For years, I’ve been a subscriber to the American magazine Family Fun. It’s been my reliable partner in crime throughout my kids’ childhood and it might become yours too during the coming Family Day, the Valentine’s Day fuss or the March Break.
In Family Fun, I’ve found a mom’s advice on how to visit an art museum with my young son (turning the visit into a fun “I spy” game to look for specific items on the paintings). I’ve learned how to create a super card game that caught a slice of our daily life (teaching my kids about the different things one needs to know to run a house).
I’ve had a blast at the expense of my kids by using fabulous tips for April’s Fool pranks (I normally buy milk bags but for the occasion, I put a milk pint on the table, in which I surreptitiously added blue food coloring. The look on my then 8-years-old son when he poured the milk into his bowl was totally worth the trouble!).
When I was involved with the School Council, we would often choose the theme for the school parties according to the best craft activities I found while browsing through my Family Fun copies.
Years ago, prior to the internet, the magazine’s main appeal already lied in the fact that they’d been able to get hundreds of creative parents to submit their great ideas to them. Now we can all access this amazing resource online for free.
Their crafts section is the best. You can search by age, type or even by material but the Holiday & Seasonal category is such a time saver. You won’t find a Family Day section in there since it’s an American website but Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, April Fool’s Day, Easter and Mother’s Day will all come handy in the coming months.
Just to get an idea of the spread of crafts they offer, check the bottle-cap tambourines in the Recyclable Crafts category under Crafts by Material, or the newspaper fashion show (if I still were a member of the School Council, I’d use that idea to complement a Literacy day event for the students!). As soon as we get some snow, even just a little, I think we should try their Beach Bum Snowman. It would definitely cheer up the whole neighbourhood.
Most pages are followed by a Show & Tell section where you get to see pictures of craft ideas submitted by families just like us. Very often, parents also submit photos of one of the Family Fun crafts they tried for themselves. I should send them my daughter’s picture of the bubble bather costume suggestion we used during our school’s Crazy Bubbles end-of-the-year party.
The crafts are just the tip of the iceberg. Their Playtime section offers hundreds of games suggestions for all occasions and contexts. Their Parties menu allows to search by theme or age and includes Themed Cupcakes and Party Printables categories. They even have a how-to video section for cakes and cupcakes for the bakery-challenged among us.
Tips • Crafts offered online are not there forever. You can subscribe to their magazine online (or through the magazine sales of your school if they have one of those fundraisers). Check their website at www.familyfun.com.
In her personal yet practical 480-page guidebook, author Nathalie Prezeau describes hundreds of outings in and around the GTA she tested with her family and friends over the past twelve years. The 4th edition is out! It includes a new chapter on things to do with the kids around the 69 subway stations in Toronto, as well as exciting city walks to play the tourist in Toronto. Available in the Travel Section of GTA bookstores as well as Mastermind Educational Toys stores and currently at Costco. Visit www.torontofunplaces.com to learn more.
March Break is quickly approaching, and we are pleased to bring you exciting camps and events in Toronto and the GTA, to help you plan a memorable holiday for your child(ren).
Fun-Filled Gymnastics Camp at Gymalaya Sponsored Listing Gymalaya camp is designed to build physical, mental and social skills in a fun and non-competitive environment. Activities include: gymnastics, games, dance, crafts, story time and much more fun. State-of-the-art clean and bright facilities. Register early to avoid disappointment as spaces are limited for each camp day! Contact: Gymalaya Vaughan: (905)760-5655, Gymalaya Newmarket: (905)868-8200, www.gymalaya.com.
Creation Recreation Sponsored Listing It’s a Mixed Bag of March Break Creations! Register for our half day or full day workshops that include clay, ceramic and glass. Don’t want to commit to a workshop, no problem just drop in anytime between 10am - 6pm and create something unique. Contact: 1-888-909-TIJA or www.tijaceramicstudio.com.
March Break Camp at Steeles-West Gymnastics Sponsored Listing The March Break program runs March 15-19 half- days or full days, for 7 -14 year olds. You may register for any single day(s) or for the full week. The program includes gymnastics activities, active games, crafts, and snack time(s). 601 Magnetic Dr., Unit 21, North York. Contact: 416-736-8759, swgymnastics@on.aibn.com or www.steeleswestgymnastics.com.
PLAYDIUM THE ULTIMATE PLACE TO PLAY! Sponsored Listing Playdium is the ultimate interactive, virtual and physical Family Entertainment Centre. Our 40,000 Sq. Ft Game floor features over 200 of today’s most exciting attractions, rides and simulators. Play to win in our exciting Redemption & Prize Zones! Your ultimate choice for interactive fun! Contact: 905-273-9000, info@playdium.com or www.playdium.com.
Real People. Real Stories. Real March Break Adventure! Sponsored Listing MARCH BREAK MADNESS at the Children’s Museum IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR at Dundurn Castle SQUEAKY CLEAN at the Steam Museum A MONUMENTAL MARCH BREAK at Battlefield House WONDERLAND at Whitehern VIDEO CAMP at Fieldcote Contact: www.hamilton.ca/museums
Active Kids Zone March Break Camp Sponsored Listing March Break Camp will be action packed each day with tons of sports and games, crafts and ceramics, cooking and karaoke, time in our amazing Fun Zone and even a few half day field trips! A lunch option, extended hours and daily or weekly registration is available. Contact: 416-650-5060 or register online at www.activekidszone.com.
