Archive for the ‘school age’ Category

The Aurora Historical Society promotes the study of the history of our community. The society works toward this and related goals by means of its regular meetings and by the operation of Hillary House.  They also have cool things for kids to do this summer!

Hillary House Summer Programs for Kids (July 13-17, August 17-21)
Come experience summer at Hillary House National Historic Site! For $15 a day or $70 a week, children ages 6-10 can learn and play during half day programs. Daily themes include: Teddy Bear Picnic, Butterfly Garden, Tea Party, Movie Day, Olympics, Superhero Day and more! Pre-registration is required. Call 905-727-8991 for more information.

By Nicole Meltzer, RMT, CHt

No matter what culture we come from, we all grew up with metaphoric stories which taught us lessons for life. Since the beginning of humanity, we have passed on life lessons from generation to generation via storytelling and this is still relevant today.

Here is why it works so well.  Children spend most of their time in a trance state - a state of mind where they are susceptible to suggestions.  Think advertising…  Secondly, children love repetition.  This is how concepts and skills are absorbed.  Thirdly, children are egocentric.  If they identify with the main character of the story their sub-conscious will process the lessons of the story to apply it to similar situations the child is experiencing.

When I work with children as a hypnotherapist, I use the power of storytelling to help them work through whatever life issue they are facing.  This is something you can also do as a parent.  It is effective in helping children with bullying, bedwetting, habits, anxiety, nightmares, self esteem, etc.  The key is in writing an effective metaphoric story.

Here are a few pointers to keep in mind when developing a metaphor to help your child:

• Always indirectly address the issue.  Do not make the storyline exactly like the situation the child is experiencing.  For example, if the child is afraid of the dark, don’t make the main character afraid of the dark; have them afraid of something else.
• Establish what you want to instill in the child & have the main character exhibit these characteristics, i.e. confidence, courage, etc.
• Personify unconscious strengths of the child in form of heroes.  This helps them identify with the main character and sends the message to their sub-conscious that they are their own heroes.
• Present a situation where the main character overcomes an issue and is successful.
• End with a celebration of success.

Resist the urge to explain the story & how it relates to your child’s life.  Let the child process it (usually during sleep). Analyzing it together will ruin the effect of using a metaphor.

Here is an example.  Your 7 year old daughter is afraid of the dark.  She loves anything to do with princesses and is very good at play-acting.  The story line you may want to develop would involve a princess who is putting on a play for the palace.  In the play she must ride a horse.  However, she is afraid of horses.  The princess overcomes her fear, rides the horse and realizes there was nothing for her to fear.  At the end of the story everyone cheers for the princess.

You may need to tell the story many times to your child before you start to see results.  Just know that, on some level they are processing the lessons.  And most importantly, have fun with it!

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Nicole Meltzer, RMT, CHt is co-founder of Balanced Body Mind Spirit.  Through her specialization in fertility issues & prenatal care she helps parents conceive and achieve balance while on their journey into parenthood.  Nicole offers pre/postnatal & pediatric Massage Therapy; Hypnotherapy for children, fertility and childbirth; Reflexology; & Reiki.  She teaches a variety of classes including, Hypnosis for Childbirth, Tools for the Birthing Partner, Focused on Fertility, and Infant Massage.  To learn more, visit www.balancedbodymindspirit.com

In a June 2008 article, financial columnist Gordon Powers wrote, “Too many people don’t really understand how to manage money, which may be why they have so little of it to work with”. In his article, he quotes Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty who said “many Canadians struggle with unmanageable debt, fail to save adequately for emergencies, college or retirement, and generally make countless other poor financial choices that eventually leave them worse off. The root cause? Financial illiteracy”.

On January 27, 2009 Minister Flaherty tabled “Budget 2009: Canada’s Economic Action Plan”. In his speech he announced new measures “to raise the level of financial literacy” of Canadians by “establishing an independent task force… on a cohesive national strategy on financial literacy”.

At Moonjar, we believe that teaching financial literacy needs to begin at a young age. Since 2001, Eulalie Scandiuzzi, the creator of Moonjar, has been providing fun products that focus on financial life skills and the art of communication for independent young minds.

The Moonjar Moneybox, a teaching bank divided into three individual compartments for Saving, Spending and Sharing. It is a tool parents can use to teach positive money habits to their children and that helps create opportunities for conversations about money.

Brent Dobson from Moonjar Canada says “teaching children about money can be challenging for parents. The Moonjar Moneybox is a tool that helps open the money conversation and provides valuable financial skills. Children will visualize what their money can be used for. Moonjars offer an opportunity for kids to manage their money by teaching them how to

use it – through the concepts of Save, Spend and Share. They provide parents with a fun, financial literacy tool for their family.”

Moonjar offers these tips to parents for starting the conversation about money:

• Talk with your young children about money concepts. Most children, beginning at age 4 or 5, are visual learners, so using hands-on tools like cheque registers and moneyboxes can better help them learn concepts such as allocating funds and what interest means.

• Set goals and prioritize. Use pictures to help them visualize their goals and then prioritize what they are saving for, what the want to spend their money on, and with whom or with what they want to share their money. Set short and long term goals then discuss where the balance should be spent and shared on an ongoing basis.

