winter2010

Winter 2010

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Gift Guide!!

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Fighting Childhood

Fears

Q & A with Local Experts!

Why Winter =Cold & Flu Season

Naughty or Nice, They’re Still our Kids!

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Buddies is a designer boutique for children from birth to age 10. Our store is filled with clothing, shoes and special gifts that are as unique as the child in your life.

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Editorial Photography: Aviva Photo Studios, Sharla Pike Photography

Contributors: Michelle Collie, Kim Corrigan-Oliver, Michale Hartte, Jeff Hay, Jodi Quibell, Heidi Smith Luedtke, Wayne Terai

Editor & PublisherColleen 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.

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

contentsarticlesEver Wonder Why Winter is Cold & Flu Season?Stocking Your KitchenHow to Slay Scary Monsters The Gift of GratefulnessFrom Dad to Dad: “The Greatest”

columnsEditor’s NoteStuff We Love: GIFT GUIDE EDITIONFeatured Parent: Janelle Wood Ask the ExpertRecipes You’ll LoveMichelle Collie: Naughty or NiceResource DirectorySnap Happy

WINTER 2010 volume 2, issue 4

Winter 2010

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Gift Guide!!

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Fighting Childhood

Fears

Q & A with Local Experts!

Why Winter =Cold & Flu Season

Naughty or Nice, They’re Still our Kids!

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

810141622

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Next issue: Spring 2011...

Watch for it this February!

Winter 2010 l 4 www.okanaganchild.com

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be a time of year when people make a concerted effort to be merry.

We have a ton of great editorial to help you cozy up for winter and stay healthy! First, we’ve added a brand new ‘Ask The Experts’ col-umn. We have a panel of local experts who are here to answer your questions, so don’t hesitate to write us at [email protected] to share a question! We’ve also added another new column entitled ‘Receipes You’ll Love.’ We’re delighted to have Michale Hartte on board with us. As a local nutritionist and author of a new book, she’ll share great recipes with us on a regular basis. Don’t forget to check out our expanded ‘Stuff We Love’ section for gift ideas plus all kinds of other great editorial.

www.facebook.com/OkanaganChildwww.twitter.com/OkanaganChild

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for the New Year!

Arecent news headline caught my attention: It’s a La Nina year. Now I’m no meterologist, but typically that means a good winter is coming our way. Of course, by “good” I am

referencing cooler temperatures and hopefully a whole lot of snow. After last year’s El Nino influenced mild winter season, I have to say I am stoked and ready for some full on winter fun! Besides, isn’t it always more fun when Santa’s sleigh can land on a snow-covered roof?

When I grew up, I loved the magic of Santa Claus. How neat it was to truly believe that a jolly old man would stuff himself down mil-lions of chimneys all for the joy of little girls and boys. Not to men-tion the thoughtfulness of all those elves who worked so hard to make all the toys. Now as a parent, I’ve had a number of discussions with other parents about Santa. There are those who play up the magic for their kids just the way my parents did. There are those who don’t participate stemming from cultural or religious beliefs. And there are those who don’t really say much at all about Santa be-cause they don’t believe in “lying” to their children. No matter who we are though, what our beliefs may be, I think we all benefit from the general spirit of the holiday season. There tends to be a hustle and bustle in the streets, people scurrying about. There are lots of warm smiles, much celebrating and a whole lot of eggnog (does anyone drink eggnog outside of December?) It’s good for there to

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As we head into winter, the days get shorter, we layer up with more clothing, and we tend to spend more time indoors. Unfortunately, this can limit our body’s ability to produce

the “sunshine vitamin,” Vitamin D, which we require to maintain a healthy immune system and proper bone health. Vitamin D de-ficiency can lead to rickets and osteoporosis, whereas maintaining an adequate level of Vitamin D can help us avoid cancer, obesity, cardiovascular disease, poor immune function, multiple sclerosis, and even cognitive problems such as dementia.

During the sunny summer months, just 10 minutes of exposure to UV-B radiation via sunshine every other day can be enough for most people to produce about 90% of our body’s required amount. But here in the Okanagan area, during the winter months, most of us simply do not get enough sun exposure for our body to produce even a fraction of what it needs. Keeping sufficient levels of Vita-min D during the winter, then, can certainly be a challenge.


When we can’t get the Vitamin D we need from exposure to sun-light, we should check to see if we’re getting enough Vitamin D through our diet. The main dietary sources are fatty fish (cod, her-ring, salmon, sardines, halibut, trout), eggs, liver, and fortified foods (milk, cereals, orange juice).

Vitamin D deficiency is becoming rampant. Half of British adults, 59 percent of Americans and over 70 percent of Canadians lack ad-equate levels of this critical nutrient (BMJ 2010;340:b5664; J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2010; 95:1076-83, Public Health 2010; Epub). Most health experts have historically recommended daily Vitamin D dosages of 200 IU for people up to 50 years old, 400 IU for those 50 to 70 years old, and 600 IU for those older than 70 years. More recent research indicates that these levels may be sufficient to pro-mote decent bone health, but 1000 IU will likely improve overall health (Arch Intern Med 2009; 169:626-32).

Ever Wonder Why Winter is Considered Cold & Flu Season?

health

by Wayne Terai, DC


Depending on your diet and sun exposure, nutritional supplemen-tation may be the only way for you and your family to ensure that you get enough of this essential nutrient. The optimal way to en-sure good health is to take Vitamin D3 in liquid form. It is the most biologically active, more readily absorbed, and should be free of heavy metal pollutants. One drop in a glass of water or juice each day may keep you and your loved ones feeling well this win-ter… maintaining bone health and boosting your immune system to help you avoid those winter colds and flus!

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A well-stocked kitchen makes meal planning goals much eas-ier to meet. Rushing home to make dinner only to discover you are missing an ingredient will create a little roadblock

in your plans.

