Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in halifax, NS

Tips to Prepare Kids for Bad Weather

by Raechelle Masuda

August 20, 2009

Hurricane Bill is heading north towards Halifax this weekend. It is a fact of life living so close to the ocean that hurricanes may affect our lives. The Hurricane Juan impacted Halifax in the night from Sunday, September 28, 2003 to Monday, September 29, 2003. Over 300,000 homes were without electricity from 1 day to over a week. We did not live in the Maritimes at the time. However we get the impression people were not as prepared as they could have been for the devastating effects of the storm.
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Sunny Days at the Lake

by Raechelle Masuda

August 18, 2009

We beat the heat yesterday by heading out to one of our favourite beaches, Dollar Lake Provincial Park. It was extremely hot yesterday and the idea of sitting at home in our oven like house was too much to bear. So we packed up the gear, the sunscreen, the food and the three kids and headed out.
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Summer Heat

by Raechelle Masuda

August 17, 2009

It was bound to happen. Last week I wrote about the end of the summer, and now it is hot hot hot. In fact it is much hotter than we are used to. I find it a little ironic that the heat has us singing the blues. When we lived in California these temperatures were normal, if not a little break from the extreme heat. However in California we had air conditioning and a pool just outside our apartment door!
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The End of Summer

by Raechelle Masuda

August 13, 2009

Summertime started so slowly here in the Maritimes. The weather was dreadful, having experienced more rainy days than not. Yet we embraced that sense of magical freedom that only summer holds. Our family had a unique arrival this summer, which changed the activities slightly. We were not as adventurous as we usually are, instead we stayed close to home. Our own backyard became an oasis for our imaginations.
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It is a Great Day to be Canadian

by Raechelle Masuda

July 02, 2009

Despite our running noses and coughs, our family made it out to some of the many celebrations in Halifax yesterday. With small children in tow it is always difficult to decide what to attend and what not to. In such a large city as Halifax, the events are scattered throughout the HRM, making it that much harder to find our niche.
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5 Fun Facts about Canada for Children

by Raechelle Masuda

June 30, 2009

It is Canada's birthday tomorrow! In honour of that , today's list is all about Canada. Celebrating our nation's birthday is the perfect time to teach your children little facts about Canada. Here are a few to get the topic started.
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Canada Day with the Family

by Raechelle Masuda

June 29, 2009

As a family we are all looking forward to celebrating Canada Day this year. My husband is looking forward to a day off work, to spend with his family. I am looking forward to have a co-pilot all day and the children are looking forward to everything. My preschooler is especially excited to wave the Canadian flag, sing "Oh Canada" and explore Halifax's celebrations. Of course the promise of fireworks is also very exciting for her. The weather is forecasting rain all week, but hopefully not on Canada Day or during the scheduled fireworks.
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June Events in Halifax

by Raechelle Masuda

June 09, 2009

We have sailed through the first weekend of June already! It always feels like the summer months cruise by much faster than the winter months! Maybe because there is so much to do in the summertime! Summertime in the city has so much to offer. Not to mention the surrounding areas. Here is a quick peak at some activities you and the kids can enjoy this month in Halifax.
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Weekend Fun

by Raechelle Masuda

June 08, 2009

Although the official start of summer is a few weeks away, summer activities have begun in Halifax. Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day, with a slight breeze. Just enough to cool you off, making it perfect to go out as a family!
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Beach Days

by Raechelle Masuda

June 04, 2009

Every week last summer we have attempted to hit a beach. Each week bringing new excitement and a new location! My friend and I called it the Beach Tour 08. It is a great way to get to know our surroundings, while giving the children an opportunity to swim, play in the sand, get completely and utterly exhausted...it is awesome.

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We had gone to a couple ocean beaches and a couple lakes. It has been so much fun to explore. I live in the most beautiful place ever! While driving to a new beach I watched a bald eagle circle the sky. It was AMAZING. I get a little bummed that I cannot take my uber great camera with me. Wrangling the children, chairs, towel, beach toys, a cooler and miscellaneous goods is too much to balance. Besides sand in the camera is a bad bad thing. I do however have my cell phone but ALWAYS forget that it takes pictures!

