Capital Parent October 2014 by Great River Media inc.

Satisfy your craving with Halloween pretzel s’mores

Shining a spotlight on Ottawa’s masked bandits

page 9

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OCTOBER 2014 | FREE | capitalparent.ca | Ottawa’s Parenting Toolbox

SWEET DREAMS

PHOTO BY KATE SETTLE

Establishing healthy sleep habits, sleep training, best bedtime reads, & more!

PHOTO : JASON CODE

From The Editor

ANDREA TOMKINS andrea@capitalparent.ca

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There are few things I love more than a good night’s sleep, especially in the fall. Cracking the windows open and snuggling up under a cozy duvet is sheer bliss, and for me, it practically guarantees a good night’s sleep. (That is, until the dog wakes me up.) Sleep hasn’t always come easy. When I was pregnant with our first child, someone once told me to take every possible opportunity to sleep after the baby came. That meant napping with the baby whenever I could, sometimes forgoing a precious shower or ignoring that load of laundry. It turned out to be the best advice, because I think those extra moments of shuteye were ultimately what helped me keep it together during those first couple of years. Then kid number two came along. Amazingly, she was a much better sleeper than her sister. In fact, I remember trying to look up “how much sleep is too much” in our well-thumbed edition of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. When this second child, the amazing sleeper, was four, she started refusing to go down for naps. She didn’t want to miss anything her big sister was doing, which, in hindsight, was perfectly understandable. I think I was affected more than she was. She clearly needed that naptime, but I really needed my nap too. It was a challenging time to say the least, and we got over it soon enough but not without a lot of tears. (Some of which were mine. Sigh.) Experts agree that bedtime routines are key, and this was always the case in our house: bathroom time, story, and then bedtime. We tried to keep the lights low and the stimulation to a minimum (as well as those last-minute cups of water). Story time was always a big part of the nightly routine. One of our daughters went through a phase in which she only wanted her father to read the same book to her every night. It was The Water Hole, by Graeme Base. It’s a pretty great book. It’s a counting book, a story with an important message behind it, and an exploration of the art of illustration, all at the same time. However, reading it hundreds of times (or at least, what seemed to be hundreds of times) was tough to do, and it was hard to stay enthusiastic about the choice of reading material night after night. But we survived, and now that I’m looking back, I’m certain that all those extended hours we invested at bedtime have been paying off. This month we’re sharing all of our usual features – our latest fave parenting blogger, top book picks and toys – but the bigger theme behind this issue of Capital Parent is something we can’t live without: sleep. On page 3, Jason Haug from Ottawa Public Health, gives us an expert perspective with a focus on ages and stages. So many of us don’t know how much sleep is enough. Get more scoop about sleep with Anita Grace’s piece on page 5, and on page 6, Sarah Niman shares some of her own experiences with sleep training her four children. We hope Capital Parents pick up some tips to help encourage healthy sleep habits at home, and not just for the kids either! Wishing you sweet dreams,

Cover Story Who’s on the cover? It’s Rose Grosset, and she’s three.

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editor ’s

faves

PUBLISHER Mark Sutcliffe mark@greatriver.ca EDITOR

>Label it

Andrea Tomkins

We’ve been fans of Mabel’s Labels for a long time and can attest to their usefulness and durability. New this year is the Scholar’s Choice Combo. Fact: we labeled one of our rakes two years ago and it eventually resurfaced, way down the street. We never would have seen it again had it not been labeled. Pro tip: order labels with your last name only so multiple family members can use them. $42 for the set at mabelslabels.com.

andrea@capitalparent.ca twitter.com/capitalparent CONTRIBUTORS Katharine Fletcher • Anita Grace Jason Haug • Lynn Jatania Marcia MacQuarrie • Sarah Niman Kate Settle COPY EDITOR Judith van Berkom CREATIVE DIRECTOR Tanya Connolly-Holmes 613-238-1818 ext. 253

>Print it As an obsessive iPhoneographer, you can bet I love Instagram. (Look me up under “quietfish.”) You know what I love even more, hard copies of my favorite photos from all of our family adventures. So I had a poster made out of my top 200 (!) Instagram pics by Prinstagram. Now I can see them every day instead of scrolling endlessly on the app. You can also have magnets and mini books made too! Order online at printstagr.am.

creative@greatriver.ca DESIGN & PRODUCTION Sarah Ellis sarah@greatriver.ca ADVERTISING Alison Stewart 613-238-1818 ext. 226 alison@obj.ca CAPITALPARENT is published by

