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

June 18, 2009

It's Father's Day this weekend and of course The Bunch Family has something cool going on. This Sunday is Totstock, an outdoor "eco, rock, and literary festival"  (weather gods call for sun and high of 27) and here are the details:

Totstock '09
WHEN: Sunday, June 21, 2-5 PM
WHERE: Sorauren Park
COST: PWYC, proceeds to benefit the High Park Nature Centre

Line-Up includes Claire Jenkins * Andrew Larsen and Irene Luxbacher * I Eat Kids * Don Kerr and the Blue Bin Band * Claudia Dey * Cowboy Ninja Bear * Cirque Dirt * Barbara Klunder * Dave Wall

Also going on around town:

Father's Day Stories and Craft

This Saturday afternoon, Maria A. Shchuka Library (1745 Eglinton W) celebrates Father's day with a dad-centric themed story time and craft. 11 - 12pm. Call 416 393-1000 for more information

Kids Krafts at Mackenzie House

This Saturday, the entire family is invited for an afternoon of crafts at Mackenzie House (82 Bond Street), the home of Toronto's first mayor William Lyon Mackenzie. Children can participate in historically based activities and make a craft between noon and 4:30pm. Call 416 392 6915 for more information.

Teddy's Bear Picnic 2009

Saturday afternoon at The Elman W. Campbell Museum (134 Main St. S, Newmarket) is hosting the annual Teddy Bear Picnic that will include games, contests, beary fun activities. Pre-registration required. Call 905 953 5314 for more information.

Top Five Preschooler Crafts made from Household Items

by Katie

April 14, 2009

Does your preschooler collect sticks and rocks? Or consider empty containers, bottle caps, buttons, and the like, as treasures? Actually, I know that’s a redundant question because I haven’t met a kid yet that doesn’t have a collection of found treasures. Since I am raising one of these burgeoning pack-rats, I’ve had to find a way to use all these treasures, or at least find a way to store them so they aren’t underfoot. For this, I turn to craft time.
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Crafty preschoolers: make your own book

by Katie

November 06, 2008

When Gigi was about eighteen months old, I signed us up for a local "messy babies" group through the Ontario Early Years program. Most of the time involved doing messy or noisy things like playing with huge piles of corn meal, ice filled tubs, squeezing squishy stuff, and other clean-up nightmares but the last part of the session always involved an easy craft. One week we made touch and feel  Read more...

Gigi on the Beach

by Katie

August 04, 2008

Growing up near the ocean meant year-round visits to the beach. In addition to the usual Summer beach expeditions, in the Fall we'd hit the beach post hurricane/tropical storm to see what had washed up and how the dunes had changed, in the Winter, we had many invigorating ( to say the least ) walks on the sand, and in the Spring, dreams of summertime in the surf were almost tangible. Gigi has  Read more...

How to capture vacation memories

by Katie

July 21, 2008

Crafting with Gigi is probably one of our most favorite regular activities. I realize I don't seem the crafty type for those that know me, but there are so many more pros than cons when it comes to crafting with my kid, that I know a good thing when I see it. First of all, crafts make Gigi sit still for stretches of time and it fosters problem solving with creativity while preparing her for the  Read more...

Art classes for preschoolers

by Katie

June 09, 2008

Gigi is a lover of crayons and pens. This has made me simultaneously happy and frustrated. Happy because I love LOVE painting, drawing, and creating art in many mediums with various levels of talent. Frustrated because her chosen mediums generally crayon and pens are sometimes used on furniture and walls when supervision becomes lax. I've been forced to count the supplies and conduct surprise  Read more...