I SPY Montreal » Area

I Spy Parent Interview: Kidnasium’s Kim Snabl

Jessica Howard — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:54:47 +0000

Kim Snabl and her family on the Kidnasium couch.

Kidnasium was always one of those sanity-saving destinations on the Montreal parent map. That’s why I was sad to hear that the N.D.G. play centre closed at the end of 2011.

It was a place with a great indoor playground that welcomed zombified parents, drooling babies and moody toddlers. And they served us coffee!

But Kidnasium will be back, offering daycare and birthday services later this year, says owner and mom Kim Snabl. She’s looking forward to the new venture, but still missing her “first baby”.

I Spy Montreal: After many years in business, it must have been tough for you to close Kidnasium – and definitely sad for Montreal parents! What were the reasons for closing the play centre?

Kim Snabl: Closing Kidnasium was one of the hardest decisions I had to make in my life. I have been walking on those floors for the past 16 years.

I was 27 years old, with no experience, studying early childhood education at Concordia when I bought the bankrupt business. The only tools I had on my side were the years of training in competitive rhythmic gymnastics and my experience working with children.

The closing of Kidnasium was heartbreaking for myself, my family, the staff and the dedicated families that followed me on my journey. I don’t want my community to think of Kidnasium as closing, but rather to think of it as being re-born.

The fact that inflation continues to rise each year is the main reason why Kidnasium needed to be restructured. The typical Quebec family now requires dual or supplemental incomes. The luxury of extra-curricular activities outside of school is no longer possible. Parents are now forced to enroll children in after-school programs and daycare services.

I Spy Montreal: You’re already working on opening a new facility at a new location. What’s the concept and when will it be ready to open?

Kim Snabl: After doing some research, I came to the conclusion that the N.D.G. community is in dire need of additional quality childcare services.

Kidnasium will be restructructuring into a billingual private daycare, with a high-quality education and fitness program like no other. Our new location will remain in N.D.G. and we will be re-opening no sooner than July.

I Spy Montreal: What do you miss most about the previous Kidnasium?

Kim Snabl: I will miss every aspect of Kidnasium. It was my first baby, and over the sixteen years we grew together. Most of all I will miss the children and parents who, over the years, have become a part of Kidnasium’s extended family.

I Spy Montreal: Are you looking forward to trying different ideas or approaches at the new facility?

Kim Snabl: I am happy to carry along the same crew of staff from the original Kidnasium. My amazing manager Teasha Thompson and my incredible dad Tom Snabl have partnered up with me on this project.
So, yes, the new adventure is exciting on all aspects.

I have implemented all of the programs that originated at Kidnasium into the daycare program. As well, Kidnasium will continue to offer its extraordinary birthday party services on weekends. We will be able to provide 6 every week.

I Spy Montreal: Can you share a favourite family weekend activity?

Kim Snabl: Funny you ask what we do as a family on the weekend. Kidnasium was our family activity. This is where we hung out, so for now we are spending quality time at home. Enjoying the quiet time and the company of each other.

I Spy Montreal: Great to meet you, Kim!

For more information or registration, go to Kidnasium’s website or Facebook page.

10 Tips for La Fête des Neiges

Jessica Howard — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:41:03 +0000

La Fête des Neiges has brought a whirlwind of winter family activities to Montreal’s Parc Jean Drapeau until Feb. 5. There’s everything from zip-lining to ice-sculpting to dog-sledding to kicksled races. There’s a lot of ground to cover, so don’t head out until you read this list of tips – which can be applied to many Montreal winter carnivals:

1. Yes, the event has many free activities, but prepare to pay $16 for parking.

2. Bring a stroller, pull-along sled or wagon to transport children age 5 and under: Just getting from the parking lot to the activities is a long walk for little legs.

3. Expect discouraging lineups. For pretty much everything.

4. Grab a festival map upon arrival and decide if there are any must-dos. If so, get in line ASAP, before everyone runs out of steam.

5. Try the free snow fort slide! It’s a unanimous hit with the kids.

6. Stop by the free ice-carving tables – kids get a free block of ice and tools (no chainsaws!) to make their own carving. Cool!

7. Eat en masse or on foot: There are some outdoor picnic tables, as well as an indoor eating area, where – during our visit – it was every parent for themselves when it came to finding somewhere to sit. It’s smart to bring your own food, but there are also several casse-croute-style food kiosks.

8. Designate a meeting place: This event gets really crowded, so it’s a good idea to decide on a meeting place in case anyone gets lost, or gets magnetically pulled to the Beaver Tails kiosk.

9. Divide and conquer: Have one parent take Sibling #1 to one activity, while the other takes sibling #2 somewhere else. Then switch.

10. Too much? Stay local: La Fête des Neiges isn’t for everyone. If crowds, lineups, and sausages on a stick aren’t your thing, there are many smaller municipal winter carnivals happening in Montreal.

P.S.: We didn’t visit Montreal’s new Snow Village during our trip to La Fête des Neiges, since it’s pretty pricey for a family of four. But here’s a fun Gazette article about a reporter’s stay in the ice hotel.

