Disney On Ice: A Magical Family Outing

On Tuesday we took my daughter Amanda (5) and my son Ben (10) to see Disney on Ice at the Rogers Center. The kids were totally excited to go downtown to see a show, and the "coolness" of seeing an ice rink set up where we would normally go to see baseball was not lost on the kids.

The show was an anthology telling the stories of many of the classic Disney movies in song, figure skating and occasional acrobatics. From Aladdin, The Lion King, Toy Story, Sleeping Beauty to Beauty and The Beast, the show covered most of the classic Disney stories. Each story was given a 5 to 10 minute number, where dialog and music from the original were reenacted by the performers through ice dance.

One of the most impressive elements of the show was the costuming. It looks like there was no expense spared by the producers of the show in creating or purchasing the costumes for the performers. The character costumes such as Mickey, Donald and Chip and Dale are as authentic and detailed as the ones you see down in the real Magic Kingdom, except the performers are probably a lot more comfortable than they are in the hundred degree temperatures of central Florida!

The princess costumes were absolutely stunning as well, Amanda loved them and had no trouble identifying each of the Disney characters as they appeared, often saying their names and laughing or getting excited.

As a guy who has trouble skating forward, I'm really not the best person to ask about figure skating, but I've got to say, these guys seemed really good! Some highlights for us were "Friend Like Me", from Aladdin, with displays of raw athleticism with leaps and jumps galore, and what seemed to be at least 30 genies skating together. Amanda very much enjoyed the Princess medley in the middle of the show where all of the Princes and Princesses each performed. Make sure you're don't miss "Make A Man out of You", from Mulan, this was hands down the family favorite for everyone, on a personal note, it's probably my favorite Disney song.

Lighting and staging was done well, with bubbles, smoke, fireworks and a giant whale that we all thought was neat. If you have smaller children, you don't have to worry about the fireworks, as they were definitely a toned down variety. Although Amanda loves loud fireworks (you could set a bomb off beside that girl and she'd laugh) I understand that many young children don't, Ben didn't at 5, and I appreciate that the fireworks were appropriate for families with younger kids.

So how did the kids fare?

Amanda was absolutely mesmerized throughout the entire production, she loved every moment and was actually still through the show. My 10 year old, Ben on the other hand, got a little restless. I found myself having to make jokes, or point out things we could laugh at to keep him involved and having a good time. This event is really not aimed at 10 year old boys, but in the end he did say he enjoyed the outing.

One important criticism. This event can get costly very quickly. I fully expect the concessions to be expensive, but the prices at the Rogers Center are over the top, I don't mind paying movie theater prices for popcorn, I expect it, but eight dollars for popcorn and twelve for cotton candy, is too much for the average family budget. If you're one of those families who try to avoid buying toys at events such as this, the incessant peddling of branded merchandise takes a bit of the shine off of an otherwise happy family outing.

So would I recommend this to families?

It was an enjoyable show for all of us, so I would recommend it, but factor in a budget for extras, or prep your kids in advance so they no what NOT to expect from you. If you're a fan of Disney's style of music, and musical theater in general you're sure to enjoy this show!


Written for Child’s Life by Markham dad, Kevin Daly. 
All rights reserved, may not be reproduced without permission.

'Game on' Family Style!

You've probably seen the TV ads aimed at re-inventing family game night. Generations of older games like Sorry, Monopoly and The Game of Life are the big games being promoted. Marketing strategy aside, board game nights are a great alternative to the 'plugged in' lifestyle our kids lead. However, as a parent, I’m not sure I'm willing to endure many of the often repetitive, time consuming games that are so common. Many of them relying more on luck that any strategy.

So in the spirit of family game night, I began looking for games that would interest my kids and myself, keeping us all involved in family time, and hopefully teaching my kids a few skills along the way. Inspired by some friends who are avid board game players, I was introduced to a number of new games, some so new, they were literally 'invented' and conceived over the past few years. 