Here are some suggestions of what to keep stocked in your kitchen to create quick, healthy and delicious meals.

Pantry• Baking powder – non-aluminum• Baking soda• Beans (dry and some canned in BPA free cans for quick meals

– black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, white beans, lentils, split peas)

• Breadcrumbs – brown rice• Broth – low sodium vegetable• Cereal – low sugar, such as Barbara’s Bakery Hole ‘n Oats• Oil – extra virgin olive oil, coconut• Crackers – Rice and Mary’s• Rice cakes• Dried fruits – apricots, raisins, cranberries, dates, goji berries• Flour- coconut, quinoa, brown rice, oat, etc• Jams- organic and sugar free• Pasta – brown rice and quinoa• Canned tomatoes – low sodium• Tomato sauce - in glass jars• Grains – quinoa, oatmeal, millet, oats, rice• Vinegars – apple cider, red wine, rice, balsamic• Tea – Yogi decaf green tea, nettle, red raspberry, horsetail, al-

falfa, lemon balm• Vanilla extract• Herbs and spices – ginger, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, curry,

oregano, basil, sage, rosemary, ginger.

• Honey• Maple syrup• Sugar – coconut, sucanut and cane sugar

Freezer• Berries – blueberries, raspberries, strawberries• Vegetables – usually peas and corn• Gluten free bread• Brown rice wraps• Extra nuts and seeds

Refrigerator• Fresh fruit and vegetables• Butter - organic• Mustard• Eggs - organic from local farmer• Salsa• Nuts – almonds, pecans, walnuts, pine nuts, cashews• Nut and seed butters• Seeds – sesame, pumpkin, sunflower, chia, flax and hemp• Blackstrap molasses• Milk – almond, brown rice and coconut• Nutritional yeast

There will be things you want to add to your list based on your own family’s likes and dislikes. Work on creating your own list of kitch-en staples, then get your kitchen stocked up and ready to tackle the meal planning preparations you have already done.

Your Green Baby guides your preconception, pregnancy and postnatal nutritional care and that of your baby and toddler. We’re passionate about living a healthy natural lifestyle for both mom and baby. Visit our blog today: http://yourgreen-baby.blogspot.com


Stocking Your Kitchenby Kim Corrigan-Oliver


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These magnetic word tiles can be arranged and rear-ranged on the fridge (or any magnetic surface) for wordplay fun and learn-ing. What a clever way to combine education and fun!

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“Mom. Come here, now,” my three-year old whispers ur-gently as he pulls me toward the yard. “Red eyes,” he says, shivering with fear. “Red eyes.”

My son believes we have a monster downstairs, but only at night when we are upstairs. Other monsters live in bushes at the back of our yard, where they feast on stray baseballs and Frisbees. That is why he is worried now. I am called in to retrieve the ball he has lost. I grab the ball and run back to him as if I’ve narrowly escaped. “Monsters are just pretend,” I say.

A Big, Scary World

As their understanding of the world increases, so do kids’ fears. In-fants may be fearful of separation or loud noises, and those fears stick with kids into the toddler years. But as their experiences and imaginations grow, toddlers may also develop fears of animals and insects (dogs, snakes, spiders), characters in costumes (beware Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny), and things that lurk in the dark (ghosts and monsters, bad guys and robbers). They may also fear they’ll be sucked down the toilet or the bathtub drain, despite your constant reassurance that they won’t. School-aged kids may get over their fear of the boogeyman but grow anxious about social


disapproval and failure.

“Anxious thinking – for all of us – is notoriously distorted, exagger-ated, and unreliable,” notes Dr. Tamar Chansky, psychologist and author of Freeing Your Child from Anxiety: Powerful, Practical So-lutions to Overcome Your Child’s Fears, Worries, and Phobias. But don’t dismiss your child’s fears as childish or irrational. Confront-ing even the silliest scary scenarios helps kids learn to deal with real-life woes and worries. When your daughter shrieks and clings to your leg because the neighbor’s border collie bounces her way, embrace the teachable moment. Parents can help kids confront fears so they don’t grow bigger and scarier.

Fight Fears Together

Respect feelings. Fear feels uncomfortable. Your child’s heart is rac-ing, her palms are sweaty, and she wants to escape to safety. Be her ally and accept her anxiety. If she isn’t ready pet the snake at the zoo or sleep without a night light, don’t push it.

Word up. Kids can’t always express what scares them, especially when the body’s fear response is energizing them to fight or flee. Help your child identify specific concerns using age-appropriate words. Ask “what is it about the dog that worries you?” or “what might happen when the lights are off?” You can’t devise monster-slaying strategies if you don’t know the enemy.

Do reconnaissance. Fear festers when our imaginations get the best of us. The more your child learns about the feared situation, the less powerful his imaginary thoughts will be. Hold hands while you both check the basement for monsters. Go online and read about snakes together. Pretend you are engineers studying how self-flushing toilets work. Knowledge is power.

Talk back. Encourage your child to argue against the frightening thoughts or to repeat a calming phrase such as “I am fast and strong. Ghosts can’t catch me!” Talking back shrinks scary thoughts. Dr.

by Heidi Smith Luedtke

How to Slay Scary Monsters

(and Other Childhood Fears)

compulsive disorder. Talk with your pediatrician or school psy-chologist if your child’s fears are overwhelming you both.

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.


Susan Mather recalls that her son was sure there were monsters un-der the bed and in the closet. “We put a sign on the door that read ‘Monsters KEEP OUT’ and they obeyed!” she says.

Baby steps. “The best way to face a fear is a little at a time, from a safe distance,” says marriage, family and child therapist H. Norman Wright, author of Helping Your Kids Deal with Anger, Fear, and Sadness. Face a fear of heights by imagining the scary situation first. Then, move on to climbing a low structure, followed by a taller one, and so on. Give high-fives as kids conquer each challenge.

