The Get Ready For School Book/Game Series Supports PBS Kids!

 

With September approaching ever so quickly, school is on the minds of many. Especially so for those with children entering kindergarten for the first time. Some worry about how their children will handle being away from their parents and some will question whether or not their children are academically ready for what lies ahead.

DK Canada has a series of Get Ready For School books and games that aid in school readiness for early learners.  Whether you would like to work on your child's colours, numbers, or memory, there is a book or game to assist you in accomplishing these goals. They also include tips in each one that helps you and your child get the most out of what the books and games have to offer.  Purchasing any of the titles from this series also supports PBS Kids, which we all know has fantastic children's programming and resources.  

The items I sampled were:

Get Ready For School Games: Number Memory Games features a small interactive board book focusing on numbers from 1-10. The book helps in learning both numbers and counting and it comes with 40 photo cards. In addition to learning about numbers, these photo cards can be utilized to further teach your child through adding and subtracting, along with game play and other challenges for which the tips and instructions are included. This set retails for $9.99 in the U.S., and $10.99 in Canada. 

Get Ready For School Games: Color Match is very similar to the Number Memory Games set in that it has the smaller interactive board book which breaks down colours, shapes and the like. This set also includes 40 photo cards that feature pictures of a variety of coloured items to help further teach your child color concepts. There are cards with images of pencil crayons in various colours as well as a card with each colour displayed on it, with its corresponding spelling. They can also be used for game play and timed challenges, and the set comes with suggestions on which games to play with them. This set also retails for $9.99 in the U.S., and $10.99 in Canada. 

Get Ready For School: I'm Ready For School is an 18 paged board book which allows young ones to learn about colours, shapes and numbers. It features themes such as morning routines, eating meals, matching items like footwear, and the correct clothing for the weather. The 45 flaps throughout the book allow kids to satisfy their curiosity as to what's on the other side, all while learning. This book retails for $12.99 in the U.S. & $13.99 in Canada. 

For those with older kids, the Help Your Kids With Math book is chock full of visuals, explanations and aids on various mathematics starting with telling the time, adding, subtraction, multiplication and division, all the way to geometry and algebra. It also includes a section on personal finance, which I think is an important topic for children and youth. This particular book is suited for kids in grades 3 through grade 6. All of its 264 pages will be well used by me once my son enters those grades. Believe you me, math is not my strong suit, and this book will be immensely helpful not only for my son but for me as well! Help Your Kids With Math retails for $19.95 in the U.S., and $20.95 here in Canada. 

To discover the other titles in the Get Ready For School series, click here. 

Check out other titles specifically selected for DK Canada's Back to School Boutique! 

***** 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.*****

Marvel Universe Live Is Universally Spectacular!

   

We just got back from Marvel Universe Live here in Toronto at the Air Canada Centre and it's pretty cool!

While comic superheroes are not really my thing, I'm learning to embrace all things masculine now that I have 2 boys. And I'm quickly discovering that all things perceived as masculine aren't always that. There are plenty of female superheroes too and what kid (both big and small) doesn't love a superhero?Whether it's a cartoon, a comic or a movie, my older one is into it all! 

Marvel Universe Live is a unique live-action original play chock-full of action, special effects, martial arts, aerial stunts & pyrotechnics that unite over 25 of the Marvel characters as part of the storyline. Whether you are a fan of Spider-Man, The Avengers or some of the others, this dramatic performance is sure to impress. It hasn't been hailed as the most technically advanced show ever for nothing! Even the amazing motorcycle and dirt bike stunts are exciting to watch! My personal favorite was Captain America riding around the stage on his motorcycle, and seeing Spider-Man perform aerial stunts. It's downright cool!

