Island Parent Magazine

03/07/2024

There’s something undeniably enjoyable about sipping on a well-crafted cocktail. Traditionally, opting for health has often meant sacrificing these indulgent experiences. But what if I told you there’s a way to enjoy a refreshing drink without missing the alcohol! As a holistic nutritionist, I’ve seen first-hand how adopting a lifestyle focused on health and well-being can transform not only your body, but also your outlook on family life.
https://ow.ly/2tIh50SufOe

27/06/2024

I had never been to that beach before the COVID-19 lockdown, when I suddenly found myself Googling “parks in Victoria without playgrounds” and texting my mom for recommendations of hidden gems. During lockdown, my two-year-old and I had a routine of going to a park or beach every morning and staying out as long as we could until we raced home for a washroom and lunch.
https://ow.ly/RA5350SrfbY

24/06/2024

LAST chance to enter to WIN!!

CONTEST ALERT!

ONLY 5 DAYS LEFT TO ENTER TO WIN SEASON PASSES FOR THE FAMILY TO WILD PLAY!

https://ow.ly/gyIV50Sm4EU

24/06/2024

LAST chance to enter to WIN!!!!

It's the FINAL DAY to enter to WIN seasons passes for the family to WILD PLAY!!
https://islandparent.ca/blogger-jen-kossowans-epic-summer-road-trip-picks/

23/06/2024

It's the FINAL DAY to enter to WIN seasons passes for the family to WILD PLAY!!
https://islandparent.ca/blogger-jen-kossowans-epic-summer-road-trip-picks/

22/06/2024

If you are looking to switch it up from the usual “camping fare” this spring and summer, it is possible to manage your mental load and find a balance as you create a home away from home with each trip. Try these ideas to change mealtime from a headache to your happy place—Bon appétit!
https://ow.ly/wbuW50SnMw6

21/06/2024

ENTER TO WIN!!

There’s so much to plan when taking a road trip, & your vehicle should be the least of your worries. The RAV4 Hybrid has been one of Canada’s best selling vehicles for many reasons, including reliability, safety, and fuel economy. Head to the link in our bio to check out ’s top spots to visit in her RAV4 Hybrid, and enter our giveaway with !

20/06/2024

CONTEST ALERT!

ONLY 5 DAYS LEFT TO ENTER TO WIN SEASON PASSES FOR THE FAMILY TO WILD PLAY!

https://ow.ly/F3WH50Sm4Ez

19/06/2024

Involving our kids in hiking preparation is the best way to keep them safe and help build the confidence and skills needed for bigger adventures. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your next hike:
https://ow.ly/O1qC50SlXAk

18/06/2024

CONTEST ALERT!!

It's your chance to WIN a seasons pass to for you and the entire family, courtesy of Toyota Pacific and WildPlay Element Parks!

The grand prize includes 2 adult and 2 kids seasons passes for B.C. locations. To enter for your chance to win, and check out ’s favourite BC road trip spots, head to https://ow.ly/aSEf50SliI0 Good luck!

(Contest open to residents of BC and the Yukon / Contest closes 5:00 PM PST June 24, 2024 / Retail value of each prize: $500.00 CDN / Full contest rules at entry link)
📸:

17/06/2024

“There’s so much to plan when taking a road trip, & your vehicle should be the least of your worries. The RAV4 Hybrid has been one of Canada’s best selling vehicles for many reasons, including reliability, safety, and fuel economy. Head to https://ow.ly/vPWh50SkotL to check out ’s top spots to visit in her RAV4 Hybrid, and enter our giveaway with !

15/06/2024

Those “mom friends” we make when our children are small are a very important part of our adjustment to our new role as a parent. In a isolating, solitary occupation, such as caring for a small child, they are our “colleagues.” If you started a new job as an accountant, rocket scientist or esthetician, you would want to make friends with other folks who do the same thing, face the same challenges and find solutions to the same problems. You need to know people who understand the life you lead and share the same ups and downs.

