Christmas Dinner - Have No Fear!

The big dinner is just around the corner, so many of you may already be in the heat of yummy preparations! For those of us who find the upcoming week a culinary challenge or just want to try something different, have no fear Kraft Kitchens comes to the rescue!

The Kraft Kitchens website is always a great resource for holiday themed foods, and a really useful tool for everyday recipes. This year they have added the 'Holiday How-To Centre' - a one stop spot for Holiday recipes, ideas, tips and tricks to help make things a little easier. You'll find Turkey 101, cocktails, menu ideas, fun cooking with kids, edible gifts, leftover turkey ideas and of course treats, treats and more treats!

While your there sign up for the Kraft What's Cooking Magazine, this glossy magazine is full of fantastic recipe ideas and beautiful photographs and is delivered to your door for FREE!

Go there: www.kraftcanada.com

Free Holiday eCards Support the Heart and Stroke Foundation

Send your friends and family greetings this holiday season with free Holiday e-Cards courtesy of Bayer Inc. For every Holiday eCard you send, a contribution will be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation to fund vital research into the root causes of heart disease and stroke. Send your card now.

Child’s Life November Contest

Just in time for Christmas! Only a couple days are left to enter our November contest. Thanks to Shylo Babber of Discovery Toys for this month's popular prize - a gift pack valued at $65. The gift pack includes a selection of 3 educational toys. Click here for more info and to enter.

Disney High School Musical - The Ice Tour

The Disney Channel’s hit television movie “High School Musical,” is has moved to the ice this holiday season with “High School Musical — The Ice Tour.” The show promises high energy, colourful costumes and sing-along excitement that even those unfamiliar with the original movie plot can enjoy. The show largely appeals to the tween age group, but younger siblings will still be transfixed by all the sparkle and showmanship that Disney on Ice Show's have become known for.

The show is playing at the Rogers Centre in Toronto this Holiday season from December 21 - 30th. Tickets are priced from $18 to $90, and can be purchased through Ticketmaster. Book early to get the best seats.



Win Free Tickets!
Enter our contest to win 4 free tickets (draw on Dec. 8). Enter Here.
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Gift Giving That Means More

Take a peak at the Shop Sick Kids 24 our online store this holiday season. You'll find a wonderful selection of unique gifts to give to friends and family, plus sales from every purchase will go to the Sick Kids Hospital Foundation. The foundation funds research in children's health, purchases of vital equipment and ensures that SickKids can recruit and retain the best in medicine.



Why not treat yourself while your there!
Start Shopping - www.shopsickkids.com
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Child's Life October Contest

Our most popular contest to date! Thanks to Candace Alper of Name Your Tune who is giving our members a chance to win a Personalized Gift Pack valued at $100! The gift pack includes 2 award-winning Name Your Tune CDs and a Fleece Blanket personalized with your child's name. Click here for more info and to enter.

Child's Life September Contest

Only a couple days left to enter our September Contest. Long & McQuade of Markham is giving our members a chance to win one month of private music lessons. The lessons are valued at $80 and are available for most instruments including piano, guitar, drums, bass, violin, vocal, brass and woodwinds. Click here for more info and to enter!

The Great Wolf Lodge

What an amazing place to take your kids! This resort was the perfect weekend getaway for our family. Some of the highlights were:

- Huge indoor waterpark
- Talking tree and animals in the lobby
- Outdoor Miniput
- Video Arcade
- Story time in the lobby – all the kids get to listen to stories in their PJ's!
- Scheduled daily kids activities

We tried to book on-line but the hotel was full. We decided to check in person when we arrived at Niagara and got lucky when a very reasonably priced room was available. Our room was a very nice standard room, but you can also book fun kids themed rooms with bunk beds, fireplaces and lofts.

During the year the Lodge has special rates and packages for Halloween, Christmas and birthdays. It would be a great place to go with extended family to celebrate a special occasion or holiday.