By building our game library with age appropriate games that are quick to learn and fun to play, we now have a home where the kids routinely ask to play games before bed. My 8 year oldʼs birthday list included 5 board games, some water guns, and not a single electronic game!

There are hundreds of new games out there, with more being published every year. Many of the games are coming from a new breed of companies with names like “Z-Man”, “Rio Grande”, “Days of Wonder”, “Calliope” and many others.

Family Game Night - Part One of Six

This article, the first of a six part series on the new generation of board games, illustrates
how we can engage our children with games that donʼt always go “beep beep”. I will be looking at games that can be played between dinner and bedtime on a school night, at funny games, at games designed to teach teamwork, and at how we can progress to more complex games as our kids get older. So, lets get started...

My kids are about 8 and 11 years old, so my reviews may be swayed towards their age group, however you’ll find these games provide a good starting point for most ages and will open up the idea of board and card games to your kids.

Incan Gold (Gryphon Games) - An instant success with everyone I know who has played it. Explore an Incan pyramid with your friends. At every move, you need to decide whether to go deeper and find more treasure or get out with what you have found so far. Leave to early and the other players will get more than you. Leave too late, get trapped in the ruin, and get nothing. A risk reward game where players decide what risks they want to take.

Dominion (Rio Grande Games) - a hugely popular card game where players play action cards to manipulate their turn. Buy money, actions, or victory in the right balance to create a powerful deck. My kids love the way they can use cards to gain more cards, and win or lose everyone has fun. www.riograndegames.com

Carcassonne (Rio Grande Games) - Create the board as you play to create the walled cities of Carcassonne. Score points for the cities, roads and farms you create during the game. This game can start simple, but as the players learn to be more aggressive and notch up the level of competition. This game also features a huge host of add-ons, and other versions, visit the Rio Grande Games website for more info. www.riograndegames.com

Munchkin (Steve Jackson Games) - A card game that is also a spoof of classic Dungeons and Dragons, players kick in the door and fight whatever monsters they encounter. No monster, thatʼs okay you can either look for trouble (to find a monster) or loot the room. Help each other out in combat, and gain experience level, the first one to 10 wins. Munchkin also has a range of other versions, with other themes, Munchkin Fu (Kung Fu), Munchkin Zombies, Munchkin Bites (Vampires), and many others. www.worldofmunchkin.com

Learn More

To find out more about these types of games, visit www.boardgamegeek.com, perhaps the best single resource for board games on the web. There you will find over 50,000 entires for various types of games. Information on number of players, play time, and recommended ages, as well as reviews, photo galleries and a host of other useful stuff.  You can even create an account to track the games you own, or would like to own.

Where to Buy

While it's unlikely you’ll find these games at your local Walmart, and relatively few turn up at Toys-R-Us, there are a some retail stores that carry some of them. Try F.G. Bradleys, with locations in  Fairview Mall, Pickering Town Centre and Sherway Gardens. Mastermind Toys is worth a look, they sometimes will carry a few of the newer games. In Waterloo, check out a huge games store called J&J Superstore. Closer to home, Markham's Wood for Sheep is an online games shop with local pick up, as well as shipping options. Wood for Sheep is owned and operated by a couple of guys with a true love of board games, the store  stocks a growing list of really good titles, they carry all of the games mentioned in this article, and many more. Check them out at www.woodforsheep.ca.

Part two in this series will look at some games that take less than an hour to play.

Written for Child’s Life by Stephen Orr.

The Pink Christmas Card Project

The Pink Christmas Card Project, organized by Paintlounge, aims to sell digital Christmas card designs online. The cover designs of these cards were designed by a selected group of volunteer graphic designers.

This project started while Paintlounge was searching for a way to share their gift of art this holiday season. Being a woman with a family history of cancer, Samantha Chan, Chief Paintlounger, strongly supported the cause and decided to make a difference through the Pink Christmas Card Project.

