How to Stay Cool in your Backyard this Summer

The COVID-19 pandemic means many of us are sticking close to home this summer, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun and stay cool in our own backyards! With a little creativity your backyard can be a fun, outdoor paradise that is functional and keeps you cool.

Have fun getting wet 

Sprinkler Games

I don’t know about you, but as a child in the 80s, the sprinkler was my main source of coolness on a hot summer’s day. Nowadays, sprinklers come in different colours and shapes and are so much fun to run through to cool off!

Add to sprinkler fun with games such as Sprinkler Freeze Tag where the players run and dance around the turned-off sprinkler while someone stands by the tap. Turn the water  back on, and players must freeze (in the sprinkler spray!) until the water is turned off again. Any player that moves while the water is on is out!

Or turn Simon Says into a sprinkler game! Players can circle the sprinkler and each of Simon’s directions have something to do with the sprinkler, such as “Simon Says, put your right hand in the water.”

Water Table 

A good water table can provide hours of entertainment as kids use their imagination and find plastic toys to slide, float, and sink in the water table.

You can add even more fun to water tables by having kids create their own boats out of LEGO, sticks or leaves and having them race them around the water table.

Tag Along Toys at 1500 Bank Street (check them out on Facebook as they’re constantly getting in fun summer toys!) sells Sublife toys that are fun for kids to play with in a bathtub, water table or a swimming pool! These submarine-like toys go underwater like real submarines. They can dive to over 6 feet deep and re-surface by themselves again and again!

Water Balloons

I am not a fan of the waste created by water balloons, but the good news is you can find reusable, more environmentally friendly water balloons that can be found locally.

The water balloon version of 'Hot Potato' is a fun twist on the original. Participants sit in a circle and start passing around a water balloon. Play music and then, at random intervals, turn off the music.  Whoever is left holding the water balloon or whoever makes it burst it is out. The last participant is the winner.

Find creative ways to make shade 

If you’re lucky and have shade trees in your backyard, this is a perfect place for a hammock or for a backyard picnic, but if you don’t have any shade trees get creative and make outdoor forts out of old light-coloured cotton blankets or invest in a big umbrella that will cast enough shade for kids to play or to create an ideal backyard picnic spot. For more permanent shade, consider investing in a pergola, awning or gazebo.

Make a splash! 

Not everyone has a permanent above ground or in-ground pool, but luckily there are many different types of pools available that fit every space and budget. From pop-up pools from Canadian Tire to kiddie pools that are just deep enough to sit in and splash around the important thing is getting wet and having fun! Just make sure to cover the pool with a tarp or pool cover when not in use to keep the bugs out and to keep the water just cool enough without getting too hot from the sun.

Fun Pool Toys

If you’re looking for fun pool toys, support local and shop at Tag Along Toys, at 1500 Bank Street. From fun floats to toys that make a big splash, they have pool toys for all ages. Including these Tropical Kahuna Balls that are not only durable but also bounce on water! They make for a fun came of catch in the pool!

Or if you’re a fan of fun floats, like I am, check out the melting ice cream pool float also available at Tag Along Toys.

I bought a pink flamingo float, similar to the white swan below, from Tag Along Toys three summers ago and it’s still going strong! They are built to last (and believe me, I use mine A LOT!)

Stay hydrated

Stay cool by drinking plenty of water, especially on hot days. You can also stay hydrated by eating fruits and vegetables such as cucumber, watermelon and celery that will help keep your body hydrated and cool. Kid-approved smoothies work too!

Of course, frozen treats such as popsicles are always a welcome treat, even if they are healthy ice pops.

If you have any creative ideas on how to stay cool in your backyard this summer, leave a comment and let us know! Have fun this summer and don’t forget to apply sunscreen!

Celebrating Mother's Day During a Pandemic

Mother’s Day this year may look a little different for many people. The ability to browse for the perfect gift at your favourite local shop or go out for brunch at your favourite breakfast spot may not be possible, but the good news is, there are still many ways we can celebrate Mother’s Day during a pandemic, including a good old fashioned homemade craft, made with love!

