Toronto Kids March 2016

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Guidelines to Find Quality Child Care PG 2

Activities to Welcome Spring!

PG 3

Family Road Trip Ideas PG 4

March Events PG 6-7

March Break Events PG 8

Maple Syrup Festivals PG 9

Mindfulness Books PG 10

Irish Soda Bread Recipe PG 11

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Centrally located (Bayview & Sheppard) O.T.A. Award Winning Jr. Program Ages 4-18, Beginner to Advanced 11 Different One Week Sessions Full and Half Day Programs

For further information or camp registration call

• • • •

Certified Professional Instructors Video Tape Analysis Written Evaluations Radar Gun Drills

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www.bayviewvillagetenniscamp.ca TORONTO KIDS - March 2016 | 1

learning | child care

Speaking of Wildlife Monday, March 14 - 12pm

An hour long presentation with some of Ontario’s magnificent wild creatures!

Magic Show With dick joiner Tuesday, March 15 - 12pm & 2pm

A 30 minute show which will conjure up a mixture of fast paced magic, comedy and audience participation!

Plant Buddy craft

Wednesday, March 16 - 12pm to 3pm

Kids will create a googly-eyed plant buddy with planter. A wonderful spring time craft kids can take home to water and care for as it sprouts!

Lets ZooooMmmmmba!

Thursday, March 17 - 12pm & 2pm

circus Show

A 30 minute fun fitness party featuring dance styles such as Salsa, Irish Dancing, Bollywood, Reggaetown and more!

Friday, March 18 -12pm & 2pm

A 30 minute show full of excitement and fun including magic, juggling, rolla-bola and a lot of laughter!

COME OUT TO GERRARD SQUARE & CHECK OUT OUR GREAT STORES!

2 | TORONTO KIDS - March 2016

Guidelines to helps parents find quality child care Spring is nature’s time for renewal and rejuvenation.

It can also be a time of changing needs for busy families – and this may include the need to arrange early learning and care for children.

If you’re looking for guidance, one place to begin your enquiries is with your local primary school.

Some offer early learning and care on-site, either delivering programs directly or through a partnership with a non-profit child care operator located within the school. In addition to a convenient location, here are some other factors to consider when searching out care for your child • How long has the centre or program been operating and what is the experience level of the staff ?

• Is there a registered early childhood educator (RECE) on site? Parents can visit a public register online at www.college-ece.ca/publicregister to verify the registration status of an RECE. • What does the learning program include?

• How will information about your child’s development be shared with you?

• What safety procedures are in place?

• Remember that visiting a child care centre in person to make sure the environment is safe and up to expectations, can aid your decision.

While many parents may agree that researching a centre and staff is important, this agreement does not always translate into action. In fact, a survey of Ontario parents conducted on behalf of the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE) shows that only one in 10 have ever researched the professional status of their child’s educator.

“It’s only in recent years that parents have the comfort of knowing that the person looking after

their young child is a registered professional who is held accountable for their actions – and this is currently the case only in Ontario,” says Melanie Dixon, director of professional practice at the CECE. “The college exists to ensure that all registered early childhood educators meet qualifications and will practise under ethical and professional standards. It also ensures that parents have easy access to their professional status.”

What is an RECE? RECEs are more than ‘babysitters.’ While babysitters do interact with and have an impact on young children, it is sometimes considered a part-time job and does not require any qualifications. A registered early childhood educator, on the other hand, is skilled, knowledgeable and accountable. They work to assess children’s developmental needs in a variety of developmental domains and design a curriculum that can be tailored to a child’s individual needs.

RECEs are trained and educated in their field.

They are required to complete post-secondary training programs and adhere to ethical and professional standards. The College of ECE ensures that RECEs meet minimum training and education requirements.

The college also recently established a Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) program to support ongoing education.

The college regulates and governs these educators in the public interest, setting standards and helping to ensure only qualified professionals are employed in the sector. RECEs who fail to maintain the standards are held accountable for their actions through a Complaints and Discipline process.

— www.newscanada.com

TORONTO

KIDS &

spring forward | spring fun

into action

publisher DANA ROBBINS toronto general manager JOHN WILLEMS director of advertising Cheryl PHILLIPS advertising manager ANNE BESWICK director of circulation and distribution operations MIKE BANVILLE regional director of production and creative services KATHERINE PORCHERON features writers TASHA ZANIN sarah lennox cover design KIMBERLY FONG

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No part of this publication may by reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. Toronto Kids is in full compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act. Call 416-493-4400 for more information.

