Post by Helena Zhu, Women Students Program Assistant at Access & Diversity

How much screen time should your little one(s) receive? Should you speak English or your first language with your child(ren)? These are questions that Vancouver Coastal Health can help you answer.

VCH has a catalogue of health education materials that you can read online or print at home. You can find a reference sheet on helping your 1-to-3-year-old stop using a bottle above as an example. Most of them only take up a letter-size paper or double-sided on a letter-size paper, which you can then put up on the fridge or a bulletin board for reference.

The resources catalogue includes information for children of all ages, women’s health, LGBT2S health, among other topics. The printable materials also come in a variety of languages, including English, Chinese, Punjabi, Spanish, Vietnamese, Farsi, and Korean. You can find all the printable resources at http://vch.eduhealth.ca/.

Post by Helena Zhu, Women Students Program Assistant at Access & Diversity

From tasting delicious Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt to getting sweaty at the Hot Box Yoga, Westbrook Village has an array of shops, restaurants, and services for you and your family—all at a discount.

UNA Discounts

If you and your family live at Chancellor Place, Hawthorn Place, East Campus, Hampton Place, or Westbrook Place (Westbrook Village), you are eligible to apply for a UNA Access Card. With an Access Card, you can receive discounts at a variety of stores in Westbrook Village. Below are some highlights.

Blenz Coffee: You can always get a free upsize on any Blenz drink.

The Hot Box Yoga: You can drop in for a free yoga class if you are a new customer.

Westbrook Eyecare: 15 percent off contact lenses and 30 percent off all eyeglasses and sunglasses.

Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt: Get 10 percent off—It’s not much, but if you love yogurt, the savings add up!

To see the full list, please visit http://wesbrook.app2.thoughtshop.com/unadiscounts.

Westbrook Village Spring Savings

You can take a free Westbrook Village coupon book at many of Westbrook events (See picture above). Coming up with a new set every season, the April to June Spring Savings coupons features buy one get one free at Blenz Coffee, 15 percent off shaved ice at Chef Hung Taiwanese Beef Noodle, free cookie with the purchase of a sandwich at Doughgirls Comfort Kitchen and Bakeshop, among others.

You can find a list of upcoming Westbrook events at http://www.wesbrookvillage.com/. To find out which events will have coupon books available, please call (604) 228-2025.

“BLOG” by Christian Schnettelker under CC By 2.0

By Helena Zhu, Women Students Program Assistant at Access & Diversity

Vancouver has a diverse group of parent bloggers, covering topics from road trips and activities to crafts and recipes. Below is a selection of blogs we love and would like to share with you!

Adventures

Discovering Parenthood: Tamara Goyette blogs about a variety of happenings in her life, but her travels with her husband, Jason, and their daughter, Evie, are full of vivid photos and tips. Who knew you can see a house full of barn owls, watch all different kinds of birds (most notably eagles and hawks), and stroll by Nicomekl River, located in Surrey, at Elgin Heritage Park!

Pint Size Pilot: If you like the beach, the snow, or adventures, Tara Cannon is the blogger for you. From a hand-picked catalogue of baby and toddler beach essentials to kid-friendly travel spots, she’s got going out with your baby(ies) covered!

Daddy Blogger: Ricky Shetty and his family went on 15 trips in 3.5 years, including one to the Whistler Children’s Festival. Aside from all their trips, Ricky also writes about how to select a perfect family portrait photographer and reviews products such as a wearable book!

Arts & Crafts

Keeping the Me in Mommy: Renata agrees that having focused crafting sessions is not always possible with a three-year-old and a one-year-old, but she has never stopped trying. From decorating sheep with fluffy cotton balls on Chinese New Year to making Valentine’s Day cards for day care classmates, Renata can keep you and your little one(s)’s creative juice flowing.

Wellness

Talk Nerdy to Me: Louise Chapman is a thoughtful blogger who writes about things that she is thankful for on every “Thankful Thursday.” Her energy of positivity easily influences readers and urges them to reflect on the little things in life that are worth appreciating. She also engages in harder conversations on important issues including adolescent suicide and anti-bullying.

Styling the Inside: Jamie Dunlop Khau’s blog is about feeling good on the inside. She talks about running her first half marathon, helping her children develop a positive body image, and teaching children how to stay safe on social media. She is also good at posting tips for last-minute gift ideas, be it for Christmas or Valentine’s Day.

Food

SewCreative: Blogger Crystal Allen makes cooking look extremely fun. Her cooking adventures are full of experimentation and include recipes like homemade raspberry vinegar recipe and bacon chocolate chip scones with maple and sea salt drizzle recipe. In addition to wonderful cooking ideas, Crystal crafts and shares tips on how to give an ordinary IKEA stool a makeover.

By Helena Zhu, Women Students Program Assistant at Access & Diversity

In time for a new season, we have a new edition of the Guide to Resources & Supports for Parents. You can access the guide on the Students who are parents page. Don’t forget to also drop by Access & Diversity’s booth at the upcoming seventh annual Multicultural Family Resource Fair on Friday, March 27 from 10 a.m. to noon at UBC Acadia Commons Block, 2707 Tennis Crescent. We will have various resources available for the taking and interactive activities for you and your child(ren).

