Fee: Cygnus Gym

Cygnus Gym Kids– Drop in class

Tuesdays @9:15am and Wednesdays at 12:45PM

Walking to 5 year olds. Class is one hour long and is on a first come first serve basis. It costs $20 for the first session ($10 for session plus $10 for the one time membership fee) and $10
for each session after that.

We went this week and it was wonderful, unstructured, free play with parents and kids. We'll be going back for sure. If you have a stroller use the Dominion Entrance and take the elevator to the third floor. At the end of the hall is a door - press the green button and wait for the door to click and then push it open. You can take your stroller in to the waiting area.

If you want to take the Cygnus Entrance at the right of the garage parking lot, be prepared for a long, steep climb up several flights!

Ideas: Children's Charities

With all the baby clothes and equipment our son has out grown in the past 12 months I was thinking of making some donations to children's charities. I have made donations to the Single Parents Association in the past.

Any other suggestions? Are there any groups looking for particular items like coats and boots for the coming winter?

Free: MUN Physical Literacy

Physical Literacy Program at the Memorial University Gym (note this is not the Works Field House building, but is the Physical Education Building next door).

Find out more here. Registration is free and two times are available Saturday mornings.
9:30AM -10:25AM
10:30AM- 11:25AM

Any input is welcome via the comments section or by email: Stjohnstoddler@hotmail.com

Safety: Kids in Safe Seats

If you haven't already participated in a Kids in Safe Seats Clinic it is worth the time. We learned a lot and felt more confident that our child was safe in his seat after we finished the clinic. A refresher wouldn't be a bad idea either when your child switches from rear to forward facing or from car seat to booster.

Next Clinic Date: Next Kids In Safe Seats Car Seat Clinics Date: October 24th, 2009
Time: 10:00 - 2:30 pm
Place: Penney Mazda on
Kenmount Rd. just before the Team Gushue overpass


Note: they are always looking for volunteers, if this is something you would like to get involved in please get in touch with them via the web site.

Web: Mommy Blogs

Do you read Mommy Blogs? Do you write one? Try this one:

Dooce - She's funny, touching, writes with edgy attitude and became quite famous for her blogging. Worth the click.

Got a blog to recommend? Submit at stjohnstoddler@hotmail.com or use the comments section.

Ideas: Your old baby gear

What do you do with your old baby gear and clothes? I give it to friends, tuck some away (never say never!) and donate it to the Single Parents Association. I know some people who use E-Bay and Kijiji to sell their stuff.
What do you do? Have you found selling stuff to work for you?

Free: Bowring Park's New Playground

We just got back from visiting the new playground at Bowring Park and it is wonderful! For my toddler who is just learning to walk the best feature is the foam like surfacing under the newer section of equipment. It looks like paving tiles and feels like Styrofoam. Great for taking lots of spills and not getting bumps and bruises.

The equipment provides something for everyone. Climbers, musical instruments, puzzles and traditional swings and slides too. Whether your child is a ball of energy or a contemplative loner this playground is the place to be and wait until next summer when the splash park opens. Pretty darn cool.

Birthday: Fluvarium

Have you had or attended a birthday party at the Fluvarium? Let us know what you thought! Write a comment or send an email stjohnstoddler@hotmail.com

Services: Childcare

Looking for child care? Here is a list of child care centres in the St. John’s area. This list is dated 2007 and was compiled by Eastern Health. I found it online. If you have personal experience with any of these centres, know of new centres that are not noted here or ones that are no longer operating, please add a comment to help other parents and guardians find the kind of centre that suits them best.

*All reviews and comments should be constructive and any that are deemed inappropriate will be removed.


A Child's Place - Howley Estates Preschool

Activ-Time Edu-Care

Activ-Time Preschool & Day Care

Bloomsbury Child Care Centre

Bo-Peep Nursery

Campus Daycare (MUN)

Centre de la Petite Enfance et Famille des Grands

Chatter Box I Day Care

Chatterbox Kindercare

Children's Choice Learning Centre

College of the North Atlantic Children's Ctr

Confederation Bldg. Day Care Centre

Creative Beginnings Child Care Centre

Academy Canada

Creative Kids

Daybreak Parent Child Centre Assoc.

Discovery Day Care Centre

Dr. A.T. Brace Children's Centre

Dr. A.T. Brace Infant's Centre

Frances' Little Friends Daycare

FUNdamentals Child Care Ctr. Inc.

Gingerbread House

Goulds Children's Centre

Happy Times Preschool Ltd.

Happy Times Two

Hillcrest Childcare

International Friends

Itsy Bitsy Daycare

Jack & Jill Preschool

Kidcorp (There are several of these located around the city)

KidKare Children's Centre

Kids Kampus

Kilbride Children's Centre

Lakecrest Afterschool Program

Leaps & Bounds Day Care Ltd.