10 activities to welcome the warmer weather Mark March 20 on your calendars. That’s the official first day of spring. With a mostly mild winter behind us, it’s time to look forward to above zero temperatures, and all the spring activities that come with it.

Follow our top ten list and enjoy welcoming spring with your kids. After all, the first signs of spring are all about creating some huge family fun!

1. Visit the zoo babies Spring is in the air, which means cuddly animal newborns are cropping up at the zoo. Take a day to meet the adorable latest additions!

2. Go for a bike ride When it’s officially springtime and the weather has started to turn the corner, it’s a great time to start thinking about riding bikes. A family bike ride can help families stay connected, have fun and stay healthy together. So tune up your bikes and go for an outing. Don’t forget your helmets.

3. Go fly a kite Grab a kite or two and head outside. If you don’t have enough room in your backyard, hit the local park or beach. Spring is the perfect time to enjoy flying kites.

4. Visit a rural farm Introduce your children to your local farmers and let your children discover that baby animals are even cuter in real life! Many farms offer fun family activities, so make a day of it!

5. Organize a spring scavenger hunt It’s the perfect family outdoor activity. Look for a bird’s feather, a leaf, a smooth rock, a pine cone, a wildflower, and so on. To make the most of your adventure, bring along binoculars and a notebook so

SAVE

you can record what you see.

6. Chalk art Spend an afternoon creating a sidewalk masterpiece with sidewalk chalk. Kids love the free, playful doodling nature of sidewalk chalk art!

7. Think about gardening Get your kids to organize spring seeds and have them help prepare your garden. There is nothing that kids love more than digging in the dirt, so use those extra little hands to help you in the garden.

Plus, gardens attract bugs, birds and butterflies – which kids love!

8. Eat outside!

If weather permits in March, eat outside. After being cooped up inside all winter, everything tastes

better outside! Throw a quick picnic together, spread out an old sleeping bag with the nylon towards the damp grass to keep everyone from getting wet. Best part? No ants. Bon appétit!

9. Go to an outdoor playground Playgrounds are great for kids to enjoy the outdoors. It’s a place to play, stay active and have fun at the same time! Hit the monkey bars, the slides and the swings!

10. Make a spring craft Celebrate spring with some fun, cute crafts that will make any kid’s creativity bloom! Try making bugs, farm animals and all things that represent the season.

— www.Toronto4Kids.com

Cut down grocery bills and help others do the same.

Learn more at Save.ca/saveitfwd TORONTO KIDS - March 2016 | 3

spring forward | family fun Buy postcards from places and attractions you visit. Kids can jot down notes and rank their experience (one to 10) before tucking the cards into an album.

• Not into writing? Keep a list. Have your kids record all kinds of facts about the trip: number of kilometres driven each day, animals seen from the road, states/provinces they spotted on licence plates, places/attractions visited, foods they ate, etc.

• Keep a picture book. If writing doesn’t grab them, move on to images. Kids can sketch animals, hotel rooms, parks, zoos, roller coasters, and other attraction visited. Sometimes pictures really do speak louder than words.

Road trip scavenger hunt Write out a numbered list of 20 things you’ll likely see on your route. Include vehicles (truck, minivan, motorcycle, police car), animals (cow, dog, zoo or amusement park. Or give yourself an hour to horse, bird), and buildings and other roadside items park beside a river and have a picnic lunch while the (barn, stop sign, church, fence, bridge). Photocopy kids kick a ball around. Get out of the car for a little the page for each child. For kids too young to read, use pictures instead of words. At the end of the trip, while during a long drive – it’s very therapeutic. see who has the most things crossed off their list.

Road trip treats Driving in the dark? Give your kids glow sticks, Bring small gifts and loot (dollar store items) for little book lights, or tiny flashlights. Just a little extra the kids to unwrap along the way. fun for the kids during night driving – before they Keeping kids entertained on the road • Write a journal. Give the kids a diary to keep fall asleep.

Happy travels! track of their daily activities. Have them read the — www.Toronto4Kids.com entries aloud. You’ll love hearing their thoughts!

On the road again As we head into March Break, many families will be setting out on a road trip. When you’re spending time together, the journey is really as important as the destination. A family road trip doesn’t have to be a gruelling test of endurance.

We’ve got some great ideas for keeping the kids entertained and busy on any long drive: What to bring You made your list and checked it not twice, but at least 10 times. As far as you can tell, you have not forgotten anything – not the wet wipes, the blan-

kets or the anti-carsick pills. Are you really ready for take-off ?

