Plan an Enchanting Escape to Whistler: Family Fun at the Whistler Children’s Festival
As spring unfolds in Whistler, families have the perfect opportunity to create unforgettable memories during the Whistler Children’s Festival from May 17-19.
10 REASONS WHY WE SHOULD ALL DANCE!
8 min readDance is a win-win, low-stakes, social activity with positive brain, body, and social-emotional outcomes. Here’s why we should all dance,…
Vancouver’s New After School Program Offers Kids The Benefits of
5 min readCreating an After School Program requires many elements to come together in order to appeal to the kids who are…
REEL 2 REAL FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTS
5 min readTHREE CANADIAN PREMIERES and FOUR CANADIAN FEATURE FILMSÂ April 7 - 16 at the VIFF Centre and Roundhouse Community Centre…
How to Overcome Boredom with Board Games!
6 min readSpring Break still has a few days left and the weather has taken a turn. Going outside to play is…
Latest Issues
February 1, 2024
Exciting Back to School is coming!
It’s been a great summer filled with quality moments with our families at exciting locations around the city. There are a few weeks left, but now it is time to start preparing for the school year. In this issue, we have an article to help you choose a location for a new early learner. It’s a tough…
Read NowFall is here
It’s Fall and the rain is falling…hard. Have you hunkered down and got cozy on your couch yet? It’s that time of year, but luckily we will be entering the holiday season soon and that always brings cheer!In this issue, we’ve got some tips on how to get your child excited to read and “Hook…
Spring has officially sprung!
BCParent hopes you enjoy our digital issue to keep you and connected while distanced. In it you will find some tips on how a chiropractor can help all members of your family, how to help your children read a little more, and how to keep them happily going to school for the last couple of…
2020 Family Resource Guide
The New Year is in full swing. It's hard to believe it's already March and you're probably thinking about Spring and Summer Camps! They're coming up faster than you realize. This year's Family Resource Guide, we have highlighted the winners of the Family Favourites competition. These are the businesses our readers chose as their top…
BC Parent Newsmagazine
Family Directory
In its 33rd year of publication, parents and caregivers have come to rely on BC Parent for relevant, up-to-date information they can trust. Going beyond recipes and crafts (although we have included our favourites in the past), BC Parent Magazine gives parents the information they want on healthcare, education, birthing, the arts, community events and so much more. From pregnancy through teens, BC Parent provides up-to-date, in-depth articles and information for all families.
We now want to extend our reach and provide even more information to our readers by giving it to them online and at their fingertips. Please add your business listing so our readers can easily find you, learn about you and connect with you!
Parenting
Keep children and youth sun safe now to help give
4 min readThe thought of skin cancer for our children may seem remote and not a priority at first thought. However, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. And the rates are rising. In fact, one in every five individuals in British Columbia will acquire skin cancer during their lifetime.
5 Inspiring Lessons Learned From Building A Business With My
5 min readNever in my wildest dreams did I think my teenage daughter would become my business partner. Three years ago, that is exactly what happened. During the early days of the pandemic, I was looking for things to keep my kids busy and happy due to the isolation they were facing.
Embracing the Journey: Reflections on My First Year of Motherhood
4 min readThe journey into motherhood is one of the most transformative experiences a woman can embark upon.
FINDING CALM IN A KID’S WORLD
5 min readKids often like to play in an environment that feels open and allows them to wander. With parent supervision, the outdoors can be a great place for safe and mindful play. Join them in exploring nature.Â
The Statistics don’t lie, Fathers Matter. But what if your
5 min readWhile some families spend copious amounts of time and money to have the perfect Father’s Day gift, others are struggling to meet dual parent demands and reassure their kids, while some may be in denial about the level of impact of a father’s absence on the child. The truth of the matter is, fathers matter.Â
Baby’s first bites: How to introduce food allergens to infants
4 min readSafely introducing food to an infant for the first time can be daunting for caregivers. What can they eat? What if they choke? Will they like it? Throw allergens into the mix, and it’s a recipe for major anxiety.
Education
Report cards are coming and they look different?!
8 min readThe first report card is coming in December. If your child is in Grade 5 or higher, it’s going to look quite different because letter grades will no longer be given for children in grades K-9 and will only be given out in grades 10-12. We reached out to the Ministry of Education and Child…
School Open Houses – What Can You Learn From Them?
6 min readAttending a school's open house is a valuable experience that goes beyond the customary tour of classrooms and facilities. It is a window into the educational ecosystem, offering parents, students, and educators a unique opportunity to connect, communicate, and collaborate. The importance of attending an open house extends far beyond the initial impressions, providing a…
Westside Montessori Academy opens beautiful new school in Vancouver.
