Yes, fall is upon us once again – which means that parents of small folks are now looking for ways to fill those colder, wetter, daytime hours.
Never fear. There’s plenty of family fun happening around Burnaby, and we’re keeping an eye on it for you. Here are a few highlights from the events I’ve found this week:
CHESS, ANYONE?
Whether your child is a junior grandmaster in training or just wants to learn more about chess, Burnaby Public Library offers a kids’ chess club for children aged five to 12.
Curtis Lister of the Burnaby Junior Chess Club facilitates informal games. It’s all run on a drop-in basis and you don’t have to register ahead, but be sure to arrive early as space is limited.
Kids’ Chess Club drop-ins are on Saturdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Metrotown library branch, 6100 Willingdon Ave., running until Nov. 12 (no session on Oct. 22).
Check out www.bpl.bc.ca/events.
GET CRAFTY
If you have a crafty kid in the house, swing by the Cameron library branch on Sunday, Sept. 25 between 2 and 4 p.m. Kids aged four to 10 can join in papercraft activities. No registration is needed, but parents must accompany children under 10.
Call 604-421-5454 for info, or just stop in to the library at 9523 Cameron St., in Cameron rec centre.
DROP-IN FUN
The Burnaby Public Library and Burnaby’s parks, recreation and cultural services department are teaming up to offer a special morning of family fun at Wesburn Community Centre on Monday, Sept. 26.
Librarians will be on hand with a pop-up library – you’ll be able to browse, borrow and return library material, register for a library card and learn more about library services.
At the same time, kids will be able to enjoy an Imagination Playground – made up of large modular blocks that they can stack and move around. They can also enjoy ride-on cars, slides and more.
Check it all out from 10 a.m. to noon at Wesburn, 4781 Parkwood Ave. See www.bpl.bc.ca/events or call Kelsey at 604-436-5426 for more information.
LEGO CLUB
If you have LEGO fans in your house, then you’ll definitely want to check this one out.
The Burnaby Public Library offers LEGO Club sessions for kids. Kids and parents can drop in at any of the club sessions to play with the library’s extensive LEGO collection. You never have to register ahead (although you’re encouraged to arrive early, since sessions are popular).
Note that adults must accompany kids under age 10.
The next LEGO Club session at the Metrotown library branch (6100 Willingdon Ave.) is on Friday, Sept. 30 from 1 to 3 p.m., for kids aged five to 12.
At the McGill branch (4595 Albert St.), LEGO Club sessions are open to kids ages four and up. They run on the first Saturday or the month from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. The next session is Saturday, Oct. 1, with sessions following on Nov. 5 and Dec. 3.
Check out www.bpl.bc.ca/events for all the details.
BRENTWOOD FUN
If you live in the Brentwood area, then be sure to check out the YMCA’s Brentwood Community Resource Centre.
The centre, at 2055 Rosser Ave., offers a Baby and Me drop-in for parents and caregivers of children up to age 12 months. It’s on Thursdays starting at noon, and it covers various health and development topics related to babies, with presentations from public health nurses and other professionals.
Sessions will cover topics such as breastfeeding, nutrition, postpartum fitness, child development and more. Bring a blanket for your little one to lie on, and hang out to learn more and socialize with other parents.
The information sessions are an hour long, but open drop-in playtime then runs until 4 p.m.
Drop-in play sessions are for parents and caregivers with children up to age six, and they run afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m. (starting at 12:30 p.m. on Mondays). Email [email protected] for more details.
Do you have an item for Family Ties? Send family- and parenting-related ideas to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
