Well guys- it’s time to get serious. January is upon us, and my snowpants have officially come out of hiding. Am I the only one who’s recently started thinking “Would it be so terrible if my dog were trained to go on a mat indoors?” Short answer- Yes; Long answer- I just don’t wanna go outside!!
The kids are in a similar predicament, but staying home wears thin, n’est-ce pas? So we’ve compiled a list of some of our fave winter activities in this great city of ours. As much as we love the sledding, skating, snow-man building – winter is long. It’s time to get creative!
Babe, Pig in the City;
Word around the Cocoa Heater here at Fab is that the place to be this month is the Agricultural Museum where the birth of a brand new set of piglets looms imminent! The Animal Barns are nicely heated as well, providing respite from the brisk wind. They’re open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is by donation only until February 28, 2013.
Passport to Fun;
The Children’s Museum within the Museum of Civilization is a non-stop hive of activity! Worldly crafts and an educational play are just some of the benefits. Letting your little guy run his silly’s out while your fingers remain comfortably attached to your body is another. My favourite thing to do is pick up a Passport at the entry and make sure each page has a stamp. They have Free Admission every Thursday from 4-8pm, but keep in mind that from January 7 to January 11, 2013 they will be closed for the Museum Annual Maintenance.
Alight with laughter;
There are only a few more days to check out Alight at Night at the Upper Canada Village. This activity has become a yearly tradition in my household, and has proven fodder for amazing family photos! Their final night this season is January 5th, 2012 and you can check the exhibition out from 5pm to 9pm. Admission is $13 for adults, $10 for youth and seniors and FREE for any child under the age of 5. Admission also includes both a wagon AND train ride, as well as Mom & Dad’s parking. There’s a canteen on site, but bring yourself a thermos of hot chocolate and avoid the lineups!
Civic Pride;
A big thanks should also go out to the City of Ottawa for their comprehensive list of workshops and activities that parents and children alike will enjoy! Don’t worry about signing up for a full-on series of classes, join in for some fun on special occasions! Coming up at the Nepean Sportsplex on February 10th take your 3-5 year olds to the Sweethearts Workshop from 9:30-10:30am. For $20 your little one can create all sorts of great crafts for the Sweethearts on their list this Valentine’s Day!
Or maybe Dad n’ Me Woodworking is more your speed? Visit the Nepean Sportsplex with your 3-5 year olds on January 26th from 9:30-11am to create a special project that you get to take home! Visit ottawa.ca for more great workshops.
Cool Science – Let’s get Nerdy!;
On February 16th be sure to stop by the Science and Technology Museum for Cool Science Saturday. With experiments happening both inside and out, your family will learn how COOL it is to be COLD! Running from 9am to 5pm admission is very fair, running only $28 for a family pass that allows 2 adults and 3 children. Learn more at; http://www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca
Sticking close to home?;
-Why not turn your backyard into an ever-changing bird sanctuary? Our fave feeders are from Prudent Baby , but a simple search of Pinterest should prove fruitful!
-Create an outdoor obstacle course filled with jumps, tunnels and hills! The shoveling to create it will keep YOU warm, and the hours of running around it will be a treat for the tikes.
-Have you every hosted a shovel race in your driveway? While I know this is, admittedly, a touch selfish, it always goes down a treat! Use food colouring from your kitchen to divide up the lanes and have your little guys go to town! Winner gets first crack at the marshmallows for their hot chocolate!
You can create your own theatre or scope out the best spot behind the couch and create a magnificent puppet show with your children. We have some beautiful puppets from Cate and Levi that are made of cozy reclaimed sweaters and are proudly Canadian. With cute characters to choose from like frogs, moose and even a walrus, your little ones can act out their favourite stories or create their own.
Just like the Brady Bunch, you can start up your very own family band and hold an indoor concert! Whether you have pots and pans or the real deal, music is always a fun way to play. This musical set from Janod has everything you’ll need to go on tour. It includes a trumpet, harmonica, tambourine, a kid-sized guitar and a fun clapper. The five piece set is made of wood and comes in cool confetti colours.
Sometimes it’s okay to let them play with their food, especially when it’s in their very own Youngster Café. Your mini chefs can toss up some gourmet fun with the playfully delicious Garden Salad from Hape or serve you up a fresh croissant with a cup of espresso with the Janod Espresso Machine. Once pretend play is over, you can prepare a fun and healthy snack with your kids from our Kid-Friendly Snacks Pinterest board.
Even though they’re stuck inside all day, you can bring the white fluffy snow inside in the form of cotton balls! The Green Toys dump truck is the perfect vehicle to get the job done. Lay out a bunch of cozy cotton and allow your kids to scoop them up with the truck or even the Green Toys tractor.
Fab Baby Gear 