Well, although the official Family Day holiday is now behind us, every parent knows that really, Family Day is every day.
Which is why I'm always on the lookout for family-friendly things to do and places to go in our fair city.
Here's my latest roundup of happenings that have caught my eye:
* Love art? Why not check out one of the upcoming Parent and Tot story and craft sessions at 100 Braid Street Studios? Susan L. Greig has created a welcoming place for families, and every Friday she offers a parent-and-tot session designed for the two- to five-year-old crowd, with caregivers. The sessions run from 10:30 a.m. to noon, and each week has a different theme - there will be storytime, followed by a chance to create thematically connected art. The Feb. 20 session, for instance, is "Love Your Pet Day," where kids are invited to bring a picture of a pet and share all about their special friend. Check out www.100braidststudios.com under the Camps and Classes link to find the details of upcoming sessions or to register.
* Also on the art front, a couple of new art programs for kids are starting up soon at the Anvil Centre. Starting Tuesday, Feb. 24, there's Art Tot Tuesdays, for two- to four-year-olds, and Kinder Art, for three- to five-year-olds. Each gives kids a chance to get hands-on with a variety of forms of art, and supplies are included. Art Tots runs from 10 to 11 a.m., and Kinder Art from noon to 1 p.m., and both run Tuesdays until March 31 for a cost of $65. Check out the Anvil Centre brochure at www.anvilcentre.com for more details, or call 604-527-4640 to sign up.
* Want to share some fun and camaraderie with other local families? New Westminster Family Place offers a Terrific Tuesdays drop-in at the Hospitality Project at Shiloh-Sixth Avenue United Church, 111 Sixth Ave.. It runs most Tuesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and gives kids and parents a chance to enjoy playtime, art, playdough, snacks and songs. In fact, Family Place offers a host of resources for local families - check out their website at nwfamily.bc.ca for all the details.
* If you're a new parent who loves to read, don't forget about the Bring Your Baby Book Club offered by the New Westminster Public Library. The club meets monthly, offering a baby- and tot-friendly space for parents to gather and chat about adult books. The next session is Tuesday, Feb. 17, and the book up for discussion is Behind the Scenes at the Museum, by Kate Atkinson. Register at 604-527-4667 or [email protected], or see www.nwpl.ca for more details. The club is suitable for kids from newborn up to about 24 months.
* Love to cook? Or maybe you're not so great in the kitchen but would love to learn more? A couple of upcoming cooking clubs at Qayqayt Neighbourhood Learning Centre could be just the ticket. First up is a five-week kids' cooking club, starting March 30 and running Wednesdays until May 4. It runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and gives kids a chance to learn kitchen skills - how to use equipment and follow a recipe - as well as learning more about their ingredients and the importance of making meals from scratch. It costs $25. Or, if your whole family wants to get involved, how about the Family Cooking Club? It's the same idea, but for the whole family, and runs Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., May 11 to June 15, at a cost of $20 per person. Check out www.ecommunityschool.ca to register.
* Foodie families, don't forget about Royal City Farmers Market's winter market series, running the first and third Saturdays of each month at River Market. The next market is coming up Saturday, Feb. 21, running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. As always, you can expect a delightful array of food and other vendors to appeal to all ages and tastes. Check out www.rcfm.ca for more details - or just turn up to River Market to see for yourself.
Do you have a family or parenting-related idea to share? Send Family Ties suggestions to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.