Marvel Universe Live runs for 2 hours, with a 15 minute intermission about 45 minutes into the show. The show itself is quite loud, especially so when the pyrotechnics were set off. I saw quite a few toddlers crying during the show and covering their ears. Their parents were taking them out and it seems that they were frightened by the noise. I didn't find the storyline to be too scary for the littlest ones, I truly think it was the loud special effects that was upsetting them. Because of this, and knowing that my 2 year old would have been the exact same way, I think the show is more suited for kids ages 4yrs and up. Even then I would suggest bringing noise cancellation earphones in case they find it to be loud, as the venue itself only sold foam earplugs, at a cost of $2. While the price is nominal, I don't think they would have been strong enough for a toddler or preschooler. If a child is under 2 years of age, they can be admitted free so long as they sit on your lap for the duration of the show. If they are 24 months and older, they would require their own ticket. With that being said, I wouldn't bring kids under 4yrs of age to the show because of the previously stated noise levels. 

Be sure to have your kids dress up as their favorite Marvel character! We saw dozens of little Spider-Mans, Iron Mans and Captain Americas roaming around the ACC. It was adorable to see these enthusiastic fans about, and a great way to get more bang for your buck out of an old playtime or hallow'een costume. 

Marvel Universe Live is currently travelling across Canada to a number of cities, and making quite a few stops across the U.S. throughout this year and in 2016. It will be coming soon to those in the U.K. as well.  At the ACC, the tickets ranged from $20 children's tickets, all the way up to $150 for Gold Level. The average price of a ticket was about $25-$60, depending on your seating choice and availability. These prices change from location to location, so please inquire at the venue closest to you for specific pricing in your neck of the woods.

Marvel Universe Live is offering a 20% discount off tickets purchased using promo code MULOC, so be sure to take advantage of those savings! Like any attraction, save as much as you can on the tickets, as the souvenirs are atrociously expensive, at least at the ACC. For a youth t-shirt, you are looking at $40, and for 2 drinks and 1 popcorn, you'll be forking over about $18. Face painting was $15 per design and you could get your photo taken with what seemed like a cardboard superhero for $25-$30. They had snow cones in themed cups for $15-20, and a whole slew of other memorabilia.  

Marvel Universe Live is here in Toronto until Sunday, with the following showtimes:

Friday, August 14th - 7pm

Saturday, August 15th - 11am, 3pm & 7pm

Sunday, August 16th - 11am & 3pm

For more information on Marvel Universe Live, visit their website, and follow them on Twitter and on Facebook. 

***** 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.*****

Race To The Rescue With the Paw Patroller!

   

My kids love Paw Patrol, and like many, love to re-enact Paw Patrol rescue missions.  We previously received the Lookout Playset as well as Chase's Cruiser, Marshall's Firefightin' Truck and Rubble's Digg'n Bulldozer. They still enjoy playing with those items, but were particularly excited to get the new Paw Patrol Paw Patroller so that they can transport the pups and their vehicles to the next assignment! 

The Paw Patrol Paw Patroller is geared for children 3yrs and up. It does require 3 LR44 watch batteries, which thankfully are included. The only assembly required was to place the 2 front seats into the cab of the truck, and affix the stickers.  

The Paw Patrol Paw Patroller allows for up to 6 vehicles and pups to be displayed when the patroller is fully opened into a command centre. When closed and in transport mode the patroller can hold up to 3 vehicles and their pups. It comes with a sticker sheet to embellish the Patroller, as well as Ryder and his ATV. The Paw Patrol Paw Patroller features 5 sounds from the show that change each time the button is depressed. It has the sound of a vehicle backing up and running as well as honking, and also the tone Ryder sends to the pups' collars to mobilize them. It also has the sound of a hoist being elevated, which can go alongside the Paw Patroller's real working elevator used to lift the pups to the upper level of the Patroller. On its upper level, you will find a landing pad for Skye's helicopter, as well as a holder for Zuma's hovercraft propeller fans. The cab of the truck has 2 front seats allowing for Ryder to drive, and for some of the other pups to ride up front with him.  The elevator could be a bit difficult to latch on the upper level for the younger ones, but I'm sure they would get the hang of it quickly. Overall, it seems well constructed and fairly sturdy, particularly when it's in transport mode. The only thing I would add to the Paw Patroller vehicle itself is volume control, so that you can adjust how loud or how quiet the sounds are. 