Be there. Kids need to know you’ll stick with them when they face their fears. Don’t let your own distress or embarrassment cause you to shut down or disappear. “Research indicates it takes about 20 minutes for the anxiety to subside when a fear is confronted,” Wright says. Work toward this goal with your child.

Be Afraid, But Not Too Afraid

Fear is essential for survival – it helps us to escape dangerous situ-ations. But if your child’s fears keep her from engaging in everyday activities, it may be time to seek professional help. Some kids’ fear systems are much more sensitive than others. Anxious kids may be trapped in a whirlwind of fearful thoughts, and paralyzed by nag-ging “what ifs.” According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, thirteen percent of children are affected by anxi-ety disorders, which include phobias, panic disorder, and obsessive-

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It is no accident that most children’s books and movies have villains. Vicarious scares allow kids to practice coping from a safe emotional distance. These books confront kids’ fears head-on without keeping them up at night with please-check-what’s-in-my-closet concerns.

Story and Picture BooksJunie B. Jones Has a Monster Under Her Bed (1997) by Barbara Park. Junie scares away an invisible under-bed monster using an ugly school picture of herself as a weapon.

A Not Scary Story About Big Scary Things (2010) by C.K. Williams. A growling monster begs a brave boy to believe in him in this silly story.

On A Scary Scary Night (Can You See What I See?; 2008) by Walter Wick. Search for objects in spooky scenes with your child to encourage conversation about scary subjects.

Wemberly Worried (2000), by Kevin Henkes. Anxious kids will recognize themselves in Wemberly, a shy white mouse with lots of worries.

What Was I Scared Of? A Glow-in-the Dark Encounter (2009) by Dr. Seuss. The narrator of this delightful classic is terrorized by an empty pair of pants that is equally scared of the narrator.

Self-helpFor ages 6-12: What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety (2005) by Dawn Huebner. This book educates and inspires kids to confront their anxieties with proven cognitive-behavioral techniques.

For ages 9-13: What to Do When You’re Scared and Worried: A Guide for Kids (2004) by James J. Crist. Kids learn practical Fear Chasing and Worry Erasing strategies and find out when to seek expert help for more serious anxiety disorders.

S T O R Y U P !

How to Slay Scary Monsters

(and Other Childhood Fears)

When you were a child, there was typically an adult remind-ing you to say “please” and “thank you” when you wanted something, or if you were given something. Children be-

gin to learn that in order to have their needs met, they must repeat these “magic words.”

A child can learn to be hopeful, not expectant, for things they want and grateful for things given to them. Learning through observa-tion for a child is very powerful. Children look to the people in their lives who have been on this Earth much longer than they have, searching for guidance, reassurance and security.

Younger children, birth to age six, are typically not in the devel-opmental stage to deeply understand gratitude. They are typically self-centered and are limited in their ability to appreciate some-one else’s point of view. An older child, however, can begin to feel empathy for others’ distress, and a corresponding gratefulness for their own well-being.

Whereas younger children simply mimic the adults in their lives, older children begin to scrutinize and question the behaviour of adults. They will begin to base their own life decisions on the deci-sions they see being made daily around them, from the adults in their lives that they trust and admire.

What if these children observed their parents and/or careproviders expressing gratefulness for everything in their lives, be it food, shel-ter, water, clothing? Or much deeper, abstract things such as family, health and security? To take it a step further, if these children were to see that even challenges are something for which to be thankful, imagine how much more enriched their lives would be.

Within our daily lives, as parents, teachers, careproviders, we would be remiss not to consistently remember how strong our impact can

be on the children in our care. Each time you make a decision to display any type of behaviour, either positive or negative, there is typically a pair of young eyes and ears watching and listening close-ly, taking mental notes and filing them away to be retrieved when the time arises for that child.

Imagine if those young eyes and ears watched and heard you, as the adult role model, make a conscious decision to react to situations in your life based on a feeling of gratitude. As an example, what if you were to receive a notice that you have been laid off from your job. If you were to open that notice and read it in front of your 8 year old son, you could choose to get angry, curse and complain. These would all be understandable reactions, but you could also choose to identify a positive such as the opportunity to grow in your field of work, or to start a different career. Your responses model for your child how how to handle challenging situations.

If a child sees that his parent or careprovider is not in a state of anger, negativity and resentment when challenges arise in their life, but rather is able to see the challenge as having a positive side as well, that child then begins to understand that challenges do not need to push you down, but that they can build you up.

Each moment of our daily lives is filled with a multitude of things for which to be grateful. The air we breathe, the clean water we are able to drink, the sunshine on our faces - the list could go on and on. Remembering that each of these simple things are essential to our lives and our well-being will lead to an increased ability to be grateful for everything in your life, leading to a decreased sense of resentment, anger and frustration at those things in your life that you feel are unfair.

Reminding children that being hopeful for things - not simply ex-pecting things to be given to them - is one of the most important


photo credit: www.sharlapike.com

The Gift of Gratefulnessby Jodi Quibell

photo credit: www.sharlapike.com

gifts we can give. Children who are taught, both through instruction and observation, that working for and earning things in their lives has value in and of itself, are given the tools to become responsible, hard working and grateful members of society.

Imagine meeting a child who understood that when they are given a gift - either a toy, food, or even a hug from their grandmother - they should feel grateful for that gift and should show their appreciation to the person giving the gift. Imagine they understood that they did not necessarily have to be given that gift, but that another person decided to share it with them. That child would have the potential to grow up with a sense of thankfulness and hope, rather than anger, negativity and resentment. How much healthier for that adult, and consequently for society!

Jodi Quibell is an Early Childhood Educator and Discovery Toys Educational Con-sultant. Discovery Toys has provided children with exceptional products that are educational, developmental and fun for over 30 years!! www.discoverytoyslink.com/learningthruplay


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A bit about myself... I am a 26 year old first-time mom. My daughter Payton is 22 months old. I was born and raised in Penticton and Justin was as well so we have made the choice to raise our daughter here. Justin and I are both working parents and still trying to find the perfect bal-ance between work time and family time. I work at a Morning and After school program; my hours work wonderfully for me as I get to spend most of my day with Payton yet still be home for dinner every night.