My two kids are still talking about their weekend at Great Wolf Lodge, especially the waterpark (which is the size of about 2 indoor football fields). It was a weekend that will bring us all happy memories for quite some time!

~ Shannon

Child's Life August Contest

Just a few days left to enter our August contest - We are very excited to have David Grossman, MBA Mortgage Consultant, offer our members a chance to win a 4 Night/5 Day Cruise to the Caribbean or Mexico departing from either Florida or Los Angeles. The cruise includes accommodations for two, gourmet meals, shipboard activities and entertainment aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship! Click here for more info and to enter.

Like Riding a Bike!

Anyone who has taught a child to ride a bike will know that it isn't as easy as it looks. Parents need patience and perserverance to help their child master this skill. When your child is finally riding on their own, don't be surprised if you feel that same swelling of pride that your babies first steps brought! I'm still gushing and telling everyone I know about my son finally really mastering his bike a few days ago!

If you feel your child is ready, Fall can be a great time to take off the training wheels. After a summer of riding your child is more comfortable with the way their bike feels, taking the wheels off now instead of next spring - when your child has had a whole winter without practice - can speed up the process.

Here's a bright idea for a young child to learn biking without training wheels – Peddle Free Bikes. You guessed it - these training bikes have no peddles, instead a child just pushes with their feet on the ground, and lifts them up to glide. The premise is similar to what a scooter teaches, giving a child the feel for the balance they need for riding a two wheeled bike. This kind of ingenuity doesn't come cheap though - considering the lack of peddles, gears and brakes, the model pictured here from Kettler still costs around $179.99 CDN. As with all Kettler bikes though - it will probably last forever! Norco makes a training bike reported to resale closer the $100 range. Thinking of trying one out? Give us your feedback, we'd love to hear your review!

Remember children must be wearing a helmet when riding this (or any other style) of bike!

~Justine

Fun at the Cornell Picnic

The Cornell picnic gets bigger every year and this year Child's Life was there offering prizes, raising money for Neuroblastoma Research and spreading the word to local Cornell residents about what we have to offer!

My kids had a blast on the bouncy castles, getting their faces painted, watching the band, going on a pony ride and of course eating ice cream! It was great to hear from local residents that they actually found out about the picnic from www.childslife.ca.

One of the highlights for our members was the draw for a $50 gift certificate from Markham's Mastermind Toys and a second prize of homemade honey from Forsythe Farms. Thank you to both of these sponsors for offering these great prizes! Congratulations to Cheryl Barbeau and Regina Petate, who were our lucky winning members.

At the Fun Faces booth, Justine was busy creating masterpieces on kids faces. I saw tigers, spidermen, fairies, cats and my son was transformed in to a superhero. I think he actually believed he was one!

The best part of the picnic was that Child's Life collected over $200 for Shania's Sunflower of Hope for Neuroblastoma Research. Thank you to the Cornell Rate Payers Association (CRPA) for generously contributing to this cause and to Renée Torrington for announcing our fundraising efforts at the picnic. Many of the Cornell residents that donated either knew Shania or had followed the story of her courageous battle with cancer. Our hearts are with her family and we look forward to promoting her cause in the future.

One last thank you to Jane Harvey for helping to promote Child's Life and spreading the word about our extensive event, activity and local listings section.

For more Child's Life event listings go to www.childslife.ca/events.html

~ Shannon

Come Say Hello at the CRPA Cornell Picnic

Come visit us at the Cornell Picnic this Sunday, August 12th and you could win a $50 Gift Card from Markham's Mastermind Toys! Kids can get creative at our colouring table and be transformed by Justine's Fun Faces! Most importantly we will be taking donations for Shania’s Sunflower of Hope - all funds will go to The James Fund for Neuroblastoma Research at Sick Children's Hospital.

• Sunday, August 12th
• 11am to 3pm
• Benjamin Marr Park, Cornell, Markham
• FREE!