The Paw Patrol Paw Patroller retails in Canada for approximately $79.99, and in the U.S. for about $59.99. It is available at various retailers such as Toys R Us, Walmart and Amazon. At this price point, particularly with regards the Canadian MSRP, it would have been nice to have all of the characters and their vehicles, or at least RoboDog, included as a complete set.  Though it does specify on the box that it includes Ryder and his ATV, the packaging could be a little bit misleading, as the images on the box show all of the characters and their vehicles inside the Paw Patroller. This could easily lend to someone assuming they were all included if they weren't carefully looking at the box and its contents. I suspect that the toy company likely didn't include all of them because the individual vehicles have been on the market for quite a while now and likely wouldn't be needed for most consumers. With that being said, the Paw Patrol Paw Patroller is an interchangeable toy and can also be used with just about any smaller sized vehicles such as dinky cars, which can further expand your child's creativity. And they will love it! In my mind, this is like Barbie & her camper. They go hand in hand and belong together. I suspect that it will be on many a child's Christmas list this year! 

For those in the U.S., the Paw Patrol Tour might be coming to a city near you this summer! The Paw Patrol Tour will be visiting state and county fairs from California, to Wisconsin, to Texas and many other stops in between from July 25th to October 4th, 2015. The tour will feature the Paw Patroller truck and trailer along with visits from Chase & Marshall. There will be giveaways, activities for the munchkins, as well as visits from popular Spin Master and Nickelodeon characters like Sick Bricks, Little Charmers, and Chubby Puppies!  Unfortunately this tour is not yet available in Canada, but I can promise you that if it does, I'll spread the word! My kids would be over the moon for it! 

***** 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.*****

Make Your Own Ouchie Kit!‏

   

Now that summer is here, everyone is out and about taking in all that the season has to offer. Whether you're hitting up a park or playground, accompanying your kids on a bike ride, or taking advantage of a local splash pad, you never know when one of  your brood is going to wipe out, or otherwise acquire an owie. 

Having a small ouchie kit that you can carry with you in the car, diaper bag, or stroller can make your life a lot easier when you need to apply minor first aid, or assuage a booboo that is more psychological than physical. Especially if you are a bit far from home on foot on a walk, hike, bike ride or visit to the playground!

While you can purchase first aid kits, they are often bulky and contain a number of items that you would likely never use. I keep one of these in my trunk and at home just in case. But for outings with the kids, I like to carry a small sized version with just the essentials, so that I'm not bogged down with even more things to carry around. We all know our purses and diaper bags already have enough stuff in them! The best thing about making your own ouchie kit is that you can tailor it to include items specific to your family's needs. 

Here's what I include in my ouchie kit: 

• A plastic container or fabric pouch for the items
• Band-Aids in various sizes, including themed ones like Spiderman or Barbie. (They help a lot with booboos!) 
• Polysporin/Neosporin or other antibiotic ointment
• Travel sized peroxide for cleaning up any scrapes or cuts
• A couple sterile gauze pads
• A roll of adhesive first aid tape
• A roller bandage with the clips
• Eye drops if your child is known to have seasonal allergies that might flare up unexpectedly
• Epi-Pen or other epinephrine injector if you child has allergies to nuts or outdoor hazards like bees & wasps
• A pair of latex or non-latex gloves

Comment below if there is anything else you carry in yours that would be a great addition for others! 

Have a safe and happy summer! 

***** 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.*****

Thermos FUNtainers Are More Than Just Fun!

    

If you are looking for practical back to school lunch supplies, look no further! Thermos' hit FUNtainer products are a terrific go to for us each year. The first time I had ever heard of the FUNtainer bottle was from a friend who had one for her daughter. She kept telling me I had to get one as they were great for keeping drinks cool and that her daughter's ice would last all day during the summer months. 

There's nothing like a trusted word of mouth recommendation, so of course we went out and got one. It did not disappoint. The Thermos FUNtainer Bottles have a stainless steel interior and are double wall vacuum insulated, which makes it an excellent choice for keeping drinks cold. The push button lid is easily opened and closed, and is great for protecting the pop up silicone straw from dirt, germs or other contaminants. It doesn't leak and it doesn't get condensation on the outside like other non-insulated bottles on the market. The plastic trim on the top and bottom of the bottle keep the graphics from getting scratched. The silicone straw can wear down a bit over time if your kid is like mine and is known to chew on it. Be attentive that the straw remains in good shape so that it does not pose a choking hazard. If this does happen, you can re-order the straw component, and it only costs about $2 per straw. To order the replacement part, simply call Thermos directly at 800-669-7065. For this reason, the FUNtainer Bottle is best suited to ages 3 & up. They retail for approximately $15 US/CAN, and come in a multitude of popular character designs such as The Minions, Hello Kitty, Spiderman, Frozen and so much more.

