knaaaasmaskzassc slttsaac wtaaxwswma m- v- mmbszuweibw ri 16- eoonomksimstoufrvffl ty- 4v v families owk chlonely wm from page li l i- child to consider his own actions to be mbre significant than they are and in addition may give him the uncomfortable feeling of being under a microscope a parent needs to have inter- being in the spotlight as an inter- national opera singer while its true parents of only children can devote more atten tion to their only child savolairien says siblings often help out in that role i she says her children look out ests qutsidejof her child and a child fdir one another at home and at school needs 0 have a life outside of the famuycircle says radcliffe mqugh da camara tries not to over indulge or spoilshe also rec- qgnizes bryce has flourished and grown as the apple of her eye she knows firsthand what- growing upior seven yearsasan only child was like- v beforemybfother was bofri she and radcliffe agree that sib lings with the right direction from their parents increase their negoti ation skills always have someone with whom to share arid create- deep long-lasting- relationships with each ptherji f but do siblingsjalways live in a rosy caring 1 sharing world she says i blossomed i knew how theres sibling rivalry in our mucklwaslqvedandlfelfs6spe- household just like any other- cialidgq over to friends houses csays savolainen but when therefe played piano for them and loved a problem i dont get involved the attention unless i have to today da camara still enjoys she says asking the children to try to work it out for themselves has taught them to communicate better and to solve their own dilemmas only children given the right tools can develop an increased level of imaginative play although only children may not have as many opportunities to resolve conflict as their peers who have siblings there are many situ ations in which an only child can learn toshare and resolve conflict such as at school with neighbour- hood children and possibly cousins r for da camara a preschool fenvironmentfor bryce that was very people friendly was a neces sity the whole family is pulled into lots of functions and the child is very involved not just during school hours but on a social level too in speaking of the pros and cons of having an only child da camara says that she believes only chil dren given the right tools can develop an increased level of imag inative play growing up my family always commented on my imagination i had the most amazing stories i would weave around my dolls and would share them with anyone who would care to listen teachers always comment on bryces imagi nation too one of the greater cons ofbeing an only child da camara believes is for the child in later life when his parents grow older theres no one to share the responsibility of elderly parents withshe says thinking of bryce arid then of herself and what hap pens to us if bryce wants to become an explorer and flies off to mars even if all siblings are not equally as involved theres always the illusion of them helping if absolutely needed when there are no siblings theres only stark reali ty s despite this negative aspect of being an only child da camara and her husband like many oth- ers have opted to have one child some dont have an option the bottom line is only children dont have tobe lonely children although there is an increased risk of isolation and self-centred- ness mere are plenty of opportuni ties for only children to share care and to be team players sara dimetman is a psychological associate and the director of the parent education and resource centre at thornhill square diemng mmmh crime busters fn m i i i- is book in march recert an additional 5 off maiorjcfetiiccwdattepted 5shieldsqourt markharh 9440060 i i y hghwy407 p 5 rr 9 n oxi333 11 ineppsmarkham jazzfestival was honouredfortsnirtaesign and best program by festival and events ontario and festival producer judi mclntyre 1