I grew up in Germany. Some of the best parts of my childhood involved sitting at the dining room table, colouring or drawing with my mom. “Mom, can you draw me a Horse?…Can you draw me a Mermaid? Can you draw me a Lion?” My Mom drew and made lots of things with me. She always encouraged me to be creative and use my imagination. This is really what started it all. I was allowed to paint with different kinds of paints, markers and pencils, and always praised for my drawings. My mom also never tired of reading me books with beautiful pictures that I would study intently. Even after I could read myself, she continued to read to me, which I loved. I would listen and imagine. She would read and act out the various characters with her voice.

A Life of Imagination and Art

In the winter we’d make potato stamps and drip wax on a piece of paper, then colour over it with water colour. In the fall we’d collect leaves and chestnuts from the park and make little figurines out of them with toothpicks. In the spring and summer my mom would set me up outside on the porch with some water colours and paper. No matter what time of the year, my mother and I had fun creating and looking at different little works of art. Art wasn’t something that was only done on a certain day; it was just part of life.

Many years later my location had changed several times, but some things hadn’t. I sat at a table in Vancouver making drawings while getting my BFA in Visual Arts. After graduating I wrote and illustrated two picture books of my own.

Inspiring Others

In 2010 I started I Heart Picture Books, a blog on children’s picture book illustration. I was soon teaching the subject at my former place of study, The Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design. When I started teaching, students would come up to me after class and tell me how much fun they’d had, and I realized how much fun I had inspiring others to be creative and use their imaginations.

I had found my calling, so I sat down and wrote a business plan. I wanted to create a line of prints, cards and activities to be enjoyed by kids and parents together. What better way to complete the circle? That’s how Draw me a Lion was born. It was created out of my never ending passion for drawing, colouring, and creating things, and my wish to inspire kids and adults to create images and stories on their own. It also came out of my strong conviction of the importance and benefits of creativity in any ones life.

We Need Your Imagination

I believe that by being surrounded by art, making things and working together to create things, the imagination grows strong. This helps us to think creatively not just when it comes to our artistic endeavours, but life in general. A strong imagination helps us think outside the box. It lets us create new images, new stories and of course most importantly, new ideas! And ideas, as we all know, are priceless. My motto: We need your imagination! Who is we?; Only the world!

How do you nurture creativity and build a strong imagination in your own children? Leave us a reply and share your tips.

Lisa Cinar is the local author and illustrator of the picture books The Day it all Blew Away and Paulina P. for Petersen. She is also teaching three classes on the subject of children’s book writing and illustration at The Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design. Recently she launched an online-shop called Draw me a Lion. It carries limited edition prints, colouring posters, postcards, cards, and a very cool ‘Story Activity Kit’. Everything in the line is lovingly designed and assembled by Lisa herself and printed in the Vancouver area.

New Space at Science World

Extreme Dinosaurs is the first exhibit to be displayed in Science World’s new, larger traveling exhibition space. Science World is undergoing renovations, and this is the first gallery to be completed. The new 10,000 square foot exhibit area is 66% larger, allowing for really stunning displays. The huge, gnashing and roaring T-Rex that is the highlight of Extreme Dinosaurs is just one example. There are also two full-size articulated skeletons, an interactive dinosaur footprint display, several fossils and 18 other animatronic dinosaurs.

A Treat for Dinosaur Lovers

The dinosaurs and displays featured in Extreme Dinosaurs are impressive not only because they practically live and breathe right in front of you, but also because there are some unique dinosaurs that aren’t part of the usual lineup. Triceratops is a pretty familiar dinosaur, but I’d never seen a kosmoceratops, which has a similar shape but a much more ornate skull. There’s also a great hands-on display where kids can unearth and identify some dinosaur tracks, which was a huge hit with both the toddler and school-age crowd.

Dinosaurs Come to Life

The colourful, moving dinosaurs are very convincing. Younger, more sensitive kids may find the exhibit a little too intense for a long visit. When I visited with my two daughters, they were spellbound by the moving dinosaurs. They loved the displays that allowed kids to push buttons that made different parts of the dinosaurs move, breathe or wiggle. However, other kids wanted to go in and out of the exhibit a couple of times, one didn’t want to stay at all, and one child cried out, “Don’t let it bite me, Mama!” If you have young kids they might really love it, or they might not want to be in the same room as the T-Rex at all, so be prepared to check out other spaces and be flexible with your visit.

