Capital Parent March 2014

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Encouraging independent play

A CHEEP activity to do as a family

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IT’S THE MARCH BREAK ISSUE!

HEY, SUGAR

PHOTO BY KATE SETTLE

We’re exploring sugar bushes and discovering fun things to do around Ottawa

From The Editor

ANDREA TOMKINS andrea@capitalparent.ca

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My screensaver features palm trees and a tropical ocean view right now. The photo on the left was taken during one of the rare occasions we traded a week of Ottawa winter for warmer climes. Although a few lucky families are able to get away for March Break, it can be a challenging time of year for those of us who stay in the city. Many working parents have kids in day camps, and for those who are at home with younger school age kids, March Break brings a challenge of a different sort: finding things to do for five whole days.

My March Break survival plan currently includes a mix of day trips and smaller activities to do at home. In order to maintain one’s sanity I’ve always thought it was a good idea to (a) start off the March Break with a giant stack of books from the library (b) keep visits to local museums and galleries to off-peak times and (c) schedule play dates with friends to give other parents a break.

March Break is also a great time to indulge in pajama parties and movie marathons. (For an idea on that front, turn to page 14.) And there’s no shame in ordering take out to give yourself a break!

In this issue we are sharing some great March Breakrelated diversions in case you need some fresh ideas.

Katharine Fletcher explores local sugar bushes, Paula Roy presents some food-related fun, and Anita Grace has some expert tips about promoting independent play.

We’re also introducing a new feature this month as well: board game reviews! It might be a good time to try out a new one. Happy March!

editor ’s

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PUBLISHER Mark Sutcliffe mark@greatriver.ca EDITOR

>FitBit One It’s a pedometer on steroids!

It tracks steps, stairs, distance, and even your sleep. Compete with friends and see who’s going the distance. It’s utterly addictive and available online at FutureShop.ca.

Andrea Tomkins andrea@capitalparent.ca @capitalparent.ca CONTRIBUTORS Christine Cook • Katharine Fletcher Anita Grace • Lynn Jatania • Jason Haug • Paula Roy • Kate Settle COPY EDITOR Judith van Berkom CREATIVE DIRECTOR Tanya Connolly-Holmes

>Bare English This tea infused lip balm is vegan, organic, and lovely on the lips. Trouble is, I can’t decide which flavour is my favourite. Available at Rexall and terra20, and soon to be at Shopper’s Drug Mart.

613-238-1818 ext. 253 creative@greatriver.ca DESIGN & PRODUCTION Sarah Ellis sarah@greatriver.ca ADVERTISING Mike Beard 613-238-1818 ext. 270 mbeard@obj.ca

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>STASH tea DON’T FORGET TO FOLLOW US facebook.com/CapitalParent pinterest.com/capitalparent/ @capitalparent

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! We always love to hear from Capital Parents! Send your comments and feedback to editor@ capitalparent.ca. It may be published in our April issue!

Herbal teas are a wonderful alternative to sugary hot chocolate and caffeinated beverages. Stash peppermint is one of our family favourites, and it’s good for upset tummies too.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Mark Sutcliffe PRESIDENT Michael Curran CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Donna Neil V.P. SALES Terry Tyo

Cover Story We were lucky to catch a break from the frigid temperatures we’ve been having this winter to go and explore the Vanier Museoparc Sugar Bush with the Wellman family. It was a little too early to have sap running, but the three lovely Wellman children were so thrilled just to be able to run outside after such a long, cold spell. The homemade maple syrup pops added an extra sense of fun to the day. (Find out how to make your own at capitalparent.ca!)

Visiting the sugar bush is one of our favourite family activities in early

613-238-1818 ext. 268 terry@greatriver.ca

spring. To be out in the woods seeing the sap dripping is fun enough, but add to that some horse and sled rides and a stack of pancakes drowning in syrup and you’ve got a fantastic day out in the country. Why not hand the camera over to the children today, and let them record the experience from their perspective? Just watch out for sticky fingers on the lens!

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– Kate Settle, photographer (katesettlephotography.com) Meet the Wellmans! Eric and Lara took a stroll around the Vanier Museoparc Sugar Bush with Juliette (4), Quinn (4), and Kiernan (7).

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CARING FOR KIDS

Teaching kids the A-B-C’s of C-O-O-K-I-N-G

BY JASON HAUG, PROGRAM AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICER, OTTAWA PUBLIC HEALTH

I

t’s no secret that things have changed with time.

On average, our phones are a little bit smarter, our coffees are a little bit taller, and we’ve all become quite a bit busier. What hasn’t changed is that meals and snacks made from wholesome ingredients are still the best choice for health.

The tricky part about eating and cooking is making sense of all the information coming from many different sources telling us what is “healthy.” The good news is that the answer is not tricky or complex. It’s actually quite simple, and a great rule of thumb can be summarized in one short sentence: get back to basics. Back to basics means eating foods in their natural state, limiting processed foods as much as possible, and cooking healthy meals from scratch.

For example, eating rolled oats with added fruit for breakfast instead of refined ready-to-eat fruitflavoured cereal that have added sugar. Rediscover cooking and take pleasure in creating healthy meals for you and your family. Your children can learn to help out in the kitchen in age-appropriate ways.

Not only does this help the family to eat better, but it also teaches kids the food skills they will use for the rest of their life.

