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

Road Trip Songs for Preschoolers

by Katie

June 16, 2009

My daughter is almost always singing which I can't really complain about because she does it well, it helps her with memory skills, and it keeps her busy. That last point is really important because when stuck in a car, I will take singing on the top of her lungs over the constant refrain of "Are we there yet? Are we there now? How about now? [loud audible sarcastic sigh] Are we there YET?"

So in the event of break in the singing, I try to keep some easy-to-remember lyrics in my head to inspire my favourite singer. Plus when I join in it really makes for a good ol' ear-splitting time.

The Ants Go Marching - the key to a good car song is repetition and fun lyrics. This one goes all the way to ten rounds AND each ends with a wonderful BOOM BOOM BOOM! No promises that the BOOM! won't be annoying by the last chorus.

Baby Bumblebee - I don't know if it's because my daughter likes squishing that bee but she laughs hysterically every time we sing this one together.

Knick-Knack Paddywhack - again the repetition and the fact that my sister and I used to sing this on the top of our lungs during roadtrips makes this a hit with my family.

B-I-N-G-O - the song that never really ends and requires hand motions is a winner with me. Just as long as I remember not to clap while driving.

10 Little Monkeys - it's not beyond me to actually make this 20 little monkeys, especially when a road stop is no where in sight.  Read more...

What's Going on in Toronto This Weekend

by Katie

June 11, 2009

The weather promises to be somewhat June like this weekend so get thee family OUTSIDE!

It's the closing weekend of Luminato and if you haven't caught any of the activities yet, you are missing a really fun and inspiring time. What excites me the most is the Cirque du Soleil "encounters" that will be taking place around the Harbourfront Centre and The Music Garden approximately every 30 minutes. How often can you see the most amazing circus in the world do mini-performances for free? The family program at Luminato is hosted by my favourite fun factory: The Bunch Family. See all the details for the weekend activities at their site.

Also in the artistic inspiration arena is art09 which is taking place today through Sunday  at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. This is another family-friendly event where local and international artists show off their creations and children can make their own in a supervised family arts & crafts area. Children are encouraged to create a message of hope to attach to The Tree of Hope that will be presented to SickKids hospital after the show.

This Saturday, the entire family is invited for an afternoon of Kids Krafts 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.

Also on Saturday at Woodside Square Library (1571 Sandhurst Circle) drop by between 11 am and noon to make a special craft for Dad at the Celebrate Dad session.

On Sunday Ontario Place is hosting The Childcare Show between 10 and 5pm. This Expo is a family-friendly event where parents can meet childcare professionals to learn more about childcare, educational and recreational activities in the Greater Toronto Area.

Also on Sunday at McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg (10365 Islington Avenue), Summer Magic is taking place. The Poynter family are putting on a magic and comedy show for the entire family to enjoy. Drop by between 11am and 4pm (shows at 12:30 and 2:30)

What's Going on in Toronto This Weekend

by Katie

April 30, 2009

There are many things to do this weekend and the weather looks like it will cooperate perciptation wise (now that I've said that, it will rain both days). If we don't hit any parks this weekend, I'll be sorely disappointed but I think we will all be happy campers if we hit at least one of the activities below this weekend. Happy first weekend in May!

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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My Sous Chef

by Katie

March 09, 2009

How did I ever get this far in life without knowing about Monkey Bread? Well, I'm as astonished as you are. I only learned about the magic hunks of gooey goodness last week when I picked Gigi up at nursery school.  Her teacher recited the recipe while my daughter excitedly presented me with a baggie full of the bread.  We all had a laugh when Gigi pulled her now-infamous of "look mommy, I saved you a treat but I'm going to eat it for you now that you've seen it" scam and gobbled it down as I emptied her cubby spot.
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Whats Going On In Toronto This Weekend

by Katie

February 26, 2009

This weekend looks like it's going to be a cold but bright one.  If it’s sunny with no wind, we will probably be hitting the parks or the rink. I can’t stand it outside when the wind turns us into instant icicles – if that’s the case, we are staying indoors.  But in order to ward off cabin fever and exhaust / exercise little limbs – we must find access to warm play space.  Because trust me, running this little girl enough to get the wiggles out cannot be done from within these apartment walls.

