@play.grow.adventure

Part of what makes Vancouver Island so special is our unique coastal climate. While much of the country is bundled up and blanketed in snow, winter here on the Island is mild enough for year-round family adventures.

But we’ve all been there—it’s another drizzly weekend. Suddenly it’s Sunday night and you realize no one has left the house for days.

Bringing your kids to play outside at a park or connect with nature in the winter is a great way to stay off screens and build new memories. Make this the year you don’t stop adventuring just because the weather is wet.

Winter Playground & Park Tips

• Dress in layers, especially if you’re adventuring near the ocean. Coastal winds can pick up quickly!

• Wear rain boots or waterproof shoes. Even if it’s not raining when you head out, surfaces may be wet and showers can start up anytime.

• Brightly-coloured or highly visible clothing can help kids to stand out at the park or on the trail in foggy weather.

• Look for non-slip surfaces like rubber when it’s raining or wet. Keep the potential for slippery play structures in mind when choosing footwear for your adventure.

• Bring a thermos or snack to share. What could be better than hot cocoa outdoors on a chilly day?

Check out our list of playgrounds, trails and rainy-day activities to keep your kids outdoors, engaged and inspired this winter.

Playgrounds

Old Mill Park, Shawnigan Lake. The wooden play structures at this park make it a great low-slip option for wet weekends. Kids will love exploring and climbing on the unique structures, and you will love how much energy it gets out!

Gyro Park, Sinclair Road, Saanich. A classic neighbourhood playground with plenty of space for running games, swings and sandbox adventures. Everyone loves climbing on the iconic sea creatures!

Esquimalt Memorial Park, Esquimalt. Check out Esquimalt Memorial Park and hop aboard the tugboat play structure! Wide-open fields, playgrounds and walking paths make this park a great spot for family adventures.

Westshore Towne Centre, Langford. Ok, this isn’t technically a park, but it’s perfect for a stormy day when you still want to get out of the house! Westshore Towne Centre has a fun and engaging play area for kids. Plus, make sure to keep an eye on their website for kids’ events and activities.

Brookfield Park, Courtenay. Brookfield Park combines playground fun with open fields and gentle walking trails. Families can enjoy climbing structures, swings, a picnic area and open green space.

Rosedale Park, Saanich. This neighbourhood favourite features playground equipment, forested trails and picnic benches. Kids can splash through puddles, explore the paths and create their own adventures, while parents enjoy a peaceful walk or a cozy picnic in nature.

Hikes & Walks

Kinsol Trestle, Cowichan Valley. A short and accessible path brings you to the main event—a beautifully restored train trestle stretching over a roaring river. With higher water levels in the winter, it’s even more spectacular! Enjoy a piece of Vancouver Island’s history and learn with educational signs along the way.

Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park, Metchosin. Kids will love following the trail past a roaring waterfall down to a wide sandy beach. The waterfall is often even more spectacular during the winter, making this a must-see stop in your outdoor adventures this season.

Clover Point, Victoria. Rain or shine, this windy oceanside spot with dramatic skies is great for kite-flying, wave-watching and a seaside stroll.

Lighthouse Country Regional Trail, Qualicum Beach. This accessible trail is perfect for strollers and wheelchairs. With a playground nearby, this is a one-stop spot for all ages and abilities. Everyone can explore the magic of the forest!

Cathedral Grove, Port Alberni. Often buzzing during the summer months, the iconic Cathedral Grove is much quieter during the winter. Take a stroll through the ancient forest on a foggy day and create a magical, enchanted memory. The trails are a short, stroller-friendly trip with parking and washrooms, making this a fantastic spot for even the littlest adventurers.

Englishman River Falls Provincial Park, Parksville. This lush forest park is a magical spot for a family walk. Kids can marvel at the rushing waterfalls, explore mossy trails and feel the mist rise from the canyon below—a true rainforest adventure after the rain.

It was 3 pm on a Tuesday, and I was one sarcastic eyeroll away from losing it. My kids were bickering, my to-do list felt like it had multiplied overnight and I hadn’t even thought about dinner. I remember sitting in my car for exactly 90 seconds, feeling my shoulders drop, and suddenly having the patience and presence I wanted to bring to my family.

That moment changed everything.

