Stuff I’m Digging: Fun Stuff for Kids in Toronto

I’ve been holding out on you, guys.

A lot of very cool things have come my way, but I’ve been so swamped with work and life and work that I haven’t found the time for my usual Friday recomendations. I’m contributing various lifestyle posts to the The Loop now as well as juggling this blog and whatever other freelance work comes my way and three children who are home ALL THE TIME for the summer. But I’ve decided that everybody is in semi-vacation mode during the summer and we’ll all just forgive each other our sloppy habits until September. Just play along.  Here’s some fun stuff for kids in Toronto (back-to-school is too fun) and then read to the end if you like giveaways.

SO. Princess Polly and the World’s Smallest Ninja at Second City in Toronto.

Colum, Irene and I were invited to see this and we LOVED IT. The kids liked that it featured a princess and a ninja and I can always get behind a subversive princess story. An energetic and endearing cast draws us into the story of a mini ninja and outcast princess who join forces to save the kingdom from a funk-inspired villain. There’s enough suspense to keep the kids at the edge of their seats and plenty of humour for kids and adults alike. Put this on your agenda if you’ll be in Toronto this month.

We also enjoyed a short visit to the Ontario Science Centre on media day.

We don’t get to the science centre nearly enough given how much educational fun the kids always have. It’s an east end vs west end of Toronto issue, I think, but it’s totally worth crossing the Don Valley for. The KidSpark area for kids under 8 will keep them entertained for hours. (That’s my three deeply engrossed in some water play above.) Then there’s entire floors full of other interactive displays for older kids and adults. We also got to see Flight of the Butterflies at the Imax theatre which I thoroughly enjoyed. (Imax movies are half off for members, by the way. I’m keeping that tidbit up my sleeve.)

There was also a blogger’s screening of Dispicable Me 2 that I took Colum and Irene to courtesy of The Home Depot. (Such spoiled kids!) Did you know that The Home Depot holds free workshops for kids on Saturday? Because they do and they are a great rainy day activity. Kids will get to build their own Load ‘n Go truck in this Saturday’s workshop.

I also took all three kids to preview the Staples Canada back-to-school products for this year! (Exclamation point is mine. The kids were not as excited about new pens, markers, binders, notebooks, snack containers, backpacks and the general promise of an organized life as I was.) I love starting the year with quality gear that will last.

And finally, a basket of Live Clean baby products arrived on my doorstep a few months ago. They’re good! I especially like the talc-free baby powder for leaving a bitty bottom nice and dry and the safflower bath and massage oil. The baby powder scent can pack a bit of a wallop so stick to the fragrance-free products if you’re sensitive about that. You know, there are other natural products on the market that are perhaps even more stringent about their ingredients and they’re great too. But I do like being able to walk into Target or wherever and pick up a product I can feel good about without having to break the bank. I’ll definitely use these again. (Or I would if I was having another baby, which I’m not.) You can like their Facebook page to keep on top of new products and promotions.

But if you or someone you know is having a baby, you can WIN a Live Clean prize pack valued at $50. Just leave me a comment (but not a Facebook comment — scroll all the way down and leave me an old-fashioned comment) and I’ll draw a name at 11:59pm on Sunday, August 12. Canada only.