• Discuss the difference between wants and needs. Working with them to set goals will help in overcoming the desire for “instant gratification”.

• But… let them make a few mistakes. Children, like adults, learn from their mistakes. From time to time, allow your child to buy a toy you believe will not be enjoyed very long, for example. Sure, they may be disappointed in a few weeks, but many lessons can be learned from this experience. Encourage them, without guilt, to plan their future purchases, weigh the cost and the benefit of their choices and to think twice next time, even sleep on it.

• Encourage young giving and youth philanthropy. Help your children understand that they are part of a larger world community through discussions about sharing their money and/or donating time to causes of their choosing.

• Be a good role model. Make sure your children see you doing the things that you are teaching them. Let them in on your bill paying, savings and investment plans and charitable giving. Discuss your attitudes and philosophies about money and tell them your dreams for how your money can fuel your passions.

Above all, keep the conversation about money open and honest and help teach your kids valuable money lessons.

Aritlcle by Bent Dobson of Moonjar Canada.

Our friends at Once Upon a Child In Newmarket have a fun coupon for March.  Take a peak and print it off to receive your discount.

Over one billion children live in poverty. Hunger is only one of their challenges; exploitation, abuse and discrimination haunt them on a daily basis. Many live in remote areas of the world and have little, or no, education.

They have no rights. They have no voice.

On March 5, 2009, people around the world will remain silent for 24 hours in support of those who are unable to speak up themselves.

Join the quiet revolution.
Take the Vow of Silence.

About: The Vow of Silence is a campaign of Free The Children, a Toronto-based charity. Free The Children is the world’s largest network of children helping children through education, with more than one million youth involved in its innovative education and development programs in 45 countries.

In this world, where my 3 year old can use a mouse on my computer, as well as, if not better than me online safety is another part of ’street proffing’ your kids.  

While we are not that stage of chat rooms, messenger or Facebook, we will soon be, It’s never to early to talk about online safety with your kids.

The Street Smart Kidz program is a great site for general safety and they have a wonderful ‘contract’ for parents to discuss with children and for the child to sign.

 With rules like, I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable and many more, it is worth the visit. 

A favourite activity at our house that keeps my toddler and preschooler happy — for a while — is sensory play.  We have a great plastic table that we use for such things as sand, water, bubbles, and even snow. Yesterday we brought some snow inside and played with it in the table, and watched it melt.  A great way to spend some time, as well as learning!

If you don’t have a sensory table, you could use bowls. Don’t forget to supervise the little ones, especially around water.

Now here is something fun to do this weekend, and for the next few weekends.  The Royal Ontario Musuem is offering kids get in free with each regular paying adult, senior or student.

This winter we want to ensure all families get a chance to experience the ROM. 

The Free Child Offer Details: No coupon necessary. Valid for one free child admission (a $15 value) with every paying adult, senior or student admission. Offer does not apply to online purchases and is valid for walk-in ticket purchases only. Cannot be combined with other offers, included but not limited to; consignment tickets, vouchers or pre-purchased tickets. Not valid on Friday nights after 4:30 p.m.

Cost: Adult (18 to 64 years): $22.00
Senior (65+ years): $19.00
Student (15 to 17 years): $19.00

More about the ROM -

Galleries

Explore an exceptional array of themed galleries throughout the Museum, spanning both world cultures and natural history. With six million objects in the ROM’s collections, there’s something new to discover around every corner.

World Culture Galleries
Natural History Galleries
Hands-on Galleries
Exhibitions Spaces

How to fly, stay, and eat for less…

The weather’s bad and the news is gloomy; time to escape with the family for a week and decompress on a beach - right? Unfortunately, the economy is just as nasty as the weather and the news, and many are opting for “staycations” or canceling their travel plans altogether. For me, neither are appealing options… If I stayed close to home I’d never relax or let go of the chores that need tending to. If I cancelled our trip, I’d be even more miserable.

Back pre-baby, I was the cheapest traveler around. I flew on rickety airlines at awful times, I stayed at hostels and tiny b&bs, and I’d live for days on end on nothing but bread, cheese, and wine. But now that travel involves more than a backpack on my back and time on my hands, I’ve found it a challenge to travel on the cheap while still maintaining a certain level of comfort and safety for my daughter. However, I’ve now got a number of trips with her under my belt, and I’ve leaned some money-saving tricks along the way.

The economic crisis has affected the travel industry as well, so if you’ve already socked away your travel money, you may find it goes further than you were expecting it to with reduced prices on different types of packages. However, if you’re building a trip from scratch, here are some ways to fly, stay, and eat for less…

Kids, no matter what are awalys happiest on the beach!

Flying for less:

If you’re close (even close-ish) to an American gateway, it’s often worth the extra travel time to fly out of The States. For example, flying direct to Tampa from Buffalo added about 2 hours to our journey (we got lucky at the border) but the total cost for all 3 of us to fly was less than the cost of one fare on a Canadian carrier. Long-term parking from Buffalo airport worked out to less than $10 a day. Some hotels nearby even offer free parking for up to 2 weeks (plus shuttle to and from the airport) if you stay with them the night before your flight. Just a quick peek at some fares on US carriers for the third week of January: Buffalo to Tampa return: $215 USD, Burlington, VT to Cancun: $404 USD, Bellingham, WA to San Diego: $178.50. All prices quoted are taxes-in!