Here’s what I know from talking to so many parents: we’re not lazy for not meditating for 30 minutes a day. We’re busy. And we’re also drowning in the myth that self-care must be a luxury ritual with candles and quiet time. The truth? You don’t need a meditation pillow or an empty house. You need intentional pauses—tiny moments woven through your day that remind you who you want to be.

The Real Problem: Our Best Selves Show Up Only 20 Percent of the Time

Most of us don’t realize that even when we want to be at our best, we only access that version of ourselves about 20 percent of the time. The other 80 percent? We’re running on autopilot, driven by what the Positive Intelligence® framework labels “Saboteurs”—those inner voices that push us to overachieve, control everything, people-please, obsess over our to-do lists or get restless for something more. Sound familiar?

That harsh inner critic telling you you’re not doing enough? That’s the Judge, the loudest Saboteur of them all. And it gets really loud during the holiday season.

The good news? There’s science behind this: new neural pathways become visible on MRI imaging within eight weeks of practice. Shirzad Chamine, a Stanford researcher, developed the Positive Intelligence® framework to help us access our “Sage”—that calmer, more present version of ourselves that leads with curiosity and compassion instead of fear and judgement.

The 10-Second Game Changer

Let me introduce you to PQ® Reps—micro-practices that take literally 10 seconds. These are your secret weapon, especially when you’re buried in holiday chaos.

Pick one:

• Feel your coffee cup. Notice the warmth on your palms. Really feel it. That’s it. You’re present.

• Smell something with intention. The pine tree outside. Your kid’s shampoo. Your own hand cream. Breathe it in fully.

• Focus on your daughter’s hair (or look at anything as if you’d never seen it before—your own hand, a leaf, your partner’s face). Just observe.

• Listen to a specific sound. The hum of the fridge. A bird outside. Your kid’s laugh. Really tune in.

These tiny moments snap you out of the hamster wheel. They’re like internal reset buttons that remind your nervous system: I’m safe. I’m here. I can breathe.

The 2-Minute Practice That Actually Works

When you have a little more time, try this:

Focus on your breathing. Notice the air coming into your nostrils—it’s slightly cooler. Then the air leaving your nostrils—it’s slightly warmed. That’s all. Don’t change anything. Just observe. Two minutes (not even!) of this, and your whole nervous system recalibrates with the PQ® approach.

Sounds too simple? Try it when you’re about to snap at your teenager and then tell me it doesn’t work.

When the Holidays Get Loud

The reality is this: our Saboteurs don’t just get louder in November through January—they throw a full party. The Judge tells us we’re not doing enough. The Controller demands we orchestrate the perfect holiday (gifts, decorations, matching PJs…). The Pleaser says yes to everything and doesn’t want to disappoint anyone. The Restless part keeps looking for the next thing instead of savouring what’s in front of us.

And then comes January with its “New Year, New You” energy, and we pile on more pressure. But what if, instead of adding more to your plate, you just paused? What if you checked in with your intention and said, “Actually, I’m good. I showed up. That’s enough.”

This framework isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about becoming more of who you already are—the patient version, the present version, the version that enjoys your kids instead of just managing them.

The Invitation

You’ve got this. You don’t need a meditation retreat (although that would be nice!). You need a coffee cup, a breath and 10 seconds.

The beauty of accessing your Sage, even in tiny doses, is that it compounds. After six to eight weeks, you’ll notice your kids are calmer around you. You’re quicker to laugh instead of snap. You’re present instead of mentally three tasks ahead.

That’s not magic. That’s neural rewiring. That’s you, finally, showing up as the parent you always knew you could be. Start today, 10 seconds at a time.

When you separate from your spouse and you have kids, life can be very stressful. As a single mom of two kids, who separated when my youngest was four (and he recently celebrated his 18th birthday), here is what I learned during those first few tender years of co-parenting.

1. Agree on a safe way to communicate. If talking on the phone always escalates to a shouting match, agree to text only for the first few months. Taking small steps to de-escalate the relational trauma that you bring to the co-parenting relationship can help you to detach from the hurt of the break-up. For the immediate future, the two of you are joined daily by the bond of parenthood. If there is a storm, you must go through it together.