What have I learned most about myself since becoming a mom? I have learned about patience. For example, when we started potty training Payton and we were packing for a holiday, she peed in a fully packed suitcase! What can you do but laugh at that point? And the obvious that goes unmentioned is the unconditional LOVE. Each day I look at Payton and I love her more and more.

What I wish I knew when my daughter was born... The terrible 2’s start a lot earlier than they say!

One piece of advice I found incredibly helpful...Stick to a routine. This approach has worked amazingly well for us. Payton has been sleeping through the night since 3 weeks old and now at 22 months she still has no problem going to bed.

What’s in my diaper bag? Way too much! This reflects a trait I have inherited from my mom: the tendency to over-pack! My diaper bag always contains extra clothes, diapers, wipes, food and little odds and ends. And impor-tantly, my daughter’s EpiPen for her nut allergy.

The hardest part about being a parent...I feel like it’s the discipline. I believe I give in a lot and tend to be a push over. I have realized that this is not good for Payton or myself so I am working very hard at sticking to what I say.

The best part about being a parent... Waking up and hearing Payton say “Mommy!” and watching her grow. Life is so happy for her. It melted my heart the first time she

Janelle Wood -on life with daughter Payton

photo credit: Adrian Kids Photography


photo credit: Adrian Kids Photography

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gave me a big hug. Now she is saying “I LOVE YOU” and it’s an incredible feeling. I can’t wait to experience more firsts.

The key supporters in my life...Justin is a great supporter in my life and a wonderful dad. We are both so lucky to have our families here and they do so much for both Payton and the two of us. My mom has been there for me in every way. She looks after Payton two times a week and also spends a great deal of her spare time with her. Justin’s family adores having Payton whenever they can and she has so much fun going there.

My favorite down time activity? Down time, what’s that?! We are just getting to this stage as Payton is starting to really enjoy coloring and reading books. If we get her on a good day we can get about 15 minutes of cuddles.

The product I recommend most to new moms?Payton was born in the Winter so I had a cozy car seat cover that kept her shielded from all the outdoor elements. Also the Arbonne baby skin care line that my sister gifted me kept Payton’s skin feel-ing baby soft. It also worked wonders for diaper rashes. When she started teething she had her Sophie giraffe. It was a life saver some days.

How we’ll celebrate the Holiday Season...Payton was born 6 days before Christmas. This time of year is very busy so last year we celebrated her birthday the week before her actual birthday before everyone was too busy with Christmas. For Christmas last year, we woke up Christmas morning at my par-ents’ house with my sister and husband and their four children. We then spent the day with Justin’s family. We spent some of the holiday season at the cabin with family doing some snowboarding and playing in the snow with Payton. We hope we can do the same this year!

Now that I am pregnant, are there certain kinds of exercise that I should avoid? What’s safe and what’s not?

Exercising during pregnancy is a fantastic way to prepare your body for an easier delivery and quicker recovery. The following are some considerations:

• Relaxin, a hormone which loosens up the joints to prepare the body for delivery, makes us prone to sprains and strains so avoid high impact exercises from mid 2nd trimester on.

• To ensure adequate blood flow to your baby, avoid exercises in a prone position (on your back) where the weight of the baby can put pressure on the Vena Cava.

• Try to limit vigorous exercise to minimize the chance of over-heating and dehydration causing stress to your baby.

Some safe exercises include pilates, yoga and strength training, which will strengthen your core and protect your back for easier delivery and recovery. For a great cardiovascular workout try, walking/hiking, STATIONARY cycling and swimming (swimming keeps you cool and is full body workout with no impact!).

If you have any questions about exercise during pregnancy always

ask your Doctor or a Certified Trainer for advice.

Cailla PattersonPatterson Coaching and Personal Training

What do I do when my child has a cold or flu?

First and foremost, we need to understand that having a cold or a flu a few times a year is actually GOOD for our children. Shocked? Let me explain. Up until the age of 7, our children are using their natural immunity to defend themselves. They really do not have much in the way of specific immunity (where they have full anti-body production) until after the age of 7 years of age. Those first 7 years are when they use their fevers, mucous membranes (respi-ratory system) and barriers (our gut) to fight off exposure to any harmful pathogens. Every time your child activates their natural immune response, they have the ability to improve their defence mechanism…keeping them well off in the long run. So, how do you support your child when they get the cold or flu? Here is what to do:

1. Eat only when hungry. Consume only easy to digest foods like slightly steamed veggies and white fish (for critical protein re-quirements), warming bean or lentil soups with added brown rice or quinoa (for vegetarian protein alternatives). Add extra


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crushed garlic for an anti-viral effect. Have chicken soup.2. Drink enough filtered water. Remember, it must be room tem-

perature and not cold (cold water is an unnecessary stress to the body). Herbal tea is also a good idea alternatively, try hot water with an added touch of cayenne, 100% maple syrup or unpasteurized honey (not recommended for children under 1 yr of age).

3. Get enough rest. This is important!!! Resting allows the body to be in a healing state - avoiding unwanted secondary infections.

4. Practice good hygiene. Keep the nails clean, wash hand thor-oughly (avoiding chemical hand sterilizers) and blow noses – fully!

5. Have a family bath. Have a relaxing bath with added lavender essential oil for relaxation.

6. Mineralize! If you child has aches or pains, they most likely are acidic. Remineralize with meat or bone broths or have them take an Epsom salts bath.

