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

August 06, 2009

Ontario Science Centre 770 Don Mills Road
There is the Food Science exhibit, the Lizards & Snakes: Alive! exhibit, and The Science of Spying going on right now and one of those is bound to interest the five and up crowd. For the younger ones, KidSpark is always an interactive (emphasis on active) fun time and the kids set the pace.

Also this weekend at the Science Centre is Opening the Universe, an art exhibit by Ontario College of Art and Design students. These works were inspired by astronomy and also in celebration of the United Nations' International Year of Astronomy.

Lakeshore Mardi Gras (1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive, Etobicoke)
Colonel Samuel Smith Park will be the site of the Lakeshore Mardi Gras this weekend (starts Friday at 6:30 and reopens on both Saturday and Sunday at noon). this is the sixth annual free outdoor concert, that also features a kids zone, midway, food (and beer) market, and buskers. This event is FREE and for a full schedule consult the offical site (btw - Honeymoon Suite is playing at 8:30 - giggle)

Bloor-Yorkville BIA, Village of Yorkville Park
The Sound of Music is in the Air in Bloor-Yorkville (Cumberland and Bellair Streets). Free concerts run all summer long and this weekend. On August 8th is John La Rosa Quartet and on August 9th, The Quasimodal Trio.

Ontario Place
On Friday, August 7th, Ontario Place hosts Family Tested Day where the latest in toys are revealed by the editors of Canadian Family and they want you to try them out. These toys aren't available in stores yet and the results of your testing influence which ones will be featured in the Annual Top Toys Guide.  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

June 04, 2009

This weekend there are quite a few things going on around town and I'll be hosting one of the events (warning: self-promotion ahead) so if you are free on Saturday...

I'm hosting a BlogHer Toronto get together this Saturday morning at the Don Mills Brickworks between 10 and 12pm (see full details here) and we'd love any blog-hers to join in. It's family friendly -- I'll be bringing Gigi -- and we will be hanging out, enjoying the sunshine and farmer's market. I'll bring the coffee, you just bring your beautiful blogging self. Let me know here if you can make it.

Also on Saturday, Bunch is hosting a free family block party at Yonge-Dundas Square as part of the Luminato Festival!. Here are the details:

Children are invited to make banners for the next weekend's closing events of Luminato. Sounds like fun, so I think we'll try to do both.

Also going on this weekend:

Mackenzie House (82 Bond Street)

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

Harbourfront Centre

Luminato presents Red Sky Performance: Tono. Tono is a form of dance that links the Indiginous cultures of Canada, Mongolia, and China. Performances on Saturday at 4pm and 8pm and on Sunday at 4pm. For more information visit the Luminato website.

Nathan Phillips Square

Walk Now for Autism is a short 3km family-friendly walk taking place this Sunday to raise money for autisim research and awareness. There will be games, activites and entertainment for all ages. The walk starts at 10am at Nathan Phillips Square but festivities begin at 8:30 am.

What's Going on in Toronto This Weekend

by Katie

May 28, 2009

There's a lot to choose from this weekend but I stuck with indoor events based on the weather of the past few days. Though I had to include the Great Strides event at the Toronto Zoo because it's for such a great cause. Stay dry folks!

Distillery District

Children's Trunk Show runs 9:30 to 4:30 Friday. Over fifty vendors in a totally kid friendly atmosphere -- think stroller friendly aisles and kid-friendly products. Plenty of parking (The Distillery
In the Fermenting Cellar, Buildings 6 & 7, 55 Mill Street)

Art Gallery of Ontario

Off the Wall! Dr. Mariano Elia Hands on Centre at the AGO. Come and make your mark at this amazing play space in the newly renovated AGO. Recommended for ages two through ten and open daily from 10am to 2pm.

Solar Stage Theatre

Happy Birthday, Alistair Ant is a space age musical puppet show about life's simple pleasures. Recommended for ages three to seven, there are two shows on both Saturday and Sunday but tickets are going fast.(4950 Yonge Street, near Yonge and Sheppard)

Toronto Zoo

Collect a minimum of twenty-five dollars in pledges for cystic fibrosis Great Strides campaign and receive free admission to the zoo on Sunday May 31st, plus a special show, free lunch, and loot bags. For more details visit the Toronto Zoo website and for pledge forms go to cysticfibrosis.ca/greatstrides

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!