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Mark Sutcliffe PRESIDENT Michael Curran

>Light it up These Monkey Lights are probably the coolest thing to happen to bicycles since we put baseball cards in the spokes. The Monkey Light attaches securely to the spokes and displays bright and colorful graphics on your spinning bike wheel. It doesn’t replace your front and rear lights, but definitely adds to the fun factor. $39/$59 on Amazon.ca. p i n t e r e s t . c o m /c a p i t a l p a r e n t /

V.P. SALES Terry Tyo 613-238-1818 ext. 268 terry@greatriver.ca OFFICE LOCATION: 250 CITY CENTRE DRIVE SUITE 500, OTTAWA MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 3814, STATION C OTTAWA, ONTARIO K1Y 4J8

capitalparent.ca Capital Parent Newspaper is a monthly publication. 15,000 copies of each issue are printed and distributed across Ottawa, wherever families are found.

CARING FOR KIDS

An A to ZZZZzzz guide for healthy sleep BY JASON HAUG, PROGRAM & PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICER, OTTAWA PUBLIC HEALTH

here are a lot of things we don’t know about sleep, like what kids are actually dreaming about when they are sleeping or when they might wake up with a nightmare. There are also a lot of things we do know.

Sleep is essential to a child’s proper growth and development. According to Statistics Canada, there are strong links between short sleep times and childhood obesity. Sleep is also crucial for proper brain development, immune function, memory, emotions, and behaviour. HOW MUCH SLEEP DOES MY CHILD NEED? Many parents have questions about how much sleep their child requires. Although there are general guidelines, the fact is that every child is different. The amount of sleep your child needs also changes as they grow. Toddlers (1 to 3 years) sleep between 10 to 13 hours a day. It’s at this age that your child might start not wanting to go to bed. It’s helpful to set limits and stick to them. Your toddler will probably drop down from two naps to one a day. Naptime should not be too late in the day so it does not affect their ability to fall asleep at night. Children aged 4 to 10 years need about 10 to 12 hours of sleep per night. Because staying up late might be very exciting for them, they may pull out the stops and try to delay bedtime. Preschoolers (4 to 6 years) may still need some time to transition away from naptime. For more detailed information about how much

sleep your child needs, check out the Canadian Paediatric Society’s Caring for Kids website at caringforkids.cps.ca. HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD SLEEP? Children need routines and consistency before bed. It’s also a good idea to abstain from stimulating activities two to three hours before bedtime and putting away the electronics: playing video games, computer activity, and television or movies. Ensure that your child uses the toilet before bed; bedwetting can be common in this age group. Allow at least 30 minutes before bed for your child to wind down. Include things like bedtime stories, listening to relaxing music, or other quiet activities. The sleep environment plays a big role in helping your child sleep. Keep the bedroom quiet, dark, and comfortable. Try not to keep TVs and computers in the bedroom. To help prevent sleep problems, it’s important for children to learn to fall asleep on their own. Make sure that you put your child to bed when he/she is still awake, but drowsy. Gradually take longer to respond when they cry, ask for things at night, or wake up. Positive reinforcement will go a long way in helping to set a bedtime strategy that works for your family. Evening snacks also play into quality of sleep and it’s a good idea to

There’s nothing sweeter than a sleeping child, is there? Read on to find out more how you can help your kids catch a few extra winks.

avoid caffeine (chocolate, energy drinks, and pop) before bed. As a parent, remember to also try and get some sleep too! WHAT ARE SIGNS THAT MY CHILD MAY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SLEEP? It is easy to think that if a child wakes up during the night, it mean they might have an issue with sleep, but this is completely normal. Where it may become an issue is if it takes them a long time to fall back asleep. About 20 to 30 per cent of young children are poor sleepers, meaning that they may wake up often, cry, can’t get back to sleep, and/or are fussy or demanding at bedtime. If sleep problems are not taken care of during early childhood (1 to 5 years), the problem could last for a long time. Poor sleep during this time can affect brain development, physical growth, and success at school. Be sure to ask your doctor if you notice your child is snoring loudly, sleepwalking, having seizures or

night terrors, or breathes irregularly. WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN MY CHILD HAS A NIGHTMARE? During the preschool years (4 to 6 years old), your child might start to have nightmares. Nightmares tend to happen after a stressful event, fever, or if kids are overtired. Make sure that you comfort and re-assure your children after a nightmare. Try rubbing their back, giving them their favourite blanket or stuffed animal, or playing soft peaceful music to help them fall back asleep. To find out more, visit ottawa.ca/health or call 613-580-6744 (TTY: 613-580-9656). You can also connect with OPH on Facebook (facebook. com/ottawahealth), Tumblr (ottawahealth. tumblr.com), Twitter (@OttawaHealth) and on Pinterest (pinterest.com/otthealthsante)