7. Eat clean. Avoid all refined sugars, dairy and processed foods.8. Supplement. Supplements found to be helpful include: buffered

or ph balanced vitamin C (take your child’s weight in lbs and multiply by 10, i.e. 50 lb child would take 500 mg, in divided amounts per day), oil of oregano, Echinacea and a good qual-ity probiotic taken with food 3 times a day. Vitamin D is also found to be effective (500 IUs to 1000 IUs)

Michale Hartte, Nutritionist www.fitnhealthynutrition.com

What is Bisphenol A and what are its health ef-fects?

This month, Canada made history by adding bisphenol A (BPA) to Canada’s Toxic Substances List. BPA is a substance shown to mimic the hormone estrogen and cause reproductive damage that may lead to prostate and breast cancer in adulthood. It has also been linked to immune system dysfunction, early puberty in females, heart disease, diabetes, and higher rates of miscarriage. At this time, it was also proposed that BPA be limited in infant formula cans, and banned in baby bottles. Checking your baby bottles and not using those made before 2009 will also minimize exposure. Avoid-ing soft plastics, especially those that are heated (i.e. reheating soup in old margarine containers, do you hear me Mom?) will also limit exposure to BPA for our families and can be a huge but simple step towards better health.

Dr. Shelby Entner, NDOkanagan Natural Medicine

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Send it to us at [email protected] and it may appear right here!Are you an ‘expert’? Calling all doulas/midwives, optometrists, dentists, chinese medicine specialists & more! Join us and help answer readers’ questions.

Do you have a question!?


From the moment she took his arm to walk down the aisle, to their beautifully comfortable father-daughter dance, every-one could see their loving bond. Then, in her graceful and

confident toast, she proclaimed her father as “the greatest man she has ever known.”

I felt like I had been struck by lightning. I can still remember ex-actly where I was sitting when I heard those words: “The Greatest.” Wow, what father wouldn’t want to be known as “The Greatest?”

When we welcomed our daughter Jacqueline to the world, I knew I needed to try to equip my little girl with all the values, qualities, skills and tools I can so that she can confidently tackle this world. There are numerous qualities I want to instill and nurture within my daughter. The three central ones are confidence (self-esteem), emotional intelligence and resilience. I want her to know she de-serves respect, to recognize what a powerful force she will be in this world and to know that she can do anything she sets her sights on. A strong sense of self makes the world and its life challenges a bit easier to handle.

As Meg Meeker, author of “Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters” notes, “If you fully understood how profoundly you can influence your daughter’s life, you would be terrified, overwhelmed or both…. You will influence her entire life because she gives you the authority to do so – whether you want the authority or not!”

Here are a few ideas and tips to enhance your Father-Daughter re-lationship:

Less Talk, More ActionI can talk about how much I love and respect my daughter but does she feel love in the way that I speak with her, comfort her and listen to her? Effective dads tend to talk less and do more. I personally find that men love to solve problems – sometimes you will do more good if you zip your lips and just listen. Resist the urge to jump in with five different solutions.

Love = T.I.M.E. It’s simple math. The time your daughter spends with you is so important. Some of the best opportunities to deepen your relationship with your daughter may lie in the ordinary tasks of life from changing a dia-per, to shopping for groceries, to painting a fence, to reading books at bedtime.

Be PresentTurn off your blackberry / iphone and stop thinking about work, the yard, emails, and all the other things clouding your life.

Raise a Pioneer, not a Princess. We all see our daughters as our princesses, after all she owns a spe-cial part of your heart. You always want what is best for her, but be careful not to overindulge your daughter! Help your daughter understand that she controls her own destiny and any improvement in her life will come from her own hard work.

Get ActiveIf you are also lucky enough to be the father of a boy, think about

From Dad to Dad:

“The Greatest”

photo credit: www.avivaphotostudios.com

by Jeff Hay


how you play with him – is it different? Do you wrestle, play catch, shoot hoops and do other physical activities? Do you play the same way with your daughter? When you begin to see your daughter as a flexible, powerful living being, amazing things can happen! In his great book, “Dads and Daughters” (2002), Joe Kelly writes, “for goodness sake, wrestle with her, play word games with her, run and build things together, toss the football, listen to her, treat her like a whole person… not a vase poised to fall and break.”

Respect Mom.And finally, the greatest gift you can give any child is to respect their mother. Daughters learn about relationships by watching their par-ents. They watch everything. If children see their parents treating each other with respect, then they understand that as the appropri-ate and normative way to interact with others. Regardless of your marital situation, strive to always respect your children’s mother.

I am building a lifelong relationship with my daughter. I want a close relationship built on trust, open communication, and respect. In my dream world, I am my daughter’s golf caddy as she tackles the toughest golf course called life. I am beside her, not helicopter-ing over her. I am present, dialed in, and available for advice, but I will respectfully let her hit her shots. I will provide positive honest feedback and help her find a solution when she gets herself into a

tough spot.

How badly to you want to be known as the “greatest man” in your daughter’s life? Roll up your sleeves, be present and get involved! The clock is ticking…

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Moms across Canada are connecting with each other through momcafé through meetings, seminars and internet based communications tools. Momcafe Okanagan provides a forum to connect and inspire women. Okanagan moms can now too enjoy good conversation, lattés, and on-site childcare while listening to inspirational speakers!

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Chicken stocks, that are properly prepared, give our bodies minerals that are highly absorb-able. The secret? Adding an acidic substance

(wine or vinegar) while cooking the broth is what’s needed to help draw out the minerals (calcium, mag-nesium and potassium) into the broth for our nutri-tional needs.

CHICKEN STOCK 1

• 1 whole free-range chicken or 2-3 pounds of bony chicken parts, such as necks, backs, breast-bones and wings

• gizzards from one chicken (optional)• feet from the chicken (optional)• 4 quarts cold filtered water• 2 tablespoons vinegar• 1 large onion, coarsely chopped• 2 carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped• 3 celery sticks, coarsely chopped• 1 bunch parsley

If you are using a whole chicken, cut off the wings and remove the neck, fat glands and the gizzards from the cavity. By all means, use the chicken feet if you can find them-they are full of gelatin. (Jewish folklore considers the addition of chicken feet the secret to successful broth.) Even better, use a whole chicken, with the head on. These may be found in Oriental markets. Farm-raised, free-range chickens give the best results. Many battery-raised chickens will not produce stock that gels.

