Explaining Death to Children

   

With the heartbreaking deaths of 3 young children along with the grandfather this past weekend at the hands of a drunk driver, I wanted to share a resource that might help you when talking to your children about death. 

To the parents and family members of these children and their grandfather, I wish you peace and solace at this most difficult and unimaginable time. May each one of these angels rest in peace. My heart breaks for you. 

Explaining death to anyone is a hard topic to take on, especially when you're trying to explain it to children.

How do you explain something that you yourself aren't factually sure about? No matter your belief, the truth is, that no one present here on earth really knows what happens when we pass. So if that's the case, how on earth do you begin to answer what happens when little ones pose the question? What do you say if you aren't religious? 

I lost my mother quite a few years ago to a debilitating terminal illness. I struggled to understand why this would happen to her. What would really happen when she passed on? Though I still don't know the answer to those questions, I, as well as my family members found solace in a story about waterbugs & dragonflies which was shared at her funeral. 

While the story was originally written for children, it also gave me comfort as a new adult. In addition, it has given my family the dragonfly - our symbol to remember her by and to remind us that she really is watching over us. Whether it's a dragonfly ornament on our Christmas tree or seeing a dragonfly pass by outside, it's a reminder that she's with us. I think that can be very comforting to a child who has lost a loved one. I can't tell you how many times we've had pleasantly odd things happen involving a dragonfly. Whether it's a complete coincidence, or she is sending us a message that she's still around, we appreciate the feelings of comfort that these moments spark.  

I love that the story helps put death into perspective for youngsters. That it can provide them with moments of comfort, knowing that their loves ones are watching over them. 

If you find yourself needing to address concerns, worries or upset in your children, consider this story as an option: 

Waterbugs & Dragonflies: Explaining Death To Young Children - by Doris Stickney

Down below the surface of a quiet pond lived a little colony of water bugs. They were a happy colony, living far away from the sun. For many months they were very busy, scurrying over the soft mud on the bottom of the pond. They did notice that every once in awhile one of their colony seemed to lose interest in going about. Clinging to the stem of a pond lily it gradually moved out of sight and was seen no more.

“Look!” said one of the water bugs to another. “One of our colony is climbing up the lily stalk. Where do you think she is going?” Up, up, up it slowly went….Even as they watched, the water bug disappeared from sight.

Its friends waited and waited but it didn’t return…

“That’s funny!” said one water bug to another.

“Wasn’t she happy here?” asked a second…

“Where do you suppose she went?” wondered a third.

No one had an answer. They were greatly puzzled. Finally one of the water bugs, a leader in the colony, gathered its friends together.

“I have an idea”. The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk must promise to come back and tell us where he or she went and why.

“We promise”, they said solemnly.

One spring day, not long after, the very water bug who had suggested the plan found himself climbing up the lily stalk. Up, up, up, he went. Before he knew what was happening, he had broke through the surface of the water and fallen onto the broad, green lily pad above. When he awoke, he looked about with surprise. He couldn’t believe what he saw.

A startling change had come to his old body. His movement revealed four silver wings and a long tail. Even as he struggled, he felt an impulse to move his wings…The warmth of the sun soon dried the moisture from the new body. He moved his wings again and suddenly found himself up above the water. He had become a dragonfly!!

Swooping and dipping in great curves, he flew through the air. He felt exhilarated in the new atmosphere. By and by the new dragonfly lighted happily on a lily pad to rest. Then it was that he chanced to look below to the bottom of the pond. Why, he was right above his old friends, the water bugs! There they were scurrying around, just as he had been doing some time before.

The dragonfly remembered the promise: “The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk will come back and tell where he or she went and why.”

Without thinking, the dragonfly darted down. Suddenly he hit the surface of the water and bounced away. Now that he was a dragonfly, he could no longer go into the water…

“I can’t return!” he said in dismay. “At least, I tried. But I can’t keep my promise. Even if I could go back, not one of the water bugs would know me in my new body. I guess I’ll just have to wait until they become dragonflies too. Then they’ll understand what has happened to me, and where I went.”

And the dragonfly winged off happily into its wonderful new world of sun and air…….

***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post.*****

Mad for Madd Gear's Kaos Pro Scooter!

   

I recently came upon Madd Gear's MGP Kaos Pro Scooter while perusing the sports department of a local department store. It was the first scooter that I personally had seen in stores that was designed and meant for kids 8 years and up. My son had just recently outgrown his original 2 wheeled scooter, and it was very timely for us to traipse upon this one. 

