What are Ottawa's favourite parks?

Balena park

As parents in Ottawa (probably everywhere) parks are a big part of our lives. We have great parks in Ottawa, but it gets tiring going back to the same ones every day. That's why we've loved getting our audience (readers like you!) to help us out by identifying the best parks around the city.

Our past blog posts about Ottawa parks are some of the most popular posts on our site. We wanted to update our information on the best parks to visit - especially as a lot of us are getting ready to plan our summer outings.

Top four parks in Ottawa for kids

Last year we did a survey and the top four parks in Ottawa are:

Brewer Park

Walter Baker Park

Andrew Haydon Park

Millenium Park

Would you agree?

More Ottawa parks

We have SO many fabulous parks in Ottawa, and although the ones above have been voted the "best" check out our list below for the runner-ups. If you have a park that you love and would like to write about it for us, email us at kidsinthecapital@gmail.com! (The articles below are from way back - many were written in 2010 and 2011! We'd love an update of how your parks have changed, and what's new!)

Balena Park

Big Bird Park

Carp Splash Pad

Gerald Poulin Park

Glebe "Tot Lot" (5th and O'Connor)

Springhurst

St Luke's

Drive in birthday party for six year olds

I don't use Pinterest a lot, but every once in a while there's an idea that really jumps out at me. The drive-in party for kids is one of them! I decided to try the idea out for my twins for their sixth birthday. I am not crafty in any way, so this was a bit of a dangerous decision to make - usually I just pay for a party somewhere like Funhaven, Cosmic or Midway! 

Today I thought I'd share how it went with you all and whether I think the drive-in movie theme is worth it :)  (Straight up truth moment - I looked at a photo like the one I shared here and based everything I did on that. I didn't even bother reading the descriptions of what worked or what didn't. It's good that you're not like me - it saves time and thought!:)

The cars

Figuring out where to get the boxes took me awhile. I think I could have gotten a really good deal on uniform looking plain boxes at Staples if I had ordered them online early enough - but I didn't... because I'm not a planner :) I then called around and knew I could have gotten decent boxes at Dymon for a few dollars each but in the end I got a great stash of decent sized boxes from Dollarama for free.

When I was at Dollarama I also got a pack of markers for each kids ($1.25/each) and packages of foam circles and styrofoam plates to be used for steering wheels, headlights and tires and popcorn.

What worked and didn't work

The kids enjoyed sticking the tires, headlights and steering wheels on to the cars. 

The kids needed a lot of help and direction or they lost interest pretty quickly.

Some of the kids kept colouring their cars WHILE watching the movie which was great.

When the kids started getting excited or bored they started rocking their cars until they tipped over and they needed rescuing. Once this started it kind of snow balled. 

The movie

Here's the thing. If it's warm enough in Ottawa to watch a movie outside, it doesn't get dark until fairly late at night - later than you generally want kids who are small enough to fit in boxes to be outside ;)

As a result, we had our party in the afternoon and counted on shade to make things dark enough. With a shady area and the projector set on the highest brightest setting you could see the movie, but it was a bit faint. The kids were able to watch and hear and enjoy. We also tried it in the garage like some of the photos showed, but that didn't make it any brighter.

The kids enjoyed watching the movie though didn't have the attention span to watch a whole movie (thankfully I had counted on this.) A lot of the kids don't even have the drive in reference so there were a few "why are we watching this outside?" type questions that mostly just amused me.

Each kid got their own popcorn container that I got for $1 at Dollarama and I got Poppa John popcorn. Popcorn, juice boxes and watermelon kept the movie snackers happy.

Other helpful hints

I'm not a loot bag person in general so I didn't do anything like that - each kid did get to take home their popcorn container and individual package of markers though, as well as their cardboard box car (bonus - you don't have 16 cardboard cars left at your house at the end of the party!)

I also hired a 16 year old to come and help out. She was great at helping with the crafts and helping wrangle 13 5-6 year olds who wanted to go in different directions. I highly recommend getting someone to come and help if you're going to have an at home party. If it weren't for her and my friend that stuck around, I may have lost my mind during the party ;)

Overall it was a lot of fun and I'm glad we did it. Would you try a drive in party?

Wear All the Babies! Ottawa Babywearing Group Big Meet 2015

From my first fumbling attempts with a ring sling, babywearing became a great comfort and necessity in my life as a new parent. Mothering a newborn with reflux meant LOTS of crying - but as soon as I popped my daughter into a carrier and went for a walk, she was out like a light. I continued to carry her throughout her infancy and into toddlerhood - I remember strapping her onto my back at one point during the Great Glebe Garage sale.

Now my 2 year-old asks to be put in the carrier, and it helps to soothe her while I'm trying to get dinner made or laundry done. Babywearing is a great way to be hands-free for other tasks (and plus, it'll save your back and arms!)

While searching for tips on which carrier was the best for my second daughter, I stumbled on a local Facebook group. The Ottawa Babywearing Group (OBG), born in March 2012, is the baby of local mom Tami Grosset. By its first birthday it had totaled over 450 members and is now 3,500 members strong. OBG is a local community group with a focus on all things babywearing - there are regular meets around the city where parents can learn more about babywearing in all its shapes and styles. The Facebook group is a lively space where members share a love and enthusiasm for wearing their babies, as well as share expertise and experience. The Ottawa Babywearing Group is a great space for finding a local used carrier at a great price, or maybe just borrowing one for a trial. Join the OBG on their dynamic Facebook group for all things babywearing!

On Saturday June 13th the OBG will be holding their annual "Big Meet" at Maki House (19 Leeming Drive in Ottawa) . Donations at the door will go to the Sling Library (a way to borrow various types of slings for trial, for free!) and Babies of Peace Project (providing carriers to families in need).

