Expert interview: Lori Howell, Occupational Therapist

This summer we’re looking to bring your a broader range of content that really supports parents in the National Capital Region.

I have had the pleasure of getting to know many people in our region who support parents and am going to run a series of interviews with them sharing some of the knowledge I’ve learned from them that has helped me with my parenting, or some that I wish I’d known when my kids were younger.

This first interview is with Lori Howell who is a pediatric occupational therapist. (Check out her web site and give her Facebook page a like!)

We talked about :

• The importance of crawling (and what to do to help your kid without stopping them from walking)

• Starting babies on solids, not confusing gagging with choking and how your baby putting all their toys in their mouth is a GOOD thing

• Pencil grip - why it matters, how it impacts use of other tools (like scissors) and how some adjustments can really help eliminate hand fatigue when writing

• Sensory issues with masks - if your child isn’t wanting to wear a mask, do they just need to get used to the idea, are they needing to practice, are there specific areas that are bothering them the most (ears or blocked vision for example)?

Check out the interview and let us know if you have any questions. If you want more support or an assessment on any of these topics, reach out to Lori and she or her team can help!

Parc Omega (COVID style)

As we enter Phase 3 of reopening during the pandemic it can be difficult to assess which activities are worth doing with the kids, and which ones should be avoided. Of course this largely depends on your own personal risk assessment, but we’re on a mission here at Kids in the Capital to give you a heads up on what’s reopening and provide more detail on COVID-19 policies and procedures.

Taking the ferry from Cumberland

Last week my family got a chance to visit Parc Omega. I was excited to see their reopening announcement, as I figured a zoo visit that’s largely spent in your car has got to be pretty safe, right? Here’s how it went!

Don’t forget to book online

As with most attractions these days, tickets need to be purchased in advance so that they control the number of people in the park. The exception to this is if you have booked one of their accommodations, have a gift card or are a low season ticket holder (which are valid at any time right now until December 31. 2020.)

Getting there

Our favourite part about traveling to Parc Omega is taking the ferry across the river. You’re looking at $10 each way, but it’s worth it because it’s fun, and also because it cuts off a big chunk of driving. FYI, some work is being done on Hwy 50 in QC, so make sure to consult Google Maps and avoid the crazy detour they try to take you on (I’d suggest 148 to Thurso, and then up to the 50)

Print your map!

Parc Omega won’t be handing out any maps, so don’t forget to print yours so that you can plan your route - driving through the park is very simple (you can’t backtrack) but you may want to loop around again in case you miss a certain area.

Can I get out of my car?

Absolutely! In fact, you will WANT to get out, especially after the one hour drive from Ottawa. The …. trail is located just to the left after you drive through the main entrance, so you can park there and do the walk. There’s also a longer trail you can walk at the very back of the property, which takes you to the farm, with adorable farm animals to see. You can rent golf carts to get there, but stretching our legs was much nicer (it was 2.2km, which is not a challenge for older kids.)

The place you can’t get out of your car is on the main car trail, for obvious reasons, given that animals are crowding around your car demanding snacks.

Walking the trails

Social distancing

Our secluded picnic table

We went during the week, so I didn’t find the park overly busy. The place where you’ll encounter the most people is at the far end, where there are big picnic table areas and places to get take-out. However, we never felt like social distancing was hard, and we snagged a picnic table far away from people. Similarly along the trails it was easy to keep our distance, especially since they are now one-way.

What’s open, what’s closed

The indoor eating areas are closed, as are the outdoor children’s play areas, Birds of Prey show and several other things. Check their COVID-19 policies page for the latest info. New outdoor toilets are now available for use, and we saw them being cleaned very frequently. There are hand washing stations as well as ample hand sanitizer available. Yes, your kids will complain that they smell, but they were nice and clean!

You can still purchase bags of carrots at the main entrance, but we brought our own. Staff ask that you do not feed anything other than carrots.

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Overall we had a fantastic day and felt very safe. It’s been about 3 years since we last visited Parc Omega, and my kids are a bit older now, so they were super excited about feeding the animals. They also loved getting out on the walking trails and visiting the farm animals.

Large eating area with picnic tables and take-out available

Feeding time!

Disclaimer: I was given passes to visit Parc Omega and post a review on the blog. All opinions are my own.

Pirate Life Ottawa (COVID style)

Kids wearing masks in front of the Pirate Life ship

We’re exploring the city and many of its attractions during this pandemic summer and sharing what we’re experiencing. Last week we visited Pirate Life which is located by Mooney’s Bay via Hogs Back road and the kids and I enjoyed our hour-long boat ride with the pirates!

COVID-19 precautions

Pirate Life is taking COVID-19 precautions seriously and are currently keeping the maximum amount of participants on every boat ride to 10 people. Each family/group is kept apart in one of four colour zones, including specific seating and water canons to use. The seating didn’t keep us 6 feet apart at all times as we were back to back from another family, but it felt safe. Everyone on the boat wore a mask at all times, including the kids (I did think the pirates might be wearing pirate style masks but they were colourful instead). This was the longest my kids had worn masks (and for one, the first time) and they all did fine wearing them for the length of the cruise. Another family had on disposable masks for the kids and the kids all had drawn pirate moustaches and beards on to the masks which I thought was a great idea. They sanitize between trips and I watched the staff wiping down the entire boat as soon as we got back to shore.

