Everything Family
By Andrea Hamer • Adventuring Into Life Around the ages of 9 to 12, many girls begin to drift away from sport and physical activity. They don’t usually make a big announcement. They don’t always say they’ve lost interest. They simply stop signing up, stop attending, or choose not to try something new. For parents, … Read More “Why Girls-Only Spaces Matter More Than We Realize” »
by Marie Hartwell-Walker, Ed.D. • Psych Central www.psychcentral.com Summer often brings more than the usual number of celebrations. Graduation ceremonies, engagement parties, weddings, baby showers, gender reveals, retirement parties, funerals, etc., etc. If you have friends and family, chances are you’ve been to at least a couple such events in the last month. It got … Read More “The Importance of Celebrating Milestones Together” »
by Jen Scott, Program Manager • Bridge Youth and Family Services When most of us picture life with a new baby, we imagine smiling parents, warm snuggles, and that instant feeling of love everyone talks about. For some families, it really does feel that way. But for many parents, the arrival of their baby can … Read More “The Side of New Parenthood We Often Don’t Talk About” »
By Dr. Susan Frame, Licensed Naturopathic Physician • AltaVie Health Childhood is a time of growth, exploration, and constant physiological change. It is also a time when many families encounter health concerns that can feel overwhelming—eczema that disrupts sleep, constipation that causes discomfort and tears, or allergies that seem to flare without warning. These issues … Read More “How Naturopathic Medicine Helps Families Navigate Common Pediatric Concerns” »
Canadian Children’s Book Centre: www.bookcentre.ca/collections/best-books One of my favourite memories as a child is on those hot summer days when I would bike to the library to check out some books. The library was small, and cool. I would spend hours deciding on a number of books and head home to try and read them … Read More “Great Summer Reads” »
by Emma Kopp, Marketing and Events Coordinator • Vernon Community Arts Centre If the words ‘I’m bored’ echo through your home the moment a screen goes dark, you are not alone. For many families, stepping away from screens brings resistance, uncertainty, and often a shared sigh. But that pause, the moment after the screen turns … Read More “Less Screen Time, More Creative Time Make Space for Art, Imagination, and Connection” »
by Marie Hartwell-Walker, Ed.D. • Psych Central www.psychcentral.com One of the most important gifts we can give our kids is time to play, both as a family and on their own. Finding time to play with kids can be a challenge if you are working, managing a household and meeting the many day-to-day challenges of … Read More “The Benefits of Play in Children” »
Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School • Join Aberdeen Hall’s K–Grade 5 summer camps! Explore nature, stay active, and discover new wonders through exciting field trips, special guests, and unforgettable hands-on fun. Adventuring Into Life • A girls-only multi-sport adventure camp in Vernon and Kelowna. Girls aged 9-12 explore the outdoors, try new activities, build skills, and … Read More “SUMMER CAMPS AT A GLANCE” »
by Josée Bergeron, Mother and Author • Backwoods Mama We hear a lot about how good it is for children to get outside, and it’s true. Time outdoors helps kids thrive. They are often more active outside, moving their bodies in ways that help develop gross and fine motor skills. Playing outdoors also supports healthy … Read More “Just Beyond the Front Door: How Nature Helps Families Reconnect” »
By Risti Lesperance, Certified Interpretive Guide • Regional Parks Services Let the Visitor Services team at Regional Parks be your starting point for exploring the outdoors. Every season offers natural wonders to enjoy and with a little preparation and a sense of adventure, you and your family can embrace the outdoors in accessible ways for … Read More “Outdoor Discovery Starts Here!” »
by D. Scott Forfar, Volunteer Researcher • Lake Country Museum and Archives When browsing the Lake Country Museum’s historical photograph collection, one quickly notices a familiar and comforting presence: dogs. They appear again and again—perched proudly beside their owners, lounging at their feet, standing alert on ranch trails, or tumbling joyfully through fields with children. … Read More “For the Love of Dogs Portraits of Pets and Their People” »
by Marie Hartwell-Walker, Ed.D. • Psych Central www.psychcentral.com The Importance of Making Positive Family Memories Yesterday was one of those perfect late summer days at the local park and beach. The sun was bright. The water was cool. Families from surrounding towns had come and set up their ‘camps’ for the day. A beach umbrella … Read More “5 Ways to Make Happy Family Memories” »
by Kimberly Lockhart, Founder and Executive Director • Butterfly Support Network Today I walked back into the room where they told us our son Wilder had died. It’s just an ordinary hospital assessment room. Neutral walls, standard equipment, nothing remarkable to anyone else. But for me, this room holds a weight that feels almost impossible … Read More “Different Pregnancy, Different Baby, Different Outcome” »
by Marie Hartwell-Walker, Ed.D. • Psych Central www.psychcentral.com “I’m still too depressed to find a job,” says one young man. “I lost my car when I was so depressed so how can I even look?” From a young woman: “I don’t have the energy for a full-time job and I don’t feel ready to be … Read More “Getting Back to Work When You’ve Been Depressed” »