializing in providing thorough-ly-screened local childcare professionals. Nannysitters is fully licensed, bonded and insured.

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 actively participate in activities.

Carpet cleaners Oxy DryThe better way to clean your carpet.www.oxy-dry.caVernon 250.260.6061Kelowna 250.860.4595Penticton 250.493.4093

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

Penticton Child Care Resource & Referral 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 Chiropractic

practicing in Kelowna for over 15 years, helping Okanagan families be well without the use of drugs and surgery.

Dental Care Toothzone Kids Dental CentrePediatric Dental Office that specializies in the care of infants, children and teenagers.778-484-KIDS#225 - 1634 Harvey Ave. Kelowna, BC

Cloth Diapering Booty Boutiquewww.bootyboutique.ca1.888.594.5204We offer eco-friendly diapering solutions for the modern family along with a Try Before you Buy program!

Tidy Tushees Diaper [email protected] help families with all their natural parenting needs including cloth diapering. Whether you choose to let us do the dirty work for you, you need help troubleshoot-ing your system or you are on the hunt for products, we are here to help!

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

Education Aberdeen Hallwww.aberdeenhall.comAberdeen Hall is an independent, non-denominational university preparatory school for boys and girls from preschool to senior grades. We offer a safe and balanced learning environment, individual attention and specialized instruction to enable your child’s to reach his or her full potential.

CSF Schoolswww.csf.bc.caThe Couseil scolaire francophone de la C.-B. offers French language public educa-tion across the province. It has schools in Kelowna and Penticton and elsewhere in the province.

Sylvan LearningReading . Writing . MathSchool success is a phone call away! Kelowna 250.861.1255Vernon 250.549.2443www.sylvanbc.ca

Employment Become a Tea ConsultantGet paid to par-tea! [email protected] Zacharuk

Power Move OneWork from home, moms helping moms!

Resource DirectoryResource Directory


www.powermoveone.com

Finances CST ConsultantsDenise De HaasSales RepresentativeBranch [email protected]

Freedom 55 FinancialTo find out more about how we can provide permanent insurance and provide for your child’s future, give us a call today at 250.763.1114 Chantal Diaz: ext. 233Daniel Bussiere: ext. 256

Health & Wellness EpicureJenn Hobbs, Independent ConsultantCall today to learn more about becoming a consultant! Save money and spend less time in the kitchen with Epicure’s amazing products.www.epicureselections.com

Maternity Care Westside853 Anders Road, West Kelownainfo@maternitycarewestside.com778.755.5720www.maternitycarewestside.com

Nature’s Fare Marketswww.naturesfare.comKelowna, West Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton

Okanagan Natural Medicinewww.oknaturalmedicine.comDr. Shelby Entner and Dr. Chris Spooner offer natural family medicine, allergy testing, herbal medicine, nutrition, ho-meopathy, laser therapy, hormone health, prolotherapy, iv medicine and vitamin injections.

Training for 2www.trainingfor2.caJump start your new life by getting fit!

Today I Ate A Rainbowwww.todayiatearainbow.comToday I Ate a RainbowTM is a chart that makes eating a rainbow of healthy fruits and vegetables FUN for kids! This hands-on tool makes it easy for parents to set up healthy eating habits.

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

Midwives

Resource DirectoryMidwives Asscoation of BC604.736.5976www.bcmidwives.com

OnLine Parenting Sites Kelowna New Parentwww.kelownanewparent.comKelowna New Parent is Kelowna’s best resource for all things baby! Check out in-formation on activities, play groups, dining, daycares and much more.

True CuddlesEach week we bring you one baby or tod-dler product, in limited quantity, at up to 75% off retail!www.truecuddles.ca

Parent & Tot Storytimes The Okanagan Regional Librarywww.orl.bc.caThe ORL is your most economical, sustain-able and relevant source for information and entertainment in the BC Southern Interior. Visit us at one of our 29 branches or at www.orl.bc.ca

Photography & Portraits Adrian Kids Photographywww.adriankidsphotography.cainfo@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.

Ian Bull Photographywww.ianbullphotography.com250.558.1983Visit the website for upcoming theme events and to sign up for the monthly newsletter.

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 Avenue

250.549.5700

Retail ABC Amber Teething NecklacesGenuine, handmade baltic amber teething necklancesVernon, [email protected]/people/abcamber

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.

Chicken Little4407 - 29th Street, Vernon BCwww.chickenlittle.caChicken 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.ca

Epic Jr.Trendy clothes for kids infant to preteeen.Epicjr.com778.478.98982079 Enterprise Way

Felt Fantasiawww.feltfantasia.comDecorate your little one’s nursery with fantastic felt wall art or canvas art.

Loadza ToysToys for all ages.Orchard Park Mall, Kelowna and Cherry Lane Mall, Penticton (opening Summer 2011). www.loadzatoys.com250.717.8209

Sleep Sleep Sensewww.sleeptsense.net/kelownaGive you and your family the gift of a good night’s sleep with the Okanagan’s only licensed & local Sleep SenseTM Consultant. Call Pam at 250.575.6988 or visit www.sleepsense.net/kelowna

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 de-velopmental guides. Parenting tips and in-formation 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 confidential 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 Dis-abilities250.763.0899

Big Brothers and Sisters - Okanagan151 Commercial Dr , Kelowna, BC www.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.

Welcome Wagon1.866.856.8442www.welcomewagon.caIt’s time to call your Welcome Wagon rep-resentative. She will bring new congratula-tions and gifts for the new baby and family.Perhaps it is shallow that what I think of and look forward to most about the chang-ing seasons is a change of fashion, so if you intend to judge me by my cover, well, at least I will try and look nice.


Watch for our next issue...

Summer 2012arriving early June

TODAY I ATE A R a i n b o w !

I Ju st Ate A Ra i nbow!

www.todayiatearainbow.com

Get your kids eating a rainbow of fruits and veggies!

TODAY I ATE AR a i n b o w !TM

Ages 3+

Turn Healthy Eating into a fun game with this interactive chart & story!

Contains26magnets

www.todayiatearainbow.com

Do Your Kids Eat Fruits & Vegetables

Everyday?5

The Today I Ate A Rainbow

Kit turns healthy eating into

a game! Order yours today!!

Receive 15% off a

Rainbow Kit with

the code: CHILD

expires 08/30/2012

ep·ic Adjective /”epik”/Very impressive; Surpassing the ordinary

Whether they’re skateboarding, playing basketball or walking the mall, kids don’t like to be told what’s cool. With this in mind, Epic Jr. offers a wide selection of clothes, shoes, and accessories that allow for the originality, individuality, and Self expreSSion of those who wear them.

For all kids: infant to pre-teen

2079 Enterprise WayKelowna, BC

WWW.EPICJR.COM | 778.478.9898

Ski & Snow wear, gloveS, hatS, backpackS, walletS and more!

come See USat oUr new location!

Documents

Spring2012