Happy new year! With the new year upon us, it seems like a good time to dive back into the parenting files and offer up a few suggestions for family and kid-related events coming up in New West.
First up, as I perused the Kids New West website, I spotted a listing for an upcoming workshop titled The Magic Touch: Interactive Screen Technology for Children.
The workshop write-up notes that it's designed to help participants "gain a better understanding of children's needs in a rapidly changing world of technology."
Parents, teachers and caregivers will be given tips about how interactive devices can be used to support their child's developmental well-being.
The workshop is being presented by Michaela Wooldridge, who's currently completing her PhD in human development, learning and culture, with research interests involving the development of infants and toddlers in the digital age.
It's happening on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at the New Westminster Children's Centre, 811 Royal Ave.
It runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and child-minding is provided. Registration is required. Call 604-521-8078, ext. 315, or email [email protected].
(And, by the way, if you haven't discovered Kids New West already, be sure to check out the website at www.kidsnewwest.ca. It's a great resource for all things parenting-related in the city.)
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Are you a new mom looking for ways to gain back some fitness? Or maybe just find an hour or two for relaxation and sanity?
Mom and Baby Yoga may be just the ticket.
New Westminster's parks and recreation department offers a couple of different options for new moms with babies.
You can take part in Mom and Infant Yoga (babies aged one to 12 months) at the Anvil Centre, in Dance Studio 415. It runs Wednesdays at 10 a.m. from Jan. 14 to March 18, and it costs $67. Call 604-527-4640.
There's also Mom and Baby Yoga on Thursdays at Centennial Community Centre (suitable for babies up to nine months old). The first session has already started (the first class was Jan. 8), but the next session runs Feb. 19 to March 19. Both sessions run Thursdays from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. Call 604-777-5100 for info or registration.
On a personal note, I totally recommend it. I took Mom and Baby Yoga - first at Bonsor Rec Centre in Burnaby, then at Centennial - with my own wee punkin when I was off on maternity leave a couple of years ago, and it was fantastic for both of us. (At least until she started to crawl!)
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If you have young bookworms in the house, you're undoubtedly already spending plenty of time at the New Westminster Public Library.
But just in case you haven't discovered it yet, be sure to take a look at everything our library has to offer. Both branches (uptown and Queensborough) have a number of programs and events throughout the year geared to families and kids.
First and foremost, don't miss out on the ongoing storytime fun.
Both libraries offer Preschool Storytime, with songs, rhymes and stories for children aged two to five.
It happens at the main branch (716 Sixth Ave.) on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. - it starts up again for the season on Jan. 19.
It also takes place at the Queensborough branch (920 Ewen Ave.) on Wednesdays from 11 to 11:30 a.m., starting Jan. 21.
For those with younger kids, there's also Babytime for the zero-to-23-month crowd, running Fridays at 10:15 a.m. (starting Jan. 23) at the main branch and Mondays (starting Jan. 19) at 11 a.m. at the Queensborough branch.
There's also an evening Family Storytime at the main branch on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m., starting Jan. 20. The whole family is invited to bring their PJs and teddy bears to this evening storytime for all ages.
Also coming up at the library, don't miss out on Family Literacy Night on Monday, Jan. 26. The event, which runs from 6 to 8 p.m., offers up a variety of fun literacy-related activities for all ages. You can explore science and technology, create something to take home, play a game, share favourite books and enter to win prizes.
Keep an eye on the library's website at www.nwpl.ca for all the happenings at the library.
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Is there a budding artist in your midst?
The Anvil Centre has a host of arts and cultural programs on offer for the new year, and many of them are coming up fast.
The centre has something for just about all ages from toddlers on up, with Art Splash and Art Tot Tuesdays programs for the two- to four-year-old crowd, plus Kinder Art, Art Extravaganza and Music on the Go for the three-to-five set.
For older kids, there are even more choices. Five- to eight-year-olds can delve into a variety of programs that include Young Masters (introducing them to the world of famous art), Pop Up (card making) and Shadow Puppets.
Older kids and teens also have a variety of offerings, including Kaleidoscope of the Arts, Clowning with The Comedy of Errors, Making Masks and Building Characters, Tween Theatrics and more.
All the programs are outlined in the Anvil Centre's Winter 2015 brochure. For more information, you can call 604-527-4640, pick up a brochure at city facilities or download one from www.anvilcentre.com.
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If you're parenting a boy, here's one you may want to look into.
The New Westminster Parents' Night Out Committee is offering up a workshop called Boy Smarts on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at Qayqayt Elementary School.
Barry MacDonald, an author, teacher and counsellor/coach, will look at issues surrounding boys' needs, why ADHD is overdiagnosed among boys, why 80 per cent of videogame players are boys, and how we can help boys to manage stress - with an ultimate eye to answering the question, "How can we help boys grow into courageous and caring men?"
The workshop is set to run from 7 to 8:30 p.m., and tickets bought in advance cost $10 (they will be $15 on event day, if available). Buy through the Massey Theatre box office at 604-521-5050 or through ticketsnw.ca. Free child care will be available for ages two and up, but you must register in advance - email [email protected].
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Do you have a family or parenting-related event to share? Do you run a group that helps local families? Be sure to stay in touch so that I can share all your news with readers.
Please send me all your tips and suggestions and I'll do my best to share them onwards. You can email me at [email protected], or you can connect with me on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.
Happy new year!
