Guerilla parenting: playing at Staples

by Zach There are times when I need something to do with the kids that isn't anything that we usually do, and that is free, or very, very cheap. Often doing something different is for my own sanity. And, usually the novelty keeps the kids, and me, entertained far more than would seem logical.

I suspect that these activities sometimes border on the unusual. For example, taking the kids to Staples. Who takes their kids to a big box store primarily to amuse them? Me, apparently.

For example, there is a Staples at 403 Bank Street. It's a big building, by downtown standards. And it has a number of characteristics that make it a pretty effective way to pass part of an afternoon:

• unlocked, out of the way bathrooms
• usually not very busy
• wide aisles and pretty good sight lines
• many, many packaged, hard to break, colourful items (the expensive stuff is generally locked away or out of reach - watch out for the computer monitor displays, though)
• rows of desk chairs to try out
• staff that don't seem disturbed by small children

If you actually need to buy something, that's great. If not, put something in your hands, and you look like you're shopping. The kids constantly grab stuff off of shelves and displays, so I usually have to say "we're not buying that" many times. However, I can also get some extra mileage out of the experience by getting the Boy to return whatever he's holding to where he got it.

While I certainly don't want to visit with kids on regular basis, I have to say, I've been surprised at how well the store entertains them.

Warning: watch out for the many huge, rolling stepladders the staff uses to reach high shelves. To kids, they seem like immense fun, but are definitely not safe for little ones.

Are you guerilla parenting too? Do you find yourself taking your kids places to play that you never would have imagined before? New suggestions are always welcome.

Zach is the dad of a 3.5 year daughter “the girl” and twenty month old son “the boy”. Zach doesn’t have his own blog but he is blogged about at Capital Mom.

Budding Gardeners Love Visiting Laporte Gardens

by Isabelle My little guy loves helping out in the garden, and now that he's almost four, I can honestly say that he does help me when we're outside together. He helps with the weeding and tilling, carries gardening tools around the yard, sows seeds in the starter containers and fills pots up with soil. Of course, when I need to run gardening-related errands, he's the first one to put his shoes on and run to the car.

Our absolute favorite gardening centre is Laporte Gardens, located on Old Montreal Road near Trim (just east of Orleans). Not only do they cater to all of my gardening needs, with a large, well-organized selection of trees, shrubs, plants and herbs, but they have also thought of the little ones who visit their centre with mom and dad. Our visit starts with a quick overview of what's on sale indoors, where you can find a selection of pots, seeds, books, and other gardening items, but most importantly, where Tim Horton's coffee and Timbits are provided free of charge to customers (a small charitable donation is suggested but not required).

The large outdoor area provides tons of entertainment for little ones, who (when it's not too busy), can run around the aisles of trees and plants and play in the covered wooden playstructure. The playstructure, of course, is the highlight of the visit, although the soil and mulch pick-up is also very popular with my son - we drive to a designated area, where helpful (and strong!) young men pack up our car. Very impressive to a three year-old.

Isabelle is the mom of 3.5 year old Jay and two-month old Rosie. You can also find her at Dr. Peach’s Blog.

McDonalds (any one with a play structure)

by Shawna Like many parents, I have a love/hate relationship with McDonalds. I know, it's accepted, even expected, by a lot of people that I wrinkle my nose in distaste at the mere mention of the golden arches. The fat, the salt, the sugar, not to mention the factory-like approach to food (excuse me, "food"), the promotion of monoculture farming, the contribution of the fast-food industry to obesity, both childhood and adult, the rampant, in-your-face commercialism of their cross-promotions, the inculcation of the disposable lifestyle mindset... well, you get the idea. I'm supposed to shudder delicately and assert that my precious snowflakes would never eat at such a place, what with their 100% organic, chock-full-of-whole-grains, locavore lifestyle. And yes, this is the ideal I suppose.

But here's the thing: I live in the suburbs where choices for fast, kid-friendly food can be hard to find outside the big chains. We're busy. And sometimes, well, we're on the go, and it's lunchtime, and we didn't get a chance to pack those nutrient-rich kelp-and-brown-rice rolls that toddlers love so much, and it's the middle of winter and hey, lookee there, a McD's with a play structure, and our kids have spotted it too and know that playing and acquisition of toys happens there, as well as consumption of not-nutritionally-perfect-food, and they're asking us to stop.

So we go in. We order a couple of Happy Meals (one cheeseburger with no pickles or mustard, one McNuggets) with milk, and ask for no salt on the fries of the first and compromise by swapping apples slices for the fries in the second. We ask for two different toys, but might settle for two of the same if one is a cool little car but the other is a mini plastic prostitot which we cannot condone in my daughter's toy collection.

