I’ve made a lot of what most people would say were mistakes in my life. I’ve had bad perms, questionable boyfriends and dreadful jobs. But I was raised with the theory that there are no wrong decisions, just different life experiences.

My dad used to say when faced with a “Y” in the road, going down one path will get you blackberries and going down the other will get you raspberries.

Now a parent of teenagers myself, I’m learning that this fruit analogy is useful in raising thoughtful, critical thinkers. What we often think of as mistakes are just the results of our decisions that we must live with and learn from.

I was 21 years old when I asked my dad to “loan” me money to buy a plane ticket to Korea. I had no means to pay him back. I had just graduated from college and was ready to start my career as a dental assistant. I knew nothing about Korea, but my new boyfriend was moving there to teach English and urged me to go along.

Two things had been true up until that point: I wanted to travel, and I always had a boyfriend. Combining the two felt like a great opportunity. I got the “loan” and bought the ticket, but as the departure date approached, I started to have doubts. I had no interest in Korea as a country and my college diploma did not qualify me to teach English there. A little belated, I started to ask myself some important questions: Why did I want to go to Korea? What was I hoping to gain from the experience?

Two weeks before I was set to leave, I drove to my hometown to welcome home my stepsister. She had spent a year in Argentina as a Rotary exchange student and was different: confident, glowing, emboldened. I felt clear for the first time since I’d bought my ticket—I wanted to feel like my sister did. I had answered my own question, but the answer wasn’t ideal because my ticket, which had cost about the same as my first car, was non-refundable. And I no longer had an apartment or a job.

In a panic, I called my dad and begged him to tell me what to do. Instead, he helped me weigh my options, reminding me that I was young and relatively free and that it would never be easier to travel and have adventures. On the other hand, I had a good life waiting in Victoria. Korea was blackberries. Victoria was raspberries.

I cancelled my ticket, said goodbye to my boyfriend and started my life in Victoria.

I have a teenager myself now and I understand how difficult it is to let her make her own decisions, especially when I think I know what’s best for her.

Recently, she had to choose between fun and responsibility. Her high school basketball team’s wrap-up party was on the same night that her other basketball team was playing in the semi-finals of a tournament.

My daughter had worked hard all season and deserved to celebrate with her school team. On the other hand, she had made a commitment to her other team, and they needed her. The FOMO was real, but so was the reality of letting her team down.

I did what my dad had done with me. I highlighted the two options and the possible outcomes of each choice, and I let her choose. My daughter decided to forgo the party and play in the game, joining the school party for what remained of it.

I’d like to think that she had a moment of clarity about her personal values and insight into her character, but I wouldn’t know. Like many teenagers, she only comes out of her bedroom to eat or ask for money or a ride. But I do know she learned something about herself and that, thankfully, this can’t be another thing she blames me for.

I eventually made it to Europe and travelling was every bit as wonderful as I had imagined all those years ago. When we trust ourselves, and our children, to make informed decisions, we clarify what matters the most to us, and that can never be wrong.

Most decisions involve some type of compromise. There are costs and benefits to everything, which my dad can confirm because I still haven’t paid him back for the ticket.

How do we prepare our kids to grow up resilient to the economic challenges we are experiencing today and that will be an inevitable part of their futures?

According to the Oxford Economics Papers, quantum computing and AI-related innovations are predicted to hit their peak impact in 2035, and our kids need to be ready to ride the wave.

One way to help prepare them is to teach them how to deal with ambiguity and uncertainty by thinking entrepreneurially.

The focus of entrepreneurship is creating new value. Creating economic, social and environmental value is likely to be hallmark skill for new employees entering tomorrow’s workforce. But how can young people in our Greater Victoria region get the necessary hands-on experience in creating new value?

Kidovate

An initiative program offered by the University of Victoria has made this easier than ever. The Gustavson School of Business has created Kidovate, a free youth entrepreneurship experience that helps kids start micro-businesses.

Using a graphic workbook, middle school and high school students walk through how to find an idea, create a product concept, price and package their product, and sell their product at a one-day market.

