Gourmet Mom On the Go

This mommy blog is all about fun kid-friendly recipes. Some of them really look like a lot of fun and some look like a lot of work! I think the author might be a little obsessed, but some of the ideas are pretty cute. If you are watching your waistline, I don't think this is the site for you.

We've hit 2000!

St. John's Toddler has had over 2000 unique visitors since November of 2009 when we started tracking. This is great news because more visitors means more people to share ideas and submit articles. If you have an idea or an article you'd like to submit - send me an email. I am especially interested in hearing from people who have experience or expertise with challenges like food allergies and dietary restrictions.

I am also soliciting businesses to keep me posted on new classes, fall schedules and events... there are so many I can't keep up with them all so please feel free to drop me a note and a link to your web site.

In September I will start a new contest... any prize suggestions?

Wheels on the Bus

This week Grampy took our child for a bus ride. As I have noted before he is a lover of all things wheels, so this was a big thrill for him. They went for a ride to a donut shop and came back home again also by bus. A simple idea and a big adventure for a toddler.  The metrobus web site has all the information you need.

Have you got ideas for entertaining toddlers or inexpensive adventures? Send them in!

Fall 2010 at the Little Gym

The Fall schedule is posted for the Little Gym and Cygnus Gym. Cygnus has a drop in date ($10) and still has spaces on the weekday tipsy toesies.

Classic Cars for kids

If your child likes cars as much as mine, the calendar on the Newfoundland Classics Car page may come in handy... and don't forget during the summer Thursday nights at A&W on Kenmount Road is a hoot with old and tricked out cars, fries and 50's music.

Costumes for Halloween and Every Day

I noticed that Winners has toddler costumes out for Halloween. Many are furry (which means warm!) and there were lions and pandas and monkey's and giraffes. Keep an eye out for post Halloween sales so you can create a dress up box for playing pretend on rainy and cold fall days or have a private costume party any time.

City of St. John's Fall Recreation Guide

The City's Active Living Guide for the Fall season came out this week. A few items of note for the under five set. The City's web site has full details.

ACTIVE PLAYGROUP
Come join the fun! Parents, grandparents, guardians or caregivers can accompany children (birth to five years) to our Active Playgroup. This program is fully equipped to accomodate infants. There are several learning and play centres for toddlers and preschoolers including: dramatic play, block play, art, ride on toys, mats for tumbling and bouncy balls. Early Childhood Educators will be on site to encourage play.

Location: Wedgewood Park Recreation Centre and
Date: September 21 to December 9
Day: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Time: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Cost: $2.00 per child/day children under six months free!
Age: 0 – 5 years

H.G.R Mews Community Centre
Date: October 6 to December 10
Day: Wednesdays and Fridays
Time: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Cost: $2.00 per child/day children under six months free!
Age: 0 – 5 years

Note:
• Children are encouraged to bring a sippy cup and a light snack.
• No program Remembrance Day.

For more information, please call 576-8631 or 576-8499 or email recreation@stjohns.ca
 
Active Preschool Fall Program
Fees: - Preschool One Child $300.00
Description:
What a wonderful way to learn colors, through the fun of playing with a parachute! Pre-school children will enjoy the experience of learning through active play. Our pre-school program is available to children attending Kindergarten in September, 2011(children must be 4 by December 31, 2010). The maximum number of children to be registered is 16. The program will focus on movement, socialization and early educational concepts. It will build on children's interests and abilities, with an overall focus of pre-schoolers experiencing active living through positive interaction and play.
Spots Available: 16

RC-Tots Starfish/Duck - Swimming Lessons
Description:
Parents or care-givers and their tots can take swimming and water safety lessons at an earlier age – babies as young as 4 months old may be enrolled in our new Red Cross Tots Program. Children move through the first two preschool levels (Starfish & Duck) with their parent or care-giver. Assisted by their parents, tots learn basic swimming skills, and safety. Skills include how to stay warm, the best ways to enter and exit the pool, breathing and buoyancy basics. Fun is the key to this program, so as children learn they enjoy games, and songs making learning FUN! Stay and Play for 30 minutes after your lesson! Please note a maximum of 1 parent/caregiver can be allowed in the water during the lesson time.

