The global kid’s haircare market is anticipated to rise at a considerable rate during the forecast period, between 2023 and 2030. In particular, specialty services and natural products geared toward children and their families living with autism or dealing with head lice have proven a successful business investment. Franchises, Lice Squad.com and Superhero Kids Hair with Care, were both by Dawn Mucci, on a mother’s necessity to deal with her own children’s head lice and hair-care needs. Mucci explains, “As an entrepreneur, I saw a problem that needed to be solved and a gap in the marketplace ..read more

Did you know that in Montessori classrooms the preparation for writing starts long before we ask the child to hold a pencil?  Learning to write in a Montessori Preschool & Kindergarten (Casa) classroom offers an important and enriching experience that lays a solid foundation for a child’s educational journey.   The Montessori Method of education, developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in the early 20th century, is celebrated for its unique approach to learning and child development. Its effectiveness and continued popularity can be attributed to several key principles that distin ..read more

As my daughter approaches the final stretch of Grade Three, her brilliance shines through in many aspects, yet spelling poses a challenge. While her teachers haven’t highlighted this issue, I recognized the need to intervene and provide support. It’s something I noticed in Grade One, but unfortunately things just haven’t come together. Despite my best efforts, I realized that attempting to teach her myself only led to frustration for both of us. I refuse to let her disdain for learning stem from learning with me. Thankfully, there’s an alternative and I will continue supporting and advocating ..read more

Creating an After School Program requires many elements to come together in order to appeal to the kids who are registered in them which is why our program offers a wide variety of age-appropriate activities and a welcoming and inviting environment that considers each child’s personality type and possible areas of interests. At Asland Academy, our program planning has been created to prioritize each child’s holistic development, fostering their social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth. We do this by offering an array of activities that cater to the different aspects of their developme ..read more

“An education capable of saving humanity is no small undertaking; it involves the spiritual development of man, the enhancement of his value as an individual, and the preparation of young people to understand the times in which they live.” Dr. Maria Montessori Even though I’ve worked in preschool classrooms and after school programs for over a decade, I have never thought this deeply about how children learn best. Thinking past the curriculum and the philosophy of most education programs, I was brought deeper into what this all meant. These questions came to me after my visit to Westside ..read more

“An education capable of saving humanity is no small undertaking; it involves the spiritual development of man, the enhancement of his value as an individual, and the preparation of young people to understand the times in which they live.” Dr. Maria Montessori Even though I’ve worked in preschool classrooms and after school programs for over a decade, I have never thought this deeply about how children learn best. Thinking past the curriculum and the philosophy of most education programs, I was brought deeper into what this all meant. These questions came to me after my visit to Westside ..read more

We have recently spoken with three child development experts about this question, beginning with renowned counsellor, scientist and storyteller, Dr. Deborah MacNamara, along with early childhood education college instructors, Candiss Brown and Nika Jibrael. According to all three, play is where it all begins. BC PARENT:  Why is play so important to the development of young children? DR. MACNAMARA: The research on the science of play finds there are three key areas it serves when it comes to a child’s development. Play is central to overall brain integration, with motor and sensory systems ..read more

This year on Valentine’s Day, we decided to focus on the gift of FRIENDSHIP and are so excited to be featuring this dynamic duo – Bobs & Lolo.  Their partnership did not begin as a business arrangement but rather, blossomed from a lifelong friendship that started at the tender age of eight, when these two met at Girl Guides. There, they shared their love for nature and music, and discovered how much they had in common. Of course, there were a lot of songs they shared around the campfires! The photo above depicts these two getting ready for a high school talent show! Yes, they also we ..read more

The first thing that struck me when I entered through the front doors of Asland Academy in Vancouver West, was the combination of warmth and organization. The structure of an early learning academy was definitely there though it was offered in a way that was inviting to the children, and myself. When I was first introduced to this Reggio-inspired preschool academy, I was quite surprised to learn that it was run out of a home – especially after having a conversation with School Manager, Natalie Qiu, who was very professional when sharing their philosophy and curriculum. In fact, I was so intrig ..read more

Internationally renowned for it’s groundbreaking stranded marine mammal response program, the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society (VAMMR) responds to over 300 marine mammal emergencies annually and runs Canada’s only dedicated marine mammal hospital facility. Over the 60 years in operation, VAMMR has successfully rescued and rehabilitated over 3000 marine mammals.  It’s estimated that more than 400 sea lions along the B.C. coast are currently caught in discarded rope, nets, monofilament and packing bands. If left untreated, these materials often result in a prolonged and painf ..read more