“To date, over 400 local youth have participated in Kidovate and we expect 2025 to be the biggest year yet,” says Kidovate cofounder and UVIC entrepreneurship professor Brock Smith.

“For Market Day 2025 on April 5, we’ll fill all three levels of the Victoria Bay Centre with youth entrepreneurs selling everything from jewelry they have made, to plants they’ve grown and wooden trays they’ve crafted. The variety of micro-businesses that are started is incredible, and the takeaway learning is immense.”

How can you help?

Visit the next Kidovate Market Day and encourage these young entrepreneurs with a kind word of encouragement or a cash purchase. It is a wonderful opportunity to show your kids what it might be like to be an entrepreneur, and how to support entrepreneurship in our community—support that is more important than ever.

The learning is in the doing. And there cannot be a full learning cycle without customers. By having to think through the many decisions that go into creating something that others value, Kidovate youth are challenged to think critically and to solve problems.

Producing products and selling them at Kidovate Market Day is filled with unknowns. Through Kidovate, young people get to face uncertainty and push past it. Whether students sell 20 items or 200 items, interacting with customers to make a sale encourages self-reliance and determination.

“Through the experience of creating something that a customer values enough to buy, students have had to work through a complex number of decisions and failures too,” says Kidovate cofounder and UVIC business professor Claudia Smith.

“Kidovate, by its very nature, builds their resilience muscle mass. There is no straight line in entrepreneurship, it is always a series of iterations and pivots. These are critical skills for students to learn early—that and perseverance.”

If your child is interested in joining Kidovate next year, visit kidovate.ca.

In recent years, researchers have increasingly focused on the female athlete perspective and the broader engagement of women and girls in physical activity. This growing body of research highlights the unique challenges female athletes face and underscores the importance of addressing these through targeted interventions.

Injury Prevention in Female Athletes

Sports science has emphasized the importance of tailored strength and conditioning programs to address gender-specific injury risks. Female athletes are particularly susceptible to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and concussions due to both intrinsic factors, such as anatomical and hormonal differences, and extrinsic factors, including training practices and movement patterns. A well-designed strength and conditioning program can significantly enhance athletic performance while mitigating these risks by strengthening key muscle groups, improving neuromuscular control and optimizing biomechanics.

Non-contact ACL injuries remain a significant issue in youth and amateur athletics. Female athletes experience ACL tears at alarmingly higher rates than their male counterparts in sports such as basketball, volleyball and soccer. Despite the increased participation of women in sports over recent years, the disparity in ACL injury rates persists. Studies indicate that female basketball players are 3.5 times more likely than males to suffer an ACL injury, while female soccer players face a 2.8 times higher risk. These injuries often occur during rapid stops combined with lateral movements, with the ACL tearing in as little as 70 milliseconds due to improper movement mechanics.

Dynamic movement patterns play a critical role in ACL injury risk. Suboptimal mechanics, such as improper landing techniques or inefficient changes in direction, place undue stress on the knee joint. Addressing these risks involves focusing on both extrinsic factors, which can be modified through training and coaching, and intrinsic factors, which include biological predispositions.

Role of Training & Education

Physical education teachers, coaches and strength-training professionals can play a crucial role in reducing lower body injuries in female athletes. Key areas of focus include:

• Correcting poor motor control and biomechanics during jumping, landing and cutting maneuvers.

• Strengthening stabilizing muscles such as the glutes, hamstrings and core.

• Implementing sport-specific neuromuscular control drills to improve movement patterns.

• Incorporating neuromuscular training programs that focus on dynamic analysis and sport-specific exercises can help prevent injuries while enhancing athletic performance. These programs should become integral components of middle and high school physical education and athletic curricula.

• Embedding Best Practices in Schools Organizations such as Canadian Sport for Life (CS4L) and the Long-Term Athlete Development Model (LTAD) offer frameworks for integrating these practices into school systems. CS4L aims to improve the health, wellness and sporting experiences of all Canadians by advancing physical literacy, enhancing performance and fostering lifelong participation in physical activity.

When girls and women develop physical literacy, they gain self-esteem, confidence and competence making them more likely to successfully partake in physical fitness and sports.