SO WHAT ARE FOOD SKILLS? “Food skills” are the set of skills a person uses to prepare safe, nutritious and culturally appropriate foods. This includes reading nutrition labels, planning and shopping for a meal, and preparing meals: chopping, dicing, slicing, stirring, mixing, cooking, using recipes, and having a sense of different textures and tastes of food.

As a parent you might not know where to start or when it is appropriate to introduce certain food skills to your child. At Ottawa Public Health we use the NutriStep Screening tool (nutritionscreen. ca), which provides great information about nutrition and physical activity levels.

As children grow and develop there are many

opportunities to build food skills.

AT 30 MONTHS… At 30 months, you can include your child in the grocery shopping experience. Keep in mind their attention span is limited. You can keep children interested by asking them questions or describing the items that you are buying and serving at home. You can make a game of it, or just talk about what’s in your cart. For example, “this is a banana,” “carrots are orange,” or “apples are round.” Your child should be able to join three or more words together at this point, so have them say it back to you. At 30 months, they start to act out daily routines. This can help build food skills concepts. A great thing to do together is to pretend to cook with simple items found in your kitchen or in the toy box.

AGE THREE At the age of three you can encourage your children to take on some simple activities by themselves.

This will help teach them to become independent.

This is the age where motor skills are developing; ask your child to help out with twisting lids off jars or sorting pots and lids. Three year olds also enjoy gluing, painting, and drawing. A fun activity could be identifying healthy foods, drawing them on a sheet of paper, and then cutting and gluing them on a paper plate. Just make sure your child fills half the plate with colourful vegetables and fruits!

AGE FOUR Four is the age parents tend to hear a lot of questions. “Why?” and “what are you doing” are big

Eggs are a healthy choice, and can be eaten any time of the day.

ones, which makes this a great opportunity to introduce kids to Canada’s Food Guide. Review the four food groups, and ask your child to identify a favourite food from each group. You can also relate food lessons back to colour identification. For example, ask your child to point to the crayon he or she would use to draw a carrot.

Take time to let your child observe you making a recipe, and do your best to answer questions about what foods you are using, why you are putting them together, and how you are cooking them.

AGE FIVE You might have a detective on your hands at this age! Five-year-old kids love a good mystery. You can play games like “I Spy” to focus on healthy foods at the grocery store: “I spy with my little

eye, something that is green.” Let them help with activities like scrubbing and washing vegetables and fruit, adding ingredients to a bowl, and tearing lettuce to make a salad. Encourage your child to pitch in and help set the table, as this will make them feel important and included in meal planning. A good book suggestion for this age is “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. This book can help you teach your child about eating when they are hungry and stopping when they are full.

For more information, visit ottawa.ca/health or call 613-580-6744 (TTY: 613-580-9656). You can also connect with OPH on Facebook (facebook.com/ottawahealth), Tumblr (ottawahealth. tumblr.com) , Twitter (@OttawaHealth) and on Pinterest (www.pinterest.com/otthealthsante)

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THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM

Taking a break from packing lunches

BY LYNN JATANIA

A

h, March Break.

For the kids, it’s a dazzling, glowing, shining beacon of hope in the bleak midwinter. A chance to escape the doldrums of routine, and instead spend hours of quality time fighting with their siblings over who has dibs on the iPad. A glorious holiday with no obligation to visit distant relatives or pressure to try loathsome casseroles, but rather to lounge around in unwashed jammies for an entire week while attempting to score a visit to the toy store using the time-honoured technique of resolve-crushing repetitive whining.

For me, the bickering, the fragrant eau du child in the air, the constant stepping on freshly-wheedled Legos is all worth it for one glorious, smashbabulous, supercalifragilistic source of awesomesauce, and that’s this: I do not have to make any lunches.

It’s the one chore that I just slog through, the one that hangs like a dead albatross around my neck. Here’s a typical morning for me. I get up, after having hit the snooze button two, or three times (or four, or you know what, SHUT UP alarm clock).

Then I open the kids’ doors in the futile hope that a little hallway light will lead them forward into gentle wakefulness. I stumble downstairs, take out

three lunch bags, three water bottles, and approximately 1000 snap-lidded plastic containers. Then I open the fridge and await inspiration.

When my husband comes down a half hour later, chances are good he’s going to find me in the same position, still waiting.

Here’s my little chant, sung over and over in the dim refrigerator light – one veg, one fruit, two grain, one protein. Just fill the little boxes with these basic puzzle pieces, and surely the whole will add up to more than the sum of the parts.

Start basic. Fruit – what’s still good? What’s fuzzy or mushy? It’s a complex sudoku of selection: A won’t eat X, B won’t eat Y, if I cut up an apple I could split it between A and C, but then who will eat the pineapple, which is on its last legs and is only tolerated by C, and don’t even think of giving a banana to B or you WILL HEAR ABOUT IT. Then it’s the vegetable’s turn: lather, rinse, repeat.

Matching produce to child before your first coffee of the day is practically an extreme sport.

Grains are complicated numbers game, like being back in grade 12 algebra. Given: a young boy has a 30 per cent chance of eating a muffin, bumped up to 40 per cent if it has chocolate chips in it; plus a 25 per cent chance of eating a dinner roll, a 45 per cent chance of eating a granola bar, and a 38 per cent

chance of eating rice crackers. How many of these thing s do you need to put in his lunch to ensure a 90 per cent chance that he will actually eat anything at all over the course of the day? Show your work.