If a US gateway is not a possibility for you, keep your eyes peeled for seat sales and charter sell-offs. Also note that a mid-week departure is often significantly less than Saturdays or Sundays.

Staying for less:

They say that that travel is one industry that has been completely revolutionized by the Internet, and the Internet is your friend when looking for deals on accommodation. If you

‘re looking for a small, family-friendly motel or b&b, chances are they have a website and chances are there are reviews to be found online as well. One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that the hotels that are part of a package also book separately and the rate is often reduced. This works out well for you if you’ve done your research and found a great flight online! The types of deals usually to be had are 7 nights for the price of 5 and amazing mid-week deals as well. As with any brochure, the web site of any hotel is meant to sell the property and may very well glamorize the rooms and amenities. This is where online reviews come in. Once you’ve sorted out your flight and hotel, you can then prepare to save money elsewhere.

Eating for less:

In a word: self-cater (ok, technically that’s two!) This was never an appealing option for me as I thought cooking on holiday was not my idea of a good time. However, the more we’ve done it, the more I prefer it. Not only do we eat healthier and save lots of money, I’ve also come home at least the same weight as I left (I’ll admit to a bit of a self-control issue when it comes to buffets).

In order to make your self-catering experience as stress-free as possible, locate the nearest grocery store online before you go and have a few snacks and essentials on-hand so you’re not scrambling as soon as you check in. We also keep our breakfasts and lunches very simple, and go out for nice dinners. A loaf of bread, a few spreads, a box of cereal, milk, juice, cold cuts, fruit and pre-sliced veggies (and often prepared salads) have kept us full and satisfied with a minimum amount of fuss or dishes. We’ll indulge in a couple of great brunches to fulfill the requisite vacation bacon & eggs, but otherwise our mornings are less rushed and if our early riser decides to rise extra-early, we’re not constantly checking the clock to check out when the restaurant opens!

Beer and wine are usually available at grocery stores in most other countries, and usually at incredibly low prices. If you’re not renting a car, have one stay back with the kids while the other shops and grabs a cab back to your hotel.

The bottom line:

Travel is a luxury, and tough times often means giving up luxuries. But for me, travel has become a necessity, so I have to find ways to make our money go further. While this has sometimes meant staying in minimalist accommodation and/or curtailing fancy activities, my daughter only knows she’s on a fun adventure with mommy and daddy and their full attention. She was just as happy on the beach with a bucket & shovel as she was at Disney World, and so were we!

Corinne McDermott is the founder of Have Baby Will Travel - your online guide to traveling with babies and toddlers. For more information please visit www.havebabywilltravel.com or send a message toinfo@havebabywilltravel.com

Who is Photography by SSV?

Think of Photography by SSV as a photographic boutique experience!  You will receive one on one service where we will create anything you have in mind with all attention paid to detail.  With every family (client) I work with I strive to create a portrait that is as unique as you and your family are and I want you to cherish the portraits you choose for a life time, not simply a year.

What type of work do I offer?

I like to create out of the box portraits therefore I choose the type of light I use carefully with minimal props.  I like all attention to be on the subject in the photograph therefore I only use props that mean something to you.  Think of my work as a character study.  I never ask children to pose as that is when they clam up and nothing is achieved.  I look for those in between moments where the child may chew on their figure, pull at there hair, or laugh for real.  Those are the little nuances that best represent your child.  It’s amazing how fast they change! 

What type of products do you offer?

Photography by SSV offers a wide range of products to preserve your session forever.  Whether you are looking for simple prints, to a print that will last the test of time, we will meet any need.  That is why we offer standard prints along with Giclee prints.  Giclee print colours are more true, more vibrant and are guaranteed to last at least 100 years before fading or discolouring.  Giclee prints are available on a number of different art papers and canvas if you so choose. Other products are Fine Art Coffee Table Books.  Preserve your session forever in a stunning fine art table book that will wow any guest that flips through and will be something you enjoy forever. 

Finally we offer framing services, when you invest in a fine art print it is so important to preserve it so the print will last the test of time.  All framing products are acid free archival quality materials so your print will stay as true as the first day you bought it!

You’re Fee?

It’s true I am not as cheap as a big box store but when considering price you must compare apples to apples and not apples to oranges.  My pricing reflect a higher level of service one where your session time will last 1 – 2 hours and follow with hours of print processing to ensure you nothing but top quality.  Think of me as your personal connoisseur to this industry.  Years of studying and learning have brought me to expect nothing but the best so that is why I only use the best equipment and the best supplies this industry has to offer.  I guarantee ALL of my work and that means if you are not happy we will try again until we achieve what you are looking for.  Now when was the last time you received a guarantee like that at your local big box chain?

So stop by and take a look at what I have to offer at www.photographybyssv.com or call 905-898-0146!