However, participation rates among girls in sports remain critically low. Only four percent of girls meet the recommended daily physical activity levels, according to a Canadian Health Measures Survey.

The Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute found that 70 percent of girls report regular involvement in sports over the past year compared to 81 percent of boys. To close this gap, it is essential to implement strategies that actively promote and support girls’ engagement in sports and physical activity. Establishing inclusive and encouraging environments will play a vital role in fostering their growth and realizing their potential.

Addressing Bias in Sports Research & Leadership

Historically, sports-related research has predominantly focused on young, white males, resulting in training programs that often fail to address the specific needs of female athletes. This bias is evident in physical education curricula, community sports initiatives and high-performance training systems. Moreover, the prevailing culture in sports tends to prioritize the experiences of white, middle-class, heterosexual and able-bodied individuals, effectively excluding many women and girls in Canada, according to the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in Women’s Health.

Leadership opportunities in sports have also historically favoured men, particularly in areas like program development, valued competencies, professional networks and career progression. Addressing these inequities is essential to fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment. Ensuring that training, leadership positions and participation opportunities are accessible and fair for all women and girls will break down barriers and pave the way for a more representative and supportive sports culture.

Advancing Success of Women & Girls in Sports

By addressing injury prevention, embedding inclusive training programs in schools and challenging systemic biases in sports research and leadership, we can create a supportive environment where female athletes thrive. Promoting physical literacy and equitable opportunities not only benefits individual athletes but also strengthens the broader sports community.

As the flowers around us continue to burst into bloom and we get closer to the day we see our first fawn of the season (when they’re still just cute and not annoying because they gobble up our gardens), we can take a moment to appreciate how much everything around us grows.

It can be beautiful, but it can also be alarming, especially when our children start to overtake us in height. In this edition, I’ll focus on books that showcase growth, whether it’s plants growing, our kids’ minds growing or their bodies being just the right size for now.

The first book is 9 Little People by Regina Feldmann and illustrated by Martina Stuhlberger. This poem reminds me of all the friends I made at the parent and baby group I attended when I was a new mother, because it starts with nine little people still in their mothers’ bellies. Then it follows them as they grow out of the newborn stage, through toddlerhood and into young children. The pictures that go with the poem are absolutely stunning. They conjure a cozy, happy, warm, fun feeling while showcasing the diversity of race and ability that we see in our neighbourhoods. For ages 4 to 8.

While our children always seem to grow much faster than we were expecting, sometimes they are still shorter than other children their age. And while that’s not a problem, it can cause some unique challenges. If your child is in that position, they will definitely understand how Dot feels in Not Little by Maya Myers and illustrated by Hyewon Yum. Dot is the smallest person in her family, and because she is small, people always think she is less capable of doing things. But, while Dot is small, she is not little. When a new kid, who’s even smaller than she is, gets into trouble with the mean boy, Dot must decide just how big she is. For ages 4 to 8.

Even kids who aren’t the smallest one in their family or class can fear things. Sometimes when their fears get to them, they can make big mistakes, which often makes the whole situation seem even worse. If your child has ever experienced that, Yuri knows how they feel. In Mayhem at the Museum which is written and illustrated by Hannah Brückner and translated from German by Laura Watkinson, Yuri’s fear of birds catches them off-guard, and they fall into the dinosaur display. It’s “the kind of catastrophe that ALWAYS happens when ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE is looking,” and Yuri is understandably embarrassed, stressed and scared of the attention and the disaster. Mayhem at the Museum showcases a few important parts of growing up: learning how to cope with stress and learning how to fix your mistakes. For ages 4 to 8.

Millie also learns how to manage stress in Millie and the Midnight Hedgehog by Bernadette Watts. Unlike Yuri, who is stressed because of a mistake they made, Millie is stressed by everything going on in the world around her, specifically climate change and the decrease of butterflies and other animals. At first, she feels too small and scared to do anything, because it’s such a big problem. But, with a little encouragement from a hedgehog, Millie discovers small things that she can do in her own backyard to help the world and help herself feel at peace. For ages 4 to 8.