And they said my engineering degree was being wasted as a stay-at-home mom.

It really cheers me on to pretend I have a celeb-

“Here’s my little chant, sung over and over in the dim refrigerator light – one veg, one fruit, two grain, one protein.

Just fill the little boxes with these basic puzzle pieces, and surely the whole will add up to more than the sum of the parts.” rity chef at my shoulder, complimenting me on my hard work. On my right, Jamie Oliver leans in: “Is that carrots you’re adding? Chock full of vitamin A, and on the fourth day in a row, too – that’s real dedication to your children’s eyesight. Even if they only have a lick of one baby carrot, that’s

enough vitamins for a week. Good job!” On my left, Gordon Ramsay praises: “Excellent, fabulous sear on that fried ham sandwich. Really spectacular. ‘None’ is the exactly right amount of seasoning and sauce. Amazing – they’re fools not to eat it.” At my back, Rachel Ray: “Nothing at all wrong with a container of cold leftover pasta, honey. Add a little EVOO and you’re golden – I’ll even help you eat it when it comes back home.”

No one should have to be so creative at 7:00 a.m.

I admire greatly those moms who somehow have the energy to include a note in their kids’ lunch, too. I must restrain myself, for surely my little love notes would read, “Sorry the cucumbers are a little sketchy, I forgot to buy a new one this week” or “If these pear slices come back home, they are only going back into tomorrow’s lunch, so think about that” or maybe “FYI: Santa can TOTALLY TELL if you ate the cookies before the celery sticks.” On second thought, maybe I should add in those notes after all.

By March Break, I’m just about out of ideas for the year. It’s been a steady diet of Same Old, Same Old for months, and we’re all ready for a week’s worth of If You’re Hungry, There’s Microwave Popcorn In The Pantry. Jamie, Rachel, Gordon and I are on holiday – for one magnificent week, at least.

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ACTIVE FAMILIES

March Break success comes when you match your kid with the right activity

BY ANDREA TOMKINS

T

here are a lot of great things to do with kids in Ottawa over March Break. We have more than our fair share of fabulous museums, galleries, libraries and ski hill, but this month we’re offering you a few different ideas that may not be on your radar.

ACTIVE KID Get the wiggles out at SkyZone (www.skyzone. com). It’s an indoor trampoline park that will have your kid jumping, leaping, and bouncing off the walls. What’s more: jumping into a pit of foam blocks may be a kid’s dream come true. Other great ways spend some extra energy: a round or two of laser tag at Funhaven (funhaven.com) and an hour at Clip n’ Climb in Gatineau (altitudegym. ca). Any of these options will definitely leave your kids breathless.

SPY KID If you haven’t been to the Diefenbunker, March Break is a good time to check it out. The Diefenbunker located just outside of Ottawa near Carp, was one of seven nuclear fallout shelters built across Canada at the height of the cold war. Paying a visit is part history lesson, part adventure. You can drop by or sign up for a daylong camp. (diefenbunker.ca) NATURE KID Make some of the bird-friendly tree decorations on page 10 and bring them to your local park or

walking trail. The trails at Stony Swamp near Bell’s Corners are particularly nice, especially Lime Kiln Trail. It’s short and sweet, and features some interesting ruins to explore too. (ncc-ccn.gc.ca) FOODIE KID Have you enjoyed afternoon tea at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier? Dainty finger sandwiches and fresh scones may sound fancy but this activity is fairly kid friendly. (There’s a children’s menu too!) Reservations are a must. Call 613-241-1414 to reserve.

There are a whole bunch of other things going on over March Break for food loving kids. Flip to page 9 for a few more delicious ideas.

THOUGHTFUL KID You can learn to play a variety of strategy board games at the Canadian War Museum. Luck and skill play a role as you try to defeat your opponent and claim victory. There promises to be something for everyone here, from beginners to seasoned players. Games include chess, checkers, Battleship, Othello, Stratego and Go, as well as giant versions of Tic Tac Toe and Connect 4. It’s free with museum admission. (warmuseum.ca)

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANNING FOR YOUR KIDS OVER MARCH BREAK? WE ASKED, AND YOU ANSWERED!

11%

8% Some low-key activities around town Nothing at all, it’s business as usual around here A family getaway March Break day camp

16%

23%

41%

Other: spring cleaning, homeschooling, visitors coming to stay MARCH 2014 5

ACTIVE FAMILIES

Sweet surrender at the sugar bush

BY KATHARINE FLETCHER

E

mbracing the tradition of visiting sugar shacks is de rigueur in our region in March. Happily for us, here in the Ottawa region and west Quebec there are many sucreries from which to choose.

Hélène Alary helps operate her family’s Sucrerie Alary in Luskville, Quebec. She’s a maple syrup expert who is more than happy to talk about sap production to visitors.

“The maple tree must have an 8-10 inch diameter before being tapped,” she explains. “If they’re not this size, it stresses the tree. We can collect three times more sap with plastic piping than with buckets.”

Laughing, she adds: “With 2,000 buckets we had a hard time getting 100 gallons of maple syrup. With 2,000 taps and the piping, we make three times as much – 300 gallons!”

Did you know white birch trees also produce sap and syrup? Indeed, all trees produce sap because, like our blood, this nourishing fluid courses through the tree.

It’s pretty interesting stuff eh? And so Canadian. The question remains, where’s the best place to go?