Cut chicken parts into several pieces. (If you are using a whole chicken, remove the neck and wings and cut them into several pieces.) Place chicken or chicken pieces in a large stainless steel pot with water, vinegar and all vegetables except parsley. Let stand 30 minutes to 1 hour. Bring to a boil, and remove scum that rises to the top. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 6 to 24 hours. The longer you cook the stock, the richer and more flavourful it will be. About 10 minutes before finishing the stock, add parsley. This will impart additional mineral ions to the broth.

Remove whole chicken or pieces with a slotted spoon. If you are using a whole chicken, let cool and remove chicken meat from the carcass. Reserve for other uses, such as chicken salads, enchiladas, sandwiches or curries. (The skin and smaller bones, which will be very soft, may be given to your cat or dog.) Strain the stock into a large bowl and reserve in your refrigerator until the fat rises to the top and congeals. Skim off this fat and reserve the stock in covered containers in your refrigerator or freezer.1 Recipe found in Nourishing Traditions, revised second edition, by Sally Fallon with Mary G. Enig, Ph. D.

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Put the munchkin in one of our great kids programs and spoil yourself with some yoga, fitness classes or time in our gym.

Visit kelowna.ca/recreationor call 250 469-8800 for program information & registration.

Get Active. Stay Active.

CHICKEN SOUP

Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients:• 1 Tbsp coconut oil• 2 sweet onions, sliced• 4 carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped• 3 celery stalks, coarsely chopped• 3 zucchini, chopped• 2 tomatoes, chopped• Handful of kale or spinach• 3 garlic cloves, crushed• 6 cups Chicken broth – See recipe above• 1 tsp mineral salt• 2 cups left over chicken chunks

Directions:In a stock pot, melt coconut oil over medium heat. Add onion, car-rots, and celery stalks; sauté, stirring often until tender (about 5 minutes).Add zucchini and tomatoes, kale or spinach, and garlic, sauté about 5 more minutes being careful to add a little additional water so that you do not burn the vegetables.Add chicken broth, mineral salt, and chicken. Bring to a boil, then turn down to low and simmer for ½ hour.

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Have you found yourself saying “Santa’s watching. You bet-ter behave?” Me too! In fact, I’ve been known to use some form of that year-round. “Tooth fairy’s watching … Easter

bunny is watching … The Halloween witch is watching …” After an endless month of warning my kids that Santa is watching for good behaviour and ready to reprimand (with a lack of gifts at Christ-mas) for bad behaviour, it got me thinking. Why do I have to resort to the threat of make-believe characters to get my kids to behave? Shouldn’t pleasing their mom be their goal?

Even at a young age I have found that kids are quick to tune out lec-turing and reprimands. They get that glazed look in their eyes and nod their heads and say “yes mom” even though they are thinking about something entirely different. The younger set are probably too young to be rolling their eyes and are likely thinking “as soon as mom stops talking I’m going to go play Lego.” The way I see it, I have five seconds to make my point and if it is going to work it had better be good. So I resort to ‘Santa’. After all, they start mak-ing their Santa list in August or September and the threat of having something crossed off that list and replaced with coal works won-ders in the month or two leading up to Christmas.

My own kids seem a little too old for the time-out mat. Send them to their bedroom and it is more of a reward than a consequence. “Gee, I snuck a couple cookies and got caught. Now I get to go play in my room.” Take away a favorite toy and they quickly replace it with something else. Turn off the television and they find some-thing else to do. What’s a mom to do?

Okay, I do know the history of Saint Nicholas. I understand the spirit of gift giving and I’m doing my part to keep my kids from becoming greedy children and focusing too much on what they receive. But is it really that wrong to threaten them with the lack of a full stocking? And more importantly, what will I do when they know the truth about Santa Claus? After all, I’m afraid my threats may actually be promoting materialism.

I suppose my first step in changing how I dole out the consequenc-es should come with what deciding what behaviours rightfully de-serve to be disciplined. You know that saying ‘choose your battles’? I think that should be the number one rule to live by. Some be-haviours have natural consequences. Bug your sister and she likely won’t want to keep playing with you. Break a toy and you don’t have a toy to play with. But is a little spilled milk really worth cry-ing over? I suppose that depends on how the milk got spilled in the

first place.

I also realize that I need to be consistent. If I don’t let them yell in the house then I need to enforce the rule every time. And then of course, the consequence has to match the action. If they yell in the house they need to go outside (not necessarily a punishment but at least it reinforces the rule). If they spill the milk they need to clean it up. And if their behaviour is truly unacceptable they need to take a time out in a quiet location to calm down.

Really, they’re only kids and they are learning as they go. Perhaps my threats about Santa watching might be doing more harm then good. After all, it’s only a quick fix. And it puts someone else in charge, instead of reminding them that I am the one who doles out the consequences (and praise!).

Santa Claus is not the be-all-end-all of discerning which kids are naughty and which kids are nice. When it comes to parenting, our job is to instil a sense of self-confidence in our children and too much focus on naughty and nice is not doing them any favours.

Of course, they need a clearly defined set of rules and expectations and they need guidance when their behaviour is not so nice. But do they ‘really’ need the threat of Santa’s naughty list?

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

by Michelle Collie

photo credit: www.SharlaPike.com

Naughty or Nice, They’re Still our Kids


photo credit: www.SharlaPike.com

Attractions & Recreation Big White & Silver Starwww.silverstar.comwww.bigwhite.com

City of Kelowna - Recreationwww.kelowna.caCity of Kelowna, Recreation and Cultural Services offers programs and activities for individuals of all ages and abilities in neighbourhoods throughout Kelowna, including swimming, dance, karate, sports, Mom & Baby programs and more.See ad on page 25.

