February Fun Activities in Ottawa

It’s been a long January, made longer by yet another lockdown. I don’t know about you, but I’ve got cabin fever!! February is looking up as many local venues and museums re-open to the public. We’ve made a list of some fun winter activities you can check out in February, with indoor, outdoor and virtual options.

Winterlude

Sadly there will be no in-person activities this year again, but event organizers are putting on a virtual ice sculpting contest, and you can vote between February 11th and 20th.

Ottawa Museums

We are excited that museums re-open this month, with the following dates. Don’t forget to book your tickets online if you want to go:

Ingenium (Museums of Sci and Tech, Agriculture and Aviation): open now! Activities are happening both onsite and online.

Check out Winter Whimsy, and take a break from the ordinary! Discover how maple syrup is produced, stroll through an incredible aircraft collection, or tap into your inner Sherlock Holmes with a sleuthing game. Snowed in at home? Keep the kids engaged through downloadable crafts and experiments, seasonal recipes, and virtual children’s programming (registration required).

Diefenbunker: open now!

Museum of Nature: CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Museum of History: CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Fire and Ice Winter Exhibit

From February 25th to 27th Bank Street will be closed-off between Cooper St. to Slater St. and the street will be transformed with large-scale, interactive light based art and sound installations. All six installations are unique and will invite the participant to take part in never-before-seen interactive components. Each stop on the light and sound tour will combine colourful digital imageries with captivating soundtracks to create a unique form of interactive storytelling.

a sampling of the fire & Ice magic

The installations will shine nightly between February 25th to February 27th. On Friday and Saturday, the light exhibit starts at 6pm and ends at midnight. On Sunday, the light exhibit starts at 6pm and ends at 11pm. The Fire & Ice Winter Exhibit is family-friendly, free to the public, and it's self guided.

Awesome Author’s Youth Writing Contest

The Ottawa Public Library is hosting a contest for young writers between the ages of 9 and 18. There are also some amazing online workshops that kids can take to learn more about storytelling, comics, poetry and more! My daughter just did a workshop this past weekend and loved it.

Check out their website for all the details.

Skating, Tubing and Sledding

Book a spot at an outdoor rink in Ottawa, or try one of these forest rinks:

RiverOak

Icelynd

Countryside Adventures (tubing can be found here too!)

Éco-Odyssée

And of course, our world famous Rideau Canal Skateway!

For tubing check out:

Domaine de l’ange

Edelweiss

Lac Beauchamp

See a movie!

If you’re comfortable heading back to the theatres, there are lots of family-friendly films to see. Check out Encanto and Ghostbusters: Afterlife (*not for the young ones) at Cinestarz, or Sing 2 and Spiderman at Landmark!

Happy Family Day Weekend!

Freezing Winter Fun!

I do not love winter. Every winter my Instagram feed is filled with inspirational “Have fun in the cold! You only get so many snow days with your kids!” posts, and while I dutifully take my kids skating, sledding, and snowshoeing, I do so grudgingly. My favourite winter was the year my oldest was born because I had the best excuse to stay home and snuggle with my newborn all winter long.

So while I dream of warmer weather to come, I’ll keep looking for ways to enjoy winter so that my kids’ memories of winter don’t include my grumpy, frozen face. This week, I found out about Crazy Ice Bubbles, which made for an awesome distraction during the coldest day of the year! The bubble solution makes “extra strong” bubbles that rest gently on the snow and slowly freeze over. We have tried to make our own winter bubbles before using regular bubble solution or dish soap, and these yielded much better results!

If you blow them directly onto the snow, they’ll stick and slowly crystalize; if you blow them in the air they’ll start to freeze over in the air (my kids had fun seeing who could catch or pop the most before they fully froze). The bottle says they are most effective below -7 C (plenty of those days ahead in the forecast), and it’s helpful to play with these on a day without much wind or in a sheltered area. A word of caution though- the bottles get very messy, very quickly! (or maybe it’s just my kids… but I had to grab a towel for wiping hands and bubble bottles before I let anyone back in the house!) My kids played with these for over an hour, and even I had fun being out in the cold trying them out!

You can find these locally at Tag Along Toys on Bank Street (This post is not sponsored, just an honest review, and a reminder to shop local whenever you can!)

Oh, and for parents looking for learning extension activities (we homeschool so I’m always in teaching mode), we talked about surface tension (cue a sing along of Surface Pressure from Encanto) and why bubbles pop. We also bounced bubbles on cotton gloves to avoid natural oils that can pop bubbles- check out this video for some fun experiments! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--tem7JnVNI

Julia is a health educator and homeschooling Mama to three kids, and can usually be found on hiking trails or camping in the deep dark woods.

Setting yourself up for virtual learning success

Welcome back to Aylen Stacey, a local 12 year-old middle schooler who guest blogs for Kids in the Capital! Have a child who likes to write and wants to share their tips for other kids? Send us an email! kidsinthecapital@gmail.com

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As you all know by know, we will all be returning to the dreaded virtual learning after Christmas break! (Editor note that English boards are already back, but French boards are back next Tuesday January 11th)

Now, if you are a person who doesn't mind online learning then keep scrolling, because this article is probably not for you.

But for everyone else, virtual learning can be stressful for everyone in the family: the kids that are actually doing the online school and even the parents. If you are a parent with younger kids, you’ll likely remember these familiar statements, like “The internet is not working” or “I can't hear anyone.” These tech glitches can get really annoying. There's also the problem of parents needing to go to work, but if they have a young child they can't leave home, so there's the trouble of one parent needing to stay home.

We all need a break from this big mess and I'm sure none of us are too excited at the thought of returning online. But since we have no choice, I’ve come up with a few tips for you.