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THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM

How to achieve Halloween costume perfection, in 20 easy steps BY LYNN JATANIA

Notice the weather turning to fall, lovely leaves turning colour, a nip in the air. Casually ask your kid what he’d like to be for Halloween, and frown when he tells you he’d like to be a 20-foot long Chinese dragon made from real silk. Decide to go on the offensive.

Consult Pinterest for fun ideas. Fall down Pinterest black hole.

Emerge from Pinterest black hole three days later with a pinboard full of ideas that will take a little fabric, a glue gun, and the patience of Mother Teresa.

Show your kid your pinboard and try not to be offended when he doesn’t know what a Ghostbuster is. Remain cheerfully upbeat as you attempt to sell him on the cuteness of being a miniature Gandalf, while hiding your secret agenda of making a matching Galadriel outfit, because OMG you will look so amazing in a long blonde wig, and you found the perfect replica elf ring on Etsy.

Take your child’s shrug and “I guess so” as a firm yes.

Visit the fabric store, the craft store, and the costume store for wigs and fake beards. Find a local craftsman who works with reclaimed wood to start sculpting a staff.

Sew, glue, and swear, with none of the patience of Mother Teresa.

With four weeks to go, have your child try on the costume. Radiate pride, exclaim over the cuteness, take a photo for Grandma. Pat yourself on the back for being prepared so early.

Notice, upon removal, that the beard gave your kid a rash. Ignore the problem. It’s only one night, right?

Try not to panic when you’re out at WalMart and your kid sees a polyester one-piece Ninja Turtle jumpsuit with a matching facemask that is as delicate as a Royal Daulton teapot, and flips out with excitement.

Put fingers in ears and sing loudly every time kid says “all his friends” are going as Ninja Turtles. Bury WalMart flyer advertising costumes on sale for 50 per cent off in the recycling bin.

Cave in and purchase Ninja Turtle costume. Decide to give your father-in-law a hand crafted, reclaimed wood staff for Christmas.

Perfect Galadriel costume. You are radi13 ance personified. If only the wig didn’t give you a rash – but it’s only one night, right? Try not to stab yourself in the eye with a pen when your kid declares the Ninja Turtle jumpsuit to be uncomfortable, and adds that “all his friends” are now going as Ghostbusters.

Rush to Pinterest to review Ghostbuster costumes. Call around to see if anyone has kid-sized work jumpsuits. Inform spouse he must make a jet pack because you are too busy baking 150 cupcakes for three school Halloween parties.

elbows, sigh as your kid asks if you have any extra silk scarves for a Chinese dragon costume. Facing an array of rejected costumes laid out on the bed, finally placate your over excited, over stimulated, over optioned child with last year’s too-small Harry Potter costume.

Panic about bowl of candy left on front porch, as you imagine hooligans ignoring your polite and subtle “Please take ONE” sign, and grabbing inappropriate fistfuls. Rush Harry Potter and his siblings up and down the street while trying not to trip over Galadriel dress, and ignoring the itchy wig. Insist on wearing delicate elvish slippers you found on eBay, imported from India, despite sprinkling of snow on the ground.

Try not to be too overjoyed when your kids complain of sore feet after 10 houses.

Lead the troops home, bring the empty candy bowl back inside, and turn out the porch light. Put the kids to bed and settle down with a glass of wine, a Lord of the Rings DVD, and a bowl of pilfered candy. Take the good stuff – you’ve earned it!

On the day before Halloween, with your arms covered in pumpkin guts up to the

All of Elmwood’s outstanding teachers lead, inspire and encourage our students’ confidence, sense of responsibility and academic excellence in a supportive and collaborative environment. At Elmwood, we go above and beyond to ensure our girls receive a well-rounded, rigorous education that will prepare them for life and work beyond the classroom. Come meet our faculty and see them in action at our upcoming Open House. You’ll also have an opportunity to speak to our students and families, hear more about the Elmwood difference and tour the School.

Open House: Saturday, October 18 at 9:30 a.m.

Mrs. Strachan doesn’t just teach addition and subtraction,

Call (613) 744-7783 or email admissions@elmwood.ca to RSVP.

