Play Time!

Boredom doesn’t have to be contagious. It takes only a little imagination and some ingenuity to turn a quiet afternoon into a day of play! Here are three great options for turning your home into an idea factory!

1. Create a Craft Station

Simply outfit a plastic container or shoebox with some finger paints, a smock, a stash of crayons, and glitter glue. Then make sure to have a roll or pad of craft paper handy. It doesn’t require fancy materials to turn a quiet, unexciting afternoon into a zealous crafting session. The potential is endless. You can personalize each craft station to match your child’s interests. For example, if your daughter loves to dress up, then it would be great to have a jewelry making kit! Or, if your son enjoys playing with toy vehicles, a paint-your-own Thomas the Tank Engine would be a fantastic option.

2. Puppet Show

Either full sized or finger puppets are available to create engaging stories for your children. Encourage them to write a story and act it out with puppets. Use different animals and characters to act out different lessons and stories. It’s a great way for children to learn about animals and their habitats, too! Simply pair a book about whales with a matching puppet.

3. Build a Fort

I used to build forts all the time when I was little! It was so much fun. There was nothing more entertaining than creating a tent out of sheets and clothes pins, where I could hide out and read, play with toys, and eat fun snacks. It’s a great way for kids to exercise their imagination.

And of course, there’s always Monopoly….

Visit Mrs. Tiggy Winkle’s, in-store or online, for more fun and ways to beat boredom on quiet afternoons.

Rainy Day Fun

For those of you who’ve been schlepping through the rain these past few days, here in Ottawa, Canada, I’m sure you’re tired of getting your feet wet in giant puddles or being sprayed by cars speeding by. Coming home with soaked socks and feet, running shoes covered in mud? Well, I’ve got the perfect solution for you and your active children! Mrs. Tiggy Winkle’s is happy to offer Paintable Boots, a new product by MyDesign. Paint, erase, and then re-design a pair of rubber boots as many times as you like! Available in a variety of sizes, MyDesign Paintable Boots are fun and easy for children of all ages. Families will have a blast decorating their boots in fashionable and creative designs. Rainy days don’t have to be grey, boring and icky. Use some red, yellow, and blue paint to spruce up some waterproof footwear to battle this misty fall weather.

The choice is yours and the possibilities are endless! Now, you don’t have to avoid the puddles– and there are a lot of them!

Family Fun in Ottawa

photo credit

Are you struggling to find fun, family friendly events in Ottawa? Tired of going to the movies all the time? Well, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve done the research so you don’t have to! After perusing the internet for local events in our Nation’s Capital, I compiled a list of interesting and unique parties, resources, and locations where families can go to have fun.

1. Pomme Party!

Being held at Billings Estate National Historic Site (on Pleasant Park), the Pomme Party is a great place to discover the many ways in which apples were used during the Pioneer days. Enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride, too!

When: September 26th 2010

Time: 11 am- 4pm

Admission: $6 per person, $10 per pair, $15 for family

2. The Mud Oven

If you haven’t had the chance to check out The Mud Oven on Bank Street, I highly suggest you take an afternoon to visit this super crafty, unique little shop. Spend a couple of hours painting a plate, mug, or bowl, or create a hand print tile. A great alternative to the television.

Where: 1065 Bank Street @ Sunnyside

Cost: Prices vary depending on pottery piece selected

3. The 22nd Annual Wiggle Waggle Walkathon

A chance to raise money for Ottawa’s animals! It’s a great way to get some exercise, fresh air, and sunshine. You can choose to do either 5K or 2K, with or without your furry friend. Explore the Pet Pavillion Marketplace and enjoy a BBQ lunch.

Registration Costs: $25 for individuals and $40 for families

When: September 12th, 2010

Get Cookin’ With Yummy Dough!

Crafting was never so easy! Simply add water to the Yummy Dough mix to create a variety of modeling dough colours, then shape into flowers or monsters before popping them into the oven. The choice is yours! Children will love the combination of crafting and baking. Affordable at only $9.99, this is a great idea for a birthday party activity, special holiday occasions, or a rainy day alternative to the television.

Visit us in-store or online at Mrs. Tiggy Winkle’s!

Ben 10 Lego!

Check out Lego’s cool line of Ben 10 sets at Mrs. Tiggy Winkle’s, available in-store and online! Are you a fan of the popular cartoon? Battle Big Chill, Jet Ray, and Spidermonkey like a superhero with these fun and creative sets from Lego.

Cool Colouring Books

Need inspiration? Check out the unique line of Taro Gomi colouring books, filled with unfinished doodles and fun prompts to exercise your child’s budding creativity.

Available in-store and online, the Taro Gomi colouring books are great for kids of all ages. Click here to get a copy of Doodles and Scribbles! With nearly 400 pages of doodling fun, this chunky colouring book will certainly be a favourite with your child.

Looking for something with a little more bite? Then My Book of Beastly Monsters is for you. Colour and create crazy, monstrous creatures with scales and fur. Give them three eyes or five! It’s up to your child to decide how scary or funny to make the creature.

Click here to get your copy!

Perhaps you’re looking for something with more flavour. Make supper the most fun and artistic meal of the day with Deborah Zemke’s Doodles at Dinner, which features 36 tear-off placemats for kids to draw, doodle, and colour.

Get your copy here!

Snazz up your bikes, Ottawa!

Petals on the handle bars!

Ah Springtime. The birds are singing, the sun is shining and there is the fresh scent of life in the air! With spring comes biking season. It feels good to get out and ride a bike with your kids. But what makes it feel even better, is when your child’s bike has its own personal flair!

It’s a fun way to fill an afternoon and your child will love to show off their creation to friends. Bike decorating may even persuade a reluctant bike-rider to show off their new work of art. Here are some ideas to help get you started.

CANADA DAY BIKE:
Crepe paper streamers are a fun, inexpensive way to decorate a bike. You can wrap up the handle bars and cross bar-even thread it through the tire spokes! Show you love Canada Day and decorate it in Red and White. If you are really ambitious, why not make it a fun street party and invite all the kids to decorate their Canada Day bikes!

STICKERS:
Why not let kids decorate their bike with a few of their favourite things! Stickers are great because they come in so many different styles. Super Heroes, kitty cats, flowers-even mythical creatures. As your kids interests change, they can peel them off and re-decorate!

NAME PLATE:
Cut some cardboard down to bike license plate size and make a custom bike plate then attach it to the fender!

DOLLAR STORE:
Never underestimate the valuable resource of the dollar store. Coloured straws between the wheel spokes, yarn, duct tape, streamers, fake flowers, pin wheels, flags and don’t forget a funky knick knack for a ‘hood ornament’ Kids will love the trip to the dollar store too!

HAPPY BIKING!