Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in toronto, CN

What's Going on in Toronto This Weekend

by Katie

May 07, 2009

You mean besides Mother’s Day?

Scratch that: Mother's Day is the most important thing going on this weekend (IMHO) so here are lots of mom-themed activities to do with the people who make Mom the person she is today (sleep-deprived and insane.)

To kick it off, there is the annual pre-Mother’s Day Bunch Family bash which is where I will be this Saturday afternoon with family in tow (details below).

Bunch Family Dance Party: Glam Rock Pre-Mother's Day Edition

Takes place Saturday afternoon from 2-5pm at The Courthouse (57 Adelaide Street East) and the theme is Glam Rock baby! So dig out the shiny pants, New York Dolls tee, and anything that will make your family look more Ziggy Stardust and come dancing. The crew from TVO Pop It will be there to share dance moves, there will be bowie inspired face painting, and lots of other glitter-inspired "we love mom" activities. Advanced tickets highly recommended. Visit the Bunch Family website for ticket purchase details.

Other Mother's Day activities going on around town:

Chinese Brush Painting for Mother's Day at Woodside Square Library (1571 Sandhurst Circle)

To compliment both Asian Heritage Month and Mother's Day a children's workshop will take place from 11 - 12:30 pm on Saturday. Children will create a brush painting to give as a gift to mom on her special day. All materials provided and registration can be done via phone 416 396 8979.

Mother's Day Celebration at Humber Summit Library (2990 Islington Avenue)

There will be a one-hour story time and craft session starting at 2pm at the library and children will make a special gift for mom. Registration is required so call ahead 416 395 5840.

Happy Mother's Day at St. Lawrence Library (171 Front Street East)

Listen to stories that celebrate mom then make a craft to give her on Sunday. The one hour session starts at 2pm and is recommended for children ages four and up (416 393 7655).

Mother's Day at the Toronto Zoo

Meet some other kinds of moms - as in "other species". Springtime means parent animals are abundant at one of our favorite weekend excursions. Walk on the wild side with Mom (and Dad) on Sunday between 9 and 6pm.

Mother's Day Tea at Spadina Museum (285 Spadina Road)

Enjoy an afternoon tea with Mom in the beautiful Spadina House and gardens. A must for any ladies-in-waiting. Two seatings at 12:30 and 2:30pm on Sunday. Advanced tickets are required. For more information call 416 392 6910 x305.

Deadline: Kindergarten

by Katie

January 27, 2009

Even though I am chomping at the bit to have my little lady go to Junior Kindergarten next Fall, I'm also a little bit sad. I keep denying myself the time to wallow in this sadness and analysis it, justify it, prepare myself for it. And in fact, I'm just in full denial most days. I keep telling myself she's going to love it ( she might not ) and we will have more routine in our lives. Oh and  Read more...

reflection

by Katie

January 13, 2009

It's hard to pinpoint exactly when Gigi first noticed herself in a mirror, it's not something I marked in the baby book ( in fact, I was a crappy recorder of life events for my child, unless you count the blog ). But once she realized that the baby who always agreed with her in the mirror was her, she was smitten - with herself. It was the beginning of a life long love affair ( so far ). In  Read more...

Happy New Year

by Katie

January 02, 2009

Happy 2009 and I hope everyone found some peace and quiet over the holidays - or at least some wine and chocolate. Hopefully both. We had a bit of everything over the break - especially the chocolate. You can see the evidence of the New Year's Eve fondue on Miss Gigi's face: Gigi really REALLY enjoyed her first fondue and I sense a request for an encore will be coming down the pipe in the  Read more...

Toys! toys! toys!

by Katie

December 02, 2008

Sure, I say that I don't want Christmas to be all about toys but let's face it - toys are fun and they make Christmas morning extra special. I've gone through the Savvy Source Toy catalogue and picked out Gigi's top five favourite picks of toys that she already has at her disposal. I thought I'd share them with you - in case you need some shopping inspiration for the preschooler on your list:  Read more...

Everyone loves to laugh: books that will make a preschooler giggle

by Katie

November 18, 2008

Gigi loves to laugh and she really loves to tell knock-knock jokes (really, really loves to tell them). What is it with three year olds and knock-knock jokes? They all love hearing them and they love telling them. Her favorite is: knock, knock / who's there / police / police who? / police let me in, it's cold out here . Her granddad taught her that one. Personally, my favourite is one of ones  Read more...

Summertime Music: Canadian Edition

by Katie

July 01, 2008

Happy Canada Day! In honour of Canada's 141 st birthday, Gigi and I are kicking off the month of July with an all-Canadian top five music list. These tunes infect feet with dancing, voices with singing, and sometimes a giggle or twenty. You will notice that only two of picks are from the children's music genre. This is due to the simple fact that mommy can only take so much munchkin music  Read more...