Finally, there is something that every person, plant and animal needs to grow: the sun. In her book Sun in My Tummy, which is illustrated by Andrea Blinick, Laura Alary shows us how we use the sun to survive. Sometimes the process is direct, like a plant using photosynthesis, and other times the process is indirect, like when we eat the plants. But no matter how it happens, we all have a bit of sun in our bellies, and Blinick highlights that idea with her brilliant illustrations that evoke the sun’s warmth on every page. For ages 4 to 8.

I hope these five stories bring you joy and help you celebrate the growth you see around you. I also hope they inspire you and your children to accept your bodies for whatever size they may be, and help your kids learn new ways to cope with stress, no matter the cause.

Oh, the joys of parenting in the TikTok era!

“But Mom,” my almost 11-year-old daughter wails, eyes wide and pleading, “Everyone has it! I’ll be the only one without the holographic glitter lip gloss!”

And just like that, I’m transported back to my own pre-teen years, the memory of teenage angst still buzzing inside of me. I remember the agonizing pressure to fit in, the constant bombardment of “must-haves” from magazines and music videos. It was brutal back in the ’90s, and scarily, it seems much more intense now.

It might be expensive Sephora makeup they’ve seen on TikTok or a name-brand hoodie they claim is a “must-have.” But what happens when your tween or teen asks for something with a price tag that makes you flinch, or doesn’t align with your family’s values?

As a mom who’s navigated these stormy waters more times than I can count, I’m here to share some survival tips—because let’s face it, trends come and go, but sanity is forever.

Understand the Trend’s Appeal

Before you respond to your child’s request, take a moment to understand why they want the item.

Is it because a lot of their peers have it? Does it offer some sort of social status or is it perceived as a “cool” factor? Is it something they genuinely find interesting or useful?

Ask a few questions, like “What do you like about it?” or “Is there a reason this is so popular right now?”

Understanding why my kid wants something is half the battle for me. She’s not just being materialistic—she is trying to fit in, explore her identity and find her place in this crazy, trend-driven world. Once I see where she is coming from, it’s easier to respond with empathy.

Utilize the “Wait & See” Method

The classic waiting game still works—sometimes. When my daughter first begged for a certain brand of $50 water bottle (you know the one!), I didn’t say yes or no—I just said, “Let’s wait a week and see if you still want it.”

Spoiler alert: By the end of the week, she’d already moved on to something else. Trends have a way of losing their sparkle when you’re not caught up in the hype. So, if you’re not sure if a purchase is worth it, give it some time.

Offer Less Expensive Alternatives

If they are adamant that they want a certain item, try to redirect the conversation toward alternatives. For instance, if my child is pushing for this week’s trendy hoodie, I will suggest checking out similar styles at more affordable stores or online shops.

Once it was simply the logo my daughter liked on a hoodie, so I purchased her a sticker version of that logo she then put on her water bottle.

This compromise shows your child that you’re willing to listen to what they want and respect what they like without giving in to every expensive demand.

Focus on Non-Material Values

In a world that often equates possessions with self-worth, it’s crucial to emphasize non-material values. Remind your kids that their friendships, talents and kindness matter far more than owning the latest gadget or designer clothing item. And make sure they know that friendship should not be based on what they wear or own.

In my house, these reminders often receive an eye roll from my daughter, but I can tell the message is starting to sink in.

Involve Them in Budgeting

Teens often have no concept of money so consider involving your kids in the family budgeting process. Show them how much things cost and how you allocate funds for necessities, savings and extras. This transparency can help them understand why certain items might not fit into the family’s financial picture and empower them to make more informed decisions in the future.

Relate the cost of the item to money they have earned or received in the past. I often remind my daughter that the “fortune” she received from her grandparents in her last birthday card only equals half of the cost of the shoes she wants to buy.

Focus on fostering values that will last a lifetime, and trust that your child will eventually find their own unique path, glitter lip gloss or not. And hey, we all went through it, right?

Try to remember that and cut them some slack when possible.

Two Victoria-area teens have been selected to represent Canada at the Junior Roller Derby World Cup in Brisbane, Australia in July.

Chloe Crotty, 17, (known by the derby name Tuffy) and Teaghan Dillon, 18, (known as Kitty Catapult) were chosen as members of Team Canada Junior after a highly competitive try-out process in October.

