Intersections

Videogames can be pricy and keeping up with all of your child(ren)’s desires can be overwhelming.

If your child has been asking for some high-tech toys and has felt out-of-the-loop regarding the Skylanders buzz going on at school, this blog can help.

Q: What is so special about Skylanders?

A: It blends the physical with the virtual. It takes physical toys and brings them to life by turning them into videogame characters.

Q: How does it work?

A: It uses a “portal of power” to transport the Skylanders into the game. Just place the toy on the portal, and watch it pop up on the screen.

Q: So what do you think of the game?

A: Videogames may not be for everyone. But if you already have a console lying around the house, but don’t know which games to buy for your kid, this one may be worth a try.

For starters, this game can be purchased for a variety of consoles (e.g., Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, WiiU, 3DS, and iOS devices like your iPad). For this review, I tested the PS3 version. What’s great is that the Skylander toys can be played on interchangeable systems. So if a kid at school has the game on the WiiU and wants to trade toys with your child, but you have an Xbox at home, you can do that. Each toy has a “memory” and character statistics are tracked on the toy itself rather than the game. So your child can bring his toy over at a friend’s house and continue to build his experience points and skills.

The characters are upgradeable in-game and take on role-playing-game (RPG) elements so that your child can customize the characters and even choose hats for the Skylander to wear.

But from parent-to-parent here, I have to warn you about the costs of the toys and the addictive nature of collecting characters. First, you’ll need a starter pack, which includes a copy of the game, a portal of power, and a few characters (typically 3) depending on which starter pack you get. These starter packs will run you between $39-$69 (depending if you can find them on sale). There are about 48 characters that you can collect!

See this poster of all the Skylanders from Activision’s most recent game, or you can explore them on the website.

The characters are divided by 8 different elemental powers (i.e., Air, Fire, Water, Life, Tech, Earth, Magic, and Undead). The trick to getting parents to buy their kid more Skylanders is that there are certain areas of the game that are restricted to Skylanders of specific elements. So for example, if I want to go to an area that is restricted to Earth-type Skylanders but I only have characters that are Life, Air, and Tech types, I cannot enter that area of the game. This little marketing tactic does not inhibit you from completing the game. as it does not get in the way of the story mode. But if your child is keen on getting all of the game’s achievements, stars, and hidden treasure chests, it will be impossible to do without a character from each element.

Did I mention that each regular Skylander costs about $9-13, and the Skylander Giants costs about $12-15? You can get Multi-packs with 3 Skylanders for $25.

Kids can also learn the fine are of sharing and trading characters with friends.

Q: Ok enough about the characters, what is the game like?

A: Skylanders Giants is simple enough for kids (targeted for 6-14 year-olds) with an engaging story that sparks their imagination. The game is rated E10+ for its cartoon violence (see more about videogame ratings here). The game is rooted in a 3D platformer action/adventure game style, geared for boys and girls who enjoy exploration and fighting against the “bad guys.” Skylanders Giants is also filled with puzzles and a turn-based board game called Sky Stones to keep kids thinking rather than mindless button bashing. Controls are rather simple compared to the complexity of adult games, with basically a three action button system. Aside from the story mode (which can be played by two players at once), there is also a fun arcade battle-arena multiplayer mode so that kids can play this engaging game with friends, rather than in social isolation.

For a trailer of the story, click here.

In terms of time consumption, there are 16 chapters in the game and they take anywhere between 10-45 minutes to complete (I’d say around 30 min on average) depending on whether you want to search every nook and cranny or zip through the story. Side missions and multiplayer add to the replay ability of this game. The customization adds an element of depth that keeps gamers wanting to play more.

More reviews can be found on Gamespot and by Geekmom.

Overall, I would rate the game a 8/10 for kids who are allowed to play games with cartoon violence. If you’re an adult gamer considering this game for yourself, I’d rate it 6.5/10 as the game play has definitely been simplified and slowed down for children’s enjoyment.

Although I would typically reserve videogames for rainy days, the busy student-parent can benefit from a little quiet time by letting your child(ren) engage on this virtual adventure. And as a treat for finishing that term-paper undisturbed, you can pick up a controller and join in on the fun just in time to help your kid complete his mission.

