West Side Family Place
2819 West 11th Avenue V6K2M2 Vancouver, BC, Canada

Live Circle Time is happening this morning at 11 am on Zoom! Join us for a story, some songs, rhymes and even a bit of dancing all in the cozy comforts of your home! Sign up for a link at [email protected]. Hope to see you later!

There are spots left for tomorrow's Baby Pop-Up at St. James' Community Square. Join Shahira, other parents and their babies for songs, rhymes, dancing and movement activities and a chat session all in a safe and spacious space. Register now or tomorrow starting at 9 am at 604-738-2819.

We are excited to offer two Parenting Programs in the coming months, Nobody's Perfect and Circle of Security! Stay tuned for more details!

*UPDATE* Outdoor Play this week is now FULL!

West Side Family Place's Calendar for the week of January 11 to 15. This calendar is subject to change and we will update accordingly on our social media. If you have any questions, you can call us at 604-738-2819 or email us at [email protected].... Please review our COVID-19 Safety Protocols at http://ow.ly/kuXv50CKa50 before attending our programs this week.

We're back this week! Registration for our Virtual and In-Person programs begin on Monday, January 11, at 9:00 am. Please scroll through the images below for details of each program. A reminder for the following programs:... *Mama Papa Goose will have one Zoom and one In-Person session *Live Circle Time - register via email at [email protected] to get Zoom link *Baby Pop-Ups will be held in-person at St. James and Nuba Restaurant - families can reserve for the month *Papa's Playground starts on Wednesday, January 20 - 6 families; can reserve for the month Register by calling 604-738-2819. We will not be taking registrations through voicemails. Health and safety is our utmost priority and we are requiring parents/caregivers to wear masks during all our in-person programs. Please review our COVID-19 Safety Protocols at http://ow.ly/kuXv50CKa50

Dear participants and supporters of West Side Family Place, It’s that time of year again when we are reaching out to ask for your financial contributions to our programs by renewing your WSFP Membership. While we recognize the uncertainty of the future we hope that you will consider our services as a vital part of your support network going forward. Membership fees are a critical part of our annual revenue and help fund our Family Drop in, parent education, workshops, speci...al event and seasonal celebrations. Membership is an integral part of community participation and an effective way to contribute to our sustainability. Benefits of Membership: *Invitation to participate and vote at our Annual General Meeting and enjoy a special night of information sharing *Participate in Family Place programs *Borrowing privileges for both the Resource and Toy Lending Libraries *Quarterly newsletter sent to you via email. For this year only our annual membership fee will be $25. If this amount presents difficulty please speak to one of our staff about a complimentary membership. If you would like to sign up for membership or want to renew an existing membership please click here, http://ow.ly/1gdo50C9Kve, to fill out the membership form and email it to [email protected]. Payment can be made in person by cash, cheque or credit card, or by e-transfer. Thank you for your support! Diane Elliott-Buckley Executive Director

We have another of Shahira's Storytime happening tomorrow at 1:00 pm, come join us! Inspired by the children's inquiry about the different mushrooms around Family Place and in line with our craft this week, we will learn about mushrooms from The Mushroom Fan Club. Register by email at [email protected]. We look forward to reading with you!

We have great presentations next week for parents, caregivers and all other community members, join us! *Indigenous Awareness in the Early Years with Jade Brass. This presentation will take participants on a journey to learn, understand, connect and engage with Indigenous history, resiliency, strength, truth and reconciliation.... -Tuesday, November 24, 7:30 pm -Register at: [email protected] *Emotional Well-Being in Difficult Times with Dr. Deborah MacNamara This presentation will explore the effects of the pandemic for parents and their families and provide insights for preservation of one's own and their children's emotional health and well-being. -Thursday, November 26, 7:30 pm -Register at: http://ow.ly/aWke50Cn4Mf

Happening this month... Join us in this important journey and conversation with Jade Brass in the workshop, "Indigenous Awareness in the Early Years" happening on Tuesday, November 24th at 7:30 pm. Register for your spot by email at [email protected].