Sailing down the river

I hadn’t taken part in Pirate Life pre-CoOVID, but I’m told many of the experiences are the same. They sang songs, they did dances, there was a treasure map and we had to try to find things on the ship as well as in the water and on the shore.

At ages 11 and 13, my kids were amused by the entire experience but this may be better suited to younger kids (I think my kids (who are drama fans) all want to be pirates as their summer jobs as soon as possible!).

Water canons - a big hit

The water canons were a big hit and folks in the river seemed to really enjoy getting involved with the tour. Kayakers, people on SUPs and on Seadoos all came in close enough to get shot by the water canons, some even dramatically throwing themselves into the water.

As we came back towards docking, another pirate appeared in a small motor boat and circled the pirate ship while everyone got to attempt shooting them with their water canons, which was a lot of fun for everyone.

Then everyone got to go on a short hunt for some treasure and take home their jewels and coins as a souvenir.

A few more bits of info on how it works

The Pirate Life ship runs four times a day, twice in English and twice in French and costs $25/person.

When I went there was construction on the road that my map told me to take ( 588 Hog’s Back Road) and I wasn’t sure if I should be driving down it. The answer was yes, I should and there was a parking lot at the bottom of the road right by the ship. The parking lot does have a pay machine but it wasn’t functioning at the time I was there so you may or may not have to pay for parking if you go.

At 10 guests at a time it felt very safe and checking it out is a fun family activity and surely will be helping to keep this small business afloat, literally, this summer.

Is seasonal campground camping for you?

Before kids came along, my husband and I enjoyed camping once or twice a summer with our group of friends at a provincial park. We really enjoyed sitting around by the campfire, relaxing with a book in a hammock, and swimming at the beach. We enjoyed some of the other things less - like the planning, packing, setting up and taking down of our site that accompanied each camping trip.  Once kids came around, our camping days ended. As much as I liked the idea of introducing camping to the kids, in reality it was just too overwhelming. I imagined changing diapers in a tent, and the even larger amount of packing required for a weekend away with kids in tow.  It was hardly worth the effort. Tents, sleeping bags, camping chairs, coolers full of food, dishes, life jackets, and a copious amount of water toys to keep my kids entertained likely meant that there wouldn't be much room left in the van for the kids at all!

Camping was off the table completely up until about 6 years ago when a friend of my daughter’s invited us to visit her at her campground. We sat on her deck overlooking the river, enjoying a drink while the kids played. She had everything she needed in her RV, it wasn’t too far from home (just over an hour from her house), and it seemed like the perfect way to enjoy camping again with kids. I was hooked. 

We spent the following year looking online at RVs and different campgrounds around the city of Ottawa. We had shopped for camping gear before, but shopping for an RV was a completely new experience for us. After talking to some friends who were seasonal campers at Cedar Shade Campground in Alfred, it made most sense for us to purchase an RV on an already established lot. It really was an ideal set up, for an affordable price, which included the seasonal camping fees. We purchased the RV from a family whose teenage kids had part time jobs which made it difficult to spend weekends away. The package included the RV, deck, shed, gazebo, bbq, fire pit and everything else inside the RV that we needed to enjoy our camping experience! 

My kids have really enjoyed our summers at Cedar Shade, and it has been so wonderful having a place outside of the city to escape to.  There are many activities planned every weekend throughout the summer (on hold now due to Covid), like crafts, wagon rides, summer olympics, Canada day fireworks, Christmas and Halloween celebrations and ball hockey tournaments. There are activities for younger kids and teenagers alike, although the teenagers mostly hang out near the front office where they can get free wifi!

There are also plenty of activities for adults like Bingo, washer toss leagues and golf cart rallies. The kids have the choice of two pools and a man-made lake to swim in. Adults have their own adults-only pool plus hot tubs. Plus there are several parks, with trampolines and a jumping pillow and even a dog park! The kids are kept busy outside, and the parents can relax. It really is a win-win for everyone! But that said, RV camping at a seasonal campground may not be for everyone. 

Pros

• Having an RV at a seasonal campground is an affordable way to have a summer vacation home! 

• You can leave everything you need at your site. No need to transport pool toys, life jackets, kayaks or other camping necessities back and forth. You can even leave essentials in your fridge and pantry. 

• If your kids are social, there are always kids around to play with. 

• If you are social, there are lots of adults to socialize with. 

• You can invite friends to come up for the day or stay overnight (in your RV or on a tent on your site.)

• Some campgrounds stay open until mid to late October, which means you can enjoy camping right into the fall. 

• Although many seasonal campers choose to get an internet connection, some use their camping weekends as an opportunity to disconnect. 

• Camping during the week is very quiet.

