What place could be better for experiencing a bit about Halloween? Black Creek Pioneer Village is represents a complete 1860s community, an era when superstitions and spooky traditions ran strong. It’s a great outing for the modern family! For younger children, I recommend Howling Hootenanny, which takes place during the daytime this Saturday and Sunday. For older kids, there is nothing like All Hallows’ Eve, where you can experience the Village at night, ghost stories and all.

Children can decorate their own pumpkins at the Howling Hootenanny at Black Creek

Read more…

The mill at Black Creek Pioneer Village is one of the only working water-powered mills in this part of the country. We live in the machine age but very few of the technologies we use are transparent. Children understand what things do, but they usually can’t understand how they do it. In fact, the same is usually true for us adults! It is really wonderful for children to see something like a working mill. It is mechanical and very powerful, and most importantly, you can see all the gears and wheels with your own eyes. You can understand how it works.

You can even buy flour ground at the mill in the Village gift shop. Take it home and bake something with your children!

Read more…

Metro Morning, the CBC Radio 1 morning show, had a nice piece today about getting ready for the pre-teen years. Karen Horseman, who is on a roll these days if you ask me, spoke about her feelings as her oldest child starts Grade 7. He now has a locker at school and subtle changes in relations between the boys and the girls are starting to happen. It’s a moment that make many parents nervous – their first child is approaching the end of childhood …

Read more…

This was weekend was Thanksgiving. We drove to my eldest daughter’s new place in London and spent a lovely afternoon together yesterday. After the meal, we went around the circle and each person said something they were thankful for. I know it sounds corny, but it was lovely, and really interesting to hear what each person came up with.

We fit the whole crowd in, including the animals.

Read more…

It’s strange to say this, but our children don’t get to see much real work. Mom or Dad sitting at a computer, or rushing off to a meeting is not something a young child can understand as “work.” Dad or Mom sweeping the floor with a broom is. We’re not going to change our world, nor should we, but I think we do need to make a conscious effort to get our children out to see “real things.”

Hard at work, the way the pioneers did it

Read more…

My younger son just started playing in the local basketball house league. His first game was on the weekend, and what  a joy it was to see all those people there just for the kids. No try-outs, no pressure, just lots of encouragement and lots of fun. That’s what’s great about house league sports.

House leagues teach skills in an inclusive, supportive environment. I love it!

Read more…

We took in some of the sights (sites?) at Nuit Blanche last night in the city. What a great feeling to be outside with so many people, just to see art! You really experience the city as a community. Yes, there were too many people, especially as the evening went on, but it was in incredible experience just the same. Below are my tips for having a great Nuit Blanche.

This van has hundreds, or thousands, of holes drilled in it in flowing geometric patterns and was lit from the inside. The van was on a rotating platform, casting subtle pattern of lights on the surrounding buildings.

Read more…