Guided Tour: Putting Edge Indoor Mini Golf St. Laurent

Jessica Howard — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:36:27 +0000

Here’s an activity to save for a sub-zero day: Glow-in-the-dark indoor mini golf. You know those days where it’s just too cold (or rainy) to brave sledding, skiing or skating? Mini golf at Putting Edge, which has two Montreal locations, offers a fluourescent refuge for families with children age 3.5 and up.

At Putting Edge St. Laurent, you walk through a small arcade-ish area with video games and air hockey tables to the golfing area. At around $40 for a family of four, it’s not a cheap outing, but the Kool-Aid colours on the course grab the kids right away, and parents get a brightly coloured break from winter blahs. Look for scenes of underwater life, jungle animals and knights in armour.

Each equipped with a fluourescent ball and wrist band, we started swinging. The course has a few fun tricks, traps and surprises along the way, making it fun even for a four-year-old who approaches the ball more like a hockey goon than a golfer. With young children, it’s best not to keep score, and to allow for lots of re-shoots.

Mini-golf also puts a few important lessons in sportsmanship into practise: Try again! Wait for your turn! Keep your eye on the ball! We were all cheering each other on, and a few holes-in-one were scored. By grownups, too!

The only damper on our game was an encroaching birthday party group. These kids started wandering onto our green, getting in our way and rushing us along, unchecked by their accompanying adults. By the 18th hole, they had gotten the better of us and we were ready to leave, finishing the course in under an hour. Had they been better sports, we probably would have gotten more out of our entrance fee and played another round.

Tips:

Playing mini golf requires a level of technique and patience, making it best for at least age 3.5 and up.
Offer lots of encouragement, and don’t expect a first-time player to make it through 18 holes.
For those with children under age 5, it’s best to play indoor mini golf early in the day, when there aren’t big groups to contend with.
Explain to children that if there are groups ahead, they will need to wait their turn, and not run onto the playing areas while others are still taking shots.
If you don’t want to empty your wallet into the on-site video games, pre-emptively explain that you’re just there for the golf.
There is no on-site restaurant, so bring your own water and snacks.

Putting Edge Glow in the dark indoor mini golf
Putting Edge St. Laurent: 3500 Côte Vertu Blvd., #140. 514-439-3310.
*The St. Laurent location is close to a strip mall with a Chez Cora, and a few other chain restaurants.
Putting Edge Laval, 105 Promenade du Centropolis. 450-681-3334.

Kérity, La Maison des contes at Théâtre Outremont

Jessica Howard — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:17:06 +0000

There’s a cute film on at Théâtre Outremont this weekend called Kérity, La Maison des contes. It’s about a 7-year-old boy who inherits a library of books from his aunt.

At first Nathaniel is disappointed. Books?
But, then he learns that at nighfall, the characters come to life. Kérity is rated as being for age 3 and up, and is on in French. Here’s a clip:

Kérity, La Maison des contes
When: Sunday, Jan. 22 at 4 p.m.
Where: Théâtre Outremont, 1248 Bernard St. W.
Get tickets.

Guided Tour: Redpath Museum Discovery Workshops

Jessica Howard — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:23:21 +0000

Kids typically like things that go KABLOOEY. So a family workshop on volcanoes at Redpath Museum was a big hit with our 6- and 3-year-old last year. Redpath holds Discovery Workshops on Sundays during the fall and winter months, with subjects including Samurais and Ninjas, Dinosaurs of Canada and Endangered Species. The next volcano workshop is being held on Sunday, Jan. 22, in French.

Our workshop was packed with kids about age 3 and up, who were itching to get their hands into the hunks of clay provided at each table.

But first, what is a volcano?

Using slides to illustrate, educators spent about 20 minutes explaining the basics, touching on some specific examples, and passing around samples of volcanic rock and ash. While older kids could participate by answering questions, the younger ones seemed to stay interested (at the very least, quiet and seated) during the explanation.

Then, we got to make our own volcanoes, by molding clay around a small plastic cup. Then you fill the cup part way with baking soda, pour some vinegar on it, and … KABLOOEY! This is definitely a science project you can do at home, if you don’t mind the mess. Personally, I was happy to create this natural disaster at Redpath Museum.

After the workshop, we wandered around the museum, which has collections in paleontology, zoology, minerology and world cultures. The building is architecturally beautiful, and the artifacts are interesting. But not for long if you’re 3 years old: our younger son seemed most interested in jogging around the upper balcony level. There was more of interest to our 6-year-old, but nothing that went kablooey. So we took our oozing volcanoes and headed home.

Here’s the 2012 lineup for Redpath Museum’s remaining Sunday Discovery Workshops; each one involves a craft project. Three one-hour workshops are held at 11:30 p.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Reservations are required: 514-398-4092. Cost: $7 per child, free for adults. Though the workshops are “for all ages”, children under 3 may find them hard to follow. The museum also offers free dinosaur tours on Sunday afternoons.

Jan. 29: Samurais and Ninjas (E)
Feb. 5: Les Géants et les petits (F)
Feb. 12: Dinosaurs of Canada (E)
Feb. 19: Les espèces en voie de disparition (F)
Feb. 26: Dogs and Wolves (E)
March 4: Les chevaliers et les châteaux forts (F)
March 11: Squids and Octopi (E)
March 18: Les dinosaures du Canada (F)
March 25: Volcanoes (E)
April 1: Les Momies égyptiennes (F)
April 15: Seahorses (E)