Road trip entertainment essentials Bring hand-held games, iPods and iPads (loaded with movies), books, activities, toys, colouring books, crayons and mini board games. Snacks and drinks help pass the time too.

Make the journey fun Don’t be in such a rush! Leave yourself enough time to take a detour to visit the much-advertised attractions along your route. There may be a museum,

The ultimate place to play! consumer feature

TORONTO FRENCH MONTESSORI SCHOOL

Playdium - for the young and young at heart

Playdium is the ultimate interactive, virtual, and physical entertainment centre for energetic families.

The 40,000 sq. ft. indoor complex features more than 200 high-tech attractions, rides and simulators. During your next visit, check-out the newest attractions and games at Playdium that include Spin Zone Bumper Cars and MaxFlight Roller Coaster Simulator. Also new are dozens of video and redemption games, including Jusassic Park, Crossy Roads, Star Wars Battle Pod, Moto GP and Angry Birds.

Playdium has an 11-acre outdoor park featuring go karts, mini golf, batting cages, bungee trampoline, and Water Wars where you catapult water balloons and try to soak your opponents.

Spend the day playing on all the exciting games and attractions, then take your tickets to

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Learning Through Discovery

Award Winning Bilingual Education FRENCH & ENGlISH EdUCAtION WItH SPANISH AS A SECONd lANGUAGE CO-EdUCAtIONAl SCHOOl FOR StUdENtS AGEd 2 tO 14

Playdium’s exciting Redemption Zone where you can redeem your tickets for plush toys, electronics and handheld games.

Refuel and energize yourself at Playdium’s diner. Here you can feast on a full menu of delicious appetizers, entrees, snacks, beverages, and pizza from Pizza Pizza.

Make Playdium part of your next special event. The facility is

4 | TORONTO KIDS - March 2016

able to accommodate Corporate Events as well as Ultimate Birthday Parties, Youth Group Events and Sports Team Celebrations and Banquets.

Playdium is located at 99 Rathburn Road in Mississauga.

For more information call 905-273-9000 or visit the website at www.playdium.com for details about the March Break specials.

ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS FOR 2016 - 2017 SCHOOL YEAR

SPRING OPEN HOUSE 432 Sheppard Ave. East Friday, May 27, 2016

416.250.9952

53 Cummer Ave. Friday, May 06, 2016

torontoFrenchMontessori.ca

TSA LIFE DRAWING FOR TEENS MARCH BREAK INTENSIVE INTRODUCES STUDENTS TO THE FUNDAMENTALS OF LIFE DRAWING AND OFFERS A HANDS-ON STUDIO EXPERIENCE TO BUILD SKILLS AND DEVELOP A PERSONAL STYLE. Aspiring artists (ages 14-17) explore illustrative and animation-type drawing, realism, basic anatomy, abstraction and expressive drawing approaches to build several final portfolio pieces by the end of the week! All levels welcome. Save $50 with promo code TOkids50.

To register, visit tsa-art.com, call, or drop by the office.

980 Dufferin Street, 2nd Floor Toronto, ON M6H 4B4 416.504.7910 | info@tsa-art.com

TORONTO KIDS - March 2016 | 5

upcoming events Build and Grow Clinics at Lowe’s Conveniently shop while your kids build a fun and educational project!

Recommended: For children from grades two to five. What Kids Will Take Home: The toy they make, a merit certificate, name tag, apron and goggles. On March 12, build a Dragon Monster Truck. Free.

March 12 Various Locations www.lowes.ca/articles/build-andgrow-clinics_a756.html Build a Wagon at Home Depot Kids will learn how to build a wagon with easy to follow step-by-step instructions. Participants will walk away with a wagon and special tools from the Home Depot. Free.

March 12 - 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Various Locations www.homedepot.ca/en/home/ideashow-to/workshops.html Sugar Beach Sugar Shack This March Break, Sugar Beach (Jarvis

and Queens Quay) is being transformed into a Quebec-style cabane à sucre, complete with maple taffy on snow.

Live musical performances by local French artists. Food trucks will serve up Quebecois favourites and hot drinks.

Local tavern Against the Grain, located at Corus Quay, will have its water’s edge patio open all weekend for drinks and meals. Maple syrup cooking demonstrations and ice carving demonstrations are scheduled for both days. Free admission.

