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2 Min Read October 25, 2024 No Reply

Halloween Tips for Parents

Kids, Play

My kids are now teens, and while only one may still be enjoying some trick-or-treating this year, I am resharing this post because this is almost always how I helped make Halloween night less scary (in that, my little monsters weren’t fully…monsterific…or something). Just trust me, these tips work!

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With Halloween upon us, I wanted to share a few of my tips that I have learned over the years – I have always loved Halloween, and after kids that love continued. But I have learned a few things over the years that make Halloween go a little smoother for all of us.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Tips for Parents:

  • Feed the kids healthy snacks when they get home from school – they likely have been eating a lot of junk in the classroom, and after trick-or-treating, they’ll be eating more! Now is a good time for water too! “But they’ll just eat supper” you may say. Will they? They will be excited!
  • If you have company coming over, consider feeding the kids supper first (before company arrives). Sometimes, when we wait for guests to arrive, they are too busy playing and wanting to get their costumes on to focus on anything else!
  • While little pumpkin holders are super cute, they get heavy very quickly. Bring a bag to dump full containers into so you can keep on going if the kids insist on using them. Remember how we always used pillow cases? These are great, but there are no handles. Remind the kids you don’t want to carry their bags 😉 Handles are handy!
  • The first thing to get cold on my kids is their hands! Bring gloves, even if they insist they will be fine.
  • Review the candy when it comes home and ditch anything you don’t want them to have or if they can’t eat it because of braces etc. Some stuff may have to be tossed for safety, but other treats can go back in your own bin to hand out if you know they won’t get eaten! They’ll be happy with all the other stuff, and if it’s gone, they won’t eat it later!
2 Min Read October 16, 2024 No Reply

12 fun things to do with kids before Halloween

Activities and Crafts, Kids

You don’t have to love Halloween to enjoy spending time together as a family – but when you can make that time a little more holiday themed, why not drink the witch’s brew and join in the fun?

Here’s a list of ways to celebrate Halloween and the season leading up to October 31. A few of these are great for little ones, some are better for older kids – so pick and choose a few – there’s still time before Halloween!

12 fun things to do with kids before Halloween

1) Go to a pumpkin patch

Many pumpkin patches offer fun family activities that are Halloween or Autumn related like a wagon ride. Enjoy being outside!

12 activities to do with kids before Halloween

2) Carve pumpkins

I love doing this! We’ve made it a fun family activity with some of our little cousins!

3) Decorate!

Add a few cobwebs, maybe a bat or two and voila! Simple decorations for inside or outside the house.

Here’s how to make your own felt bats that are soooo simple!

4) Play a hide and seek game

Hide a paper spider, or a mini pumpkin and then encourage the kids to find it!

5) Make cookies

Pumpkin shaped cookies are easy to make with a pumpkin cookie cutting and orange icing (you can find my sugar cookie recipe here) and fun to share!

6) Go costume shopping or make costumes

We often have costumed planned out in August but don’t usually buy them until October.

7) Count ghosts!

Here’s a counting game I used to do with the kids.

This activity is really great for wee ones!

8) Make a Halloween photo booth!

9) Watch The Nightmare Before Christmas (if your kids are ready/old enough)

10) Watch any other Halloween themed shows or movies you think your kids will love. 

Remember the Garfield one? It scared me as a kid but it’s so good!

11) Go to the library and find new Halloween-themed books

The kids will love discovering new books, and I recommend you grab one for yourself! The local library often has a Halloween themed section for eerie, supernatural and thrilling stories!

12) Make a scarecrow

Rake the leaves in preparation!

What do you like to do before Halloween with the kids?

4 Min Read October 26, 2023 No Reply

Halloween Activities in Ottawa 2023

Around Ottawa
halloween activities in ottawa 2023

Halloween is on a Tuesday this year, which means that weekend right before October 31 will be filled with family friendly and fun activities around Ottawa.

There’s always something about a Halloween/Fall event that I love. Although this year I may spend part of the weekend carving pumpkins, here are some activities in Ottawa that you might want to check out!