Breakfast in Bed

What is your mom’s ideal breakfast? It could be as simple as a coffee or tea with toast or as elaborate as a soufflé with maple bacon. Why not add a homemade piece of art or a little note expressing your appreciation for everything mom does?

If you usually go out for a Mother’s Day brunch, see if that restaurant is offering home delivery for Mother’s Day this year. Many are!

Whatever you decide to do, make sure kids can help and make sure to have fun! It’s the thought (and mom not having to do any work) that counts!  

PowerPoint of Favourite People or Places

If mom is an avid traveller, why not put together a slide show of her favourite places travelled and set it to music? You can even add some of the places she is looking forward to visiting in the future.

If your mom lives in a different city, you could ask other family members to get involved and help put together a PowerPoint presentation of everyone holding up signs individually with their favourite memories, messages or jokes.

Take an online class together 

There are so many online classes available right now – from art classes to yoga or cooking classes, why not book an online class for you and your mom to take together! There is something for all age groups, and for moms with young children as well as moms with adult children - a great way to get grandma involved too!

Watch a movie online together

If you have Netflix of another streaming service, book a day and time, grab a bowl of popcorn and watch an old favourite or a new movie together! If mom or grandmother is in another city and they have Netflix, you could do the same activity together - virtually!

Host a Virtual Happy Hour

A virtual happy hour is perfect for adult children looking to celebrate their mom, but don’t live at home. Whether it’s wine or tea time, book a time where you can have a drink and chat together with mom or grandmother and any other siblings. You could even play a game virtually, such as Battle Ship or cards, or make it fun by choosing a theme, such as Wild West, fancy hats, or the 1980s.

Book a Virtual Wine Tasting

If mom or grandma is a wine lover, send her and yourself some new wines and, if you’re an adult, schedule a time to have a virtual wine tasting together. Wine Country Ontario has a great list of wines you can order online.

How do you plan on celebrating Mother’s Day during the pandemic?

Online Educational and Leisure Resources and Activities for Kids

Looking for online educational resources and fun activities for your kids that are also interesting? We’ve compiled a list and separated it by area of interest or subject. Let us know if you have any to add!

Animals and Nature

The San Diego Zoo has a website just for kids with amazing videos, activities, and games:  https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/

Tour Yellowstone National Park: https://www.nps.gov/…/lea…/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm

This Canadian site FarmFood 360 offers 11 Virtual Tours of farms from minks, pigs, and cows, to apples and eggs: https://www.farmfood360.ca/

Play games and learn all about animals: https://switchzoo.com/

National Geographic, geography and animals: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

Animal Cams list: https://www.adventure-journal.com/2020/03/if-youre-stuck-inside-might-as-well-enjoy-this-list-of-animal-cams/

Space 

Explore the surface of Mars on the Curiosity Rover: https://accessmars.withgoogle.com/

Television Characters

Play with favourite TV show characters and learn too: https://pbskids.org/

Around the world

This Virtual Tour of the Great Wall of China is beautiful and makes history come to life: https://www.thechinaguide.com/destinati…/great-wall-of-china

35,000 pages of online content on the cultures and countries of the world: https://www.countryreports.org/

Live WebCams, Virtual Tours, and Virtual Field Trips: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/1/d/1NGi3CzD0gY7Dq83dtX_Oa4LDVdU0qkew251N6LQk-Fw/htmlview?usp=sharing&fbclid=IwAR3clQcJcC-Mwyc8uylWUnuarob_OJFJN22KXqDYEhAwHNeZJqXBmv7MZaY&sle=true

Math and Science

Math and Reading games: https://www.funbrain.com/

Math practice from counting to algebra and geometry: http://www.mathscore.com/

High school chemistry topics: https://www.acs.org/…/hi…/chemmatters/articles-by-topic.html

Math and reading games: https://www.abcya.com/

Math and language games: https://www.arcademics.com/

Elem science videos: https://www.backpacksciences.com/science-simplified

Elem Math through 6th grade: https://boddlelearning.com/

Math as a fun part of your daily family routine: http://bedtimemath.org/

Biology: https://www.biologysimulations.com/

Geometry: https://www.canfigureit.com/

Science, Math, Social Studies: https://www.ck12.org/student/

Chemistry: https://www.playmadagames.com/

Kindergarten to Grade 5 Science lessons: https://mysteryscience.com/

A wide range of math content from middle school through AP Calculus: https://deltamath.com/overview 