• RVs are air conditioned.

Cons

• Seasonal fees can range from $2500-$4000 depending on the campground. A deposit is required at the end of the season to guarantee your lot for the following year. 

• There are a lot of people around. If you prefer the quiet solitude of camping, you likely won’t find it in a seasonal campground. 

• You're surrounded by neighbours. If your neighbours decide to stay up late and have a noisy campfire with friends, you will hear everything. If your neighbours have young kids who get up early, you’ll hear that too. 

• Weekends get very busy, and long weekends are even busier. 

• Packing up for a camping weekend with kids can still be a lot of work. There is still the cooler to pack, kids clothing, towels and laundry etc. 

• Closing the RV at the end of the season is a lot of work and usually takes a full day. 

There are some things to consider about seasonal camping: 

• How far away are you willing to drive? There are several campgrounds around Ottawa, but keep in mind the rush hour traffic on Fridays after work. If you live in the East and are heading to a campground in the west, you have to account for extra time spent in traffic to get there. We liked Cedar Shade because it was an hour East of Ottawa and that meant we weren’t driving through rush hour traffic. 

• Are you taking over someone’s site, or bringing in your own RV? Some campgrounds have restrictions on the age of the RV you can bring into the campground as a seasonal camper. The bonus of taking over someone’s site is that often the site is turn key and includes a deck, shed or even patio furniture. You won’t have to spend your weekends setting up your site. The downside is that you are taking over someone else’s trailer, and it may or may not have everything you need or are looking for in an RV.  

• Is the campground set up with underground sewer lines? Some campgrounds do not have this service and instead you need to pay to have your black tank pumped out.

• How old are your kids? We purchased our RV when the kids were 8, 6 and 2. We have had 5 amazing summers camping, but now my older two are less interested in going. They no longer want to take part in the activities, and tend to stay inside the RV doing their own thing than going off with friends. 

Seasonal camping isn’t for everyone but it’s a great alternative for someone who is thinking they might like a cottage but want a more affordable and more social experience. Many great friendships and experiences have been made in camp grounds - maybe it’s the right fit for you and your family too!

If you’re intrigued, here’s a trailer that’s for sale now!

Vicky is a mom of three and a teacher who has been writing for KIC for 10 years.

Diefenbunker Museum: Canada’s Cold War Museum

Despite living nearby, I had never brought my daughter to the Diefenbunker Museum until this summer. It had been on our to-do list for a long time, and I am so glad we finally got to visit. Not only were we looking for an escape from the summer heat, I wanted her to see for herself why this underground museum is so unique.

The Diefenbunker, located in Carp, Ontario, is a massive four-story underground bunker, built between 1959 and 1961. During the Cold War, top officials were to take shelter here in the event of a nuclear war. It was active as Canadian Forces Station Carp until 1994. Today, it operates as a not-for-profit, charitable museum.

Visiting the Diefenbunker is not only an engaging way to teach older kids about the Cold War, but a place preserved in time that will show kids and adults alike what it was like to live in the 1960s and what it’s like to live in an underground military station (especially with there replica Canex canteen from 1977). Adult visitors will love seeing telephones and computers from their youth and, if you’re with kids, they may enjoy teasing you about it (something my daughter really enjoyed). 

There are many ways to tour the Diefenbunker Museum. You can book a guided tour, explore on your own or you can download their audio guide from their website.

The museum is well organized, clean and every exhibit has a written explanation of what you’re looking at (and the description is just the right length that you have enough time to read it before your kids move on to the next exhibit). 

If your kids are really young, this probably isn’t the museum for you. They don’t want children running around and the exhibits are not as hands on as in other museums, but there is a lot to see, do and learn. If you have a child who is into history, learning about the military or wars, or is into learning about technology then they will love this museum. My daughter enjoyed seeing how far technology has come over the years as well as how some of the technology used forty years ago is still in use today.

She also loved learning about the construction of the Diefenbunker and seeing the rooms of where the Prime Minister would have stayed and worked. She also loved seeing how the CBC Radio had its own space in the Diefenbunker, learning who would be allowed into the bunker and who would not be allowed, and touring a huge bank vault that once housed a lot of gold. 

A few years ago Lara brought her children, who at the time were 5 and 8 years old to the museum, and she shared her experience here. Needless to say, they had fun!

If you’re looking for a different kind of museum that takes you underground and transports you to a completely different time, then the Diefenbunker Museum is a great way to spend an afternoon.

At the time of writing this blog post, the Museum was open daily from 10 am to 4 pm. Parking is free and admission was: Adults: $17.50, seniors: $16.50, students: $13.00 , youth: $11.00, family rate: $48.50, and children 5 and under are free.

You can buy tickets online or in person. The museum is underground and the entrance to the museum consists of three (3) ground barriers at each doorway. For more information on museum accessibility, please click here. There are bathrooms onsite, a gift shop, and although there was no food available onsite at the time of our visit, Carp offers some great restaurants including Alice’s Village Café, Ridge Rock and The Carp Custom Creamery.