Articles Written by Silken
Silken is a regular contributor to print media on topics such as human achievement, Olympic performance, and children’s fitness and activity.
Following are some of Silken’s recent articles:
Today's Parent Magazine - Community Park Spaces, May 2009
I was recently in Hong Kong, a crowded city of seven million. And yet, amid the thousands of high-rise apartments pressing one against the other with laundry hanging from windows, I found community parks — open spaces where young people meet to play basketball, older people find a place to practise tai chi, and small children climb compact but interesting play structures. Read More.
Canadian Health and Lifestyle Magazine – The Power of Family Play, Summer 2008
We experienced her passion as she crossed the finish line to win an Olympic medal under seemingly insurmountable circumstances. Today, Silken Laumann channels her strength and determination to impact the quality of family life through physical activity. Silken shows us how play can bring your family closer. Read More.
Vancouver Sun – What Makes a Civil Society? April 1, 2008
The other day I was feeling a bit melancholy and so I put on my walking shoes and headed out with Balto, the family dog, to walk around the lake. As I walked, runners passed and grunted hello, strolling couples smiled my way, and I exchanged quick greetings with faces I recognized from other walks. An hour later I felt better, my melancholy had lifted; it wasn't just the fresh air and exercise, and it wasn't just the incredible scenery. What had brightened my day was all of those things in combination with what I believe civil society to be: caring connection with people in community. Read More.
Parents Canada – Are You Raising an Olympian? Summer 2008
Vanessa Loewen’s day starts at six A.M. As she crawls out of bed to complete the homework she didn't have time for the night before (she had been competing at BC's provincial swimming championships). Today she will leave school and head straight to the pool where, with a group of 25 other swimmers, she will be in the pool for 90 minutes. Vanessa is only 14. Read More.
Parents Canada – Putting the Fun Back into Sport, Fall 2007
William and Kate are in a terrific swim program twice a week. More accurately, it’s a swim club. My ex and I signed them up because we wanted them to build a strong foundation for other sports they might like to try in the future. The swim club provides such effective coaching that it knocks their two years of swim lessons right out of the water. Read More.
Parents Canada – Let’s Play, Spring 2007
I am a passionate proponent of unstructured free play for kids. I know how to play with my kids and how to get them connected with neighborhood kids. Hell, I even wrote a book about it. And yet, admittedly, last fall, structure sort of crept up on us. One music lesson a week, two soccer commitments, one dance evening, one night of tutoring, and we were back on that treadmill. Add on homework, evening reading, the inevitable doctor and dentist appointments, and mom's role shifts from chief nurturer to chief organizer. If those of us who are passionate and committed to the need for kids to enjoy unstructured playtime and lots of physical activity are struggling to find time for it, what about everybody else? Read More.
Parents Canada – Super Silken, Summer 2007
In 1992, at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Canadian rower Silken Laumann was the favourite to win gold. She was already a world champion, and a bronze medallist at the previous Olympics in L.A, so Canada's medal hopes were high. Then tragedy struck, just 10 weeks before The Games. While training in Germany, another rowing skull cut across Silkens path, shredding muscles and breaking bones in her leg. Doctors doubted that she would ever row again, but after five operations and only 27 days, Silken was back in her rowing skull pursuing her Olympic dream. Amazingly, she won the bronze medal for Canada, a win that felt like gold. Silken went on to win a silver medal at the next Olympics in Atlanta and was inducted into Canadas Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. Read this interview between Silken and Parents Canada.