2. Always take the high road. The kids come first. No matter what your ex-brother-in-law or therapy-bestie says, the root of the matter is your kids are watching you. Recently separated parents often feel raw, betrayed and most of us feel like lashing out at someone. Nothing adds gas to the fire more readily than fighting in front of the kids about the kids. By handling conflict in private, it will be less damaging for the kids. Try to show your children the best side of your adult selves. They will emulate that maturity and self-regulation sooner and more naturally. Kids learn from their parents and guardians, and newly separated parents need to pull up their socks and get parenting.

3. Embrace flexibility. Plan on changing the dates of big holidays to accommodate the other parent. Holiday times become the most stressful events in a child’s world if the parents are struggling to cope with not having them on a specific day. If you can start from the minute you separate to think of special times as being any time you get to spend with your child, then holidays can be smoother for everyone. The trick here is not to lock horns with your ex. No one wins and the children are always the ones who pay for your conflict (think anxiety and depression).

4. Do the paperwork. Do your separation agreement immediately. This document is really important. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need to be finished and signed. You will use it more than you might be able to imagine now. There is no way around it. It requires some work, some focused time without kids around, some bare basic statements of fact and some witnesses. It can be exclusive of custody agreements, and can be done with a mediator, a friend or a lawyer. It is a document that unzips the zipper of your defunct relationship. The BC government has many tools that recently separated parents can access. Familylawinbc.ca is a good place to start. We used mysupportcalculator.ca every year for the 14 years that we have shared kids and costs. Agreeing on some mutually acceptable tools to use can make the annual tasks much less stressful.

5. Focus on your individual strengths. If one of you is an extrovert and loves hosting the birthday parties, celebrate that! If one of you is really good a filling out school paperwork, own it! If you have a strong skill that you feel is easy for you as a parent, offer to do that for your kids. By voicing what you want to do in the new co-parenting relationship, you are waving a white flag. Think ahead to your next meeting or text: What can I offer to this new reality with my children? How can I contribute to some harmony?

6. Take care of yourselves! Exercise, healthy activities and resting are all parts of parenting well. You are going through an intense experience. It is a big, emotional, physical and psychological change that is happening in and around you. Be gentle to yourselves. Eating cake for dinner and watching sappy movies when you are by yourself is also a normal response to separation. It will pass. Activities that get you out of your head can benefit you, your children and your ex-co-parent relationship.

Take stock of what you have—you have beautiful, vibrant, demanding kids who need you now more than ever. Celebrate what you can achieve in your new normal and name your limitations. You might find you like your ex more as a person once you can establish some routine. Meeting yourself where you are is the biggest part of learning how to be a good parent or guardian.

Pick up one (or more!) of these unique Vancouver Island-made fun, educational gifts for yourself and your loved ones this holiday season and beyond.

Birch & Beam

Located in Ladysmith, Birch and Beam creates multi-layered lasered wood projects primarily made with Baltic Birch. These educational, nature-themed pieces such as magnifying glasses and maps make great gifts for anyone.

instagram.com/birchandbeam.woodcraft

Little Adventurers

Designed and created by a local Vancouver Island author, illustrator and educator, Little Adventurers offers interactive books as well as Hul’q’umi’num’ language cards. Kids and their families will love to read, colour, solve clues and discover with these Vancouver Island-specific books.

littleadventurers.ca

The Humble Arbutus

The Humble Arbutus has been offering a variety of homemade, customized items from Nanaimo for over three years. Find something for yourself and for everyone in your life with their selection of baby accessories, art, home dècor and fun seasonal Christmas items.

etsy.com/shop/thehumblearbutus

If you are having trouble conceiving baby number two or three, you are not alone. Many women are shocked to find that they can’t get pregnant with a subsequent baby when they had no problem conceiving their first child.

Secondary infertility is defined as the inability to get pregnant following any prior pregnancy or the birth of one or more children. This condition is much more common than most people think. At Olive Fertility, 30 percent of the patients we see are experiencing secondary infertility and according to the Center for Disease Control, it affects approximately 12 percent of women trying to conceive a second child.

Along with the rollercoaster of trying to conceive, the social isolation can be particularly painful for women with secondary infertility. Couples or single parents shouldn’t give up hope. There are several different treatment options, and the good news is: if you’ve had one child, your chances of success with fertility treatments are higher than if you have never had a child.