This Weekend in Toronto: Young People's Concert The Melodic Life

by Katie

April 02, 2009

This Saturday, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents The Melodic Life as part of the Young People's Concert series.  This series is a fantastic way to introduce children to the symphony. Each concert is aimed at children aged 5 to 12 and based on my experience, the one-hour performance is just the right length for the intended audience. The concerts each feature a different guest conductor and other artists, plus a musical piece or theme selected to completely entertain and engage children.

What's going on in Toronto This Weekend

by Katie

March 26, 2009

It may be raining this weekend but the temperatures are on the plus side and rain doesn't need to be shovelled. There's lots going on in and around the city so there is no excuse to get outside with the family. Unless you are really lazy. Like me ;)

Saturday March 28th
Starwatch & Earth Hour
TVO and the Ontario Science Centre need you to get outside with the kids after dark, and count the stars around the Big Dipper. Then they want you to compare the results found during Earth Hour on Saturday night. Enter the data online to help answer the question "Do you see more stars during Earth Hour?" Full details on how to participate can be found at TVOkids.com and OSC sites via the Earth Hour links.

Saturday Senanigans at the Bata Shoe Museum
This weekend the Bata Shoe Museum hosts the Annual Toronto Festival of Storytelling where children can listening to tales told by some of the best storytellers around. There are sessions for children 5 and under, and children 6 through 10. Session details can be found on the website. Readings are scheduled during both the morning and afternoon on Saturday and Sunday.

Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival at Kortright and Bruce's Mill
Tap into some of sweetness and spend a day in the beautiful outdoors, eating pancakes and going on wagon rides. Runs both Saturday and Sunday full details on their website.

It's Maple Syrup Time
MapleTowne is open at Mountsberg Conservation Area.Wagon rides through the sugar bush, see a demo of maple candy creation, and sample some of the goodies - sounds good to me. Activities are on daily from 10 to 4pm both Saturday and Sunday.

Sunday March 29th
Bunch Family Salon - Contemporary Art Edition at OCAD
Leading artists and thinkers spend the afternoon with parents and children, for an afternoon of creativity. Games, workshops, and inspiration galore at the Ontario College of Art and Design. (100 McCaul Street, 2 - 5 pm) www.bunchfamily.ca (recommended to purchase advance tickets)

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...

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...

Classic Christmas: The Nutcracker

by Katie

December 18, 2008

The first year I lived in Toronto, I was fortunate enough to be invited to the National Ballet of Canada's performance of The Nutcracker . Even though I knew the story, it's hard to beat the magic of The National Ballet performance. As soon as Gigi is mature enough to make it through a performance, I will take her because I know she will love the story. The evening that I attended, there were  Read more...

Inspiring gifts that you can only get in Toronto

by Katie

December 16, 2008

To steal a much abused phrase, the following gift ideas that I'm going to suggest for this holiday season, are the kind of gifts "that keep on giving" ( or at least, they keep on giving for the next year ) and they are also all specific to Toronto. Yes, I'm talking memberships to really interesting, fun, family-friendly or kid-friendly places in Toronto. The Royal Ontario Museum was the first  Read more...

Preschooler art appreciation: beautiful books

by Katie

November 19, 2008

Some books from my childhood left a lasting impression solely from the images on the pages. I can still picture in my mind the detailed and Victorian illustrations in my various Kate Greenway books. I would study every last inch on each of the pages and have totally vivid daydreams about living back in the "olden days" (did I mention I loved Little House and Oliver among other historical themed  Read more...

What's going on this weekend in toronto (hint: it involves a man in red)

by Katie

November 14, 2008

The Santa Claus Parade is the weekend and I CANNOT WAIT. For over a hundred years, Toronto has heralded the arrival of Santa with this huge parade that originally started as a publicity stunt for the Eaton's store. How do you think Santa will arrive this year? Did you know that in 1913 Santa arrived in a sled pulled by REAL reindeer that Mr. Timothy Eaton imported from Labrador? Those reindeer  Read more...

