Making Bedtime Safe and Fun

The company behind the Tuckaire bed was founded in 2007, creating products to help kids fight their fears around bedtime. The Shrunks Family was created during the early days – dad, mom, son and daughter, and their beloved guard dog Sunny. Sunny became the mascot that kids turn to around bedtime to keep them safe. He always sleeps with one eye open, just to make sure things are as they should be while you’re asleep. The Shrunks has a focus on creating cool, portable stuff for kids to make bedtime safe and fun, wherever they are, making it a great sleepover solution.

The Shrunks places a huge importance on design and safety. Their inflatable bed is the only one to offer built in guard rails to help children from rolling off the bed. It comes with everything you need: a pump, a carrying bag, and repair patches, right out of the box. All of the company’s inflatable products are free from BPA, lead and phthalates, and every product undergoes stringent testing process for leaks and defects before leaving the factory.

First Sleepover

Our Tuckaire Toddler Inflatable Travel Bed made the trip to a friends’ house for a first sleepover, and it was a hit all-around. The bed is incredibly easy and quick to set up, and it’s comfy for kids. The fact that it uses a crib sheet is convenient, because you probably already have one of those kicking around. Plus, when you’re not using it, it’s compact to store. Also on the plus side is the fact that it’s gender-neutral, and isn’t covered with cutesy licensed characters, so one bed will work for any kid.

The Tuckaire does have a bit of a chemical smell, so you might want to air it out for a while before your child sleeps in it. We asked Perry Chua, Creative Director for The Shrunks about this, and he said, “As with all PVC materials, the smell is unavoidable. Airing it out before using is a good option, if the smell is an issue. The key thing here is that the PVC is safe from hazardous materials, despite the smell.” If you’re concerned about PVC and plastics and the chemicals they contain it’s best to do your own research and draw your own conclusions, just as you would with any purchase. We love the bed, but as moms we also know that there’s simply not a clear-cut answer for each and every family.

How do you make bedtime safe and fun at a sleepover? Leave us a reply and share your tips.

The Shrunks

theshrunks.com | Facebook

It’s time to get acquainted with some indoor family-friendly options, especially if you’ve got toddlers or preschoolers at home. You can only drag them to the mall so many times, before standing out in the rain at the monkey bars almost starts to sound good.

What to do in Vancouver: Granville Island Indoor Fun

The Parent and Tot Gym Time at the False Creek Community Centre is open most Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30am to 12:00pm.  Active play areas run alongside imaginative play areas leaving something for every child.  Highlights include a bouncy castle and a plethora of ride-on toys.

False Creek Community Centre

vancouver.ca/parks/cc/falsecreek/
1318 Cartwright Street, Vancouver

What to do in Vancouver: Parent Participation Play Time in Kits

With Parent and Tot Gym sessions on most Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, your toddler is sure to burn some energy before nap time at the Kitsilano Community Centre. This active parent participation class is just one hour long but doesn’t require registration in advance. Certain drop-in times require a one-on-one parent to child ratio, while other times permit two or even three siblings per parent. Be sure to check the online schedule to choose the right day and time and to check the dates of operation.

Kitsilano Community Centre

www.kitscc.com | Twitter | Facebook
2690 Larch Street, Vancouver

What to do in Vancouver: Mini Play Palace in Kerrisdale

If you’re familiar with the very popular summer-time Play Palace at the Kerrisdale Arena, the off season Mini Play Palace at the Kerrisdale Community Centre is a bit underwhelming by comparison, but a great time nonetheless. With all sorts of toys and activities to choose from, your little one will stay occupied the whole time you’re there. The Mini Play Palace runs on most Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00am – 3:00pm. Check the website before you go to be sure of the dates of operation.

Kerrisdale Community Centre

vancouver.ca/parks/cc/kerrisdale | Twitter | Facebook
5851 West Boulevard, Vancouver

Where’s your favourite community centre drop-in? Leave us a reply and tell us!

What to do in Vancouver

The Royal City Kids Fair is happening on Saturday, January 21 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm at the Fraser River Discovery Centre in New Westminster. This free, indoor event brings parents and kids together. The event welcomes all families – expectant parents, new parents, and seasoned ones alike. And bring the kids, because this event is for them, too. There will be engaging and entertaining exhibitors and vendors, in the heart of historic New Westminster. It’s the perfect way to spend a cold Saturday with your kids. Let them play and have fun, and allow yourself the chance to browse the exhibitors and enjoy the event with peace of mind.

Royal City Kids Fair

The event features more than 60 tables, providing parents with information, resources, products and services. Kids of all ages will be entertained by two performances from Vancouver-based, Juno-nominated singers Bobs & Lolo, of Treehouse TV fame! There will also be three bouncy castles to romp in, face-painting, tons of popcorn, and other healthy snacks.

