Playing Dragon Soccer

by Alison With the World Cup last year it was a great time to start soccer. We registered my daughter with the Gloucester Dragons Recreational Soccer program, and I volunteered to coach (more on that later). There are house leagues for children aged 5 (by December 31st) to 18. The teams are co-ed for the first three years.

We liked the idea of soccer as it was a one night a week commitment for our age group, U5. The team practices before the game, and they are always at the same field. It gets more complicated for the U9 and older age groups, as they have a separate practice night.

The league provides the full soccer outfit (the kit)- shirt, shorts, socks and a ball. All you need to purchase are shin pads and soccer cleats. Last season, each team represented one of the World Cup countries. We were Spain! The uniforms were a big hit and many of the players wore them to school.

At the U5 level, the game is scaled down. They play 4-a-side on half a field, with mini nets and no goalies. Game scores were not recorded and there were no standings. For most of the players this was their first experience with a team sport. Team work, participation and having fun are the main objectives. The after game treat is also a big deal.

The season ended with Soccer Day at the Hornets Nest field. This tournament consisted of 2 games against teams from the other U5 Divisions, and all were awarded medals at the end.

As I mentioned, I volunteered to coach. This was my first time coaching soccer and I really enjoyed it. The league is always looking for volunteers and offers coaching clinics, as well as providing online resources on the rules of soccer and guides for practice planning. For the younger players, the coaches are also responsible for setting up the field, refereeing the game and directing the play. These means running alongside the players during the game. It’s a very active coaching position.

We’ve registered again this year and hope to see you on the pitch!

Details: Registration for the 2011 Season is underway, with early registration ending April 10. Online registration and other information is available at www.dragonsoccer.ca. To register online you need to set up a login and then register. Games begin the week of May 16th.   Alison is a mom of two energetic children, ages 5 and 1. She just started a blog, Ali's Adventures.

Having fun at Value Village

by Brie One weekday morning I headed to the Value Village on Clyde with both kids. I thought it would be a fun outing on a cold day. And it was!

I don't particularly like going shopping with the kids. They want to touch everything. They want to buy everything. Most shopping trips leave me exhausted from saying "no". Shopping at Value Village was a much nicer experience because, given the prices, I am more likely to say "yes, we can buy that".

I told the kids they could each spend $5 on our Value Village shopping trip. The amount didn't mean much to my two and half year old but the idea that he got to leave the store with something did. My four year old, though, was checking with me to find out how much all the items she wanted to buy cost. And she wanted to buy a lot.

It was neat watching the different shopping styles of the kids. The girl picked up and put down at least half a dozen items: shoes, toys, jewelry, dresses. She was interested in everything. Every time she picked up something new I reminded her that she only had $5 to spend. Finally she narrowed it down to a fancy white dress that will eventually be added to our dress up clothes. She wore it straight for two days after she bought it, so it was money well spent.

The boy wasn't really interested in anything until he found the badminton rackets. He got excited about using them to play tennis at the park in the summer. The three rackets cost under $5 and he has already been trying to enlist us in playing tennis in the hallway.

I had a great time at Value Village too. I did have to watch the kids around the more delicate and breakable items but I didn't feel the need to hover around them like I would in a more expensive store.

Our last stop in the store was the book section. The kids spent a good 20 minutes reading books while I rifled through the shelves looking for anything of interest to add to our collection. At $1 a book for kids' books it was hard to resist. Needless to say we walked out with a pile.

Do you go second-hand shopping with your kids? And who loves it best: you or the kids?

Brie is the mom of a 4 year old daughter “the girl” and 2 old son “the boy”. You can read her blog at Capital Mom.

A Gym Tale: A community, not just a place to play

 by Lara Our relationship with A Gym Tale began three years ago at the end of cold and flu season. Stinky Monkey was just 2 months corrected age (4 months chronological) and I was finally going to be allowed out in public with him. I needed to find other moms and other babies to socialize with after a long, snowy winter of hospital stays and doctors appointments. Regardless of Stinky Monkey's prognosis I was determined to give him the best life with the most experience.   During an online search I found A Gym Tale, at the time it was just a few doors away from our Pediatrician's office. They had a program entitled "New Magic" for babies 3-10 months. I thought I would call and see if I could enroll for the end of the Spring session or at least pay per visit. I spoke with Lindsay, the owner, and explained my situation and the need for as germ-free environment as I can possibly get with little children. She reassured me about their policies and was great about prorating our enrollment. The class was small, the moms were welcoming and Stinky Monkey and I were quickly embraced into our new community of mom's and babes in Barrhaven. Songs, rhymes, learning and development activities, sensory activities and allowing babies to explore their new world in a safe, kid friendly environment. This was my first experience as a mommy, a non-NICU mommy, and A Gym Tale helped us to build bonds and friendships in Barrhaven.

  Three years on we have done MANY an organized playgroup with A Gym Tale, Stinky Monkey attended all levels of groups, some with me, some with The Husband and some with Nana...he's finally reached the age where its time to just go and play in the pirate ship and castle. He's even mastered the "Big" slide (the slide I won't go down). Bella Bear started the classes at 2 months old and she has made her own friends now in her groups and enjoys every minute of the time in class and enjoys the under 3 play area when Stinky Monkey is enjoying the slides and larger structure.

  Lindsay has become part of our family, she always takes an interest in the kids she see in her groups. She engages the kids and the parents, offers helpful tips and reassures those of us with little ones who don't always want to participate in the groups that no its not a developmental issue, he's just 2!

