Summer We all love summer. Long days and finally warm enough for everybody. We feel we don’t have to convince anyone to go out in the summer. Pack away all the sweaters and heavy clothes and welcome the light and colourful summer wardrobe. It is so much easier to go outside and enjoy the day with children. Swimming Dandelions Ride a bike Sand play Nature walk Hopscotch Camping and hiking Bug hunting Bird watching Ball games Tubing Soap bubbels Canoeing Marbles Gardening Water play Go fishing Skipping ropes games Pick berries Picking stones Chalk on the sidewalks Play in the Park       We do have to be aware of the sun’s UV rays as well as heat and smog alerts. This doesn’t mean we need to hide inside except for the last hours before sunset, but we do need to think about how to dress our children in the summer and how to protect ourselves from the sun. Sun protection Our sun is important for all life, but still we have to protect against the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV is both beneficial and harmful. UVB is what stimulates the body to produce vitamin D which in essential to staying healthy, but if exposed for too long UV can damage the skin down to the DNA level increasing future risk of skin cancers. A logical approach with common sense can balance the risks of exposure to the sun with the benefits the same exposure to both physical and mental health. Playing outdoors during smog and heat alert Watch out for Poison ivy "Leaves of three, let it be; berries white, danger in sight." hwww.pmra-arla.gc.ca www.cbc.c

Activities

Go swimming
Take a trip with your children to your local pool lake. Play with them and teach them confidence in the water, but also teach them to have respect for the water. If you are by the beach you can play with rocks, shells and in the sand. Look a little closer and you will find a lot of different fauna worth inspecting by the lakes. Make sand art of the shells and rocks (for you who are lucky living by the sea,) when you come home.

Outdoor pools Toronto
North York
Toronto East York
Scarborough
Etibicoke

Beaches in Toronto
Directions for Toronto Beaches
The City of Toronto’s Department of Works and Emergency Services takes daily water samples at each of Toronto’s beaches.
This starts from June and continues to Labour Day.
Check for water quality

Ride a Bike Go for a ride with the family either in your neighborhood or in local parks. We love go for rides together on our bikes in the city or in the urban nature of Toronto. Thanks to wooden bikes smaller children down to two years-old can experience riding a bike. We meet other neighborhood kids in the beltline and they will ride together. It is amazing how well they master it and how far they will go. It is fun to see how quickly they master balancing on two wheels. Not only does it looks cool, it is so functional and they will ease into a pedal bike earlier with less traumatizing crashes Biking in Toronto Canada bike trails Read more about biking

Nature walk
Go for a walk in your neighborhood. This can be in your local park or in a ravine. Look at the natural flora and fauna and name it for your child
Do you see spiders, beetles, ants or squirrels? Try to name the trees, flowers and plants you see on you way.
If you don’t know them, take some digital pictures and bring them home where you can find out what they are on the Internet or a good book.
This is a good activity both for physical skills, increased awareness of natural sciences, imagination and environmental knowledge. Children also increase their literacy and vocabulary. You can even start teaching your child about how animals live, what they eat or why are the leaves green. This is the time of “why” for children and being a little prepared can go a long way in satisfying their hunger for information.
You might not have all the answers, so a good tip is to buy a book on local plants and animals.

For Toronto and Ontario we recommend:
Wild City: A Guide in Urban Ontario, from Termites to Coyotes”. By Bennet, Douhg,Tiner, Tim.-Toronto.ISBN 0-7710-8569-9
Nature walks in Toronto, maps, beltlines and suggested walks.
For green maps from Cities all over the world
Find walks and trails in Canada
Find walks and trails in the USA

Camping and hiking
Summer camping trips are timeless in family life A lifetime of memories is given to children and it is a wonderful experience for the whole family.
Canada is peppered with countless opportunities for both tent and RV camping. Don’t forget to bring good food, a quality tent and good cloths for everyone.
If you are aloud to build an open fire bring some utensils to cook on the fire.

A simple meal cooked on an open fire can be pure magic for children. Backcountry hiking to cabins and huts that are only accessible by foot can be an affordable way to get away from the summer crowds for the more adventurous.
Camping in Toronto at Glen Rouge Campground
Find Backcountry cabins, huts and lodges
Parks in Canada
Find a campsite

Bird watching

Take your children to your local pond in the park or in your backyard, you even can organize a trip out in the forest.
Buy a book about birds in your area. Learn the names of the local birds in your community.
When you are at field trips like this, try to go quietly and slowly with you children.

Take pictures of the birds so when you come home you can look up what you saw in your local field guide.
What are their habitats, which trees do they prefer.

You can also talk about migration and why certain birds fly away in the fall. It is important to make this session fun for kids, and not kill children’s discovery.