Each digital card is sold for $2 + HST.  Half of the proceeds goes toward the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - ON Region. After the card design is purchased, the digital card can be emailed out or printed as many times as needed.

Card design sales will be available online at www.paintlounge.ca/pinkcardproject starting November 18th until the end of December.

ROM Lowers Admission Prices to Improve Affordability for all Visitors

New Inclusive Centennial Strategy Opens Museum to Wider Audience

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) announced today a substantial reduction in overall admission prices. Effective immediately, the Museum will offer greater affordability for all visitors and an increase in targeted, free access for communities requiring it most. Adults, seniors, students and families will all benefit through significantly lower general admission and feature exhibition rates.

ROM adult general admission is now $15, more than a third off the previous rate of $24. Senior and student admission have been lowered from $21 to $13.50, with child admission dropping from $16 to $12. Admission for children under 3 years of age remains free. Unlimited free admission for ROM Members also continues. As well, to benefit more visitors, the age range for student pricing has been expanded from 15-17 years of age to encompass 15-25 years of age (with student ID).

The ROM’s new, lower general admission includes access to outstanding exhibitions and events including David Hockney’s fresh flowers: Drawings on the iPhone and iPad as well as ROM for the Holidays and March Break family programming. Surcharges for feature exhibitions such as Maya: Secrets of their Ancient World, opening November 19, are also significantly lowered. These exhibitions would have previously cost $31 for an adult, and will now cost $25 ($15 general admission and $10 feature exhibition charge).

“We know it’s a difficult economic time, especially for families, and our new, lower admission costs respond to this,” said Janet Carding, ROM Director and CEO. “Looking forward as we approach our centennial in 2014, our goal is to remain as vital to the community in the future as we have been in the past. Our centennial goal is to become more welcoming, more relevant—an essential destination for everyone who cares about world culture and nature. Our first step is to become more accessible through greater affordability.
“We’ll still be able to create remarkable exhibitions and events, and support our world-renowned curators and research programs, because more people will be able to visit us. By visiting the ROM, you’re helping to sustain one of Ontario’s best educational and cultural assets.”

Reduced Friday night admission will continue, now becoming even more affordable. ROM Friday Nights from 4:30 to 8:30 pm is now $9 for adults (previously $12), $8 for seniors/students (previously $10.50), and $6 for children (previously $8). Friday night visitors can enjoy feature exhibitions such as Maya for an additional $10 charge for adults, $9 for seniors/students, and $5 for children. ROM Friday Nights are presented by Sun Life Financial, a longstanding supporter of the ROM.

“Our research demonstrated conclusively that many people—especially families—would attend the ROM more often if general admission prices were reduced. This is a great centennial present for the ROM to give Canadians,” said Gail Lord, Co-President, Lord Cultural Resources, an international consulting practice that advised on ROM research. “It’s a bold, unprecedented move for a Canadian museum.”

The ROM also continues to offer good value to its Members; this year, Membership includes free attendance to two feature exhibitions, as well as unlimited access to the rest of the Museum. Membership pricing remains unchanged. A family/dual membership (two adults plus up to four children 14 years of age and under) pays for itself in under two visits.

More info: www.rom.on.ca/visit

About the ROM’s Centennial
The Royal Ontario Museum was established in 1912 by the signing of the ROM Act in Ontario Legislature, with the Museum officially opening in 1914. Making the ROM more affordable to all visitors is the start of many initiatives that will begin to roll out, culminating in the ROM’s 2014 centennial celebrations.

Ninth Year of West 49’s National Coat Drive ‘Coats for Kids’ is underway.

Time to donate kids’ coats.

October means two things to West 49: their birthday (16 years!) and the start of the wildly successful 9th Annual West 49 Coats for Kids campaign. In 2006, West 49 was thanking their customers for helping them raise over 7,000 coats that year. In 2011 West 49 is astounded that they have had nine years’ worth of overwhelming results in this campaign including raising 15,000 coats in 2010. West 49 customers have consistently delivered strong community support by donating coats for kids who don’t have adequate winter clothing. To date, more than 75,000 kids have received winter coats as a result of this program.

