Three Sneaky Ways To Get Your Whole Family Reading

Reading, for many of us, is as natural as breathing. But what about those people for whom reading is a challenge? A struggle? A stress?  Here are three fun and sneaky ways to get your whole family reading without anyone’s even realizing it. Try these new approaches to reading to see some big payoffs.

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1. Travel (even if you stay in your own hometown!). When you’re out on the town, even if it’s in your own neighbourhood, environmental print — text on signs, posters, billboards, you name it — is a great way to get kids reading in a new and fun way.

Have your child “help” you read street signs in order to get you to your destination. Even beginning with a simple stop sign will get your child reading. Have him yell “STOP!” when he sees that big red sign, and soon he’ll recognize the letters when he sees them on the page.

Ask your child to find the big “H” for the community hospital, or to locate the EXIT sign in the movie theater or the elevator in the parking garage. Have an older child help you write grocery lists or to-do lists, checking off each item as it’s found.

If you really can skip town, travel brochures and menus will get everyone reading, as you work together to plan itineraries, meals and more.

2. Go Digital. If your child hesitates to pick up a traditional book, then don’t wait — go digital. Thousands and thousands of books and media are available to borrow on various electronic devices, and you can find them by checking your local library’s website.

Often these digital books, magazines and newspapers are interactive, which really helps engage reluctant readers.  Reading comes to life in new and exciting ways, and often if a child finds something that works for him digitally — a series or new magazine, for example — he’s more likely to want to pick up the hard copy.

3. Research. Is your daughter totally into LEGOs? Does she design bridges for bugs, plant tomatoes for you or draw amazing amusement parks? Work together to find some books on these topics or on topics that relate, connect or inspire.

Does your son go nuts for Skylanders or Minecraft? Find books about the elements, about engineering or about the games themselves. Reading books about these topics will be both interesting and engaging.

As a family, research and plan something together. Research a weekend getaway. Do some Internet searches; pore through travel guides. Plan an easy gathering, and from creating invitations to facilitating the event to expediting the menu, kids will be doing so much reading they won’t even realize it.

It all counts, and often parents just need a little reminder that reading comes in many shapes, sizes and colours. So what are you waiting for? Start that sneaky reading!

*This is a guest post written by Amy Mascott, originally posted on the Sylvan Mom Minded Blog.  Sylvan Learning Centre in Oakville can assist your child by creating a customized tutoring plan (JK and up). Contact them for more information. 

CrossFit South Oakville Workouts Are Worth A Busy Mom's Time!

Have you heard of CrossFit yet?  Chances are you have, but you may not know exactly what it is or if its something you might enjoy.  CrossFit is a training program that builds strength and conditioning through varied and challenging workouts.  CrossFit is suitable for people of all shapes and sizes to improve their physical well-being and cardiovascular fitness.  It is intense but is also fun and full of encouragement.

CrossFit South Oakville was a perfect addition to the momstown Oakville fitness challenge.  This popular workout is something that moms should check out - it offers a tough workout in a one hour period.  I know from experience that moms often find it hard to carve out workout time, I found CrossFit to be worth it! You can really push yourself and you certainly feel like you accomplished something once the workout is done.

We visited CrossFit South Oakville on three separate occasions.  Our first group was our moms and babes. Would you be surprised to know that they are very baby friendly?  They have jolly jumpers that you can hang in the door frame and baby can jump away as you get your workout in.  They also have baby friendly areas so if you have a mover, there is still a way to get your workout in too.  In chatting with some moms who have been doing CrossFit on a regular basis for the last few months, they were adamant in saying that this was the only workout that finally helped them get off that last ten pounds of baby weight.  That is a pretty compelling endorsement!

Here is a look at our workouts using a Tabata training format (a Tabata is high intensity interval training that improves aerobic systems as well as anaerobic systems):

• Wall balls (throwing medicine balls at the wall)
• Kettlebells
• Rowing machine or bikes for cardio
• Burpees
• Overhead presses
• Lunges

CrossFit South Oakville has class times at all times of the day and also does personal and group training.  If you are looking for a workout to kick start your fitness again, CrossFit will do it!  I was sore for several days after the workout I did there but felt empowered!  CrossFit will get you to push yourself and that feels good on so many levels.

