Canada Day Colouring Sheet
/Happy Canada Day from our Kids in the Capital family to yours!
Canada Day Celebrations Around the Capital
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Canada Day is fast approaching and we will soon be celebrating our 146th birthday. In Ottawa, there are a ton of family friendly activities as well as some of the best fireworks in the country. When you have kids, though, going to Parliament Hill isn’t always a feasible option. So I’ve put together a list of some alternative family friendly, Canada Day Parties.
For those families in the West End of the city, Canada Day in Kanata is always a great spot for families. For one of the largest community events in Ottawa, head off to Walter Baker Park off Terry Fox Drive in Kanata to celebrate. Admission is free with tons of activities all day. Trooper is playing on stage at 8 and at 10 there is an awesome fireworks show that shouldn’t be missed.
For those in the East End, Petrie Island in Orleans will also have a great family bash. There’ a whole slew of kid-friendly activities planned. Little Ray’s Reptiles will be there and so will some little princesses parties, Radical Science and, of course, a fireworks display at night.
If you’re in Barrhaven, you can start celebrating Canada Day early. Mattamy Homes is hosting a weekend long party starting on the 29th. There will be a midway as well as family friendly fun-filled activities, battle of the bands, food and fireworks at night.
The Canada Day celebration in Riverside South will be at Claudette Cain Park and headlined by Junkyard Symphony and Brad the Balloon Guy. The Barnyard Zoo will offer a petting zoo and pony rides! In addition, there will be rides and games for all to enjoy, a Storytime Tent and a Miniature Train Ride for kids. No fireworks, though and the activities run from 11-2.
All of these sites (except for Riverside South) do have amazing Fireworks shows but they do start late, at 10 pm. If your kids can stay up that late - it really is worth waiting for.
No matter what you decide to do on Canada Day, please do take a moment to think of how lucky we are to live in this awesome nation. So get your red and white on and celebrate, Eh!
Thomas the Train Visits the Capital
/By Kamerine
Last weekend was a special weekend in Ottawa. Thomas the train made a visit to the St. Laurent Mall. He was there for two free shows both Saturday and Sunday. We took in the 11am show on Sunday.We arrived a few minutes before 11 to a packed house. Kids and babies and parents and strollers everywhere. The show was in an open area on the main floor and there was an area near the stage for stroller parking.
We actually went up to the second floor to look down at the show. There were less people and we knew that would be better for our kids. They were buzzing with excitement waiting for Thomas.
The show started with an emcee who got the kids excited, cheering and clapping, and then it was time for Driver Sam, a bubbly girl who sang songs and danced. Sir Topham Hatt came next, building the excitement with more songs and a dance. Eventually it was time for Thomas. The second the theme song started up the kids were all smiles.
The show was a little long and dragged at times, but overall was really fun. The kids were so excited and only a little disappointed that none of Thomas' friends were there. For a free event it was great, an amazing memory for the kids, and a fun time as a parent seeing them so excited.
Taking Advantage of Ottawa's Wading Pools
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COVID-19 Update: 53 wading pools will be opening in a phased in approach with limited admission numbers to allow for physical distancing. For more information visit the city’s web site. Some information below will not apply for this year.
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Tomorrow is officially the first day of summer and what says summer better than visiting a splash pad? For those of us lucky enough to be living in the Ottawa area, a secret gem in the summer is the abundance of wading pools and splash pads across the area. Did you know that in Ottawa, there are 56 wading pools and splash pads all over the city?
What's also pretty cool about our city's wading pools are the special events that take place all summer. Almost every weekend, there will Wading Pool Special Events. All special events are held from 11 am to 4 pm, featuring arts and crafts, games, prizes, and lots of time to stay cool. Some events even have featured guest activities, a free barbecue and a lunchtime Performing Arts Series between 11:30 and 12:30. A new feature this year are Friday Fun Days . Every Friday, you and the kids can visit one of the City of Ottawa wading pools and participate in kid-themed fun and games.
You can also take part in the Waterplay program. This program uses fun and interactive games and learn-to-swim activities to offer a basic instruction in necessary water skills. This is a great opportunity for kids to have fun at the wading pools while also building foundational swimming skills and learning water safety. Waterplay is an informal program available to the public free of charge at all wading pools across the city.
For kids who don’t want to get wet, but still want to hang at the pool, they can participate in Park-ticipate, a free, informal drop-in program offered at various water parks throughout Ottawa. Children aged 4 to 10 are invited to join city staff sports, crafts and games led by city staff. A great way for you to relax, as long as you stay close by.
All the Ottawa area Wading pools are open daily from 11 am to closing time and will run from June 28 to August 16, 2013. Don’t know where to find a splash pad close to you? Use this City of Ottawa Map, to see where all the Splash pads are located.
What's your favourite Splash Pad or Wading Pool in Ottawa?
The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head Giveaway - Closed
/By Kamerine
I don't think there's a single person who hasn't heard of Mr. Potato Head. Even if you didn't have one of these toys as a child, chances are you know someone who did or your kids now have one. At the very least you've seen him in the Toy Story movies.
Mr. Potato Head has been around for about 60 years and started out as pieces to stick into actual potatoes. Over the years, Mr. Potato Head has changed and is now bigger and comes with a plastic potato body. I didn't know this, but there was even a Mr. Potato Head show that aired in the 90s.
It's fitting that the Children's Museum has created a special Mr. Potato Head exhibit to celebrate this popular toy. I had seen the ads forThe Adventures of Mr. Potato Head and was excited to get the chance to take my kids, ages 2 and 3, to check it out. And wow, it was incredible!
We couldn't get more than 5 feet into the exhibit because right at the door is a section with 7 Mr. Potato Head bodies and loads and loads of pieces. The kids dug around and picked out eyes, mouths, feet, arms, and silly hats for their potatoes. When they were satisfied we moved farther into the room. There was so much to take in: to the left a section for digging for artifacts, flashing lights in the back left fighting for our attention, a jeep right in the middle for safari fun, and a spaceship in the back right beckoning us. In fact, each of these are special adventure-themed zones with clever descriptions you can read about on the museum's website.
We slowly made our way around the room, exploring the different parts with the help of museum employees. We checked out the light wall that is motion-sensitive and twinkles when you move in front or touch it and then fades away as you move away. We dug for artifacts and found the pieces to make a crown. We checked out the submarine and played with the underwater sounds. We sat in the spaceship and saw ourselves on the screen. We checked out the coral reef and read some books about going on safari. We sat in the jeep and played with the binoculars.
And on our way out the kids couldn't help but build more Mr. Potato Heads at the activity table near the door.
The exhibit was well done and bigger than I imagined. So many things to see and do, including some activities that we didn't try that are probably better suited for children a older than mine.
The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head is a special exhibit at the Canadian Children's Museum (inside the Museum of Civilization) and runs until January 5, 2014. On top of the exhibit, there are special events for more hands-on fun. I hope you get a chance to visit the museum. My kids liked digging for artifacts in Spud Quest best.
Have you visited the Adventures of Mr. Potato Head Yet? We're so sure you'll love it, we're giving away a family pass for the exhibit! Just tell us what you loved about Mr. Potato Head as a kid in the comments below and you're entered! Contest ends June 27th!
Kamerine is mom to 3 year old Little J and 2 year old Little K. She documents her life with two toddlers, a husband and a cat at The Life of K.
