Welcoming Just Play Toy Rental

Have you ever stood in your playroom and looked around at the toys and thought “Am I crazy?” I know that when my kids were small, no matter what toys they had, they only held their attention for a month or two before they were ready to move on. That can get really expensive. Which is why our new (well, technically returning) sponsor Just Play Toy Rental is a pretty awesome idea. New to you toys delivered right to your door! It’s pretty simple. You can go online and pick out the toys you want. They have all kind of developmentally appropriate toys, both big and small. Just Play Toy Rental focuses on purchasing high quality, open ended toys that will stimulate your kid’s imaginations. The toys are thoroughly cleaned using a product called Benefect - it is a 100% botanical (non-toxic) disinfectant. Typically, the standard rental period is 4 weeks (although daily rentals are available upon special request).

To make life even easier, you can even enroll in the Just Play Toy Rental subscription service. When you do, you will receive new to you developmentally appropriate toys on the selected delivery date. The number of toys will vary slightly depending on their individual retail value. The rental period is 30 days, starting from the day the toys are delivered. The toys will be picked up and another toy package delivered 30 days later.

How awesome is that? Just when your kids are starting to get bored, boom! A brand new delivery of toys. And don’t worry if your child just cannot bear to part with a toy. If that happens, you can actually purchase said toy. All problems solved.

Welcome back Just Play Toy Rental. We’re so excited to be able to promote your awesome service. And stay tuned, we will have a reader review of Just Play coming really soon.

Welcome sponsor: Anna Belanger

by Lara I am the kind of person who holds all of my tension in my neck.  When I'm really stressed out... I can't turn my head, usually to the left.  It makes driving fairly risky and it's all round pretty inconvenient.

Enter Anna, who I was lucky enough to meet almost two years ago.  She and her staff at the Bank street clinic have not only kept my neck rotating for that whole time, but they are friendly and make me supremely comfortable.  Because I am also the kind of person who doesn't relax well and needs someone to talk me into relaxing ;)

This is an exciting time for Anna Belanger & Associates!  September 1 celebrates their 4th year in business but it is also the date they launch their second location, this one located 804 Greenbank in Barrhaven! As a special bonus, you can get $10 off your first massage at this new location if you book online by August 28 with code grow2013.) Fine print: only valid on one-hour massages.  One time use per client.

The Bank Street location is a women's only clinic, specializing in treating women of all ages and stages of life (pre and post natal massage... how I wish I'd known her then) and the Barrhaven location will be a family clinic so Dad, hubby, and grandpa can get a great massage too :)

To celebrate their 4th birthday they are having a great giveaway.  Anyone getting a treatment in the month of September can enter a draw for one of two prize packages:

Bank Street prize package

• a photography session from Sara McConnell Photography*
• a 1-hour massage**
• a prenatal yoga session from Little Lotus Yoga

Barrhaven prize package

• a photography session from Sara McConnell Photography*
• a 1-hour massage**
• an essential oils bundle

*Photography session is Appropriate for family (immediate), babies & children, couples, maternity, and cake smashes. 40 minutes long, includes 12 edited & retouched digital files of your choice. Outdoors or in studio, expires March 1, 2014 ** Massage vouchers expire March 1, 2014 **Prenatal Yoga voucher expires February 1, 2014**

Welcoming Our New Sponsor: Music for Young Children Orleans

Kids in the Capital is pleased to announce a new sponsor. The Music for Young Children Studio in Orleans helps little musicians build a solid foundation in the understanding and enjoyment of music.

With so many activities to fit in and so many demands on children’s time, why music lessons? We all know that music lessons can play a very important role in a child's development. Playing an instrument from a young age involves lots of skills - visual, auditory, tactile and kinesthetic. Playing an instrument helps develop both sides of a child’s brain at the same time, increasing both intellectual functions and physical coordination, patience and confidence. it can also improve a child's emotional development by providing an outlet for self-expression.

In the MYC program, children meet in small groups, in their own age category, once a week for an hour, accompanied by a parent or caregiver who also participates in the program. Children are the center of the whole MYC philosophy and the focus is on teaching music and music appreciation through a multi-sensory approach. MYC Orleans believes that as a child’s understanding of music grows, so will their positive problem-solving skills, self-expression, memory, self-confidence and self-esteem.

Come on down and check out the program. Ask for Lorna and she'll be more than happy to explain the whole program to you. And she speaks from experience as her son went through the whole program.

Registration for the fall is now ongoing and if you register online, you get $5 cash back. Also, with any referral, you get a free movie ticket. Pretty cool.

App review: Bunny Math Race

by Lara I don't know about your kids but mine love apps, so when I got the opportunity to review a new iPad (it also works on android) app for kids 3-8 I was really excited.

What they tell you (AKA Key features)

• Different math-learning tasks for 3-8 years old kids
• Child-friendly, easy to play interface: they only need to tap!
• Cute, colorful and cartoonish 3D game environment, with lots of fun tasks!
• 18 levels of fun! Play in Desert, Icy Road or in Mountain scenes!
• 6 free-to-play Race Tracks in Bunny Math Race for kids FREE
• 3 levels of difficulty – the challenge adjusts with addition and subtraction tasks

How I see it

The app is simple but a lot of fun.  While a little too easy for my 6.5 year old (he mastered all the levels in about half an hour), the 4 year old twins both like it and are definitely learning from it.

They like getting to choose the colour of their bunny.

They like racing their bunnies and winning carrots.

And when it gets too hard they just like to hit all the answers until something works :)

The app is free and definitely worth checking out.  Unless you value your own time with the iPad because in the week we've owned it I've woken up more than once to a little face looking at mine asking "can I play the bunny game?" ;)

*This is a sponsored post.  All opinions on the game belong to me and my bunny adoring children :)

Earth Day 2013

Monday, April 22 is Earth Day and it's fast approaching. What better way to celebrate than to start on an eco-initiative with your kids? Becoming eco-friendly at home doesn't need to be an exhausting endeavor. It can start with talking to your kids about the importance of  trying to protect our planet and its resources.  Think of some easy ways to being the idea of sustainable living to your home. Some simple ways include recycling your garbage at home, picking up trash at the park, making litter-less lunches for school or thinking of ways to conserve water and energy.

Teaching kids the message of Earth Day is the legacy we leave for future generations. The most important thing for kids to know is that Earth Day is not just one day of celebrating, but instead a reminder of what we should be doing all year long. As adults, it's our job to teach them this. Our kids do listen and learn from us.

If you're stuck for some ideas, check out Earth Day Canada for some great ways to go green.  Eco-Kids also has a great site to find games, activities  books and other ways to help our planet. If you're looking for some great eco-friendly and sustainable living products, our sponsor terra20 is a great place to check out.

How will you and your family help the environment this Earth Day?