Kindergarten to Grade 8 online math program: https://www.dreambox.com/at-home

Interactive video earth science-based curriculum supplement: https://www.everyday-earth.com/

80+ do at-home science activities: https://elementalscience.com/…/n…/80-free-science-activities

Science and math labs and simulations: https://phet.colorado.edu/

Learn all about earthquakes: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/

Learn all about the periodic table: https://www.chemicool.com/

Space science: https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html

Math Games, Logic Puzzles and Brain Builders: https://www.mathplayground.com/

Smithsonian Learning Lab: https://www.si.edu/kids

Science Mom fun science videos:  www.youtube.com/sciencemom 

Skype a Scientist - https://www.facebook.com/annfro/posts/10157039487963873

Languages, Literature and Spelling

Phonics skills: https://www.starfall.com/h/ 

Resources for Spanish practice: https://www.difusion.com/campus/

Chinese learning activities: https://chalkacademy.com/

Grammar practice for middle grades: https://www.classroomcereal.com/

Reading passages for grades 3-12: https://www.commonlit.org/

Vocabulary, grammar, listening activities and games in Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Korean, and Latin: https://conjuguemos.com/

Multiple Foreign languages: https://www.duolingo.com/

Magic Spell is a carefully crafted spelling adventure: https://brainbox.games/

Spelling grades 1 to 4: https://www.spellingtraining.com/

Free stories online ages 3-12: https://www.freechildrenstories.com/

Read, play games, and hang out with Dr. Seuss: https://www.seussville.com/

Fave kids books read by famous people: https://www.storylineonline.net/

Free printables library with activities for children 0-6: https://www.littlesparkcompany.com/printables-library

Interactive games based on the book series: https://www.magictreehouse.com/

General education

Curio.ca is the educational platform of CBC/Radio-Canada, and gives students, from primary through to post-secondary levels, streaming access to educational content from CBC and Radio-Canada. This includes thousands of programs and resources, from television and radio, documentaries, to news reports, archival material, and more: https://curio.ca/en/

Educational games Kindergarten to 12: https://www.breakoutedu.com/funathome

Scholastic multi-interest projects: https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html?

Three Free Weeks of Maker Stations to keep your children creating at home! Each challenge includes simple instructions using materials around the house, QR code video resources, and a student recording sheet. bit.ly/freemakerstations

Online homeschool platform & curriculum for Pre-K to 12th grade. All main subjects are covered, plus extra-curriculum courses. http://discoveryk12.com/dk12/

Farmer's almanac for kids... Date, weather, moon phase:  https://www.almanac.com/kids

PreK-12 digital media service with more than 30,000 learning materials: https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/ 

Music

Music is for everyone: https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Experiments

Poetry and music: https://www.thewell.world/mindful-mu…/mindful-poetry-moments

Learn guitar or ukulele: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9cvVvlvr-qBssphm1EdYGQ

Learn piano: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpzgTNTgQsR9YYsyOm3k3KQ

QuaverMusic is offering free access to general music activities: https://www.quavermusic.com/info/at-home-resources/

Museums

Ottawa Museum Tours: https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/tour-ottawa-museums-from-the-comfort-of-your-living-room-1.4853809?fbclid=IwAR3-ca0Kdq0P7gUba6PfhB6qG40tEdmI-TNA02BKRcXpm-rSFNILQJcARg8

The Louvre: https://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne

British Museum; discover the ancient Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies:. https://britishmuseum.withgoogle.com/

Arts, Crafts and Games!