Here's what some of our mamas had to say about their workout with CrossFit South Oakville:

"Definitely a workout! I feel everyone of my stairs from my multiple squats!"

"Consider my butt kicked. CrossFit was intense!"

"I liked the workout at Cross Fit! I am feeling it everywhere :)"

For more information on class schedules and workouts, please visit their website.  You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter to learn more workout tips!

Taste Of Downtown Oakville Celebrates And Showcases Local Oakville Restaurants

Chicken parmesan, braised short ribs, harvest soup, grilled calamari, frog leg beignets, linguini alla moda di daniela...these were just some of the delicious foods I tasted last night as part of the Taste Tour to kick off the Taste of Downtown Oakville that runs from Wednesday, February 19 to Tuesday, March 4.

This year's event includes 14 restaurants that will be offering priz fixe lunch and/or dinner menus (generally from $15 to $45 for a three course meal).  The Taste of Downtown Oakville is an excellent opportunity to try something new or to re-visit a favourite restaurant and enjoy delicious food that can be found right here in our community.

I was fortunate enough to enjoy food from six participating restaurants last night (and shuttled between locations by Mercedes Benz Oakville - thank you!):

Paradiso
Piazza Bistro
Salvatore's
Ristorante Julia
De Stefano's
Jonathan's

I can say without a doubt that the food at each location was outstanding.  I loved learning about the restaurant's background (three restaurants on our tour, Piazza Bistro, Salvatore's and De Stefano's, are relatively new to Downtown Oakville), their specialties and seeing the food presentation and effort that went into each dish.  It's pretty impressive to think about the culinary excellence that can be found in the Town of Oakville.  I really encourage you to take advantage of the Taste of Oakville event and head downtown to eat! Click here to view the menus being offered.

It's been a long and cold winter so far but this event is reason enough to come out of hibernation and enjoy a great night out.  Book that babysitter (I've got one booked!) and make a reservation for the Taste of Downtown Oakville!

Increase Your Upper Body Strength & Your Confidence At Aradia Fitness In Oakville

The 2014 momstown Oakville Fit Mama Challenge is now in its third week and going strong.  We ended our second week with a pole dancing, floor and chair cabaret workout session with Aradia Fitness in Oakville. Out of most mom's comfort zone?  Maybe, but we had a terrific response to this workout and were so happy that so many of our challenge participants wanted to give this fantastic workout a try.  Aradia Fitness was so welcoming to your group, even having some snacks and drinks out for us to enjoy!

Right off the bat I can tell you that there are many things you don't know about pole dancing fitness.  It's not easy, that's for sure.  It's also not sleazy or shady, awkward or embarrassing.  And let's be honest, once you become a mom, the part of you that may once have been a silver pleather pant wearing lady (yup, those would be my pants I am talking about!) gets pushed to the back and doesn't often come out.  But why not? 

I can tell you that ALL the moms who did our Aradia class loved feeling like a woman that night and shedding the mom identity for some time focused on themselves.  Aradia Fitness Oakville owner Jane has a fantastic story to tell about just this type of thing - read her story here.  

So what did we do for our workout?  We all got a chance to try a beginner pole dancing class as well as a rock bottom class (targets butt, abs & legs!) and some chair cabaret.  The studio offers registered classes but also has drop in classes as well, you can view all the class descriptions here.  Classes at Aradia Fitness in Oakville are a fantastic way to build upper body strength, tone and tighten and boost your confidence in yourself.  If one of your New Year's resolution was to try something new this year, I can tell you that this is it! Every woman should try a class at least once.

Read what some of our mamas has to say about their Aradia Fitness experience:

"Really found it fun....surprised myself :) Would go again!"

"LOVED IT!"

"I loved it too. The chair dancing was my fave. Such a great space and I love that you can just do drop in classes with no pre registration!"