Sapperton Pensioners Hall

The event takes place a few minutes’ walk from the New Westminster SkyTrain, at the New Westminster Quay. If you’re driving, there’s lots of parking at the Quay. The The Fraser River Discovery Centre is an interpretive centre connecting communities in discovery and celebration of the past, present and future of the living, working Fraser River. It’s a bright, open space, and you’ll be able to take in some great views of the river while you attend the fair.

The event will be an informative and entertaining day for you and your kids. When it comes to what to do in Vancouver next weekend, the Royal City Kids Fair is a great choice. Mascots will be on hand, including “Salty the Seagull” from Port Metro Vancouver and the Bear from BMO. Make your own buttons on-site, get your wacky photo taken, and get it printed on your very own mug. Plan to stay for a while, and take it all in – there will be lots to see and do.

Early Education: Does it Really Make Kids Smarter?

Most parents who send their children to preschool are very happy with their decision. Some say it is a great way for children to meet friends, some find it an essential step for them to learn to socialize, and some even notice that their children learn a great deal. But few of these parents believe deep down that thanks to those preschool years, their children will be, well, smarter.

How can that be? After all, the academic knowledge given to the child during those years is not so unique compared to elementary school. Does it really matter if a child can read at age three or at age six? Is it really that important to know all the numbers before kindergarten? Why not just let them play and enjoy life?

The Right Amount of Stimulation

The secret ingredient in education is not in the academic component itself. Children who attend early education programs are better equipped to learn because they have received the right type and the right amount of stimulation at the right time. This, in turn, implies they are exposed to a great academic program!

What most of us don’t realize as adults is that for children, learning is enjoyable. Take newborn babies, for instance. When they are not sleeping, they are constantly learning. They learn to recognize our voices, their environment, the patterns of their mobiles and the many things we are excited to bring closer to them. One and two year olds are discovering language, and figuring out their role in the household. They even have their own scientific agenda, which they carry out quite well by experimenting on everything they can find (electrical outlets included). They are constantly asking us questions! The world is a fascinating place for a young child. Once they gain a greater understanding of their environment, they need a higher level of reasoning and intellectual stimulation.

Birth to Age Six

From birth until about age six, a child’s brain is forming all the pathways it will use during adult life. This process slows down considerably after that age. Those pathways can only be formed through adequate stimulation, which explains why young children are constantly looking to learn. This means that what the child learns early on in life will determine how much he or she can learn as an adult. You can compare this process to the child’s physical growth. A one year old is so much more developed than a one day old, but it is harder to see the difference between a seven year old and an eight year old.

As parents, we pay special importance to what our children eat, because we know that it will impact them for life. If they do not grow at that age, they will certainly not start growing in their thirties (at least most of us have given up hope by then). Similarly, what you “feed” your child’s brain during the first years of life determines how easily you child will be able to learn, for life. Since school officially starts at age five, early education is not only a good idea: it is essential for the proper intellectual development of your child.

Education can be Enjoyable

A good preschool program is very enjoyable for children. It enables them to keep pursuing their interests at a much more stimulating level. Of course, not any program will do. A good school will stimulate your child at just the right level,
and in many different ways. Simply providing a nice atmosphere to socialize and a craft project for the day is great fun, but it is not the level of stimulation that your child needs in order to develop adequately. Instead, look for a program that offers activities that take into consideration each child’s interests and level of understanding. It should also be varied in nature – music and arts are just as important at that age as reading or science.

Early education does not mean that your two year old will be sitting at a desk, pen and paper in hand. Good programs are very creative in their approach to learning, and “disguise” the projects and concepts taught as games and fun activities where your child is always an active participant. Look for a program that can present a challenge as well as a fun, magical environment.

Early education is an essential step in your child’s life, and one to welcome. You may never be able to measure how much it impacted your child, but you can trust that it did, and as much or more than those meals you prepare with such love and care! And, if nothing else, at least you can say that it is a great way for children to meet friends!

Does your child attend preschool or another early education program? What benefits does he or she receive from it? And what do you look for in a preschool?

Natacha Beim is a renowned writer, speaker, educational leader and founder and CEO of Core Education and Fine Arts. Born in Uruguay and raised in Montréal, she has traveled extensively and studied educational systems around the world. As a pioneer in the field of modern education, Beim continually pursues studies in the field developmental psychology focusing on the early years. She currently makes her home in Vancouver.

Core Education and Fine Arts

www.cefa.ca | Twitter | Facebook

*Preschool photo credit – Barnaby Wasson on Flickr

At VancouverMom.ca we pride ourselves on having the inside scoop on the city – but we know we’ve got nothing on the moms who live here. We decided to turn to our readers and find out where to go in Vancouver to see the best light displays. We know that you can tell us, so we reached on Twitter and Facebook to ask you, and you came through. To help you in your planning, we’ve grouped the recommendations by location.