QUEBEC

Sucrerie Alary, Luskville sucreriealary.ca

Kate Aley, her husband Simon Alary, children Thomas and Claudine, and grandparents Yvon and Hélène Alary, all work at their family sugar bush.

Since 1976, all the kids have grown up visiting “maple” friends who they only see during the sweet season. So you’ll find a special holiday vibe here.

Like most local maple-syrup producers, the Alarys are forever enhancing their visitor experience. While families explore the network of wellmarked trails, they can learn about some of the 200-year-old trees and woodland ecology.

“Last year we set up a question-and-answer game about the native species in the forest for a youth group visit that proved very popular with all our visitors,” says Kate. “This year, we have installed permanent bilingual labels on some of the finest examples of our best-known tree species so people can learn more about this kind of forest.

Even those who know their trees can be ‘stumped’ in winter without foliage to guide them. There are facts about some trees that surprised even us while we were researching the varieties.”

Another of Kate’s tasks is to pack fresh snow into the “taffy baskets” for each serving of tire-

sur-neige, to ensure freshness. Meanwhile, everyone’s welcome to ask questions about the sugaring-off process.

On a sunny day when blue skies beckon, this Luskville-based sugar bush represents a beautiful destination that’s only forty minutes from Parliament Hill.

OTTAWA VALLEY

Muséoparc Vanier Museopark, Vanier museoparc.ca

You will find North America’s only operating urban sugarbush in Vanier. The 14-acre woodland with its Muséopark presents outdoor walks along easy trails; hearty breakfasts, lunches and dinners; plus maple products at the on-site boutique.

Sugar Fest takes place March 31-April 6.

There’ll be a lumberjack contest, horse-drawn sleigh rides; children’s programming, music, and multicultural storytelling in the sugar shack.

ByWard Market, Ottawa byward-market.com

Are you car-free and yearning for maple produce? You won’t be walking amid the trees, but you’ll find all sorts of maple treats at Lowertown’s colourful ByWard Market.

Claudine Aley enjoys reduit, sap that is halfway to becoming maple syrup. It’s on the menu at her family’s sugar bush but you may have to ask for it.

PHOTO BY KATE ALEY

Pro tip: Look for Savour Ottawa Savourez signs while you’re there. This organization’s members are local producers, so any kiosk identified by the sign marks authentic, regional products where you’ll probably meet the ownerproducers. Watch for Robert Hupé, a second-

Y L U J & K A E R B H C R A M

Space is limit ed, book now!

Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Lyrical & Contempora-Hop, Musical Theatre, ry dance styles.

Crafts, games & movie times.

Westgate Mall, 1309 Carling Avenue, Lower Level

www.capitalcitydance.ca • info@capitalcitydance.ca

All day camp 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

613-761-1515 Call to register & for more information.

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A cool recipe for kids VANILLA ICE CREAM... MADE OUT OF SNOW! When you’re back from a visit to the sugar bush, make up a batch of this “ice cream” as a special dessert. It’s not as creamy as the kind you’d find at the grocery store, but it’s a neat treat and only takes a few minutes to make.

Did you know it takes approximately 40 litres of sap to make one litre of maple syrup? PHOTO BY KATE SETTLE.

generation maple-syrup producer who features his syrups, candies and more. You can visit his 590-acre Maple Country Sugarbush near Perth, which he operates with his son Ross through April 15. (http://bit.ly/1nTY7AM)

Fulton’s Pancake House and Sugar Bush, Pakenham fultons.ca

This family has been producing maple products for more than 160 years. Ever-inventive Shirley Fulton Duego is continually thinking up something new. This year, Chad Clifford of Wilderness

Rhythms will be doing demonstrations on bushcrafting, primitive fire starting, and making wooden flutes on March 2, 9, 16, 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the campfire.

Proulx Farm, Cumberland proulxberryfarm.com

Proulx is an Ottawa Valley tradition, and not just on the berry picking side of things. The season begins first week of March and ends mid-April.

Come for the scenery and stay for the traditional sugar bush meal! Reservations are required for larger groups.

You will need: 4 cups clean snow 1/2 cup milk 1/4 cup sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract (you can also use some maple syrup instead!)

This recipe makes four servings. Put the snow in a large mixing bowl.

Combine the milk, sugar, and vanilla extract in a measuring cup or separate bowl. Pour the mixture over the snow and stir well to combine.

You can serve it right away, but it’s best to wait a few minutes before digging in. The ice cream will have a nicer texture if you wait.

Another fun thing you can do with maple syrup and snow is make maple taffy. Look for the recipe online at capitalparent.ca!

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Brunch 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

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ONTARIO MARCH BREAK WEEK 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. NO RESERVATION REQUIRED

OPEN EASTER LONG WEEKEND 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. with special activities RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED

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MARCH 2014 7

FAMILY MATTERS

Easy ways to encourage independent play

BY ANITA GRACE

F

rom the time I walk in the door, I have exactly 30 minutes to put together a delicious, nutritious dinner before the wailing claims of starvation set in. And I have to respond to their need for my attention and engagement.”

Claire Mullen, Westboro mother of two girls, ages 2 and 4, describes what for many families is a common scenario at the end of busy day.

“It’s an age-old problem,” acknowledges Beth Cluff, Program Facilitator at Parent and Family Literacy Centre in Hilson Public School. How to encourage children to play independently so parents can focus on the things they need to do?

