Enjoying Nature Safely

by Amanda When we are out enjoying nature with our little ones, it's really important to be safe in our environment.  We must encourage our kids never to eat something such as a plant or a berry found outside unless we are absolutely certain it is in fact safe and edible. Many species of plants look very similar to each other, so if you are not sure, err on the side of caution and bring a snack with you!

If you suspect your child or another adult has ingested something or is feeling ill do not wait to call the Ontario Poison Centre.  They operate 24 hrs a day and in cases of suspected poisoning, time is critical.

Ontario Poison Centre (24 hrs) 1-800-268-9017 ontariopoisoncentre.com

Water Hemlock is the most poisonous plant in North America.  One mouthful of this species will kill an adult.  This plant should not even be touched.  Small amounts even through skin absorption can make you ill.  This plant can be found in wet, open areas, along shore lines and in marshes. Ingestion of this plant would require immediate medical attention.  It has small white flowers, jagged edged leaves and a long, hollow, purple stems.  People mistakenly use the stem as a natural straw and end up extremely ill.

Poison Ivy is a very common and irritating plant.  It coined the phrase "Leaves of three, leave them be." It can be found close to the ground, climbing trees, or poking through rocks.  It also develops white berries at the base of the plant.  These are not edible.  Their leaves can have a glossy, purplish sheen, or be quite dull.  Most people will develop a skin rash as an allergic reaction to the oils in the plant.  You can pass it on to someone else, so no touching if you have it!  If you need to treat someone, please wear latex gloves.  Oatmeal baths and other topical ointments can be helpful in easing the itchiness and pain.  Calomine is messy, but effective.

Poison Sumac is just as common, but more aggressive than poison ivy.  There are many leaves to a branch and is a much larger tree, can be 6-7 feet tall.  It's berries look very much like those of poison ivy, white, small and hard.  It grows in wet areas or damp ground near water.  A person's reaction to poison sumac is very similar to ivy, only more intense.  The same treatment is recommended.

White Baneberry or "dolls eyes" and Red Baneberry are very poisonous if eaten.  Children are most often poisoned by these since they are easily grabbed and the red ones are quite attractive and glossy.  As few as 5 berries can make an adult seriously ill and just a few more than that are fatal.  Few people would ever eat that many since they are quite acrid tasting, but medical attention should be sought if ingested.

Canada Moonseed is often confused with grape vines. The leave have a heart shaped base and lack the tendrils of grape vines.  They do bear a grape-like fruit but these berries and the roots of the plant are very poisonous.  They contain high levels of alkaloids and ingesting them can cause seizures.

Please be careful when out there exploring with your little ones and animals too!  Nature is so much fun to enjoy, but has it's own natural defenses built into it.  What looks like a pretty berry could turn your day in the forest into a trip to the emergency room.

Photos from wildwoodsurvival.com

Amanda was born and raised in Ottawa where she continues to live with her husband and son “J”. Amanda is bilingual and interests include reading, blogging, socializing, and advocacy on children and teen issues.

A bike with no pedals

by Lara With three kids who all kind of need help when riding their bikes/trikes we decided that for the twins' third birthday we would get them kick bikes.  The idea being that they could self propel without my husband and I needing to help/guide three children constantly.

We headed out to Play Value on their actual birthday (a trip to this store could be a post in itself!) to check out what we could find.

We left with two of these Kiddler bikes:

I'm not going to lie, our walks are pretty slow going.  But they enjoy the independence of doing it themselves and Eric and I get to walk without fussing with the kids as much. Win Win I say :)

Lara is mom to five year old Kiernan and three year old boy/girl twins Quinn and Juliette. Between the kids and her social media consulting business, she spends most of her time running frazzled.

Summer Travel Entertainment: Audio Books! {8-12 years}

Every month, we receive a selection of books recommended by the Ottawa Public Library for children. This month, they've provided us with audio book suggestions in the spirit of the coming summer months and inevitable travel. These are for the 8-12 year olds in your life. Enjoy! *****

Dark Life by Kat Falls

A thrilling futuristic adventure set deep undersea, Dark Life follows the settlers of the world's first subsea settlement as they defend their homesteads against a brazen band of outlaws.

Flyaway by Lucy Christopher

While visiting her father in hospital, thirteen-year-old Isla meets Harry, the first boy to understand her and her love of the outdoors. But Harry is ill, and as his health fails, Isla is determined to help him in the only way she knows how. Together they watch a lone swan struggling to fly on the lake outside Harry's window. Isla believes that if she can help the damaged swan, somehow she can help Harry. And in doing so, she embarks upon a breathtakingly magical journey of her own

Missing on Superstition Mountain by Elise Broach

It’s summer and the three Barker brothers—Simon, Henry, and Jack—just moved from Illinois to Arizona. Their parents have warned them repeatedly not to explore Superstition Mountain, which is near their home. But when their cat Josie goes missing, they see no other choice. There’s something unusually creepy about the mountain and after the boys find three human skulls, they grow determined to uncover the mystery. Have people really gone missing over the years, and could there be someone or some thing lurking in the woods? Together with their new neighbor Delilah, the Barker boys are dead-set on cracking the case even if it means putting themselves in harm’s way.

One Dog and His Boy boy Eva Ibbotson

All Hal had ever wanted was a dog. "Never!" cries his mother. "Think of the mess, the scratch-marks, the puddles on the floor." But on the morning of Hal's 10th birthday, the unbelievable happens. He's allowed to choose a puppy at Easy Pets, a rent-a-pet agency (a fact his parents keep from him). The moment he sees the odd-looking terrier, he knows he's found a friend for life. But no one tells Hal that Fleck must be returned and when Hal wakes up on Monday morning, Fleck is gone. If dog and boy are to stay together they'll have to run away . . .