Little Darlings

Little People's Workshop

Merry Care Day Care

Mes Amis Daycare & Preschool -

Nursery Time Preschool & Day Care

Oaktrees & Acorns

On Your Mark Daycare

Panda Bear Day Care Co.

Paradise Day Care & Preschool Ctr

Precious People Playland Inc

Precious Times Daycare

Priceless Treasures

Rainbow

Rockcliffe Children's Centre

St. Edwards Afterschool

Stepping Stones Child Care Centre

Sunshine Learning Centre

Sunshine Nursery School

The Children's Centre

The Learning Lobby

The Right Start Child Care Centre

Tiny Tots Preschool

Torbay Child's Play Center

Tots Learning

Treasure Chest

Unity Daycare

Virginia Park Preschool

Wee Gems Day Care & Preschool

KinderKare

Younger Years Day Care & Preschool

Books: Cars and Trucks and Things That Go

Cars and Trucks and Things That Go by Richard Scarry. I remember this from my childhood and it is another great book our toddler loves. He loves cars and trucks so it makes sense that he would love this book. It is full of real and imaginary vehicles like fire trucks and pickle trucks (which is actually the shape of a pickle). There are lots of words to learn, a 'Where's Waldo' aspect (the little Goldbug appears on every page) and a family road trip adventure to follow.

This is a large format hard cover book, but not a board book so if your child is still in the page tearing mode save this one for later.

Books: In the Town All Year Round

This is a fabulous book for toddlers and preschoolers with an interest in books and an attention to detail. Our little boy has always paid attention to small details and this book is perfect for him. It is a large format book with no words, but  it has lots of pictures and stories. You need a little imagination because the stories are not spelled out for you, but you will never get bored. Every time you open this book you'll find something new to talk about. It's sort of like 'Where's Waldo,' but more complicated.  The illustrations show a town and all the people who live there as they go about daily activities through four seasons, there are mysteries to solve, lessons to learn, buildings get built, babies get born, holidays are celebrated. You can follow one character or just play hide and seek with the naughty parrot or sneaky fox.

Find it at Chapters on Kenmount Rd. like we did or order it online.

Food: Whole wheat pancakes

Best pancake recipe ever for babies just starting on finger foods and toddlers. Thanks to my friend Tracey for pointing these out. We make them every weekend and freeze them for weekday breakfasts. Low on sugar and fat. Great with berries and bananas and fun to make together because they are pretty easy.

Submit your favourite toddler food ideas to stjohnstoddler@hotmail.com

New Category: Birthdays! Submissions please!

Anyone got any ideas for great things to do for toddlers birthday parties? Places to go? Entertainment to hire? Best party food?

FEE: Skating at Mile One

Ice Skating at Mile One Centre starts October 10, 2009.


SCHEDULE

Thursday: Parent & Tot Skating (children 6 & under) 2:15pm - 3:00pm
Saturday: Skating up to 8 years old 12:30pm – 1:30pm*

Sunday: Family Skating 2:00pm – 3:30pm

* Child skating aides permitted during these sessions only.

FREE: The Airport

What do you think of this idea I found: Take your kids to the airport to watch planes landing and taking off?

I guess it isn't totally free because you have to pay for parking, but I thought it was a pretty ingenious idea and could make for a very interesting and educational field trip for the right kids. Not to mention you could even have a lunch date at the cafeteria there.

UPDATE April,  2010
My child's grandparents took him to the airport to watch planes take off and he LOVED it. The only problem is that the viewing area was changed around so the better observation area was actually outside in the parking lot.

Friendly: Active Kids Club

I found this online by accident. It's a DIY activity web site and there is a page specifically about Newfoundland!  I like the premise of getting your kids in the out of doors and all the benefits of outdoor living. I have used their motto "no bad weather, just bad clothes"  myself. I have made sure that we can never use not having the right clothes as an excuse for not enjoying the outdoors. Is that a double negative? 

Anyway, there are lots of activity ideas organized by season. I am already inspired to get those snowshoes this year... finally!

Check it out: http://www.activekidsclub.com

FEE: Bulldog Fitness

Updated April, 2010
This franchise offers fitness and sports programming for all ages of children.
As the classes and schedule is always changing at Bulldog Fitness I am just going to direct you to the information

FRIENDLY AND FEE: Botanical Garden

I find the $30/year membership at Botanical Gardens well worth the money. For kids from walking age to school age, the trails are easy, the duck pond entertaining and my kids never get tired of seeing all the cool plants and trees.

Submitted by Michelle.

If you have an idea or a review you would like to submit email stjohnstoddler@hotmail.com

FREE: Family and Childcare Connections playgroups

Family and Childcare Connections at 50 Pippy Place offers free playgroups for babys and toddlers. This is geared towards toddlers and babies and is a great centre with lots of helpful staff. The schedule is Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.