Anyone getting worried about March Break Travel

[hdrolfe]

Ottawa is closing Libraries, Museums and pools/city facilities for 3 weeks. There are going to be a lot of children with little to do! Any ideas for how to keep a kid busy for 3 weeks without relying on electronics or our usual activities?

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Ottawa is closing Libraries, Museums and pools/city facilities for 3 weeks. There are going to be a lot of children with little to do! Any ideas for how to keep a kid busy for 3 weeks without relying on electronics or our usual activities?

How old? Kindergarten age or so and younger, the Instagram account busytoddler is excellent for stuff like that.

Older? If you figure something else out let me know . This is going to be a loooong month with my 8 year old. Right now aside from the usual stuff he’s really into making comics, we print off free templates and it keeps him busy for a while.

 

[hdrolfe]

How old? Kindergarten age or so and younger, the Instagram account busytoddler is excellent for stuff like that.

Older? If you figure something else out let me know . This is going to be a loooong month with my 8 year old. Right now aside from the usual stuff he’s really into making comics, we print off free templates and it keeps him busy for a while.

He's 10... and obsessed with watching YouTube and playing Roblox (which will not be good for our sanity to do for 3 straight weeks!) Maybe I'll make him do the times tables work book I got him last summer that he got bored of. He can learn something lol.

 

[mshanson3121]

He's 10... and obsessed with watching YouTube and playing Roblox (which will not be good for our sanity to do for 3 straight weeks!) Maybe I'll make him do the times tables work book I got him last summer that he got bored of. He can learn something lol.

Head outside! Go snowshoeing, hiking, exploring... Do scavenger hunts. Get some books from the library before they close. Get a bunch of board games and play games together. Great time to learn a new hobby. Teaching him how to cook and bake. And there are a lot of really great educational gaming sites available online, if you want him to expand beyond Roblox and You Tube.

 

[marchingstar]

Ottawa is closing Libraries, Museums and pools/city facilities for 3 weeks. There are going to be a lot of children with little to do! Any ideas for how to keep a kid busy for 3 weeks without relying on electronics or our usual activities?

I imagine these closures are going to spread through cities pretty quickly, or at least I hope they do.

I just picked up 8 books from my local library, and closing would mean a bit of extra time to get through them all!

I would say with 3 whole weeks, I would try to find a big project. Dollarama sells great puzzles. I've gotten a marvel and a star wars one, both 1000 pieces, both 4$. Or a big Lego project? That would be more $$ though.

Is he a reader? This would be a great time to start a new series. Order the first few books through amazon and they should arrive shortly.

 

[marchingstar]

How old? Kindergarten age or so and younger, the Instagram account busytoddler is excellent for stuff like that.

Older? If you figure something else out let me know . This is going to be a loooong month with my 8 year old. Right now aside from the usual stuff he’s really into making comics, we print off free templates and it keeps him busy for a while.

Saving this account!

I'm planning on copying a lot of what they do at daycare, which means lots of glueing q-tips to construction paper, gluing popsicle sticks to construction paper, and gluing paper to other paper!

 

[marchingstar]

Head outside! Go snowshoeing, hiking, exploring... Do scavenger hunts. Get some books from the library before they close. Get a bunch of board games and play games together. Great time to learn a new hobby. Teaching him how to cook and bake. And there are a lot of really great educational gaming sites available online, if you want him to expand beyond Roblox and You Tube.

Oh cooking and baking is a great idea. I added supplies for some baking to my grocery shop this morning. My 2 year old is less helpful than a 10 year old, but he still loves stirring the dry ingredients, watching the mixer, and especially sampling foods fresh from the oven!

It's -20 again here, so for us the outdoor activities are going to have to wait until this latest cold snap passes. I'm hoping it won't last long.

 

[Jrb1979]

I imagine these closures are going to spread through cities pretty quickly, or at least I hope they do.

I just picked up 8 books from my local library, and closing would mean a bit of extra time to get through them all!

I would say with 3 whole weeks, I would try to find a big project. Dollarama sells great puzzles. I've gotten a marvel and a star wars one, both 1000 pieces, both 4$. Or a big Lego project? That would be more $$ though.