After trying out the FUNtainer bottle, we naturally had to try the Thermos FUNtainer Jar, which is essentially a kid sized Thermos for hot food. Like the FUNtainer Bottle, the FUNtainer Jar has a stainless steel interior & exterior and is also double wall vacuum insulated. You can put hot or cold food products in this particular item, and the wide mouth means it's easy to fill and easy to wash. They retail in Canada and the U.S. for approximately $15. The Jars are also available in various character styles. 

We also got the FUNtainer Batman Dual Compartment Lunch Kit, which is not only a functional but charming with its Batman cape on the back! It has 2 separate compartments. The bottom one would fit a sandwich type square or rectangular container, and the top compartment would fit any other lunch and snack items. The one downside to this lunch bag is that you would almost always need to include a plastic container in the bottom of the lunch bag to have it stand up properly.  But the blue Batman cape more than makes up for this with its cool factor! It is constructed of PVC-free material and has a PEVA lining and retails anywhere from $20-$30 in Canada and the U.S. 

While these items are a little bit on the pricier side for back to school items, they are a great investment not only for school, but outings, day trips and jaunts to the park. The Thermos brand is legendary for a reason.  These are not the type of things you'd have to purchase annually. If you take care of them, they can literally last for years. We have a few of the FUNtainer Bottles, and our original one is about 3 years old and still in great shape. The only thing we've had to do is order the additional straw part as my son is a bit of a chew monster. If he wasn't, we likely wouldn't have even had to replace it at all. Though the care instructions indicate that the FUNtainer Bottles & Jars are dishwasher safe, I would recommend hand washing them to preserve the graphics over the long haul. 

For those with babies, the Thermos brand also has a wide selection of infant products available as well under the Foogo & DwellStudio brands. 

These items are sold on Amazon, and widely available at department stores and other local merchants throughout Canada and the United States.

***** 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.*****

Crocodile Creek Takes A Bite Out Of Back To School Shopping!

 

When I first stumbled upon Crocodile Creek's products, I was immediately drawn to their vibrant colours. They have 8 designs that consist of a robot, an owl, a dinosaur & a fairy to name a few.  

The Crocodile Creek Robot Backpack is made of what feels like a very durable canvas style material. It has a wide zipper and strong zipper pulls perfect for little fingers. The front compartment of the backpack features a small zippered pocket, a key clip and a place to put pens or pencils. The adjustable straps are very well padded. Information on their website indicates that these backpacks are best suited for kids 3yrs-8yrs. For the most part, I agree. I do think though, that it would be best suited for those 3yrs-6yrs. While the backpack is larger than I thought it would be based on the web image, the front compartment is a bit smaller than other kids' backpacks on the market. The care tag does indicate that these are not recommended for machine washing. This is common with these types of products but you can alternatively wipe it down with mild soap. These retail for approximately $31 USD. 

The Crocodile Creek Robot Lunch Box is appropriate for any age. This particular design has a nice sized deep compartment that would easily accommodate more traditional lunch items or a bento box. I find it to have a bit more padding than a typical department store lunch box, which is great for protecting delicate food items. The mesh pocket on the back is handy for napkins and other small items. Like the backpack, this is also constructed of durable materials and has a PVC/BPA/Phthalate/Vinyl free lining. Some of the other designs have a bit of a different form, but also seem to be quite roomy. This care tag also indicates that machine washing is not recommended. I do wish it was fully machine washable given that it is a lunch box. But with that being said, the inside lining is very easy to wipe clean and would be easy to keep hygienic. You could always hand wash it yourself, or if you were feeling rebellious, try machine washing it on the gentle or hand wash cycle if it was badly soiled. But you'd just need to know that you would be doing so at your own risk. This item retails for approximately $21 USD. 

