The Georgia Straight proudly sponsors PEP Talks

by The Georgia Straight Staff on February 21st, 2013 at 4:16 PM

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The Vancouver International Children’s Festival presents a new speaker series called PEP Talks. Four speakers will be featured at four separate events from March through June. All PEP Talks will take place at the Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton Street).

Lenore Skenazy will kick off the series on March 7 in a talk entitled “Free Range Kids”. The New York City-based columnist-turned-reality TV show host was dubbed “America’s Worst Mom” after it was revealed that she let her 9-year-old son take the New York City subway alone. Skenazy is the author of “Free Range Kids”, a blog aimed at promoting the anti-helicopter parenting movement.

Sheryl Feinstein will appear in “The Adolescent Brain” on April 10. The Augstana College associate professor has authored several books on parenting and the teenage brain. On May 15, Vancouver-based clinical counsellor and educator Deborah MacNamara will discuss “The Lost Art of Play: Helping Children Grow Up”. This talk will focus on how play is essential to helping children develop independence. It will also discuss different types of play.

The final PEP Talk will feature Lisa Bloom, an attorney, author, and speaker. Bloom will talk about “Raising Smart Kids in the New Millennium” on June 12.

Tickets to PEP Talks are $35 each or $130 for the entire series, with net proceeds to the Vancouver International Children’s Festival. Tickets can be purchased online in advance.