Science World is still undergoing renovations, so many of the usual galleries are either smaller or closed entirely, but there are still lots of fun things to do and see there. Judging by the new exhibit space and the wow factor of Extreme Dinosaurs, Science World will be better than ever when it’s back in full swing.

Science World

www.scienceworld.ca | Twitter | Facebook
1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver

September is all about back-to-school. It’s time to get back into routines, make lunches and go to bed early. Since there’s so much to do and kids are still in summer mode, it’s hard to make sure your family is focusing on learning.

Learning together as a family is vital to a child’s future education. Doing family literacy activities not only helps develop children’s reading, writing and math skills, it also provides an opportunity for parents to learn something new, too! Children raised in literate households are likely to enter grade one with several thousand hours of one-to-one pre-reading experience behind them.

Learning happens in many ways, especially in our day-to-day activities. In honour of September’s Life Literacy Month, ABC Life Literacy Canada offers 10 fun and easy ways to make literacy part of your family’s daily life.

10 Tips for Family Literacy

1. When making your grocery list, have your child write out the items you need to buy.
2. At the store, ask your child to count out the money to make the purchase.
3. Make it a habit to always read a story together at bedtime.
4. When cooking dinner, involve your children in measuring the ingredients. This helps them understand fractions and measurements.
5. Driving is the perfect opportunity to practice literacy. Read signs, billboards and licence plates together, and show your children the proper way to read a map.
6. While on the Internet, make time to research something new that your family is interested in. Researching skills are important and help with reading and comprehension.
7. Sing along to songs on the radio. Singing encourages learning patterns of words, rhymes and rhythms, and is strongly connected to language skills.
8. When playing a board game, read the instructions aloud to each other or count how many spaces to travel around the board.
9. Involve your kids when you pay bills. This will teach them strong financial
   skills early on in life.
10. Children follow by example, so ensure reading is part of your daily life too!

For other family literacy tips and activities, visit FamilyLiteracyDay.ca.

ABC Life Literacy Canada

abclifeliteracy.ca | Twitter | Facebook

How do you encourage literacy in your children? We’d love to hear your tips, too!

September is looming and there’s so much to do before that big day! Many parents feel anxious about whether their child knows enough to thrive in Kindergarten. If you’ve found yourself wondering whether flashcard drills should be part of your summer holidays this year read on as we de-bunk some myths around kindergarten readiness, and talk about some play based methods to encourage important emerging skills.

The Big Kindergarten Readiness Myth

The biggest myth around starting kindergarten is that children need to enter reading or at the very least able to read and write all the letters of the alphabet. While some children pick up reading early in life others need more time. Studies show that children who are pushed to start reading at an early age are less likely to read for pleasure when they are older than children who waited before learning to read. Teachers expect to teach the alphabet to children in kindergarten and grade one. Most agree that it’s nice if children know a handful of letters like the ones in their own name, but other than that the best way that a parent can work on early literacy skills at home is to read every day with their child. A mixture of fiction and non-fiction books is best because different vocabulary is used and vocabulary building is a big part of literacy. When reading, ask questions like, “What do you think will happen next?” and, “What is happening in this picture?” to engage your child in the story.

The Unspoken Kindergarten Readiness Myth

Rarely is toilet training spoken about at this age, but each year most kindergarten teachers struggle with children who are not able to independently use the bathroom yet. It’s a challenge to supervise a class full of children and help a child through toileting. To help your child develop independent bathroom skills this summer, try to make the process fun. You can sing a song in the living room and your child can sing the same song while going to the bathroom. When he/she comes back to the living room you can see if you are both at the same place in the song.

The Social Kindergarten Readiness Myth

Most parents worry at some time or another that their children will struggle to make friends in school. In most cases children make friends easily, often by the end of day one. It doesn’t hurt however to prepare your child by practicing some of the language that goes in to forming friendships. Role playing with teddies and dolls is a great way to talk it through together. For more practice try Friendship Island from Discovery Toys which is a wonderful discussion tool helping children with the language to build friendships and to solve disputes.

Starting kindergarten is a big deal for children. Expect lots of conflicting feelings to come up for both of you before the big day arrives. Listen lots, cuddle often and enjoy the rest of the summer. School and the daily routine will be back soon and the chances are that everyone will adapt just fine.