Crystal Mountain Resortwww.crystalresort.comSee ad on page 5.

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 pro-duce, offers Orchard tours, and has many great activates for children includingfarm animals and the New “Crazy Cow Kids Corral” play area. Fresh baking, specialty foods, country gifts, & so much more!

Kelowna Art Gallerywww.kelownaartgallery.comVisitors to Kelowna can explore provoca-tive and varied exhibitions of art in the spacious facility located in the heart of Kelowna’s Cultural District. Serving the Central Okanagan Valley with a variety of exhibitions, the Gallery also offers a wide selection of public programs for all ages.

We Teach SwimmingPrivate Kelowna swim academy for all ages from cradle to career.www.weteachswimming.ca250.470.7496See ad on page 23.

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.See ad on page 11.

Breastfeeding Clinics / Support La Leche Leaguewww.lllc.caKelowna, BC: First Wednesday of the

Month, 7pm, 630 Cadder Avenue (The Parent Place)Penticton, BC: Third Tuesday of the Month, 10am, Penticton Health UnitVernon, BC: First Tuesday of the Month, 10am, Vernon Alliance Church, 2601 - 43rd Avenue

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

Child Care - preschools, daycares, nannies Nannysitterswww.nannysitters.caKelowna’s premier nanny and babysit-ter agency. Specializing in providing thoroughly-screened local childcare pro-fessionals. Nannysitters is fully licensed, bonded and insured.See ad on page 5.

North Okanagan Childcare Societywww.noccs.ca

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.See ad on page 20.

Summerland Montessori Schoolwww.summerlandmontessori.comThe Summerland Montessori School incorporates Montessori philosophy and current best teaching practices to create our unique school character.

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

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

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

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

Diaper Service Booty Boutiquewww.bootyboutique.ca1.888.594.5204We offer eco-friendly diapering solutions for the modern family along with a Try Before you Buy program!See ad on page 23.

Tidy Tushees Diaper [email protected] help families with all their natural parenting needs including cloth diaper-ing. Whether you choose to let us do the dirty work for you, you need help troubleshooting your system or you are on the hunt for products, we are here to help!See ad on page 21.

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 bal-anced 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 edu-cation 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.caSee ad on page 17.

Employment Vitality Nowwww.vitalitynow.wisehomebiz.comWe need enthusiastic people wanting to increase family income. Many of us earn $50,000 a year or more working part time from home. Training provided. Must be coachable and willing to learn.See ad page 19.

Fashion for Moms Arbonne Internationalwww.kgilkyson.myarbonne.cagilkyson.karen@gmail.comArbonne’s products are botanically based. Arbonne’s Baby Skin care is free of parabens, sls, mineral oil, dyes, fragrance and phthalates. It will make your baby very happy to have Arbonne!! Call for your complimentary ABC Baby Care sample today. See ad on page 5.

AvonAvon is the company for women. Call for the latest brochure. Become a consultant for only $20.00. Call Tasha at 250.769.8500 for more information.

Resource Directory

Check out local cutieson Page 30

in our

section!Snap Happy


Resource DirectoryHaute Mamawww.hautemama.caHaute Mama is the upscale boutique for pregnant women who love clothes. Visit our online shop at www.hautemama.ca to see our beautiful collections from around the world.See ad on page 6.

Finances Canadian Scholarship Trust Plan, Beverly O’Reillywww.cst.org . 250.498.6234beverly.o’[email protected]’re RESP Specialists. Our goal is to make sure your education savings are there when your child goes to school. A non-profit company, started in 1960, we are celebrating our 50th anniversary this year.

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

Health & Wellness Okanagan Natural Medicinewww.oknaturalmedicine.comDr. Shelby Entner and Dr. Chris Spooner offer natural family medicine, allergy testing, herbal medicine, nutrition, homeopathy, laser therapy, hormone health, prolotherapy, iv medicine and vitamin injections.See ad on page 25.

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.See ad on page 20.

Lawyers Gordon and Company102 - 1433 St. Paul Street, Kelowna, BC250.860.9997With over 30 years of professional expe-rience, Gordon and Company offer an extensive range of serices including all types of litigation, family law, wills/estate disputes and personal injury.See ad on page 29.

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

Music Music for Young Childrenwww.myc.comCelebrating its 30th anniversary, Music for Young Children has been among the world’s leading music-learning systems. The hour-long classes include rhythm ensembles, singing, ear-training, sight-reading, note-reading, theory and composing techniques.See ad on page 15.

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

Mother of a DealDeal hunting made easy!www.motherofadeal.comSee ad on page 8.

Parent & Tot Storytimes The Okanagan Regional Librarywww.orl.bc.caThe ORL is your most economical, sustainable 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

Party & Event Services Par-T-Perfectwww.par-t-perfect.comYour complete Children’s PARTY & EVENT Service! Whether it’s a birthday for 8, a corporate gathering or festival for thousands...if kids are involved, let us do it for you!See ad on page 19.

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. See ad on page 6.

Aviva Photo Studioswww.avivaphotostudios.comWe are Mike & Elizabeth Soergel and together we are Aviva Studios. We’re pas-sionate about what we do and we believe that the experience is just as important as the images themselves.

Rhea Taylor Photographywww.rheataylorphotography.com

Children and Family Portrait Photogra-pher. Capture your precious smiles and love with Rhea Taylor Photography.

Public Health Services/Nurses Kelowna Health Unit1340 Ellis Street250.868.7700

Penticton Health Unit740 Carmi Avenue250.770.3434

Rutland Health Unit155 Gray Road250.980.4825

Summerland Health Unit12815 Atkinson Road250.404.8050

West Kelowna Health Unit160 – 2300 Carrington Road250.980.5150

Vernon Health Unit1440 – 14th Avenue250.549.5700

Retail Angel Babies Kids Shoppe375 Main St., Penticton, BC250.493.8823Calling mamas-to-be, parents and grand-parents! With a great mix of consignment (maternity & kids) and new clothing, products & gear, Angel Babies is a must visit for young families.See ad on page 9.