The Crocodile Creek Reusable Ice Packs are a great non-toxic/BPA free way to keep lunches cool, especially during those warmer months. They aren't only functional, but are also adorable, bringing a smile to your little one's face when they open their lunch box at school each day. They are made similar to the ice packs you'd get from baby formula promotional packs and I keep each one in an individual Ziploc bag to keep them fresh and clean year-round. You get 2 to a pack and they retail for approximately $8 USD for the pair. 

All in all, I thought that these were great products. While I do prefer to penny pinch, some items are worth spending the extra money on.  The Crocodile Creek backpack and lunch box both seem like durable and sturdy pieces that would take a well-deserved bite out of your back to school budget.  With their 30 day hassle-free money back guarantee, you can't really go wrong. 

These and other Crocodile Creek products can be purchased directly from Crocodile Creek's website. They are also available at various online/brick & mortar retailers in Canada and the U.S. Some of these more common merchants are Whole Foods, Target, Mastermind, Indigo Books, Barnes & Noble and Well.ca.  

Crocodile Creek is currently offering a 20% discount off your entire purchase until August 31st, 2015 when using promo code Mommy20 at CrocodileCreek.com! 

One other tip? Check their Clearance/Sale section regularly. They have some killer deals on some other fantastically adorable items! 

***** 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.*****

27 Things To Do With Kids In Ontario!

   

Having little ones, we love day trips, especially ones that are off the beaten track. Things that are unique and fun, but are also less busy than a lot of the more publicized venues. Instead of keeping this list of attractions across Ontario to myself, I'm sharing it so you can have a great time, too!

Remember to check online before you go for any promos, coupons or other discounts to maximize your savings. Attractions Ontario is a great site for discounts & coupons on various activities throughout Ontario! Off we go!

SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO

Windsor Wood Carving Museum in Windsor – Check out this museum's Kids' Club for kids 4yrs – 12yrs of age! Kids can do all sorts of wood crafts, soap carving, and learn about working with wood. They also tailor a number of activities to reflect the current season. Visits are organized by appointment and admission is via donation.

Windsor Sculpture Park in Windsor – Touring this year round attraction will leave you in awe as you explore the sculptured animals, dinosaurs and contemporary works of art in this outdoor environment. And the best part? Admission is free to all!

Stones 'N Bones in Sarnia – You and the kids can explore this exhibition of everything from dinosaurs to gemstones to butterflies and mounted wildlife. You will find artifacts, RCMP memorabilia and a host of other things. Enjoy the museum scavenger hunt that can printed off ahead of time from home and then put into action upon arrival! 

SOUTHERN ONTARIO

Bingeman's Funworx Indoor Playground in Kitchener – This indoor playground is huge and has 3 levels! It's awesome not only for toddlers, but for school aged kids up to 12yrs of age.

Snyder's Farm in Kitchener – This family farm is sure to be a hit with anyone of any age! The best time to visit this venue is in the fall. They have a gigantic corn maze, pumpkin picking, a petting zoo, a train ride around the farm, haunted houses, a straw castle, bouncy castles, a barnyard theatre, mini golf and a whole heck of a lot more! 

Storybook Gardens in London – This attraction has been around since 1958 and has something for everyone. Its beautiful gardens are surrounded by a number of activities for kids 2yrs and up. Admission covers all the playground structures, trampoline, the mini village, Old McDonald's Farm, the splash pad and a myriad of other interactive play areas. There are carnival type rides there as well, which are not included in the entrance fee. During winter months, their little creek is used as a skating trail!

WEST GREATER TORONTO AREA

Wildhagen Greenhouses in Milton – This place is great for younger ones! It features a number of life sized mossed animals, a play area that includes a Mr. Potato Head section, a stuff animal dog grooming centre, a grocery store/market play area, a scavenger hunt, a miniature train and a whole lot more! 