Scat by Carl Hiassen

Bunny Starch, the most feared biology teacher ever, is missing. She disappeared after a school field trip to Black Vine Swamp. And, to be honest, the kids in her class are relieved.

Storm Runners by Roland Smith

Chase Masters and his father are "storm runners," racing across the country in pursuit of hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. Anywhere bad weather strikes, they are not far behind. Chase is learning more on the road than he ever would just sitting in a classroom. But when the hurricane of the century hits, he will be tested in ways he never could have imagined.

The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

When a fortuneteller's tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live? And if so, how can he find her? The fortuneteller's mysterious answer (an elephant! An elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that you will hardly dare to believe it’s true.

The Resisters by Eric S. Nylund

Twelve-year-old Ethan Blackwood has always known exactly what he wanted—to win the state soccer championship, get into the best high school, and become an astronaut. Then he meets Madison and Felix. They claim that 50 years ago, aliens took over the earth, and everyone past puberty is under their mind control. Ethan doesn't believe it. But then he sees for himself the aliens' monster bug robots and the incredible way that Madison and Felix have learned to fight them. So Ethan Blackwood has a choice: he can go back to his normal, suburban, protected lie of a life—or he can become a Resister.

Troubletwisters by Garth Nix

Jaide and Jack Shield's lives are changing in a very, very strange way. The weather is turning against them. Magical disasters occur when they're around. And a mysterious explosion has just destroyed their house...from the inside. Without knowing why, the twins are stolen away to live with Grandma X--a relative they've never, ever met. At Grandma X's house, things are even stranger. Weather vanes point in the opposite direction of the wind. Doors appear and disappear. Cats talk.

Zoobreak by Gordon Korman

When Griffin Bing's class goes to a floating zoo, they don't expect to see animals being treated so badly. They don't expect to find Cleo, Dog Whisperer Savannah's pet monkey who's been missing for weeks. And they really don't expect to have to hide the animals once they've rescued them! Hilarity ensues as Griffin's team once more pulls off a heist...trying to break the animals back into a (better) zoo.

Are you planning any travel this summer? Do you children enjoy spending the time reading in the car?

*****

Thank you to Amanda Spargo at the Ruth E. Dickinson Branch of the Ottawa Public Library for this contribution to Kids in the Capital.

The magic of big wheels and vehicles: Touch-A-Truck

by Karen This was originally published on Karen's Chronicles two years ago after our first visit to Touch-A-Truck. This weekend on June 10th, Mothercraft is bringing out all the biggest and best vehicles for your children to explore and enjoy. It's truly a fun time that appeals to a fairly wide range of ages - you should come out!

*****

I've had some strange looks over the last week whenever I tell someone that we were going to Touch-A-Truck this weekend. For some reason, there were a LOT of people asking me what I was doing this weekend. So, I had to explain what it is to each of them.

First of all, Mothercraft did a great job putting this really fabulous event together. I can only imagine the logistics that went into getting all of those vehicles and people together all at once. And the vehicle operators were great with the kids - even my shy guy.

School Bus! Brandon was most excited about seeing a school bus and the fire trucks.

Déjà vu - I was just doing this a couple of weeks ago at the Children's Museum when Brandon had to share the driver's seat there, too.

Matt was pretty excited they brought in a crane for the day. Brandon didn't seem to care much for it.

Brandon waited none too patiently to finally get to sit in the fire truck. He seemed to enjoy these vintage models, but the big new ones intimidated him.

Military vehicles! We retreated to the far side of the parking lot hoping to find shorter lines and hit the jackpot!

Brandon was shorter than the wheel - not so unusual on a lot of these vehicles, but this was the one we got to document.

She tried to get him interested, but he was having no part of the inside of that truck. It was DARK in there!

Brandon has a minor fascination with motorcycles now, so the Harleys they had inside were irresistible.

Brandon wants to be able to hold the handlebars, so he made it happen. That amused the man who was in charge of the Harleys (thankfully).

Last but not least, we visited the apple with the worm. I think he thought it was a turtle, though.

We didn't last long at Touch-A-Truck this year. The heat of the day and all the stimulation proved to be more than Brandon could handle for more than an hour. Considering his age (and how hot it was), I think he did really well. Who cares if I will never regain use of my shoulder again after carrying him everywhere. ;)

I'm already looking forward to this happening again next year so I can see how Brandon's reactions to it will change. He didn't seem bothered by the noise - and there was quite a bit of noise from all the horns and sirens. But lately we've noticed that he doesn't like crowds too much. I hope it will be less intimidating for him next year!

Will we see you at Touch-A-Truck this weekend?!?

*****

Karen Wilson is a wife to Matt and mom to Brandon (4), who blogs about her life at Karen’s Chronicles. She can be found at Wellman Wilson, helping business use social media more effectively. Lately, she's also busy planning a little conference and doing her part to keep the coffee industry alive.

Making fun and easy videos

by Lara I've been wanting to make fun little videos of the kids for awhile but I often get derailed when trying to figure out how I would do it: what software would I need? Where do I find copyright free music?

Then I remembered a program I've seen a lot of photographers use and decided to try it out : Animoto.

It was easy as anything.  Free if you're happy with videos that are 30 seconds or less or for $30 for the year, you get access to more themes and you can make your videos as long as you want.

It was super straightforward to figure out and within minutes I had made this video:

Then I saw they were advertising their iPhone app so I downloaded that and then created another video right from my phone (nothing could be more convenient since my phone and iPad are where I take all my videos of the kids)

Have you ever played around with making fun little videos of the kids? What do you use?