Find Birding Pals (free)in Ontario who will help your family go bird watching

Bug hunting
Though some adult are a bit squeamish about bugs, small children love them. It is amazing how a caterpillar,
inchworm and even a tiny ant can fascinate them for hours. Let children discover insects themselves.
Because children are closer to ground level they will probably discover them before you.
You can help them by turning over rocks and tree branches so they can see all the life just out of sight.
You can teach your child about the different types of insects and the function they have in the nature.

Insect Extravaganza Community Festival
13 July
High Park Children’s Garden
Colborne Lodge Dr, south end of High Park
12-4 pm; Free
Enjoy fun activities including a bug hunt, face painting, worm bin demonstration and other bug themed activities.
A garden harvest lunch will be provided while it lasts.
Phone 416 392 1329

Tubing
For those who have never floated down a river on an inner tube you have to try it.
Outdoor trips
River tubing
Tubing the Elora Gorge in the Grand River Valley, Ontario

Canoeing
You don’t have to go on a wilderness canoe trip to enjoy a little paddle.
Try adding an hour paddle during your trip to the beach. Make sure your child has some time playing in a lifejacket in shallow water if they haven’t been in
a lifejacket before and make sure you bring a lunch so you can stop somewhere and enjoy a little shore lunch.

Rent canoes at the Island by Toronto operated boat rental call 416-392-8192.
For lessons in Toronto try
Toronto Island Canoe club
Paddle Toronto

Tips and ideas to help introduce children to wilderness canoeing
Written by Outdoor Adventure Canada

Properly fitted life jacket

Child should wear life jackets in a controlled environment before going into canoe.

Start with short trips in the beginning.

Small children (0-6) should be carried in and out of the canoe so that they won't cause the boat to tip.
Read more

Gardening
We have continued to garden with our city kids. The seeds have grown up and now we have put out our vegetables in our gardens and balconies.
It has been so much for them to follow the cycle of seed to plant! They definitely understand the concept of where veggies come from.
Now they get to nurture and water them waiting for us to harvest them. We also have planted some flowers as well.
We are going to make new plants of germaniums and spider plants as seedlings.
Gardening ideas
www.thekidsgarden.co.

Gardening programs in Toronto the Children’s Garden Program at High Park and Waterfront.
The Children's Garden Program is available from mid-May to the end of June and from mid-September to early October.
For registration see their website. The Children’s Garden Program at High Park starts drop in programs July 3rd every Thursday morning.
http://www.toronto.ca/parks/programs/gardening.htm

Toronto Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club
101 Spruce Street, Toronto M5A 2J3

Brick Works Farmers Market
This is a great market, running from May 24th until December 13th (8 am to 1 pm), but is much more than a market.
We love their children’s program where they teach children about the natural surroundings with a hands-on approach.
Make this trip even more memorable for you, your family and friends. Walk or bike though Toronto’s fantastic ravine system.

Toronto Botanical Garden


Go fishing
Many of us have fond memories about fishing when we where kids. Though many of us can't say that we were profound fishers, we do like to eat them!
Don't expect a long day of fishing with younger children. Try to incorporate a little fishing time with other outdoor adventures near a lake or river.
We either file off or squeeze with a needle nose pliers the barb on the hook. It makes taking the fish off the hook less traumatic for the fish.
It is really fun to see the excitement on kids faces when they catch the littlest fish.

In Toronto Fishing Days
High Park
July 7th Grenadier Pond Family Fishing Days
Grenadier Pond 1873 Bloor St. West
Bloor St W, West of Parkside Dr& High Park Blvd
10am-2pm
A revitalization and celebration of the tradition of family fishing fun in High Park.
Bring your rod or borrow one (limited supply). Bring the kids and enjoy the beauty of the park and a day of fishing.
No fishing licenses required on these dates.

Toronto Island
July 11th
Ferry Docks: Queens Quay West
Come and enjoy a day of fishing on the Island. Free rod and reel for the first 200 kids to arrive.
No fishing license required on this day. Percy the Perch will be dropping by along with other festivities.

For more fishing event like this and for more information about fishing and where to go.
www.canoe.ca
www.great-fishing.com
www.canadianangling.com
www.bwca.cc
www.mnr.gov.on.ca
www.fishingforkids.net

Pick your own


Strawberries
Our first berries in the summer are in early June, you will start seeing them in the stores. (Check to see that they are local)
But, why not go to one of the local farms and check out what fresh means. Your children can get first hand experience of how and where berries grow.
When you come home you can make you own strawberry jam so you have own supply for the year to come.
Our kids love the fact that they had a part in making the jam that they eat. And it is defiantly nice to know what is in your jam!

With your fresh berries make strawberry shortcake, Yummy!

