The City of St. John's Active Living Program has several Play Groups. Got to the City of St. John's Web site and click on the Recreational Programs link on the main page to get the Brochure. They are free or fee based depending on the age of your child.
This activity needs reviews! Use the comments section or send an email.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
FEE: Parent and Tot Dance Class
Addendum: I haven't particpated in this class as my child isn't old enough yet. Any reviews are welcome... This information comes from Connie Parsons web site:
Parent and TOT (ages 18 months-3 years)
This is a very energetic and fun-filled class! Participate in your child's class and watch with amazement as they grow-up and accomplish new skills before your eyes. Through the use of rhymes, stories, music, and extensive dance related activites your child learns to listen to a leader, follow group instuction, and have fun! A great introduction to the world of dance.
The first term begins on Saturday, September 12 and runs for 4 months until Christmas. The cost for the session is $184 +HST, each class is 45 minutes in duration and has parent participation.
This activity needs reviews! Use the comments section or send an email to stjohnstoddler@hotmail.com
Parent and TOT (ages 18 months-3 years)
This is a very energetic and fun-filled class! Participate in your child's class and watch with amazement as they grow-up and accomplish new skills before your eyes. Through the use of rhymes, stories, music, and extensive dance related activites your child learns to listen to a leader, follow group instuction, and have fun! A great introduction to the world of dance.
The first term begins on Saturday, September 12 and runs for 4 months until Christmas. The cost for the session is $184 +HST, each class is 45 minutes in duration and has parent participation.
This activity needs reviews! Use the comments section or send an email to stjohnstoddler@hotmail.com
FEE: Aquarena Swimming
The Aquarena has a bunch of public and family swims as well as lessons. I have heard from friends that the women's change room can be over crowded for family swims so there is an advantage if you are male or accompanied by a man who can utilize the mens change room with your child.
If anyone has any experience with this let me know. We are hoping to check the swimming out ourselves this month.
If anyone has any experience with this let me know. We are hoping to check the swimming out ourselves this month.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
FREE: Lesters Farm Market
Lesters Farm Market is a wonderful place to take children. It has a petting barn' a corn maze, strawberry and raspberry U picks, tractor rides, and a new 'tire farm' for climbing. It's also a great place for grown ups to get some fressh veggies. The fall pumpkin fest is a fabulous way to build some excitement about halloween and the huge piles of pumpkins are a great backdrop for photos.
Most of the farm is accessible for free, but things like the corn maze and u-picks have a fee associated with them and you must purchase feed for the animals... watch out for those fingers!
The staff are very helpful and friendly. There is a bathroom on site but there is no change table.
Most of the farm is accessible for free, but things like the corn maze and u-picks have a fee associated with them and you must purchase feed for the animals... watch out for those fingers!
The staff are very helpful and friendly. There is a bathroom on site but there is no change table.
FRIENDLY: The Rooms
The Rooms
I have taken my toddler to the Rooms many times. He loves the animals in the museum and the staff have been very friendly to us. They even have a stroller you can use if you didn't bring your own. There is a coat room so you don't have to lug coats and gear around and lockers you can use to keep things secure. There is a family washroom which makes changes easy and it's large enough to bring your stroller in.
The Rooms cafe is also toddler-friendly. There are two high chairs and the servers have always been very accommodating to us when we visited. They were genuinely friendly and made a particular effort to engage my little boy. The food is great and though I don't think there is any specific 'children's menu' we found lots of things our toddler could share with us.
The Rooms is FREE for children under 5.
I have taken my toddler to the Rooms many times. He loves the animals in the museum and the staff have been very friendly to us. They even have a stroller you can use if you didn't bring your own. There is a coat room so you don't have to lug coats and gear around and lockers you can use to keep things secure. There is a family washroom which makes changes easy and it's large enough to bring your stroller in.
The Rooms cafe is also toddler-friendly. There are two high chairs and the servers have always been very accommodating to us when we visited. They were genuinely friendly and made a particular effort to engage my little boy. The food is great and though I don't think there is any specific 'children's menu' we found lots of things our toddler could share with us.
The Rooms is FREE for children under 5.
Three categories
Each entry will be labeled Free, Fee, or Friendly. The first two are self-explanatory, the third means that the location or activity may not be specifically designed for toddlers but that it is a toddler-friendly atmosphere.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
FEE: Little Gym
We haven't signed up for a class at the Little Gym, but we have attended birthdays there and the staff seemed very nice and the facility was great. If your child has been to a class there and you have some insight to share with other parents please comment below.
FREE: Outdoor Swimming Pools
There is a toddler swim at the Bowring Park Pool and it takes place in a separate toddler pool which is only about18 inches deep. The pool is not heated. You can bring your stroller into the pool area, but you must change your child in the change room and no cameras are allowed. We really enjoyed our morning there.
The day we were there there were lots of children, but it wasn't over-crowded.
Call (709) 576-7708 for the Pool Schedule
The day we were there there were lots of children, but it wasn't over-crowded.
Call (709) 576-7708 for the Pool Schedule
FREE: Mother Goose and Play Groups
I participated in the Mother Goose Program at Macpherson School and can vouch for the fact that it was a lovely way to spend an hour or so with your child. There is an opportunity for open play, structured sing a longs and a snack break (snack provided). All the people with the program were enthusiastic and wonderful with the children. Some participants seem to have had their children in the program for several years and there was a real sense of community. My little boy was a little shy about participating but was very interested in observing. Highly recommended especially for outgoing children.
One note: Finding the registration contact information was not totally clear and we did have to be put on a wait list before a space opened up for us.
ADDENDUM: A friend of mine sent the following information:
There are free playgroups run by DEEDFRI, one at St. Michael's on St. ClareAve. This is mainly for toddlers. There's another one called Kirk ActivePlay at St. Andrews Church at 76 Queens Rd which is good for toddlers andolder pre-schoolers. There's another called Youth Services Centre Baby and Me at Choices for Youth on Carters Hill. These schedules change so you candownload the monthly calendar at: www.daybreakcentre.com
More information can be found here.
One note: Finding the registration contact information was not totally clear and we did have to be put on a wait list before a space opened up for us.
ADDENDUM: A friend of mine sent the following information:
There are free playgroups run by DEEDFRI, one at St. Michael's on St. ClareAve. This is mainly for toddlers. There's another one called Kirk ActivePlay at St. Andrews Church at 76 Queens Rd which is good for toddlers andolder pre-schoolers. There's another called Youth Services Centre Baby and Me at Choices for Youth on Carters Hill. These schedules change so you candownload the monthly calendar at: www.daybreakcentre.com
More information can be found here.
Welcome!
St. John's Toddler is the result of my inability to find one source for information about local activities available for children under the age of five. As anyone who cares for a child under five knows, the days can be long, especially when the sun isn't shining or when our infamous winter sets in. So I am hoping to gather ideas, links and information about places to go and things to see and share them here with mothers, fathers, grandparents and caregivers. Your ideas are needed and more than welcome so please submit them. I am going to start with two categories Free and Fee.
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