Note: Red Cross lists a series of swim classes for children under five so I recommend looking at the Guide or calling the City (311) to find out what is best for you and your child.

Happy Anniversary to Us

St. John's Toddler is one year old today! Thanks to everyone who reads, submits and supports me and the blog!

If you are interested in submitting an article as a guest blogger let me know. The more the merrier. Book reviews, product reviews, recipes, activities, or pitch your own thing. Email me and tell me your idea.

Kids recipes

Recipes that your kids can make with you. This is probably a great way to inspire a little more adventurous eating too! The site is made by Kraft, so of course the recipes will all include Kraft products, but I am sure substitutions are possible too!

24 Hour Art Marathon Festival - Kiddie Video Dance Party.

From the Facebook Page: We had so much fun last year that we're doing it again. Come and get your groove on under the swirly lights at the Kiddie Video Dance Party.

The ACNL will be having a BBQ right outside to help fend off the lunchtime cranky and it's all over in time for afternoon naps. What music makes you jump around the house? Last year all of the music was your choice.

Send requests and suggestions to kevin.hehir@gmail.com
August 20 · 11:00am - 1:00pm
Wonderbolt Circus School
72 Harbour Drive
St. John's, NL

Kid Friendly Food Apple and Ham Salad

I am starting to think about school snacks and lunches and I found this recipe  on the Canadian Living Web Site. It looks like a good salad for toddlers as you can chop the pieces as small as you like. Ham and Apple with cheese can make a nice sandwich too.

The Children's Centre Preschool still has spaces available!

If you are looking for part-time childcare for the afternoons this fall, the Children's Centre still has space. Check the web site for details.

Edible Crayons

This looks like a cool idea for crafty cooks with kids... edible crayons. A perfect project for rainy fall days.

Now why can't Toys R Us have stuff like this!

Look at the great toys, furniture and educational supplies this web site has to offer. It looks like it is designed for schools and preschools, but there is no reason you couldn't order from them yourself!

Music for Munchkins Update

I posted something about Muisc for Munchkins earlier this year, but this week I got this letter in my inbox I thought I would share:

Dear Erika:

I came across your blog through the KidsNL.ca web site. Both of these sites provide an invaluable service to families in the St. John’s area.
I am a former public school music teacher with seventeen years teaching experience in both Newfoundland and Asia. As a result of my experiences in teaching children from these vastly different cultures, I have come to a new understanding of how children learn. I have developed a brand new music program for young children and will offer it to families in St. John’s and surrounding areas beginning this September.

The Munchkin Music Factory offers music exploration classes to children from three to seven years of age. I believe it is important to provide a stress-free environment where learning is completely enjoyable for both parents and children alike. Our program promotes musical literacy through singing, games and movement and the playing of a wide variety of percussion instruments. We also explore music history, improvisation and composition. In short, our students learn how to read and write music!

Our program is unique in that we write and record an original song about every child in the program. At the end of the year, each child gets to record his/her very own CD which includes many of the fabulous songs we have learned in our classes. We even include a photo of the child on the CD cover! You may listen to an original Munchkin Music Factory song and sample from a child’s recording session on “The Tunes” section of our web site.
Parents are required to attend the classes with the three and four year old munchkins, but all school-aged children may be dropped off for instruction. Parents of older children are welcome to sit in on classes, but it is not required. We are located at Long and McQuade on Kenmount Road in St. John’s. Information about learning outcomes and fee structure may be found on our web site.

In addition to our regular music program, we offer an entertainment service for birthday parties. Information about that service is also available on our web site.

I would appreciate any assistance in getting this exciting news out to young families in our area.

Kindest Regards,

Lisa Gillam
The Munchkin Music Factory
info@munchkinmusicfactory.com
http://www.munchkinmusicfactory.com/
709-738-3082

The Jolly Postman

If you haven't seen this book before, let me tell you how awesome it is! By the wonderful writers and illustrators of Peepo and Each Peach Pear Plum, Janet and Allan Ahlberg. This book is like a Griffin and Sabine for kids. Clever and gorgeous with little letters to pull out of envelopes and read. Probably best for 3 and up... but great for kids up to 10 I would think.