By Zeke Rothschild-Checroune:

Busy lifestyles with various responsibilities sometimes can have us caring more for others than for ourselves. But it can be hard to care for others when you have been neglecting your own needs. Physical activity is capable of improving not only your physical condition, but also your psychological health and can help boost your social life as well!

It can be hard to get exercising though when so many barriers lie in the way (e.g., knowing how to exercise, finding the time, access to facilities, and for some being able to actually ENJOY their physical activity). Staying fit can be difficult to maintain if you have to schedule it into your day, rather than being integrated into your lifestyle. But changing/maintaining a lifestyle doesn’t happen overnight, and so, here is a list to help you find ways to integrate some form of exercise into your busy lifestyles:

• Integrate exercise into your transportation:
  • Ride your bike, rollerblades, skateboard, or scooter, when possible (don’t forget to wear your helmet).
  • Put on sneakers when walking around town (this will encourage you to walk longer distances and at a brisker pace).
  • And I know you’ve heard this one before: Take the stairs! Sure it might take a little longer than the escalator or elevator, but the 20 seconds you save by traveling faster doesn’t outweigh the benefits of getting a little exercise.

   

• Play with your kids more often:
  • Sure we are quick to provide play opportunities for kids, but it is a great workout trying to keep up with them. You don’t have to play with them ALL day, but get down and dirty when you go to the playground with them. Toss a ball or Frisbee and chase down that soccer ball like you mean it! Jump around and act like a kid and you can reap the benefits that play has to offer.

   

• Schedule adult gym/sport/exercise time
  • I know it can seem more of a luxury and something that we desire, but we have to truly believe that it is a necessity to take time for ourselves. So yes, do schedule that one hour to go to the gym, attend that yoga class you always wanted to try, dust off that old tennis racket and see how rusty you’ve gotten, get lost running through the woods, or whatever your active pleasure might be. No excuses! Yes, this is as important as prepping lunches and getting dressed in the morning.

Resources for a good workout can be hard to come by at times, but luckily U of T has two downtown facilities that are open to the public (hint: memberships are usually already paid for in your student registration):

The Hart House and the Athletic Centre.

These gyms also offer free drop in courses and personal training services in case you need a little external motivation.

Remember, staying active can be done just about anywhere (drop down and give me 20 push-ups if you want proof). Just try to integrate physical activity into your daily routine and you’ll stop coming up with excuses for why you didn’t work out today. You’ll see, once you get the ball rolling, the only workout you’ll regret is the one you didn’t do. Oh, and don’t forget to have fun too!

By: Zeke Rothschild-Checroune

Summer time is just around the corner! Although I love those hot and hearty winter soups, I’m ready to dig into some lighter meals that are also sure to delight.

Parents know all too well the difficulties of cooking for their families. First, it can be a time consuming process; and getting kids to eat their veggies can sometimes be more of a challenge than it should be.

Here is my quick and nutritious recipe just in time for the season, that is light but filling, quick to prepare, and so yummy that the kids won’t mind taking a bite of that green looking stuff.

Photo credit: Alexandra Jaffit

Cheese and Veggie Quiche:

Typically, making a pie crust can be a time consuming process. Thankfully, your local grocery store has some readymade pie crusts in the frozen food section. For this recipe, I recommend using the deep dish variety. Alternatively, you can make a crust-less gluten-free option by baking your quiche directly in baking pan.

Prepare the quiche like you would an omelet.

• First, pre-heat your oven to 350˚C
• Crack 6 large eggs into a bowl
• Add ¾ cup of milk (or cream for extra fatty flavour)
• Add a pinch of salt, pepper, and ground nutmeg
• Wisk ingredients together
• Then rinse and chop one cup of fresh veggies (your choice; for this recipe I used leeks and kale; but you can also try it with spinach or broccoli for example).
• Add the chopped veggies to the bowl of beaten eggs
• Grate your favourite Cheese to your heart’s content and add to mixture (Hint: reserve a bit for sprinkling on top)
• Pour ingredients into a 8” deep dish pie crust (or slightly oiled baking pan if going for the crust-less option)
• Place in the oven for about 40 min (give or take 5 min depending on oven variations)

Photo credit: Alexandra Jaffit

And there you have it; your pie omelet (I mean quiche) is ready. Cut into slices and serve with a side of your favourite salad and your light and nutritious meal is served. Bonne Appetite!

