HRM Parent Blog

We're thrilled to be partnering with O'Regan's on Robie to bring you, "Are We There Yet?" - our latest monthly blog that will cover topics like planning your next road trip, getting through your child's first driver's license, roadside safety lessons and more.  We're taking this blog on the road so kick back and enjoy the ride!

With the summer months just ahead many of us are now considering our Great Summer Vacation. Will it be a Griswald classic or a trip that the Beaver will remember for a lifetime?

With all the planning that parents have to do well in advance of the big departure day - motels, camp sites, where to eat, what to do, etc... we often forget to plan one of the most important parts; keeping the kids busy and entertained during those long drives!  Here's our Top 5 suggestions to do just that:

1) Toy Box on Wheels - Let each kid bring their own knapsack to fill with whatever toys they want to bring on the trip. Look for clearance sets of crayons, markers, paper, coloring books, for the younger children and activity books or library books for school age kids, etc. They'll know what else to add, but make sure the knapsack is light enough for them to carry so you're not their "pack horse"; you'll already have enough lugging and loading to do.

2) My child the photojournalist - Consider buying an inexpensive digital camera or 2....you can find some sub-$50 'real' cameras on ebay.ca, overstocks.com or get lucky on kijiji.ca. Or, you could go "oldschool" and pick up a few disposable cameras for the trip. CAUTION: a good photographer takes a lot of shots to get that perfect one and your kids will too so, be sure to select a time and place for them to take their photos. They can take pictures of any landmarks along the way, during any stops or have fun making movies of each other in the car.

3) Make a "vacation" book. Each child starts with their own vacation book including: title page, a map of the trip, their name, a daily itinerary with times blocked off for each activity.  For longer driving stretches, try to highlight the route and add in the distance/time. If visiting an attraction or landmark, include any information to help the kids get interested in the places you will be visiting. You can have a little fun with the interesting facts while on route. Also include your stopping point for the day; Camp Ground or Hotel name and location so they can look it up on their map or even the GPS if your vehicle is so, equipped. Make sure there are lots of blank pages for every day so kids can write or draw about their adventures of the day. The idea behind the "vacation book" is to keep the kids involved in the trip. Instead of asking "are we there, yet?", they can use their maps to figure it out on their own and learn some map-reading and math skills along the way.

4) Treat Time - Well timed snacks and treats will not only keep their blood sugar up between meals on a long drive it's also a great distraction. Be sure to alternate healthy snacks like dried fruit and nuts with some of their favorite treats so they are not jumping in their seats. A good lollipop lasts a while and will also keep them quiet while they are working their way to the stick...and just might be the trick to make it thru that last 100km before the evening stop.

5) Treasure box - Make a box full of small toys, art materials, edible treats, comic books, hair bows, Lego figures, basically whatever strikes a chord with your kids. After each half hour, or whatever time limit works best for your trip, the kids are given a treasure from the treasure box. The contents of the box are kept secret so maintaining the suspense of the next treat also helps to pass the time. Well chosen treasures will help keep the kids busy for the intervening time period and they may even discuss among themselves what the next treasure might be.

I know that we said "Top 5" but, we thought you just might need an Ace up your sleeve for when all else fails... so, be prepared to play some games in the car....printable bingo games, scavenger hunts at road stops, fun with aluminum foil (shape the foil into animals, jewelry, hats and more), license plate game, I spy, rock paper scissors, trivia, songs, etc... whatever takes the "edge" off.

There you go... one more check mark and you are ready to roll down the highway for a fun filled family trip. Enjoy!

P.S. Here's a good site to help with your planning.

 

O’Regan’s on Robie is your Halifax GM headquarters supplying service and support for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac vehicles. Visit us at www.oregansonrobie.com, or drop in to visit the showroom.

 

Running seems to be the topic of conversation in our household these days.  Which is quite hilarious since neither my husband nor I are die-hard runners by any means.  Sure I’ll head out for an evening jog around the neighbourhood once in a while, and have entered a few 5k runs along the way, but nothing that would ever have my kids thinking “mommy is a runner”.  Or so I thought.

We were at our daycare’s summer party a few weeks ago and part of the events included a fun run for the kids. While both my girls (2 and 4) were really excited to be in it, my 4 year old seemed extra focused and determined.  My husband and I didn’t think much of it as we ran along side them, and assumed she was just being a little competitive with her classmates.  

It wasn't until after the race that it hit me. I was admiring her medal and congratulating her on a good run and she proudly took a sip of her water and said “now I’m a runner like you’”.  It was so cute but it also made me realize just how much our kids can absorb, even when we don’t intend for them to.  