Below are some highlights of the updates in the fifth edition of the guide:

1. We added an interactive map (P. 9) for housing cost by Vancouver neighbourhood from The Ubyssey to allow you to better compare housing options.
2. We added child subsidy options on P. 12 to include BC Family Bonus Program (up to $111 per child per month) and the Canada child tax benefit.
3. We added additional food options on P. 19 to include Sprouts, which offers affordable vegan lunch by donation (suggested $1) every Friday, as well as the information on the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.
4. We added how and why you should get a UTown@UBC Community Service Card on P. 26, in case you haven’t yet.
5. We added plenty of tips on activities you can do with your child(ren) on campus, from a stroll in the Nitobe Garden (by donation during winter) to hands-on programs at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, which is free for students and children age 4 and under (P. 35-36).
6. As for off-campus activities, you can now read about YMCA camps and skating for free at Robson Square Ice Rink on P. 37-38.
7. Last but not least, we updated all the links, so they would lead you to the right places!

We hope you find the latest edition useful.

“Swim Lessons” by ICMA Photos under CC 2.0, cropped from original.

By Helena Zhu, Women Students Program Assistant at Access & Diversity

Spring break is over and it is never too early to start registering your kid(s) for affordable and enriching summer camps. Below is a selection of camps we handpicked for you:

On Campus

UBC camps

UBC camps offer a lot of flexibility. Since most camps either take up the morning or the afternoon, you can custom-build a full-day camp, as long as you add in “lunch supervision.” UBC camps are tailored to kids of different ages and interests. Camps range from music camp, e.g. Little Mozarts for four to five year olds at $250 for five mornings, to Lego Design Robotics at $135 for five afternoons (eight to 12 year olds).

The camps are more expensive than those hosted by the YMCA, but they are right on campus. For more information, please visit camps.ubc.ca/summer-camps. Continue reading →

“Pacific Spirit Park (2)” by Asher Isbrucker under CC BY 2.0

By Helena Zhu, Women Students Program Assistant at Access & Diversity

Ever find yourself wishing that activities on campus were more affordable? Hope these free and low-cost tips could allow you and your family to have fun without hurting your wallet.

Exercise

Swim

Did you know that swimming at the UBC Aquatic Centre is free for current UBC students? All you need is your student card. For other members of the family, the pool includes free access for children under 3 years old, Toonie Swim, and free swimming and aquatic classes for all at the beginning of each academic term. If you have a Community Service Card, which you can apply for if you live in Acadia Park or the University Apartments, single drop-in starts at $2.75. The Aquatic Centre includes a 50m indoor pool, hot tub, steam room, fitness area, weight room, diving boards, among others. To see the drop-in schedule, please visit recreation.ubc.ca/aquatics/aquatics-drop-in.

Skate

From public skating to family hockey, UBC students have access to the Thunderbird Arena for free. Entrance for children and other family members start at $2.75 for drop in with the Community Service Card. Skate rentals are between $3.50 and $4.50. To see the schedule, please visit recreation.ubc.ca/ice/ice-drop-in.

After-School Programs

As the weather gets nicer, UTown@UBC is offering a six-week fun and interactive after-school program for your kids and teens. Kids Fit, engages kids 7 to 12 years old in games, sports, swimming, and outdoor activities. It runs on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. from May 11 to June 18 and costs a total of $35. Youth Fit, for youths between 13 and 18 years old, runs on Saturdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Mondays from 5 to 7 p.m. between May 9 and June 15 and costs $50. Although Youth Fit activities are subject to participants, they could include rock climbing, bowling, soccer, fencing, and dragon boating.

Both programs give priority to UNA and UTown@UBC residents, but general public will be admitted if spaces are available. Registration for both closes at 4:30 p.m. on May 4. To register, please visit www.utown.ubc.ca/youthfit or www.utown.ubc.ca/kidsfit.

Eat

In the basement of the Student Union Building UBC Sprouts hosts “Community Eats” every Friday to provide vegan lunch by donation (suggested $1). The doors open at 11:30 a.m and is open until all the food has been served. Be sure to bring a reusable container and utensils. On other days of the week, Sprouts serves food and drinks at affordable prices. For more information, please visit ubcsprouts.ca.

Take a Stroll

As UBC students, you can visit both the Nitobe Garden and the Botanical Garden for free. The greenery could just be the oasis you need with your family after a busy day. In winter times, Nov. 16 to March 14, the gardens are open to the public 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. by donation. For other nature walks, you can consider Wreck Beach if you are ready for 400 stairs down and up, Tower Beach (fewer stairs), or Pacific Spirit Park trails.

Arts and Culture

You can access plenty of museums and galleries on campus: Museum of Anthropology (free for UBC students and children 6 and under), Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery (free admission to all), Beaty Biodiversity Museum (free for UBC students, faculty, and staff and children age 4 and under), and Pacific Museum of Earth.

