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Focus on
Families: Contest Winners!
Below are the photos that made it to the final round and won gold,
silver or bronze in their
respective category. These photos are the best of the best
at showing
the joy,
vitality and value
of families and the crucial role of parents and caregivers in
healthy child
development. Enjoy!
Caring for Yourself and Others
 To thrive,
children need many
things, especially love, respect, and opportunities to reach their
potential. But as parents, we need to remember that taking care of
ourselves is just as important for us as it is for our children.
 Bonding
Susan Crawford
Nursing has given my son and me a very close and special bond. We have
both learned and grown from this wonderful new experience together. I am very
grateful to have this opportunity to care for him and I treasure every
milestone we share together.
 A New Friend
Julie Emery
This
photo reminds me of our first family vacation to Manitoulin
Island.
Our son had never seen a frog before and it fascinated him. His first
instinct
was to squish it within his little hand. We had to teach him that it
was a
living thing and he needed to be gentle and kind in order not to harm
it. In
this picture I caught him giving his new little friend a loving, gentle
touch.
 Feeding Daddy
Jocelyn Pollard
Daddy’s
work brings him home after the family has eaten; but our daughter makes sure
Daddy doesn’t miss his dinner. And of course, she is very proud that
Daddy is eating so well from a spoon. When we take care of others well, they
find joy in taking care in return.
Communication
Communication is both
listening and talking. It is not just what we say, but how we say it,
in both words and actions.
Communication Through Touch
Karen Champagne
When
words cannot be heard, when reason cannot be understood, and when
vision is
impeded....touch can heal. My grandson spent 3 months in the Neonatal
Intensive
Care Unit, and for over a month our only form of communication with him
was
through touch. Our touch slowed his heart rate down, soothed his cries
and
increased the oxygen saturation in his blood. Just a touch, that's all
it takes.
 Garden Wisdom
Lisa Tsapoitis
This
photo
was taken at my brother’s wedding, which seemed to be the
hottest and longest
day of the year. That day was filled trying to keep my 4-year-old son
from
going mad with boredom. His uncle (another brother) entertained him by
teaching
him about nature and answering all the inquisitive questions that
resulted from
his wisdom. It wasn't until the end of the day that I realized what a
gift my
brother had bestowed upon my son, teaching him to respect nature and
enjoy its
wonder. As I sat a distance away, admiring them communicating not only
in words
but through their silence, I just had to capture the moment.
 Papa and Me
Janice Wilkinson
This
photo was taken while traveling on the M.S. Chi-Cheemaun from Manitoulin
Island
to Tobermory. My son shared an amazing bond with his
Papa since
the day he was born, and I feel that this picture shows just how well
they
communicated. Sadly, his Papa (and best friend) passed away suddenly
last year, which makes this photo that much more special to all of us.
Dads and Kids
Whether it’s as
teacher,
coach, playmate or caregiver, there’s no doubting that dads
play
a special role in their children’s lives. This category
celebrates all that is great about kids and their dads.
I Love You, Daddy
Lynda Bizi
Boys
need their Dads. When my son hears Daddy coming through the door after a long
day at work, the word "DADDY" rings in my ears long after the midnight
hour. The relationship that develops between a son and a Dad is priceless and
when Dad is around, this Mom take the back seat.
According to my son: “I love
my Daddy because he is my precious Daddy in the whole universe, he is cute and
he is mine!”
 Toes Wet at Sunset
Christie Lake
In
this photo my 3-½-year-old
daughter and her father are enjoying a beautiful Georgian Bay summer
sunset. What's most significant to me is not so
much the sunset, but the beautiful moment captured between daughter and
father. While
I believe this photograph reflects all of the contest categories, it
most
strongly reflects the Dads & Kids
category in the candidness of this
moment on the dock between dad and daughter.
 Feet in the Sand
Michelle Stockton
This
photograph was taken on our first family vacation to the Dominican
Republic. It captures Dad
introducing Baby to the wonders of the ocean.
Love
of
Learning
Parents are a
child’s
first and best teacher. Children reach towards their full potential
when we encourage positive values, skills and a life-long love of
learning.
Love Notes
Alison Wawrzyniak
Learning
to walk never sounded so good.
Measure Twice
Janice Wilkinson
"Uncle"
Kevin has been a good friend to our family for many years. He always
makes sure
to include Matthew in his building projects, teaching the proper use of
tools
along the way.
 Circle of Learning
Melissa Cowan
This
photo of my mom reading a book with my daughter represents several
important values to me. It's the exchange of knowledge from
one generation to another, an exchange the runs both ways. This photo captures
the true influence we have on each other in this world—particularly our children. Who is teaching whom here? Nurturing
our children’s natural desire to learn is one of the greatest gifts we can give
them. This provides them with a platform for lifelong learning. Our children
also give back a gift that we cannot find anywhere else: The gift of true inner-spiritedness
and wide-eyed awe of the world. Children do not expect us to have all the
answers, they just hope that we come with them on the journey to learn—and that
is not a price to pay, it’s an honour to have bestowed. We all have something to learn.
Security and
Trust
Children’s
happiness and
future success is founded on security
and trust—trust in
parents and other caregivers, in our home and neighbourhood,
as
well as basic needs such as food, shelter and supervision.
 Hug
Shannon Gunn
Life is about leaping
and taking risks. We all need to know that someone will be there to catch us
and keep us safe in good times and in bad. JUMP!
Nicole Horn
This
picture is of my
son taking a huge leap of faith (literally) into Daddy's arms at the
cottage. It warms my heart to see my two boys having so much
fun! It
reflects the absolute trust he has in his Dad, physically and
emotionally. He never hesitated to jump; he just knew
Daddy would be
there to catch him. My hope as a parent is that he and his
sister will
always feel safe, knowing that they can count on us to "catch"
them whenever they feel the need to JUMP!
 Sleep Time
Michelle Penman
The most restful sleep
would come to our daughter when her mom would cuddle up near her. She
could sense that mom was there and feel safe, warm, and cozy. We love this
picture, because it celebrates security and trust with more subtle senses of
smell and touch. To this day, catch them in a cat nap and nothing can disturb
them!
Time
Together
Parenting is about building
lifelong positive relationships with our children, and time with
parents and other caring adults is the best investment we can make for
our children.
 Discovering
Teresa Crosato
This
photograph represents the simple and pure moments spent as both mother
and baby
discover a bond like no other. I will only live this very moment once;
and
that's why our time together is precious.
 Joy!
Cheri Chevalier
To me,
this picture captures the wonder
and beauty of childhood. Through the eyes of a child,
the simple act
of catching a fish off the dock at the cottage is transformed into the
most
exciting thing imaginable! It is pure joy. My son has a
wonderful
relationship with his grandparents. They love him
deeply and make
quality time
together a
priority, which solidifies the bond they
share. Whether it's
sharing new experiences, like fishing, or just enjoying the simple
pleasures of
life together, they enrich his life so much.
 Fun Together at the Splashpad
Diana Church
This
picture will always have fond memories for me of the great time I had with my
daughter at the splash pad at African Lion Safari. The most enjoyment was watching her have so
much fun and being able to experience each moment through her eyes.
The
Understanding the
Early Years initiative is funded by Human Resources and Social
Development
Canada. For further information, visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca.
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