The athletes have played roller derby for the Rotten Apples, the junior team of Victoria’s Eves of Destruction Roller Derby League, since they were 11, and have both served as captain. Both were also members of BC’s provincial team, West Coast Spirit, last season, with Crotty as co-captain.

The Rotten Apples team was formed in 2011 and includes 32 skaters ages 10 to 18.

“This took years of hard work and dedication,” says Crotty. “I feel so grateful for the opportunity to represent Canada with one of my closest friends.”

Roller derby is a roller skating contact sport played on an oval track by two teams of five skaters. A 60-minute roller derby game, or bout, is a series of two-minute timed jams. Each team, typically with a roster of 15, fields five skaters during each jam: one jammer, designated with a star on their helmet, and four blockers.

“The team is a safe space for youth to come who maybe don’t feel welcome in other sports,” says Kiana McKinstry, coach for the Rotten Apples.

“It gives them the opportunity to be themselves, while also getting the benefits and skills of being on a sports team—exercise, teamwork and friendships. Roller derby is a sport that is inclusive and diverse, creating a welcoming space for people of all ages.”

During each jam, players skate counterclockwise on a circuit track. The jammer scores a point for each opposing blocker they lap. The blockers simultaneously defend by hindering the opposing jammer, while also playing offense by maneuvering to aid their own jammer.

“I’m very proud to be representing our country on an international level,” says Dillon. “It takes serious physical and mental training and a lot of heart.”

Team Canada will face teams from around the world, including the United States, France, Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain. The Rotten Apples have a track record of success at the World Cup, with former teammate Naomi “Scream Soda” Morrell captaining Team Canada to a bronze medal in 2023.

“I’ve watched these two grow up playing roller derby. Achieving their dream of joining Team Canada is a testament to their hard work, determination and passion for the sport,” says McKinstry.

“Team Canada is so lucky to have them both, and I will be cheering them on every step of the way.”

Competing on the international stage in roller derby is an expensive undertaking. Athletes pay their own expenses, from new uniforms, to professional-level gear, to food, transportation and lodging during the World Cup.

Crotty and Dillon have set up a GoFundMe page to help raise the funds they need to compete in the World Cup.

I can thank my 16-year-old son for my tabletop gaming hobby (obsession?). Sure, I played board games growing up, including the usual classics like Monopoly, Battleship and Risk, as well as Dungeons & Dragons in my high school years, but then I lost track of them for a while in adulthood.

When my son started school, I met several other friendly dads at the schoolyard during drop off/pickup who were keen board gamers. They invited me to join their gaming sessions, and since then, tabletop gaming has become a big part of my life.

As our kids grew, our gaming interest rubbed off on them. At younger ages, they couldn’t play the more complex games their dads enjoyed, but we were able to find some interesting games that worked for all ages.

A board game café in downtown Victoria gave us a great option for PD Days or rainy Saturdays. We’d order grilled cheese sandwiches while the kids picked a game to try off the shelves, and the dads could sip Americanos as we whiled away the hours.

Tabletop board games are not only fun, but they can also be a great learning tool for kids, bolstering problem-solving strategies, exercising math muscles, developing negotiation skills and encouraging socializing. And in this digital age, it’s also a great way to keep kids off their devices.

Here are some suggestions for tabletop games to try at different ages.

Younger Ages (6–9)

Catan Junior. A good intro to the game that kicked off the modern board game craze; players vie to be the first to control seven pirate hideouts.

Stratego. An oldie but a goodie that I played when I was a kid; two players face off across a battlefield trying to capture your opponent’s flag before they find yours.

Sushi Go. A fun card game themed on sushi ingredients; this is a good intro to more advanced games that use the “draft and pass” card mechanism.

Tweens (9–13)

Many of these games can work for younger kids with some parental assistance.

Azul. Collect mosaic tiles to place them in patterns on your gameboard and score points.

Carcassonne. A family favourite that can be made more complex with expansions. Players create a map together, scoring points by building cities, roads and farms.

Cascadia. Designed in the Pacific Northwest, this beautiful game asks players to place different wildlife tokens and terrain tiles to build an ecological preserve.