Halton County Radial Railway in Milton – Admission to this seasonal historic railway includes unlimited rides on their streetcar trains that chug along 2kms of track. There is a huge trainyard with a variety of old train relics and subway cars. You will find barns which house old fashioned displays like train stations, and an ice cream shop. Kids who adore Thomas the Tank Engine will love this place! If you're lucky, the conductor will even let your child ding the train bell! 

Chinguacousy Park in Brampton – This free park has beautiful grounds, a large petting zoo, a number of picnic areas, playgrounds and a splash pad! You will also find a tropical greenhouse, paddleboat rentals, mini golf and a slew of other things to do. There are winter activities like tubing here too! (Some fees apply for things like tubing, paddleboat rentals, mini golf, etc)

TORONTO AREA

iFly Toronto in Oakville – This experience is not for the faint of heart, or for those who are afraid of heights. But if you want a skydiving experience without having to jump out of a plane, this is the place for you! This is not a cheap place to visit but it's definitely unique! 

Ripley's Aquarium in Toronto – This one is not exactly off the beaten path, but it is a very unique attraction that you won't find anywhere else in Ontario. Amaze yourself and your kids as you check out various aquatic wildlife from Canada and around the world. Large play and exploratory areas abound, along with numerous interactive activities designed to teach and educate everyone on aquatic life! 

Riverdale Farm in Toronto – In the heart of downtown Toronto, you will discover this 7 1/2 acre park. There are farm animals, walking trails, barns, historic buildings and even some ruins! They also have a number of seasonal events. And the best part? Admission is free!

CENTRAL ONTARIO 

Santa's Village in Bracebridge – This 60-acre Santa crazed place is an amazing place to take kids! It's like Christmas all year round! Walking through the forest, you hear Christmas music playing throughout! There are rides galore designed for the younger ones and many interactive areas, such as the train ride around the park, the boat ride on the Muskoka River, and actually meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus! Each child receives their own Santa's Village elf hat directly from Santa, and they can wear it while riding in a swan paddle boat. There is a host of things to do here and you should plan to spend the entire day! 

Elmvale Jungle Zoo in Elmvale (Near Barrie) – This zoo is a great one to take little ones to because it is just the right size to spend a few hours there. There are plenty of animals, reptiles, marsupials and birds to see, along with giraffes and camels. You don't have to deal with hundreds if not thousands of other tourists like you would at a large urban zoo and you don't have to walk what seems like 50kms in one day! Admission to this zoo is also a lot cheaper that big city zoos! 

Santa Train in Orangeville – This heated coach chugs along the rails for approximately 1 hour while serving gingerbread cookies and hot chocolate! It features a visit from the big man himself, and live music for carolling. Santa will also give each kid a little present and take his picture with you. One word of caution – tickets sell quickly, so be sure to book early! 

NORTHERN ONTARIO

Science North in Sudbury – This educational attraction isn't exactly off the beaten path either, but is a great place to visit if you are in the Sudbury area! It's great for both young and old. Here you will find all sorts of science themed activities and you can check out their flying squirrels. You can also let your toddler go wild in their Toddler Treehouse area, catch an IMAX movie, and watch the stars in their planetarium. You can check out the butterflies in their butterfly gallery, try out the flight simulator and observe the screech owls. And about what seems like a million other things! Dynamic earth is all about mining. After all, Sudbury is not called The Big Nickel by chance! You can get "Passports" which allow you combine both experiences for a cheaper rate.

The Heritage Railway and Carousel Company in North Bay - Nothing beats a day at the beach! This carousel and railway are conveniently located right across from North Bay's downtown scenic waterfront pathway, beach and pier. Take a ride on their heritage railway, or let the kids choose to ride the otter, the black bear or other popular Canadiana animals on this restored carousel.

Cedar Meadows Wildlife Tour in Timmins – This guided tour on a tractor driven large open wagon allows people an opportunity to experience and observe the daily feeding of northern Canadiana wildlife such as bison, deer, moose and elk. 

EASTERN GREATER TORONTO AREA

Linton Farm Market in Oshawa – This farm market not only sells home grown produce, but they have a Kid's Play Area featuring a number of activities such as corn bowling, a tunnel swing, rubber ducky races, a tricycle track, a sand pit and more! During the fall season they do a pumpkin cannon and offer wagon rides out to their pumpkin patch! 