At this event you will find a wide variety of vendors (JackWraps, Cherish the Child, and Bumbini Cloth Diaper Company, to name just a few), and there will be demonstrations on babywearing techniques and Babywearing Fitness and Yoga (with Fitness With Kate), Babywearing Latin Dance (with Esther America Dance/Danse) and a presentation on traditional First Nation babywearing practices from members of the Odawa Native Friendship Centre.

Guests will have an opportunity to buy and sell used carriers in person or get help with a carrier they are struggling to love. There will also be a bake sale and a chance to meet and socialise with members of this vibrant community. Photographer Joseph Allain will be at the event taking candid shots of guests as they enjoy the event, and Stephanie de Montigny of Pure Natural Newborn Photography will be offering babywearing mini sessions. 

Tickets are limited, so get yours today 

Did you enjoy babywearing as a new parent?

Kanata Music Centre - Making Music Fun

by Tracy

Learning music was never something that my husband and I had intentionally wanted my daughter to do, nor did we mean for her to learn piano for any express purpose other than finding an extra-curricular activity that she enjoyed doing. But in the fall of 2012, when my daughter was four years old, I read a Facebook post about a music school in which the children learned piano in a group setting using the Yamaha Music Education System. The school was the Kanata Music Centre and so, I immediately emailed the Studio Director, Atsuko Montcalm, asking for more information.

Before committing I wanted to make sure the lessons were something my daughter would be interested in. From the very beginning, Atsuko was friendly and patient with my daughter (and there are days when she still exercises this patience!). My daughter is the type of kid who knows what she likes and what she doesn’t like, and it takes a lot to change her mind once she has her mind made up. We had tried music classes before when she was younger and they were a disaster, so I went into the Kanata Music Centre for the first time with little expectation of ever returning.

But we did – my daughter has been a student of the Kanata Music Centre for nearly 2.5 years and will be returning in the fall to continue (her choice!). The Kanata Music Centre has not only taught my daughter how to play piano, but she has also learned confidence, loves to sing, has learned to read music, and has made new friends along the way.

Atsuko won the hearts of parents and students alike at the Kanata Music Centre’s annual music recital last June when she and fellow instructor, Teruko Bassett sat down at the baby grand piano and played the hit song from the movie FROZEN, “Let it Go.” The children were stunned and before you knew it both the children and parents were singing along – I will never forget the look of awe on my daughter’s face. It was a moment I will cherish for a long time to come.

The Kanata Music Centre is dynamic, relaxed and fun. The group setting creates a familiar learning environment for kids and Atsuko is so enthusiastic, patient and kind that learning piano is fun for even the most reluctant of child. 

Beyond that, all of the instructors must attend regular training seminars to ensure that their training is up-to-date. I like that the Kanata Music Centre is not in someone’s basement, and that is also not a store, so there are no sales people or hidden agenda to sell you a piano or guitar that you cannot afford. I also like that my daughter isn’t just sitting in front of a piano learning how to play song after song – she is learning every aspect of music, from solfege singing, to theory and composition. It is because of this that my daughter recently composed her own original song – including chords – just for the heck of it!

Of course, learning piano does require some work on the part of the parent and student, but the kids are encouraged to practice by colouring in notes every time they do. My daughter hates when she doesn’t have the required number of notes coloured by the time the next class rolls around, and so it has only happened once in the 2.5 years she has been a student. My daughter also has her moments when she wishes she didn’t have to go to piano, but she is always excited to tell people about her piano lessons and what she has learned. She also loves the ability to sit down at a piano anywhere and be able to play a song she knows – and I love hearing her play that song. 

If your child has an interest in music or if you are looking for a great way to introduce your child into the wonderful world of music, take a look at the Kanata Music Centre, located in Kanata North.  Programs start for children as young as three years old and I guarantee you will be amazed at how quickly your child can learn music – singing it, playing it, and enjoying it!

For more information, including how to register for Fall 2015 classes, visit the Kanata Music Centre online at: www.kanatamusiccentre.com/

Welcome to Hampton Park Dental Centre!

I'm very happy to welcome Dr. Ken Crossman and Hampton Park Dental Centre to our blog as a featured sponsor! I can't count the number of times I've heard fellow parents worried about dental care for their young children - there are so many questions, and a great kid-friendly dentist can really make a difference. Hampton Park Dental Centre is located at Carling and Kirkwood just off the 417 - a convenient location for any area of Ottawa! 

It used to be common practice for children to have their first dental visit at age 3.  But the American and Canadian Dental Associations are now recommending that children be seen as soon as their first teeth erupt (usually around 6 months).  This first visit is to check to make sure that the teeth are erupting normally and that parents are aware of how best to care for the dental needs of their child.  

Proper dental care at an early age can prevent the need for more extensive dental care when the child is older.  Some of the issues that arise in infancy that may effect later dental development are:

1. Thumb or finger sucking: can lead to the development of an underbite or  overbite which results in the need for orthodontic treatment in the future.  
2. Proper brushing techniques and care of primary dentition: brushing the teeth of a toddler and baby can be challenging, and parents sometimes need guidance!
3. Nursing bottle syndrome: caused when a child is given a bottle  before bed.  The pooling of the liquid in the infants mouth  can result in decay in primary teeth.  There are alternatives available and strategies to help wean children from bedtime feedings.  

By starting visits to the dentist early, the child sees the dental office as a fun place to visit where they get a new toothbrush and a toy.  If your child starts life with good oral hygiene habits from the beginning they will have fewer dental problems in the future.  

Connect with Hampton Park Dental on Facebook. They've even included some activities on oral care for children on their website!