The countdown has begun for the 2013 summer term, when (among other things) the FCO’s new blogger will start their duties. In the mean time, though, things at Intersections will be winding down for a few weeks. Most of the work-study students who helped write for the blog this year — Elena, Farah, Mari, Nicole — are moving on to other things now and I’ll be off soon, too. (Pass a tissue, I’m getting all teary!)

Before I go, though, I wanted to share some of my favourite posts and series from the year, in the style of Matteo’s wrap-up post over at the Life @ U of T blog:

• Nicole’s “Cold Weather Crafts” series: Monster mittens, homemade snowglobes, simple birdhouses…admittedly, it might be a bit warm for wearing “monster mittens” right now, but Nicole has shared such fun, simple, and adorable crafts, I’m convinced you can make them at any time of the year.

• Mari’s “Me Time” post: This great post is all about why you need to make time for yourself — and it offers solid advice on how to actually do it. And as one of the facilitators for the FCO’s first Mindful Parenting Practice Group, Mari knows what she’s talking about when she discusses the benefits of meditation as a form of “me time”.

• Elena’s “Financial Survival” series: Elena put together this fantastic and informative series during the winter term, when the FCO was holding its annual Financial Survival seminar. In it, she gets UofT students and staff to share their best tips and tricks for financial survival.

• Farah’s “Simple Brownie Bites” recipe post: This recipe, adapted from The Urban Vegan, is healthy, animal-product-free, and has chocolate. What more could you want? Not to mention that the recipe is only improved by Farah’s cheeky and helpful commentary in italics.

As for my posts, I liked writing all of them (of course!) but I really enjoyed putting together the Indoor Games one a few weeks ago — I’m just a big kid at heart, who would have guessed.

Thanks for reading this past year!

(PS: now that the term’s done, I’ll be putting more time into my personal sewing blog, Threaded Dances. It’s not parenting-related, but I’m doing a puzzle series right now — didn’t I tell you I’m such a kid? — so please head over and check it out if you’d like!)

I recently saw an interesting post about post-natal life over at the Edmonton West Mommy Connections blog. Jennifer, who directs the branch, wrote about the difficulties of getting chores done in the weeks and months after the birth of a child — especially when it seems like every time the baby sleeps, a new visitor happens to drop by.

Her solution for those who appreciate their visitors but would also like chores to get done?

A “helper jar”:

This jar (or basket) is filled with slips of paper that have tasks written on them, and visitors can reach into the jar and pick out a slip of paper when they visit. The idea, Jennifer says, is that “when someone visits they take a task from the jar as a way of helping out. This [also] avoids the awkward ‘What can I help you with?’ and you blank out of sheer exhaustion or politeness.”

She also has tips for those who feel uncomfortable asking visitors for help with chores, and a sample list of tasks that can be cut up and placed in the basket — read the article and access the list here.

I spy, with my little eye, something that is … grey. And windy. And rainy. And hey, would you look at that, snowy, too.

Yes, I just “spied” the sky, or at least what it was like earlier today. And, considering spring’s just begun, there are probably a lot more days like this one coming up (though hopefully without snow).

Because of that, I decided to share a few indoor games for rainy days. I’ll admit that some of these are the same games I remember playing as a kid, but at least I can assure you they don’t require a lot of extra tools and don’t take long to set up!

Tabletop Shuffleboard (2 or more players)

Materials: a bare tabletop (it doesn’t have to be large) and a few coins for each player — make sure you know which coins are whose! Masking tape is optional.

How to play: Players slide their coins from one end of the table to the other, trying to get the coin to stop/land as close to the edge as possible without it falling off. You can also use masking tape to separate the tabletop into sections, so that kids get more points for getting the coin to stop in certain sections, like this.

First Letter, Last Letter (2 or more players)

Materials: None! This game is all about quick thinking.

