Browsing “The Playground”

Welcome to The Playground, a place for Vancouver families. I’m always on the lookout for fun stuff to do, so if there’s something happening that you think I should know about, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Taking  kids to restaurants from an early age is important as it gives them a positive attitude towards the social element of eating together.   However, eating out with a small children can be a tall order for some parents with the experience being be more stressful than enjoyable. There are plenty of  restaurants that will offer crayons, kid menus, high chairs and most importantly, lots of other understanding families.  A recent visit to Rocky Mountain Flatbread made me realize that there is so much more to family dining than pirate packs.  We had such a great time not just because Sadie was well behaved, but because she was so engaged and had an experience of her own.  It left me inspired to put together a list of family friendly restaurants in the Lower Mainland that have taken kid friendly dining beyond booster seats and colouring sheets.

Rocky Mountain Flatbread
Two Vancouver Locations: 4186 Main Street & 1876 W 1st Avenue
Every Sunday & Monday, kids can make their own pizza from 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm for $6.95.  Pizza making involves rolling out the dough, spreading tomato sauce and adding your favourite toppings (see photo above).  Great menu filled with fresh local produce, free range and organic Canadian meats and Ocean Wise approved seafood.  There is even a play kitchen for kids to enjoy while parents enjoy their own pizza and a glass of wine.

Little Nest
1716 Charles St. (off Commercial Drive)
A family friendly oasis at the heart of Commercial Drive, Little Nest boasts to be “a place where kids can be kids and the grownups still feel grown up”.  Little Nest serves breakfast and lunch 7 days a week. The menu is fresh, local and organic wherever possible.  A large play area, friendly and patient staff plus the most amazing freshly baked goods make this place a parent’s dream.

Café Deux Soleils
2096 Commercial Dr.
In the daytime, this Commercial Drive fixture is very welcoming to families.  There is a large stage where kids can play and draw with chalks on the big black board. A very good vegetarian brunch menu.

Kokopelli Café
4593 Dunbar Street
Kokopelli provide families with a stylish, yet comfortable environment to enjoy fantastic coffee, superb home-baking, light lunches and phenomenal service. There is a play area for kids and all kid menu items come with carrot sticks, not fries.

Big Feast Bistro
11920 227th Street, Maple Ridge
Big Feast Bistro has created a space and a menu that welcomes and encourages families to enjoy each other’s company, allows parents to enjoy a great meal, and allows kids to be just who they are – kids! The little feast menu comes with organic juice, fresh fruit salad and a special treat.  Big Feast offers a variety of cooking programs for kids including in-class demonstrations & workshop as well as kids parties.  Open for breakfast and lunch everyday from 8am to 4pm.

Welcome to The Playground, a place for Vancouver families. I’m always on the lookout for fun stuff to do, so if there’s something happening that you think I should know about, don’t hesitate to contact me.

There are plenty of eggcellent egg hunt eggstravaganzas taking place at various community centres and school yards through out Vancouver through out the Easter long weekend.

Easter Arts & Crafts at The Old Barn Community Centre (UBC)
Thursday, April 5th
3:30pm – 5:30pm
The Old Barn at UBC will host crafts to celebrate Easter. All ages are welcome, be sure to register in advance.

West End Community Centre
Thursday, April 5
5pm – 7pm
Join the Easter Bunny for an Easter egg hunt, arts & crafts, play time, face painting, and mini petting zoo. Pre-registration is recommended as space is limited.  Tickets are $5 – $6.

Easter Egg Hunt & Family Carnival at Charles Dickens Elementary School
Saturday, April 7
11am – 3pm
A free Easter themed carnival with age-specific egg hunts, great prizes, bouncy castles & carnival games.

Kerrisdale Community Centre
Saturday, April 7
1pm – 3pm
Play games, do some crafts and have lots of fun! The day would not be complete without a visit from the Easter Bunny who will be bringing Easter treats.  Please register in advance.  Tickets are $5.

Renfrew Park Community Centre
Saturday, April 7
12:30pm – 3pm
There will be face painting, crafts and an egg hunt.  Pick your Easter Egg Hunt time when you register or purchase your ticket. 1:00pm, 1:30pm, 2:00pm, 2:30pm.  Tickets are $5.

Welcome to The Playground, a place for Vancouver families. I’m always on the lookout for fun stuff to do, so if there’s something happening that you think I should know about, don’t hesitate to contact me.

If you head towards YVR and continue westward, you will eventually come across the long sandy shores of Iona Beach.  Sadie and I recently spent a sunny morning climbing piles of driftwood, sinking our feet in the mudflats, running along a jetty and loosing staring contests with Great Blue Herons.