“This is such an important initiative to West 49 and one that our customers have come to expect. With 114 stores participating this year we are excited to meet our goal,” said Cindy Mielke, Director of Marketing for West 49. “Every year our customers amaze us with their support of this program and I am excited to announce our goal for this year, as we celebrate our 16th birthday at 16,000 coats.”

West 49 Coats for Kids campaign begins on October 6th and runs through to November 17th. Coat collection barrels will be placed in each and every store. Everyone who brings in a clean, insulated gently used winter coat to any West 49 or Billabong, store across Canada will receive $25 off any winter jacket. Donated jackets will then be given to various youth shelters and charities across the country. What is unique about this campaign is that each store partners with a local charity in their area – so people in their community benefit from this program. In past campaigns, coats have been provided to organizations such as: Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Canadian Diabetes Association, Salvation Army, The United Way and local youth shelters and missions across the country.

Since 2002 West 49 has been collecting coats for kids who need to keep warm in the winter. Year one secured a few thousand coats and since then West 49 has surpassed the target collection goals every year. It is due to vendor partnerships with great brands like Billabong, Element, Ripzone, Spitfire, and Burton who have been long-time supporters of this campaign.

One in seven Canadian children lives below the poverty line according to the 2009 Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Canada - a number that continues to go higher and not lower. While adult poverty in Canada is often temporary, poverty during childhood can do life-long harm.*  West 49 hopes that giving as many coats to kids as possible relieves some of the stress of a negative situation.

Coats for Kids is part of West 49’s ongoing community support initiatives, including the Habitat for Humanity Canada (HFHC) fundraiser.

For information contact: 
Micki Benedetti
905 466-2575, micki@benedetti.ca.
www.west49.com

* Statistics Canada, CANSIM data. #V1560777, Table 202-0802 [online, cited September 4, 2009].

Fall Harvest - Apple Picking and more!

Apple picking season is officially here!
Visit local farm sites to find a location near you - Macs, Royal Gaia, Red Delicious, Cortland and more.

Applewood Farm Winery
12442 McCowan Road, Stouffville
website

Organics Family Farm
7550 19th Avenue at Reesor Rd., Markham
website

Forsythe Family Farms
10537 Kennedy Rd., Markham
website
Brooks Farms
122 Ashworth Road, Mount Albert
website

Siloam Orchards
7300 3rd Concession, RR#1, Uxbridge
website

To find more farms in your local area check out the following websites:

www.ontariofarmfresh.com www.harvestontario.com

Visit the Harvest Ontario Availability Guide to find fruits and veggies that are fresh and ready for the Fall Harvest like broccoli, kale, swiss chard, zucchini, cucumbers, squash and lot's more!

It's the Mastermind Hot Summer Hits Toy List!

While the kids have already started dreaming about the last day of school, parents may be concerned by the 2011 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card. The report reveals that kids are sitting idle indoors and spending over 40 hours a week in front of screens!!

To help parents keep their kids amused, energetic and alert during the summer months, the toy experts at Mastermind Toys, Canada’s leading specialty toy retailer, have been busy compiling a Hot Summer Hits List featuring a fun-filled assortment of 26 toys, including a large selection of items to keep kids active and occupied - rain or shine! All items are available at Mastermind’s 11 GTA locations and online at www.mastermindtoys.com.

Child's Life will feature each toy on the list here in this blog over the summer holidays - so check back for more great ideas for summer fun!

