Lots of special events, spring break camps, parenting workshops & more happening on the North Shore & surrounding areas during the month of March. Here’s our roundup of the best for you and your little ones!
Sat, Feb 23 – Sun, Mar 31 – The Cat In the Hat (Ages 3+)
Location: Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island (Vancouver)
Details: Based on the book by Dr. Seuss. Lots of 10am and 2pm performances, but tickets are selling out fast! Show runs 45 approx. minutes long. Note that all performances are for children aged 3+ (no babies in arms), except for two special “all age performances” on March 10th and March 24th at 10:00 am (all ages may attend, including babies in arms, and everyone must have a ticket – auditorium lights will also be kept at a low level and sound levels adjusted to create a gentle environment for babies).
Tues, Mar 5 (6:30-8:30 pm) – Essential Series: Toddler Tantrum Workshop
Location: Gymboree North Shore Play & Music (942A W. 16th Ave, N. Van)
Details: Desiree Cluff from Rockababy will give you tools & techniques to use as your toddler goes through this big phase of life. Discussion points include what to do when your toddler has a tantrum in public, pros & cons of having a “time out” and whether it works, and how to empower toddlers in a way that works for parents. $15 for Modern Mama members, $20 non-members, $30 couple. Includes workshop, treats from COBS Bread and refreshments from Bean Around the World.
Sat, Mar 9 (9am-noon) – Highlands Preschool Annual Children’s Sale
Location: Highlands United Church (3255 Edgemont Blvd, North Van)
Details: Dozens of vendors and hundreds of shoppers come out to this sale every year to buy and sell gently used gear, clothing, furniture and MORE! It is a great fundraising opportunity for Highlands Preschool, a non-profit organization, so you will also be supporting the programs of an established and highly regarded community preschool.
Sun, Mar 10 (11am – 6pm) – CIF Spring & Norouz Festival (FREE EVENT!)
Location: Mickey McDougall Gym (200 block 23rd Street, North Van)
Details: Over 100 businesses showcase their products & services along with tasty foods, live music & activities for the entire family, making it the largest festival of its kind on the North Shore. Enjoy the live music, folk dance, free kids activities, arts & crafts, face painting, cinemazoo, mad scientist, door prizes, and painters corner featuring local artists.
Tues, Mar 12 (6:30-8:30 pm) – Essential Series: Potty Training Workshop
Location: Gymboree North Shore Play & Music (942A W. 16th Ave, N. Van)
Details: Desiree Cluff from Rockababy will talk about potty training strategies that work without the props & encourage confidence in your little ones, building healthy habits along the way. She’ll also cover the essential gear you need, give you an idea of what to expect during the potty training process, and the signs to look out for on the right time to start potty training. $15 for Modern Mama members, $20 non-members, $30 couple. Includes workshop, treats from COBS Bread and refreshments from Bean Around the World.
Tues, Mar 12 (7:30-9:30 pm) – An Evening with Dr. Gordon Neufeld : How to Keep Children Safe in a Wounding World
Location: Sir Winston Churchill Auditorium (7055 Heather St, Vancouver)
Details: Dr. Gordon Neufeld, a foremost authority on child development and author of Hold On To Your Kids, addresses what parents & teachers can do to keep their children safe in a world where signs of alarm are skyrocketing in our children and bullies seem more numerous than ever. What are the factors that put children at risk and how can we recognize when they are in trouble? Dr. Neufeld will point to a way through that puts parents and teachers back into the driver’s seat with regards to the children in their care. Tickets are $35 and are available here.
Mar 16-30 (10am & 1pm) – Dinosaur Train at Railway Heritage Park
Location: Westcoast Railway Heritage Park, Squamish
Details: The Dinosaurs are coming to the Railway Park! Join in the adventure with a train ride to find them, explore for fossils, find their footprints and encounter your favourite TV dinosaurs! Lots of fun for the whole family. (Under 1 yrs no charge if they sit on your lap.) Please arrive 30 Min before departure time.
Mar 18-22 & 25-28 (various times) – Spring Break Art Camps (6-10 yrs)
Location: Maplewood House, 399 Seymour River Place (North Van)
Details: Camps for kids include Art & Animals ($125/week), Mache & Mosaics ($125/ week), Experimenting with Art ($100/week) and 3D Art Explosion ($100/week).
Mar 18-22 & 25-28 (various times) – Spring Break Camps for Kids (3-12 yrs)
Location: Various North Vancouver Community Centres
Details: Early years camps (3-7 yrs) include Happy Campers, Little Explorers, Sing!Dance!Act!, and Sunshine Bunch Camp. Camps for 5 yrs + include Space Adventure Camp, Amusement Park Madness, Kids’ Clay Camp, Chef in Training, Potters & Swimming, Sing!Dance!Act! and Dance Camp.
Mar 18-29 (various times) – Spring Break Camps & More (3-13 yrs)
Location: West Vancouver & Gleneagles Community Centres
Details: Camps include Creative Dance, Hip Hop, Dance Sampler, Lego Building Camp, Guitar Jam, Gymnastics & Sportball, Family Playmania & Watermania.
Mar 29 & 30 (3pm to 5pm) – Imagineerium (all ages)
Location: Anne Macdonald Studio, 333 Chesterfield Ave, N. Van
Details: The Imagineers is a confidence-boosting, team-building, imagination create it all. Working together kids can make amazing things happen! Friday, March 29th at the Imagineerium they’re running an all ages, condensed version of their innovative, creative, children’s program ($10 per child, including a finished creation). Sunday, March 30th is family day at the Imagineerium, and parents are invited to join ($10 per family, includes a finished creation).