We're all about encouraging our kids to ditch their devices and get out for some fresh air and exercise. While out youngest doesn't really use a device as of yet, the oldest one does.  Heading out for a bike ride or scooter ride is one of the few things that he doesn't put up a fuss about when it comes to ditching devices. 

The MGP Kaos Pro Scooter is pretty cool, although I suspect that's not what the "cool" kids are saying these days! LOL Ours is black in colour, and has a badass skull on the front. As previously mentioned, it's geared towards kids ages 8 years and over who are between 60-220lbs. The scooter has some weight to it, and feels very strong and sturdy. It is super simple to assemble out of the box in only 3 easy steps, taking about 5 minutes to put together. It's practically skate park ready. Be sure to remember to keep the Allen key that is included, in case you need to make any tightening adjustments down the road. 

The MGP Kaos Pro Scooter has a high tensile steel one piece MGP Y Bar handlebar which rotates 360 degrees, and also features an extruded double clamp to keep the scooter fastened together. It has pro-spec reinforced forks and 100mm polyurethane wheels with alloy cores and a K-1 bearing set. It comes with a steel flex brake system and a 4" wide deck with MGP design skull grip tape already on it. It also has MGP pro squid grips on the handlebars. While I am not all that tech savvy when it comes to scooters, I am starting to learn a lot more about them. And who knew that I'd ever know what grip tape or a deck was when referring to a scooter! I've been avidly learning to embrace these things, now that I have boys. :) 

For my son personally, this scooter is a great fit. He thinks the scooter is awesome and loves riding it around and trying out new tricks. His friends think it's pretty cool too. As with any sporting activity, be sure that you and/or your children wear proper safety equipment designed for the activity and that they are using their scooter & safety equipment safely. Items like a helmet, knee pads and elbow pads are a must, especially for beginners. For me, a helmet is just non-negotiable. Period. End of story. No matter the age.  

The MGP Kaos Pro Scooter retails in Canada for approximately $150CAN. There is a more cost effective style available on the market called the Madd Gear Whip Pro Scooter which retails for approximately $100CAN. The Whip also comes in a variety of colours. These Madd Gear scooters are available in Canada at your local Walmarts, Mastermind Toys, mom & pop scooter and skateboard shops, as well as on websites like Amazon and EBay. If you were so inclined, there are also higher end ones available through specialty shops.

***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post.*****

Visiting LEGOLAND Toronto From A-Z

   

We love going on excursions with the kids, and are partial to those that promote physical activity and brain stimulation. We recently visited Toronto's LEGOLAND Discovery Centre located inside Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre and had a great time. 

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Toronto has been open for a couple of years now, and continues to be a busy place. While it's geared to kids ages 3yrs to 10yrs, they offer activities enjoyable for both young and old. Whether you are a toddler playing in the DUPLO Village, or a grandparent building a LEGO masterpiece out of the numerous LEGO pieces in the LEGO Racers: Build & Test area with your grandchild, there is something for everyone. 

In addition, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Toronto has 2 amusement park rides. Kingdom Quest Laser Ride drives around on a flat guided track.  While on the ride, you shoot your laser gun at various threats to the princess you are trying to rescue. It is a bit dark inside so it could be a bit frightening to some of the younger ones. The second ride is Merlin's Apprentice, which is a wizard type theme. It is sort of a pedal bicycle ride that flies around and goes up and down while you peddle the "bike" trying to create a potion. Both of these rides do have height restrictions, which can be found by clicking on its respective link. The LEGO Fire Academy, which is a 3 storey jungle gym, also has a height restriction of 4 and a half feet tall. This area alone will keep them busy and active for quite some time and give them the opportunity to work off any wiggles. Be sure to bring socks for this activity as kids will not be permitted entry to this play area without them. Socks can however be purchased on site for $1/pair though, if you forget to bring them. 

The LEGO 4D Cinema plays 3D adventure LEGO shorts with special effects like rainy drizzle, snow flakes and more! It's pretty cool and the films are short enough that most toddlers would likely enjoy them too. MINILAND is really impressive. Here you will see several displays of iconic Toronto and Ontario attractions built with LEGO pieces. From the Rogers Centre, to the CN Tower, to Niagara Falls, there is so much in between. You will be amazed by all the detail put into these displays. It's really quite something! 

Many more activities abound, and this is definitely a family attraction that you don't want to miss. Entry fees can add up if you are a family with a few children, but if you financially compare it to the cost of going to the movies or an amusement park for example, it's not all that much different in price. Plus your children benefit from physical activity, as well as the thought and creativity that goes into many of the activities available there. Adults and children 3 years and up pay the same ticket price. Walk up tickets are $22 each and if you order online tickets, you can pay as little as $17.60 each depending on the time and date you choose. Kids two years and under are free. If you have a child who's 17yrs or under and wanted to go on their own, be aware that they need to have an adult accompany them into the facility. They can't go in on their own even if they are in their teens. 