Find local farms

Our pick for strawberries in Toronto area is Organics Family Farm . Only one hour out of Toronto, and one of the few farms in Ontario who offer organic strawberries.
Organics Family
7550 19th Ave.
Markham, Ont.
Phone 905 604 5206

Rhubarb
Rhubarb is an early harvest in June. You will discover them in stores (Check to see that they are local)
Why not visit a farm with you family or your friends and find out how they grow.
When you come home you can make rhubarb pie or my childhood memory, Rhubarb soup.
You will find it a very easy dessert that only takes 10 minutes to make.

Find locals farms

Blueberries
End of July you will start to see them in stores (check them that they are local). Head out to local farm and pick them!
Maybe you even can make a necklace of blueberries by using a straw as a string.

After a good fieldtrip head home and make blueberry jam. So you have supply for the year come.
Make blueberry pie or just eat fresh blueberries with vanilla ice cream.

Find a local farm


Vegetables
In the summer you will find a lot of fresh greens in the store (check that they are local).
Why not head to your closest farm and learn how they grow.
Some of the greens are:
Beans
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Tomatoes
Find a local farm

Play time in the park
Meet in your local park and play games and sing together. We meet in our local park for two years now and we always do a circle time with singing and different games.
"The bear is sleeping", "the more we are together", "London Bridge" etc. Check out our songbook her We also would do different games like a simple version of the Inuit Blanket toss where all the adults hold a blanket and bounce one of the children. We also play hide and seek, tag. 
Look her for more games to play

Dandelions
For adults, dandelions are weeds in the yard. But, children love to pick them. Dandelions also have medicinal and food uses.
You can eat young leaves in your salad, the same with the flowers. Before you even consider this you have to be sure that they have not been sprayed
with herbicides of chemicals. Pick dandelions with you children and make dandelion crowns.
Peel the stems into strings and see what happen when you put them in a jar of water.

Sand Play Did you know that sand play children develops physical development, social skills, cognitive development, mathematical skills, science concepts and language skills? All adults need to do is to encourage and supervise their play. There is a lot of stuff you can do with the sand. Make big villages with moats around them, use stones as material as well. Poor water over the sand castles, and see what happens. Also use the natural environment around you, weeds, leaves, sticks and dandelions can be a garden in a mini village. Read more about sand play: Sandra, Crosser Making the Most of Sand Play in Earlychildhood News McLean, Christine The Nitty Gritty Business of Sand Play in Child & Family Sand art and play

Water play
Play with the water in your back yard or in your local park. Use different size of buckets and play with them. Put the sprinklers on.
Have sprinklers on in your back yard. Put water in spray bottle.

Read more about water play:
Water Play:

Ball games
Always have a ball with you and play with your children. Kick a ball or throw it to them and play with them. A ball can be a great catalyst for play.
Children from all over the park may come over to engage as well. Introduce the ball to them at an early age, and they will learn how to excel in more organized sport later in life. It is important not kill their joy; they might not understand the structure of organized games at an early age.
Introduce some ways of playing with the ball and watch them come up with their own play.

Ball games ideas

Marbles
Do you remember steelies and cat eyes from your childhood? I remember when I was little we could play for hours.
This game is not suitable for children under three years old, or a child who tends to put things in their mouth.

A favorite marbles game was this game.
Make a hole in the playing field.
Make a line with a stick on the playing field.
Each child throw a marble to get as close as possible to the whole.
The closest person gets to go first at flicking the marbles into the hole using the tip of the middle finger or the side of the pointer finger.
If the first person misses, the person who was second closest will then go. This will go on until all marbles are knocked in. The person to knock in the last marble in the hole wins the marbles.

Hopscotch
We all remember Hopscotch games from when we where small, but did you know that it started as a training regimen for
Roman foot soldiers who trained in full armor and field packs? They thought this would improve their footwork, and it probably did.
Roman children started to imitate the soldiers and voila, a new child game was invented.
For Hopscotch games
www.gameskidsplay.net
www.howstuffworks.com

Chalk on the sidewalks
Use the sidewalks as a canvas for art with children let them be creative. You never know what they will come up with.
One of my daughter's favorite things is to lie down and I will use chalk to outline the shape of her body.

Picking stones
After hiking in the forest or by the beach you probably have noticed children's obsession with stones.
Make this part of the journey. Collect stones and you take them home to make some art.
Make a troll! Use stick, rocks, moss or dry grass to glue on faces and arms to your little forest creatures.

Skipping ropes games
This is a big childhood memory. Remember skipping outside for hours? Children all over the world still seem to be fascinated with jumping rope.
We were quite surprised to see our kid's early fascination with this game.

We like this skipping game.
"Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear"
While jumping, kids chant the rhyme as they perform the actions at the same time:
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around (Turn around.)
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground (Touch the ground while skipping.)
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, climb the stairs (Pretend to walk up stairs while skipping.)
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say your prayers (Join hands to say prayers while skipping.)
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn off the lights (Reach up to turn off a light while skipping.)
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say good night. (Wave and say "good night" as you skip out of the rope.)
More skipping games