SHE TEACHES GIRLS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. elmwood.ca 4 OCTOBER 2014 | c a p i t a l p a r e n t . c a |

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CARING FOR KIDS

The importance of a good night’s sleep BY ANITA GRACE

hree a.m. feedings, pre-dawn waking, delays in getting kids to settle for bed, these are all typical sleep problems that parents face, often on a nightly basis. But while ensuring your kids have a good sleep can be a struggle at times, Dr. Sherri Katz, who heads the sleep lab at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), says it is important for parents to keep trying. “Setting a foundation for young children is important,” she says. “Build their sleep patterns early.” As someone who studies the effect of sleep deprivation, Katz has a keen understsanding of the risks associated with sleep deprivation. “When children are sleep deprived there is an impact on learning and mem-

ory,” she says. Lack of sleep can also lead to obesity since sleep affects the hormones that control appetite. Other long-terms effects include increased blood pressure and problems with blood sugar regulation, setting the stage for diabetes and hypertension. Essentially, sleep is a vital way for the body to “restore and regenerate,” Katz says. So what can parents do to make sure their children get enough restorative sleep? Katz recommends consistency and good sleep hygiene. This means having an environment that is conducive to sleep, such as a dark, quiet room, and avoiding stimulating activities, especially videos and computer games, before bed. “Have a routine for bedtime,” Katz recommends. “This provides your child with cues about what happens next. It helps them feel comfortable, secure and sleepy.” An important aspect of the routine is going to bed at the same time every

read Rose Grosset (3) and her mother Tami Grosset like to PHOTO BY KATE SETTLE.

night. The body gets into a rhythm, Katz explains. “It becomes easier and easier to fall asleep if you go to bed at the same time each night.” Andrea Strang is a certified gentle sleepcoach and consultant. She has worked with over 4,000 children and says she has “never seen a child whose sleep cannot be improved.” Like Katz, Strang recommends that parents be consistent. “Set the expectation for sleep,” she says. “It’s not fair [to your child] to do one thing at bedtime and do something different in the night.” For example, if a mother nurses her baby to sleep at bedtime, she should be prepared for the baby to want to nurse back to sleep again after waking in the night. But while it is important to be consistent and set cues for babies and children, Strang often encourages parents to “go with the flow” with their infants. “The average sleep requirements for infants under 6 months is quite varied,” she says. Within a 24-hour period it can range anywhere from 9 to 23 hours. She advises parents to worry less about counting the hours, but rather to focus on getting to know their child and what works for them in settling for a good sleep. And for parents who are dreading the time change on November 2, Katz and Strang both encourage parents to get their kids on schedule again as soon as possible. Set the new bedtime and stick to it. “Consistency is the key to getting back on track,” suggests Katz. For more information about good sleep habits go to cheo. on.ca/en/sleep-hygiene. For a free 15-minute consult with Strang, go to kindersleep.com. a story before bedtime.

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Scare the monsters away! We love Ikea’s friendly little SPÖKA. This LED night light ($16.99) is a fun way for kids 3 and up to brighten dark bedrooms and blanket forts. The light is turned on and off by pressing the head, and it shines 4-5 hours on a fully charged battery. The built-in LED will last approximately 25,000 hours. The transformer/charger is included, so you can run it while it’s plugged in or after it’s charged. OCTOBER 2014 5

CARING FOR KIDS

What method of sleep training is the right one for you? BY SARAH NIMAN

ew parents often wonder whether things get easier, especially when it comes to sleep.

Sleepless nights are one of the first parenthood milestones we soldier through, earning our stripes. “Are you getting any sleep?” “Is he sleeping through the night yet?” To the sleep-deprived warriors, these questions are not just conversation fodder. They can cause parents to seriously question whether they know anything about babies after all. Sleep is one of a few basic functions babies can do from birth. How hard can it be to get a baby to start sleeping through the night after the novelty of the newborn sleepless stage has worn off? Do yourself a favour and never ask a new parent that question. Most parents have heard of sleep training, and the spectrum of methods available. At one end, there is Dr. Richard Ferber’s “cry-it-out” approach. He advocates letting babies “self-soothe,” or cry, for gradually longer increments of time, with parents checking intermittently. The idea is that after a few nights, baby has learned to settle back to sleep, rather than cry for a parent’s help. At the other end, there are several “no-cry” methods championed by