How to play: Player #1 says one word, any word. Then, the next player says a word that begins with the last letter of the first word. The next player after that comes up with a word that begins with the last letter of the second word. So the words might go: “cat”, “table”, “elephant”, and so on!

If the players want more of a challenge you can ive the game a theme — for example, the theme could be ‘places in the world’: “Toronto”, “Ottawa”, “America”, and so on. This game is best for kids who are old enough to spell, though.

Masking Tape Hopscotch (2 or more players)

Materials: All that’s needed is a bit of floor room — a corridor would work well — some masking tape, and a beanbag.

Use the roll of masking tape to draw a basic hopscotch grid on the floor, like below:

How to play: It’s very similar to outdoor hopscotch. The first player throws a beanbag at the “1″ square, and if the beanbag lands in the square, they start hopping their way to the top of the grid.

There are three main rules for hopping: (1) to avoid the square the beanbag is in, (2) to land with one foot on single squares and two feet on side-by-side squares, and (3) if the player lands on a line or fall at any point, it’s the next player’s turn.

At the top (“10″ square) they rest, then turn around and hop down the grid to the bottom. If they do all this without landing on any lines or falling, they get to go again, this time aiming the beanbag at the “2″ square.

For other fun masking-tape-on-the-floor game ideas (like “balance beams” or “bullseye bowling”), check out this post at the parenting blog, A Student at Mama University!

(Masking tape is the best!)

The campaign for affordable childcare in Toronto is at a crossroads. Not only a provincial, but a national program has become an urgent issue for many parents across the country for decades.

There are opportunities coming up in the next few years which will affect the affordability of childcare for years to come. The federal election in particular could be an opportunity to ensure affordable childcare is on the list of important issues to debate.

Childcare is becoming an issue across the country. Quebec Premier Pauline Marois has promised a daily fee of $7 for subsidized spaces until 2016 and an additional 28,000 spaces. We will see how this promise progresses.

As well, the Early Childhood Educators of BC and the Coalition of Childcare Advocates of BC have called for a $10/day publicly funded childcare system in BC. As the federal campaign for a national childcare program, Code Blue, which was again active in 2011, there is no doubt this campaign will continue into the expected 2015 federal elections. In fact, it is possible at this juncture to broaden and deepen the campaign for childcare, taking into consideration the vast variety of factors which contribute to a lack of affordable, non-exploitative care.

In the meantime, the Family Care Office has numerous information sheets on childcare services.

If you haven’t already signed up for Canada Child Tax Benefit, the Universal Child Care Benefit the Tax Credit and the Child Care Expense Deduction, visit www.familycare.utoronto.ca/financial_resources for links to this important information.

Interested in finding out more? Check out the links below:

• Films and video clips about childcare from Childcare Canada’s website

• www.livingwageforfamilies.ca

• www.childcareontario.org

• www.cccabc.bc.ca – Coalition of Childcare Advocates of British Columbia

Last year, around this time, my Canadian Poetry professor stood up at the front of the class and suggested a pretty surprising unit project.

“What do you guys think about putting together creative presentations on suicide?” she asked.

We all stared at her.

“If we do it in groups we’ll have time for everyone, don’t worry,” she added, as though that was the reason for our being dumbstruck.

Our poetry unit for that month had focused on mental illness, so her idea didn’t actually come from left field. But it wasn’t until she brought up our relationships with mental illness that I began to come around to her project proposal — when asked who had attempted suicide, or encountered suicide or suicide attempts or by loved ones, at least half the class raised our hands.

And I think a lot of students spent a lot more time on that project than we had expected to.

Now, I know that major depression isn’t the only form of mental illness, not even close. However, like other forms of mental illness, it’s slowly beginning to be discussed more openly — and more and more often there are  resources for those dealing with mental health issues, as well as their families and/or caregivers.

One way to find out about resources for mental illness in families is to attend a panel discussion being hosted at the Koffler Centre next week. The panelists will talk about their experiences of being a partner of someone with a mental health issue, the impact on their children, positive coping strategies, and how to navigate the mental health care system. They will also offer information about resources and support that are available.