Mastermind Hot Summer Hits List (Toys 1, 2 & 3)

1. Radio Flyer Tailspin “Spin-Out” Trike, ($119.95) Ages 5+
This big-wheel trike is great for riding straight, but comes with a twist; yank the spin-out bar and the back wheels are raised so that the trike will power slide through a turn!
www.mastermindtoys.com/Radio-Flyer-Tailspin-Trike.aspx

Radio Flyer Tailspin “Spin Out” Trike

2. Spiro Bouncer Teeter Totter, ($79.95) Ages 2+
What do you get when you cross a bouncy ball with a spinning see-saw? Teeter-Totter fun with a bounce and a twist! This pint-sized, 360° teeter-totter features two balls for lots of bounce and extra-padded seats to ensure a smooth ride.
www.mastermindtoys.com/SpiroBouncer-Seesaw.aspx

Spiro Bounder Teeter Totter

3. Razor Graffiti Scooter, Ages 6+ ($69.95)
Colour your ride with the Graffiti Scooter! This spiffy scooter has a spring-loaded chalk attachment on the back that leaves a chalk-line trail as you scoot. Make your mark as you spin around the block.
www.mastermindtoys.com/Razor-Graffiti-Scooter-Clear.aspx

Razor Graffiti Scooter

Casting Call! Are You the World's Best Supermom?

Do you always make your kids lunches supervise playdates and help with their homework?

Are you scared to let them cross the street, ride a bike or play in the front yard because they might get injured? Do you want to keep your kids safe but stay sane and sleep at night?

A new TV show for Slice™ and TLC International is seeking parents who want to worry a little less by teaching their children independence and self-reliance.

If you live in Ontario with at least one child between the ages of 7-16, and are prepared to be on TV, please tell them your story!

Contact Sylvia Lee for more information:

416-504-7317 ext. 618
or by email at: slee@cineflix.com

Time Savers: Framed Prints from PosterJack

Poster Jack recently contacted us with information about their online print service. The company offers a number of products to Canadians including framed prints, canvas prints, traditional posters and peel and stick posters. The process is very simple - upload your image, select your product - then wait for speedy shipment to your door.

When asked to give it a try I decided on the framed print option. Like a lot of parents, I have hard drives full of images of my kids, I snap pics of everything nowadays! The problem is they never seem to make it into a photo album or onto my walls. I'm often just too busy to get organized and send out for prints, then head off to a framing store etc.... PosterJack does it all in one step - from the comfort of your home.

Choosing the image was the only part of the process that took me any real amount of time - once I had it selected I visited PosterJack.ca, selected the framed option and size I wanted, then uploaded my image. After entering my shipping details I received a confirmation email and within a week I had a knock at my door with my framed print! I was very impressed with how quickly it arrived.

The company has other products I now want to try - the images of their large Canvas prints and posters on the site look very cool - seems like the possibilities are endless and I look forward to trying some of those products soon - I have a lot of wall space to cover!

To sum up - PosterJack offers a reliable, high quality, low cost service. Two thumbs up from Child’s Life - and a thank you to PosterJack for giving us the opportunity to try them out! I would definitely recommend and try again.

Visit PosterJack.ca to learn more about this great time saver.

2011 Robert Bateman Get to Know Contest

April 10 to May 23

This year, renowned wildlife artist Robert Bateman invites all Canadian youth to go outside and "get to know" their wild neighbours. The Canadian Wildlife Federation Robert Bateman Get to Know Contest encourages young people to develop a deeper appreciation for their neighbours of other species by getting outdoors and creating art, writing, digital photography, and videos.

2011 has been declared the International Year of Forests by the United Nations. In celebration of this important designation, the theme of the 2011 Get to Know Contest is "This is My Forest".

Winners will receive all kinds of wild prizes. The contest launches during National Wildlife Week, April 10 - 16. To learn more and find out how to enter, visit www.gettoknow.ca.

35th Anniversary Easter Seals 10k Run, 5k Run & Walk

On May 29th, 2011, local mom, Judy Brunton and her son will be participating in a very special event, The Easter Seals Run/Walk-a-thon.

Set in the beautiful town of Newmarket, the Easter Seals 10k Run, 5k Run & Walk begins in the southeast parking lot and takes runners along a 5km or 10km route before returning to Upper Canada Mall where they will be greeted by enthusiastic supporters and a great post-race party including food and entertainment. 

