Another Dimension: The KamloopsParents.Com Directory

Sep 03 2010

Posted by Elizabeth as One Parents Perspective, Ongoing Events, Parenting Resources, What's Going on in Kamloops

I’m thrilled that so many of you enjoy the crafts and recipes and other great things that are shared, here, on KamloopsParents.Com. I’t’s awesome to get to meet many of you, in person, at different events and activities throughout the city. It’s great to see families getting out and getting involved with the parenting community! I am always happy to post family-friendly events on the site so that other families can get ideas of what to do with their kids.

Did you know that there is another dimension to KamloopsParents.com? Have you checked out our directory? Over there, on the far right, there is a link that you should look at. There are numerous pages of family-friendly businesses and activities as well as different resources for play groups, hobby groups, interest groups, and a directory of parents working from home. Need a local photographer? Need ideas for a birthday party? Check out the site! I’m always working at updating the directory so if you know of something that needs to be added, or something that isn’t correct, just let me know!

If you or someone you know runs a family-friendly business or works from home and you would like to spread the word on KamloopsParents.Com, just let me know! You can e-mail me at elizabeth@kamloopsparents.com and we can arrange to get you promoted through the site. The business directory features free business listings and a number of affordable advertising packages on six month terms.

If you have any questions, just send them my way. If you want to get involved with KamloopsParents.Com, there are lots of ways you can! I accept guest submissions and articles, anytime. Reviews and Craft and Recipe Ideas are always welcome, too! Do you want to be a fitness-feature parent? Just e-mail me!

Well, did you go look yet?

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Call for Photographs

Aug 26 2010

Posted by Elizabeth as Ongoing Events, What's Going on in Kamloops

Residents are invited to submit their digital photo entries for promotional purposes and select photos will be chosen for this season’s Annual Calendar. The deadline for submissions is 4:30 p.m. 2010 September 30.

Participants are encouraged to enter their photographs focussing on healthy living, recreation and culture, events and scenic elements that identify and distinguish our city. Suggestions include citizens at work and play, landscapes, streetscapes, garden views, parks and cityscapes throughout all seasons, fall, winter, spring and summer. Scenes must be easily identified as Kamloops. Photos of people may be used only if a model release can be obtained.

Download a Photographic Release Form.

Residents of all skill-level and ages are encouraged to enter their photographs.

Entries must have been taken and owned by the participant.
Entries must be submitted in digital format.
Participants grant reproduction rights and permissions to the City to use all submitted images for projects such as the annual calendar, website, displays, publications, fund raising and promotional purposes.
Submission of entry implies acceptance of all above conditions.

Winning photographs will be used for promotional purposes and may appear in news articles, magazines, the City’s web site photo displays and the City of Kamloops annual calendar.
Submitting Photos
Please submit only digital photographs. To submit your photos please email them in batches, no more than 5 at a time, to Business and Client Services or burn them onto a CD and drop it off:
Attention: Business and Client Services
City Hall
7 Victoria Street West
Kamloops BC V2C 1A2

For more information and details please contact:

Quinn Savage – 250-828-3803
Paul de Zeeuw – 250-828-3615

Logo Contact
Business & Client Services
7 Victoria Street West
Kamloops, BC V2C 1A2
ph (250) 828-3572
fax (250) 828-3578
email info@kamloops.ca

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Car Seat Safety: Traveling with the most precious cargo

Aug 26 2010

Posted by Guest as Adventures in Parenting, One Parents Perspective, Ongoing Events, Parenting Resources, Safety First

Melissa Carlin is a certified CPST (Child Passenger Seat Technician) and also a mother of three gorgeous gals, here in Kamloops. Melissa is passionate about car seat safety and shares a little bit of her knowledge on Child Passenger Safety with us, today. If you have any questions about Car Seat Safety, you can contact her at Lizzie Bits Baby Co (250-374-8706).

Please take the time to ensure that you read up on Car Seat Safety. Keep your kids safe on the road!

Child Passenger Safety… let’s start with the basics!

Fact #1. Motor vehicle collisions are a leading cause of injury and death of children in Canada.