When should you talk to a doctor?

The most important message is to get your fertility checked sooner rather than later, as age is the number one reason for fertility issues. Talk to a family doctor and get referral to a fertility specialist if:

• You have been trying for four to six months.

• You have a history of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), pelvic inflammatory disease, painful periods, miscarriage, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, difficult caesarian section and/or irregular cycles.

• Your partner has a low sperm count

Causes of secondary infertility

Many things can change after the first pregnancy, including the age of the parents, weight and even scarring that can be the result of an ectopic pregnancy, infection or a caesarian section.

Factors that can contribute to secondary infertility in women and men include:

• Advanced maternal age (age 35 and older)

• Impaired sperm production or low sperm count

• Damaged fallopian tubes

• Endometriosis

• Uterine conditions

• PCOS

• Weight gain in both men and women

• Lifestyle factors including smoking, marijuana use and heavy alcohol use

• Certain medications

Finally, secondary infertility—just like primary infertility—can be diagnosed as unexplained. As many as 50 percent of cases of secondary infertility are identified as unexplained.

Treatment options

The first step is to have a complete fertility workup to try and identify the underlying cause. Your fertility specialist will go over the results of your tests with you and discuss an appropriate treatment plan.

Treatments for secondary infertility are like those offered for primary infertility which include:

• Superovulation, where you take oral or injectable fertility medications, to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs increasing the chance of fertilization.

• Intrauterine insemination (IUI), during which sperm is placed inside the uterus to promote fertilization. IUI can increase the number of sperm that reach the fallopian tubes, which increases the likelihood of successful fertilization.

• In vitro fertilization (IVF), which involves combining egg and sperm outside the body and then transferring an embryo back into the uterus.

Advances in technology increase IVF success

The chances of having chromosomally abnormal eggs increases significantly in women over 35 and is one of primary reasons for IVF failure. But advances in Assisted Reproductive Technology are increasing the success rates of IVF.

A test called Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploid (PGT-A), allows us to screen the IVF embryos for chromosome imbalances and determine which ones are the most likely to result in a successful pregnancy.

Studies have shown that IVF with PGT-A can achieve:

• Implantation rates of 70 percent

• Miscarriage rates as low as 10 percent

• A low risk of chromosomal problems such as Down syndrome (diagnostic accuracy is about 98 percent)

In British Columbia, consultation with a fertility specialist and most fertility testing and surgery is fully covered by MSP with a referral from your family doctor or a doctor at a walk-in clinic. IVF funding may also be available depending on family income.

One Earth Living offers educators and parents in Canada resources to help their kids win fun prizes while doing good deeds for the environment. oneearthliving.org

Have you ever wondered:

“Is my child’s behaviour typical?”

“Is their development on track?”

“Could my child have a mental health challenge or need extra support?”

The answers to these questions aren’t always straightforward. Every child is different, and kids can’t always articulate what they’re experiencing or feeling. So, as parents, how do we know if we should find support for our child’s mental health, and where can we find it?

To help us answer these questions, FamilySmart, together with Karen Peters, created three videos for parents and caregivers: Beyond Behaviors: When Is It More? What It Looks Like Ages 4–8, What It Looks Like Ages 9–12 and for parents of teens, What It Looks Like Ages 13+.

Peters’ expertise as a registered clinical counsellor and her lived experience as a mom helps parents understand typical child development, when it might be helpful to find out more about our kid’s behaviour or feelings and when to reach out for extra help. The videos address a range of kids’ ages.

“We see things like kids getting left out or rules getting broken,” says Peters.

“When struggles are chronic… going on for two years, that’s where the flag happens.”

Each video in this series starts with an animated analogy that compares parenting to swimming in a pool. This helps us to put our parenting challenges into perspective. Some of us parent in the deep end where it’s busy and stressful, others parent in the shallow end with seemingly little effort and some of us spend time on the poolside. And then there’s the lifeguards and life rings that can support us. The videos help explain when and how to reach out for a life ring.

When my kids had some challenges with their mental health, I often swam in the deep end of the pool. Now and then, when things got easier for a brief time, I waded through the shallow end—a little more refreshing and always more relaxing.