March 12 to 13 Canada’s Sugar Beach Jarvis St. and Queens Quay E. www.sugarshackTO.ca St. Patrick’s Day Parade The 29th Annual Toronto St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place on Sunday, March 13. With more than 100 bands, floats and marching sections, the parade is a colourful celebration of all things Irish.

This year, there will be face painting along the route to help Torontonians get in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit.

Education

March 13 - 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Through downtown Toronto www.topatrick.com SUPERDUDE AND DOCTOR RUDE at The Second City SUPERDUDE AND DOCTOR RUDE. In a world where kids make the rules, super-villains won’t know what hit them. Join the Supercrew on a wild musical adventure filled with jet packs, secret lairs, and selfies! Recommended for ages 4-12.

March 14 to 20 The Second City Theatre 51 Mercer St. (at Blue Jays Way) www.secondcity.com/shows/toronto/ super-dude-doctor-rude/ National Engineering Month at the CN Tower Celebrate National Engineering Month with the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers at the CN Tower. Spend time with the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers and discover all the cool ways engineers influence the world around us with fun activities and games designed by the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers in celebration of National Engineering Month.

March 15 & 16 CN Tower http://nemontario.ca/events/ospe2016-2/ Goodnight Moon at YPT YPT is delighted to bring Seattle Children’s Theatre to Canada for the first time. The Great Green Room comes to life before your eyes in this delightful family musical that stays true to the beloved book. One of the best ways for children to feel cherished and loved is to cozy up with a children’s classic!

March 19 Young People’s Theatre

Greetings, Parents!

My name is Heather Duncan, and I’m looking forward to having your child in my Montessori School this year. If you have any questions, please contact me at 416 752-8300 or vertcasa@gmail.com. I have listed some useful information about our School and upcoming events, below.

Open House

Class Schedule

Vert Casa Montessori I would like to invite you and a friend to our school’s Open House. Come and learn about our classroom procedures and the wonderful world of Montessori learning!

Date: March 23, 2016 Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm Location: 2723 St Clair Ave E. East York

Pre-school, JK, SK, and Elementary Here is a sample of our daily class schedule.

Circle time, Montessori Activities: Math, Language, Sensorial, Practical Life, Cultural, French, Art and Music. Spanish is taught in Elementary.

6 | TORONTO KIDS - March 2016

Summer Art Camp for children 4-10 Summer Art Camp is a wonderful learning experience for Children.

Thank you for your interest.

I know it will be a fun and successful year for the students.

I look forward to meeting you at our Open House.

Best regards, Heather Duncan

Hands-On

Sports

Outdoor

Food

Arts

Princess Dance Party!

March 17 Book now for this March Break event! Step into your favourite Fairytale. Join us for the 1st Annual Princess Dance Party on Thursday, March 17 at the historic Casa Loma in Toronto for an evening of enchantment! This magical night includes horse and carriage rides around the castle, a face painting zone, craft stations and hobnobbing with your favourite Princesses and Superheroes.

Casa Loma

www.childrenswish.ca/princessparty/toronto

165 Front St. E. www.youngpeoplestheatre.ca/showstickets/goodnight-moon/ Easter Egg Painting Workshop: A Family Workshop Learn this ancient art form. Create your own personalized pysanky (Easter eggs) using traditional wax resist techniques. Pre-registration is required.

6 years and Up. March 19 & 20 Todmorden Mills Heritage Museum and Arts Centre 67 Pottery Rd. www.toronto.ca/museum-events Disney on Ice presents 100 Years of Magic Grab your Mickey ears and get ready for the ultimate Disney experience at Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic at Rogers Centre! Relive the magic of Disney’s Frozen with Anna, Elsa and the hilarious Olaf as they discover that true love is the greatest

magic of all. Be charmed by a cast of over 50, with Mouse-ter of Ceremonies, Mickey Mouse; sweetheart Minnie Mouse; Donald Duck; and Goofy.

Disney Princesses, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Ariel, Snow White and Tiana will also be in attendance.

March 17 to 20 Rogers Centre www.rogerscentre.com Toronto’s ComiCON Toronto ComiCon presented by FAN EXPO is a pop culture convention for fans of comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming. The 3-day extravaganza is packed with exciting family-friendly activities and celebrities. Kids are free with the purchase of an adult ticket.

Limit of 2 free kids per adult. You must download a coupon from website.