experts who purport anything else can damage a baby’s sense of security. In the middle are legions of sleep-deprived parents just trying to make the right choice, and survive this parenting hurdle without unwittingly damaging their baby. Scientific research wavers back and forth on each method’s effectiveness. In the end, what works in each family is the right choice. Of my own four daughters, each required different go-to-sleep tactics that resulted in a full night’s rest at different ages. My first baby would sleep for 12 hours when she was eight months old. Before that, she was a fussy one who required a lot of my time, day or night. I used Dr. Harvey Karp’s Happiest Baby on the Block strategy, which involves the five S’s of sleep: swaddling, the side or stomach position (for calming your baby, not for sleeping), shushing, swinging, and sucking. Most sleep training strategies unanimously identify the importance of establishing a predictable nighttime routine that prompts a baby’s goto-sleep mechanisms to kick in.

Term

GIC

RRIF

RRSP

1 Year

2.05

3 Year

2.40

5 Year

3.05

Every night, we gave her a bath, lathered her in cream, dressed her in a pair of adorable pajamas, fed her with the lights low, and slipped her into her crib as quietly as possible before tip-toeing out. Next, we had twins. Having twins was a great case study of how sleep-deprived parents will go to any length imaginable to get a little rest. My husband and I used man-on-man defense, bedtime routines, a final feed before bed, and when we placed them down gingerly, I kept one hand jiggling the more fidgety girl ever so slightly for up to an hour, until her tiny, whispery breaths grew deep. Our fourth girl made us feel like we didn’t know anything about getting babies to sleep. After nine months of multiple night wakings, I was getting a little twitchy. I consulted Dana Obelman’s Sleep Sense guide. She directed me to let my baby cry for a minute or two, waiting to see if she’d settle on her own. If she didn’t, I would go in and shush her gently until she quieted down. Some nights, I felt victorious and other nights I felt like a rookie parent with a broken baby. What I have learned, through four babies, numerous books, and lots of advice from other

What kind of sleep training is best for your child? There’s really only one person (or two) who can answer that question.

parents, is that it all comes down to trust. When we do away with expectations and experts, we are left with the bare bones of parenthood: our instincts, and our trust in ourselves. There is no right answer, and you have full permission to do whatever works, when you are acting out of love. Sleep training or not, cry-it-out or cuddle until the cows come home, one thing parents can count on is that they will sleep again at night, eventually. Sarah Niman is a writer, wife and mother of four. She blogs at cureforboredomiscuriosity.com.

KIDS & PETS Have kids? Have pets? Have a great picture of them together? Share your snaps with Capital Parent and each month we will publish our favourites in print and online.

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NATURE NOTES

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The masked bandits of Ottawa

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BY KATHARINE FLETCHER

ho’s the critter that resembles a masked bandit and sometimes makes a ruckus in our shed and garbage cans? It’s a raccoon, and the black face mask and white “eyebrows” are their signature markings. Because they are omnivorous (meaning they eat practically anything) and extremely adaptable, they have adjusted well to urban life, as have skunks and coyotes. Here in Ottawa, raccoons are commonly found where there are many ravines, wetlands, and urban forests providing shelter and food. Just as we need to prepare for winter by digging our snowsuits out of the closet and finding matching mittens, animals such as raccoons must also get ready for the bitter months of sub-zero weather that’s approaching. And this is the time of year they start getting ready! BULKING UP Wild animals need to gain some weight and accumulate fat in order to survive winter. Raccoons, which can weigh about 8 kg during the summer, need to bulk up as the cold weather approaches. Some have clocked in at 28 kg as winter sets in, that’s over three times their summer weight! Fat is absolutely crucial for survival. Wildlife cannot turn up a thermostat inside their den like we do in ours, so they must keep their internal thermostat stoked. The only way to do this is to build up layers of insulation underneath a thick, healthy coat of fur. Did you know that raccoons also accumulate fat in their tails, which they curl around their noses while they rest? This is another one of nature’s adaptations to prevent heat loss. As autumn approaches, wild animals’ appetites increase. Called hyperphagia, this condition prompts them obsessively to find and devour food. Fat-filled grubs such as the chubby white larvae stage of June beetles are irresistible delicacies to raccoons and skunks – and many of our lawns show the damage done by these hungry critters. In addition, raccoons will eat fresh-water mussels, crayfish, insects, corn, and a host of other vegetable and meat matter – which they’ll seek out in our garden compost and garbage, if we aren’t careful. Hyperphagia is a timely eating condition, because come winter, raccoons do not eat much at all. Whereas a raccoon might eat 227 grams of food per day in summer, as autumn and winter approach they may boost this to 2.27 kg. SEEKING SHELTER Raccoons build cozy nests usually in tree cavities, which they line with leaves. (Of course, as many homeowners know, they also exhibit a keen interest in house attics, basements, and garages.) Tree trunks provide shelter from biting winds, while the small space traps whatever body heat

per night

Raccoons are a great example of a wild animal that has adapted to its environment. Read on to learn more about one of our most prolific critters.

