The Arts
How Do We Create Good Role Models for our Kids?
At the baby and toddler age, children learn best in an informal learning environment – meaning children learn by example. They are learning emotional skills, social skills and practical skills like using the hose to water the garden by following our example. They learn the basics of language by taking the lead from the older people around them who model the fluency in that language. Language basics are learned through immersion not through rote teaching. In the informal learning environment, a good role model is key. Read more
The Arts on a Budget
We’re not suggesting that you stop paying full price to take your kids to the ballet, theatre or symphony, but many parents feel that artistic pursuits are inaccessible for one reason or another. Excuses for not exposing children to these media range from ‘But the hockey was on’, ‘He will get bored’, ‘My baby cries all the time and she will disrupt things’ …to ‘It is too expensive’. Here are some outside-the-box ways to give it a go and mitigate the reasons for staying home. Read more
Children’s Day, Harrison Festival of the Arts
Wednesday, July 14th, 11 am – 4 pm, Harrison Memorial Hall, Harrison Hot Springs
It’s the Harrison Festival of the Arts Children’s Day and it includes crafts, a climbing wall, live music from Bette & Wallet, a tightrope walker, comic Flying Bob and more: www.harrisonfestival.com
CEFA: Core Education and Fine Arts
At Park Royal in West Vancouver the other day, I offered to hold the elevator door for a group of the most lovely, well-behaved children I had seen in ages. Their three teachers graciously declined my assistance, saying that their safety protocol was to hold the door themselves. Very impressve. Hmmm. Polite uniformed children, good behaviour and professional adults. They had to be.. Yes.. When I asked – all was confirmed. They were from CEFA. Read more
Dancing with Your Kids
My son hits. It drives me nuts. I have been searching for a way to teach him to channel anger and frustration in a healthier way. And then it struck me: movement. As a young girl at theatre school, I remember an incredible exercise where the facilitator put on 2 minutes of different types of music in succession, and we would move. Artsy? Yeah. Cheesy? Not really. Dance like nobody’s watching – remember? These days, iTunes has made the concept easier than ever. Try it with your kids. Read more