Notch Hill Learning

www.notchhilllearning.com | Twitter | Facebook

If your baby was born in BC in the past few years, you probably received a DVD with information about the Period of PURPLE Crying. Its message is simple – sometimes babies cry a lot, even when they’re totally healthy. And sometimes nothing that we try to soothe them helps. But no matter how you respond, you must never shake a baby.

Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome

If your baby is crying and nothing helps, it’s normal to feel frustrated. In fact, it’s normal to feel extremely frustrated. If you find yourself in this situation, Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC wants you to know that it’s okay put your baby down in a safe place and take a break. Once you’re calm yourself, you’ll be in a better position to help calm your baby. Nobody likes to hear their baby cry, but by giving yourself a time out you’re ensuring you don’t react impulsively, and helping to prevent shaken baby syndrome.

Knit and Crochet for Babies

In order to help spread the message the people behind Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrom BC have launched the Click for Babies campaign. They’re inviting people to “click” their knitting needles together to make purple baby caps. Knitters and crocheters across North America knit the caps and the campaign organizers distribute them to babies born during the month of November. Last year was the first year, and the response was overwhelming. I knit three caps myself, and I plan to do so again.

Drop Off Your Caps

If you’d like to participate, you need to finish your caps by October 26, 2011. Then send them to:

Claire Yambao, Provincial Program Coordinator
Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC
BC Children’s Hospital
4480 Oak Street, Room K1-201
Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4

Or, if you prefer, there are also two drop-off locations in Vancouver:

Gina Brown’s Yarn
3424 West Broadway
604-734-4840

Three Bags Full
4458 Main Street
604-874-9665

By helping to spread the message, you can ensure that every baby in BC has the chance to grow into a happy, healthy child.

Click for Babies

clickforbabies.org | Twitter | Facebook

Celebrate Summer in Vancouver

1. Spend a day at the beach. Pack everything up and get out to the sand first thing in the morning, and stay as long as you possibly can. Build sand castles. Eat concession hot dogs for lunch. Drip melting ice cream down your arms and wash it off in the ocean. Don’t forget the sunscreen, of course, but soak up as much of the last days of summer sun as you possibly can.

2. Throw a block party. For those who want to plan ahead for next summer, each spring the Vancouver Foundation takes applications for neighbourhood small grants. These grants can be used to cover up to $500 of the costs involved in throwing a block party, such as providing food, music and decorations. Even if you haven’t got a neighbourhood small grant to cover the cost of this year’s party, it’s totally possible to rally your neighbours and potluck an end-of-summer party together.

3. Go camping one more time. What better antidote to the approaching dark and days spent indoors than to go out and spend a night in the forest? Sure, it’s lots of work to get the camping gear together, but waking up to the dawn light filtering through the trees is a sweet way to say farewell to the summer.

4. Take a day trip. Vancouverites are spoiled for choice when it comes to short, easily accessible outdoor day trips. Whether you spend an afternoon hiking and picking wild blueberries on Mount Seymour or cycling along the trail at Colony Farms, there are lots of places to get outside and get active together. Check out Jack Christie’s book, 52 Best Day Trips From Vancouver for more ideas.

5. Create a local feast. There is no better time to eat local than late August and early September. Tomatoes are ripe and abundant, potatoes are ready to be dug and everything is fresh and at the peak of flavour. Start the day with a trip to the farmers’ market to pick up your locally grown supplies, then head home to prepare your meal.

6. Eat popsicles while sitting on your sidewalk. It’s simple, but essentially summer. Kick back in a lawn chair with your popsicle while the kids ride bikes, run around or draw with sidewalk chalk in your driveway. Say hi to your neighbours. Enjoy an unscheduled afternoon with no need to rush anywhere or do anything. Ahhhh.

7. Play at a spray park or outdoor pool. Get in your last day at the spray parks before they shut the water off after the Labour Day long weekend. Check out the new spray park and outdoor pool at the Hillcrest Aquatic Centre, or hit an old Vancouver favourite like the Granville Island spray park, the outdoor pool at Kits Beach or the splash pad at Confederation Park in Burnaby.

8. Gather far-flung friends and family. Summer is the perfect time for reunions and re-connecting with folks you don’t get to see all the time – even if they don’t really live all that far away. Having a big gathering is a great way to honour all the kids who are moving up to the next grade and re-connect with the people who really matter to you.

9. Go berry picking. Blueberry and blackberry season extends into late August in the Vancouver area, so grab your sun hat and head out into the fields for one last chance to take home the summer’s harvest. Freezing berries for the winter is easy – just wash them, shake off the water and spread them out on a cookie sheet. When they’re frozen, pick them off, put them in a freezer bag and pop them back in the freezer.

