Looking For Something To Do: North Toronto Splash Pad Edition

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Beth-Anne Jones

Looking for something to do with the kids this summer to beat the heat? Why not try out a city splash pad?

Toronto is spotted with great splash pads and wading pools that make cooling off with little ones easy-peasy. I recently discovered Hendon Park, which is definitely not new since my nephews used to romp in and out of the spraying palm trees more than a dozen years ago.

The large spray pad contains several palm trees which rain water down and just as many fountains that shoot streams high overhead. An adjacent patch of sprayers is available for the littlest ones looking for some fun, which makes taking kids of various ages just a bit easier.

Next to the water attraction is a decent sized park with swings, climbers and public tennis courts. Washrooms are free to use so you don’t have to worry about cutting the trip short to use the potty. But since I have boys, who view the world as their tree, we rarely have this problem!

Bring a blanket, some snacks and grab a spot in the plentiful shade and enjoy a day with friends.

More information about Hendon Park including directions click here.

Melanie On The Go offers her review of Hendon Park here.

For a complete location of Toronto’s splash pads click here.

Where are the best splash/spray pads in your neighbourhood?

photo credit: http://www.melanieotg.ca

Help! What to do with these kids!?

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Beth-Anne Jones

Stuck on what to do with the kids? Are the summer days feeling long? Searching for the perfect activity to do with the family this weekend?

Melanie On The Go to the rescue!

I stumbled across this great website, where Melanie, a mom of two, reviews hot-spots for kiddies in the greater Toronto area. She gives a complete over view of parks, splash pads, amusement parks and farms complete with pros and cons, which makes planning a whole lot easier.

Melanie’s site is perfect for families with little ones but for kids who have outgrown wading pools and kindergym, check out these websites that I look to for a little inspiration:

www.toronto4kids.com

www.littlepaper.com

www.savvymom.com

Click on About Town and Things to Do With a Boy (on the Categories menu) for some other suggestions from the 4mothers.

How about you? What are some of your go-to websites? If you live outside of the GTA share the wealth and let us know where to go, someone might be visiting your town!

photo credit: http://www.livingmymoment.com

What lazy days of summer?

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Beth-Anne Jones

I long for those lazy days of summer. Reading books under a tree, strolling for ice cream, meeting friends for patio dinners. Those are the summer days of yesteryear. My days of summer are not anything but. It’s been three weeks of summer and we’ve:

– Planted cucumbers and tomatoes, a planter of begonias and a bed of gerbras

– Had four cottage weekends complete with boating at the crack of dawn, fireworks late into the evening and a baby who refuses to sleep in his temporary crib

– Attended (the kids, not me- I can only wish) a week of day camp

– Visited two libraries, Santa’s Village, numerous parks/playgrounds and friends, farmer’s markets, and story tellers

– Made waves in swimming pools and splash pads

– Effectively wasted enough water with the sprinkler and hose-play to remedy the African drought

– Seen Cars 2, the movie (read about THAT experience here)

– Had two very nasty poo-explosions courtesy of the baby (who must have been feeling left out of all of the activity) which resulted in MAJOR clean-up and emergency baths all around

– Had one lamp smashed to smithereens

– Made one trip to the ER for a staple to the head, my son’s, not mine (can you imagine!?!)

– Tried three neighbourhood restaurants for lunches (what was I thinking?)

– Applied Benedryl to a swollen ankle rendered useless thanks to a Muskoka mosquito (*Mr. Mosquito, next time please aim for the lips.)

It’s important to note that while most things on that list sound summery and like a lot of fun, you must imagine doing each with three boys who must have been circus carnies in their previous lives. Gong!