What's going on this weekend in toronto

by Katie

November 07, 2008

I know that Hallowee'en was just last week but the winter season had descended full-tilt on Toronto already. Maybe not weather-wise (not that I'm complaining - I'll take 17 in November any day) but the Christmas decorations are up in the shops and the candy canes have replaced the Hallowe'en loot on the store shelves. This week marks the start of the downtown Winter Wonderland window  Read more...

Children's theatre in Toronto

by Katie

October 27, 2008

Gigi has a flare for the theatrics. Actually, I think most three year olds are very good at channelling their inner drama student and Gigi seems to pick up some new schtick everywhere she goes. And I must admit, I think she is a very good little actress - in a Norma Desmond kind of way. If you could have witnessed today's reaction when we didn't have her preferred cereal, you would have been  Read more...

Theatre for the young torontonian

by Katie

October 09, 2008

I love taking Gigi to live shows. She is absolutely thrilled to go to concerts, watch performers, sing and dance along - especially when invited by the cast. Luckily we live near Mel Lastman Square where every single weekend there is some kind of musical show on the main stage, and interactive library family time at the North York Central Library. Now that she is able to sit still for longer  Read more...

Nuit Blanche for the family

by Katie

October 03, 2008

This weekend in Toronto, it's all about contemporary art. Scotia Bank Nuit Blanche starts at 6:52 pm this Saturday and goes all night. Warmly embraced by the city after it's debut in 2006, this free, all-night celebration of contemporary art has now become an annual event in Toronto. I'm proud to live in a city that hosts this kind of amazing (and free) showcase for artists and performers.  Read more...

Art explosion

by Katie

September 17, 2008

We are two weeks in to nursery school and while we have encountered some small issues, one snuck up on me that I didn't see coming: The need to lease an art gallery to display and store all of Gigi's masterpieces. I mean, I'm not totally naive - I knew there would be arts and crafts, but I had no idea of the quantity of "must keep" pieces my child can produce in a single day. I love it, I really  Read more...

Weekend artiness

by Katie

July 25, 2008

Have you ever been to Unionville ? I fell in love with this Toronto suburb the first time a friend took me there for an afternoon pub lunch. The stretch lined with century homes, cafes, shops and boutiques on Main street are charming and it really feels like a village rather than a cookie-cutter suburb ( no offence to all those look-alike suburbs with big box conveniences but charming is not  Read more...

What's going on in Toronto this weekend

by Katie

July 11, 2008

Calling all baseball fans! This Saturday (July 12th) is a Jr. Jays Day. Starting two hours before the home game against the New York Yankees, Jr. Jays Saturdays Club has an outdoor program that includes running the bases, meet the mascots, face painting, and of course, exercising the ol' pitching arm in the cage. Check out the Jr. Jays Saturdays site for more information (ages 4 - 14). Over at  Read more...

Toronto Fringe Festival: KidsVenue

by Katie

July 04, 2008

This weekend is the Toronto Fringe Festival and many of the kid-friendly performances start today, with shows happening all weekend through to July 13th. All kids performances are at the KidsVenue theatre located at the Palmerston Library (560 Palmerston - north of Bloor, west of Bathurst). For show times and ticket information check out the KidsVenue page at the Toronto Fringe Festival website  Read more...

The art of the self-portrait: preschooler edition

by Katie

June 27, 2008

A fail-safe activity I like to do with Gigi is sitting down together and drawing with her markers or crayons. We keep large reams of paper on hand along with crayons, mini markers, and paints. While I tend to grab our supplies from all over town, our latest and greatest spot is Treasure Island on the Danforth. For the older kids who are a bit less hard on supplies, Curry's has very good quality  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...

What's going on this weekend in Toronto

by Katie

June 13, 2008

This weekend Gigi and I just might have to go check out Luminato , Toronto's Fesitval of Arts & Creativity. The festival opened last week and there are a few different family events happening over the coming weekend. CN Tower light show: Each night of Luminato the CN tower will be lit up differently. This weekend the tower will be blue and white, the traditional colours of Luminato, with a  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...

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...