Cool Summer Treat

I love getting into the kitchen with my kid and I'm always looking for new things I can show her. I was thinking that maybe we could make ice cream and started looking for ice cream makers and different ways people do it themselves. I found a few different option but chose the ice cream ball. (That's the one I bought, I don't know if there are different brands that do the same thing). Basically you put the ice and salt in one end, put your ingredients in the other end, and then kick and shake it around for a while until you get ice cream.

Seriously.

We chose plain vanilla for our first attempt, and had it with the strawberries we picked ourselves.

Now that we know it works (and how tasty it is) we can try different recipes and have a little exercise before dessert.

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.

Welcoming Our New Sponsor: The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head (and a Giveaway to Boot!)

Giveaway Closed

Kids in the Capital is proud to welcome a new sponsor. And it’s not just any ordinary sponsor. It’s none other than the iconic Mr. Potato Head! The Children’s Museum, located in the Museum of Civilization, is now playing host to the temporary exhibit of The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head.

Last month, Kamerine got the chance to experience the exhibit with her two kids and thought it was pretty SPUD-Tacular.  The exhibit, geared toward children 3-8, is full of opportunities for creative play and problem-solving. There are tons of  hands-on opportunities for little inventors to creating their own amazing jungle bugs, for young oceanographers to climb aboard the potato-shaped spud sub, be budding archaeologists exploring the ruins of a lost vegetable kingdom or astronauts aboard the S.P.U.D. space station as they orbit the distant planet Neptato. The exhibit also includes one display of the original toy as it appeared in the 1950’s. Back then, children had to use real potatoes. What a great way to spend some time over the summer holiday.

The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head runs now to January 5th at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. You can read more about the exhibition here. This is also where you can buy advance tickets and look ahead to any special activities that are planned.

Congrats to Lisa Kastler who won a family pass to see The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head. But we have more! We’re also giving away two Mr. Potato Head toys. Just tell us whether you're partial to Mr. or Mrs. Potato Head in the comments below and you're entered! Contest ends July 10th!

Canada Day Colouring Sheet

  Happy Canada Day from our Kids in the Capital family to yours!

Canada Day Celebrations Around the Capital

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!