HRM Parent Blog

Happy Summer!  The signs of summer are finally here and what better way to enjoy it than to take HRM Parent's Summer Challenge?  Learn something new, explore the city or just have fun in your own backyard -  there's something for everyone on this list and we dare your family to try and do as many of them as you can over the summer.  Ready, set GO!

1. Go on the Harbour Hopper

2. Have a picnic

3. Make homemade popsicles

4. Run through the sprinkler with your kids

5. Leave a nice message or drawing in chalk on your neighbour’s driveway

6. Camp at Citadel Hill

7. Go for a family bike ride at your local park

8. Face Paint…at home!

9. Watch at least 3 Buskers 

10. Sleep in a tent in your backyard

11. Have your own outdoor concert

12. Tour a teepee (this weekend)

13. Give blood (for those who are old enough, of course)

14. Fly a kite

15. Make your own family summer video  

16. Go to an Al Fresco movie

17. Wash the car by hand with the family

18. Catch at least 4 different kinds of bugs

19. Lay on a blanket in the yard and watch the fluffy clouds go by

20. Play charades in the backyard

21. Plan some outdoor crafts 

22. Let the kids bury you in the sand

23. Make a summer reading list for each family member – with prizes for those who finish their list

24. Watch the sunset with the whole family

25. Visit Gus at the Museum of Natural History

26. Go to a farmers market

27. Measure the kids now and at the end of summer to see how much they grew

28. Set up a lemonade stand

29. Roast marshmallows

30. Donate toys and clothes you no longer use

31.  Make homemade ice cream 

32. Go to the Multicultural Festival (this weekend)

33. Go paddling

34. Go to the beach and skip stones in the water

35. Visit a Farm and learn about whole foods 

36. Go for a walk on the waterfront

37.  Visit 3 different playgrounds in the same day

38.  Pick blueberries in the Valley

39.  Play hopscotch

40.  Take time to smell the roses – or other flowers in your garden

Here’s a few tips and ideas to help get your party started: 

Mark the Occasion:  Get out the sidewalk chalk and welcome your child home to a “Bring on Summer” message in the driveway or check out this link for a fun banner idea that the kids will love.

 

Fancy Fruit: A pretty easy way to add some flare to a fruit salad.  Use your imagination to carve a basket or bowl shape out of  a large watermelon and the kids won’t be able to refuse having fruit out of such a cool serving dish.

Flip Out: Have a new pair of flip flops ready and waiting for each child when they arrive in the door.   There’s nothing they’ll like more than taking off their socks and letting their feet breath in the summer air.  Except maybe this fun flip flop cake that’s easy to make and will be even more enjoyable to eat!

Water Ways: Blow up the pool, pull out the sprinkler, pump up the squirt guns and fill up some water balloons for some all out water play.  Let loose, cause nothing will kick off summer better than a refreshing splash of water in the backyard.

What are some of the ways you’ll be celebrating the end of the school year?  Feel free to post your ideas below, we would love to hear from you.

Special thanks to the team at Nimbus Publishing for sharing some fun ways to really get into a book with these local literary adventures. 

Sometimes a good read transports you to another place. An entire industry of literary tours has sprung up as a result, from Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code to Peter Mayle’s A Year in Province to Frances Maye’s Under the Tuscan Sun.

These are great for grown-ups with the disposable income to travel abroad. But what about closer to home and for families? If your kids loved the book, why not go there literally?

Anne of Green Gables has been a boon for tourism in PEI , bringing in readers from around the world, including the royal couple whose upcoming visit to the province was inspired by the red-headed Canadian icon.

In Halifax Harbour, we’ve got Theodore Tugboat tours straight out of the TV series and our line of Theodore Too books.

Local writer Jo Ann Yhard loves to immerse the reader in her settings such as those featured in her latest book Lost on Brier Island  or in the Fossil Hunter of Sydney Mines . From now until July 28, you can enter to win  a family pass from Brier Island Whale and Seabird Cruises plus $100 spending money.

For older kids, why not check out a ghost walk? There are plenty of them in Halifax and across the province. You can also use your Maritime Monsters field guide to track down creepy critters.

Or make your own adventure. There are plenty of stories to choose from for all ages and from different parts of the East Coast. If you’re on Twitter, use the #eastcoastreads hashtag to share your fave reads and suggestions including literary locales. You could even win a book from Nimbus Publishing, drawn at random each week. Until then, check out these 7 tips to keep kids reading all summer.

Nimbus Publishing is the largest English-language publisher east of Toronto. They produce some of the best books on Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland with more than thirty new titles a year on a range of subjects.

The Active Dad

Sporty dads will love a day filled with outdoor fun.  Consider entering the whole family in the Father’s Day Walk in the morning followed by a healthy brunch at his favourite restaurant. Get him a gift certificate from one of the local sporting good stores like the Trail Shop and take him there for a mini-shopping spree in the afternoon.  Finish off the day with something he may not have tired before like rock-climbing or a boxing lesson . 

The Grill Guy 

Sounds like just following our Father’s Day Rib post from yesterday’s guest blogger will be the perfect day for any grilling fans.  Be sure to pick up all the required items (including propane) ingredients, and his drink of choice and he'll be kicking back for a party in the back yard.  To top it off, pick up a plain coloured BBQ apron and get the kids to decorate it with fabric paint to make it an extra special grilling experience.

The Movie Lover

You can never go wrong with a movie marathon, and given the weather we’ve been having lately, staying inside is not out of the question. Pick up a box set of his favourite action series or a few of the top sci-fi flicks and let dad enjoy an afternoon on the couch.  Grab some Big Monkey Kettle Corn at the Halifax Farmer’s market to add to the fun.  

The Sports Fan

Kick off the day by having the whole family dress in the colours of dad’s favourite sports team and head to the back yard for a fun game of football, soccer or shooting hoops.  Spend the rest of the morning at the NS Sports Hall of Fame to learn more about some of our outstanding athletes.  Then surprise dad by booking a court, field or gymnasium for he and his buddies to have a scrimmage or two.  Finally, end the day by handing over the remote to let dad kick back and watch the game. 

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!