However, finding parent-colleagues isn’t easy. Especially when you are a parent for the first time. You can’t just go up to a pleasant-looking parent in the park and say what you did in kindergarten: “Will you be my friend? I like the colour of your baby-carrier. Mine is purple too.” (Although, I’m sure that might work in some cases. I would find it charming!)
https://ow.ly/NrCX50Sjwa7

12/06/2024

Are you looking for places to explore with your family this summer? Check out our recent article with , where she shares her favourite spots to visit on road trips in her RAV4 Hybrid. The family-friendly, affordable-to-drive vehicle helps her and her family travel around the province, while keeping fuel costs low and her family safe and sound.
https://ow.ly/FcKE50ShwFn

11/06/2024

Summer is almost here and it's time to EXPLORE!!

Check out our latest issue now.
https://islandparent.ca/pre-summer-2024/

Island Parent Magazine has been a trusted resource for Vancouver Island parents for over 30 years. Parents rely on us for local resources, information and events from experts to help their daily lives. © 2020 Island Parent Group Enterprises Ltd.

05/06/2024

It's your chance to win a seasons pass to for you and the entire family, courtesy of Toyota Pacific and WildPlay Element Parks!

The grand prize includes 2 adult and 2 kids seasons passes for B.C. locations. To enter for your chance to win, and check out ’s favourite BC road trip spots, head to https://ow.ly/pkj850Sa1gu. Good luck!

(Contest open to residents of BC and the Yukon / Contest closes 5:00 PM PST June 24, 2024 / Retail value of each prize: $500.00 CDN / Full contest rules at entry link)

31/05/2024

it’s hard to be mindful and emotionally open when alarm bells from our past are ringing loudly. But, consciously moving into intentional and collaborative parenting can be made so much easier with a plan for change.

A family is more than the sum of its parts; it’s an emotional and psychological ecosystem whose healthy functioning depends on the harmony among its elements, especially parents. But so often, we act in the same ways as the adults we’ve witnessed in our own childhood, and these patterns can inte...

28/05/2024

Make plans to visit these fabulous farms this summer!
https://ow.ly/8AgY50RXiiu

25/05/2024

Theatre, dance and other creative camps offer dynamic and enriching environments where children can unleash their creativity, build confidence and forge lifelong friendships. Let’s talk about why creative camps are the perfect choice for nurturing your artistic child.
https://ow.ly/w4ue50RRTkZ

23/05/2024

We are so lucky to have locally grown greens available to us nearly all year. However, spring greens are special. They are sweet and tender, full of flavour and so versatile. Here are some greens to keep an eye out for at the farmers’ market or a greengrocer with local food connections:

• Young leafy greens include kale, chard, mustard greens, arugula and more. Sauté young leafy greens with a bit of olive oil and a pinch of salt. They only take about five minutes to prepare.

• Flowering shoots from cabbage, kale or broccoli are tender and delicious. Serve them as an early spring substitute for asparagus. I like to braise them in a saucepan with a bit of butter and a few tablespoons of liquid. They will soften in less than 10 minutes.

• Spring nettle is a lot less stingy than older nettle. It often can be found in parks and public areas. Put on some rubber gloves and harvest your own. (For anyone in Victoria, check out the corner of Beacon Hill Park at Cook and Dallas.) Nettle needs to be well cooked to remove the sting. I recommend adding it to soups, stews, sauces or the risotto recipe below.

Here are two simple recipes that feature spring greens.
https://ow.ly/nTGB50RRTfK

19/05/2024

What better way to spend the summer than as a camp counsellor!

This will teach them responsibility, allow them to gain independence and give them the opportunity to earn their own money.

Here are eight reasons to encourage your teen to consider becoming a camp counsellor this season.

