PARENT EDUCATION SPEAKERS

Speakers are invited to speak at the CPAC meetings to help parents understand issues of importance to them in raising healthy children.
In 2016-2017 we had three speakers to speak at our CPAC meetings in February, May and June,
speaking about Risky Play, Social Media, and Mental Health, respectively.

RISKY PLAY

February 22, 2017

As a mom of a Gr. 1 Carisbrooke student, and a professional educational consultant and play-work trainer, Sophie Cooper will answer the questions: What is the point of children's play? What is the role of physical and emotional risk-taking in children's play? What impact does an increasingly risk-averse society have on children's ability to test their limits when they play? Does it matter if children don't have these opportunities?

Risks are some of the most thrilling, empowering and educational experiences: without them life could become much, much more dangerous. Come to this presentation to find out more!

Resource List:
"Risk-Taking in Play"

How Play Promotes Reasoning - Dr. Peter Gray
Scientists say child’s play helps to build a better brain – Jon Hamilton
Children fighting for their right to play, in pictures:
Risky outdoor play positively impacts children’s health: UBC study – Dr. Mariana Brussoni
The decline of play and rise of mental disorders – Dr. Peter Gray
'Let Kids Run Wild in the Woods' – Emma Marris
The Over-Protected Kid – Hannah Rosin
No fear, growing up in a risk-averse society - Tim Gill
Risky Play and Skinned Knees Are Key to Healthy Child Development

SOCIAL MEDIA

May 3, 2017

The owner of Mediated Reality, Jesse Miller is a well-known local speaker on the topic of "Social Media". He will highlight the concerns in our connected education and work environments and help us to mitigate risks when our youth engage in social media.

To RSVP, please click here.

MENTAL HEALTH

June 14, 2017

Dr. Noah Susswein is a registered psychologist in BC and will address issues on children's mental health, especially anxiety and resilience.

Noah has worked in the field of mental health for over 15 years in both Canada and the U.S. at medical schools, community mental health centres, and as a teaching assistant and guest lecturer at Simon Fraser University.

From Noah: "Anxiety is implicated in almost all mental health problems that children/youth may face. It is also a universal aspect of the human experience; the capacity to become afraid in response to possible danger is part of our biological endowment. As kids develop, we like to see them become increasingly able to self-soothe and manage their own anxiety. To this end, parents do well to transition from seeking to protect our kids from stress (which they need us to do when they are infants) to a focus on promoting ever greater distress-tolerance and resilience in the face of stress. But this is easier said than done! Parents of young children have so much practice playing the protective role that it can be really tough to start playing the bravery-promoting role. I can review some abstract ideas and concrete techniques that often help parents play this growth-promoting role."

To RSVP, please click here.