It can be fun to join your four-year-old in creating an elaborate train track that snakes around the house, or to rediscover the pleasure of paints, stickers, and glue in an hour spent crafting.

“But they need to understand that everyone in the family has roles and responsibilities,” says Mullen.

“That means there are times we can’t all play together.”

For parents trying to encourage reluctant children to play by themselves, Cluff warns that making an issue of it can backfire. If you tell your children they must play by themselves, the activity becomes “

something they don’t want to do. Additionally, their focus shifts their play to wanting you.

Cluff ’s advice? Figure out what you want the children to focus on and guide them in that direction. She also emphasizes the importance of allowing kids to discover and explore at their own pace, without a prescribed outcome. “What really makes a child dependent is when there’s a specific product that is expected. But process, they’re pretty good at,” she says. “If you let your child lead the play, you’re really teaching them to play independently. You’re empowering them by saying, ‘Yeah, what you’re doing is great.’ Then they don’t need you there.”

Misty Pratt, Community Manager for Kids in the Capital (kidsinthecapital.ca), and mother of two, has found that creating a tidy and inviting play space has helped to facilitate independent play for her fouryear-old daughter Aylen. “We’ve reorganized things, shoved the messy stuff down to the basement,” Pratt says. This re-arrangement has helped her daughter focus on one activity and stay engaged with it.

Pratt says she also encourages imaginative play, such as suggesting that Aylen put her stuffed animals and dolls to bed. “That can get her going,” the Orleans mom says, but acknowledges that half an hour is about the longest she expects her

daughter to happily play alone.

“The other critical thing is you need to keep in mind your child’s interests, their level of ability,” Cluff says. If you give them an activity that is too complicated, you are setting them up for frustration and they will constantly want your help.

For older children, Julie Findlay (who blogs as Mom in the Know at mitk.ca) recommends building on the skills and interests kids are developing at school. When her daughter Meghan, 8, was learning how to write, Findlay bought her a journal.

Findlay also recommends the outdoors as a great place to foster active, independent play.

“Give them a shovel or a toboggan,” she says.

“They’ll make use of it.”

Pratt agrees. “Kids need to run around to burn off steam,” she says. “Then they tend to be able to focus.”

As for that troublesome 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. period, Cluff ’s advice is to plan ahead. She also suggests taking a few minutes to sit down with your children, read a story or lead them into an activity. “Once the child feels they are a little ‘filled up’, they are much more likely to go off and play,” she says. “You get them started, then they can take off.”

Fiona Mullen, 2, helps make muffins, an activity that engages her attention and allows her mom the time to get dinner on the table.

PHOTO BY ANITA GRACE.

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KITCHEN INSPIRATION

A foodie-friendly March Break STORY & PHOTO BY PAULA ROY

A

sure way to get kids of all ages excited about an activity or event is to include food. Whether it’s sampling something exotic or familiar or working together to prepare a tasty treat, creative culinary activities are a great way to spend time together as a family.

One of the best places to start a food-themed adventure is at Ottawa’s own Canada Agriculture and Food Museum. The Central Experimental Farm is a jewel of a green space in the centre of the city whose mandate has long extended beyond agricultural research. To expand its offerings, in conjunction with the opening of its new Learning Centre, the museum was rebranded last spring to include a greater food component. The goal is simple: to teach us all in greater depth about the vital connection between farmers and the food we eat. Kids may learn a little bit about some of these concepts in school, but there’s no better way to reinforce the message of the essential roles that farmers play every day to feed us all than by visiting a working farm.

This month, the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum (cafmuseum.techno-science.ca) is celebrating the imminent arrival of spring with

its annual flurry of special events – called the Foodology Barnyard Break. In addition to a number of fun animal-themed activities in the Central Experimental Farm’s numerous barns, visitors can also take in a wide variety of food-related demonstrations including Taffy-ology: The Science of Maple Taffy Making, Eggsperiments, All About Milk and more. Many are hands-on, and there are maple-themed crafts as well!

While there will be extra activities thanks to this March Break programming, there are also a couple of great interactive exhibits running for a longer duration at the Agriculture and Food Museum that help to illustrate the journey from field to fork.

Happily, they are as engaging for adults as they are for kids. One of the newest is called A Piece of Cake and it looks at all the behind-thescenes effort that goes into baking an apple cake, illustrating that producing flour, eggs, maple syrup, apples, milk, and butter takes a lot of hard

work – far more than just a trip to the grocery store!

Another fun activity is a nostalgic look at cooking appliances, called Memories are Made in the Kitchen. This display features the top-rated kitchen items past and present and just might provoke interesting conversations with your kids as you look at the generational changes in favourite kitchen appliances since the 1970s.

A favourite exhibit that has been at the Farm for many years is called The Fascinating World of Bread Making, showing how wheat is grown and harvested, and the stepby-step process of bread making, complete with samples for tasting.

Kids are fascinated by the transformation that takes place when yeast and flour collide; there’s a good reason this exhibit has been running for so many years as it is both fascinating and instructive.

After visiting the museum, why not head home for some kitchen

Looking for a knotty March Break activity? Go to capitalparent.ca for a fantastic ballpark-style pretzel recipe.

They’re fun to make and delicious to eat!

experiments of your own? A quick stop first at the grocery store offers a chance to talk about some of the food messages learned at the farm.