What I appreciate the most about Lindsay and her business partner/husband Alan is that they are following their passion and are committed to making the best memories for kids and their families in a positive and rich learning environment. Whether a special event scheduled on Father's Day or creating a safe space where parents feel comfortable dropping their kids (3 and up) for a fun Friday night, offering preschool, before and after-school care, summer camps, or participating in the Barrhaven Santa Claus Parade or helping our little people celebrate their birthdays. Every child is important to them, every child's experience is considered a priority.

  To this end A Gym Tale is really committed to creating a community for parents in Barrhaven and beyond, creating memories, enriching learning and helping families sharing parenting experience. This commitment has now expanded to just moms too! Lindsay has recently started a monthly Moms night of scrapbooking at the centre and it is great to get together with other Moms (without our babes) and enjoy stories, pictures, memories and parenting advice.   Visit a Gym Tale in Barrhaven or follow their blog, details at www.agymtale.com.

Lara is mom to Stinky Monkey (3) and Bella Bear (1).  She enjoys making the best memories with her active cardiac preschooler and a healthy heart toddler.  Lara also works, volunteers, shops (way too much), and is new to blogging at www.parentingwithheart.blogspot.com

Dining with kids at the Elgin Street Diner

by Brie Once upon a time I was a food snob. I loved good food. I liked to eat in nice restaurants, you know, with tablecloths. I hated to pay for bad food. Then I had kids. Now I am a food snob of a different kind.

We don't go out often to eat with the kids. When we do, given the frantic nature of the meal, there are certain things that we look for in a restaurant. Luckily we can find everything we are looking for at the Elgin Street Dinner.

Here are my top 5 reasons that the Elgin Street Diner is a great restaurant for kids.

1. The food comes fast Diners are the perfect choice for kids because the food is fast to come out from the kitchen. In fact I sometimes feel like I am waiting longer for the food to cool enough for the kids to eat it then I am for it to be brought to the table.

2. Distractions are plentiful The crayons and place mats for colouring that are handed out to all the kids when they arrive help to pass the time while you wait for the food. We usually bring some books with us too. If neither of those interest your kids you can probably keep them entertained for awhile watching all the people coming and going. A diner is perfect for people watching.

3. The servers are used to kids I am always thankful that the servers are used to kids. They know to bring extra napkins. They understand when we ask for the bill half way through the meal. They don't even look surprised when a glass of milk gets spilled. I am pretty sure they have seen it all at the Elgin Street Diner and that dinner with my two kids isn't the worst of it.

4. There is something on the menu your kids will eat Elgin Street Diner has an extensive menu, and with all day breakfast you can't really go wrong, but our kids are always happy to order off the kids' menu. In fact they always order the same thing. My 4 year old daughter gets the grilled cheese sandwich and my 2 year old son gets the macaroni and cheese. Once they totally threw me for a loop by switching their orders. Thankfully once the dishes arrived they decided to switch again and the order of the universe was restored. Phew, they had me going for awhile there.

5. It's loud. My kids are loud. They aren't even trying to be, they just are. I really, really appreciate being able to take them to eat somewhere where the noises from the kitchen and other patrons are as loud as they are. It means that instead of spending the whole meal being the mom that says "shhh" I get to actually eat my food.

The Elgin Street Diner is definitely an Ottawa institution.If you haven't been there since a 4am trip for poutine after a late night at the bars, I think it is time you stopped by. With the kids.

Brie is the mom of a 4 year old daughter “the girl” and 2 old son “the boy”. You can read her blog at Capital Mom.

Monkey Rock: A family night of fun

by Lara

It's always a challenge to go out for dinner with a three year-old and an almost one year-old...but we may have stumbled on something spectacular!  Monkey Rock Music (MRM) plays the first Thursday of every month at Tucson's Restaurant in the South end of the city.  The premise is get there at 4:45, kids eat at 5, show starts at 5:30 and parents eat while the concert is underway. 

So we tried it.  Friends of ours have two school-age kids, we live at the opposite ends of the city and we really don't get to see each other very often.  It's also a challenge, our kids being so different in age, to find family friendly events and outings to appease and entertain everyone.  John does this successfully with MRM!  He even gets the parents involved, or at least singing at their tables. 

I have to say the night out went extremely well, we had a great time.  The older kids were excited they got to go to their first "rock concert", my kids were excited because they love MRM.  They truly were entertained the entire concert, they danced, sang and Stinky Monkey even got on stage to participate with the movements that matched the song!  I really wish I had brought my camera.

The adults had as much fun as the kids, we could watch the kids from our table, enjoy a tasty beverage (or two), listen to some great kids tunes and eat our meal (relatively in peace, Bella Bear shuffled between the four of us clapping). The food was good and there was plenty of choice for everyone, even on the kids table d'hote menu.  Tucson's was extremely well organized and service was quick and understanding of a restaurant full of kids.  We were entertained by the music but also were able to talk, catch-up and enjoy each other's company. 

All in all a very successful outing for us, one in which we may just become regulars!  Thanks MRM and Tucson's for making a great family friendly event!

Lara is mom to Stinky Monkey (3) and Bella Bear (1).  She enjoys making the best memories with her active cardiac preschooler and a healthy heart toddler.  Lara also works, volunteers, shops (way too much), and is new to blogging at www.parentingwithheart.blogspot.com