Fact #2. It is estimated that well over half of infant and child car seats are not installed/used correctly

The changes to the BC Child Safety Seat Regulations, effective July 1, 2008, were intended to reduce the incidence of injury and death of children in crashes. It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure all passengers under age 16 are restrained appropriately. Do you know the laws?

Up to one year AND 9 kg (20 lb.)

- Rear-facing child car seat

- NOT on a front seat with an active air bag

Over one year AND 9 kg to 18 kg (20 to 40 lb.)

-Forward-facing child car seat

-May remain rear-facing if allowed by manufacturer’s weight limit

Over 18 kg (40 lb.) until 9th birthday unless they have reached 145 cm (4’9”) in height

-Booster seat and a lap/shoulder seat belt

-May remain in a forward-facing child car seat if allowed my the manufacturer’s weight limit

-If no lap/shoulder seat belt, must be secured without a booster seat by a lap belt

Over 9 years old

-Seat belts must always be used correctly to ensure your child is safe

- The back seat is the safest place

- Always choose a position in your vehicle with a combined lap and shoulder belt and a head rest

There are lots of common questions about Child Car Seat Safety. Here are a few answers.

“I always hear that I am supposed to keep my child rear-facing. Why?”
Studies show that toddlers up to the age of 2 are more than 5 times safer riding rear-facing! There are many seats available now with rear-facing limits of 35, 40 and even as high as 45 lbs. A rear-facing seat is outgrown when the rear-facing weight limit is reached OR when there is less than 1 inch of car seat shell above the child’s head, whichever comes first.

When children outgrow rear-facing, they then move to a forward-facing child seat. The majority of seats now will harness to between 50 and 65 lbs, and there many with very high-top harness slots to keep tall kids harnessed, so there is no rush to move your child to a booster when they hit 40 lbs (which is the minimum weight by law to use a booster seat). Forward-facing car seats are outgrown when the weight limit is reached OR when the child’s shoulders are above the top harness slot OR when the middle of their ears are even with the top of the child seat. Most children are not ready to sit in a booster full time until the are 5-6 years old. Before you move your child from a harnessed seat to a booster ask yourself a few questions. Will your child be able to sit up straight the whole car ride, keep the shoulder belt positioned correctly, and leave the seat belt alone for the entire car ride?

“Can you tell me a little bit more about booster seats?”
Booster seats are meant to boost the child up so that an adult seat belt fits them properly. They can only be used with a shoulder and lap belt combo. Without a booster seat, the lap belt portion will be too high up on the child’s abdomen instead of across their hips where it should be positioned, which can cause serious internal injuries in a collision. The shoulder belt will cut across their neck, which often causes the child to place the belt behind their arm or back, leaving them poorly restrained by a lap belt only.

Before you decide that your child is ready to use a seat belt only, try this test to see if they are really ready.

The 5 step test:

1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?

2. Do the child’s knees bend comfortable at the edge of the auto seat?

3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?

4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?

5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

If you answered no to any of these questions your child needs to remain in a booster seat for safety!

And a few last things to remember…

Avoid common mistakes!

Make sure the harness is snug – no more than 2 fingers can fit between the harness and the child’s collarbone

Position the chest clip at armpit level

Make sure the harness is in the right slot. BELOW the shoulders for rear-facing, ABOVE the shoulders for forward-facing

Secure the tether strap

Make sure there is less than 1 inch of movement at the belt path for installed car seats

Make sure boostered children do not put the shoulder belt behind their back or under their arm

Put children under 12 years old in the back seat

Do not move child the next stage of child seats too soon!

Are you interested in having your seat(s) checked by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician? Lizzie Bits Baby Co. runs monthly car seat checks at the store and offers checks by appointment as well. Call 250-374-8706 to book an appointment or visit www.lizziebaby.ca for more information.

Safe travels!

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Looking For Answers: Big Little Science Centre

Aug 12 2010

Posted by Elizabeth as Adventures in Parenting, Family Time, One Parents Perspective, Ongoing Events, Reviews, What's Going on in Kamloops

I’ve said it before. I’m a geek. It’s not a bad thing: I just love finding out cool new things. I love playing and watching my kids learn stuff, too.

