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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Celebrating Earth Day with your Children

by Raechelle Masuda

April 14, 2009

Next week is Earth Day, April 22! We try to teach our children to live a sustainable and green life everyday, however celebrating always helps anchor those ideals. In an effort to plan our day I have been soaking up as much as I can, looking for activities that will help me teach our kids about Earth Day. Here are so ideas I have come across:

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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Head Outside in the Rain

by Raechelle Masuda

March 31, 2009

A rainy day does not mean you and the children have to stay inside. There are many opportunities to play outside even on wet, cooler days. Seize the day, learn more about nature, experience the outdoors when it rains, get wet and dirty. It is a whole new world out there when it rains. The earth changes colour, it smells different, looks different and feels different. Try to share that with your kids.
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Do You Know Your Birds?

by Raechelle Masuda

February 16, 2009

This week is the Great Backyard Bird Count, which is an annual 4 day event across North America. For 15 minutes a day, people tally the birds they see in their area, to help scientists get an idea of the birds out there. For example, "In 2008, participants reported more than 9.8 million birds of 635 species. They submitted more than 85,000 checklists, an all-time record for the count ."

I think this is an amazing activity that we can all get our children involved in. There are regional checklists to help you know what to look for. Halifax's checklist can be found here (you may need to put in your postal code). The Great Backyard Bird Count also has a great section for kids , that includes activities, colouring sheets and much more.

The website includes three easy steps for children (and their parents) to get involved:

1. Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, February 13–16, 2009. You can count each day or just some of the days and you can count in different places. Just be sure to keep a separate list of birds for each day and each location.

2. For each type of bird you see, count the most you see at any one time. For example, maybe you see two chickadees when you start watching, then five chickadees a few minutes later. The number you put on your list for chickadees is five. Do not add two plus five. (This way way you don't accidentally count the same bird twice.)

3. Enter your results on the Great Backyard Bird Count web site! Then watch the maps as more and more people enter their reports.

So how about it, will you be counting the birds in your area this year?

A Green Family

by Raechelle Masuda

January 27, 2009

Slowly we have made more and more changes in our day to day lives as a family. I have always been one to be concerned for the environment, however it wasn't until I had children that I really worked hard to educate myself and my children. My husband has been slow to get on board. His stance is more about convenience and not putting too much on me, over going the hard way. He  Read more...

Winter Birds

by Raechelle Masuda

January 12, 2009

Our preschooler has been thoroughly enjoying all the snow we have. Everyday we head outside to dig, eat snow (her not me!) and sled down our little hill that is in our front yard. It has been wonderful to enjoy our yard in the winter. We have also had the opportunity to house four gorgeous Blue Jays in our apple tree. Both my preschooler and I are captivated and  Read more...

5 best ways to enjoy the Public Gardens

by Raechelle Masuda

September 12, 2008

The Public Gardens are a fantastic place for preschoolers. They are open from May 1 - October 31, displaying amazing flowers, trees, a lake, fountains and ducks. Here are five tips to make the most of your trip to the Public Gardens: Head out early. If you have an early riser, head out to the Public Gardens right after breakfast (or better yet take breakfast and have a picnic!) The Public  Read more...

Top 5 things to do outside when the fog clears and the sun shines

by Raechelle Masuda

September 03, 2008

Here in Halifax, it is quite exciting to see clear skies! The kids and I are instantly outside and ready to be adventurous! Here are our top five things to do in the sunshine! 1. Head out to a local park. We love D.J. Butler Park on Flamingo drive on a sunny day. You are almost guaranteed to find tons of kids and parents out enjoying the sun. 2. Head down to the Waterfront. When the sun is  Read more...