Catan. Released in 1995, this modern classic still holds up today. Collect resources, and trade and negotiate with others around the table to build settlements and cities on the island of Catan.

That’s Pretty Clever. A deceptively simple series of dice games where each coloured dice can be scored in a different way. These games are great for ferry rides or airport waits.

Codenames. Played by teams of two who communicate through one-word hints to determine which cards represent their own team of spies without revealing the assassin.

Flamme Rouge. Ideal for cyclists, this bicycle racing game recreates the Tour de France on your tabletop.

Saboteur. Ideal for a larger group, players are either dwarven miners or saboteurs who must hide their identity while they dig tunnels towards gold deposits.

Ticket to Ride. One of the best games to be played by folks of all ages and gamer levels, players build train routes across a map of North America or Europe, making it ideal for kids who are into geography.

Wingspan. This is one of the most beautifully designed games out there. Draw and place bird cards into three regions on your player board, scoring points based on the birds and in-game challenges.

Felix Townsin, a 14-year-old student at Royal Bay Secondary School in Victoria, is not your average teenager.

Townsin’s advocacy journey began when he was only five years old, writing a book called Don’t Floss Your Toes: Advice from a 5-Year-Old that raised more than $75,000 for medical research.

Inspired by his sister Lexi, who passed away five years ago from the rare disease Blau syndrome, Townsin wrote the book to raise awareness and funds for his sister’s condition.

“Lexi was just two years old at the time and in so much pain,” he says.

“I desperately wanted to help her but felt powerless. I used to pretend to be a doctor and make up cures, but as I got older, I realized that helping her would take more than pretend remedies. I saw my dad writing books and selling them and thought that maybe I could do that for a fundraiser and to raise awareness to find someone who could help my sister. Writing Don’t Floss Your Toes made me feel like I was doing something to help Lexi.”

Blau syndrome is an inflammatory disorder that primarily affects the skin, joints and eyes. Signs and symptoms begin in childhood, usually before age four. Lexi was diagnosed with the disease in 2013 and died in 2019.

Townsin has dedicated his young life to advocating on behalf of children like his sister. He travelled to Kansas City this fall, where he was a guest speaker at one of the world’s largest rare disease advocacy gatherings. Felix has also presented at medical conferences across Europe and is preparing for another talk in Australia.

A Million Acts of Love

Townsin is expanding his efforts far beyond rare disease advocacy with the launch of his global kindness movement, A Million Acts of Love.

Townsin’s vision is to unite people globally to take meaningful action on causes they care about and inspire one million acts of kindness by December 16—what would have been Lexi’s 12th birthday.

A Million Acts of Love encourages people to focus on the causes that matter most to them while recognizing the collective power of community action to change the world.

“Lexi was the most loving and giving person I knew, and I can’t think of a better gift for her than a million acts of love for the world—that’s exactly the kind of selfless gift she would want. We’re uniting people to tackle the world’s challenges together,” says Townsin.

“Whether it’s feeding people in need, helping animals or simply bringing a smile to someone’s face, each act counts. This campaign isn’t just about words—it’s about taking action.”

One recent participant in the movement, a child even younger than Felix, demonstrated this spirit by handing out 50 sandwiches with their parent in downtown Victoria. In the same week, another participant in India bought meals for 50 children.

“That’s 50 acts of love each,” Townsin says. “These stories show how anyone, anywhere, can make a difference.”

Concert Kick Off

The campaign was officially launched in Victoria on October 18 at a benefit concert featuring top musical artists, including Leeroy Stagger, Caleb Hart, Daniel Lapp, the BC Fiddle Orchestra and 13-year-old sensation Chase Varnes, all donating their time to help Felix reach his goal.

The event raised an impressive $15,000 to support A Million Acts of Love grants, providing resources for young changemakers.

“A Million Acts of Love grants support young changemakers to start their own social initiatives,” says Townsin.

“The grants are open to kids ages six to 18 who want to make a positive impact in their communities, whether it’s starting a neighbourhood kindness project or tackling a bigger global issue. They may even want to do a legacy project for a loved one, like I have done for Lexi. The grants help kids like me take their first steps in making the world a better place.”