The kids are AMAZING at the beach. My preschooler is a complete beach babe. She was in the OCEAN ALL DAY. Seriously I had to beg her to come out and eat. She wolfed down an entire sandwich then RAN back to the water. It wasn't even all that pleasant out yesterday and she still spent the entire time in the water. Today she is sore and tired. Poor girl.

My toddler always takes about an hour to settle in. He is cranky and whiny at first then finds his groove. The ocean moves a little too much for him so he prefers not to "swim", opting for digging in the sand, licking rocks, tasting seaweed and eating all our food. At the lake he totally goes into the water, splashing around, DUNKING HIS HEAD UNDER, all the while holding his breath (it is the coolest thing I have ever seen!) We have a little inflatable ring that he likes to go in then he kicks his feet and swims!?!?! He is so cool.

I love the water, the sand and all that. I feel so fortunate that we live in a location that we have both  ocean beaches and lakes to choose from. The kids are most definitely loving the chance to frolic in the sun :) I hope that we can still hit some beaches this summer, while I am on my last leg of this pregnancy and once we have a newborn along for the ride. Our toddler went to Laguana Beach when he was a newborn!

What is your favourite summer activity?

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Summer Backyard Essentials

by Raechelle Masuda

June 02, 2009

We have started quite the collection of backyard essentials over the years. We haven't even had a backyard most of the time, so that is not a requirement! Kids love the outdoors. I have repeatedly encouraged and shred ideas to get your children out no matter what the weather. Rainy days and snow days are great in their uniqueness, but nothing beats a beautiful summer day.
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Summer in Halifax

by Raechelle Masuda

June 01, 2009

Did you have a great weekend? It was a typical spring weekend for the Maritimes. A little rain, a little sun. I really do not mind the rain. After living in desert like conditions it is so beautiful to be surrounded by the deepest shades of green. Every plant, animal and insect is alive and vibrant.

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With a mere 8 weeks to go till our third child's due date, I still hope to hit a few more beaches on our beach tour. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I will be able to get in the water! I have to say swimming while pregnant is blissful. It wasn't until I was in my last trimester that I have truly come to appreciate weightlessness.

This month on Being Savvy Halifax, we are going to discuss all things summer. We want you to be prepared for the endless days of summer with your kids. I will be hunting down activities, festivals and fun things to do at home. I have already started stocking up with outdoor activities. The kids and I are spending every minute we can in the backyard, soaking up the Vitamin D and enjoying the great outdoors.

What is your favourite part of summer?  Read more...

Beach Gear with Children

by Raechelle Masuda

May 26, 2009

Since we are talking about beach trips I thought it would be a good idea to share with you a list of must have's at the beach with children. When we lived in California, my husband and I would pack everything and  the kitchen sink, needing a wagon to cart it all to the beach and back. We only had one child at the time! Now that we are a little more experienced at parenting and heading to the beach we take  a lot less and still have a fabulous time.
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Beach Tours

by Raechelle Masuda

May 25, 2009

Every year we try out new beaches in Nova Scotia. My children are water babies, loving the sea, the sand and fun. There are so many awesome beaches in Nova Scotia to explore. Not only do we have the amazing ocean beaches, there are many great lakes perfect for children and families. A lot of places are easily accessible, close to the HRM, or an hour or so drive.
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99 Things To Do with Children in Halifax, NS

by Raechelle Masuda

April 07, 2009

I have been attempting to tackle this massive, all-inclusive and fun list for months. There is so much to do in Halifax, NS with children! In fact now that I have completed the list, I can think of additional activities! What would you add to your list?
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99 Things Continued ...

by Raechelle Masuda

January 27, 2009

Back in September I started a list of 99 things I want to experience with the children in Halifax . So far we have done some of the things listed. We attempted to go whale watching twice last summer. Both times we did not see any whales. My preschooler was so disappointed! We promised her another trip this coming summer and hopefully we will time it just right! We have went  Read more...