The Clay Room: March Break Masterpieces Sponsored Listing Come paint a treasured ceramic keepsake while spending quality time with family or friends. WALK INS WELCOME. March Break Camp (15th-19th; week long, full or half day) great for crafty kids: ceramics, creative clay, beading, papier mache, multi-media, fabric fun +more - registration required. Birthday Parties too! 279 Danforth Avenue, Toronto. Contact: 416-466-8474, contact@theclayroom.ca or www.theclayroom.ca.
Wizard World Sponsored Listing Toronto’s favorite family March Break destination. Thrilling stage shows, petting zoo, crafts, rides and inflatable bounce zone will keep kids 2 - 12 running, bouncing, laughing and playing for hours! Admission only $8.50+gst. Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place, March 14 - 21 10am - 5pm. Free lootbags. Contact: 416.585.WAND (9263), info@wizardworld.ca, www.wizardworld.ca.
March Break at Toronto’s Historic Sites Sponsored Listing Toronto’s Historic Sites present several great pre-registered day camps as well as family drop-ins for young people to enjoy during March Break. Have a blast exploring life in the city over a hundred years ago! Hands-on fun, cooking, dress up, crafts, making toys, and more! Contact: www.toronto.ca/camps or call 311.
March Break at the CN Tower Sponsored Listing Special Admission - March 13-21, 2010 Total Tower Ticket for only $25 (including taxes) - save 30%.
Explore the CN Tower: world’s #1 elevator ride, three observation levels, famous Glass Floor, Himalamazon ride, movie, March Break week activities - Nickelodeon character visits with Dora™ , SpongeBob™, Battle Strikers, and more. Contact: 416-868-6937 or www.cntower.ca.
As the weather outside gets frightful
I tend to think of things delightful
So come along and take a trip…
There will be Hula punch there to sip!
(Sung to the tune of “Let it snow”)
Aloha! As the winter weather sets upon us, I can’t help but start to think of all the warm places I would rather be! Hawaii is definitely one of them. What could be better that wearing colourful leis and hula skirts while dancing on the beach to tropical music. I have a few ideas that will warm you up in no time…. find out how to say your name in Hawaiian, see how low you can go in a limbo and then sit back, relax and create coloured sand art while drinking some hula punch!
Find your name..
The following website allows to you discover the Hawaiian equivalent of your name : http://www.hawaiicity.com/hawaiian_name.htm.
For example, my name translates into “Keli”:
Your English Name: Shelley, Shelly
Your Hawaiian Name: Keli
How low can you go… Everybody, let’s do the limbo! 1. Take a broom, hockey stick or any other long thin object and get two people to hold it on either side
2. Put on some high energy dancing music - the Beach Boys is my favourite!
3. Get everyone in a line and take turns dancing under the pole.
4. When everyone has had a turn, lower the pole and get everyone to go under again.
5. Continue to lower and repeat until it is too low for everyone to go under.
Coloured sand art… To make the coloured sand :
1. Take 4-5 resealable plastic bags and put a cup of salt or sand in each bag.
2. Add a few drops of food colouring to each bag, seal the bag and shake.
3. Pour the coloured sand/salt into bowls so it is easy to use.
4. Next, Sand Art:
5. On a piece of cardboard or construction paper draw your name in Hawaiian and decorate the page.
6. Spread some white school glue over your name picture using a paint brush or a wooden popsicle stick.
7. Use a spoon to place the coloured sand/salt on your picture.
Hula punch
What You Need
4 medium bananas
2 cups cold unsweetened pineapple juice
1 cup KOOL-AID Tropical Punch Flavor Sugar-Sweetened Soft Drink Mix
2 cups cold orange juice
2 qt. (8 cups) mixed cold water and ice
Make It
1. Place bananas and pineapple juice in blender container and cover.
2. Blend on high speed until well blended.
3. Measure drink mix into punch bowl or large pitcher.
4. Add orange juice and stir until drink mix is completely dissolved.
5. Add cold water and ice and stir.
6. Add banana mixture and stir until well blended.
Makes 8 servings, 1 cup each. (from the Kraft Kitchen’s Website)
As it is said in Hawaii: Mahalo! (Thank you) A hui hou! (Till we meet again)
Shelley Sefton is a chef, recipe developer & creator of “Yummy in my Tummy” - classes for kids that offers them the opportunity to experience exciting adventures in the kitchen – combining education, art, food and most important of all FUN! Contact: (905) 597-0672 or sdsefton@rogers.com.
I adore crafts that I can easily suggest for a weekend morning to fill an hour before brunch, an outing or walk.
Here’s one for your family: Spring Butterfly Craft.
Cut butterflies out of paper to decorate with paints, coloured pencils, crayons or markers. Let your child experiment with symmetry, patterns or create abstract art. Then tape the butterflies to a window to create a spring scene.
WRITTEN BY
Their crafts section is the best. You can search by age, type or even by material but the Holiday & Seasonal category is such a time saver. You won’t find a Family Day section in there since it’s an American website but Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, April Fool’s Day, Easter and Mother’s Day will all come handy in the coming months.
Most pages are followed by a Show & Tell section where you get to see pictures of craft ideas submitted by families just like us. Very often, parents also submit photos of one of the Family Fun crafts they tried for themselves. I should send them my daughter’s picture of the bubble bather costume suggestion we used during our school’s Crazy Bubbles end-of-the-year party.
It’s a Mixed Bag of 
The 
Playdium
MARCH BREAK MADNESS at the Children’s Museum
March Break Camp
Come paint a treasured ceramic keepsake while spending 
Toronto’s favorite family 