The October 18 event also inspired 20,0000 acts of kindness.

“It’s about creating spaces where people of all ages feel connected, support one another and take responsibility for our shared future,” says Townsin.

“When we put our differences aside and come together, we create a place where everyone can thrive. When kids grow up in this kind of environment, see beyond themselves and are empowered to make a positive impact, they are more likely to flourish.”

To have your acts of love counted toward Felix’s goal or support the grants initiative, visit amillionactsoflove.com.

The holiday season is upon us! It is a joyful time of the year, filled with Christmas music, adorable sugar cookies, festive drinks and so much more.

However, this is also a season of jam-packed schedules, which can bring on a lot of stress. According to psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky, connection with other people within our lives is one of the greatest strategies for feeling happier.

After all, the holiday season is not just about gifts, it is a fantastic opportunity to spend more time with family and boost bonds with your children. The challenge is to find an activity that both you and your teen or pre-teen will enjoy. As two teens, aged 16 and 14, we are sharing activities that are certain to bring you both enjoyment and connection this holiday season.

1. Support Local

Head out to a holiday market!

Listen to carolling, enjoy hot cocoa, roasted chestnuts or other seasonal treats.

Take photos together with beautifully decorated Christmas trees, as well as pick up a gift or two for loved ones and feel good in supporting local vendors.

Chat with your child about current events in both your lives, and what you are looking forward to in the coming year. This is an enjoyable experience, as it allows both you and your teen an opportunity to catch up and make new memories.

2. Cook or Bake

Traditions are an important part of the holiday season. Recall a traditional holiday dish from your childhood or culture. Maybe it is a special dish passed down through generations, or a delicious sugar cookie recipe. Find the joy in creating a tasty treat together with your child and teach them this recipe. Then, enjoy the fruits of your labour (who doesn’t love good food?).

This time of year is about sharing. Pack up a small amount of your culinary delight and drop it off for your neighbours. Giving to others brings a small bit of happiness to the person who receives your delicious dish, as well as to you and your child. Seeing our actions bringing happiness grants us a greater sense of purpose and satisfaction.

3. Take Downtime

Unplug together with a game! Put your phones away and take some time to relax during this busy time of year. Enjoy a board game, card game or active game like tag. Check out our Gift Guide on page 28 for some more great game ideas.

4. Build a Care Kit

Since helping others boosts feelings of purpose and satisfaction, create a care kit. With a budget of $10 to $15 (or whatever you decide), head to a local grocery store and compile a small care kit of necessities. These can include toothpaste, a travel toothbrush, a bar of chocolate and chapstick. Bring one (or a few!) of these care kits to a shelter and feel good about supporting other people and building a charitable tradition with your child.

The way we define creativity has changed a lot over the years!

There was a time when it was seen as expressing yourself through a traditional form of “art,” usually with paint on canvas. The definition would sometimes stretch to include sculpture or crafting in another form, but being “creative” was generally seen as making something physical with your hands.

It’s time to start changing the way we think because today’s generation is redefining what it means to be creative. Armed with tools like tablets, smart phones and computers, children and youth are making the switch from content consumers to content creators at surprisingly young ages.

With the touch of a screen, they can create their own video game and share it with the world (literally!). The emergence of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) education means children are also exercising their creativity to engineer new and creative inventions that their parents could only dream of.

However, the saying “the more things change, the more they stay the same” has become a cliché for a reason. As contemporary as many of the emerging forms of creativity are, they are still composed of the same underlying element: the desire and ability to “make something new and valuable.”

That’s where you come in. No matter what form your child’s creative outlet takes, they need you by their side to encourage and guide them. To give them the tools they need to bring their incredible ideas to fruition.

So, when you see that spark of inspiration light up your child’s face, take action. Ask them what they are thinking about. Assist them by researching what has been done in the past. Encourage them to try again when the first attempt fails. Tell them you will help make it happen and follow through because these brilliant kids—who have the benefit of a whole new way to express creativity at their fingertips—are the inventors, artists and leaders of the future.

– Stacie Gaetz