After Peters helps us figure out where we are parenting in the pool analogy, she walks us through what to expect physically, socially/emotionally and cognitively with our child’s development, depending on our kid’s age. She gives us practical examples of what typical developments can look like in our kids, and what it can look like when our kids might have some challenges that we need to address.

“We put a lot of pressure on ourselves and when there are opportunities to take tiny breaks, we don’t take them because we feel guilty for not somehow always being present for our child,” says Peters.

“Please give yourself permission. It requires you to say, ‘I will let myself take a break when I need to.’ I was able to do this when I recognized it wasn’t just about me feeling better. My child benefited, my partner benefitted, we all benefited.”

Despite all the learning we do as parents, sometimes it’s still hard to tell if our child’s development or behaviour is typical. When this happens, Peters talks about doing our own curiosity assessments with our kids to find out more about what they might be experiencing.

If we discover that our child or teen might need extra support in some areas, or that they might have a mental health challenge, we need to know where to go for help. Peters offers some suggestions for finding the lifeguards or life rings to support us.

“Don’t rule out connecting with other people,” she says.

“That interactive care offers something we can’t give ourselves. We need to connect with other people to recognize, that truly, we are not alone.”

As we journey through all our child’s developmental stages and challenges, we can learn from our kids, other parents, ourselves and the experts. Sometimes the learning is hard, and sometimes it’s beyond hard.

When it’s hard, asking for support can be hard, too. FamilySmart’s Family Peer Support Workers are in communities across BC, and they can make it easier. They support parents/caregivers who have kids with mental health challenges, even if their child doesn’t have a diagnosis. They help families find services and provide emotional support and resources. Find out who your Family Peer Support Worker is in your community by going to http://familysmart.ca/family-peer-support.

There’s nothing quite like seeing your child take their first wobbly glide down a snowy slope—their cheeks rosy, laughter echoing and confidence growing with every run. Skiing with kids can be one of the most rewarding family adventures of the winter—if you’re prepared.

Whether you’re hitting Mount Washington here on Vancouver Island or heading to the mainland for a weekend in Whistler or Cypress, a little planning goes a long way. With the right mindset and preparation, family ski trips can be full of fun, not frustration.

Start Slow

If your child is new to skiing, shorter is better. Think of heading to the hills for a morning adventure rather than a full-day marathon. The key is to stop while everyone’s still happy—even if you only get in a few runs.

Start on the bunny hill and cheer on every success. A little confidence goes a long way, and a few easy wins will make them eager to try again next time.

Dress for the Slopes

Cold kids are typically cranky kids. Proper layers are your best friend on the slopes—a thermal base, a cozy fleece and a waterproof outer layer. Add insulated mittens, a neck warmer and a good helmet. And don’t forget to pack extras because, somehow, gloves always get lost, and socks always get soaked.

Tuck a couple of hand warmers into your jacket, too. They’re like gold when little fingers start freezing.

Invest in a Lesson

Even if you’re an experienced skier, ski school is worth every dime for your kids. Instructors know exactly how to make learning fun, and as most of us know, kids often listen better to anyone but their parents.

Keep Your Expectations Realistic

Let’s be honest: Not every ski day will be perfect. There will be forgotten mittens, cold toes and quite likely tears. That’s okay. Take lots of breaks, keep it calm and don’t force it if everyone’s had enough.

Sometimes, the best memories come from snowball fights in the parking lot or sipping hot chocolate in the lodge instead of hitting every ski run.

Snacks Are the Secret Weapon

Pack a stash of easy, pocket-friendly foods (granola bars, trail mix, cheese sticks or fruit gummies). Keep them in an inside pocket so they stay soft and don’t get wet. Hungry kids lose motivation fast, and mountain food lines can be long.

Make the Journey Part of the Adventure

If you’re heading off-island, the trip can be part of the fun. Catching the ferry, spotting seals and grabbing a warm drink at the ferry terminal can turn a ski weekend into a mini family vacation. Even if you’re just making the trip to Mount Washington on island, pick a fun, scenic place midway there to grab a special treat and take some pictures.

Capture & Celebrate the Little Wins

Whether your child mastered the art of snowman making or made it all the way down the hill smiling, celebrate it! Take photos, laugh together and talk about the day’s adventures on the drive home. Those small victories are what fuel a lifelong love of the outdoors.