There is over 20 kms of waterfront to explore at Iona Beach.  My favourite part of this treeless park is the 4km man made jetty that stretches out towards the ocean.  You can walk or cycle on the jetty and at the end there is a lookout point that offers great views of the airport.  It’s a great spot to watch planes.  Iona Beach also has a reputation for bird watching and star gazing.

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Welcome to The Playground, a place for Vancouver families. I’m always on the lookout for fun stuff to do, so if there’s something happening that you think I should know about, don’t hesitate to contact me.

If you are in town for the last week of Spring Break, several of my favourite kid friendly haunts have special programming everyday for those who need to get out of the house and out of the snow.

Spring Break at the Cannery
Daily Until March 23rd
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Gulf of Georgia Cannery Museum, Steveston

Kids can take part in maritime related crafts or participate in guided tours through the fascinating history of the Cannery, which run every hour on the hour. There are plenty of hands-on exhibits for kids to enjoy as they hear tales of BC’s fishing heritage.

Beaty Biodiversity Museum Spring Break
Daily Until March 25th
11:00 am – 3:30 pm
Beaty Biodiversity Museum, UBC

Museum Tours: 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.
Puppet Show: 11:00 a.m.
Story Time: 3:00 a.m.
Birding for Beginners activity: 12:45 p.m.
Raising Big Blue Documentary: 11:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:45 p.m.

All of the events listed are included with museum admission or membership.

Spring Break at Science World – Medieval Mayhem!
Daily Until March 25th
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Science World, Vancouver

You are invited to explore medieval science at Science World this spring break. Activities include:
Crazy Catapulting 11am – 4pm
Create a Crown 11am – 4pm
Pocket Full of Posies 11am – 4pm
Knight School March 20 – 23 11am, 1pm, 3pm

Spring Break Scavenger Hunt – Puppets and Pageantry
Daily Until March 25th
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Burnaby Lake Museum, Burnaby

Explore this unique form of theatre art with a scavenger hunt, crafts, and lively performances.Need to take a break – make a craft, enjoy a performance or take a whirl on the carousel. All are included with admission.   The Ice Cream Parlour will be open for meals and treats. Tickets: $6.50/person (includes taxes) aged 2+ (includes carousel rides, members free), available at the door.

And for the daredevils and mini donut lovers, be sure to check out the PlayDome at BC Place (check out Bob’s point of view here).  On until tomorrow!

Welcome to The Playground, a place for Vancouver families. I’m always on the lookout for fun stuff to do, so if there’s something happening that you think I should know about, don’t hesitate to contact me.

The British Columbia Teachers’ Federation served notice this week that teachers throughout the Province will strike for three days beginning Monday, March 5th and continuing through Wednesday, March 7th.   Although schools will remain open during the strike action, parents have been advised to keep their children at home.  To add insult to injury, it is forecast to rain those days too.

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To keep cabin fever at bay, the good folks at The Rio will be showing two family friendly movies per day (11am + 1pm) on March 5th – 7th.   Cost is $8 for two movies (or for one) plus a small drink and popcorn.

Here’s the schedule:

Monday March 5th
11am: The Smurfs
1pm:  Rango

Tuesday March 6th
11am:  Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
1pm:  Hugo

Wednesdy March 7th
11am:  The Muppet Movie (1979)
1pm:  Justin Bieber Never Say Never

Welcome to The Playground, a place for Vancouver families. I’m always on the lookout for fun stuff to do, so if there’s something happening that you think I should know about, don’t hesitate to contact me.

There is lots to do in the Lower Mainland this weekend to make your Valentine’s Day extra sweet.

But no Valentine’s Day is complete without cards for your child’s classmates.  Courtesy of the very talented Robin Mitchell Cranfield, you can find Free Printable Valentines featuring the beloved Windy and Auggie, on her blog.  A great addition to the paper-bag Valentine mailbox come Tuesday.

Here’s a roundup of some Valentine’s Day activities you won’t want to miss this year:

Make Some Arrows at Collage Collage
February 11th
12:00pm-2:00pm
Collage Collage, Vancouver
Tap into your inner cupid and join the fun folks at Collage Collage for an afternoon of arrow making. No registration required.

Valentine’s Day Tea at London Heritage Farm
February 11th & 12th
12:00pm – 5:00pm
London Heritage Farm, Richmond
Enjoy tea and homemade goodies inside a heritage tea room at the restored and furnished 1890′s.  $8.50 per person.

Valentine’s Skate
February 11th
12:30pm – 3:00pm
Bill Copeland Sports Centre, Burnaby
Bring your sweetheart to enjoy ice skating, face painting, Valentine crafts and fun games.  Regular admission fees apply.

Valentine’s Day At River District Centre
February 11th
1 pm – 5 pm
River District Centre, Vancouver
Learn to make chocolates, create edible flower arrangements, and design hand-made cards from 1:00 – 3:00PM. From 3:00 – 5:00PM you can disappear in the land of pure imagination  with a screening of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.