HRM Parent Blog

You'd think with this incredible heat wave we've been having that anyone in their right mind would be heading to the beach or to the pool. And so perhaps it is an indication of our sanity (or lack of?), but yesterday, instead of the beach, we spent our afternoon at Atlantic Playland. On one hand, it seems a very reasonable place to go in the heat - big water slides and other water-based fun! But I knew that Alex wouldn't want to go on the water slides, so their presence was pretty irrelevant to us. And I was worried about crowds. Would a hot day bring lots of people, or would the hot day mean everyone was at the beach? Oh, the uncertainty, the stress! Nevertheless, we braved it, and went for Alex's first time to Atlantic Playland.

Thankfully, it wasn't busy at all (crowds make me cranky, and I was already cranky enough with the heat). And even though the big water slides were out for us, we still had lots of fun with mini-golf, go-karting and the kiddie pool. There was lots of other things to do that Alex would have liked (such as kiddie rides), but unfortunately we ran out of time.

It was another big weekend of firsts for the little guy: his first time playing mini-golf, on a go-kart, or going down a 'water slide' (there was a little one in the kiddie pool). It's not that we've had the poor child locked in a closet for the first five years of his life; he's just a cautious little dude. But this summer he is really blossoming and trying lots of new things. It's amazing to see. (OK, OK, he wouldn't have been scared of mini-golf before now! We just never got around to playing it until now.)

I definitely recommend Atlantic Playland for kids over 36 inches - yup, that's the magical height when you are allowed to go on a fair number of the rides. Of course, once you hit 48 inches you are laughing. I think the next time we will go for the day, bring a cooler of food and drinks, and buy the bracelets, which give you unlimited use of most attractions. This wouldn't be a cheap day (a family bracelet is over $65), but we were there for just a couple of hours and spent about $30 - much better value to spend the day for twice as much, I think.

Atlantic Playland is located at 1200 Lucasville Road in Hammonds Plains. It is open 10am-6pm daily until Labour Day. More information on their location, rates, attractions, etc is available on their website.

So we never did make it to the Butterfly House on Canada Day like I said I *definitely* would. But finally today we did! And it turned out really well, because yesterday Alex found a caterpiller at the beach, which restarted his interest in the whole caterpiller-chrysalis-butterfly cycle thingamajig, so we even managed to make it into a proper educational experience. (Because god forbid butterflies should just be fun and pretty, you know!)

I should have taken a photo of the beach caterpiller because despite our best efforts (gotta love google!) we have not been able to track down what kind of caterpiller it was. And now after looking at *soooooo* many caterpillers online (I had no idea there were SO MANY different types!), I am so very confused and probably wouldn't recognize it even if I did see it. Whoops.

We really enjoyed the Butterfly House today. There's not a lot of butterflies, but it was fun watching them and identifying them using the chart on the wall. (Though I've already forgotten what kind of butterfly the one in the above photo is!) Alex also really liked the chrysalis chamber, and we watched a butterfly very slowly emerge from his chrysalis. We were also at the museum for Snack Time, always a hit with the kids, watching the naturalist feed the turtles, frogs and snakes.

The boy still has caterpillers and butterflies on the brain, so we will try to make it to the library this week for some books. Any suggestions? Has anyone raised butterflies before? Please leave a comment below!

The Butterfly House is at the Museum of Natural History until September 15. Click here for more details.

This month's guest post from Carolyn Clegg comes at a perfect time - FINALLY the weather looks like it's going to give us some summer after all, so we can all actually get out there and enjoy those bubbles!

Kids love bubbles.  They love blowing bubbles, they love chasing bubbles, they love catching bubbles. Here is a quick and easy activity that will produce wonderful piles of bubbles fun for you and your little one.

Supplies shown here: a bottomless and capless 500ml plastic bottle; an old washcloth; an elastic; dish detergent; water; tray.

The first step to making the Foamerator is to simply cut off the end of an empty plastic bottle using a pair of kitchen scissors or an X-Acto knife. The second step is to find an old washcloth and wrap it around the newly cut end with an elastic. The third step is to pour some bubble juice or dish detergent onto a cookie sheet or tray and dilute with a bit of water. Lastly, dip the washcloth end of the bottle in the mixture and gently blow into the top of the bottle.

And, there you go - you’ve got bubbles to play with. Lots and lots of bubbles!

Bubble blowing soon turned into bubble dancing at my house! Enjoy.

by Corinne McDermott, Have Baby Will Travel

I think everyone has a memory of at least one family road trip... Piled into the family station wagon, safely buckled in and taking turns singing harmonies of Row Row Row Your Boat in-between neatly munching healthy snacks. No? How about pinching, bickering and hogging the one Sony Walkman in a seat that's sticky from spilled juice with the vague scent of vomit wafting by occasionally (this being a time pre-Febreze). More like it? Me too.

But in spite of my less-than-fond memories of the sweaty summer road trip (pre-AC as well!), we're probably hitting the highway soon, and I'll definitely be using the 5 Rs...