March 18 to 20 Metro Toronto Convention Centre www.comicontoronto.com

upcoming events High Park Easter Egg Hunt This year, the annual Easter Egg Hunt in High Park will be held on the grounds of Colborne Lodge Museum. Outdoor egg hunts for children are scheduled every 30 minutes starting at 11 a.m. – the last hunt at 3 p.m. Other activities include - dyeing eggs with natural dyes in the historic kitchens, making bunny-themed crafts, face painting, explorations of Colborne Lodge and a visit from the our friend the Bunny.

Small fees apply for some activities.

March 20 - 11 a.m. tp 4 p.m.

Colborne Lodge - High Park 11 Colborne Lodge Dr., South end of High Park www.toronto.ca/museum-events Easter at the Toronto Zoo Kids and adults will have the opportunity to connect with wildlife conservation by visiting our interactive interpretive stations throughout the Zoo. Check out our schedule and drop by to learn about how we at the Toronto Zoo are working hard to save and protect animals from around the world. Get closer. Discover more.

March 25 to March 28 Toronto Zoo www.torontozoo.com/Events Old Man and The River at Solar Stage A play for ages 3 and up. A grumpy old man lives in his little house in the woods by the river. Every day is the same and he likes it this way...until one day a magical creature leaps into his world and everything changes.

This beautifully designed puppet play performed without words to an enchanting musical score. It’s about friendship, communication, play, adjusting to change, and respecting the natural world.

March 26 Solar Stage Children’s Theatre 4950 Yonge St.

www.solarstage.on.ca I Spy at Solar Stage A magic show for ages 4 and up. Phil, The Magic Guy, needs your help! He’ll make the impossible happen right before your eyes. A mischievous silk scarf will come to life, a giant magic wand will create some giant magic, and silver coins will appear out of thin air...that is, if he can find them all!

The laugh-filled show will keep both kids and adults entertained from start to finish, and the magic will leave everyone scratching their heads.

March 27 Solar Stage Children’s Theatre 4950 Yonge St. www.solarstage.on.ca Tea and Tour Sundays at Gibson House There’s a seat for you at the harvest table in the historic kitchen on Sunday afternoons this winter. Relax and have a chat over tea and homemade cookies. Enjoy a tour of this lovely, 1850s farmhouse. Included with regular admission.

Sundays in March Gibson House 5172 Yonge St. www.toronto.ca/museum-events Public Skating at Evergreen Brick Works Lace up this winter and take a skate on family-friendly outdoor ice rink! It’s the perfect place for winter fun, as you wind through the gardens and enjoy nature in the city! Free admission.

Until March 18 (weather permitting) 550 Bayview Ave. www.evergreen.ca Family Sundays at the AGO With events for little kids, big kids and the whole family, there is fun for everyone. Our interactive, innovative family activities change on a monthly basis and are inspired by our ever-changing exhibitions and collections.

TORONTO

Hands-On

Education

Sports

Outdoor

Food

Arts

Until April Art Gallery of Ontario www.ago.net/family-sunday-programming Circus! The Exhibition at Ontario Science Centre Circus! The Exhibition explores the magic of the circus through a scientist’s eye. This all-ages experience is a highly interactive, sensory and educational extravaganza and will appeal to anyone who has ever wondered what it would be like to run away and join the circus.

Until May 1 Ontario Science Centre www.ontariosciencecentre.ca Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age at Ontario Science Centre Piece together the past to change the future at the Ontario Science Centre’s new exhibition Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age. Exciting hands-on displays, including fossils and life-sized replicas, and much more.

Until April 24 Ontario Science Centre www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/Mammoths/ Munsch Mash at Solar Stage The newest Solar Stage rendition of Robert Munsch stories performed as one play in Munsch Mash! Adults and children alike will have a ball of fun reliving these Munsch classics in a brand new play. Based on the books PIGS PIGS PIGS, David’s Father, Angela’s Airplane and Jonathan Cleaned Up and Then He Heard a Sound. Get ready to laugh, and help us tell the stories.

Until March 20 Solar Stage Children’s Theatre 4950 Yonge St. www.solarstage.on.ca March Weekends Scarborough Museum

at

Not only is it easy to be green, it’s also great fun! Come celebrate everything green this month at Scarborough Museum as we get ready for St. Patrick’s Day and the start of spring. Want to get a head start on your garden? Kids make lawn ornaments to take home to jazz it up! Admission is pay what you can.