No crap loot bags

Birthday party loot bags seem to be mandatory these days, but they are also a pain in the butt, especially when you have a toddler. Finding something inexpensive enough to buy for a slew of kids that is also age-appropriate (i.e they won't choke on it!) and not made in China is almost impossible. Candy is one possibility, but do they really need more candy after the cake and snack food already eaten at the party? Healthy food like raisins can work, but then you might get labelled as that Mom with the 'healthy' loot bags.... which is almost as bad as being labeled the house with the 'healthy' Halloween treats.

So here is an idea I came up with: Instead of providing toys and candy, I gave the kids at my child's party a little perennial flower to plant in their gardens at home... or in a pot on the patio if need be. If you know where to get little tree plugs (the kind tree planters use) these would work great too. Trees and plants make a great learning experience and also lasting memories.

Now in case you think all the kids at the party went home with frowns, I also gave out helium balloons, the cellophane ones. $2 each at the dollar store.

Tip: Perennials are all on sale by the middle of the summer and can cost as little a $1.50 each!

Traveling with Toddlers

We are thinking of taking a trip with our toddler and one thing I haven't figured out is how to cope with the sleeping situation. Our toddler still uses his crib and so hotel beds are not going to cut it. Some hotels offer cribs, but from what I have heard the condition they are in is often dubious. I was at Coo Chi Coo on the weekend and saw two options that look promising this one from Bjorn and this one from Kidco.

Now, if only that baby gear rental place would get some of these so you wouldn't have to pay the full price for something you are going to use only a couple of times a year!

Fee: Cygnus Gym Registration - Fall

Cygnus Gymnastics sent out their registration email this week, here is the info for the under five groups:  
Registration for our Recreational Program is just around the corner!

For those of you new to our registration process, it is divided in to two sections – Pre-Registration for Current Members and General Registration for New Members. Pre-Registration applies to anyone who has registered with Cygnus between September 2009 and August 2010. Please see the tables below for the date and time registration for your program will be opened.

PLEASE NOTE : Registration for each program will not begin before 6:00
Registration Dates/Times for Current Members:

Tipsie Toesies (Walking - 2 Years Old)
Monday August 9
6:00pm - 8:00pm

Rollin' Rascals (3 - 4 Years Old)
Tuesday August 10
6:00pm - 8:00pm

Daring Dynamos (5 Years Old)
Wednesday August 11
6:00pm - 8:00pm


Registration Dates/Times for New Members
Tipsie Toesies (Walking - 2 Years Old)
Sunday August 15
9:00am-10:00am
Rollin' Rascals (3 - 4 Years Old)
Sunday August 15
10:00am-12:00pm

Daring Dynamos (5 Years Old)
Sunday August 15
12:00pm-1:00pm

Our class offerings can be found under the Schedule Tab on the website menu, or by clicking here.

In September, all current and new members must fill out a registration form. Tipsie Tosie’s participants must also have the Adult who accompanies them fill out an Adult Participant form. The form can be found on the website or by following these links:

Child Registration Form:
Adult Participant Form:

Best books for toddlers

Here is what we are reading these days.... what about you?

Zucchini Pizza

I found a recipe for turning Zucchini rounds into pizza bites and thought this is a great way to get your kid into a new vegetable.

Cut your zucchini into 'coins' and broil in the oven or grill on the BBQ until soft enough for toddlers to chew.
Put a dollop of pizza or spaghetti sauce on each coin and grate your child's favourite cheese over top and broil or grill again until cheese is melted.

Voila! Zuke Pizza!

Try with pesto instead of tomato sauce or mix up the cheeses for variety.

Great for parents watching their waistlines too....

St. John's Folk Festival

The Folk Festival in Bannerman Park each summer doesn't advertise itself as a kids event and the web site doesn't even mention any specific kid-friendly performers or activities, but if you have ever been, you know that kids LOVE this event. The grassy spot in front of the stage becomes a Newfoundland dance party where everyone is dancing their diapers off.

For the list of performers check the web site and get your tickets soon - apparently the line up is so good it might be sold out early some nights like last year.