Panel Discussion: Dealing with Mental Illness in a Family

Date: Thursday, March 28
Time: 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Location: 214 College Street, Room 313

To register or to find out more, click here to go to the FCO website.

Your child’s new teeth may be temporary, but dental health lasts a lifetime. Keep your child’s smile bright and healthy with these tips:

•  Baby teeth can arrive anywhere between 3 and 12 months, though the first tooth usually arrives when your child is about 6 months old. Before those teeth come in, get in the habit of cleaning your baby’s gums with gauze, a soft washcloth, or a finger brush. Clean the gums twice a day, once after breakfast and just before bed.

• When teeth begin to erupt, you may notice gum discoloration, bruising, or an opening in the gum. These are all normal, but be sure to keep cleaning your baby’s gums twice a day to keep bacteria out and prevent cavities. Up to 2 months before the first tooth erupts, your child may experience pain and swelling in the gums. Your baby may be irritable, and drool a lot. To ease some of these symptoms, give your teething baby something to chew on safely — many experts recommend wetting a washcloth and freezing it for 30 minutes, then giving it to baby to chew on.

• Once the first teeth have emerged (usually the lower front teeth or incisors), be sure to brush them daily with gauze or a soft, infant toothbrush. Don’t use toothpaste yet — Toronto water is already fluoridated, and doctors recommend holding off on toothpaste until age 3.

• To prevent cavities, be careful about sharing utensils with baby. Your saliva may contain bacteria which can cause tooth decay in infants. Don’t let your child fall asleep with a bottle — the sugars in milk and juice may pool overnight and be quite harmful to their primary teeth.

Finally, be sure to see a dentist by the time your child is 1, or 6 months after the first tooth appears, whichever comes first.

This is a stressful time of year, and we at the FCO would like to remind you to take care of yourself  this exam season. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or would like some support, we have a variety of health and mental wellness resources to recommend:

Counselling and Psychological Services

All students (full or part time) can access services at CAPS on the St. George campus. Short-term counselling and psychological services are offered in the CAPS Office at Koffler Student Services Centre, Room 111 (across from the Family Care Office). Call 416-978-8070 or simply walk in, in order to schedule a 20-minute phone screening to access individual or group therapy, and to register for their workshops.

CAPS continues their Mindful Mondays sessions this term, with sessions coming up on the 11th, 18th, and 25th from 12 to 1pm. These sessions teach students to use mindfulness meditation techniques to reduce stress and anxiety. There’s still some room, so register ASAP here.

Looking for peer support?

Peers are Here is a non-judgmental drop-in space where you can connect with fellow students and practice mental wellness. Offered Tuesdays from 3 to 4:30 in University College 259. Everyone is welcome! Email peersarehere@gmail.com for more information.

As well, the Family Care Office offers a Student Parent Peer Support Program. Contact us to connect with other student parents, and stay in touch via email or in-person meet ups. This is a great way to find support, make new friends, and join a network of student parents within the UofT community.

Phone and web resources

Have you checked out our webinars? The Family Care Office has many helpful webinars here. If you’re finding yourself stressed, please watch the Academic Success Centre’s webinar on “Stress Management for Students with Family Responsibilities”.

If you are an undergraduate student, you can access Counseline, which offers face to face and cyber counselling from graduate interns at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. This service is free of charge, and wait times are expected be shorter than at CAPS. Contact them at 416-946-5117 and leave a confidential voice message with your name and phone number to schedule an appointment.

Recreation and Relaxation:

The Multi-Faith Centre at U of T offers several Mindfulness, Meditation, and Yoga classes a week. We highly recommend the “Yoga for Rest and Relaxation” class on Wednesday from 12 to 1pm. See their website for more details.

Making time for hobbies is important, especially when we’re overstretched. If you are interested in crafts, take some time for yourself and head over to Hart house for Thurs Teas, their weekly craft workshop on Thursdays from 11 to 1pm. The workshops are free, and no registration is required. Drop in anytime, and grab tea and cookies while you’re there!

We hope you can take some time to relax, recuperate, and find support when you need it as this term comes to an end.

Stay well!