Since then, I’ve suggested we find some more fun runs for us to go in, which she’s all for.  That’s when I found this run.  Even though it’s a bit of a drive outside the city, I couldn’t help but share it as it looks too good to be true.  It’s this Sunday, but we’re still hoping to squeeze it into our long weekend plans. 

NOT SINCE MOSES RUN

Once or twice each summer on a weekend, the sea parts in the Minas Basin of Nova Scotia, dropping in six hours from 15 meters to nearly zero.  When that happens, the Not Since Moses Run starts!  How cool would it be to run on the ocean floor?

Older kids and adults can choose from a 5k or 10k route and The Basket Run for kids has courses along the shore that range from 100-500 meters and includes a medal.  Plus food, entertainment and a fair bit of mud!  What’s not to like about this week’s Get Active event? 

 

Ahhhhh Road Trips.  There’s nothing like a good road trip to bring the family together…or not!  Multiple pee breaks, car sickness, back seat fights and more.  No matter how far you’re going or who’s going with you, we hope these ideas will help make sure your next road trip is Time Well Spent for everyone.

Bingo – plan ahead for this one.  Buy or download and print travel bingo cards for everyone then have fun trying to make a line, X or four corners with all the things you see while you’re on the road. 

Guess Who? – Someone thinks of a person, place or thing and everyone takes turns asking questions that can only be answered with yes or no.  20 questions max!

License to Fun - using the letters of another car’s license plate have the gang create phrases to match.  For example, WNU could be “wear new underwear” or “worms never understand”.  Keep going until you run out then move on to the next car’s plate.

I Spy – this classic game is always a hit with the younger ones.  Play it based on things you spy inside or outside the car and be sure to take a few guesses before spotting the real thing to make for more giggles.

Trivia Time – before you leave, grab the quiz cards from your Cranium, Trivial Pursuit or other board games and award a point for each correct answer. 15 points gets you a winner.

 

Tour Guides – once you know the cities and areas you’ll be passing through, assign one to each traveler (who’s old enough) and have them do some prep-work to find out cool facts and history about it.  As you're driving through each city, have the designated tour guides share what they learned.

 

Solo Activities – not every moment of your road trip has to be filled with fun and games so be sure to block off a little “quiet time” to relax and enjoy the view.  Books, iPods, DVD players, magazines, art supplies, comics and puzzles are all perfect ways to keep each child busy without too much noise.   

Pit Stops - do some pre-trip research to find skate parks, playgrounds and walking trails along your route.  Nothing breaks up a long trip more than having time to stretch the legs and grab some fresh air.  If it keeps everyone happy, it’ll be well worth the extra time it might add to your plans.

Snacks and a Cooler Bag – you can never have too many snacks, but be sure to pack lots of healthy ones too.  Sandwiches, apples, oranges, pears, grapes, snow peas, nuts, tiny tomatoes, carrot and celery sticks all travel well in storage containers or bags.  Reusable water bottles for everyone are a must and a few sweet or salty treats are always good for keeping the peace in a pinch.

 

We always love hearing from you so be sure to share your tried and true tactics for getting to your destination in one piece. 

Safe Travels!

We didn’t let the yucky weather stop us today and tucked inside the theatre to see HOP – the newly released family movie about the son of the Easter Bunny.  The girls totally enjoyed it and there were a few good laughs for the adults as well.  If you’re looking for something do this weekend – be sure to check it out.

 

 

For the hobby enthusiasts in your house, hop in the car and head to the Shearwater Aviation Museum for the 13th annual Spring Hobby Show.  With aircraft, armor, ship and railway models, a model contest and Lego display, it’s sure not to disappoint. 

 

As always, check our out ever growing events calendar for other great things to do.

Whatever you and the kids choose to do this weekend - we hope it’s safe and fun!

Ahhh...the sweet smells of Spring!  The crisp clean air creeping in our newly opened windows, the ever so fragrant flowers that burst from the ground, the falling rain….and best of all - the distinct sugary aroma of fresh maple syrup!! 

This weekend take advantage of all the season has to offer and head to one of our great farms for a sugar experience you’ll not soon forget. 

Sugar Moon Farm is one of Nova Scotia’s year round maple destinations.  They are open on weekends for brunch, tours of the sugar camp, tastings and awesome hiking trails.   It’s a busy time of year there so be sure to check out their site for some helpful tips on making your visit a great one. 

At Ross Farm Museum they don't actually tap a lot of trees but their Wonders of Maple Syrup event offers loads of fun with the sweet sticky goodness – including sampling maple candy – yum!

Not up for a Road Trip?  Our events calendar has other great ideas for things to do in HRM this weekend.

Whatever you and the kids choose to do this weekend, we hope it’s safe and fun!