Jungle Cat World in Orono (Near Bowmanville) – Jungle Cat World has been around since 1985. They have over 60 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates. Their speciality is large cats and they have a number of them. From tigers to bobcats, lions to leopards and everything in between! They even have a bed and breakfast on site! 

York-Durham Heritage Railway in Uxbridge – Take the kids for a ride on a heritage coach train through the Oak Ridges Moraine. To keep kids entertained on the ride, they have a clown on board, live music and a toy train set to play with. They usually have face painting & they also have a Santa Train! 

EASTERN ONTARIO

Tyendinaga Cavern & Caves in Belleville – Explore these caverns and caves with older kids on a guided tour! Check out fossils and cool cave curtains! 

Canada's Penitentiary Museum in Kingston – Check out this museum based on the history of Canada's federal penitentiaries. Young kids would likely be bored but your older ones would surely find a lot of this stuff interesting. Plus you can threaten them with jail time next time they don't clean their room! (Just kidding! LOL)

Indian River Reptile Zoo in Indian River (Near Peterborough) – Search for dinosaur bones and check out their snakes, turtles, crocodiles and more at this non-profit reptile zoo. With over 200 species, including dinosaurs (Ok, they aren't real!), there is lots of to see and do! 

OTTAWA AREA

Saunders Farm in Munster (Near Ottawa) – Explore this 100-acre family run farm with your little ones! During the summer months, there is a splashpad, and in autumn they have their fall festival. All year round they have mazes, puppet shows, playhouses, hayrides, and a whole lot more!

Canadian Aviation & Space Museum in Ottawa – Take the Kids' Tour and learn about everything aircraft and space geared for them! The Hang Glider Studio is a kids' section that provides various forms of play. Veterans are free! So if you have a family member who is a veteran, bring them with you not only out of general interest, but so that they can take advantage of this interesting freebie. I'm sure they would love you expressing interest in this attraction!

Pirate Adventures in Ottawa – Take a ride on their 50′ pirate ship & help solve pirate mysteries while defending against enemies using water cannons! Kids can make a pirate walk the plank and use a treasure map, in addition to a number of other fun activities.

Happy Trails!

***** 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.*****

   

Why Your Family Should Watch The Amazing Race!‏

   

As some of you know, I've written about The Amazing Race series before. But I feel compelled to blog about it again! 

Now that summer is here and our children are staying up later, it's a bit more challenging to find age appropriate TV shows that we and our 7 year old and our 2 year old can watch together as a family. While I do enjoy a good Disney or Pixar movie, there's only so much animation that I can handle before getting blurry eyed and mumbly. Think Minion - but without the energy level! LOL

The Amazing Race is a show that my older child gets excited about! He loves the challenges, the struggles and the personal achievements. And so do we! But more than that, we love that he recognizes this in the show and hope that the perseverance and tenacity is forever lodged in his cerebral cortex for moments in the future. It also allows us the opportunity to open up dialogue on trying. Even when we don't think we can do it. Not to mention how we can overcome our psychological fear or apprehension about conquering a task. 

We always watch the first episode of the season and choose our top 3 teams immediately after they do their bios. Then, we watch the rest of the season together and cheer on our teams as they compete episode after episode. It's a show that allows us to all watch together, while cheering on our selected teams and giving each other some good-natured ribbing. All the while, our toddler is in on the action too, enjoying every minute of it, even if we aren't sure that he understands why. :)

Here's our top-3 picks for Season 3 of The Amazing Race Canada:

Mine: 

#1 - Neil & Kristen

#2 - Susan & Sharnjit

#3 - Simi & Ope

Hubby

#1 - Gino & Jesse

#2 - Hamilton & Michaelia

#3 - Dujean & Leilani

Our Oldest

#1- Gino & Jesse

#2 - Brent & Sean

#3 - Dana & Amanda

Our Youngest

#1 - He's just happy to be there! 

Whether or not our picks turn out to be the champions this season, we will all be winners regardless. We will have spent quality family time together, creating memories and reinforcing values that we've already attempted to instill in our young ones. What's not to love?!


***** 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.*****