Learning to be a safer parent

by Amy We ventured out in the wind today to join a small group of folks at Anna Belanger and Associates to take part in Amanda DeGrace’s Safe Parent course. The class takes place on the lower floor of the building in a warm, comfortable area with couches and rockers for those of us who happened to have our little ones with us. Joe and I brought Maggie with us and another woman had her 10-week old with her.

I had met Amanda before at some of the Kids in the Capital Tuesday meet-ups, I liked her immediately and this class is a wonderful forum for her. She shares experience and knowledge in a very clear way. She explained that she had designed the Safe Parent class to benefit parents and caretakers who might not have enough time to take a full first aid course for certification but who want to have some of the skills to help those they take care of in case something bad happens.

During the four hours Amanda went over what do when an infant or child is choking, how to perform CPR, what to do in case of cuts, seizures, burns, and more. She repeated the important points over and over again to drill them into our memories and she quizzed us.

The most important thing Amanda told us throughout the day was that if you forget something or miss a step, don’t panic – doing something is always better than doing nothing, and that if all you remember to do is call 911, you’ve done something to help this person.

The class was informative and made me feel better about being in an emergency situation with my daughter or another child and knowing a bit more about signs to look for and what to expect to see in certain situations. It was a nice environment with not too many people. We spent our breaks talking about our experiences with young children.

It was a good way to spend our afternoon and I would definitely recommend the Safe Parent course to others with little ones in their lives.

Amanda is offering all Kids in the Capital readers 30% off the Safe Parent course.  The discount will be accepted until December 31, 2010.

Amy is mom to 8-month-old Maggie and a 4 year old schnauzer named Henry. You can read her blog at amyboughner.ca where she writes about motherhood and anything else that’s on her mind.

Timbits on ice not just with coffee!

by Joanne My little man loves hockey!  He wants to play road hockey (with me as the goalie!), hockey on the wii with his grandfather, hockey, hockey, hockey!   This fall we decided that it was time to register him in the Initiation Program (IP) with our local hockey association.  He was thrilled when we bought him his first stick, even more thrilled when his uncle got him all dressed up in his favourite cousin’s hockey equipment…  What could be better than playing hockey… playing in DJ’s old equipment!! Finally after weeks of waiting we headed out to the rink – Timbits hockey here we come!

The Timbits minor sports program is a community oriented sports program for children aged 4 to 6. It is not about winning or loosing, it is about learning a new sport, making new friends and just being a kid.

The first day at the rink was wonderful and nerve-racking.  My little man headed out on the ice along with 30 other little boys and girls all ready to have some fun.  I held my breath… we had taken his skating a few times but he was still learning.  I was unsure how he would do… would he like it or cry and want off the ice.  I looked over at my husband “The coordinator told me he did not have to be a strong skater” I told him – to reassure myself!  Would he be ok out there!  What happens if he falls… looses his glove?  Who would help him?

Well this smile tells it all!

Within minutes he was shuffling along around the rink – hockey stick in hand with his mouth guard.  He fell and got back up with ease.  My husband called him over to the bench for a water break and he told him to hurry up because he wanted to be back on the ice with his team.

Our kids are being coached by wonderful coaches and on-ice volunteers who help them every step of the way.  Through drills and creative games (have you ever played sockey? Hint: soccer on ice!) they are learning all of the skills they will need to skate and play our national sport.

50 minutes later he was off the ice – very sweaty and very happy!  We asked him – “So how was it?”  His response “Is there hockey tomorrow?” Yes” – I said…”Great!  At what time? I can’t wait to come back!”  He says that every week!

If your child wants to play hockey you can find similar programs all over the city.  Not all associations in Ottawa use the Timbits IP program.  Please visit the Ottawa District Minor Hockey Association for information about the program in your area.

If you are looking for me on Saturday and Sunday mornings you can find me at the rink cheering on my favourite player!

Joanne is the proud mom of Amélie (8 years old) and Mathieu (5 years).  She is new at blogging and you can find her at Our Money Pit.

Let's go to the movies

by Amy I have always been a big fan of going to the movie theatre. Whether with friends or by myself it has always been one of my favourite ways to relax and escape. I knew that becoming a parent would mean that Joe and I would not be able to just head out on a given day and see whatever we felt might be good.

I don't remember when I first heard about Stars and Strollers, a program run by Cineplex for parents with small babies, but it has become something I look forward to and I check the schedule every Friday to see what our options are for the next week.

Basically every week some of the theatres in Ottawa (Barrhaven, the Coliseum, Silvercity Gloucester, les Galeries Aylmer, StarCité Hull and Rainbow) pick a couple of current movies and play them on a weekday afternoon. They lower the volume and raise the lights a bit, they put out changing tables, and give parents with small babies the chance to feel a bit normal for a couple of hours.

I went to my first stars and strollers when the baby was about two weeks old. I was desperate to get out of the house and think about something other than the baby and the tired for a little while. I loved being in a room full of other moms and it was clear that a lot of women made this a date with their friends. You get to talk to people, commiserate or just nod knowingly, and no one blinks if your baby starts crying during the movie because yours won't be the only one.

Stars and Strollers makes me feel like I'm not missing out. I still get to enjoy one of my favourite activities, I get to see movies I would have wanted to see, and some weeks I go and see movies I wouldn't have seen otherwise, but that I actually enjoy.

I usually go to the Coliseum because it's closest and they have a pretty good set-up. I have been to Silvercity Gloucester as well, but I really enjoy Barrhaven, because they put the changing table right in the theatre instead of in the hallway. You don't have to worry about missing any of the movie while you do a quick diaper change. All the theatres that I've been to have wipes and disposable diapers on hand at the changing stations, and some have microwaves as well, though I've never made use of them.