Is your teen ready for a summer job but you would still like them to spend some time outdoors being active? Did they love summer camp as a child? Are they great with younger kids? What better way to spend the summer than as a camp counsellor! This will teach them responsibility, allow them to […]

15/05/2024

As a sexual health educator, I couldn’t have said it more articulately—growing up is a lot! In Taylor Swift terminology, adolescence is the BIG feelings era and as parents, educators, allies and champions of youth it is our job to support them as they find their way through this era of “a lot.”
https://ow.ly/899Y50RERyy

13/05/2024

Thinking about getting an , but worried about charging times and options?

We chatted with recently and he showed off how his has a driving range of up to 406km in ideal conditions, and is so easy to use. In Rod’s words, "We couldn’t be happier with our bZ4X… Having the ability to ‘fuel’ up at home has been a game changer. We’ve been enjoying both the savings and convenience this family vehicle brings.”

07/05/2024

Now celebrating 32 years as The Resource Publication for Vancouver Island Parents.

06/05/2024

There is no such thing as being too careful. You are supposed to treat everyone in your house at the same time with the lice shampoo, but there are five of us and only so many hours in the day. So far three of us are infected and the other two family members seem fine, but is it only a matter of time?

As I brush my teeth at 2am, I see something out of the corner of my eye. I feel like I am in a Stephen King novel. A single adult louse is crawling along a strand of hair on my bathroom floor. It reaches the end of the hair and then just sits on the […]

30/04/2024

Two of the most common raptors you can find on Vancouver Island are bald eagles and turkey vultures. If you look carefully, even without binoculars, you might be able to tell them apart!

Look up! Look waaaay up! Can you see any very large, dark birds flying high in the sky? Maybe just a few, maybe lots? Two of the most common raptors you can find on Vancouver Island are bald eagles and turkey vultures. If you look carefully, even without binoculars, you might be able to tell […]

26/04/2024

When my daughter was a newborn, someone told me “It doesn’t get easier, it just gets different.” I was so annoyed by this “advice” that I could have thrown my breast pump in their face. And yet, although many things are easier now, it also seems like every time I find a new routine, something in the mix changes and I’m scrambling to find my stride again.

When my daughter was a newborn, I went to a baby group for new moms every Monday. Each week there would be a different theme and facilitators would ask us about our experiences and encourage us to compare notes on the various trials and tribulations of new motherhood: nap schedules, teething, introd...

22/04/2024

Happy ! 🌎 We chatted with and the folks at about BEVs, zero emissions and driving range. Be sure to check out the article and take a look at the stunning , Toyota’s new zero emissions SUV.

https://islandparent.ca/the-toyota-bz4x-bev-the-ultimate-vehicle/

20/04/2024

I’ve witnessed close friends juggle responsibilities, from picking up their children to rushing to ensure their parents are taking their medications and maintaining their households.

These situations are challenging on their own, and they become even more taxing when parents are also navigating the tumultuous teen years in today’s complex parenting landscape, leading to elevated stress levels.
https://ow.ly/K5z450RkkU9

An increasing number of my friends find themselves in the challenging position of simultaneously caring for both their children and aging parents—the sandwich generation. I’ve witnessed close friends juggle responsibilities, from picking up their children to rushing to ensure their parents are t...

15/04/2024

Unfortunately, fairies and all their friends only exist in fairy tales. Or do they?

I’ll let you in on a little secret I’ve only told to a select few–there is a fairy village right in the heart of my community of Sidney!
https://ow.ly/FJLT50RgGpO

What child doesn’t love stories and books about fairies, dragons, unicorns and the myriad of other fairy tale creatures? These stories excite, thrill and sometimes even scare the reader just a little bit, but most of all, they open a whole new world. One in which pixies stir up all sorts of mischi...

10/04/2024

Spring into action with our new issue!

On newsstands and online now.
https://ow.ly/nT7H50RcKBC

Vancouver Island’s Parenting Resource for 36 Years • Spring Into Action • Feeling the Squeeze? Tips for the Sandwich Generation • The BIG Feelings Era • Camp Counsellor: The Perfect Summer Job for Your Teen • Get Whimsical: Take a Fairy Walk • Spring Cleaning for Your Body: The Fuel fo...