Make sure to visit Aradia Fitness Oakville's website and Facebook Page to find out more about their classes and workshops offered.

How To Make A Lego Birthday Cake

My son has entered his LEGO years.  It actually started when he turned four but over the last year, his love for building and creating and imaginative play with LEGO has grown into a full force favourite thing to do.  So when I was thinking about what to do for his fifth birthday, a LEGO themed birthday party was the obvious choice.  I have enjoyed making his birthday cakes since he had his very first taste of cake on his first birthday (click here to see some of the cakes I have made over the years or click here to see the race car cake I made for his fourth birthday) so tackling a LEGO cake was my challenge for this year.

Here is how I made a LEGO birthday cake:

1.  Make a two layer cake using a 9 X 13 pan.  I made a double batch of chocolate cake using this recipe.
2.  Put icing between the cake layers and frost the outside of the cake.  I used chocolate icing but you could use any colour you'd like.
3.  Decide how big of a LEGO area you'd like to have in the cake.  I cut out a piece on the front of the cake about two inches deep and about seven to eight inches long.
4.  Using LEGO pieces (I had a ton at home to choose from!), I built a LEGO wall that would fit the hole I had cut in the cake.  I added LEGO figures and tools as though the characters were doing construction work on the cake.  You could add any type of LEGO characters or scene based in the LEGO you have at home or what kind of LEGO your child is into.
5.  I added some LEGO candles on top that were found at Target and used some white icing to add his name and then the number five.

Alpha-Bits Alphabet Play Brings Snowmen To Life!

It's been a very wintery winter and so when the letter 'W' came up as momstown Oakville's Alpha-Bits Alphabet Play theme for February it was easy to pick Winter as our word to explore!  Each child got to make their own snowman and we even made it snow by making our own tiny, homemade paper snowballs.

Everyone brought something from home that starts with the letter 'W' and we also sang some winter themed songs that went like this:

The Snow Song (to the tune of Row, row, row your boat)

Snow, snow, snow is here,
Falling to the ground.
On my nose and on my tongue,
Snow is all around.

Snow, snow, snow will make,
Everything so white.
Trees and cars and houses too,
What a chilly sight.

Snowman ABC Song (which we added to everyone's snowman craft)

A B C D E
Build a snowman just for me.
F G H I J
Please don't let him melt away.
K L M N O
Is he melting? NO! NO! NO!
P Q R S T
Down he melts away from me.
U V W X Y Z
I'll build him again you see.
~ Author Unknown

Every month our Alphabet Play program explores another letter and its sound.  This is just one of our 40+ programs on our event calendar each and every month.  Join us next time; find out how by clicking here.

How To Host A Hungry Caterpillar Birthday Party

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is a very popular children's book first published in 1969.  The story is very cute and follows a caterpillar who eats its way through a wide variety of foods before emerging as a butterfly.  Recently, one of our momstown Oakville Event Coordinators hosted a joint birthday party for her children with a Hungry Caterpillar theme.  We knew we had to share this great birthday theme as its perfect for a toddler or preschooler and there were so many cute ideas that turned this book into a fantastic party!

Hungry Caterpillar Crafts & Games:

Die penne pasta green and then use paper red circles and yellow yarn to make a caterpillar necklace!

Make a caterpillar magnet craft using these simple instructions.

Instead of pin the tail on the donkey, it was pin the food in the caterpillar's mouth!













Hungry Caterpillar Food:

There is a lot of food in this story and thankfully most of it is very healthy!  Each food item from the book was displayed on the table with its own line and image from the story.  For the ice cream cone in the story, the party host used an ice cream shaped cookie cutter to cut out sandwiches in the shape of ice cream cones.

Hungry Caterpillar Loot Bags:

The Hungry Caterpillar loot bags contained a lollipop to eat, lollipop eraser, squishy caterpillar, butterfly glowstick and a package of caterpillar food (fruit gummies).










This book has lots of elements in it that can be drawn out for a great birthday party theme.  Visit the momstown arts & crafts site for tons more birthday party theme ideas.