Math in the City

by Katie

February 10, 2009

Anything can be turned into math. In fact, it’s so darn easy, it’s a shame not to sneak some math learning in when the kids least expect it.  I think it's my parental nagging duty to do such annoying things.  Gee, I hope doing stuff like that is not driving her crazy... but mark my word, one day she will (probably not) thank me for the effort.

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...

Top Five: Storytime in Toronto

by Katie

November 11, 2008

In my research for Toronto Savvy Source, this is probably one of the more difficult top five lists to pull together. Deciding which story times are the best in the city is pretty much impossible.  So I decided the easiest thing to do is to list the first five that I can think of off the top of my head.  Cop out? You bet, and without further ado here it goes (drumroll please): Mabel's Fables  Read more...

What's going on in toronto this weekend

by Katie

October 31, 2008

Happy Hallowe'en everyone! I hope everyone enjoys a bit of tricks or treats this evening and that the weekend finds you in a pleasant sugar induced coma. Tonight is the Cadbury's Haunted House at the Gladstone Chocolate Factory (THINK: FREE CHOCOLATE). For each child that shows up in costume tonight, one dollar will be go Unicef. Can you think of a better place to do trick-or-treating than at a  Read more...

Building a tickle trunk

by Katie

October 06, 2008

Who remembers Mr. Dressup? I loved Mr. Dressup when I was a kid and I wanted a Tickle Trunk just like his - right down to the big ol' psychedelic flower printed trunk that contained all that cool dressup stuff. Well Mr. Dressup might be gone from the airwaves, but my love of Tickle Trunks has only been renewed since becoming a parent. I love LOVE love dress up time. Seriously - each time I pass  Read more...

Party planning in toronto

by Katie

September 10, 2008

Next month is my daughter's birthday. In years past, I've shrugged off my parental duties and not hosted a birthday party for Gigi. Frankly, I believe when she was a baby she didn't know the difference between hanging with friends or family on that day ( or so I keep telling myself ). Her birthdays have been family affairs and very simple in planning, as in no planning except for dessert -  Read more...

Where in the world are the oceans

by Katie

August 25, 2008

Gigi loves any excuse to "work" on my computer with me. She sees me there many times through out the day and knows this is a place where we get our news and information (or at least that's what I tell her while I'm reading the latest news from People and US Weekly). Anyhow, any chance I get to share some online learning with Gigi, I take advantage. I want her to be comfortable online and  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...

Extracurricular preschool activities

by Katie

June 16, 2008

Gigi may not be starting her official preschool until September, but I'm always on the lookout for organized activities where she can make friends and work on those all-important social skills. Seriously, the kid needs to work on networking so we can fill up that playdate calendar of hers. Starting July 15th at the North York Central Library and running until August 19th is a drop-in (no  Read more...

100 Things To Do in Toronto with My Kid Before She Grows Up

by Katie

June 12, 2008

By writing this list of 100 things I must do with my child in Toronto before she grows up, I'm also admitting that my child is going to grow up and I don't like that one bit. I plan on telling her one day soon (perhaps after she is potty trained) that she can no longer grow up anymore. Yes folks, I'm in a state of denial. Since being informed that I must accept the fact that my little girl is  Read more...

The Rainy Day List

by Katie

June 10, 2008

Rainy days with a preschooler can be a special kind of hell for parents. Especially when your preschooler has boundless energy that the confines of a small apartment cannot exhaust. Oh wait; I guess we can assume that all preschoolers contain the same bottomless resource of fuel a fuel that if the world powers could harness, we would probably be able to solve the energy crisis. This week had a  Read more...

Top Toronto spots to play when it's cold outside

by Katie

January 20, 2008

Holy crow the weather has been nasty lately. Between that Arctic freeze last week and the never-ending snow on the weekend, Winter is here and it's not going anywhere fast. Weather like this calls for indoor play and sometimes those much needed playdates are no where to be found, so I'm going to share our top five indoor spots to hit when there is preschooler energy to be burned, cabin-fever to  Read more...