10. Create your own family summer tradition. Maybe you like to go boating, or drive to a cabin for the weekend? Maybe you love going on the ferry to Bowen Island, climbing The Chief in Squamish or riding the roller coaster at the PNE? Whatever it is you love to do in the summer, make sure to include it in your family’s end of summer celebration.

It’s so easy to get caught up in looking forwards and preparing for the things that are yet to come, especially during the back-to-school rush of shopping, planning and making arrangements for classes and after-school care. Those things need to be done, but taking a day or two to really just enjoy these last days of summer fills up the soul and gives kids and adults one more chance to soak up the summer in Vancouver.

What’s your favourite way to celebrate summer in Vancouver?

Guest post by Dave Doble.

For many students, the start of summer vacation brings a whoop of excitement and sigh of relief – a break from homework, reading and study. But for parents, that two-month learning time-out causes mixed feelings. While they love seeing their kids enjoy themselves, they fear some of the previous year’s learning may be forgotten come September.

The concerns are legitimate. The University of California undertook a study on what it calls “summer reading loss” in 2006 and suggested that a voluntary summer reading program while kids are out of school holds benefits for students in mitigating this loss.

Summer Reading Program

I’m the President and co-founder of Classroom Ready Inc., a current-event education publisher in Surrey. We agree that summer reading loss can be a problem, so we are providing an online home-reading comprehension program free to parents this summer, called Classroom Ready Interactive. The summer reading program offers students two current-events based articles to read per week over two months, along with a quiz to test their understanding of the articles and an interactive game. Recent topics include the federal election and the Royal Wedding.

I’m also the father of two elementary school children, so I understands parents’ concerns. As a former teacher in Surrey, I saw first-hand the summer reading regression each September. I could easily spot those who had read in the summer and those who hadn’t, which is why my team developed Classroom Ready Interactive. Kids are so computer-literate these days, so we thought a computer-based tool would be appealing and effective.

Surrey mom Tia McNeil agrees. She says the program is doing wonders for her son Liam, aged eight. “He struggled with reading through the year so I wanted him to continue reading during the summer. This program is great because it’s computer-based so it doesn’t feel like homework to him.” She also likes the fact that the feedback is instant. “It’s all very quick, and he retains the facts.”

The program lets users hear the text being read to them if they wish. And the game at the end is an incentive for completing the summer reading program.

Classroom Ready Interactive is tailored for students between from grades four to six, and ESL students in any grade. It’s firewall protected, and all information supplied about the student is confidential.

Editor’s Note: Another great way to keep your kids reading during the summer break is to visit your public library. Libraries offer summer reading clubs, as well as free activities, author visits and storytimes for children of all ages. Your children’s librarian will be only too happy to help your kids track down books that engage them and keep them reading.

Classroom Ready Inc.

www.classroomready.com | Twitter

Guest post by Jaeny Baik.

Nobody is perfect, but we all feel pressure to pretend to be perfect. And this works against us when we are promoting ourselves and our businesses.

Striving for perfection paralyzes us, because perfection is exhausting and unattainable. It stops us from trying new things and stepping outside of our comfort zone, which is mandatory if you want to be successful in business. The only way to really learn a new skill, like how to video blog, is to be willing to stretch yourself.

If you expect your first video blog to be perfect, you’ll probably never do it. You may be thinking: I’m not articulate enough, or I’m not outgoing enough, or I’m not good looking enough to be on camera. But the good news is you don’t need to be any of those things – you just need to be yourself.

Once you’re able to get over your insecurities, and step up so all of your marketing materials reflect your personality instead of some corporate cliché, you will attract your ideal clients. They will be the kind of people you want to work with because you are communicating your opinions and ideas from a place of truth and authenticity. That’s when the magic happens, and that’s also when the money happens.

Even so, you may still be saying, “But I have no idea how to video blog.” So why not tap into my 10 years experience as a CBC reporter? Let’s connect and show the world the real you! I know you’re better than some unattainable standard of perfection could ever be.

Jaeny Baik helps businesses create online video strategies. She also coaches on-camera performance because it’s a skill you can learn. Contact her at www.JaenyBaik.com.