Until March 27 Scarborough Museum 1007 Brimley Rd. www.toronto.ca/museum-events The Kids’ Gallery Pets and Me: Explore, Imagine, Create Come visit the Kids’ Gallery at the AGO, a space created especially for children and families. Together you can experience art first-hand, learn and have fun. In this second exhibition of paintings, sculptures and photographs in the Kids’ Gallery, you’ll encounter children and pets from long-ago times and faraway places. You’ll see cats and dogs and even a rabbit.

Until Nov. 27 Art Gallery of Ontario www.ago.net/pets-and-me-exploreimagine-create Fancy Nancy The Musical at Lower Ossington Theatre Bonjour! Meet Fancy Nancy: from the top of her tiara down to her sparkly studded shoes, Nancy believes that more is ALWAYS better when it comes to being fancy! From Toronto’s producers of Pinkalicious The Musical and Dora The Explorer Live, Fancy Nancy The Musical is a charming adaptation of the picture book Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet.

Extended to May 1 Lower Ossington Theatre - Mainstage 100A Ossington Ave. www.lowerossingtontheatre.com For an updated list of events, visit: www.toronto4kids.com/Calendar

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events | march break

Gimme a break!

March Break at the Bata Shoe Museum Shake off the winter blues and join the Bata Shoe Museum for some “fun in the sun.” Decorate your own visor and sandal box, add to the community puzzle and see it grow, dress up in groovy summer footwear and take a selfie in front of a beachscape, play games in the galleries and so much more!

Bata Shoe Museum 327 Bloor St. West www.batashoemuseum.ca/

Hockey Hall of Fame 30 Yonge St., Brookfield Place www.hhof.com/MarchBreak/Toronto4Kids.shtml

Oh Baby - It’s March Break at the Toronto Zoo Join us this March Break and visit with some of our newest Zoo family members, including our four playful male white lion cubs, female polar bear cub and Canada’s first giant panda cubs. While here, take in one of our free Keeper Talks or visit one of our Volunteer Interpretive Stations and discover AGO March Break Drop-In Family Fun more about our important conservation programs Inspired by the worldwide “maker” movement, the and how you can become a species protector!

AGO will open the studio to explore our most cre- Toronto Zoo ative selves and make art! Try print making with www.torontozoo.com/Events/ the most unusual materials and techniques one day and constructing and deconstructing all kinds Enchanted March Break at the ROM of things the next day.

Experience the spirit of adventure, exploration and Art Gallery of Ontario imagination with dynamic hands-on fun for kids 317 Dundas St. West and families at the ROM. Drop-in events, like pupwww.ago.net pet making, acting scenes from Romeo and Juliet, court dancing and a hands-on experience with March Break at the Hockey Hall of Fame snakes and spiders run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Try your hand at goal-tending, shooting, play-by- 100 Queen’s Park play calling, and even hosting your own sports www.rom.on.ca/en/whats-on/march-break broadcast. Plus, daily giveaways for kids. Download a Family Savings Coupon. Present coupon and get March Break at TIFF Bell Lightbox $2 off each admission, receive a $5 Esso Gift Card + This March Break, TIFF Kids invites you to close the a Esso Gift Pack for each child. books and explore the many worlds of wonder

8 | TORONTO KIDS - March 2016

March Break Fun for Families Events for March 12 to 20

from the wizards of DreamWorks Animation, including Shrek, Bee Movie, and How to Train your Dragon.

TIFF Bell Lightbox 350 King St. W. www.tiff.net March Break at Evergreen Brick Works Discover nature in the city with a jam-packed week of outdoor fun for the whole family. Try out fat bike riding, art workshops, delicious food, live interactive children’s performances and scavenger hunts.

Evergreen Brick Works 550 Bayview Ave. www.evergreen.ca/marchbreak

Historic Site! At this authentic War of 1812 fort, children will have fun trying soldiers’ drill classes, officers’ sword drill, and dressing up in costumes.

Fort York National Historic Site 250 Fort York Blvd. www.toronto.ca/museum-events

March Mania in the Valley Drop in for March Break fun and games in the Valley! Visit our historic Cottage to sample a tasty treat, and discover toys and games popular in generations past. Look for signs of spring in the Wildflower Preserve with a round of outdoor nature bingo. Make a unique take-home craft.

Todmorden Mills Heritage Museum and Arts Centre March Break Mystery Fun at Black Creek 67 Pottery Rd. Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Stolen Sheep! www.toronto.ca/museum-events Black Creek will open its doors specifically for March Break! Kids will enjoy investigating the lat- Family DROP-IN at Mackenzie House est mystery in the Village, exploring in and out of Drop in for some Victorian fun! Typeset your name the buildings and solving the mystery of the stolen on the 1845 printing press, make a craft to take sheep! Kids are free with adult admission. home, and have a cookie in the historic kitchen.