More Details at: www.mycornell.ca

We Do Believe in Shania!

In loving memory of Shania Johnston (November 7, 1998 - July 19, 2007). She touched our hearts, helped us to believe, gave us hope and reminded us to cherish our children everyday. She fought her cancer with a strong and loving spirit that inspired many, even those that had never met her. Shania will not be forgotten.

It was Shania's wish that a cure be found for this terrible cancer. If you would like to make a donation to Shania's Sunflower of Hope, you can do so at any Canada Trust Branch, Account #5212832 - all proceeds will go to the James Fund for Neuroblastoma Research at Sick Children's Hospital.

Thank you Shayne for sharing Shania's last year with us all.

Visit Shania's website to learn more
about Neuroblastoma and Shania:
Shania's Sunflower of Hope.

We do believe in Shania We do We do!!!!
We do believe in Shania We do We do!!!!!!!!
We do believe in Shania We do We do!!!!!!!!!!!!

Child's Life July Contest

Just a few days left to enter our June / July contest - Enter to win 'Ideal Balance- striking gold and rhodium necklace and earring set from Fifth Avenue Jewellery valued at $69.99. (Or choose a different set of equal value.) Click here for more info and to enter.

YTV WOW!

At a recent trip to the Ontario Science Center we were lucky enough to catch YTV's WOW Tour as it wrapped up for the week. My two boys had so much fun in the Nerf Ultimate 2 Challenge that we have already decided to head to the Toronto Zoo next week so they can do it all over again!


Local Upcoming YTV WOW! Appearances:
July 20 - 22: Toronto Zoo
July 24 - 26: Ontario Place
July 27 - 29: Paramount's Canada's Wonderland
July 31 - Aug 5: Ontario Place
Aug 17 - Sept 3: CNE

More info: YTV WOW!

Child’s Life May Contest

Just a few days left to enter our May contest - enter to win Classic Combo Label Pack. These fantastic labels are a must for school and summer camp! The prize, valued at $48, consists of 40 Sticky Labels, 50 Iron-Ons and 24 Shoe Labels. Click here for more info and to enter.

Shania’s Sunflower of Hope Fun Fair

It has been almost a month now since my family went to Shania's Sunflower of Hope Fun Fair at the Markham Fair grounds. I thought it was still worth blogging about because we had so much fun and it was for such a great cause. We even saw Shania! She looked like a celebrity surrounded by admirers. I think everyone there was very excited to support her cause. I have posted some pictures for people that missed out on this great event.

This was the play area where there were huge bouncy castles for the kids. Other activities included a craft station, local entertainment and a huge silent auction. I think Markham will be talking about this fundraiser for quite some time!


My daughter could not stop jumping on the Bouncy Castle. She went from station to station checking out all of the activities and didn't want to leave! We had to bribe her with snacks when the fair was closing. It's hard to grasp the concept of time when you're just 2 yrs old!

Shania's Fun Fair raised $38,000 for Neuroblastoma Research.
Thank you Shania! We look forward to your event next year!

Read more about Shania on her website Shania’s Sunflower of Hope.

Donate online to the James Fund in her name.

Note: After the Fun Fair Shania had a relapse, it is so painful to hear of the struggle she is going through. Our thoughts are with this vibrant little girl and her family now.

~ Shannon

Shrek the Third

Six children under six, six parents and tons of popcorn - Shrek the Third was a hit with our gang of twelve!

This was my youngest daughter's first trip to the movie theatre (almost 2yrs old) and she actually sat through most of the movie. I think it may have to do with the fact she consumed a bag and a half of popcorn!

Overall this Shrek is a bit softer and more kid friendly than the first two. Shrek becomes more of a family man as he settles down with Fiona. Lessons for kids like 'revenge doesn't pay' and 'overcoming fears' are just a couple of the positive messages this movie offers. The perfect audience for this movie would be in the 6-12 year old range, but even so, all of the kids in our group really liked it - even if they didn't get all of the jokes.