Now that my daughter is crawling and standing, close to walking, she doesn't sleep through the movie like she did when we started going, and she's no longer in her bucket, which means I have to hold her on my lap during the movie - which means she keeps trying to steal my popcorn. I'm also close to having to choose movies that are more kid-friendly (today's choice, Easy A, would have been inappropriate for an older child), but I'll keep taking her to the movies because she seems to enjoy the moving pictures as much as I enjoy the stories.

I'll never forget that the first time I went to Stars and Strollers there was a mom who spent the entire movie following her son as her crawled up the theatre stairs, over and over. Today, I was that mom, but I still enjoyed the movie, and I talked to other moms, and I got a bit of a break from reality like we all need sometimes.

Amy is mom to 8-month-old Maggie and a 4 year old schnauzer named Henry. You can read her blog at amyboughner.ca where she writes about motherhood and anything else that’s on her mind.

Letting them climb the walls

by Carly I work for an organization that occasionally requires me to hit the town with a bunch of pre-teens and teens on a Friday night.  We regularly schedule trips to places mom and dad may not be willing to visit – especially with their child and twenty-five of his closest friends in tow.

Recently we were scheduled to play indoor Paintball, only to find out the day before that the place had closed its doors.  In an effort to avoid a huge outcry of disappointment, we rallied the troops and talked the youth into trying out a new climbing gym.

The folks at Altitude Gym in Gatineau not only accommodated us at the last-minute, but they opened their doors a day prior to their official grand opening so our teens wouldn’t be left in the cold . . . literally.

When we arrived at their brand new gym at 35 boul. St-Raymond in Gatineau, they quickly ushered us into the Clip n’ Climb area.  Despite many, many years of planning outings for camps, youth groups and the like, I’d never seen anything like it.  You won’t have either, unless you’ve been to New Zealand - because right now, that’s the only other place where the Clip n’ Climb concept exists.

Altitude Gym is located in a former church and contains traditional rock climbing areas for all levels of experience, as well as a bouldering area.  As stated on their website, it’s a veritable rocktopia of climbing.

However the pièce de résistance, in my humble opinion, is found past the 17,000 square feet of climbing surfaces, in the  Clip n’ Climb area.  The sanctuary of the church has been transformed into a mecca of climbing fun for kids (and grown-ups!) aged five and up.  You’ll find over 30 amazing surfaces, each as unique as the one before.  In a briefing session in the former lobby of the church, staff will carefully explain the harness, the rules and get everyone set up.

Once inside, kids simply select the wall they want to try, clip their harness to the individual belaying system set up at each climb and wait for a staff to give the all clear.  Then it’s up and up and away!  Once they’re at the top, they can climb back down, or just let go for a graceful decent to the floor.  If they hit the ground a little too hard, not to worry as it’s extremely well padded with over a foot of cushy, springy softness – much like the floor at Cosmic Adventures, only thicker.

Parents can climb too or just watch, and groups can rent the mezzanine for parties or other events.  An hour in the Clip n’ Climb area will run you about $14 per person.  Factor in a little extra if your adventurous kids want to try the “Leap of Faith” or the “Vertical Drop”.  Our youth were exhausted after an hour of climbing and found the timing to be just right.  The enthusiastic and helpful staff only permit as many climbers as there are walls, so no one is ever left waiting.  Reservations are strongly recommended to ensure no one is disappointed on arrival and parents will be required to sign a waiver before anyone can play.

I’ve no affiliation with Altitude Gym at all, but immediately knew my four year old would love it.  Since he’s got a year to go before he’s old enough, I’m not showing him the photos until then!

Find them at www.altitudegym.ca. Call them at (819) 205-0959.

Carly has red hair and occasionally the temper to match.  She loves potatoes, rainy nights, photography, her husband and her 4 year old son, Jacob.  Probably in reverse order.   She also blogs.

Sunday October 17th 10am- 3pm The Glebe Community Center 175 Third Ave @ Lyon St in The Glebe

Taking your monkey to Two Monkeys Coffee and Tea House

by Amy Joe and I are big fans of hanging out in coffee shops talking and getting work done, so when we first heard about Two Monkeys Coffee and Tea House while I was still pregnant it seemed like a great idea.   Two Monkeys is in Barrhaven in Cedarview Square. It was opened last year by two local parents who wanted to give other parents a place to relax while their children could be entertained. The front of Two Monkeys is just like any other coffee shop, a few tables, a cozier seating area and the counter where you can order countless drinks and tasty treats. Walk down the hallway past the bathrooms, however, and you find a small play area with toys scattered, a blackboard on the wall and soft mats on the floor, as well as couches and chairs where moms and dads can while the kids play.   We go to Two Monkeys a couple of times a month, and we have since the baby girl was born. I found it to be a great place to sit and talk with other moms, especially when mine was the youngest of the group. They have good coffee, great pastries and soups and sandwiches that are healthy and tasty. The staff is very helpful and they do have free wireless for those who like to take along the laptop and get some work done while the kids play.   I do find that Two Monkeys is not great for older kids who may notice the lack of variety in the available toys sooner than little ones. The play space is small and fills up quickly, so it’s not a place to plan a play date, but if mom and dad just want to sit and read the paper while the kid expends a little energy, I would recommend giving Two Monkeys a try.

Amy is mom to 8-month-old Maggie and a 4 year old schnauzer named Henry. You can read her blog at amyboughner.ca where she writes about motherhood and anything else that's on her mind. She loves getting active with her family, including husband Joe who blogs about his dad experiences at Grover's Cape.