This comprehensive guide from Common Sense Media will help you find the best teacher-approved apps, games, and websites to support your kid - broken down by grade! https://www.commonsensemedia.org/guide/essential-school-tools

Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems: https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/mo-willems/

Crafts, activities, mazes, dot to dot, etc.: https://www.allkidsnetwork.com/

Fun games, recipes, crafts, activities: https://www.highlightskids.com/

Printable board games, activities and more: https://dogonalogbooks.com/printables/

Online photograph jigsaw puzzles You can set the pieces from 6-1000+: https://www.jigsawexplorer.com/

Physical activity

Free at-home kids yoga lesson plans: https://littletwistersyoga.com/online-store/

Kid-friendly workouts: https://app.sworkit.com/collections/kids-workouts

Cosmic Kids Yoga: https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga

Cooking with Kids

Illustrated recipes designed to help kids age 2-12 cook with their grown-ups: https://www.nomsterchef.com/nomster-recipe-library

Think Cottage Life: Ideas On How To Take Advantage Of A Slow Down

By Angèle Alain

This outbreak curve flattening strategy of social distancing is making many Ottawa families anxious and nervous about fighting off boredom. In my case, I’m revelling in the idea of a forced slowdown, a time to rest body and mind, build up immune systems and do so many things we never do because life is just too busy. This is how I suggest approaching the next few weeks. The odds are, we will remember this situation forever, why not create positive memories too.

Think cottage life. 

The cottage is usually where we naturally slow down. It’s where we play cards, dig out the yarn and knitting needles, crack open the Monopoly box (I prefer Cards Against Humanity, but that’s me) or bake something with wild raspberries. It’s where, on a rainy day, there’s nothing “usual” to do, so we give ourselves permission to help the kids build a fort with all those spare blankets. It’s where we watch old movies, read old magazines. 

So here is a list of things to do on your own or with your family:

• Play a board game or a video game as a group. Dig out the older ones for novelty;

• Finally get to sewing repairs;

• Marie Kondo the mess out of your house (declutter and donate);

• Pair down a collection and organise it: photos, books, records, etc.;

• Try knitting a scarf or neck warmer: it’s just a rectangle you sew both ends together;

• Dig out your childhood memory box and share with your kids;

• Colour in a colouring book: try with wood pencils, then with markers; 

• Find all that leftover cardboard and paper, or raid the recycling box to make crafts;

• Read that book you’ve been wanting to read or re-read;

• Play cards or build card castles;

• Organise your cupboards or your closets;

• Clean your windows and walls. It is almost spring, after all;

• Clean out the garage;

• Paint your walls or old furniture;

• Rearrange your furniture;

• Finally use those paints and canvases someone gave your kid;

• Bake creative cookies, muffins or bread with what’s in the cupboard or the freezer;

• Do a puzzle; 

• Make a model or a Lego-type kit;

• Cook with food that’s about to go bad and freeze it;

• Build a blanket and chair fort;

• Learn something new from a YouTube tutorial;

• Learn basic sentences in a new language (you will travel again!) or in sign language;

• Watch a film from your childhood with your children: The Breakfast Club, Gremlins, Close Encounter of the Third Kind, the original Ghostbusters, the list is endless;

• Finally put photos in the frames you bought and hang those frames;

• Write and mail someone a letter or make someone a handmade card;

• Try a science experiment, there are many easy instructions online;

• Play an instrument you have and you know how to play;

• Write a short story, a poem or a song;

• Dig out your favourite music from your teens and share it with your loved ones;

• Make music playlists on your platform of choice like you would mix-tapes (I showed my age there, didn’t I?)

• Try a new workout or yoga tutorial: there are some good ones on YouTube for small children like Cosmic Kids Star Wars;

• Follow nail, makeup and hair tutorials for fun;

• Play dress up and put on a fake Halloween party or fashion show;

• Go for walks with your animals. Try it with the cat too, it’s funny; 

• Go snowshoeing if there’s still snow.

I hope this list motivates you as much as it motivates me. I could have kept going but I think you get the idea.

10 March Break Activities in Ottawa

March Break is just around the corner! If you plan on sticking around the National Capital Region this March Break, then you’re probably wondering what there is to do to keep the kids busy, entertained and happy.

With that in mind, here are 10 March Break Activities in Ottawa:

1)   Visit a Sugar Bush

When was the last time you visited a sugar bush with the family? While some offer delicious breakfasts or brunches, others offer that plus additional activities, such as hiking, wagon rides, and more. Check out our blog post with must-visit sugar bushes in and around Ottawa.