It’s so amazing to see them discover something new and to see how they develop the framework for their understanding of the world, as they ask questions and see “what happens, next?!” It really brings that feeling of pride in your children (that you have, as a parent) to a whole new level when you watch their little faces as they make a new discovery and share it with you!

We had a KamloopsParents.Com event in July, at the Big Little Science Centre. The BLSC is located in the Bert Edwards School of Science and Technology on Windsor Ave on the North Shore of Kamloops. It is open for the summer (until August 28th) with special hours of 10am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday. It is definitely a fabulous way to spend an hour (or two, or three, or four).

There are so many cool displays that you (ahem, I mean the kids) can check out and discover. From fun glasses that change your vision a little bit (or a lot) to balancing birds.

From musical marble towers to walking ducks.

From magnets to human-power. From… I could go on, but I really just want to encourage you to get there and check it out! All summer long, the Big Little Science Centre has a special show happening, daily, at 1:30pm!

The BLSC has themed activities every week, throughout the year. They will resume their regular hours on September 9th, but until then you can catch these great themes:

Monday August 16 to Saturday August 21: “Don’t Rock the Boat!” The object is to build a simple boat that floats; or is it to sink the boat? Depends on the children!

Monday August 23 to Saturday August 28: “Anchors Away” Try your hand at building a balloon-powered boat to roam the high seas (of our kiddie pool).

We love The Big Little Science Centre! It’s a great way to spend a family-day. If you like, you can even like their page on facebook to get updated with all their great activities and events!

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Saturday’s event has been cancelled as our guide has had to leave town. I’ll keep you posted in case it gets re-scheduled.

Don’t forget that there is a great family event happening on Saturday, August 14th! David Williams, from TRU, will be leading a kid-focused tour of the Horticulture Gardens at TRU. Bring some water and a hat and maybe a picnic lunch, as we meet at House 10 (by the CAC) at 10am to start our tour. Please RSVP if you are planning on attending, just so that we can guess how many hand lenses we need to provide. However, if Saturday morning rolls around and you are looking for something to do, you are welcome to just show up, as well!

Also, remember that you can enter the giveaway from East Side Mario’s once every day until 10pm tonight! Comment, now, or e-mail me to win!!

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Sheet Watercolour (Bizarre Bazaar): Crafting with Kids

Aug 10 2010

Posted by Elizabeth as Adventures in Parenting, Crafting with Kids, Family Time, One Parents Perspective, Ongoing Events

Every Thursday, the Kamloops Arts Council and the City of Kamloops pair up to bring “The Bizarre Bazaar” to Kamloops residents. It’s an eclectic gathering of all kinds of artists from our community, and a great occasion to get out with the family and sample a variety of the arts. From 12 to 7pm, you can go to the Old Courthouse on Seymour Street (turn into the parking lot off 3rd Ave and drive through the lot to the back, to park) and experience all kinds of family fun!

You can tour the gallery inside the Courthouse!

You can check out the children’s play “King Arthur: Lost in Time” out on the front lawn at 1pm!

You can listen to a number of different artists performing throughout the day!

You can browse the shops and booths of various artists set up on the site!

You can participate in a Free Garden workshop from 5 – 6pm!

You can check out a Free Kids Art Workshop anytime from 3 – 5pm!

The schedule for this upcoming Thursday looks amazing!!

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Last week, the kids and I went to the Bizarre Bazaar to check out the art project. We were a little late for the theatre, but one of the players was happy to give the kids balloon animals to enjoy!

The activity of the day was creating a watercolour painting on an old white sheet, using felts and sharpies.

First, we coloured some designs with the coloured felt pens.

Then, we outlined the colours with Sharpie.

We filled in the black Sharpie drawings with as much colour as we could get.

Then, we used a paintbrush and water to spread the felt colour and get the watercolour effect.

They look fantastic!! It was a fantastic project and what a fun idea for a way to create! If you wanted to have the colours stay in the watercolour, you could get something to bond the colour to the fabric, as well.

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