Halloween Activities in Ottawa 2023

First, I’m going to share some of the Halloween haunts and highlights from when my own kids were little. Every year, I happily tried to find Halloween activities to take them to because, let’s be honest, I love it.

I have fond memories and photos from many of these places!

Saunders Farm

There are so many activities to do at Saunders Farm, and while there is a nighttime option (that brings more scares), the daytime one itself always had enough fright. If scary isn’t your family’s thing, that’s ok – take the hay ride instead of the haunted ride, and skip the scary house!

Proulx Farm Pumpkin Fest

With hay slides, mazes and a pumpkin patch, this was always a fun outing for us. The kids will love visiting the animals and all of the activities. This event’s last day is October 29.

Barnyard Halloween at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

Dress up and spend Halloween with the animals? YES PLEASE. I have amazing photos of costumed kiddos with the cows from many years ago, and honestly the Farm was one of my favourite places to take the kids, especially when I was solo with them. Now, they’ve expanded their event even further with so many activities AND food options like Nonna’s Famous Pizza.

This event is on the weekend (October 28 and 29) only.

Cannamore Orchard

This was a fun activity years ago for us and not too far of a drive beyond Ottawa. With their Acres of Terror Halloween activities, you can choose a less scary daytime outing or the thrilling evening one. The daytime activities are only available on the weekend.

Trick-or-Treat at the Mall

Place d’Orleans is hosting a trick-or-treat event on October 31 from 10 until 12 pm for little ones to collect treats around the Mall. I am pretty sure I took the kids when they were super little to this. What is nice, is that for wee ones who need a nap and early bedtime, this is a funy way to show off costume, gather with friends, and not worry about the weather!

MORE Halloween Activities in Ottawa

While I maybe haven’t been to these events, they sound amazing! Check them out:

Wickedly Westboro

Take the kids to the trick-or-treat stations and various businesses in Westboro on Saturday, October 28 from 1 pm to 4 pm. Make time to tour the area to enjoy music, balloon creations, a magician and more.

Diefenbunker Toddlers’ Halloween Hunt

This event has been happening at Diefenbunker for years and while it’s ONLY availble until Friday, October 27, at the time of my publishing this there were still some tickets available. I love that it focuses on the little ones!

Elgin Street Halloween Party

Some local businesses have teamed up on Elgin to provide a Halloween Party on Sunday, October 29 from 11 am until 2 pm (rain or shine!) Some of my favourite businesses are on Elgin. At participating locations, your family can enjoy trick-or-treating, face painting, photobooths, giveaways and more. The Merry Dairy will be there too! Pot and Pantry, The Gifted Type and Boogie and Birdie are three shops that I adore and are participating!

Pumpkins After Dark at Wesley Clover Parks

This event is a walk-through at Wesley Clover Parks with tickets available until October 31. The pathway is lit with pumpkins, structures, music and special effects.

Tanger Outlets Halloween

Take the little ones to meet PJ Masks and encourage the kids to dress up in their costume OR pjs for activities and treats at Tanger Outlets.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Want more Halloween info?

Read this post filled with my tips for parents to prep for Halloween night!

Need to stay home this weekend but want a Halloween activity? Try this super simple craft!

2 Min Read October 17, 2023 No Reply

Halloween with the City of Ottawa (Trick or or Swim or Skate!)

Around Ottawa
This post is paid in partnership with the City of Ottawa

Updated for Halloween 2023!

Halloween is just around the corner and I wanted to share with you an update in partnership with the City of Ottawa.

Trick or Swim or Skate

Once again, the popular trick or swim or skate program is back! You can purchase tickets (booklets of 10 for $10) to hand out on Halloween (these make excellent non-candy, allergy-safe treats!) or as loot bag/party favours. These passes entitles a child to a free public skate at one of the area ice rinks or a free swim at one of the listed public pools!

“Starting October 1, Trick or Swim or Skate is back! Purchase 10 tickets for $10 to swim or skate at City pools and select arenas. This healthy and fun alternative to the traditional candy overload will have all your ghouls and goblins pleasantly surprised.

Tickets are valid for ages three to 15 years.

Tickets can be used from November 1, 2023, until January 31, 2024.