La location à long terme est également disponible.

they are generating. In addition, they curl up into a ball, sometimes with members of the family. This circular formation allows the least heat loss. Whereas females will nest with the current year’s young, adult males are usually solitary. This being said, apparently up to 23 individuals of both sexes and various ages have been discovered denning together. That would be pretty cramped. Can you imagine bunking up with 23 family members? THE TRUTH ABOUT HIBERNATION Raccoons don’t hibernate during the winter months, they are just inactive. If you’re lucky you may spot one on a sunny, warm winter’s day if temperatures rise above zero. This is when they tend to venture outside. Come spring, if the raccoon had enough fat on its body to ward off the cold, a slimmer version of its late autumn self emerges. But if the animal was in poor condition in the fall, it may perish. Scientists tell us that the overwinter mortality rate is as much as 50 per cent, which includes many yearlings that perhaps didn’t know to consume enough food to sustain adequate fat levels. SPRING’S RENEWAL When warmer weather arrives, raccoons emerge from their dens to eat and mate. In April or May, females give birth to up to seven cubs. The average litter, however, consists of only 3-4 cubs. With good weather, females nurse their young, teach them to forage for food, and then the mother starts building the nest site for the family before winter sets in again. Yes, nature’s cycle is repetitive – and truly, winter’s cold necessitates planning ahead! Katharine Fletcher is a keen outdoorswoman who loves observing nature and exploring wild spaces. Check her books and her blog at katharinefletcher.com. Small sizes : Under 50mm

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ParENtiNg BloGs

we LOve Correr Es Mi Destino BY LYNN JATANIA

uliette Giannesini of Correr Es Mi Destino (correresmidestino.com) has a truly unique perspective on family life in Ottawa. Maybe it’s because she’s French – her extended family still lives in a lovely part of southern France and their culture influences her daily. Or perhaps it comes from raising her young son in an urban home, trying to balance her own heritage with her husband’s Chinese culture. But mostly, we think it’s because she has the fearlessness to live life as a mother to its fullest – to travel, to explore, and to wander just as freely as before adorable little Mark came along. Although he’s still a toddler, Mark has already seen Mexico, France, NYC, and Toronto, among others places. With a free-spirited, curious approach and dozens of amazing photos, Juliette’s tales of her travels are like peeking into another place – catching a glimpse of a perfectly encapsulated nook in a foreign country. She’ll have you wanting to book your next trip right away – but in the meantime, reading her blog feels so immediate and vivid, it’s like you’ve been there yourself. It’s not all far-flung locations, either; she has plenty of great advice and anecdotes about life in Ottawa, too. Dig into her archives for info on great spots to skate, picnic, or explore in the capital (all with beautiful photos, some of which are for sale). There are also posts about quick-trip opportunities in Quebec City, Montreal, or the other side of the U.S. border, all told from a unique, inquisitive perspective that will fuel your wanderlust. As an immigrant to Canada, Juliette also has lots to say about how to ease into settling here, and how to make best use of the system. But whether you’re new to Ottawa or an old hand, you’ll find something fascinating about her view of the world.

Noteable Quote When it comes to French food, I have simple tastes. I don’t crave fancy foods. I’m happy with bread, cheese, quiches (savoury pies), chaussons aux pommes (apple turnovers), or simple pastries such as flans. Nantes has several famous and fancy pâtissiers. Their shops are fascinating, with elaborated colourful pastries on display. Frankly, I think sticking a spoon into these art pieces is a crime. Sure, the mousse might be delicious and the chocolate coating is probably just sweet enough… but can you imagine the tedious work involved in each pastry? I already find bakers are masochists. I mean, they wake up at dawn to bake loafs and loafs of bread, roll croissants into perfect half-moons and stick chocolate into sweet breads—and they do it every single morning, all over again. But pastry chefs take masochism to a whole different level, crafting these fancy yet ephemeral treats. These days, Mark has a chocolate-smeared face on half of the pictures because he discovered les boulangeries and loves his daily treat. Like every French kid, he unfolds the dough of his pain au chocolat to eat the chocolate first and he complains loudly if I buy something without a sweet filling. A piece of brioche without chocolate chips? Quelle horreur!