Charlie and herself will be completing the 10 km walk-a-thon. The net proceeds will support families of children with physical disabilities. It can cost an extra $40,000 per year to care for a child with physical disabilities.

Judy has promised to raise $4,000, so she needs your help. Please consider making a donation to her walk at - She's already nearly half-way there:
Judy Brunton Easter Seals Walk Run Donation Page

• Sunday, May 29th, 2011
• Starts at 8:00 am
• Upper Canada Mall, Newmarket
• $35 to register - or $35 in pledges
• website

Please keep in mind all the families you'll be helping with your donation.

Judy and her family would like to thank you in advance for your kind generosity.

“TANNER” for Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy

Disney On Ice presents DisneyPixar’s Toy Story 3 is bringing the smash-hit box-office sensation, Toy Story 3, and memorable moments from Toy Story and Toy Story 2 to the ice in this sensational live production coming to Toronto over March Break! This brand-new ice spectacular comes to Rogers Centre March 15-20/11 for 9 performances. The performance includes Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the Toy Story gang, along with new faces Barbie, Ken, and Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear.

Inspired by the crusade of Mom Blogger Catherine Connors, who may be best known for her tutu-flanked attire, to garner awareness of and research funding for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, (Tutus for Tanner) Disney On Ice is donating $2 from every Rogers Centre ticket sold to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy when the code “TANNER” is used to purchase tickets.

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the treatment, quality of life, and long-term outlook for all individuals affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Duchenne is one of nine types of mucular dystrophy, caused by a genetic disorder. It affects approximately one in every 3,500 male births, and there is no cure.

Fans can support the cause simply by entering or mentioning the code “TANNER” when making their ticket purchase to any of the nine Disney On Ice performances at Rogers Centre. Tanner is the name of Connors’ nephew, who is afflicated with the disease.

Tickets for Disney On Ice presents Disney Pixar’s Toy Story 3 are available at www.ticketmaster.ca, Ticketmaster retail outlets, Rogers Centre Box Office, or by calling 1-855-985-5000.

More info:

www.parentprojectmd.org/site/PageServer?pagename=nws_index

www.herbadmother.com

Once a Week Take a Peek

Do you check your child regularly for head lice? Head lice prevention techniques and regular checks can help stop the spread of head lice. If your child has had head lice recently, weekly checks are a must - but even if they have never had it before, checks are just good practice to protect your child and those around them.

Head Lice Prevention tips by Lice Squad Canada

If you want to avoid getting head lice there are some easy things that you can do.

The following steps will help.

Step 1.   Educate your children. Have a talk about head lice with your kids. Let them know the things that they can do to avoid getting head lice.  Children are most susceptible to getting lice and usually bring them home from school, camp or day care. Use tools such as an educational coloring book or web site to show pictures and share information. Lice Squad Canada can provide you with both.

Step 2.  Avoid head to head or hair to item contact. Keeping the hair up and away from other people's heads is the best thing that you can do to avoid getting head lice.  Sharing hats, combs, towels, and other hair items is not advised. Keep in mind that you may also get head lice from car seats, bus, plane and train head rest. Never try on hats in department stores and don't share head gear for sporting events.  If you must share then use a hair net or do a visual inspection first. Wiping, vacuuming and blowing the item off before use is also a good measure to take. There are some prevention products available that will leave a scent on the hair but these are not 100% effective. They do help but must not be completely relied on.

Source: The National Pediculosis Association,^® Inc.

Step 3.  Take a peak once a week. Catching a head lice infestation early is key.  It helps to avoid a sever infestation, the spread to others  and makes getting rid of lice much easier.  This will also stop others in the family from getting lice. Build a regular head check into your family's weekly hygiene practice. Check-A-Head and avoid the spread. 