For mamas and papas with their babies! Join Eva and other parents with their babies during our Virtual Mama and Papa Goose this morning at 10:30 am. Come sing, rhyme, and move along and chat and connect virtually during this session. Register by email at [email protected]. Hope to see you later!

Happy National Child Day! This day each year, since 1993, has been celebrated as the day to commemorate the United Nations' adoption of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). These documents and this day are to commit in upholding the opportunity for children's voice be heard, to commit to the protection of their livelihood and to commit to respecting and sustaining their rights to ...reach their full potential. At Family Place, fostering play and connection are just some of the ways we are committed to championing children's rights. Thank to the community of families and services for collaborating and supporting us with this continued endeavor. Learn more: *nationalchildday.org *Canadian Child Care Federation, www.cccf-fcsge.ca *familiescanada.ca *canada.ca

There's one spot left for this afternoon's Baby Pop-Up at St. James Community Square. See post to register for your spot.

Happening next Thursday, November 26 at 7:30 pm! Join us for this special presentation with Dr. Deborah MacNamara as she speaks about "Emotional Well-Being in Difficult Times". During these challenging times, Dr. MacNamara will explore its effects on parents and their children and provide helpful insights to preserve one's own and their children's emotional health and well being. ... New registration link: http://ow.ly/aWke50Cn4Mf

Friendly reminder... Our Outdoor Play and Mama Papa Goose programs are on pause this week. We will resume registration next week on Monday, November 9th at 9 am.

We have two virtual singing sessions today, Circle Time (for families with toddlers and preschoolers) and Baby Pop-Up (for families with babies) both on Zoom! See images for details of time. Register by email at [email protected]. Sing with you later!

Have you noticed all the different types of mushrooms during your strolls out in the neighbourhood or out in the trails? At Family Place, we are seeing so many that it inspired us for this week's tutorial! Here's Shahira with this week's craft! Come by, grab a pack and bring it along with you for tomorrow's Storytime.

Registration for Baby Pop-Ups this week begins at 9 am today. Come and meet other parents and their new babies in a safe and cozy space. Parents can reserve for the month. Please note of new locations and time. *Tuesdays - St. James Community Square... 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm *Thursday - Nuba Restaurant 11:00 am to 12:00 pm (due to limited space, please have your baby in a carrier as the space cannot accommodate strollers). Please review our COVID-19 Safety Protocols before attending our programs: http://www.westsidefamilyplace.com/west-side-family-place-/

Inspired by all the different mushrooms around Family Place, here's this week's Art Package! Come by today and tomorrow between 9:30 am and 2:00 pm for this cute craft!

Here's Salena with a quick tutorial for this week's Art Package! Pair your creation with the songs and rhymes below... *Owl in the Tree... (Tune: Skip to my Lou) Owl in the tree says, who, who, who Owl in the tree says, who, who, who Owl in the tree says, who, who, who Who, who, are you? (point to a child and have them say their name) *Little Owl (Tune: This Old Man) Little Owl, in the tree, He is winking down at me. With a wink, wink, wink, wink, All through the night, Little Owl is quite a site! Little Owl, in the tree, He is hooting down at me. With a hoot, hoot, hoot, hoot, All through the night, Little Owl is quite a site! Come by now until 1:00 pm today and also tomorrow at 9:30 am to 1:00 pm for a craft package to take and make at home! Share with us your creation by commenting below or by tagging us on your pictures. Happy Crafting!