Not valid for wave swims or specialty skating sessions.”

-city of ottawa

If you are looking for more information, visit the City of Ottawa website (where you can also purchase recreation gift certificates if you are planning a party or looking for a unique gift.)

You can purchase your ticket booklets at a variety of community centres.

Here’s where you can find your Halloween Trick or Swim or Skate tickets:

  • Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex-Orleans
  • Brewer Pool
  • Canterbury Recreation Complex
  • Champagne Fitness Centre
  • Deborah Anne Kirwan Pool
  • François Dupuis Recreation Centre
  • CARDELREC Recreation Complex
  • Kanata Leisure Centre
  • Lowertown Pool
  • Minto Recreation Complex-Barrhaven
  • Nepean Sportsplex
  • Pinecrest Recreation Complex
  • Plant Recreation Centre
  • Ray Friel Recreation Complex
  • Richcraft Recreation Complex – Kanata
  • Sawmill Creek Pool & Community Centre
  • Splash Wave Pool
  • St Laurent Community Centre
  • Walter Baker Sports Centre

Want more Halloween ideas? Read my post ’12 Fun things to do with the kids before Halloween’

City of Ottawa Trick or Swim or Skate
2 Min Read October 27, 2020 No Reply

Halloween 2020

Parenting

I wrote two articles about Halloween this year already.

In one for Mom Resource, I highlighted a few suggestions to switch up the Halloween plans this year. This was written before Ottawa’s own recommendation to not trick or treat at all, but it’s a national resource.

For SavvyMom, I wrote about activities that are happening right here in Ottawa over the next couple of weeks to get us in the Halloween spirit. One had to be removed because it was cancelled from the day I wrote the article to the day it was published. That’s how quickly things have been changing.

So what are we doing for Halloween around here?

Costumes remain a must. The youngest will be Carmen SanDiego (please and the eldest has decided to go as Burt Macklin lololol (we are watching Parks and Recreation).

While it will just be the four of us this year, and usually we decorate outside and make it a big thing to trick or treat (either around here or at my sister’s house) we are keeping things in our own home this year.

I’ll be setting up a haunted hunt for Halloween treats around the house and hopefully turning the basement into a not-too-spooky haunted house.

When the kids were little (preschool/early school age) I used to turn my son’s bunk bed into a haunted house and welcomed them into the darkened area to touch spaghetti brains and slimey grape eyeballs (remember that from our own school days?!). They’ve asked to do it once again. I’m thinking of changing it up a bit to incorporate the treats.

Now, maybe the treat hunt will be in the dark and they will have to use flashlights all over the house.

I still can’t make it too scary (my kids hate that) so it will hopefully put them in the Halloween mood without keeping them up with nightmares.

Yes, it will be different this year, as were other holidays and celebrations so far in 2020, but it will still be fun. And filled with treats. Treats that I will also enjoy.

What are you doing for Halloween 2020?

3 Min Read October 29, 2019 No Reply

Halloween Events: The Week of Halloween

Around Ottawa

There are only a few days left until Halloween, but if you have young children (babies and toddlers) who aren’t in school, there are still many events happening this week that you might want to get involved in!

While my kiddos are at school all week and our final Halloween blast of fun happened this weekend (pumpkin carving! Saunders Farm! Decorations!) until we are back in costume on Halloween night, I remember the days leading up to Halloween when they were at home with me and we were looking for some fun. Or maybe you are just wanting to have a back up plan for Halloween night in case you decide the weather is not cooperating for an extended door-to-door trick or treat session.

I’ve gathered a list of fun Halloween activities happening this week!

Halloween Activities in Ottawa between October 30 and October 31

Toddler Hunt at the Diefenbunker

On October 31, bring your little ones to the Diefenbunker* for an underground friendly haunt (oh wait, that’s hunt!) for treats. Admission is free for kids under 5, and by donation for others. The fun begins at 10:30 until 3:30 and of course costumes are encouraged. No reservations are required.

