Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in vancouver, CN

Surrey Children's Festival

May 28, 2009

This weekend starting Thursday, the Surrey Children's Festival is once again taking over Bear Creek Park and there are some fabulous acts ready to entertain. A great mixture of ticketed performances and free performances and activities there is something for all.

The ticketed performances are geared toward different age groups and tickets can be purchased by phone from the box office or at the door. We are going to see our favourite Vancouver duo, Bobs and Lolo. If you haven't seen them yet make sure to see them this weekend at the Leapfrog Stage. They will also be at the Bowen Island Children's Country Fair. (Click the link, this is amazing!) There are still tickets for Bobs and Lolo's Saturday concert and ticket prices are very reasonable.

There are a ton of other free activities as well including face-painting, a preschool play zone, mehndi stations, circus school, a place to learn how to do some South Asian dance and many more. I fully expect to have a very tired little boy at the end of the day.

To get the most out of your experience here are a few tips:

• If there is a concert you want to see, call the box office and book your tickets for pick up on the day.

• Make sure you have drinks, and sunscreen, and hats for all.

• Pack a blanket to sit on for the free performances.

• Remember your camera.

• Have fun!

Music Makes the Rainy Day Better

March 23, 2009

As a weekend of sunshine makes its way into another rain filled week I am working to make the days filled with fun, and maybe fitting a little work time for me. To this end I am making new play-lists to go along with the free play, track making and a barrage of "Whys."

There are a couple of kids albums that don't make me crazy and get put into pretty heavy rotation as well as tons of adult music that we love. My son is just as likely to be singing The Ramones or U2 or stuff from Fred Penner or a song he has made up on his own. I think the key to a good play-list is fun tunes that both you and you kids enjoy. Luckily a lot of the time preschoolers enjoy the music you like to play, especially if you take the time to get up and sing and dance with them.  Here are a few albums I would recommend for children and adults.

Your Friendly Neighbourhood Community Centre to the Rescue

by Gwendolyn Floyd

January 05, 2009

January is a great time for new beginnings, but also a time of being stuck inside due to bad weather. The local community centre and their myriad of programs to the rescue. Whether it be a dance class , or a music class or just open gym time , your local community centre can be a lifesaver. We have preschool twice a week, but I think we need something else to happen during  Read more...

Nutcrackers

by Gwendolyn Floyd

December 12, 2008

When I think of Christmas performances, I always think of The Nutcracker. There are at least two different ballet companies performing The Nutcracker this weekend. The Goh Ballet presents The Nutcracker on the 12 th and 13 th of December at 7pm at the Michael J. Fox  Read more...

Better With a Buddy

by Gwendolyn Floyd

September 23, 2008

Today we are talking about places and activities that are better with a friend. My son is still happy to play by himself but there are some things that he likes better with one of his friends, even if it is one of his imaginary ones. Going to the play gym at the community centre is a  Read more...

Extra Classes for the Preschooler: Dance

by Gwendolyn Floyd

September 17, 2008

In this series I am highlighting a few of the classes you can find around the city, especially at community centres. There are so many Community Centres that I will only highlight some. To find a community centre closer to you check out the Vancouver Park Board's web site for more information. West Point Grey Community Centre has Ballet, and Jazz with spaces left. Classes  Read more...

Summer Music: Celtic Edition

by Gwendolyn Floyd

August 14, 2008

Though I now live on the left coast, I am still firmly rooted in the east and it seems that summer brings this out in my music. I must admit is is not just my Nova Scotian roots that make me feel this way about Celtic music but my Irish roots as well. Even though I have not been there yet, I  Read more...

What to Do This Weekend

by Gwendolyn Floyd

July 18, 2008

It is Friday and another weekend is upon us. So what is in store for this weekend? Lots of music and festivals. First up, the Vancouver Folk Festival . While a little expensive for the adults in the household, kids 12 and under are free. There is a ton of family friendly  Read more...

What to do this weekend

by Gwendolyn Floyd

July 04, 2008

As always there are a lot of great things to do this weekend. From dance and stories to festivals it should be a fun and busy weekend. Photo by: Anthony Floyd The All Over the Map dance series kicks off in Ron Basford Park on Granville Island. Silk Road Music and Friends combines central Asian music with Chinese and African dance. The free performance starts at 2 pm. If it  Read more...

Festivals, Stories and Jazz, Oh My!

by Gwendolyn Floyd

June 27, 2008

Another weekend is upon us and this one seems to actually have some good weather forecast. This last weekend of June has a number of great events planned with lots of kid friendly activities. First off is GreekFest at Boundary Road just south of 29 th Ave. Running from Friday 27  Read more...