After celebrating with the little ones this past week, we are feeling nostalgic for last year's Ghostly Gala fundraising event where we celebrated with the big kids . It was an incredibly fun evening filled with fantastic costumes, generous donors, sponsors and volunteers and our awesome WSFP community! THANK YOU once more to all who came, created fun memories and supported us during this special event.... Kits House @fredabouttown - Fred Lee Nuba Studio A & M Grounds For Coffee Vancouver David Richardson - The Colour Of Real Estate Cartems Donuts Four Winds Brewing Co. Kits on Broadway Strong as a Mother The Cultch Modo Yoga East Van Brewing Company Natalie Suen Photo Troll's Restaurant Luxe Beauty Lounge & Mobile Spa Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden RYU Apparel Inc. Bishop's Restaurant Westpoint Naturals Trudy Ann's Chai & Spices Semperviva Yoga NÜTRL Vodka MISCH PNE/Playland Lord's Shoes & Apparel Lonsdale Event Rentals William F. White International Inc. Will's Jams Hyatt Regency Vancouver Fairmont Hotel Vancouver JOEY Restaurants absolute spa Burgoo Bistro Vancouver Canadians White Spot Restaurants Kaboodles Toy Store Soma Studio - Registered Massage Therapy One Under Vancouver Royal BC Museum kidsbooks Lush Cosmetics North America The Granville Island Toy Company Steamworks Beer West Side Music Together Purebread - West Broadway Happy Halloween to all the big kids at heart!

For both children and adults alike... 14 things [we] need more of...

Join us tonight! Register at [email protected].

"Whooooo's ready for a fun craft?" Our Art Package is available today and tomorrow for your little ones to make at home! This one is a lovely one as you can incorporate the beautifully coloured leaves found on the ground these days (tip: collect and dry different coloured and shaped fallen leaves for a unique looking owl).... Come by Family Place and grab an Art Package today and tomorrow,9:30 am to 1:00 pm.

Please join us next Tuesday for a special Equinox gathering safely, of course.

Message from the WSFP Staff... For the week of November 2-6

For Parents and Babies, 0 to 12 months... Join us this afternoon at 1:00 pm for singing and dancing time and connect virtually with other parents and their babies. Register at [email protected].

There are spots available for tomorrows Kits in the Park play session at Carnavon Park, 10:00am to 11:00am. Please call 604-738-2819 after 9:00am to register.

We had a lovely week getting into the Halloween spirit. It's a different type of gathering this year but with great energy and awesome costumes from all whom we saw this week, our Halloween bucket was filled this year. Thank you to all who joined us in being goofy, silly and a bit "spooky". We wish you all a safe Halloween filled with laughter, coziness and just good old fun family times.

Whether your child is going back to school, home schooling, community schooling, or years away from starting school, now is the right time to start thinking about their motor development and how you can encourage success during this time of significant change and development. Join physiotherapist and mother of three Shirley Lee on Monday September 21st at 8:00pm to 9:00pm for a webinar on Kindergarten Readiness. To get your ticket please click on the link:... https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kindergarten-readiness-webinar

Foodie Friday! Halloween-inspired fun and simple recipe, 'Banana Mummies'! Ingredients: ... Bananas Raisins or Chocolate Chips White Chocolate (wafers or chips) 1 tbsp butter Method: 1. Create a double boiler system: boil water in one pot and place a glass bowl over it making sure boiling water doesn’t touch it 2. Add white chocolate with butter in the bowl and mix together until melted and smooth 3. Once cool enough, transfer into a piping bag 4. Slice bananas in half lengthwise (you can also cut it in halves for a smaller portion size) and lay it on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper 5. Drizzle white chocolate onto the banana (like a mummy!) Add raisins or chocolate chips as eyes 6. Place inside the fridge or for about 10 minutes or until chocolate hardens How will Holloween inspire your cooking with your little ones this weekend ? Happy cooking and eating!

West Side Family Place is excited to announce our new location to move Tuesday's Baby Pop-Up indoors, St. James Community Square! Come meet other parents and their babies in a safe and cozy space. Starting November 3rd and every Tuesday following, 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Register for the month on Monday at 9:00 am by calling 604-738-2819 or emailing [email protected].

Art Package: Shark Paper Craft Come by Family Place today for this fun craft! This is a fun one to have with the Baby Shark song!