Take your time to look around at the store’s well-stocked shelves and coolers, and talk about where the food has come from, what farm products are among the ingredients and perhaps what items are locally

sourced. At the same time, you can pick up some supplies for your own yummy experiments. There are almost two dozen tasty recipes to try on the Museum’s own website, or you can check Capital Parent’s site for a fantastic ballpark-style pretzel recipe which is as fun to make as it is delicious to taste! Find it online at capitalparent.ca.

Ottawa SchOOl Of art March Break and SuMMer caMpS

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artottawa.ca | facebook.com & twitter@artottawa MARCH 2014 9

FAMILY MATTERS

A seedy DIY for avian friends

DIY

BY ANDREA TOMKINS

M

arch can be a tough month for Ottawa birds.

There’s often still snow on the ground and food is in short supply.

As for the fruit, slice each one and tie to the tree with twine. The orange slices are particularly pretty when the sun shines through them.

Bob Volks from Gilligallou Bird (gilligalloubird.com) in Almonte says this is a “transitional time” for birds because they’re starting to prepare for nesting.

“The quality of seed is important,” he adds. “They need to eat to produce heat.”

Making bird-friendly tree decorations is a great activity to do as a family and it doesn’t take much in terms of supplies. If you don’t have a good tree in your yard, it might be fun to decorate a neighbour’s tree. Or how about inviting some friends over for a play date to make a big batch, and then heading out together and stringing them up at the park?

FOR THE GARLAND, YOU WILL NEED:

FOR THE BIRDSEED DECORATIONS YOU WILL NEED: • stale bagels

(just make sure they’re not moldy) • peanut or soy butter • a good bird seed mix or unsalted peanut/raisin mix • apples & oranges (this is a great way to clean out the fridge and get rid of the bruisers at the back of the crisper.)

• scissors & twine

• toasted O cereal • a large dull needle & thread

Cut the stale bagels in half and loop the string through each half and tie in a knot. (Doing this now prevents everything getting covered in peanut butter later.) Spread the cut sides with the peanut or soy butter and press each one into the nut or seed mixture. (This part is best done on a big tray or pie plate.) Hang each decoration on a tree branch. If you have extra seed mix left over, sprinkle it around the base of the tree to attract visitors.

This activity is surprisingly satisfying because the cereal is easy to string and it doesn’t take very many to make a good long garland (although it depends entirely upon how much cereal is eaten during the process). Be aware that the garland will get heavier as more cereal is added, increasing the risk of accidental spillage and surprise cereal loss. We recommend tying the first cereal piece to the end of your thread and working on the floor.

After you’re done making all of your decorations, hang them carefully on your favourite tree.

Outdoor birdseed decorations are a fun family activity, and they’re quick and easy to make.

PHOTO BY ANDREA TOMKINS.

GOT EXTRA TIME AND ENERGY? TAKE THIS ACTIVITY TO THE NEXT LEVEL BY: • Hunkering down with binoculars to catch a glimpse of your first arrivals.

• Keeping a notebook or checklist of bird sightings and any other surprise visitors.

• Looking up the birds you

spotted in a bird book and identifying who’s who.

• Placing bets: who’ll visit first? Who’s braver, birds or squirrels?

• Checking the decorations the next day for missing nibbles and prints in the snow.

BCS Summer Language Camp A residential summer camp for boys and girls ages 11–16

Foster Parent Month The Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa is dedicating the month of February to Foster Parents.

This year’s theme, “Faces of Fostering”, brings attention to our diverse team of foster parents and provides the community with answers to frequently asked questions.

Hear more about our foster parents by following us on twitter @OttawaCas.

June 29 – July 26, 2014 Classroom instruction in English or French Bilingual sports and recreational programmes Small classes with students from around the world

53 years r of summe fun!

You too can be the Face of Fostering!

For more information on becoming a foster parent, visit www.casott.on.ca or call 613-742-1620 ext 1.

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FAMILY MATTERS

Let’s bring back family game night!

BY ANDREA TOMKINS

W

e’re big fans of family game night here at Capital Parent. Board games are a wonderful way of building connections with our kids. It’s time well spent, and in many cases, board games can teach some pretty good life lessons too, whether it’s counting, strategy, or good sportsmanship.

That’s why we’re so pleased to introduce a new family board game column.

We have a small team of board game lovers on tions, pick up cards, wild cards – this is what makes hand (and we’re looking for more!) who will be game play rather unpredictable, and sometimes a taking a closer look at classic board games as well bit punishing (but it’s all in good fun). as new ones, and sharing their best tips and recomRules dictate that players have to say “UNO” if mendations with fellow parents. But there’s a catch. they have one card left in their hand. This may be All of the reviews (except the one below) will be one of the most fun things about UNO (aside from exclusive to our website at capitalparent.ca. If you winning of course). When our kids were younger don’t want to miss any we recommend bookmark- they took particular glee bellowing UNO as loud ing the site or subscribing to our e-newsletter. as they could the moment they had one lonely card UNO has been part of our family’s game col- in their hands. (It’s worth noting there’s a penalty if lection for years. I can’t even remember how it you are left with one card and forget to say UNO, came into our lives, but I’m very glad it did. UNO and the kids will love pointing this out.) is our go-to choice if we’re undecided about what One of the board game skills that took our kids game we want to play, or when we’re travelling. It’s a long time to learn (and they’re actually still worksmall – the size of two packs of cards side by side – ing on it) is how to sort and hold cards in their which makes it perfectly portable and easy to slip hands and keep them close so they can’t be seen by into a suitcase or backpack. We’ve played UNO in the other players. UNO provided some pretty good airports, in a yurt, in a tent, and of course, at the training on this front. dining room table.