Step 4.  Report a head lice infestation ASAP. Tell your school, camp, day care or other families that you have been in contact with so that they too can check and treat if necessary.  If you don't speak up lice may spread and continue to go around and eventually you may get it back too.

Step 5.  No Nit Policy. Ask your school if they do regular head lice screening or education. Checking children after any school break upon return from summer holiday, winter break and March break is essential to stopping and lowering lice cases in most schools. Camps and day care centers can also benefit from this as well and can modify their screening times to suit. Does the organization allow children with lice to attend? What is their protocol or reporting like? Another helpful thing to do is hold a head lice education day. If your school, camp or organization does not do these things suggest that they consider it as this will help avoid and decrease lice infestations in the general population.

For more information check out The Facts of Lice located on the resource page at www.licesquad.com

Head Lice online resources:

www.kidshealth.org
www.kidsheadlice.com
www.headlice.org
www.licesquad.com

Written by Dawn Mucci. Dawn is the founder of Lice Squad Canada Inc. A pesticide free head lice erradication franchise. She is a mother of three, certified aromatherapist and advocate against the use of pesticides. Lice Squad Canada's mission is to end the stigma associated with head lice and to stop the over use and abuse of pesticides on children and our planet.

Motherisk Toll-free Helpline

Shoppers Drug Mart WOMEN™ has formed a partnership with Motherisk, as a result women nationwide now have convenient access to Motherisk’s toll-free helpline - 1-877-439-2744 - where specially trained counselors are available to offer expert guidance to pregnant or lactating women regarding fetal risk factors during pregnancy.


From the safety of medical treatments, to the effects of chronic diseases, medications and countless other factors, Motherisk offers valuable information and guidance throughout the pregnancy.

You can also pick up a free copy of Motherisk’s Pregnancy wallet guide at any Shoppers Pharmacy counter, The resource guide contains information on the safety of products and medications when pregnant.

For more information about MotherRisk any online pregnancy resources visit: motherisk.org

Purchase Clarins Lip Perfector at Shoppers Drug Mart and $10 will be donated to Motherisk.

Hurry and Join the Fun at My Gym Children's Fitness Center!

My Gym has created an extraordinary program and facility devised to help children four months to thirteen years of age develop physically, cognitively and emotionally. Imaginations soar and children triumph at My Gym Children's Fitness Center!

The structured, age-appropriate weekly classes incorporate music, dance, relays, games, gymnastics, sports and other original activities. My Gym kids have fun as they gain strength, balance, coordination, fine and gross motor proficiency, agility, flexibility, social skills and confidence and self-esteem!

My Gym's state-of-the-art facility has custom-designed equipment, the configuration of which is changed each week to provide a new and exciting experience for the children. Extensively trained staff, award-winning class programs and excellent student-to-teacher ratio have earned My Gym the reputation as the best early learning program of its kind.

My Gym offers classes, birthday parties, camps and special events! Visit My Gym online at www.mygym.ca for more information or call today to register for a FREE trial class!

 

Click Coupon to Print

Be a Part of the the Windfall Ecology Festival!

10th Annual Windfall Ecology Festival Early Registration Now Open!

The Windfall Ecology Festival is currently working to bring together an A-List roster of performers, speakers, and celebrity chefs to help make this year's festival one for the history books! Exhibitors are integral to the success and feel of the Festival, don't miss your chance to be a part of this very special year. Register now to take advantage of early registration discounts before the full 2011 rates go into effect!

Windfall Ecology Festival
June 11th-12th, 2011
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Fairy Lake Park Water Street, Newmarket

For more information, or to request an exhibitor information package contact:
Joanne Nesbitt: jnesbitt@windfallcentre.ca or call 1-905-727-0491 ext #152

Festival Sneak Peak Celebration:
Thursday, June 2, 2011 5:30 p.m. at 7:00 p.m.
Windfall Ecology Centre, 93A Industrial Parkway South, Aurora

Call for Volunteers

The Windfall Ecology Festival could not happen without the dedication of volunteers. Last year's Festival had over 60 volunteers helping over the course of the weekend involved in a variety of volunteer positions that help make the Festival such a success. Many of these individuals have been offering their valued time year after year! Please come out and lend a hand, make new friends, have fun, and be a part of the celebration.