[powerpress]

Music credit: Fond Farewell © SOCAN, Pilkington ’09.
Run time: 14:10

Here are some of the things we covered in our podcast:

Some common myths about cloth diapering:

• Cloth diapers are too much work.
• Cloth diapers are messy.
• My baby won’t be comfortable in cloth diapers.

Some realities about cloth diapering:

• Technology has changed. Fabrics and patterns are new and designed with functionality in mind and has changed the way parents use cloth diapers.
• Unlike the diapers from the 70s, today’s diapers are made of hemp or organic cotton, and have a water-repellent outer layer that’s breathable.
• Washing machine technology has changed.
• No longer “poop soup”. You now use just a common pail, which isn’t that different from tossing a diaper into a normal garbage can.

Options for cloth diapers

• One step diapers – one step to put on and off. Functionally the most easiest to use. Parent’s favourite for older babies. Includes pocket diapers and all-in-one diaper. Great for caregivers who aren’t used to cloth diapering.
• Two step diapers – Absorbent and waterproof part. Can customize the inside and outside. Can get a really great fit on tiny babies.

When you’re shopping for cloth diapers, here are some keywords to look for:

• Pocket diaper
• All-in-one
• Fitted diapers (absorbent part)
• Prefold or flat diapers (flat, traditional diapers)
• Diaper covers

Karen’s essentials when you’re starting with cloth diapers:

• Diapers
• At home storage bag. (Bummis wet bag). Can be used as a pail liner or a stand-alone bag.
• Detergent (e.g. Rockin’ Green)
• Cloth wipes
• Wet bag for when you’re on the go.

Final thoughts:

• Go check out the resource section on NewandGreen.com
• Sign up for one of New and Green’s workshops.
• Easiest to use diaper is Easy Fit Diaper

Once I overcame my aversion to musty-smelling clothing and organized chaos, I discovered thrift stores are a treasure trove of fabulous finds. As I’ve gained experience, I’ve realized there is a method to digging through other people’s cast-offs. Here are some of the valuable lessons I’ve learned on how to find the best bang for your buck while thrifting.

1. There are two types of thrift stores. The first kind are places such as Value Village and Salvation Army. Their goods come from direct donations and are usually a steal of a deal. Case in point: I picked up this amazing vintage Iceberg jacket for $8.00.

For my husband, I scored a pair of $30.00 Prada shoes from Salvation Army. The other kind of thrift stores are usually called consignment  stores or described as new and used. While you probably won’t have to examine the clothing for cigarette burns, you will pay a higher price for the product. The owners of these shops are often just expert thrifters who have hit up Salvation Army a day before the rest of us.

2. Shop thrift stores in the morning when new items are freshly-displayed and before the racks have been scoured of the best finds.

3. Don’t bother with basics. I find that items such as t-shirts are a little too well-loved for my taste. I’d rather buy a cheap T-shirt new (I also prefer new underwear…). My favourite finds are usually in the outerwear department: jackets, shoes, or a cute dress.

4. When looking for quality products check to see where the clothing is manufactured. I always look for Made in Italy labels. I then check for fit and any damage. If there’s a little stain on a quality garment, I have no problem running it to the dry cleaners. It’s still cheaper than buying something brand new!

5. If there is something about a second-hand garment that catches my eye but the fit or style isn’t quite right, I don’t hesitate to take a pair of scissors and a sewing machine to it.  The garment may not turn out, but at least I had fun while doing it and it only cost a few dollars.

6. Although cheap is a fairly subjective word, I rarely spend over $10.00 on thrift store clothing (the Prada shoes were an exception).

7. There are great deals to be found for kids clothing in thrift stores, but I find that to be true of new kids clothing too. From my experience, the real savings come from buying second-hand toys. The grandmas in my family have collected top-rate toys in excellent condition for a fraction of the original price.

8. My family breaks a lot of dishes, so it comes in handy that thrift stores have fun and funky dinnerware for cheap.

9. Find out if the thrift stores near you have discount days. For example, Value Village has 50% off days.

10. If at first you don’t succeed, try again. It takes practice to develop a keen eye for thrift-shopping. Think of it as a treasure hunt as opposed to an errand and have fun while doing it. I think it’s a great activity for a girl’s night. Hit up a thrift store  for some new (to you), inexpensive clothing and then go out on the town!

Happy Shopping!

Michelle Gadd is a wife, mom and the creator of Elasticpantcity.com, a blog dedicated to examining how motherhood has shaped, stretched and influenced Michelle’s LIFEstyle.