If you enjoy concerts, the School of Music frequently puts on free concerts for all to enjoy. To see the schedule, please visit music.ubc.ca.

“vancouver blossoms” by David Wise licensed under CC BY 2.0

Post by Helena Zhu, Women Students Program Assistant at Access & Diversity

While your kid(s) might be delighted that they have a two week break this spring (Saturday March 7 to Sunday March 22), you might be wondering how you’re going to attend classes and get your work done. Fret no longer. There are a number of affordable day camps available to you in Vancouver. Here is a short summary:

YMCA

YMCA of Greater Vancouver offers perhaps the lowest-cost camps for the entire duration of spring break, from March 9 to 20, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. For $147, your 6-12 year old(s) can stay either at the Langara Family YMCA (282 West 49^th Ave.) or Robert Lee YMCA (955 Burrard St.), both a 30-minute bus ride from UBC. Both camps include a trip to Fort Langley and Science World, sports, games, and the recommended 90 minutes of daily physical activity.

YMCA offers need-based financial assistance to cover part of the cost.

UBC Camps

Can you imagine easier drop-off and pick-up than right here on campus? Over spring break, your kid(s) can dive underwater with the Scuba Camp at the Aquatic Centre, explore the forest with UBC Ropes Course, or shine in the spotlight with the Performing Arts camp. UBC’s Spring Programs are mostly half-day, week-long camps that cost between $133 and $288. The good news is that most of these courses are eligible for Community Service Card discounts.

The Old Barn Community Centre

Right behind Thunderbird Residence, the Old Barn Community Centre is conveniently located. The only downside is that these camps are a little pricey, though you can get 10 percent off with a University Neighbourhood Association (UNA) Access Card. Literary and writing camps from 9 to 4 p.m. cost $270 for five week days. Two-hour-a-day camps for 3-5 year olds cost $150 for five week days. You can register for camps and apply for a UNA Access Card on UNA’s website.

Dunbar Community Centre

If you would like more flexibility in your child(ren)’s spring break activities, Dunbar Community Centre has independent day camps every week day for children 7 to 12 years old. For $40 a day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., your child can go bowling, to the movies, and to attractions such as Science World and the Aquarium. For children anywhere from 1 to 12 years old, the community centre also offers hour-long and half-day programs in cooking, writing, and even good manners, among others. For more details, please see pages 10-11 in its Recreation Guide. You may qualify for discounts with the Leisure Access Program.

Kitsilano Community Centre

Located about 25 minutes by bus from UBC, Kitsilano Community Centre offers some creative programs, from building NASA space program models to seeing their LEGO creations in motion with motors. These 3-hour creative programs cost $177 for five sessions, while more traditional, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. programs cost $149 for five week days.

West Point Grey Community Centre

Located a 15-minute bus ride from campus near Jericho Beach, West Point Grey Community Centre is closer than both the Kitsilano and Dunbar community centres. West Point Grey has probably one of the longest programs for 3-5 year olds, at 4 hours a day, $145 for five days a week. For children 6-12, the program including activities such as baking, swimming, and skating cost $145 for five week days, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Skating at Robson Square” by Steve Tannock licensed under CC BY 2.0

Post by Helena Zhu, Women Students Program Assistant at Access & Diversity

After powering through January, we finally get a break in February on Family Day, Monday, Feb. 9! Vancouver has plenty of low-cost and free activities to keep both you and your little one(s) active and bonding.

Robson Square Ice Rink
Situated in the heart of downtown, Robson Square Ice Rink offers free skating, skate rentals, and music for the whole family. The rink is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with free hot chocolate from noon to 4 p.m. You can get to Robson Square by busses 14 and 4 from UBC, getting off at Robson St.

UBC Aquatic Centre
UBC Aquatic Centre is open on Family Day with obstacle inflatables set up in the deep end, and two headed dragon set up in the shallow end from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The pool is free to UBC students and $2 for others during the period.

Kerrisdale: Skate for Half Price
Kerrisdale Cyclone Taylor Arena (5670 East Boulevard) is offering half-price skating on Family Day from 4:15-5:30 p.m. Family rates with discount would come to $1.45 per person. Skate rental costs $2.86. Those part of the Leisure Access Program, which low-income Vancouver residents can apply for, can swim, skate, and rent for free at the Kerrisdale Community Centre. For more information, please call (604) 257-8121.

Kitsilano: Family Day Festivities
Drop by the Kitsilano Community Centre at 2690 Larch Street between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Family Day for free family-friendly activities and entertainment. For more details, please reach the community centre at (604) 257-6980.

West Point Grey: Free Zumba, Arts and Crafts, Bouncy Castle
At the West Point Grey Community Centre (4397 West 2nd Ave.), families can enjoy free activities from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The day will start with zumba for all ages from 9 to 10 a.m., followed by the main celebration from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Parents and children can enjoy arts and crafts, playtime, and a bouncy castle.