Reading books at Rosemount Library

by Brie My four year old and I have been making weekly visits to the Rosemount Library before her art class and it has quickly become my favorite library!

The Rosemount library is in a lovely old building, one of the Carnegi libraries. At first I was surprised by how small the library is, especially the children's section, but I have come to love that. I feel like it is much easier to search through the books when I'm not overwhelmed by choice. It is also easy to sneak around the corner from the children's section into the adult section and grab a few books for myself while still keeping an eye on the girl.

There is a small play area for younger kids with puzzles and toys. The only complaint, and I am stretching here, is that it would be great if more seating could be fit into the small space. But the girl really doesn't mind. She is happy to sit on the floor and read her books.

I don't know if it is because of the small size of the library, but I have had some great luck findig some interesting kids' books as I search through the stacks. Here are three of my favorite.

A book by Mordicai Gerstein had me laughing as I turned the pages. I loved the story about the girl that lives in a book trying to figure out what her story is and isn't.

Dust Devil is a perfect tall tale. It chronicles the advertentures of  giant Angelica in her new home of Montana. And the illustrations are captivating.

Look! Look! Look! is the story of three mice and what happens when they discover a postcard sent to the big people that live in their house. It is a great introduction to the colours and shapes found in art.

Do you have a favorite library in Ottawa?

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.

Summertime at the park

by Brie

Our family spends a lot of time at our neighbourhood park. And I mean a lot. We are there once, usually twice a day. Sometimes the only reason we leave the park is because I need a break from all the activity and fresh air. The kids would be happy to never leave!

 Ottawa has some great city parks. Some of them have pools and splash pads, which are perfect for this warm weather (and look for pools to be opening in the next week!). Some parks are best for toddlers and some have great climbing structures for older kids.

What I love best about spending time at our park is that it is free, we meet some great kids and parents and it is about as free-range as my two and four year old kids can get living in the city. When they are playing with their friends they feel like they are off on their own, but I am still there to keep an eye on them.

Here are some of my tips for making the most of summer at the park:

1. Bring lots of water: on hot days my kids get so thirsty running around and they end up drinking a lot of water. Some parks have water fountains but it is good to pack extra just in case.
2. Pack snacks to share: Nothing tastes as good as other kids' snacks. My four year old is a snack scammer and wants to try everyone else's snacks but her own. But that is okay, because we end up sharing all of our snacks too.
3. Watch out for the sun: I have a hard time keeping hats on my kids' heads. They always get thrown off eventually and, a couple of times when it was really hot, I had to take them off myself because the kids were overheating. I try to combine hats with some sunscreen and encouraging the kids to play in the shade when possible. I am also planning to get some long sleeve swim shirts once the pool opens.
4. Go over the rules of the park: At the start of park season every year I go over the rules with the kids. Rules for us include always being able to see each other at the park, not talking to strangers and not going to the bathroom without a parent. As the kids get older the rules are getting more detailed (I can't wait for the day when no hitting doesn't have to be included as a rule anymore) and I am talking to them more about strangers.
5. Become a regular: One of the reasons that our park means so much to me is because of the people. I have met a lot of great parents at the park and consider a lot of them to be my friends. Part of the reason for this is that we are regulars. We visit the park at the same time every day, the same days every week. Because of this we see the same people and get to know them. I also try to talk to anyone that comes within five feet of me! I remember what it was like not to have a lot of adult conversation in a day and so I always try to connect with other parents I meet.

 Do you have any tips for making the most of summer at the park?

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

Kid-Friendly Public Art in the Capital

by Yumi You know that feeling you get when you’ve discovered a hidden gem, something really fantastic that you want to share with others? I feel that way about public art. And I can’t wait to share some of my favourite pieces with my son.

Why should we explore public art with our kids? I can think of four reasons: it teaches them to observe what is around them, it introduces them to art in a really tangible way, it’s a great way to share the story of who we are and what we value as Canadians, and it can be a lot of fun!

I’m going to walk you through some of the most kid-friendly pieces of art in Ottawa and Gatineau. These are great places to stop with your kids and take a moment to let them explore. You can see where they are located on the Google map below.

Women are Persons Five amazing women are having a tea party, and you’re invited to join in! This monument tells the story of the Famous Five and their victory in the Persons Case, which led to Canadian women being allowed to sit in the Senate. Have a seat in the empty chair or help yourself to a cup of tea… kids will love the opportunity to be a part of the monument, and a part of the story that changed women’s rights in Canada.

Maman Ok, full disclosure: if you’re arachnophobic, this one might not be a good choice. But otherwise, how can you resist the 9 meter tall spider that lives outside the National Gallery of Canada?

Oscar Peterson Share a spot at the piano with Oscar Peterson. Kids will love “playing” the piano, and it’s a great opportunity to tell them about this Canadian musical genius who once said, “I admit gleefully to my two greatest weaknesses: the piano and children.” Bonus: Peterson’s music is always playing at his monument.

Never Give Up! (Maurice Richard) Maurice “The Rocket” Richard was always larger than life, and it’s true of his statue, too. While your young hockey fans check out his flashing eyes and determined face, you can tell them the story of how The Rocket battled prejudice and many injuries to become one of the best hockey players of all time.

National War Memorial This monument isn’t whimsical, but it’s one of the best places in the capital to teach your kids about remembrance and respect. There are lots of stories to share here – maybe about your own family, or about people you know. Or you can tell them that the two figures on top of the archway are called Peace and Liberty, and that the monument is for all the Canadians who have fought for those values.

