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Global TV Noon News Hour
Parenting Segment
Andrea Vance - WestCoast Families magazine
CLICK HERE to watch the Global TV Noon News Hour Parenting segments.
Click on Noon News Hour, and look for the Parenting category.
Monday January 11, 2010
Topic: Family Literacy Day
This year’s theme: Sing for Literacy! Songs have great lyrics.
Ideas for families and groups
Take it to the kitchen. Follow recipes for reading & math skills. Read the instructions out loud and measure the ingredients.
Surf Safari. With an atlas or globe, find a country or other place you’d like to visit. Surf the internet together or go to the library to find out interesting things about that place – weather, food, people. Write a story and draw pictures based on what you’ve learned.
Family Book Club. Read a book together or individually. Discuss the book as a group at dinner or one evening. Go online to post book reviews on websites like Chapters!
Sing a Song. Challenge older kids to look at the lyrics of a classic song, find out what it is about, research an event/place/person in the lyrics.
Library Programs
Teens – Read it? Loved it? Film it! Win! Fraser Valley Regional Library
Shoot a short video book trailer or book review of a book you want everyone to check out! 13-18 yrs old. 3 minutes or less. Post to YouTube, and tag it appropriately. Complete online form to enter Jan 5-Feb 28. Winners announced end of March. Winners must have FVRLibrary card. www.fvrl.bc.ca
Book Club programs
Instead of buying several copies for your group, you can pick from the library’s book club list and they will reserve and deliver your books to your local library
Download books
MP3 Audiobooks, eBook Downloads! Can be downloaded to your PC, laptop, PDA, MP3 player or Ipod. FREE!
Book Sales & Donations
Libraries often hold book sales once a year or once a season. Very inexpensive way to increase your book collection. Libraries also take DVD, book, and CD donations. Call your local library for more information.
Monday November 23, 2009
Making Christmas shopping EASIER & faster for busy parents.
Make a LIST! Keep it with you.
Jot down some ideas, or get lists from each person & write down the one you want to buy. This prevents buying too much and wasting time.
Do your research before you shop.
Check prices online.
- Flyerland.ca - Flyermall.com
- Store websites
Phone to check availability
Subscribe to Consumer Reports www.consumerreports.org to source the best of everything. $26/year. Especially valuable for electronics (ie. Cameras, printers). Can compare features, ratings & pricing.
Shop at night
Lougheed Mall, Coquitlam Centre, Brentwood Mall weeks before Christmas, open til 10pm many nights.
Take advantage of store & mall wrapping.
Online shopping
Do a search for your item or topic, and include “Canada” in your search words.
Particularly good for toys, books, DVD’s, household items, electronics. Especially when you know the one you want.
Don’t forget to check shipping rates. Buy from Canada when possible.
Talk to your family about reducing gifts.
- one package per person
- drawing names
- kids only
Monday November 16, 2009
Shopping for parents
The Toy Company
Kids Market, Granville Island
Main Street, Vancouver
Eco Friendly Sprig Toys – recycled wood & reclaimed plastics. Trucks & cars. Paint free. No batteries – pump action! $13-$63. Made in Canada.
www.toycompany.ca
Pedagogy Toys
New Westminster
Toys for kids 0-12. Development & learning toys, sourced around the world. Really look for originality and uniqueness. Children can try the toys in a supervised area before buying.
www.pedagogytoys.com
Knotty Toys
Granville Island, Vancouver
Most complete Collection of wooden toys anywhere in Canada! Puzzles, pretend play, instruments, wheeled toys.
www.knottytoys.com
Village Toy Shop
New Port Village
They have the best one of a kind, wood and BPA free toys. Known for their toyologists & knowledgeable staff.
www.villagetoyshop.ca
Toy Traders
Langley By-Pass
The owner loves what he does. Knowledge & service. Known for Thomas the Train, Collectible Figures, PlayMobil toys. Amazing displays.
604 532 9516
The Fort Toy Box
Fort Langley
Quality Traditional Toys – tea sets, wooden wagons, Curious George. Classic toys that you thought you’d never see again. Not plastic toys! Stuff from your childhood and want for your kids/grandkids.
www.forttoybox.com
Monday November 9, 2009
Online shopping for parents
Baby & Maternity
www.babygrins.ca
Favourite item – rag quilts – made by Nova Scotia resident. $65
based in Alberta
www.babyonboard.ca
Lots of great GEAR – high chairs, strollers, carseats.
Very knowledgeable in-store if you want to help.
Retail store in Richmond Centre. Price matching
www.babyplanetboutique.com
Favourite section - memories. Photo bags, photo tree ornaments.even a snow globe! Photo books (board books where you create your own story by inserting family photos)
Organic & Natural
www.ziaandtia.com
Luxury, quality. Bedding, toys, bath & skincare, knits, clothing.
Favourite items – vintage and one of a kind chandeliers. Restored & reinvented. Spectacular for girls’ rooms. Handpainted children’s furniture. Handcrafted, hand painted, non toxic
www.dreamdesigns.ca
Local store on Commercial Drive. Locally made, fair trade, ecological, sustainable.
Favourite – bedding & bath items. Baby’s crib, mom & dad’s bed. Bamboo/Cotton Towels. $10-$70. Great colours, AMAZING towels.
www.obabyorganics.ca
Clothing, Toddler & Baby products, pre/post natal
Favourite – cleaning products. Toddler clothes by Happy Green Bee (Burt’s Bees founder). Gender free organic clothing.
Monday October 12, 2009
Halloween
Where to look for costumes?
Costume Chik, Vancouver online www.costumechik.com
Just Imagine, West Broadway & Granville Island, Vancouver. www.dressups.com
Click Costumes, Franchise with local reps. www.clickcostumes.com
Party Bazaar, Vancouver. www.thepartybazaar.com
Superstore, London Drugs, Winners, Value Village, and more.
Vancouver Aquarium
Oct 31 – overnight Fish Or Treat. 9pm-9am. $120. Go to sleep with Beluga Whales. Snack & breakfast. Min 5 years.
Oct 24-31
4D Experience film “Haunted Lighthouse”.
Creepy Critter Corner, Bat Chat, Bug Eating Station, Scavenger Hunt.
www.visitvanaqua.org
Hazelmere Pumpkin Patch
Surrey
October weekends
nighttime pumpkin hunts Oct 17/24 til 9pm, hayrides, petting zoo, face painting during day
604 992-7748
Eerie Night of Fright
Fort Langley
Oct 30 & 31, after dark
Opens up the Fort to families after the sun goes down. See the eerie dark side of the Fort. Not for those easily scared!
www.fortlangley.com/events
Haunted Forest Scream Train
Surrey
Oct 16-31 630pm-10pm
Get ready to cry! Ancient Warriors, Chainsaw Charley, The London Ripper. $5/$7.50
www.bctrains.com