West Side Family Place is elated to announce our collaboration with Nuba on Broadway in moving Thursday's Baby Pop-Up indoors! Aside from being our generous host, Nuba is also offering a 15% discount on all food orders - in house or to go. Please note, due to limited space, we ask if you drive or walk, to have your baby in a carrier as the space cannot accommodate strollers.... You can register for your spot for the month on Monday at 9:00 am, by calling 604-738-2819 or by emailing [email protected].

Here's a Halloween treat from a Family Place friend! We are virtually celebrating Halloween through this sweet clip - we hope you will sing along with us in your best Halloween garbs! How will you engage with this event this year? What will your costumes be? What songs, rhymes, or stories will you have as part of your cozy gathering this year?

Heres Salena with this weeks Art Package, Shark Paper Craft!

Baby Pop-Up at Tatlow Park is CANCELLED for this afternoon!Baby Pop-Up at Tatlow Park is CANCELLED for this afternoon!

West Side Family Place would like to thank Laurel Hart from Babies for Climate Action - Greater Vancouver, Vancouver storyteller Naomi Steinberg, and the attendees to last night's webinar. We had a lovely discussion on place and space, the importance to mourn and remember what has been forgotten, and, in this time - when everything has the opportunity to be reimagined - teaching our kids about the cycles we are part of and the lineages that have brought us to where we are. Care seemed to be the theme of the gathering - in life and death - and how that echoes something very important this pandemic has highlighted around the world.

There are spots available for todays Kits in the Park play session at Arbutus Greenway Park, 10:00am to 11:00am. Please call 604-738-2819 after 9:00am to register.

Come and borrow toys from us and play with it for up to 2 weeks! Every Wednesday is our Toy Lending Library day. Set up a time with Salena between 9:30 am to 12:00 pm and select from a variety of toys from our collection (membership required). Please refer to our COVID-19 protocol before borrowing: http://www.westsidefamilyplace.com/virtual-programs-from-w/

There are spots available for todays Kits in the Park play session at Carnarvon Park, 10:00am to 11:00am. Please call 604-738-2819 after 9:00am to register.

"Let kids get bored..."

Connect with a Family Place friend to chat about parenting, family, or anything on your mind. Chat with Eva is available every Mondays, 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm, and Tuesdays, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Set up a time to connect with her by clicking on the image below!

West Side Family Place- Virtual and Outdoor Programs Schedule for the week of September 14 - 18. Here is this weeks schedule of our Programs, Virtual and In-Person. This calendar is subject to change and we will update accordingly. Please always check individual posts for specific programs for more detailed information. Scroll for a schedule of our Office Hours to clarify day and time you can connect with us.... If you have any questions, please contact us via email at [email protected], call 604-738-2819, or send us a DM.

Due to the poor air quality level in Vancouver, todays session of Kits in the Park will be cancelled.Due to the poor air quality level in Vancouver, todays session of Kits in the Park will be cancelled.

Registration for our weeks programs will be at 8:30 am until 12:00 pm today. Call 604-738-2819 - we will not be taking registrations made through voicemail or DMs. Availability of each program will be updated on our social media. ***For families needing to cancel their spot in our programs, we kindly request you calling us ahead of time or the day of by 8:30 am, so to allow other families to be able to fill in the spot*** Please read through our COVID-19 Safety Protocols be...fore attending any of our programs: http://www.westsidefamilyplace.com/west-side-family-place-/ See more

"If you feel safe and loved..."