The Haunted Community Centre at Dovercourt

If you want to avoid trick or treating in the rain (although I am hoping the forecast changes!) or just want to bring your little ones to a fun, indoor activity, check out the free Haunted Community Centre event at Dovercourt between 6:30 and 8:30 pm!

Wild Child Coffee Project Halloween Party

On Wednesday, October 30, dress the wee one up and head to Wild Child Coffee Project for their special Halloween party! Their regular admission fee applies but beginning at 9 am until 3 pm, enjoy a Halloween-filled day! Visit the Facebook page for details on the activities planned.

Trick or Treat at a Mall

Place d’Orleans is once again hosting a special Halloween day. Trick or Treaters can look for treats at participating stores between 10 am and noon, and from 10 am until 2 pm there will be face painting in the BMO Court!

Billings Bridge Shopping Centre welcomes guests for their enchanted Halloween parade on October 31 at 5 pm until 7 pm. Kids in costumes between the ages of 4 and 12 will receive treats!

Check out the mall nearest you to see if they have a special Halloween event!

If you do end up taking the littlest kiddos trick or treating (which I highly recommend!) here are a few tips:

  • Bring a bag with handles. Pillow cases were amazing when we were kids, but turns out, little ones don’t hold onto them very well!
  • Bring mitts – hands are the first thing to get cold!
  • Go early! You’ll usually be able to tell when the acceptable time is in your neighbourhood based on when you see others out or your own bell rings, but as soon as you think you can, take them out! Overtired children aren’t fun to trick or treat with
  • stay safe and have fun together!

*The Diefenbunker is a blog advertiser but this event makes the list because it’s on Halloween, for little ones and looks like fun!

2 Min Read October 4, 2018 No Reply

Saunders Farm (and why you should take the kids!)

Around Ottawa

Disclosure: I am a Saunders Farm Family Ambassador and receive compensation for my work with them. All opinions are my own

Please note – I don’t have a discount ticket code for Saunders Farm this year but follow their Facebook page, I notice they post deals and info there!

Why we love Saunders Farm

I love this time of year. Fall is special. The colours on the leaves. The crispness in the air. the flannel and plaid scarves. Fall boots (it’s a thing to be excited about, trust me!). Pumpkin spice everything. And of course, Halloween.

The Haunting Season at Saunders Farm has begun, and I love that it’s part pumpkin patch, part play farm and part spooky village. So no matter your child’s age or interest, you’ll find something to do!

A few highlights from our trip includes the corn maze (Tyson’s Corn Maze to a Million!) and to get there is a wagon ride. There are two wagon rides at Saunders Farm during the day. The first will get you to the corn maze. The second, is meant to give a little fright.

Saunders Farm fun

My kids probably could have stayed all day at the jumping pillows. There are two and kids leave their boots and shoes behind to wear socks on it (you may want to bring an extra pair!) This was a favourite area and great for even my older kiddos.

The pirate ship was a delight for my daughter, and she pretended it was like a scene from Pirates of the Caribbean.

Another favourite for my kids (remember, they are 9 and 11!) was Witch’s Mountain – this is a slide that was populated by kids of all ages (the slide isn’t too steep for little ones to enjoy) They kept going up and down and having fun!

And while Andy and I did go into the Barn of Terror (there were moments that freaked me out!) there’s no way my kids would have wanted to so they played at the very cool play park with Grandma.

There are many different places to eat around Saunders Farm and if you want something quick like a burger, hotdog or poutine it’s readily available. But if you aren’t looking for the greasy bites, there is soups, chili and macaroni and cheese to satisfy your taste buds. Bring some extra money to splurge on a Beavertail while there too!

2 Min Read October 26, 2017 No Reply

The Weekend Before Halloween in Ottawa: Activities for Kids

Around Ottawa

Halloween is less than a week away and we have one weekend left before we take the kids out to trick or treat. That means we can fit in all kinds of Halloween fun before the big day itself, and Ottawa has plenty of activities and events happening.

If you are looking for something other than a Pumpkin Patch or Spooky wagon ride, here are some family friendly activities happening across the city.

Here are some unique Halloween activities your family can enjoy in Ottawa this weekend! via @bitofmomsense

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Halloween Party at your local Library

Many of the Ottawa Public Library branches are having parties this Saturday. Check to see if your local branch is one of them. The activities vary from story times and escape rooms!

