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