Read the rest of this post and more at Correr Es Mi Destino (correresmidestino.com).

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www.dovercourt.org 8 OCTOBER 2014 | c a p i t a l p a r e n t . c a |

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HALLOWEEN PRETZEL S’MORES We’ve decided that s’mores aren’t just for camping anymore. They’re too good to save just for summer nights by the fire, which is why we decided to make a few of these sweet and salty snacks at home. No fire needed! They only take a minute to assemble and a few simple ingredients. As a bonus, you can make a few at a time. One serving is often enough!

Top toy picks BY MARCIA MACQUARRIE, THE NOISE ON TOYS

You will need: Chocolate-covered pretzels Large marshmallows Small tube of ready-to-use cookie decorating icing Sprinkles of choice 1) Cover a microwave-safe plate with waxed paper or parchment paper. 2) Assemble your s’mores by cutting large marshmallows in PHOTO BY ANDREA TOMKINS half, and sandwiching each half between two of the pretzels. 3) Arrange on the covered plate and microwave for about 10 seconds. Ultimately, you want the marshmallow to heat up but not the chocolate. This may require a few trial runs and sampling. 4) Remove from the microwave and top with a bit of icing and your sprinkles. The orange and black ones are perfect for Halloween and add a touch of licorice flavour, but they’d be just as nice with Christmas-coloured sprinkles, tiny hearts or candy snowflakes, or even just chopped peanuts. 5) Eat right away or save them for after dinner, but this might be hard to do!

Even after years of playing FIVE CROWNS (8+, SET Enterprises), it’s still a treat to study the magnificent detailing on these beautifully illustrated cards. The game itself is a fun, rummylike variant with pick ups and

discards to collect sets and runs. What’s different is that each new deal adds an additional card to your hand. The game uses two duplicate, five-suited decks with plenty of wild cards, so there are ample set-making (melding) opportunities. As well, the 116-card combined deck easily accommodates up to seven players, even when dealing thirteen cards for the final hand. We love that it’s such a social game – perfect when you want to play some cards and still chat. More recently, testing families have also enjoyed playing the new FIVE CROWNS Junior. Targeted to early school-aged children, this beginner version has been nicely simplified without losing the basic elements of the original game. Visit thenoiseontoys.com to read more about this and other award winning games.

VISIT ONE OF OUR MANY OTTAWA LOCATIONS 809 Bank Street

(in the Glebe shopping district)

Our farm is transformed into a halloween giant play area. Come, bring a picnic, join us at the farm for a ghostly gathering in a country setting just a few minutes from Orleans and 30 minutes east of downtown Ottawa.

CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY:

September 28th: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A farm fun day filled with regular farm play!! Come, bring friends, join us !

JOIN US FOR OUR 20TH ANNUAL PUMPKIN FESTIVAL: October 04 - October 31 - Sat. & Sun., & Thanksgiving Monday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL WEEKDAY & SCHOOL VISITS • Mid September and all of October • Monday to Friday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Please call ahead for hours

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613-234-3836 Bayshore Shopping Centre 100 Bayshore Drive 613-721-0549 Rideau Shopping Centre 50 Rideau Street 613-230-8081 Place D’Orleans 110 Place D’Orleans Blvd 613-834-8988 315 Richmond Road

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www.ottawa.madscience.org OCTOBER 2014 9

FAMILY FUN

top 5 books

best

ctober’s crisp night air is great for sleeping, but many little ones have trouble settling down for a good night’s rest. Halloween is in the air, could that be the cause? Cuddle up with one or more of these sleepy time and spooky stories, sure to be a hit with all ages. This month’s list is by Andrea Gowing, from the Centennial branch of the Ottawa Public Library.

SEND US YOUR PICS We’d like to see your BEST family photos and selfies! Submit your favourites and you might see one or two in a future issue. For more details go to capitalparent.ca

Monster Needs his Sleep & Monster Needs a Costume, by Paul Czajak (Ages 3-6)

family snap

PHOTO BY RUQUN ZH AO

Meet Zhaohui Wang, Isabella Yishan Li (3), and Duo Li.

The Wang-Li family first came to Ottawa in September 2007 and live in the Meadowlands area. They enjoy visiting the different museums in Ottawa, and the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum is one of their favourites. (And it’s where this photo was taken.) Isabella, or “Shanshan” as she’s called at home, loves to visit with the animals and participate in the museum’s different programs. In this picture, Isabella is wearing her “Cinderella dress,” which was made by her grandmother.