Baby & Mewww.babyandme.ca1969 Harvey Ave., Kelowna, BC (across from London Drugs)250.717.0556I like to call it “4000sf of the best stuff for baby and mom.” The owners, Don & Nicole, handpick each and every item for its safety, value, style, and parent-tested practicality. The knowledageble staff is available to help guide parents in the right direction. Free gift wrap and gift registry.See ad opposite inside front cover and on back cover.

Bitsy Birdwww.bitsybird.comBitsy Bird creates beautiful gifts that are sure to impress at any baby shower.Our themed diaper cakes, washcloth cupcakes and tutus make memorable gifts that are charming and practical.See ad on page 6.

Bo Peep Boutiquewww.bo-peep.ca

Bo Peep Boutique stocks fashioable and great quality clothes for children aged 0 -13. They also carry lots of fun toys, books and accessories for moms and babies.

Buddies Kids [email protected]’s boutique offering clothing, shoes and special gifts from 0-10. Bud-dies has been a unique place to shop for children since 2003.See ad on inside front cover.

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.caSee ad on page 17.

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

Lalabee Bathworkswww.lalabeebathworks.comOrganic skincare for Mommy and Baby. Lalabee Mommy covers the three stages of pregnancy all organically! Our organic Bottom Balm is a fantastic cream that really works on diaper rash.See ad on page 20.

Little Baby HugzMom and Baby Necessities!www.littlebabyhugz.ca250.963.9214info@littlebabyhugz.caSee ad on page 23.

Mountain Babywww.mountainbaby.comServing young children and families for over 15 years, we offer outstanding products that encourage families to be fit, to be in nature, and to be together in every season. See ad on page 4.

My Lil Packagewww.mylilpackage.comA unique selection of hard to find prod-ucts for mom, dad and baby.See ad on page 4.

Natural Belly and Baby1331 Ellis St., Kelowna, BC250.860.0307 . 1.866.763.7214www.naturalbellyandbaby.comOffers customers a unique opportunity to select from not only the latest and most highly respected brands for moms


and babies, but also introduces many yet unknown locally produced productsdestined to be appreciated. See ad on page 9.

Our Baby Impressionswww.ourbabyimpressions.com250.769.8500Preserve the actual size, shape and lines of your baby’s tiny hands and feet in a 3-dimensional casting, mounted on a classic antique style frame. Oak frames also available.

Raspberry Kidswww.raspberrykids.comRaspberry Kids is an online lifestyle store that features fresh, healthy & fun products for the little ones in your life. We cater to savvy expectant parents, moms, dads and gift givers.See ad on page 21.

The ShrunksInflatable, portable toddler beds and much more!www.theshrunks.comSee ad inside back cover.

Usborne Books - Karen [email protected] www.usborne.ca/titlesGuaranteed to be your children’s favorite books! Interactive, award-winning titles including fiction, art, science, puzzle and flap books! Host a home show or become a consultant today!

Word to the Wallwww.wordtothewall.comDecorate your child’s room with vinyl lettering and images. Browse online and call Tasha at 250.769.8500 to order.

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/kelownaSee ad on page 15.

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

ACHIEVE BCToll Free: 1.800.514.0554Website: www.AchieveBC.ca Advice on prenatal care, nutrition and developmental guides. Parenting tips and information on stimulating your child’s mind and body through reading

and play. Learn more about the services offered through the Government of British Columbia by calling the toll free number or visiting the website.

Association for the Benefit of Children with Disabilities250.763.4663

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

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

BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities250.763.0899

Big Brothers and Sisters - 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 representative. She will bring new con-gratulations and gifts for the new baby and family.See ad page 25.

Watch for our next issue...

Spring 2011arriving this February

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

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

Barristers, Solicitors, Notaries Public

T. 250.860.9997F. 250.860.9937

102 - 1433 St. Paul Street, Kelowna BC V1Y 2E4

JOSEPH R. GORDONB.A., LL.B

FRANCES JOY BULLICKB.S.W., B.JURIS., LL.B, LL.M.

OVER 30 YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• ALL TYPES OF LITIGATION

• CRIMINAL DEFENCE

• FAMILY LAW

• PERSONAL INJURY

• REAL ESTATE DISPUTES

• TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS & TICKETS

• WILLS & ESTATE DISPUTES

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


Snap Happy

Share . . . Smile

SHARE YOUR SHOTS!

Upload your pictures to

our photo gallery at


under the ‘Kids’ menu

and we’ll share some in

every print issue!

Jumping for JoyThis Holiday Season on the

• Loved by both kids and parents • Hours of fun indoors or outdoors• Quick assembly - takes 2 minutes• Perfect for small spaces• 35”L x 35”W x 32”H• Meets and exceeds all ASTM Safety Toy Standards

Phthalate-freeLead-freeBPA-free

The safest,sturdiest

trampoline ever!

HolidaySpecial 99$

Or buy 2 for $180 and save $20!

Order yours today! Call 1.866.354.2237 or visit www.gosafetrampoline.com

Our ergonomic cushion safetybar provides super firm grip

Great energy bustersfor kids age 3 up to 80lbs

Jumping area features padded edging and a marked jumping“sweet spot”

Folds flat for easy storage!

DESIGNED BY

Teaching Excellence

Across from London Drugs1969 Harvey Avenue

Kelowna, BC250-717-0556

www.babyandme.ca

Dear Santa,

Please bring me anything from Baby & Me. They have all the best

stuff for us kids.Thank you.

P.S. They even Gift Wrap for free.

Safe, stylish, and unique gifts for Mommy, Baby, and the Kids.

winter2010

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