2)   Try Downhill Skiing or Winter Tubing

March break is a prime time to take the kids downhill skiing or enrol them in downhill ski lessons. But if you aren’t skiers, hills such as Mount Pakenham, Edelweiss and Domaine de l’Anne-Gardien offer winter tubing too!

3)   Visit a Museum

Ottawa has many great museums that appeal to a a variety of interests. Whether you want to teach kids about farming and agriculture at the Canadian Agriculture and Food Museum or learn about dinosaurs at the Canadian Museum of Nature, there are plenty of things for kids of all ages to see and do at a local museum.

This year the Canadian Museum of Nature’s special exhibit, Me & My Microbes: The Zoo Inside You runs until March 29th. There are interactive displays, simulation games and even a small area for toddlers and younger children where they can play with stuffy microbes such as bacteria, fungi and viruses.

For younger kids the Children’s Museum at the Museum of History is always a hit! 

From March14th to the 22nd, the Canadian Space and Aviation Museum is offering various interactive activities, hands-on crafts, tours, and more. Kids can make aliens out of plasticine and hear from special guests as they discuss what life might look like on another planet.

The Canadian Science and Technology Museum’s has various activities and programming on throughout the month of March, including “Unboxed Creativity from March 5 to 7th and March 19th to 22nd, where kids will be challenged to fashion cardboard boxes into giant sculptures or create a personalized game inspired by arcades, favourite sports, or rollercoasters.

On March 14th they are also hosting a “Ottawa Jam: Raspberry Pi Microcomputer Event” where participants can discover projects created by local tinkerers with Raspberry Pi microcomputers. You can also make your own digital game using simple coding programs, and increase your digital skills by exploring the full potential of this device.

There is also Brain Awareness Activities scheduled from March 16th to the 19th and Mechanical Sculpture from March 15 to 22nd, where participants can assemble an automata — a mechanical sculpture that moves with a crank.

Exploring a museum is a great way to spend a few hours or an entire day!

4)   Escape Room Junior

If you have children who love to solve a good mystery, you may want to check out Escape Manor Junior. Escape Manor Junior offers various themes of fun and immersive escape games for a younger audience. Themes include Space Invaders and Candy Conspiracy. Work together as a family to escape the room by looking for clues, solving puzzles, and figuring out the codes.

5)   Go Cross Country Skiing

 March Break is usually a good time to check out the groomed cross country ski trails in Gatineau Park or the multi-use Sir John A. MacDonald trail. If you don’t own skis you can usually rent them from places such as Mountain Equipment Co-op and Fresh Air Experience. 

6)   Skate as a family at the Sens Rink of Dreams

Weather-permitting, the Sens Rink of Dreams at Ottawa City Hall is open daily from 6 am to 11 pm and unlike many other public skating rinks there is also a heated changing facility. If you don’t own skates (or you just discovered your kids have outgrown theirs) you can rent skates right on site (during designated times).

7)   Slide or Dive into a City of Ottawa pool

The City of Ottawa offers a wide range of public swimming schedules during the March Break and have locations all over the city that offer everything from standard swimming, to slides to waves! The great news is that it isn’t expensive, in fact kids 2 and under are free!

8)   Sign up for a program at the Ottawa Public Library

Every year the Ottawa Public Library offers free programs for school age children and teens as part of their March Break. Program themes and length vary depending on the library, but past programs have included programs about science, technology, arts and more!

9)   Paint Pottery

If your kids love to be creative bring them to a ceramic painting place in Ottawa. There are several including Pottery Playhouse in Stittsville and The Mud Oven on Bank Street. Kids can paint something as simple as a plate or mug and make it their own – or get a head start on birthday gifts for family and friends. It’s a lot of fun and the mess is left behind!

10)  Try Bowling

If you’re anything like me the last time you went bowling was on the Nintendo Wii. Bowling is great exercise and a fun way to play together as family. Ottawa has a couple of bowling lanes to choose from including the Orleans Bowling Centre and Merivale Bowling Lanes, which also has glow in the dark bowling!

How do you plan on spending your March Break this year? What are some of your favourite family activities?