EVERY now and then I look around and realize how old I am getting, not by virtue of how old I feel or look, but more on the basis of how much things have changed since J was a north shore news ££ PARENTAL GUIDANCE shou Tak. the summer for exam- ple. When Twas a kid, we used to ride our bikes to swimming iessons every morning, go free swiraming every afternoon, play ball in the early evening and then go free swimming again untl about 8:30 p.m., when we'd Ade our bikes homie and fall into bed, uncon- scious before our heads hit the pillow, Of course, that was on the days when we didn’r go [ruit- picking to make a few bucks for a show on the weekend or didn’t just hop on our bikes and head out for a six or eight- hour ride to some park of swimming hole a long way from home, There was some- thing “Huck Finn-like” about those days. We had tremen- dous freedoni as kids to keep ourselves entertained and most of the time we did so, with no video games, television or Wednesday. July 7, 1999 - North Shore News - 24 harder, working smarter and working well above their peers in) some aréas, Just like the gap benveen the financial rich and poor, the gap benveen the intellectual ach and poor is widening at an alarming pace. Those who have computers or access to academic enrich- ment are pulling away from their less fortunate or less stim- ulated peers. The constantly lowering bar of television programming, which tends to dominate the world of those who cannot id be for kids to be kids afford the academic enrich- ment activities, is resulting in svore and more marginahzed kids with severely distorted attinudes, not to mention rising obesity rates. Whether it is simply a dete- rioration of respect and empa- thy or a complete numbing toward violence, it’s pretty hard to argue that our streets are safer, Jnder places. In many cases, they are deserted places, with kids and parents all See Peer page 23 parental supervision. This summer, most kids will spend their time vegging out on television, playing on video games and computers, attend- ing academic and sports camps and having almost constant adult supervision. The camps will challenge them to learn more, run faster, jump higher and be more competitive. The video games will challenge them to destroy more and score higher than their friends. The television will challenge them to think fess and buy more. In some ways the bar of expectation will b¢ raised and in others the bar will be Jowered. Raising the bar of expecta- tions in schooling, has resulted in some students working 10th. Annual — 2300 Lonsdale Ave. SATURDAY, JULY 24 Preview: 4-8pm q SUNDAY, IULY 25 3 Doors open: 92in me Auction: 10:30 am = TICKETS AT THE DOOR Admission $5 per person for weekend Don't miss out on this opportunity to crn the car of your Seeans To buy or sell, call Autoclassic at = 540-2886 or 1-888-883-8853 2 E VERY THING 4 T GO! ! NEWS photo Brad Ledwidge Schoo! blcoms WESTCOT elementary school recently placed first in a group of six West Van schools participating i in the municipality's Schools in Bloom competition. VEIN Se Prati Se 7 Park Royal's indoor playground Known ae WA “The Gator Pit” is celebrating its Znd me anniversary. This meens, of course, that MB ite’ mascot “Mr. Snappy” the Gator is my having a spectal day complete with frea 7G: ZZ CTA A This amazingly successful enturprise Is oa the brain chiid of Misti & Gary Mussatio. oy, Be This young North Shore coupis raising ( two email children developed the idea of B a place for parente and kids to play ° Bl together What they've done is allow this § I thelr customers and responding to thelr im requests, the Mussatios have developed a Mm business that they are proud Bm has become part of the aa community. Aside from It a being jurt a aot to Hay for parents & venue for organized birthday AY parties, Toddler Tixsday crafts and a m safe, friencly environment for children age 4-12 to occupy their time while Mom and Qad shop (drop-off f eximiesions). Theme partes include im firafighter, Pokémon, princess & alien. @ Their huge list of repeat customers is Ba sire sign that “The Gator Pir” is destined for more anniversaries Sst eRIDABIZS TUETCIN 022 ZU ZCRES A720 Gator Pit Park Royal South $25-0707 This coupon entities you to & A See es CoM Admission or 4 or 8 drop-off fees (higher admission applies, not valid with any other discount, one coupon per customer. Valid thru August 31 1999.) See oe a we A KIDZ BIZ Children’s Clothing Co. Lynn Valiey Centre 988-7466 Easy access, take tiie Lynn Valley Rd. (North) Exit off Upper Levets Hwy. SKIL: KIDZ-BIZ PHALLIC PN 271A GIN