You’re not just teaching them to ski—you’re teaching them resilience, courage and joy in trying new things.

Pack Smart & Keep the Car Cozy

A well-packed car can save your sanity. Use bins to separate gear, snacks and dry clothes. Bring a cozy change of clothes and maybe a blanket for the ride home—nothing feels better after a day on the slopes.

If you’re driving up a mountain like Washington, make sure your vehicle is winter-ready with snow tires and an emergency kit.

In the end, skiing with kids isn’t about perfect turns or long runs, it’s about time together. So, pack the snacks, embrace the chaos and hit the slopes. You might just start a family tradition that lasts long after the snow melts.

As a way to keep things affordable, check out the SnowStart Kidz Pass. Available for kids ages six to 12, it allows three visits at each of the 60 participating ski areas across Canada—that’s more than 180 lift tickets so it’s like carrying a season’s worth of skiing in your pocket, all for $39.99 + tax!”

The holidays are often portrayed as joyful, cozy and magical but for many families, they can also be overwhelming. Between disrupted routines, overstimulation, family dynamics and unspoken expectations, both children and parents can feel emotionally stretched. Joy and frustration often show up together. That doesn’t mean something is wrong, it just means everyone is human.

Children don’t yet have the fully developed brains to regulate big emotions on their own. When their nervous systems become overloaded by noise, disappointment, exhaustion or social pressure, they flip into fight, flight or freeze. What they need most in those moments isn’t a consequence or quick fix, they need connection and co-regulation.

At the same time, parents may be carrying their own stress: financial strain, full schedules, perfection pressure or unresolved family tensions. When a child melts down over a broken cookie or the wrong socks, even a loving parent can feel themselves reaching the edge.

These moments are hard and yet, they’re also where emotional learning happens. How we respond as parents shapes how our children understand themselves, others and relationships. When families move through the messy parts with compassion rather than shame, kids learn to do the same and that’s where resilience begins.

When There’s Disappointment

Gift-giving is often where big expectations meet big emotions. Maybe your child didn’t get the gift they were hoping for. Or their sibling got something they secretly wanted. Or they open a present and say, “This isn’t what I wanted.”

In that instant, many parents feel a pang of embarrassment, frustration or hurt. It can feel like a lack of gratitude and our instinct is to correct it: “Say thank you.” “You should be grateful!”

But when we jump straight to teaching gratitude, we sometimes miss what’s really happening underneath. Most often, this isn’t about entitlement, it’s about disappointment. Your child can feel thankful for receiving a gift and still wish it were something different. Those two emotions can coexist.

When we misinterpret disappointment as ungratefulness, we risk shaming kids for being honest about a very normal human experience. But when we pause and make space for both feelings: gratitude and disappointment, joy and sadness, we help them develop emotional flexibility.

You might try saying: “You were really hoping for something else. It’s okay to feel disappointed and we can still show appreciation for what we’re given.”

That balance—empathy first, teaching second—is where real emotional learning happens.

Practical Strategies for Supporting Kids Through Holiday Emotions

Strategy #1: Pause Before Responding. Take a breath, soften your shoulders and speak slowly. Your calm nervous system is the most powerful tool in the room.

Strategy #2: Name the Feeling, Not the Behaviour. Try: “You’re really disappointed your cousin got the gift you wanted.” This helps kids feel understood, which lowers emotional intensity.

Strategy #3: Connection Before Correction. Problem-solving works best after a child feels safe. Once calm, you can talk about gratitude, tone of voice or kindness.

Strategy #4: Repair When Needed. If you snap, it’s okay. Try: “I was feeling overwhelmed and I yelled. I’m sorry. I love you, and I want to try again.”

Simple Scripts for Tricky Moments

• Gift Disappointment: “You were really hoping for something different. It’s okay to feel upset.”

• Overwhelmed in a Busy House: “There’s a lot happening right now. Let’s take a quiet break together.”

• Sibling Conflict: “You both want the same toy. I won’t let anyone get hurt. Let’s figure this out.”

• When a Parent Loses Patience: “I’m feeling overwhelmed too. I’m going to take a breath so I can help better.”

Lifesaving AEDs and naloxone kits will soon be offered in all Nanaimo Ladysmith School District high schools, with elementary and middle schools being equipped next September. sd68.bc.ca