1: Make sure to treat online as if you were in person. Which means that you can't be doing things that you wouldn't in person, e.g., Going on your phone, watching videos, leaving the meeting, going to do something else etc.

2: Have a good setup and make sure your work area is all clean before starting your class. When your area becomes too messy then you won't be able to do your work or be able to find the things you need.

3: It can be very hard being on screens all day, every day of the week. So to help you cope here’s are a few tips: Take time outside during breaks and after school. Don't have any extra screens that you don't need to have after school (e.g. video games). Give your brain a little break after class; this could mean reading, writing, singing etc.

4: Staying in contact with friends: while being online it can be very hard because you can't see your friends, so to make sure to keep in contact by texting and calling regularly!

5: Remember that it will be over soon, and take it one day at a time.

Shining a light in the darkness: picture book recommendations from the OPL

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share some beautiful and bright books picture books, guaranteed to bring some light into the dark winter months. This list has been curated by Kirsten Partanen, Children's Programs and Public Service Assistant at the Greenboro Branch of the Ottawa Public Library

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We just passed December 21st, the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere. Winter is dark. It is therefore no surprise that between November and February there are at least nine holidays which celebrate or centre around light. This month’s selections speak of light in the darkness and being light to the world around you.

Flashlight by Lizi Boyd

This is a delightful wordless picture book. A young child is camping with his family and goes out of the tent at night with his trusty flashlight. The artwork brings this wonderful story to life as he discovers with his flashlight all of the wonderful animal friends who are around in the night.

Every Color of Light, written by Hiroshi Osada and Illustrated by by Ryōji Arai

This book takes us through a day of many colours including the shades of a thunderstorm, and finishing with a gorgeous night with stars and moon. It is a wonderful reminder not only of the light from the moon and stars, but the beauty of the light to be found in the midst of the darkness. Ryōji Arai is an award award-winning illustrator and each page is a stunning work of art.

Superluminous by Ian De Haes

The main character, Nour (which means “light” in Arabic), was born with a special luminescence. She loves her special glow. When she starts school ready to show off this superpower, others claim it is not a real superpower and Nour’s glow begins to dim. When her glow helps a special someone at night, Nour learns to embrace her glow once again.

Grandma, How Do You Light the Qulliq? By Jeanie Joanasie

This is a wonderful tale of the sharing of culture from an Inuit grandmother who passes along the knowledge, use, and importance of the qulliq. The qulliq is an Inuit oil lantern (often made of soapstone), which provides light and warmth, especially important in the winter. Although the cover shown is the English version, this book is also published in Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun

Nightlights, By Paul Paolilli and Dan Brewer, Illustrated by Alice Brereton

A wonderful story about a family going out after dark and finding all of the light, both natural and manmade, which is found in the night. From stars and fireflies to city lights and passing trains, all are enjoyed. This story is written in rhyme which makes it a wonderful, soothing bedtime story.

Invitation to Create: books to get your kids creating over the holidays!

Do you have creative and curious kids who love tinkering, making and doing? The Ottawa Public Library is back this month with fiction, non-fiction and picture book suggestions to get your kiddos excited about being a “maker!” This post is written and curated by Amanda Spargo, the Children's Programming & Public Services Assistant at the Ruth E. Dickinson Branch of the OPL.

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Want to find any of these titles at the library? Visit the handy link Amanda created for us, which connects you to all the recommended titles! https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/list/share/69231035_wordgurlz/2010246103_kids_in_the_capital_blog_invitation_to_create

Non-fiction best bets for kids and families (ages 2-12)

1) Little Helpers Toddler Baking Cookbook: Sweet and Savory Recipes to Make, Bake and Share

By Barbara Camperti

2) Girls Who Build: Inspiring Curiousity and Confidence to Make Anything Possible

By Katie Hughes

3) Cardboard Box Engineering: Cool, Inventive Projects for Tinkerers, Makers & Future Scientists

By Jonathan Adolph 

4) Craft Lab for Kids: 52 DIY Projects to Inspire, Excite and Empower Kids to Create Useful, Beautiful Handmade Goods

By Stephanie Corfee

5) Play, Make, Create. A Process-art Handbook: With Over 40 Art Invitations for Kids

By Meri Cherry

6) Hello Crochet Friends! Making Art, Being Mindful, Giving Back: Do What Makes You Happy.

By Jonah Larson

Fun STEM-inspired chapter books (ages 6-10)

1) Zoey and Sassafras: Dragons and Marshmallows by Asla Citro
With magical animals, science, mystery and adventure this is a series with something for everyone.

2) Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor by Jon Scieszka
When a lightning storm brings his robot creations to life, science enthusiast Frank Einstein and his assistants Klink and Klank work to defeat his arch-nemesis' evil doomsday plot.

Fun STEM-inspired picture books (ages 3-6)

1) Nerdycorn by Andrew Root

Meet Fern! She's a smart, creative unicorn who prefers building robots and coding software to jumping through shimmering rainbows and splashing in majestic waterfalls.

2) This is Ruby by Sara O'Leary

Ruby is a little girl with a sense of curiosity and enthusiasm that's too big to contain! Ruby is always busy -- she loves to make things, watch things grow and figure out how things work, with her dog Teddy by her side. And Ruby has lots of ideas about what she wants to be.

3) Our Shed: A Father-daughter Building Story by Robert Broder

A father teaches his daughter about woodworking and she contributes imagination and fun as they build a shed together.

4) Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall

Jabari is making a flying machine all by himself, but when it doesn't work the way he imagined, he learns about perseverance and problem-solving.

5) Someone Builds the Dream by Lisa Wheeler

Celebrates the skilled women and men who work to see the plans of architects, engineers, and designers brought to life.