Black Creek Pioneer Village Mackenzie House www.blackcreek.ca 82 Bond St. www.toronto.ca/museum-events March Break drop-in for Families at Fort York Looking for a day of adventure during March Break?

For more March Break Events, visit: Just bring your family down to Fort York National www.toronto4kids.com/Calendar.

events | syrup festivals

A sweet escape Sugar Bush Tours and Pancakes at Richardson’s Farm & Market Come on out to the farm with family and friends to watch the sap being boiled and enjoy some piping hot pancakes, sausage, and pure maple syrup! Take a wagon ride to the sugar bush for a guided tour to see how we collect sap, using both buckets and a modern pipeline. Be sure to browse around the market before you leave and take some maple syrup and other tempting treats home with you! www.richardsonsfarm.com Sweet Water Demonstrations at Crawford Lake Weekends, March Break and holidays - Visit the reconstructed Iroquoian Village and learn how maple syrup was discovered and used by Ontario’s First Peoples as you take in an interactive (and edible!) Sweet Water demonstration. Nostalgia is served warm and gooey in the afternoon as staff demonstrate how to make taffy on snow. Maple-themed crafts and discovery hunts for kids! http://conservationhalton.ca/events

Maple Sugar Festival and Pancake House at Brooks Farms Visit Brooks Farms this March and April for our Maple Sugar Festival and Pancake House! Join us for train and wagon rides, sap and syrup tastings, barnyard playland, camp fire in sugar bush, and much more including a pancake house serving pancakes with real maple syrup, maple muffins and butter tarts, sausage, and hot drinks. Open daily during March Break. www.brooksfarms.com

MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVALS RUNNING UNTIL APRIL 3 ber of activities: tractor drawn wagon rides, kids activities, outdoor pioneer displays, sugar shack demonstrations, taffy tasting, pancake breakfast, and live entertainment! www.maplesyrupfest.com

Maple Syrup Festival at Bruce Mill It’s a sure sign of spring! Come out and tap into spring! Enjoy demonstrations, wagon rides, activities.... and of course pancakes and real maple syrup! Special family-fun activities on Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival weekends and March Break!

With the approach of Spring, people will be sure of several things: www.maplesyrupfest.com birds will be singing and pancakes will be flipping at the 40th Annual Maple Syrup Festival at Purple Woods Conservation Area Museums of Mississauga Maple Magic in Oshawa. See how maple syrup was made over 400 years ago Mississauga’s favourite maple tradithrough to the modern methods of today, take a horse-drawn tion returns to the Bradley Muwagon ride, and enjoy some hot pancakes. seum for March Break. Learn www.cloca.com/msf/ how to tap a tree and follow the sap lines to the Maple Syrup Festival at Kortright Bradley House kitchen Enjoy the great outdoors at Kortright, as you walk along a marked where maple treats await. path detailing the making of maple syrup. The Maple Syrup Fes- Enjoy an afternoon of trutival includes demonstrations, wagon rides, activities, and of ly Canadiana-themed fun! course pancakes with maple syrup. There are special March Break March 14 to 20 activities planned so visit their website to get full details. https://culture.mississauga. www.maplesyrupfest.com ca/event/maple-magic

Sugar Bush Trek at White Meadows Farms Relive the legend of maple syrup’s discovery, test your hand at pioneer wood-cutting, and savour the sweet difference of 100 per cent pure maple syrup. Try it warmed up, oozed over snow, and rolled on a stick -- called Taffy-on-Snow, what generation after generation calls the most beloved, must-have, sugar season tradition. Hop on our Sugar Shuttle tractor-pulled wagon and let our family take your family into the heart of our working sugar- Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival at Terra Cotta Conservation bush.

Area www.whitemeadowsfarms.com/stuff-to-do/sugar-bush-trek Come out and tap into spring! This year’s festival includes a num-

For more maple syrup festivals, visit: www.toronto4kids.com/Calendar.

Fun and Educational!

Summer Camps!

• Lego Robotics Camps • Star Wars Fan Camp • Minecraft Computer Camp • Lego Friends Space Adventurers

Minecraft or LEGO obsessed? Does this describe your children? Ready for the BEST technology summer camp ever! Join us as we build, explore, learn and play with the most engaging learning platforms on the planet!

