After listening to the webinar yesterday on Parenting through the Pandemic I was reminded of the importance of play for all of us.  It inspired me to play and create with my children.  We looked in our house and found some boxes and created something fun.  I encourage you to play with your children, if you have boxes around see what you can build or create, or you can use any materials you have available.  Go PLAY!!  If you would like me to share your creations you can leave a post in the comment section and I can share them with our group.  I will share my creation with you tomorrow.

Here is what we used to make our creation.

Below you can find some more information on the many, many benefits of Play!

Importance of Play – 9 Amazing Benefits & Infographic

At Strong Start I always share my thoughts about how you are all doing Amazing work at being parents.  I just wanted to reassure you that even though things have changed, you are still Amazing!!

Life looks different for me right now, so much has changed in our daily life which has given me more time to listen to more webinars and documentaries.  I find I can always take away something new or meaningful.  I wanted to share a few with you, the first one is one Anita suggested called Parenting through the Pandemic.  It is by Vancouver’s own, Dr. Gordon Neufeld, who is a developmental psychologist and author of the book Hold onto Your Kids . I enjoyed watching it and I will share tomorrow how it inspired me.  You can follow the link below if  you are interested in watching it.

I also wanted to share the following webinar that I signed up for.  The description is below,

Parenting in the time of coronavirus? This is NOT what we signed up for. It’s exhausting trying to do all of the things, all the time. These days as parents, we’re all just trying to survive, let alone thrive.

There’s a better way. Find out how to focus on what really matters, do more with less and forget the rest.

Join ParentMap for a free virtual ParentEd Talk with best-selling author and speaker, Dan Siegel, M.D. Learn the secrets of raising confident, compassionate and connected kids from his new critically-acclaimed book, “The Power of Showing Up: How Parental Presence Shapes Who Our Kids Become and How Their Brains Get Wired.” Sometimes, all you have to do is show up.

‘Show up’ and learn:

• How to unplug so you can tune-in to your child
• How to balance all the competing priorities in your day and still carve out family time
• How to talk (and listen) to kids about tough topics without scaring them

And so much more. Reserve your spot for this FREE event now!

It is free and it will be on Zoom tomorrow, you do have to register to get a spot.  Follow the link below is to register .

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-power-of-showing-up-with-dan-siegel-md-registration-102992942664?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=escb&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing

I wanted to share with you that our blog has been updated with many great community resources that are available to you.  To access these please click on the community resources for family section in the blog.  You will find this near the top of the page.  More resources will be added as we become aware of them, so please check back.

I  also want to  remind you that Anita Olson who used to come visit us at Maywood is also still available to offer her services and she wanted to share the following.

Anita Olson works for Family Services of Greater Vancouver as Burnaby’s Early Childhood Community Consultant (ECCC). She has been working with families and young children for well over a decade and as a parent herself recognizes the challenges, complexity and delight parenting brings. Understanding the foundational importance of infant and early childhood development, Anita shares information, strategies and practical tools with parents as they begin and continue their parental journey. Focusing on the parent/caregiver and child relationship, Anita’s work with families aims to create and preserve loving connection and curiosity.

If you are looking for parenting support: email your questions or join the daily Resource Newsletter  aolson@fsgv.ca

set up a virtual meeting

phone/text Anita at 604-723-9548

Anita Olson (she/her) ECE, BA, MEd

Early Childhood Community Consultant

T 604 525 9144  M 604 723 9548

3^rd Floor – 321 Sixth Street, New Westminster BC V3L 3A7

www.fsgv.ca

We acknowledge the majority of our programs are located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the Xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and Sel ̓ íl ̓ witulh (Tsleil Waututh) Nations. Huy ch q’u. Please note: FSGV is prohibited by policy from including names or initials of clients in our email correspondence. This e-mail message and any attachments thereto are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and contains information that is confidential and may be privileged and exempt from disclosure. Any distribution, copying or disclosure is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately by return email and delete the message unread without making any copies. Thank you.