Being Savvy: Activities, things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Vancouver, Canada

Best Ways to enjoy Stanley Park in the Summer

by Gwendolyn Floyd

Stanley Park is huge and this post will hardly scratch the surface of all that you can do in the park. However, during the summer there are a number of things that would be great fun to do with your preschooler. 1: The Stanley Park Seawall. I would suggest that the best way to see the seawall is to bike around it. Setup to go around counterclockwise, most people obey this. As ... Read more >

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Best Day Trips Around Greater Vancouver

by Gwendolyn Floyd

Whether you live in Vancouver proper or in the Greater Vancouver Area there are lots of day trips within an hour. I am going to highlight five that we have done with our son and will do again.1: Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta, BC. Located on Westham Island the sanctuary is exactly that, a safe haven for both the birds and people. With lots of duck that will eat from your preschoolers hand ... Read more >

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Budding Art Critic: Vancouver Art Gallery

by Gwendolyn Floyd

The Vancouver art Gallery located right in the midst of downtown Vancouver is a beautiful spot. A lot of parents may be a little apprehensive about taking their children to a place where it is not encouraged to touch things. This is why Super Sunday may be the answer for you. Every third Sunday of the month the art gallery has a family program that runs hands on events for children ... Read more >

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Exploring the Urban Jungle: Richmond Nature Park

by Gwendolyn Floyd

Another of the great things about living in the lower mainland is that there are so many trails and parks to enjoy. As a teacher the Richmond Nature Park was a great field trip for both the littlest ones and the older children for a number of reasons. The Richmond Nature Park opens daily from ... Read more >

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Small Steps to a Greener World

by Gwendolyn Floyd

As the summer heats up and more concerns about Global Warming surface you may be wondering how to help your preschooler and yourself become greener. I know that in Vancouver it is hard to be as green as you should be with the lack of recycling and composting that many other cities and provinces ... Read more >

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Small Steps to a Greener World: the Naturebag

by Gwendolyn Floyd

When I started looking for new Canadian products for the 2-6 set I came across the Naturebag. This is a new product put together by two Vancouver mums with an education background and a love of nature. They decided that especially in a city like Vancouver there was a need to bring kids back to nature. I was able to get a bag to try with my three year old and I must say I am ... Read more >

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Container Gardening for the Preschool Set

by Gwendolyn Floyd

How can you make container gardening easy and fun for kids? I guess the first thing is not to care how dirty your child gets, or whether or not the plants actually live. I would also start with some really easy plants that are edible like chives or some other herbs. Photo by: Anthony ... Read more >

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Packing for the Beach

by Gwendolyn Floyd

August's theme at the Savvy Source is Down By the Shore and will take us to beaches, swimming pools and other sources of water throughout the month. Luckily Vancouver has no end of places to get wet and the first thing you need to know is what to pack for the beach. We are almost always ready ... Read more >

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Naturebag Contest Winner

by Gwendolyn Floyd

Thank you to everyone who entered the Naturebag contest. It is great to know that so many people want their children to become more engaged with Nature. Congratulations to Rachel C. In Maryland. I will be sending the Naturebag this week via Canada Post. As long as things go well it should ... Read more >

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We're Going to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo, How About You?

by Gwendolyn Floyd

Unless you live in Langley or Abbotsford, the Greater Vancouver Zoo is a little bit of a trip to get to, but I think that for a great day trip it is worth it. There is a lot to see, a few great places to eat lunch, and a miniature train to boot. Make sure to pack a picnic lunch and some drinks and snacks because like all zoos I have been to the concessions are very expensive. Photo by: ... Read more >

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Best Places to See the "Fish"

by Gwendolyn Floyd

I like fish and I have a small aquarium, thought right now it is not a good place to actually see the fish because of an insane algae bloom I can't seem to get rid of. So if my son wants to see some fish we need to go a little further afield to actually get a good look at some. My first suggestion for some fish watching is a Petcetra. They have a huge wall of different fish and ... Read more >

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Get Out and Enjoy the Sun!

by Gwendolyn Floyd

As September runs into October and we are getting ready for the cooler wetter weather, we are experiencing a run of hot (well comparatively) weather. This weekend has been beautiful and sunny and dry. By Tuesday we are supposed to be having record hot temperatures with the sun to match. My ... Read more >

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Signs Of Fall

by Gwendolyn Floyd

My husband and my son are taking some time together on Saturday mornings in Science World's Preschool Curiosity Club. Last week was the first week and as well as carving a pumpkin (so cute) and planting some pumpkin seeds they were asked to look for some signs of fall. This homework reminded ... Read more >

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What is up this weekend? Rain

by Gwendolyn Floyd

Since it will be raining all weekend and conceivably for the rest of the winter it is time to bring some of the weekend activities inside. Good thing planners know the weather patterns in Vancouver. There are lots of things going on at the main branch of the Vancouver Public Library. On ... Read more >

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Inspiring Imagination

by Gwendolyn Floyd

With a child's imagination almost anywhere is a good place to foster their imaginations. However giving a child building blocks to help with this imagination is especially essential so that when they are a little older they don't forget how to play. Imagination and and imaginary friends ... Read more >

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