Looking for some fun in the sun with the family for the long weekend? Don’t forget to check out Victoria Day at Burnaby Village Museum.
The village always has special fun on the go for the day, and this year’s holiday is coming up fast – Monday, May 23, to be exact. The village will be open 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with free gate admission.
The Queen’s procession will wind its way around the village starting at 1:45 p.m. (yes, Victoria herself is always on hand for the occasion), and you can enjoy birthday cupcakes, kids’ crafts, a three-piece brass band, performances by the Tiddley Cove Morris Dancers and more.
You can shop from the village’s Market Monday vendors, offering food and crafts, and, of course, take a spin on the historic 1912 C.W. Parker Carousel (rides are $2.60 each).
Check out www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca for all the details, or just drop in – the village is at 6501 Deer Lake Ave.
FAMILY NIGHT OUT
Want to find some family fun and build connections in your community? Why not check out an evening family dinner and drop-in at the Brentwood Community Resource Centre?
The YMCA’s centre offers the drop-ins on Tuesday evenings until June 14, designed for parents and caregivers with children from infancy up to age five. The drop-ins run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Staff serve up a light vegetarian dinner and give families a chance to play and socialize. The Burnaby Public Library is also on hand for library time with songs and stories.
It’s free, and you don’t need to register. Just turn up to the resource centre on the second floor at 2055 Rosser Ave. Email [email protected] for more details, or see www.bpl.bc.ca/events.
SURVIVING YOUR SIX-YEAR-OLD
Have you survived toddlerhood and the preschool years, only to discover that the childhood “middle years” come with challenges of their own?
The Burnaby Public Library is hosting a series called Parenting in the Middle Years, designed for parents of kids aged six to 12. It runs Mondays from May 30 to June 27, 10 a.m. to noon.
The educational series will cover topics like middle childhood development, social-emotional competency, fostering positive peer relationships and strategies for effective, positive discipline.
Child care is provided, but space is limited. Call 778-782-3548 or email [email protected]. You can also see www.informationchildren.com for more details.
CHILD-CARE THANKS
The Burnaby Early Childhood Development Committee is reaching out to say thank you to Burnaby’s child-care providers.
The group is hosting an evening of appreciation for child-care providers at Burnaby Neighbourhood House on Wednesday, May 18 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The night will include a featured speaker, food, networking and door prizes. Call the YMCA child-care resource and referral program at 604-294-1109 to sign up, or see www.kidsinburnaby.ca for more.
And if (like me) you rely on child care for your kids and are grateful for great care, don’t forget to take some time out this month to acknowledge your child-care providers.
YOUNG READERS' BOOK CLUBS
Are there young readers in your house? The Burnaby Public Library offers book clubs for both kids (aged nine to 12) and teens (grades 8 to 12).
The next meetings are Thursday, May 19 for teens at the Cameron branch and Friday, May 20 for kids at the Metrotown branch.
Teens are reading Eric Walters’ Walking Home and kids are reading Nathan Hale’s Rapunzel’s Revenge.
Check out www.bpl.bc.ca/events to sign up for either club – you need to register ahead for both.
Do you have an item for Family Ties? Send family- and parenting-related ideas to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