Other Fun Examples Other fun pieces that kids will enjoy include the Dancing Bear (this bear is just begging you to dance with it), V.I.P. (let your movement set off this interactive sound sculpture), Papa (play in a rainbow of light!) and The Secret Bench of Knowledge (what is he whispering in her ear?).

View Kid-Friendly Public Art in Canada's Capital Region in a larger map

I also highly suggest either downloading or picking up a copy of Street Smart, a free guide to art on the streets in the capital. I actually like to keep one in my purse, because you never know when you’ll uncover a gem and want more information.

So, tell me, which pieces of public art do your kids love?

Yumi Webster (@yumikid) is a working mom who loves her job and her incredible son “Moe”. You can read about Moe’s adventures at kidsquared.livejournal.com, and about Yumi’s own adventures at yumikid.livejournal.com. Yumi has lived in Ottawa all her life.

Walter Baker Park

by Tracy  The first time I brought my two-year old daughter to Walter Baker Park in Kanata was last fall and I couldn’t believe I hadn’t been there before then. I had always known Walter Baker Park for their awesome sledding hill, but somehow never noticed the beautiful gazebo sitting next to a small pond, the two play structures – one for toddlers and one for older children, the splash pad and of course, the fact that the once snow-filled sledding hill had transformed itself into a large grassy hill that attracts children big and small to repeatedly run up and down it (a great nap inducer for the younger athletes).

My daughter, who loves to explore new parks and try every piece of equipment on for size, found the toddler play structure too easy and quickly ventured over to the larger play structure to climb the rope “spider web” as well as the rope ladder and tackle the big slide before I could utter the words, “be careful!” One of my daughter’s favourite park activities is the seesaw and luckily for her Walter Baker Park has one as well as swings – which I pushed her on for at least half an hour.

The thing I like about Walter Baker park is that there are plenty of benches for caregivers to sit nearby and supervise, lots of grass for the kids to run around on and some mature shade trees creating perfect snack time spots. And if that isn’t enough, there is ample free parking and a nearby bathroom in the Kanata Recreation Complex. Of course the one reason I know I will be returning to Walter Baker Park more than once this summer is because my daughter loves cooling off in the splash pad.

Hope to see you there!

Tracy Noble is a freelance writer who can be found outside, whatever the weather, with her (almost) three year old daughter.

A parents guide to surviving Westfest

by Andrea June 10, 11, 12 are tripled-circled in our calendar. We are BOOKED, and have been for weeks. We are officially ready for Westfest Weekend.

Like many of my Westboro-area neighbours, my family and I are proud of Westfest. Westfest is, at it’s heart, a giant street party. Some would argue that it’s the kind of street party that’s experienced a few forgivable growing pains in past years, but that’s to be expected from an undertaking of this size.

Today our collective chests puff out a little when talk comes around to this little festival that grew. It draws massive crowds, great musical acts, and best of all, it’s a great family-friendly event that’s totally free.

Every year my daughters (who are now 10 and 12) marvel at the fact that Westfest takes place at the end of our street. We live so close that we end up paying multiple visits over the entire weekend. Westfest weekend is the one time of year we get to visit and chat with almost all of our friends and neighbours. (Of course it goes without saying that my kids hate this part, because it holds them up from The Fun Stuff.)

Westfest has become a summertime tradition in our family, and since we’ve been doing Westfest since the very beginning I think I’m qualified to give some advice on how to survive with kids in tow.

If you live close enough to Westfest you must consider walking. If you live outside a comfortable walking distance, please be aware that street parking is extremely limited. Get comfortable with the idea that you will have to leave your car far from the action.

Wear your best walking shoes and haul out that umbrella stroller, because it’s a bit of hike if you plan on taking everything in. Westfest covers 14 blocks, nearly a one kilometre chunk of Richmond Road, which can feel very long if your feet hurt.

Taking your bike is another option. Save yourself some aggravation and lock it up in the secure area on Tweedsmuir Avenue at Richmond.

Check the weather before you leave the house, and if you’re planning on spending some time there, prepare for any weather-related eventuality. We’ve been going to Westfest every year since it began and have experienced it all: days so cold you crave cups of coffee just so you can warm up your hands, and days so hot we’ve come close to fainting from heat stroke. And on that note…

Bring water and sunscreen, and make a food plan. If it’s a nice day it is guaranteed that restaurants will be packed. Many of them extend out to the street and serve a pared down menu in order to take pressure off the kitchen staff. The Works, for example, only serves two or three kinds of burgers during Westfest. If you don’t have a plan and find yourself walking from restaurant to restaurant long after lunchtime you will soon come to regret it, especially if there are kids involved. One year we just plain gave up on finding room on a patio and so we ordered takeout pizza from Newport and ate it by the side of the street.         And last but not least, tie balloons securely around little wrists!

Daytime at Westfest is for the families to enjoy what they call the “On The Street” stuff. There is a lot for kids to see and do. In past years we’ve seen many cool street performers, enjoyed various inflatable bouncy things, and taken advantage of some great facepainting artists too.

But in my view, Westfest is truly about the music. Check out the lineup here first, and then book a sitter. The Domicile main stage has moved to a new location and is now situated along the grassy strip behind the Real Canadian Superstore. (Here’s a map.) The main stage will open at 5 pm and the entire audience area at this year’s Domicile main stage will be fully licensed. (!)

Our family is really looking forward to a bigger and better Westfest this year. If you see us, please stop and say hello!

Andrea Tomkins is mother of two imps and wife of one. She on the board of directors of the Westboro Community Association and keeps a personal blog called a peek inside the fishbowl.