LEGO Robotics, Minecraft Computer Camp, Star Wars Fan camp are just a few of our award d winning camps!

Register online at www.BrickWorksAcademy.com for this award winning summer camp!

Ages 6 to 14, Toronto - Kingsway Lambton Church & Beach United Church Brick Works Academy a division of Emote Media Inc. LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this camp.

TORONTO KIDS - March 2016 | 9

learning | book nook

book nook

Waiting Kevin Henkes An owl, a puppy, a bear, a rabbit, and a pig sit happily on a windowsill, waiting for something amazing to happen.

What will happen? Will patience win in the end? Or someday will the friends stop Ages waiting and do some3-5 thing unexpected?

Our book nook this month focuses on mindfulness and the power of patience, kindness and imagination.

The Power of Henry’s Imagination Skye Byrne When Henry’s beloved stuffed rabbit, Raspberry, goes missing, he enlists his family to help him search for the missing toy to no avail. Then Henry’s grandfather suggests Ages that Henry use his imagi6-8 nation to find his rabbit.

Awesome is Everywhere Neil Pasricha With the touch of your fingers go on a stunning interactive journey to see the world as you never have before. Fly through wispy clouds, dive deep into the sparkling ocean... You will discover you can fly Ages your mind to anywhere 3-5 on Earth.

Wonder R. J. Palacio Auggie was born with a facial difference that prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting Gr. 5 at Beecher Prep, he wants to be treated as an ordinary kid. Told from three perspectives Ages “Wonder” teaches the 9-12 power of kindness.

Zen Socks Jon J. Muth Leo and Molly love their new neighbourhood. Best of all is their friend Stillwater, a giant panda who teaches Molly about patience. Leo teaches Stillwater about sharing.

And Molly shows how Ages one act of kindness can 6-8 make a difference.

March 12 th -20 th , 2016

CASALOMA.CA

LIBERTYGROUP.COM

10 | TORONTO KIDS - March 2016

1 Austin Terrace Toronto | 416.923.1171

recipe | irish soda bread

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! TRY YOUR LUCK WITH AN IRISH TRADITION St. Patrick’s Day provides the perfect opportunity to celebrate Irish culture. Such celebrations are not truly complete without some traditional Irish food, such as the following recipe for Irish soda bread, courtesy of Linda Collister’s “Quick Breads” (Ryland, Peters & Small).

Everyone in the family can help out with this fast, simple recipe. The short list of inexpensive ingredients makes this bread an easy make-ahead addition to any meal.

Irish Soda Bread Makes 1 medium loaf Ingredients • 3 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour • 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda • 1 teaspoon sea salt • 1 2/3 cups buttermilk (roughly) • Nonstick baking sheet, lightly dusted with flour

DID YOU KNOW...

In Ireland, many people made soda bread as a meal during the potato famine of the mid-1800s.

The ingredients were cheap and easy to cook over a fire.

Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 425 F. 2. Sift the flour, baking soda and salt into a large bowl and make a well in the centre. Pour the buttermilk into the well and mix it into the dry ingredients with a round-bladed knife or your hands to make a soft, slightly sticky, rough-looking dough.

3. Turn out the dough on a lightly-floured work surface and shape it into a ball. Set the dough onto the baking sheet and gently flatten it so it is about 1.5 inches high. With a table knife, score the dough with a cross. Dust with a little flour then bake for about 35 minutes until a good golden brown. To test if the loaf is cooked, tap underneath with your knuckles. If it sounds hollow, it is ready. If it gives a dull thud, bake it for a few minutes longer and test it again.

4. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Wrap well to store or freeze for up to 1 month.

—MS

aL I C E Sp S FOR R OFFE dES 8, GRa & 10 9

ON LIN E GRadE 12 CREdIT S avaILa BLE

REGISTER NOW FOR SEpTEmBER & SummER Camp

private Elementary & Secondary School montessori Casa (ages 3-6) Our Tuition Includes: • Small Classes • Safe & Caring Environment • Free Before & After School Programs • Character Education • Weekly Swimming Lessons • Early Start French Language Classes • Art & Music • Early Start Literacy & Numeracy • Daily Physical & Health Education • Sports Programs SSAF Member 1500 Birchmount Rd., Toronto ON 416-266-8878 ext. 247 info@bondacademy.ca • www.bondacademy.ca

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TORONTO KIDS - March 2016 | 11

12 | TORONTO KIDS - March 2016