Our familY

CaleNdar

Fright Fest and Fall Family Fun at Saunders Farm SEPTEMBER 27-NOVEMBER 2 Parents of older kids will be excited to learn that Saunders Farm is kicking up the scare factor this year with “The Shambles,” a new nighttime only Texas-style scare zone that takes place in an overgrown maze and in three giant shipping containers. (Eek!) The daytime experience is much milder, and features new stage shows, expanded food offerings, and more. For details go to SaundersFarm.com.

Pumpkinferno BEGINS OCTOBER 3 – NOVEMBER 1 Stroll through an outdoor exhibit of 6,000 hand-carved pumpkins. The backdrop is a fitting one: Upper Canada Village. If you haven’t seen it at night, you’re missing out! For admission info as well as dates and times, go to uppercanadavillage.com.

Halloween fun at the Diefenbunker WEEKENDS IN OCTOBER The Bunker is once again partnering with the Haunted Walks Ottawa for “Incident at the 10 OCTOBER 2014 | c a p i t a l p a r e n t . c a |

Bunker: A Zombie Adventure.” Guests will be led on an interactive adventure with the undead, deep inside the labyrinth that is the Cold War Museum. The 60-75 minute tours are a perfect combination of storytelling, interactive challenges, unexpected surprises, and of course, zombies. This special tour is recommended for brave kids age 8 and over. Check the website for dates and times at diefenbunker.ca.

Chengdu Could Not, Would Not Fall Asleep, by Barney Saltzberg (Ages 3-5)

Mansion Mayhem OCTOBER 26 Mansion Mayhem at Goulbourn Museum is a fun-filled afternoon of hair-raising Halloween hijinks. Your little devils will decorate edible haunted houses, make creepy crafts and play ghoulish games. Mansion Mayhem is taking place 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and is geared to children aged 6-11. Admission is $20 per child ($15 for Connexion Cardholders). Registration is required. This annual event fills up fast so call 613-831-2393 or email education@ goulbournmuseum.ca to reserve a spot. Check out goulbournmuseum.ca for more information. facebook.com/CapitalParent |

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“No matter what Chengdu tried, he could not, would not fall asleep.” Poor Chengdu, what is he to do? Children will love chanting along with this story, as Chengdu tosses and turns trying to fall asleep. Beautifully illustrated with pencil in black and white broken by soft green bamboo, this book is a soft and gentle story. Many children will understand Chengdu’s “perfect spot.” This is the perfect book to read out loud and help lull your child to sleep.

Click, Clack Boo! A Tricky Treat, by Doreen Cronin (Ages 3-7)

Creepy, Crawly Bytown! OCTOBER 25 & OCTOBER 26 There will be hands-on and kooky crafts for the young and young at heart at the Bytown Museum between 11 a.m. -4 p.m. on both days, and it’s included with admission. Go to bytownmuseum.com for more information.

Parents will recognize Monster’s many ploys to stay up in Monster Needs his Sleep. Children will laugh out loud at the humorous ways Monster fights to stay awake. Using rhyming text, we learn that Monster is afraid of the dark. Children will love that the child is in charge. And what would Halloween be without the never-ending worry to have the right costume? In Monster Needs a Costume, it is Monster’s turn to try to get it right. Again, rhyming text leads us through Monster’s ever changing “perfect” costumes. Monster finally gets it just right in a very funny conclusion.

Here comes another barnyard adventure from favourite author Doreen Cronin. Farmer hates Halloween. He puts a bowl of candy on the porch, and locks the doors. Out in the barn a party is brewing, a vampire-cloaked visitor arrives, and creepy sounds can be heard. What is going on? Will Farmer Brown go out to the barn? Wonderful cartoon-like illustrations make this a fun and creepy read!

While you were Sleeping: Fun Facts That Happen Every Night, by Steve Murrie (Ages 8-12) What happens while we are sleeping? Boys especially will love this fact-filled book. Divided into six easy-touse brightly coloured sections, the kid friendly pages have snippets of cool factoids. Did you know that Sirius the Dog Star only comes out at night, and less sleep means shorter fingernails? This is an engaging read for children of all levels, and parents too!

4 p i n t e r e s t . c o m /c a p i t a l p a r e n t /

OCTOBER 2014 11

Live performances by hot country artists. the breathtaking rumble of race cars. Velvety beaches and warm turquoise water.

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