Step Afrika! at the Ottawa International Children's Festival

By Stephanie On Tuesday, May 28, my 4-year-old son and I attended the opening night event of the Ottawa International Children's Festival - thanks to Kids In The Capital. It was our first time at the festival and, I must admit, the first time I actually heard of the festival. I learned on Tuesday that its first edition was in 1985 and that this is the only festival dedicated to performing arts for children in Ontario.

The show we attended on Tuesday night was Step Afrika! from the USA. It is a dancing performance featuring stepping and African gumboot. There are no music instruments, but the entire human body is used as an instrument, which is very impressive. The performances were great, funny and VERY interactive. At one point during the show, a lesson of stepping was given, and the audience had to reproduce dance footsteps and hand claps. Everybody loved that part - although I must say I was a bit scared of the shaking seats in the stands. Both my son and myself really enjoyed the show and he danced the whole time. I would recommend it for any 4-year old kid and older, but no babies because the show is loud.

After the show, there was a reception to commemorate the opening of the festival. I was very impressed by the organizers' nice little touches to entertain the kids: snacks in a glass and bottles to make bubbles. You can tell their focus is really on the children.

The festival is on until Sunday on Breton flats and there are a lot of different shows, as well as many free activities on the site. Not all the exhibits were ready on Tuesday evening but I did have a peek at the Dynamic maze that was in the process of being built, and it seems pretty cool with dozens of big exercises balls. Even if you're not attending a show, it's definitely worth it to go to the festival to participate in some of the many activities and perhaps, if the weather is nice, to have a picnic on site.

Stéphanie moved to Ottawa about 10 years ago from the south shore of Montréal. She usually works as an analyst for the federal government but is currently on maternity leave to take care of a 4-year old boy (Paul) and 8 month baby girl (Emy).

Ottawa's Farmer's Markets

One of the best parts of Ottawa in the summer is the availability of fresh produce grown locally. Last weekend, my girls and I had the opportunity to visit the Westboro Farmer’s Market to get some veggies and breads for dinner. Since the arrival of summer, the Farmer’s Markets are popping up all over Ottawa, in every part of the city. Not only are they a great resource for those who want to support our local infrastructure, but they are a fun way to get your kids involved in making (and actually eating) dinner.

If I’m honest with myself, I have to admit I have the world's pickiest eaters. Both are self-proclaimed vegetable haters. So, in order to help the situation, I told them that they could each pick and prepare a dish with their (ahem) favorite veggies. My eldest grabbed some asparagus (all the while laughing because it would make our pee smell). My youngest latched onto the zucchini. At first, she wanted to make fried zucchini but later settled on “baked” fried zucchini. A good compromise I thought.

We had a blast inspecting, choosing and then buying our dinner. Not only did they have fresh vegetables, baked goods and fruits but they also had crafts, treats and pottery, flowers and more. It was a great way to spend an afternoon.

The Ottawa Farmer’s Market in Westboro is located along the walking path of the Byron Linear Park, between Golden, Richmond and Byron Avenues and there are more than 65 vendors. It runs on Saturdays from 9:30-3:00. you can also find more Farmer’s Markets around the city on their website.

Do you shop at an Ottawa Farmer's Market? Which one is your favorite?

The Start of Garage Sale Season

If you’re anything like me you’ve got a whole bunch of junk you don’t use anymore. I know I’ve got a whole store-room full of old toys, baby furniture, books and games. That’s why I love the start of summer. Or as I call it “Garage Sale Season!”

This weekend is the Great Glebe Garage Sale. While I’m not in the Glebe, my parents are so for as long as I remember, we’ve gotten up early on Garage Sale Day to unload all the gently used things we just don’t want anymore. My brother and I used to spend hours tagging and pricing all the stuff and when my own girls were old enough, I got them involved in doing the same. Since they were small, my girls have always loved to sell lemonade and cookies to everyone who walked by.

This year is no different. We’ve already got all our stuff organized and we’re crossing our fingers that the weather cooperates. We’re ready to head out to sell our used treasures and perhaps find a few new ones of our own.

If you can’t make it out to the Great Glebe Garage Sale tomorrow, here’s  a list of some other ones around Ottawa in the next few months.

Are you hitting the garage sale scene this summer? Here’s to happy treasure hunting!

Why You Should Send Your Kids to Camp

Sending your kids to camp, whether it’s a day camp or sleep away camp, is a scary experience for most parents, myself included. It’s hard to entrust your most precious possessions to counselors, often kids themselves, and hope that they can calm your child’s fears and wipe away their tears as well as you can. As you’re considering your summer plans, I thought I’d offer my reasons why I think summer camp is the place to be when you’re a kid:

Responsibility: While there are counselors at camp to help children move successfully through their day, being away from home will give your child a strong sense of responsibility. They are expected to pick up after themselves, keep their areas neat and keep tabs on their possessions.

Independence: In today’s world, there are many helicopter parents who are afraid to let their children walk to the park on their own (ok, I admit I’m one of them). But at camp, in a controlled environment, kids get to feel that they’re on their own and responsible for making their own decisions.

Friendships: At camp, unlike at school, you create friendships out of shared experiences and a sense of mutual dependence. It’s an opportunity for your child to branch out from their regular circle of friends and learn how to connect with other kids in positive ways. It can also help teach them about diversity and tolerance of others.

Self-esteem: When a child learns and masters a new skill, they feel good about themselves. Camp is all about learning new skills and having new experiences.

How to work together: Whether it’s working together on a canoe trip or trying to win a camp-wide competition, camp is made up of a community of campers, counselors, instructors, and the camp director. At camp, your child will learn to live and get along with children from a variety of backgrounds

Learning to Slow Down: With no technology or electronic devices allowed at most camps, kids learn how to slow down, write actual letters, play cards, take walks and appreciate the wonder of the world around them. By unplugging and relaxing, they learn how to appreciate the slow lane for a while.

Whether your kids are 3 or 13, I think camp is a great place. In Ottawa, there are so many different specialty camps to choose from that it's pretty easy to find something your kid would be interested in. My two girls are going to sleep away camp this summer, as they have for the past few years. And even though I miss them terribly, I know that it's the best place for them.

Will you send your child to a day camp or sleep away camp this summer? Please share your favorite Ottawa area camps with us!

Capital Kids and Car Shows

By Kamerine Have a kid who loves cars? You're in luck: Ottawa hosts two car shows every spring. My lucky little guy got to go to both this year!

The first was the Ottawa Gatineau International Auto Show downtown. We had planned a family outing but were derailed when my daughter got sick in the car on the way there. I dropped of my 3.5 year old son and my husband and took my sickie home.

The boys had a great time exploring at the car show but the highlight for my son was actually the bus ride home. It was his first time on a city bus and he loved it.

The show itself lasts from Thursday to Sunday and has special events like a cruise night, family day and fun day. So many cars to look at including concept cars which are always so sleek.

The second show was the Ottawa Classic and Custom Car Show at the new Ernst and Young Center. This time the whole family made it. This show is smaller but has some really interesting custom cars with funky displays.

The big highlight were the Batmobiles, two of them, and a Batman statue that the kids loved. I loved seeing all the little kids dressed up like Batman. Coming in a close second was being able to sit in a police car and multiple race cars.

While not a typical outing, the car shows were adventures for my little family. We will definitely be back next year.

If you went I would love to hear what you thought!

Kamerine is mom to 3 year old Little J and 1 year old Baby K.  She documents her life with two toddlers, a husband and a cat at followk.blogspot.ca.