If the long wait for spring weather has your house going a little stir crazy, never fear: The city offers plenty of chances for little folks to burn off energy.
Bonsor, Edmonds and Cameron recreation centres all offer drop-in gyms for preschoolers (up to age five) for just a dollar a person.
At Bonsor, you can enjoy Loonie Gymnastics on Monday evenings, 6 to 7 p.m., from April 3 to June 12. (Note there are no sessions on the holiday Mondays on April 17 and May 22.) You can also drop in on Wednesdays from 1 :30 to 2:30 p.m.
Also at Bonsor, there’s Tiny Tikes – which offers sports equipment, slides, tunnels and riding toys, plus parachute activities and songs – on Thursdays starting April 6 from 9:15 to 10:15 and Saturdays starting April 8, also from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m.
Edmonds also offers Tiny Tikes sessions on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. (starting April 5) and Friday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. (starting April 6).
At Cameron, there’s Buck A Roo Family Fun, with tunnels, riding toys and more in the sports hall. It’s on Mondays from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. from March 27 to May 15.
You can get the full drop-in schedule details in the current Leisure Guide, or find it online at www.burnaby.ca.
GET GOLFING
No, it’s not too early to learn golf. Riverway and Burnaby Mountain golf courses both offer Little Linkers golfing programs for kids as young as four years old. The programs cost $59 for four sessions, with new sessions beginning April 22 at a variety of times.
For slightly older kids, there are also junior lessons for kids aged seven to 12. The lessons cost $105 for four sessions, and new lessons begin April 22.
Check out www.golfburnaby.ca for all the details.
TWEEN BOOK CLUB
If there a young book lover in your house? The Bob Prittie (Metrotown) branch of Burnaby Public Library offers a Tween Book Club for ages nine to 12, and it’s meeting again on Tuesday, April 4.
This month’s meeting will discuss The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate. You can register online at www.bpl.bc.ca/events or by phone at 604-436-5420, then pick up a copy of the book from the librarian at the desk.
Kids will meet at 4 p.m. on April 4 to talk about the book, snack on refreshments and discuss the real-life issues brought up by the story.
Space is limited, so be sure to sign up soon.
BUILDING BRIDGES
Budding engineers of Burnaby, this one’s for you. There’s a Popsicle Stick Bridge Contest happening on Saturday, April 8 at Bonsor Recreation Complex.
The event is presented by Burnaby Public Library, Burnaby’s parks, recreation and cultural services, and the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists. Contestants build bridges at home using a specific set of materials, then bring them to the event to see how much pressure their bridges can withstand.
Prizes are available, and the day will include other free engineering-related fun for the family.
There’s a limited number of bridge-building supply kits available, and you must pick one up before April 2 (while supplies last). Participants must be elementary or secondary school students, and you can sign up as a group of up to five members.
Check out www.bpl.bc.ca/events for all the details.
Do you have an item for Family Ties? Send family- and parenting-related information to Julie, jmaclellan@burnabynow.com.