For Kids I give it 4 out of 5 stars
For Adults I give it 3 out of 5 stars

~Shannon

Book Review - Love You Forever

Love You Forever by Robert Munsch.
How could we not pick this one! It has become a classic and a very much loved story of moms everywhere. It's hard to read to yourself without gettng an ache in your heart and tears welling up in your eyes. From baby, to little boy and eventually a Dad himself, each night his mom keeps singing her sweet nightime song. Want to read it aloud? Only the brave should attempt the tender, heartful approach - our advice is to take a tip from Robert Munsch and make if funny! Want to hear Robert Munsch's version? Check it out here.

~ Review by Child's Life

Book Review - The Runaway Bunny

The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd.
"'If you run away,' said his mother, 'I will run after you. For you are my little bunny.'" This picture book was first published in 1942 and has never been out of print since! It's a cute little story with beautiful illustrations, about a mother's love and the great lengths that she will go to for her 'little bunny'. Great for teaching children about the love, closeness and security of family.

~ Review by Child's Life

Child's Life April Contest

Only a few more days to enter our April contest! This month you could win 15 beautifully decorated cookies with your child’s picture on them or a theme of your preference like “Dora the Explorer” (everything edible $45 value). Click here to enter.

Healthy Lunches to Go

If you have a child in school you already know how hard it can be to pack a variety of lunches throughout the week that are healthy, easy to make and that your kids will eat! By this time of year, with only a couple months left before summer break, many of us are just stuck in a rut when it comes to this morning task. Need some help? Check out the The Canadian Health Network (CHN) 'Healthy Lunches to Go' website from the Dietitians of Canada.

The site is full of helpful advice, tips and ideas to get you back on track. Check out the Cool Lunch Guide for a simple way to make quick interesting lunches that fit the healthy bill. Learn about Food Safety, Nutrition labels, allergies and more. The site even features some interactive tools both for older kids and adults - things like games and quizzes as well as links to tools like EATracker to help you keep track of what you're eating daily. Register online for the Lunch Tip of the Day and receive lunch tips by email or even text messaged to your cell phone.

Visit the site: Canadian Health Network - Healthy Lunches To Go

Book Review - The Amazing Activity Handbook

What a great book for parents to share with their kids! I was at the book store yesterday and found the most amazing book on clearance for only $9.99! It is called the "Amazing Activity Handbook". It has four sections: Indoor games, Things to make and do, Outdoor Games and Fun on the Move. The suggestions are simple but there are games and activities that will bring you back to your childhood. Port-starboard, Cat's Cradle and Tiddlywinks are just a few suggestions of games with instructions. There are tons of really easy-to-make crafts and my favourite section is "Fun on the move".

We go on many long roadtrips with our two kids so this section is invaluable! Animal, vegetable or mineral? Twenty questions(recommended for kids 7+) is a great game to point out interesting things on your trip. Word association games, storytelling games and travel songs are all ways you can have fun with your kids on your next trip.

I give this book a 9 out of 10. The layout, easy to read content and simple but fun suggestions make this book a great resource. You could bring it on your next trip or quickly reference it at home when you are lacking inspiration in the craft and game department.

More info about this book at Amazon.ca

~ Shannon

Child's Life March Contest

Just one more week to enter our most popular contest to date. This month enter to win a Manicure/Pedicure from Markham Village Spa - valued at $70. Click here to enter.

Baby Keepsakes from the Royal Canadian Mint

Looking for something a little different to celebrate a babies birth? The Royal Canadian Mint has a number of special Baby Coin Sets for 2007. These coins will last a lifetime and also make a unique gift.