Foodie Friday! Butternut Squash Yeast Bread Ingredients: 1 peeled butternut squash... 3 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp salt 25 g yeast 400 ml water 100 ml yogurt 1 tsp salt 3 tbsp olive oil 200 g durum wheat flour 550-600 g flour 1 ml pesto 3 tbsp pumpkin seeds Method: 1. Pre-heat oven at 400 F 2. Drizzle butternut squash with olive oil and season with salt. Roast for 20 minutes, until its soft to touch with fork. Cool at room temperature and peel. 3. Prep the dough: Mix yeast, water and yogurt. Add salt, olive oil and both kinds of flour. Mix in mixer for 7 minutes. Add the squash meat and more flour if needed 4. Cover with saran wrap and keep in fridge overnight (or under kitchen towel in room temperature, until double in size) 5. Knead dough, then roll in out (30 x 40 cm, like making cinnamon buns) and spread pesto over it cover it. Roll it up, and cut it in two, with a knife. Twist the two long pieces around other. Roll it back into a giant bun (making a circle of sorts of the twisted dough) 6. Put on baking sheet. Let it rise for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with pumpkin seeds and bake in oven for about 40 minutes. Happy cooking and eating!

Play Provocation: Play with Fabrics From our early observations of L and Es play with the hanging scarves, we were encouraged to set up another set of experiences for the children to engage with. We are lucky to have tall trees in our outdoor space and oftentimes, children run back and forth around them with glee. We set up some scarves along this path and the children played hide-n-seek, peekaboo, and just continued to run excitedly past each colourful piece. We also added a "tunnel" for them to explore even more, changing the levels and encouraging different movements! Have you played with scarves, blankets, ribbons or other fabrics with your little ones? What other play experiences has this led to?

A great read for families (parents and educators alike) navigating their way into this new school year... "If there was ever a time that we needed our children to rest in our care, it is now. We need to work to strengthen and preserve our relationship with them, providing more contact and closeness than they ask for and being generous in our capacity to make room for their big emotions like frustration, resistance, and fear. We need to take the lead and make decisions about schooling and whether to send them back to school. Sometimes the hardest thing to do as a parent is to lead when we are full of doubts. Leadership can feel lonely and we may feel guilty as well. These are the emotions that come with parenting and we can care for our kids and lead them through these challenging times, despite all that we are feeling."

There are spots left for tomorrows play session at Carnarvon Park (10:00am to 11:00am) Register for a spot by calling 604-738-2819.

There are 2 spots available for tomorrows Outdoor Play (11:00 to 12:00 session). Please call 604-738-2819 to register.

Art Package: Turtle Paper Craft Come by Family Place for the materials to make a simple yet fun turtle, 9:30 am to 1:00 pm! Heres a song you can sing along once youve made it!... "Tiny Tim" I had a little turtle, his name was Tiny Tim. I put him in the bathtub, to see if he could swim. He drank up all the water, he ate up all the soap. And now hes sick in bed, with a bubble in his throat! (Hiccup!) Do you know of other songs, rhymes or stories to go along with this craft? Share with us with a comment below or tag us with your post!

Heres Salena with a quick tutorial for this weeks Art Package!

There are spots left for Thursdays play session at Carnarvon Park (10:00am to 11:00am) Register for a spot by calling 604-738-2819

Join Shahira on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 to 2:30 pm for the Baby Pop-Up! Therell be songs, rhymes, and time to connect with other parents and their babies. There are 1 spot left for todays session at Cranberry Park . Please call 236-888-8496 to register.

"Have 2020 goals"

West Side Family Place - Virtual and Outdoor Programs Schedule for the week of September 7 - 11. Here is this weeks schedule of our Programs, Virtual and In-Person. Please note that Monday is a statutory holiday and Family Place is CLOSED. This calendar is subject to change and we will update accordingly. Please always check individual posts for specific programs for more detailed information. Scroll for a schedule of our Office Hours to clarify day and time you can connect ...with us. If you have any questions, please contact us via email at [email protected], call 604-738-2819, or send us a DM.

Dont forget, registration for our weeks programs will be tomorrow, Tuesday, September 8, at 8:30 am.

Friendly reminder... Today is Labour Day and West Side Family Place is CLOSED. Regular hours resume on Tuesday, September 8.