Is he a reader? This would be a great time to start a new series. Order the first few books through amazon and they should arrive shortly.

In Niagara they have closed all libraries, pools, arenas and everything that is run by the city.

 

[Camilo]

Just called our (Meadowvale) Community Center in Mississauga.
Library and the whole center closing for 3 weeks, starting tomorrow....

 

[Silvermist999]

He's 10... and obsessed with watching YouTube and playing Roblox (which will not be good for our sanity to do for 3 straight weeks!) Maybe I'll make him do the times tables work book I got him last summer that he got bored of. He can learn something lol.

Oh, it’s hard isn’t it, my son is 13 and basically addicted to gaming and YouTube. The good thing is he plays online with his friends so at least there’s some social interaction, right.

Does your son have any chores? How about helping to vacuum, swiffer, fold/sort laundry. Does he like to read, how about ordering some books from amazon/indigo. Libraries are closing here too, which I think is a good thing with this covid around.

 

[damo]

Ottawa is closing Libraries, Museums and pools/city facilities for 3 weeks. There are going to be a lot of children with little to do! Any ideas for how to keep a kid busy for 3 weeks without relying on electronics or our usual activities?

I'd try to do some projects. Pick a theme and do dioramas and stuff like that. I wouldn't be surprised if teachers put some things online that they would like the students to be trying to do.

 

[ottawamom]

]

Ottawa is closing Libraries, Museums and pools/city facilities for 3 weeks. There are going to be a lot of children with little to do! Any ideas for how to keep a kid busy for 3 weeks without relying on electronics or our usual activities?

A little outdoor exercise, have him shovel snow off the lawn onto the driveway so that it can melt faster. I do this each spring when I can't wait to see the lawn.

 

[mort1331]

Hmm girls have some hope if we self isolate then i might break down and geat disney+

 

[isabellea]

All daycares and schools (even universities) are closed for 2 weeks. All public buildings are also closed (libraries, pools, ice rinks, etc.). Just surprised malls and movie theaters are not closed yet. Kids are getting 3h of electronics per day and starting next week we will have them do revision work using a book for their grade for 2-3h per day. The rest of the day will be outside if weather permits or indoor play. Yep! I'm that uncool mom!

DH has to work from home until further notice but I still have to go in. Very difficult to do medical research from home... So far, the transit system is still working even though it's not very busy but considering driving to work or having DH drive me.

 

[marchingstar]

Hmm girls have some hope if we self isolate then i might break down and geat disney+

In fairness, you probably do all deserve a little treat !

 

[mshanson3121]

Official - NB schools closed. Dalhousie University also closing.

 

[mort1331]

In fairness, you probably do all deserve a little treat !

Thanks..buy that is the risk we took...i will see what the boss says when i come home

 

[marchingstar]

Thanks..buy that is the risk we took...i will see what the boss says when i come home

good point. I hope you are all home safe and sound soon!!

 

[quandrea]

Ottawa is closing Libraries, Museums and pools/city facilities for 3 weeks. There are going to be a lot of children with little to do! Any ideas for how to keep a kid busy for 3 weeks without relying on electronics or our usual activities?

Movie nights, walks, bike rides, game nights, reading, school work, baking, cooking. Routine.

I homeschool so my kids are home all the time anyway. We start school each day at nine and end at two. Perhaps you can have them doing school work part of the day? Math workbooks or any work the teachers might have sent home? Reading, book reviews. TVO and WNED are excellent for educational programming. Have the kids write a play. Act it out. Have them build with blocks and evaluate their structures. Read a novel together and map the story elements. Use this as an opportunity to really memorise those time’s tables. Learn cursive.

Routines are key. Let them know it’s not going to just be a time to lay around doing nothing. Get outside for lots of fresh air. Sidewalk chalk is fun. Soccer. Yard cleanup now that it’s spring.

This time off has the potential to be some really lovely family time.

 

[hdrolfe]

Ah time's tables... you know he's in grade 5 and they don't even try to get them to memorize them? Drives me nuts! We may work on that if I can convince him to do it. I had planned for swimming and a movie this coming week. Oh well, we'll save that for summer I guess! I really wanted to see Mulan. Guess we'll wait for it to be on Disney+