Scare for Care Haunted House

On October 27, 28, 29 and 31, Kids Kingdom is hosting a Scare for Care Haunted House event in support of CHEO. The event is meant to give participants a fright, so it’s recommended for those over 9 years old (or those who can handle it!). Admission is by donation and times are listed on the website.

Watson’s Mill

Watson’s Mill in Manotick is hosting a family Halloween party on October 28 from 1 pm until 4 pm. There will be games, crafts, scavenger hunt and more. Wear those costumes!

The Log Farm Trick or Treat

On Sunday, October 29 at 11 am, the Log Farm is welcoming families for a Trick or Treat party. Wear your costumes and enjoy trick or treating at various Farm locations!

Gymboree Halloween for the younger kids

Tickets are required for the Gymb-o-ween event at Gymboree in Ottawa! This is for kids aged 1-5 with crafts, slime stations, costume parade and dancing! There are times available on October 27, October 28 and October 31 but space is limited!

Yaki Halloween at Centrepointe*

Tickets are available for a musical Halloween with Yaki at Centrepointe theatre! Enjoy the singalong and dress in costume!

Whatever you decide to do this weekend, I hope you have a fun time!

halloween family activities for kids in ottawa

 

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*Centrepointe is a blog advertiser. This list is not part of any advertising partnership, but I wanted to round up some fun ideas for this coming weekend in Ottawa!

 

1 Min Read October 24, 2017 No Reply

Non-Candy Halloween Treats

Play

I am not the person to say that kids shouldn’t have candy and treats on Halloween. For me, that’s part of the fun. While we do talk a lot about moderation (and not making ourselves sick by eating too many sweets!), I don’t think healthy eating habits change just because of Halloween. I love to indulge too!

However, for children with allergies, options are more limited when they go door to door. That’s likely why the Teal Pumpkin Project has been getting more and more attention each year. Offering candy and non-food treats includes more children.

Also, there is only so much candy young kids (or people of any age need) so offering different, fun, non-candy options is a nice change. Not only can you do this on Halloween night, but for your Halloween party treats too! For example, the City of Ottawa Trick or Swim or Skate tickets are a neat alternative! I also found amazing deals at Michaels.

I was on CTV Ottawa Morning Live this morning to chat about this topic and offer a few ideas for parents who want to include more than the usual sweet treats on Halloween night.

You can watch my segement here. 

What do you like to give out on Halloween night?

2 Min Read October 12, 2017 No Reply

Around Ottawa: Visiting Proulx Farm Pumpkin Fest

Around Ottawa

Lucky for us, each Friday of the Thanksgiving long weekend has been a PD Day. And while there is no shortage of activities to do on PD Days in Ottawa, one tradition that seems have been stuck for the past many years is heading to Proulx Farm for some pumpkin fun with friends.

Included in our admission is access to the mazes, wagon ride (which is not spooky during the day), play structures and pumpkins from the pumpkin patch.

The weather, when it cooperates (and it usually has), means the kids can spend the morning (or afternoon) outside exploring, running, laughing and yelling in good fun.

If you are wanting to make a trip yourself before Halloween this year, Proulx is open on the weekends, but sometimes during the day as well. This isn’t every day, but when they are welcoming groups they also open it to the public. I called and there are some days coming up where you’ll be able to go on a non-weekend. It’s recommended you call ahead to confirm if the date you want to go is available. Also, by going on the weekday there weren’t all of the activities set up like there are on the weekend. 

However, one thing I will say is that when we went on the PD Day, we arrived right at opening, and by the time we left before noon, the place was packed. It was overwhelmingly so because of the bus groups. I wouldn’t have wanted to let the kids run free given the crowds and number of kids on the climbers, slides and hay bails. Keep that in mind when planning your outing (try to avoid those large groups!)

I’m glad we let the kids get out and enjoy the sunshine (and pick their pumpkins which will be featured in our Halloween decorating).

If you go, have fun!

Proulx Farm is located in Ottawa’s East end.

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