UNO is slightly more about luck than it is This game is ideal for families with kids who about strategy, which means everyone has a good are over the age of six or seven but it’s just as fun for shot at winning and players who are losing by a older kids and grown-ups. 2-10 people can play, mile have a shot at catching up. which makes it a good game to enjoy with friends You can play a couple of rounds and call it a and extended family too. day, which is perfect if you’re playing close to bedGames with long and complicated rules can time. You can also play to a certain point amount be a turnoff if you’re itching to play quickly. (say 500), which is great for rainy days when you’re Thankfully, UNO is easy to learn and the rules stuck in a tent. are simple. UNO is essentially about getting rid of the cards in your hand by the end of the game (which is signaled by someone slapping their last card on the table and yelling UNO, but more about that in a moment). Each player is dealt seven cards, and the remaining ones are placed face down in a pile.

The top card of the pile is turned over to form the beginning of a discard pile.

Taking turns, players have to match the card on the top of the discard pile with one they have in their hand, either by If UNO isn’t part of your collection, it should be! colour or by number. There are special PHOTO BY ANDREA TOMKINS. cards too – miss a turn, switch direc-

We’d like to stay in touch with you Sign up for Capital Parent’s email newsletter to get the latest news, events, profiles & tips for Ottawa’s on-the-go need-to-know families.

It’s free!

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WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE PART OF OUR ROSTER OF BOARD GAME REVIEWERS? Send an email to andrea@capitalparent.ca and let us know!

MARCH 2014 11

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BY LYNN JATANIA

K

amerine Gardam of Life of K (followk. blogspot.ca) is one busy lady. Being a mom to two young kids would be more than enough to fill up her time, but her love of family overflows into many different interests.

The unplanned (and rather exciting!) home birth of her second child led to her passion for natural childbirth, and now she works as a doula, quietly and gently helping women tap into their inner strength. On her blog, that’s led to lots of great childbirth, baby, and parenting advice posts that reassure new parents that everything is going to be just fine. Add in utterly charming shots of her two preschoolers and cute anecdotes of their family life, and the result is a beautifully positive and empowering look at what it means to become a parent.

Meanwhile, in her free time (ha!), she’s an avid reader, and her mini book reviews are a great resource for parents who don’t have time to browse the shelves at the library. She’s always on the lookout for great family activities in

Ottawa, and finds time to review many of them for her blog, including keeping an ongoing checklist of must-see locales. She also manages to putter around on Pinterest and Twitter, passing around tons of great ideas for crafts, birthday parties, and essential baby items.

Above all, Kamerine is all about community. Every blog post she makes is about sharing – sharing her thoughts, but also welcoming discussion and new ideas. She’s a friend to all and her natural interest in people comes out in every blog post she writes. And to top it all off, she’s got a lovely series of posts where she profiles other Ottawa and Canadian blogs worth reading – genuine and heartfelt endorsements that help share the bloggy love far and wide.

And today we’re echoing it right back at her.

Noteable Quote When you have a new baby or a toddler who doesn’t sleep well, you’re up multiple times a night and likely functioning on fumes and caffeine during the day.

I’ve been there and made it through the

other side: my kids both, for the most part, sleep through the night, and I have re-entered the world of the living. I’m happier and my memory is so much better. I put together these tips to help you if you’re still a zombie mom.

1. Nightlights to light the way.

Have a nightlight in your room, your kid’s room, and the hallway in between. And the bathroom if you’re a frequent night pee-er.

The last thing you want to do is turn on the lights all bright when you’re hoping to get back to sleep as soon as possible.

2. Clear the way.

Before you go to bed at night, make sure the floors are clean. Even if you just push the toys, books, random crap to the sides, do it. You don’t want to be stumbling down the hallway and come down on a board book, a dinky car, or some other small, impossibly sharp object, at 2 in the morning. Your feet will thank you.

Read the rest of this post and more at Life of K (lifeofk.blogspot.ca).

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Second location in NOW KANATA NORTH OPEN MARCH 2014 13

Top toy picks

BY ANITA GRACE

The Plus Plus Mini from Fat Brain Toys is an innovative and imaginative building toy that has the potential to engage kids for hours. More than 600 little plastic pieces fit together in endless combinations, vertically and horizontally. Children as young as three enjoy playing with the colourful pieces and assembling patterns and pictures, while older kids like the challenge of building complex 3D creations.

Toy testers with the Canadian Toy Testing Council (CTTC) liked this toy so much that they gave it

top 5 books

best

W

e’re doing something a little different with our book list this month. We’re sharing five books that also happen to be great films. We love the idea of using the extra time over March Break to read a book and then watch the movie.

This activity inevitably results in a great family discussion too. You can talk about which you liked better – the movie or the book – and whether the actors were how you imagined them to be.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling

1

If your kids are a certain age you’ve probably read it already, but it’s just as fun reading it a second time. You can dial up that fun factor by watching the movie with a mug of homemade butter beer (a.k.a. butterscotch ice cream in root beer). Accio POPCORN!

Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss

one of the top Children’s Choice Awards.

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,

by Roald Dahl Who can forget Charlie Bucket’s adventures at Willy Wonka’s famous chocolate factory?

Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, and Mike Teavee, are also among the most memorable characters in the history of children’s lit. The question is, should you choose to watch the 2005 version of the film with Johnny Depp, or the 1971 version with Gene Wilder?

James and the Giant Peach,

by Roald Dahl It seems wrong to include two books by the same author in this space, but it can’t be helped.

This book is lovely, and the animated film is beautiful and imaginative.

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This is probably one of the doctor’s finest books. It has a great message and the film is heartwarming. You can’t help but walk away with some good life lessons too: “A person’s a person, no matter how small.”

5

The Invention of Hugo Cabret,

by Brian Selznick It’s a weighty book, made less overwhelming by the fact that it’s comprised of 284 pictures spread out over 533 pages. The author has described it as “not exactly a novel, not quite a picture book, not really a graphic novel, or a flip book or a movie, but a combination of all these things.”

We’d say that’s pretty accurate. The movie adaptation is called Hugo. It’s an enchanting story woven between some really great special effects.

Don’t forget that the library is offering some fabulous (not to mention free) programming for kids this month. Go to biblioottawalibrary.ca for more information.

MP1766 (10/2011)

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R T MG T A S T S T S L S P A K

L S T E P L UD I A R I EWC R UDG E P C P G P OGH I K T MW A L L D P E U

MARCH STRIDE STRUT STEP PACE

T R S S A E K K

NELL.CA PHOTOGRAPHY / SARAMCCON PHOTO BY SARA MCCONNELL

FAMILY FUN

march stride strut step pace hike trudge slog walk stomp

Meet Rae and her children Lily (11), Amy (9), Gryphon (5), and Loretta (3 weeks). Their favourite things to do in Ottawa include exploring the city and riding their bikes to Hog’s Back Park to watch the waterfalls and the ducks.

SEND US YOUR PICS

family snaps

failures are people who did not realize how “Manycloseof life’s they were to success when they gave up. ”

HIKE TRUDGE SLOG WALK STOMP

- Thomas A. Edison

Family Dance

OUR family

CaleNdaR The magic of science MARCH 1

Science is cool. Need convincing? The 7th annual Carleton University Chemistry Magic Show and Festival is made up of two parts: a magic show and a Hands-On Activity Room.

(Note: there will be slimemaking and other neat things to see and do.) The show and activities are fun for everyone age 4 and up – and it’s free (although donations for the food bank are welcome). Seating is limited so parents are encouraged to arrive early. Check the website for photos, location, and other details: carleton. ca/~jmanthor/Chemistry_ Magic_Show.html

The Last Drop MARCH 2

A talking fish and a young scientist must share a single glass of water; but will it be enough to survive? This show is for children age five and up and is part of the Great Canadian Theatre Company’s Children’s Sunday Series.

Tickets are $10/person, or $32 for a family of four, and can be purchased online at www.ragandbone.ca or at the door (cash only).

See the sun!

MARCH 8

Safely observe the Sun using the Museum’s solar telescopes at the Helen Sawyer Hogg Observatory. Discover bright solar prominences and dark sunspots on the Sun’s surface from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00

We’d like to see your BEST family photos! Submit your favourites and you might see one or two in a future issue. For more details go to capitalparent.ca

p.m. at the Canada Science and Technology Museum. (sciencetech.technomuses.ca)

The Magician’s Nephew MARCH 12 - 16

Presented by the 9th Hour Theatre Company, this dramatization is adapted from the first of seven stories in The Chronicles of Narnia.

It’s a well-loved tale about a boy named Digory and his friend Polly who are tricked by his whimsical Uncle Andrew into embarking on a series of magical adventures. This performance is approximately 60 minutes with no intermission.

Centrepointe Studio Theatre, centrepointetheatre.ca.

MARCH 15

Family Dance is a community dance experience for all ages and it will be taking place at the Churchill Seniors Centre in Westboro (345 Richmond Road). There will be fun, simple dances from Canada, the US and Britain danced to live music.

No experience is necessary.

Tickets are $10 for adults.

Participants 16 and under are admitted free. Bring indoor shoes. (ottawacontra.ca/ familydance)

The Ottawa Nostalgia & Collectible Show MARCH 16

A golden opportunity to show our kids some of the great stuff we grew up with!

This semi-annual event at the Nepean Sportsplex has over 60 dealers exhibiting treasures from days gone by, including comics, toys, dolls, coins, records, trains, and more. The League of Super

Heroes will be in attendance as well. (antique-shows.ca)

Frozen

MARCH 22 The Ottawa Family Cinema is the ultimate kid-friendly experience, and they’re showing Disney’s newest animated feature! Catch it on the big screen while you can. (familycinema.ca)

Peter Pan MARCH 23

Join Peter Pan as he battles his arch-nemesis Captain Hook in DuffleBag Theatre’s version of J.M. Barrie’s timehonoured classic. Filled with DuffleBag’s usual twists, surprises and humour, this 45-minute performance is recommended for children age four and up. It’s guaranteed to amuse young and old alike, especially when members of the audience are invited to star in the show. (shenkmanarts.ca)

Check party dates, details & availability online!

Dovercourt Recreation Centre

613.798.8950

www.dovercourt.org

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

DO YOU KNOW OF AN EVENT THAT CAPITAL PARENTS WOULD LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT? Submit your information to

editor@capitalparent.ca.

MARCH 2014 15

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