Ah, fall. There’s no season like it when the days are sunny, the air is crisp and the leaves are crunching underfoot. But when the weather lets you down and it’s not a sunny day for the playground, what’s a parent to do with small people?
Never fear, we’re on the job keeping an eye on kid-friendly happenings in the city. Here are a few highlights for the next couple of weeks:
CRAFT TIME
Got crafty kids in the house? The McGill branch of Burnaby Public Library is inviting everyone in for a “spooktacular” Halloween paper craft program on Saturday, Oct. 15.
There are two crafty sessions for kids: one from noon to 1 p.m. and one from 3 to 4 p.m.
They’re free, and you don’t need to register, but space is limited, so arrive early. The McGill library is at 4595 Albert St. in North Burnaby. See www.bpl.bc.ca/events for more details.
PRESCHOOL ART
If you’ve got a preschooler in the house who just loves to get their hands on all things arty, you’re in luck.
The City of Burnaby’s fall Leisure Guide has a host of art-related listings for the small set.
Among some of the classes starting up soon are an Artful Duo – Parent & Me Studio Time that kicks off on Friday, Nov. 4 at Burnaby Art Gallery for the two- to five-year-old crowd. Three- and four-year-olds can also try out ClayPlay and Paint, running Fridays at Bonsor Rec Centre starting Oct. 28.
Also at Bonsor, kids aged 3.5 to four can try out Minions and Fairies and Trolls, Oh My!, creating their own art pieces with inspiration from famous cartoon characters such as Minions, Elsa, Tinkerbell, Spiderman and more. That starts Thursday, Oct. 20.
For all those and more, pick up a city Leisure Guide or download one from www.burnaby.ca.
CRITTER CAPERS
Love to explore nature? Burnaby Lake Regional Park is a great place to head out and discover the great outdoors in your own backyard.
The park has various special events throughout the year, including an upcoming program called Critter Capers: The Case of the Mysterious Mess, set for Saturday, Oct. 22.
Families can drop in to the Nature House (4519 Piper Ave.) anytime between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to take part in the fun by using their detective skills to gather clues and discover who left a mess on the forest floor.
The program is designed for ages six and up, and it’s free. Organizers recommend leaving an hour to solve the mystery.
For information, see the events calendar at www.metrovancouver.org or call 604-432-6359.
TRICK OR TREAT
If you’ve been wondering what to do with the small folks on Halloween, here’s one for you.
Lougheed Town Centre is hosting a Trick or Treat event on Halloween (that’s Monday, Oct. 31 for the uninitiated), running from 4 to 5 p.m. Kids under 12 can get treats, and there will be a photo booth set up from 4 to 6 p.m. so you can capture photos of the costumes.
It’s all by suggested donation of $1 per child, and money supports the Burnaby Firefighters’ Charitable Society.
FAMILY CORNER
Want to try something different and explore a new culture?
The Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre invites families in for a regular Sunday Family Corner event on the last Sunday of the month.
People can drop in and play with traditional Japanese toys, learn origami and take part in a special craft related to ongoing gallery exhibitions.
The next one coming up is on Sunday, Oct. 30 from noon to 4 p.m., and the theme is Little Warriors. Kids can try making kabuto hats in origami or try their hand at ukiyo-e samurai cutouts.
Check out www.nikkeiplace.org for more.
Do you have an item for Family Ties? Send family- and parenting-related items to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
