Flash Back: Kindness Week

Kindness Week 2012 starts today, so we're republishing this post from last year. What do you have planned to teach your children about being kind to others next week? by Rebecca

This week is Kindness Week in Ottawa and a great time to talk about being kind with your children.  The Kindness Week website has a list of some ideas and ways to be kind and there are events throughout the week that your family can participate in.

One of the events that can happen at any time is Stop, Drop and Read.  The Ottawa Public Library has partnered with the United Way Ottawa to support this literacy program.  You are encouraged to stop and read to anyone, at anytime – at a play group, at a seniors home and especially with your children.

What will you do this week to be kind?

Below are some children’s books and videos about kindness that you can find at Chapters or possibly your local library.

Rebecca blogs at A Little bit of Momsense and A Little bit of Foodsense.  She is once again blogging for Kindness Week and hopes to encourage kindness year round.

Welcoming the Jewish Community Centre

You may have noticed a number of new sponsors in our side bar this month. We're thrilled to welcome some new partners to Kids in the Capital and over the next few weeks will be introducing them all to you.

The Jewish Community Centre (JCC), located in Nepean near Carling and Maitland Avenues, runs fabulous summer camps from July 2 - August 24.

A few fun facts about their camps:

- Camps include Day Camp (age 2-15), Traveling Sports Camp (age 7-15) and 15 amazing Specialty Camps (age 5-15).

- Instructional swimming lessons and a daily free swim in our outdoor pool are included in Traveling Sports Camp and Day Camp.

- Each week of Day Camp offers a unique and exciting theme: Lets get the Party Started! Super Soakin’ Adventure, Yummy in my Tummy, Under the J Sea Sea, Life is a Highway, Topsy Turvy Spirit, Hunters and Scavengers and Blast off Week.

-  The Traveling Sports Camp is truly a unique experience as it is the only camp in town that takes campers on an exciting field trip every day. Campers spend the morning at the Soloway JCC where they learn a wide range of sports. After lunch they hop on a bus for a different adventure every day. Some trips planned for this summer include horseback riding, ice skating, bowling, go-karting, water skiing, NCC beaches and much more.

- New to the Specialty Camps roster this year are Radical Reactions – Chemistry and Crime, Powered Up LEGO and Photography Camp. Our most popular Specialty Camps, back for another season include Girls on the Go, Fit Kids Have Fun! Horseback Riding Camp, The Great Adventure, Tennis Camp, You Go Girl! Triple Threat, Soccer Camp, Summertime Splash, Basketball Camp, Girl Power Camp and Last Blast.

- The JCC's mature and highly qualified staff is chosen for their ability to work with children and a low counsellor-to-camper ratio further ensures that everything they do, at all of the camps, is safe and fun. Day Camp staff includes teachers and early childhood educators, many Traveling Sports Camp counsellors are university students and Specialty Camps instructors are all experts in their field and have experience with children.

- JCC of Ottawa Summer Camps take place at the Soloway JCC and have access to great on-site facilities including indoor saltwater and outdoor pool, full size gymnasium, air conditioned camp rooms, social halls, kid friendly play structures and large grassy fields for playing.

Check out their site for more information and help us in welcoming this new fabulous sponsor!

The Soloway JCC welcomes everyone, regardless of race, religion, or ability. Anyone can be a member and take advantage of our fantastic facilities and outstanding programs.

Have you started thinking about summer camp yet?

Maple Syrup Snow Candy

by Jayda

Need something fun to do on a cold winter day in the Capital? Why not make candy? Maple syrup snow candy!

Ingredients:

1 cup pure maple syrup

1/4 cup EarthBalance butter (or unsalted butter)

Directions:

1. Heat the syrup and butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly.

2. The mixture is ready 6 to 7 minutes after it boils (220 to 234 degrees on a candy thermometer); soft ball stage.

3. Remove from heat and cool for 2 minutes. Bundle the kids up and find some clean snow to pour the cooled maple syrup over. It cools quickly so that kids can taste it right away.

Bonus:

Maple syrup is a significant source of several nutrients. For example, on average, a 60 ml (4-tbs) serving of maple syrup supplies more than 100% of our daily intake of manganese, 37% of riboflavin, 18% of zinc, 7% of magnesium and 5% of calcium and potassium.

Jayda is a nutritionist and researcher, living under a co-dictatorship, a master mediator, whole food advocate, living a little greener everyday. She can be found at EatWhole Be Vital.

Family Day Activity: Funnovation Imaginarium

Family day (February 20) is a great time to get out and do something fun as a family and break free of the mid winter doldrums.  There are many fun activities planned around the city in honour of Family Day - here is one to consider! Old Navy is hosting a FREE event for kids and parents at their Rideau Center location!

From 1-4 pm, Old Navy will turn into the Funnovation Imaginarium, a place devoted to the imagination where the whole family can have tons of fun while being super creative - together!

Activities include dancing on the Funky Floor, strutting your stuff on the Crazy Catwalk, and inventing new kinds of machines, creatures and fashion accessories in the Funnovation Lab.  There will also be a Kooky Cookie and Juice Bar to help keep those creative kids fueled up.  For parents, a special discount for purchases over $50, and a swag bag will be available while supplies last.

The event is free to attend, with no purchase necessary and will no doubt make this a Family Day to remember!

*This post was sponsored by Bunch Family and Old Navy. 

Kids Create! February Craft Carnival {Love and Kindness}

by Alicia February 2011 Theme – LOVE and KINDNESS

Source: bhg.com via Alicia on Pinterest

On February 14^th we celebrate Valentine’s Day – a day that we celebrate and express the love we have for each other.  Your children may bring home Valentine ’s Day crafts from school and day care usually decorated in reds and pinks and in the shape of hearts – a symbol that best represents love. What crafts can you make as a family that symbolize the love you have for each other and those around you?

February 17^th -24^th  is Kindness Week in Ottawa.  During this week Kind Ottawa is encouraging us to “choose to be kind”.  They have many suggestions on their website, Facebook and Twitter.  Your family may choose something crafty to say thank you to someone special or create something in a random act of kindness for a stranger.

Whatever your craft(s) may be this month, make them out of love and kindness and link-up below to share and spread!

What is the Kids Create! Craft Carnival? A carnival is a blog article that contains links to other articles covering a specific topic. Think of it as a craft party, where everyone has to show up with a craft based on the same topic. Use this carnival to encourage your family to create crafts and memories together!

Who can participate? All KITC readers! Whether you have a blog or not, we have a way you can participate!

When? Throughout the month you are encouraged to make a craft with your children based on the monthly theme and post your finished project to share with others. Make and share as many crafts as you want according to the theme before the end of the month deadline. Crafts you have made in the past are also welcome, but new crafts are encouraged. Once the deadline has passed we will showcase the crafts and announce the following month’s theme.

Where and how do we post our crafts? There is a link-up widget at the bottom of this post. If you are blogger, post about your craft on your blog and link below to your post. If you do not have a blog, use the KITC Flickr group to upload a picture of your craft (make sure to include your name and a written description of your craft). Read more information here on how to use Flickr and how to join the KITC Flickr Group.

Deadline to submit: Wednesday, February 29^th

What will your family create?