4 min readWestside Montessori Academy is making its love of learning available to even more elementary-age students at our beautiful new school in Vancouver. For 15 years, Westside Montessori Academy has been serving families from their space at Vancouver's Italian Cultural Centre. Now, for their 2023-2024 school year, they’ve brought their unique, creative teaching style to spacious classrooms…
WHAT IS THE BEST FIRST MUSIC INSTRUMENT FOR CHILDREN?
7 min readThe time has come. Your child sings and hums all the time, dances around the house and expresses themselves with music everywhere they go. As parents, we want to encourage this, so we think – music lessons, and music instruments! The best time to get a jump start on music is when the child is…
Can All Kids Become Musical (How Can We Best Support
12 min readAs each child is unique, exposing them to explore many genres of music and types of instruments in the early years can play an instrumental role in sparking that connection for them to music.
Education Issue is here!
< 1 min readIn this issue, we have provided more information about what these report cards will look like. The BC government has made some changes and the new format has been updated to better encourage our children’s learning. We have also included information about various learning approaches—critical thinking, project-based learning, music, and of course play and its…
Health
8 Valentine’s Gifts That Won’t Give Your Child a Sugar
4 min readAs a child, I remember the gift box of little colored hearts my father would bring home as a surprise. We did not have much money, so this little box of sweet treats was a big deal for my sister and me. Or if we were lucky, the solid chocolate heart that showed through the…
Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free, and other diet restrictions during the holidays
5 min readThe holidays are known as a time to indulge. But what if you or a family member need to follow a specific diet for health reasons? What do you do to still share in the holiday treats without breaking your recommended diet restrictions? Here are a few healthy alternatives to fill the sweet-tooth craving while…
5 Useful Tips for Reducing Eye Strain in Children This
4 min readWith 80 percent of children’s learning gained through their eyes, school-aged students are starting to notice the effects of digital eye strain from a younger age. To help your child see their best this year, here are some tips and techniques parents can do to help reduce digital eye strain for their children.Â
How can you protect your children during heat waves?
4 min readYear over year, we are seeing extreme heat events become more common and severe in British Columbia and across Canada. In fact, the record-breaking heatwave British Columbians experienced in 2021 was among the most extreme since the 1960s. As we look into the future, the annual number of extremely hot days in some parts of…
Do you love yourself enough?
4 min readThree-time award-winning author Shantelle Bisson was born and raised in Toronto and splits her time between Toronto and her marina that she purchased in 2018, Shantilly's Place, in the Kawartha region of Ontario. Having just launched her third book 'Loving Yourself Without Losing Your Cool' which is structured by Shantelle's own personal omissions -- she…
Preparing for hot summer weather
5 min readEnvironment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has issued special weather statements for several parts of the province. The statement indicates our region will experience the first hot stretch of the summer with inland temperatures reaching into the upper 20s starting tomorrow, and into the low 30s into early next week.
Activites
Help transform the lives of B.C.’s kids during the 8th
4 min readDonations made during the campaign will be matched for 2X the impact Kids with disabilities and complex healthcare needs in B.C. need your help now. Variety - the Children’s Charity of BC is inviting British Columbians to participate in Variety Week from October 16 to 20 to come together as one community and give. Here…
An Amazing Lifetime of Music Begins Here ™
3 min readFun. Uplifting. Magical. Transformative. These are just a few of the ways that parents describe Music Together®. Want to join their amazing community of Music Together families?
My Son’s Legacy, the 2023 Butterfly Run & Giving Back
4 min readAfter the loss of her son Wilder in 2017, Kimberly Lockhart began searching for a sense of community. She discovered that Vancouver did not have a memorial walk for infertility and pregnancy loss. Lockhart knew there was a need to raise awareness and she desired to bring families together to connect and support one another.…
Performance Based Learning is how we are getting kids invested
6 min readWhen you step through the doors of School of Rock Vancouver, what you will hear is laughter and excitement. That’s because these budding musicians are building their self confidence while playing their chosen musical instruments from day one instead of starting with scales and other theory exercises, and they are doing this alongside their friends in…
4 Reasons to Book Fall Activities
5 min readSummer is coming to an end and now is time to start planning which activities your children will be doing this Fall. Extracurricular activities are a huge part of children's growth and development. They provide an opportunity for children to have new experiences, meet new people, and learn new skills. On top of all that…
New Ways To Keep Your Kids Busy During Summer Break
6 min readLet's get into it as we explore new ways to keep kids busy during Summer break. There are a variety of new ways through which caregivers or parents can keep their young ones busy.