For our families starting kindergarten this season, Webinar 5: "Library Tips and Books for Beginning School" with April Ens & Elizabeth Bryan Here are the links that April and Elizabeth referred to in the video: The VPL Kids page: ... https://www.vpl.ca/kids The VPL Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/VPLKidsGroup/ VPL Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBfzPEPPm7jQbLIQWU5mJJQ Kinder Ready Booklist: https://vpl.bibliocommons.com/li/share/568630227/1706059779 *Please be advised that the presentation is based on current research and experience, and that the content is advisories - an educational/informational tool - and should not be used as a way to diagnose.

Message from the Executive Director: All of us at West Side Family Place hope that you and your families have enjoyed a safe summer. We have loved seeing many of you at our outdoor and online programs and we know that you are eager to hear what we have planned for the Fall. Although COVID-19 makes long-term planning difficult, we will continue to look for new ways to welcome and connect families while adhering to current public health advice. Kits in the Park will be wrapping... up on September 25 but we will be operating Outdoor Play and Mama and Papa Goose at WSFP for the foreseeable future. Parent and Baby Pop-ups will also continue in local parks for as long as the weather permits. The Toy Lending Library and take home Art Packages will be provided weekly. We will be offering an online Nobodys Perfect starting in October. Stay tuned for registration details. Please refer to our website and social media for program updates. If you would like to become a member or sign up for our newsletter, please contact Salena at [email protected]. Finally, please join me in acknowledging Eva, Sue Ellen, Salena, Maria, Shahira, Hardeep and Tina for their incredible commitment to families throughout the past six months. Their creativity and dedication inspire me every day. Diane Elliott-Buckley Executive Director

This is an easy and tasty snack that you can make with your little ones! Banana Chips Ingredients:... 1 unriped banana (you can use 2-3 as the cinnamon sugar yields lots) 2 tbsp melted coconut or vegetable oil 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon generous pinch of salt Method: 1. preheat oven to 400 degrees F 2. cut banana into thin slices 3. drizzle with oil and mix to ensure slices are coated 4. place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment, spaced out, baked for 8 minutes 5. while bananas are in the oven, combine sugar, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl 6. remove from the oven, flip each slices, and sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture 7. pop it back into the oven and cook for another 5 minutes 8. you can also reflip the slices and sprinkle some more cinnamon sugar and pop in the oven again to melt the sugar mixture to your preference 9. let it sit until cool then serve What other recipes have you used bananas for? Have you tried other fruits to make as healthy chips? Share your ideas below or tag us on your post! Happy cooking and eating!

For our families starting kindergarten this season, Webinar 4: "Why is separation so hard?" with Christie Mackie. *Please be advised that the presentation is based on current research and experience, and that the content is advisories - an educational/informational tool - and should not be used as a way to diagnose.

Play Provocation: Literacy Outside Weve had to be a bit creative this season with the way we engage with story times during our Outdoor Play. Our families with their children love reading the different books we have and whether it was long or short stories, every play session always had families tucked away in cozy areas in our playroom engaged in a storybook or two.... Along with our Circle Time, weve posted picture books (found great resources online for printable ones), much loved songs and rhymes, and picture prompts that engages children and their adults to chat about and play with. Highlights of this experience is seeing the children engage on their own or with their parent/caregiver and when E observed, "Hey thats me!" pointing to a specific illustration out from the "Nursery Rhymes Around the World" set. Have you taken reading time outside these days? What are your go-to storybooks? What words do your little ones have from these experiences?

For our families starting kindergarten this season, Webinar 3: "Getting Started with School Lunches" with Tammy Frederickson and Lerin Oystryk *Please be advised that the presentation is based on current research and experience, and that the content is advisories - an educational/informational tool - and should not be used as a way to diagnose.

Art Package - Grab Bag: What will you create? Pass by Family Place today for a bag of open-ended materials to create with!

Do your little ones like to gather natural materials during your time outdoors? Heres an art activity to extend that interest using the materials as art mediums! Have you done an activity like this before? What natural materials were your little ones drawn to? What words or stories do they have as they engage with these materials and exprience? Share with us by commenting below or tag us in your post!