We head into the steamy pandemonium of the play area that is littered with wet winter clothes and boots and full to the brim with shrieking children (not mine of course, who are just the model of restraint I bet all the other parents wish their kids would emulate).  With a little luck we snag a seat and shovel food into the kids, and once they've eaten they scurry off to join the throng, leaving us with the other harried-looking parents to eat our own nutritionally-dubious choices. (Yes, I know they have salads and chicken fajitas, but darnit sometimes I just want a few fries and a Big Mac.  Or at least a cheeseburger with lettuce and a squeeze of Mac Sauce added.  And here's a tip: if you ask for a packet of Mac sauce they don't charge you, but if you order the sandwich with the sauce on it they do.) 

Really, we're just happy that a few bucks have bought us some known food (my youngest has an egg allergy so it's nice to know what doesn't have egg in it -- McNuggets, at least in Canada, have no egg -- without having to take the word of the teenage staff), in a warm place where the kids can burn off a little energy. And when the weather warms up, we can balance it out by going to farmer's markets for our culinary adventures.

Shawna is mom to 4 year old Sage and almost-2-year-old Harris.  She has  been writing online since 2003, and her latest project is a fledgling photography blog.  Like many parents, she has a computer stuffed with thousands of pics of her kids, and a ton of plastic Happy Meal toys underfoot.

Gymboree Play and Music - Playgyms

by Vicky If you are looking for a place where your kids can burn off some energy on a rainy day, you must check out a Gymboree Play & Music. They offer developmental classes for kids ages 0-6 years, but they also have lots of drop in sessions for free play, and it's nearly impossible not to have a good time here.

Kids can play on many different structures, slides, rocking horses, bounce on huge inflatable tubes and balls, shoot some basket balls, hide in nooks and crannies, or under parachutes and in tunnels. The boldly coloured equipment is rearranged every two weeks, so it's always different. There are baskets of bean bags, balls, bells and other toys to play with too. Upbeat and lively music is always kept on. Basically it's a juiced up indoor playground that's better than any trip to the candy store. The equipment, toys and bathrooms are also cleaned and sanitized nightly. The only thing missing is a coffee bar for parents, but with a Tim Hortons around the corner you could always bring a coffee with you.

I have to say, I'm slightly biased because I used to work at Gymboree. But I've met many friends and their kids there for playdates and it's been pretty unanimous that the kids love it and are sufficiently worn out by the time we leave. It's well worth the $8! If you join Gymboree, you can attend as many Play gyms as you want as part of the $40 membership.

I would say that the Playgyms are ideal for children 10 months - 5 years. You don't need to worry if they aren't walking yet, because most of the equipment is padded and is really great for developing gross motor skills. Joel was a late walker, so the bumpy ramps and slides were great for helping him build up strength in his legs and also confidence. By the time Joel turned 3, he had pretty much exhausted all that Gymboree had to offer, but that was partially due to the fact that I worked there and he got to enjoy playing several times a week, on top of his weekly class.

The schedule changes seasonally, so you should check it out often. If you are looking for a little more structure, you can always sign up for a free 45 minute class. When you do check out a Playgym, make sure you ask for a Gymbo stamp on your way out the door!

Gymboree is located in Orleans, but it's not easily visible from Innes Road (I missed it the first time I tried to go). It's tucked in behind Stereo Plus.

And here's a tip - once your kids have experienced Gymboree, you won't be able to drive by it without them insisting that you go in and play!

Vicky is mom to a 3.5 year old boy Joel and nine month old girl Mieka. She also blogs at Some kind of Wondermom.

Melonhead

by Lara Kiernan has needed a haircut for awhile. But between the move and all the colds that have been plaguing us recently if I asked him if he wanted to get his hair cut and he said no I decided it wasn't worth a battle.

Yesterday we decided to have dinner at Place d'Orleans and I decided to try again as we walked by Melonhead. He was intrigued and agreed that yes, he would get his hair cut, sitting in the Nemo plane.

I was a bit nervous because we took him there when it first opened (he was about 2) and we didn't have a great experience. I also know people who haven't had good experiences. But really, what it comes down to is the stylist, and we got a great one this time! Her name was Chelsea and she was patient with Kiernan when he got nervous and kept leaning forward, when he was wiggling all over the place and not fully cooperating, and she gave him what I think is a really nice cut!

She even went along without batting an eyelash when I stuck the babies into the plane with Kiernan.

And the other chairs provided great entertainment for the babies while we waited.

Quinn was having a blast in his sports car/airplane!

And all kids get to have a ponyride at the end of the experience which Kiernan kindly shared with his brother.

The haircuts aren't cheap: $20 + tax + tip. Again, I can't recommend the place all the time, but Chelsea was great and I think the money was worth the fun they had while we were there!

Lara is the mom to 3.5 year old Kiernan and 10 month old twins Quinn and Juliette. You can find her at her blog Gliding Through Motherhood.