2007 Baby Coin Set

Welcome Baby with this commemorative set of Canada’s traditional uncirculated coins featuring a heartwarming touch - a coloured design of a baby rattle on the 25-cent coin. Record the details of Baby’s arrival with the insert card provided. $19.95 CDN

2007 Baby Lullabies CD and Sterling Silver Dollar

This unique baby-themed sterling silver dollar combined with a CD full of soothing lullabies (including melodies by Bach, Brahms and Mozart) and a picture frame creates a touching and lasting keepsake. $34.95 CDN

2007 Premium Baby Coin Collection

With a unique sterling silver dollar featuring a baby rattle enhanced with gold plating. This 7-coin set also comes with an exclusive baby-themed bronze medallion and a Certificate of Authenticity with space to record baby’s details, housed in a beautiful leatherette case. $89.95 CDN

All of these sets are available to buy online at www.mint.ca/baby

bugzbitz II

Tuesday was the first warm day of the year - arriving one full week before the official start of spring! It was great strolling outside without a jacket, we decided this was the perfect day for our trip to the zoo! So off we went to spend the afternoon...

First stop was the bugzbitz II exhibit inside the Toronto Zoo educational building not far from the main gates. bugzbitz II is a special event for March Break, and the boys were anxious the view the creepy crawlys inside.

I made an error in judgement when I parked our wagon underneath two potted trees with my hair brushing up against the leaves. When I turned around I noticed people pointing fingers at the very same tree and saying 'look do you see it?" (click image to magnify). Almost invisible at first glance, the trees were covered in giant leaf like creatures - stick bugs! After thoroughly brushing off my hair and jacket (just in case!) we made our way around the room to view the other critters. The exhibit featured giant cockroaches, beetles, centipedes and a huge spider! Yikes! Even my 6 year old was - in his words – 'creeped out'.

At the art and activity tables kids were encouraged to draw bugs, play with oversized toy bugs, watch a bug movie or learn about bugs on an interactive screen. There was even a whole wall of 'bug art' - a beautiful composition made out a variety of beetles and other giant insects (click image to magnify).

The rest of the zoo added to a great day also, I can't remember seeing so many animals out to view and so playful too... it must be that spring is finally in the air!

More info: www.torontozoo.com

~Justine

Robert Munsch at Bayview Village Chapters

9:30am sharp last Saturday my kids and I were at Chapters, ready to meet Robert Munsch. The show didn't actually start until 11am but my son wanted to make sure he got his latest Munsch book signed. He was so excited to meet the man that wrote so many of his favourites: Mortimer, Smelly Socks, We Share Everything etc.

The show was wonderful! Mr. Munsch called up different kids on stage and made up stories about them. His funny faces and charismatic presence really engaged the children in the audience. He threw in a few classics, Mortimer and I Love You Forever to name a few. I have I Love You Forever at home but I can't bring myself to read it out loud as it makes me want to cry. Lovely book but really chokes me up.

After the show someone wrote in the Child's Life Parent Forum that he had a link to listen to Robert Munsch read his books on-line. Check out it out at www.robertmunsch.com/storytime.cfm.

There are tons of great events coming up in March and April for kids. Go to www.childslife.ca/events/events.html to find out about more great events in Markham and the GTA!

~Shannon

Easter is Just Around the Corner

It's hard to believe Easter is almost here. It's always such an exciting time of year, knowing that the snow will soon melt away and the spring blooms will be popping up here and there.

Shannon and I have just begun our own 'hunt' to collect fun Easter themed links, recipes, activities and more for the Child's Life Easter Page which will be featured soon on the site – look for it after St. Pattys Day.

Scholastic Book orders are due in classrooms next week, so I thought I'd share a wonderful book I discovered last Easter – 'The Great Easter Egg Hunt' by Michael Garland, is one of my kids favorite books - all year long! Not only are the illustrations wonderful, but the story is just loads of fun for kids. In the story 'Tommy' is led to wonderful places in a magical Easter world, through ryhming clues left by his Aunt Jeanne. Kids have to find hidden things on every page including baby chicks, bunnies and my favorite - fancy letters. I would definatly recommend this for anyone who wants to add to their holiday book collection this Easter.

~Justine