Research
Don't just rely on online map generators - find a bit of time to really check out possible routes that may not be the quickest, but could be the most interesting. You'll have to be making more stops now than when you hit the road pre-kids, it would be great if those stops could be fun and even educational, instead of just a truck stop/coffee shop. A few more things to consider - there are some fun and helpful applications for your cell phones and GPS. Familiarize yourself with them in advance and you won't be frustrated trying to figure them out while all the lovely scenery is whizzing by!

Repair
How much would it suck to have a car packed full with belongings and kids stuck on the side of the highway due to car troubles that could have been prevented due to maintenance? In the weeks leading up to your trip, have your car serviced, with fluid levels checked and tires balanced. The day before you leave double-check the tire pressure and make sure your membership with a roadside assistance provider is up to date.

Reach
What good are those handy-dandy snack packs, travel games, or stash of DVDs if you can't safely reach them from your seat? Who wants to be scrambling when a spill inevitably happens? Prepare a bag specifically for addressing these needs while en route and make sure A) you know exactly where it is in the car and B) you can reach it without unbuckling your seat belt. Wherever you go, always make sure you have wipes and hand sanitizer nearby.

Rest
Many opt to drive 'round the clock to maximize your vacation time and minimize time spent in the car. This sounds good on paper, but try to make sure that everyone in your party is rested - not just the driver! Pulling the kids out of their beds and plunking them in their car seats sounds like an ideal way to gain some ground when the tots are asleep, only that trick just might not work for you (it didn't for us). If you'll be driving in shifts, make sure you can actually sleep in the car if you're on shift #2. It would be highly unpleasant (and not to mention dangerous) to be a busy passenger for 10 hours only to have to then take the wheel yourself.

Relax
Road rage and rude gestures 20min into your 20-hour drive is not the way you want to start your vacation. Yes - please don't forget that it's a vacation and getting there may not be half the fun but it need not be a nightmare. Take a deep breath and laugh at the little things. That jerk that just cut you off is likely not going to be spending quality time with their family time anytime soon, and you already are.

With so many families now opting to hit the road instead of the sky these days, make your journey a fun one for your brood. Hopefully their memories of family vacations will be as idyllic as you hope your trip will be! And hopefully your memories will allow you to look back at the bumps on the road and laugh.

Corinne McDermott is the founder of Have Baby Will Travel – your online guide to traveling with babies and toddlers. For more information please visit www.havebabywilltravel.com or send a message to info@havebabywilltravel.com.

On Tuesday Alex and I went to the Dalhousie Women's Centre for their Mom and Me gardening program. It was the first time I'd been there, since I admit I always assumed the centre was for Dal students only. Turns out it's not, and is open to everyone in the community - and yes, that does include the men! Elizabeth, the centre's coordinator, will definitely make you feel at home.

The centre's community garden is a new, small garden essentially in the backyard of a house. It is open for you to use at anytime during the week, but on Tuesdays from 10:30am to noon they host a special Mom and Me time (open to dads, caregivers and grandparents too!). Along with the gardening fun, a volunteer does crafts and activities with the kids, like painting rocks for garden trim and making sprout people. When we were there on Tuesday the kids were having a great time with the sidewalk chalk - simple, but fun! The kids also loved planting marigolds and seeds, and are eager to return to watch their garden grow. Gardening with your kids is a great way to nurture a love of nature and help kids understand where their food comes from.

We try to garden in our own backyard, but I noticed a definite difference in how Alex gardened at the community garden. At home, Alex very much does his own thing and is busy 'planting' dandelions in flower beds and making 'soup' from whatever he finds. At the community garden, he wanted to join in with *real* planting and was eager to learn about the steps involved in planting a flower. Definitely an interesting difference for me to observe! Go figure, eh?

One thing to note about the garden is that unfortunately it is open at the back to the Dalplex parking lot, so if you have a toddler that tends to bolt it might end up being more stressful than relaxing for you! Elizabeth is aware of the issue and is looking at ways to create a barrier. Ideas are appreciated! At the moment they are looking at planting a barrier, but that will take time to grow.

Supplies are provided - just make sure the kids are dressed in clothes they can get dirty! The program is for kids of all ages - everyone is welcome!

Inside the centre, there is a living space, library, kitchen and playroom available for you to use anytime during the week. On the main floor, the living space has a TV/DVD/VCR and a comfy seating area, along with a computer with internet access (thank goodness - don't want to go in withdrawal, lol). The library is small, but well stocked, and there are children's books downstairs. The kitchen has snacks and cooking facilities, which you are welcome to use. The main floor is also wheelchair accessible. Downstairs there is a playroom packed full of toys and a 'green' room with seedlings and gardening supplies. There is also a picnic table and a bbq outside. It's a real 'home away from home' - Elizabeth says they want people to think of it as their rec room, a place to hang out, meet with friends, hold playdates and relax.

The centre's hours are Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, but Elizabeth suggests calling or emailing first because the hours can change, though that doesn't happen often. You can reach the centre by calling 494-2432, emailing dwc@dal.ca, or visit their website here. The centre is located at 6286 South Street, the white house right in front of Dalplex.

Have fun!