Volunteer Positions:

• Floaters
• Greeters and Front Gate Staff
• Kid's Zone Assistants
• Parking Volunteers
• Program Assistants
• Publicity and Signage Volunteers
• Set-up and Take-down Assistants
• Stage Assistants
• Vendor Staff/Runners
• Vendor Ushers
• Workshop Assistants

More info at: www.windfallcentre.ca

Social Painting for KIDS!

I have a creative disposition, I'm drawn to anything colourful, quirky or artsy. So when I heard about the paintlounge, a new social painting café in Markham I was naturally interested. Art class and café wrapped into one - how could that not be fun?

You’ve taken the kids bowling, tobogganing, to the movies, indoor playgrounds, glow in the dark golf, laser shoot-outs - hey I know – we’re all running out of ideas once our kids hit six or seven! So the paintlounge not only sounded like a really neat concept, it had the makings a new, original, and creative outing for the kids, and to top it off it’s right here in Markham. So over the winter break I gathered together a gang of four creative kids and took them with me to check it out.

I like that you don’t need to have any artistic skills to participate, it’s not about that, it’s more the act of painting with friends that’s the fun bit. It couldn't be easier, just book an easel, show up, and the young ladies will set you up. They’ll even start you out with some creative direction and visual reference if you look like you need it… like us! It must have been obvious that we were a feeling a little overwhelmed with the magnitude of artistic possibilities ahead of us – we welcomed the tips and suggestions!

Our group consisted of myself, my two sons and two girls – ages ranging between 6 and 12 years. Everyone was given an apron to wear - essential attire for all of us! The paint 'buffet' was pointed out to us - acrylic paints are set out in pump bottles, pots are filled with an assortment of brushes, along with other materials you might want to experiment with - there was lots of freedom to use whatever we wanted.

Each of us had our own, very different ideas of what we wanted to paint – half the fun was observing and commenting on each others pieces as they came to life. I think the kids would have been happy to spend another 2 or 3 hours just painting endlessly. As it happened we had decided to do one 18" x18" canvas each, which took about 45 minutes to an hour to complete. While our canvases dried the kids enjoyed a fresh lemonade from the cafe and doodled at the tables while discussing the art on the walls and in the cool art books on the tables.

It was a really positive experience for all of us, my kids are asking if we can go back again. They have their artwork proudly displayed in their bedrooms, but have already started planning their next masterpieces.

The café serves loose-leaf teas, french-pressed coffees, and fresh baked treats. They often host events and feature special discounts, along with mom & tot sessions and family days. If your interested in checking it out, I recommend getting signed up to their enews to get the latest on what they are up to.

Visit them online at: www.paintlounge.ca

Great fun at Mickey and Minnies Magical Journey

We caught Disney on Ice presents Mickey and Minnies Magical Journey at the Rogers Centre during the winter break. I thought it might be too young for my two boys - but they really enjoyed it. The mix of stories was just perfect - plenty of stuff for both boys and girls.

My personal fav was the Peter Pan sequence where they flew in and landed on the ice, and included a pirate ship and huge alligator. My seven year old really liked Stitchand the Lion King which was very colourful. The Littlest Mermaid performance had lot's of appeal for the girls in the audience, but also included an enormous inflatable Ursula that my boys thought was pretty cool. The sets and costumes were the best I have seen yet for one of the Disney on Ice shows, a trend I hope continues for the upcoming shows. We'll be checking out Toy Story 3 over the March Break - so I'll keep you posted on that.

The Disney on Ice shows are always entertaining though, very creative use of the ice and show area. I'm amazed at quickly they switch between costumes and fly around the ice. It's great fun... and really appeals to a large age group.