Same goes for adults. An adult arriving on their own will not be admitted into LEGOLAND without a child, ensuring to the best of their ability that everyone attending the venue is there with the best of intentions. While this might seem to exclude adults who are big kids at heart and want to take advantage of the LEGO building and other activities, LEGOLAND does host adults only nights which accommodate their interests. 

It takes most people about 2-3 hours to fully experience LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Toronto, but you can stay for as long as you like once you are in. Be aware though that there are no in and out privileges, and no outside food or drink is allowed to be brought in except for baby food, formula, milk, and/or food for children with allergies. There is however, a snack bar cafe which offers a variety of items ranging from sandwiches to snacks on site if need be. Prices and items available in the cafe can be found here. 

I'm a big proponent of the early bird getting the worm. This is especially applicable for me when attending LEGOLAND. It gets busy fast and they do have a max capacity where they can't let anyone in until others have left. So be sure to get there early. From what I understand, if you order your tickets online, then your time is guaranteed. In my opinion, it's also a great idea to be there right at opening if you have young children. It can get quite hectic inside on a busy day and kids by nature are easily distracted and could wander off. Getting there earlier allows you to keep a better eye on them. 

If you are visiting LEGOLAND and have an infant, there is a family washroom and plenty of places to sit down if you needed to feed or nurse your little one. The place is very stroller friendly and is fully wheelchair accessible from what I could tell. 

While it's not a venue that we would visit frequently simply because of the cost, it is something that is a must see and do! Your family will have a lot of fun whether you've embraced your inner Master Builder yet or not.

***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post.*****

The School Years Memory Keeper Is A Great Way To Chronicle!

   

Growing up, my mother kept a school journal for us kids documenting each grade from elementary school through high school. The journal included our report cards, some artwork, as well as data on what we wanted to be when we grew up, who our teacher was, etc.

I've always wanted to do the same for my children. While it's been on my mind for the last few years, it seems that life just gets away from you. Instead of making it a priority to find a suitable book, I've been stuffing my oldest son's school work and report cards in a cupboard. Shameful, I know! :)  With back to school season upon us, organizing & chronicling all this stuff now and in the future has since re-entered my mind. 

While searching online, there were a few options, most with a lot of limitations. I came across the School Years Memory Keeper by Publications International, and found it to be the best option suited for my needs. First off, it is unisex & includes pages for Preschool, all the way to Grade 12. It is about the size of a 12x12 scrapbook, and will allow you to comfortably put 8x10 sized school photos, school work and awards into the pockets without having to bend them. You can easily put in a bit larger sized projects as well, but you'd have to bend and fold them to fit the pockets.  On the front cover, you can include one wallet sized image of their school pictures for each grade, making it easy to see right from the cover whose book it is. Not to mention that it's wonderful to easily look back and reminisce about how they've changed as they've grown. 

The School Years Memory Keeper is hardcover, and has 24 storage pocket pages constructed of sturdy thin cardboard type material.  There is lots of space to store precious artwork not only inside the many pockets, but also directly onto some of the pages. There are also some designated sections where the kids could draw something directly in the book each year, which would be comical to look back on. Just remember to get the younger ones to tell you what their drawing is so that you can document it, and look back knowing what the picture actually is! 

Throughout the book there are also special areas for each grade to document their growth, personal interests, friends, teacher information, feelings, school pictures and much more. For the older grades, there are also sections to document favorite bands, music, websites, blogs and a special page for Grade 12 which includes goals and things to remember about high school. 

Kids grow up so fast, and time flies by. Before you find yourself digging out of years of artwork, report cards, awards or other academic keepsakes, stay on the ball and start organizing it now! It's a wonderful memento for both you and your child and will be appreciated for years to come. I still look at mine and cherish the memories and the time and energy my mother put into making these for us. 

The only thing I wish it had was a section for each grade where the child can indicate what he or she would like to be when they grow up. It's funny to look back and see what I wanted to be over the years and what I've chosen to do professionally. I've easily solved this minor inconvenience by writing it myself directly onto the page. 

The School Years Memory Keeper retails for approximately $30, and can be found on Amazon and at various big box and mom & pop shops throughout Canada and the U.S. There seems to be a few different designs available on the market for this album, but this one in particular is my favorite as it can be used for either gender and is a bit more stylish in design. It's also a thoughtful gift idea and I got one for each of my kids. 

I'm proud to say that the organization has begun and I now have an empty cupboard! :)

***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post.*****