Holiday Lights in Vancouver: Your Picks

Van Dusen

• Coco & Tini, who tweet as @cocoandtini, gave a simple, “Van Dusen!” when sharing their holiday light pick.
• Over on Facebook, Cherish Bryck agreed, saying, “Van Dusen, hands down.”
• Lori Lucas of Yoga with Lori Lucas said, “Agreed. It’s looking better than ever this year too, I’ve gotta say!”

Burrard Street / St. Pauls

• Jill Amery, a.k.a. @urbanmommies, said, “Not sure about the best lights, but St. Paul’s Hospital is… bright!”
• Our Publisher Christine Pilkington, who tweets as @chrispilkington, said, “Love along Burrard St. near St Paul’s. Not ‘the best’ but memorable.”
• Giving themselves a plug the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation, whose handle is @helpstpauls, said, “Well, we’d have to say the #lightsofhope at St. Paul’s Hospital!”

Trinity Street

• Harriet Fancott, who you may also know as @harrietglynn, shared her holiday light pick, saying, “Trinity St. in East Vancouver is pretty renowned for its light displays (in homes).”
• Once again, @chrispilkington weighed in, calling Trinity Street a “good runner-up display”.

Main Street Near 38th

• When @raincoaster pipes in with a recommendation, you have to pay attention. She said, “Easy. It’s always ALWAYS the house at Main and about 38th. Guy puts out a new, gaudy display daily. 30ft pink tinsel tree.” Then she added, “A passenger flagged me down to tell me the story. Daily he adds one thing to the display.” You had us at pink tinsel tree.

North Shore

• The fabulous @chrispilkington‘s final pick, which she also called a good runner-up, is Park and Tilford in North Vancouver.
• Sue Dickie of @wearthosedeals also shared a North Shore location, saying, “At the end of 200 East 10th St N.Van.!!! Stunning!”

Kensington and Curtis in Burnaby

• If you went to SFU, or ever spent time in the area over the holiday season, you’ll likely know @bcfamilymedia‘s pick. She said, “Just shared a link to a video http://bit.ly/w47Ue9 950 Kensington near Curtis Proceeds go to BC Children’s Hospital.”

Rae Street in Port Coquitlam

• If you want to be completely dazzled out in the suburbs, Michelle Brander, who tweets as @michbrander, says, “Check out Rae St in PoCo – they are collecting non-perishable items for the Food Bank.” She shared a photo, too.

Hockley Christmas Lights in Surrey

• Last, but most certainly not least, we head South of the Fraser where Marie-Andrée Journeault told us about a great display, saying, “I am biased, since this is mine, but I think it is good. Hockley Christmas Lights“

Tell us – did we miss anything? Where do you go for the best holiday light display in Vancouver? Leave us a reply and let us know.

*Image credit – Junichi Ishito on Flickr.

Take a Hike: UBC Endowment Lands

One of my favourite spots for walking with my family in any season of the year is the Endowment Lands at UBC. With plenty of walking trails and a constantly evolving natural environment, it’s never the same walk twice.  The paths are, for the most part, flat, which makes it easy for walkers of all fitness levels and abilities, young and old.

Most paths are wide enough to easily accommodate a jogging stroller, but there are lots of roots and bumps, so keep the umbrella stroller in the car. You’ll need something rugged for this outing. Explore and observe the trees, leaves and nature with your kids and create some fabulous winter memories. Map signs are located at several locations. If your sense of direction is not as strong as your sense of style, take a picture of the map with your phone so you can find your way back without a trail of breadcrumbs.

Don’t Forget Playtime

I realize that not every kid is huge on nature walks. If your child is more into the playground scene, check out Khorana Park on Berton Avenue (just off the UBC campus) after your walk. This recently established park has a great set of equipment, though much to my daughter’s disappointment, it is sadly lacking in the slide department.

[Editor's note: During the winter this might not be the worst thing, as slides often lead to wet bottoms. So many kids forget to check before they slide!]

Hot Chocolate

Even if you’ve been lucky with a clear sunny day for your walk and playground experience, your group will likely have a collection of cold noses, fingers and toes by the end of the trip. Stop by the Blenz Coffee. A block away from the playground on Westbrook Mall in the new Westbrook Village at UBC, it’s a great place to warm up with some hot chocolate. With lots of comfortable seating and a cozy fireplace, the feeling will come back to your extremities in no time.

Where do you head for some winter fun on the West Side?

If your family is anything like mine, the holiday season is well underway with gatherings of friends and family from small to large all month long. Before we had children, our holiday meals had a strong focus on gourmet food – the more unusual and expensive, the better. However, now that we have kids, the focus is on fun, with a side of food. Many kids, mine included, aren’t the most adventurous of eaters. If something new is presented to them, my kids will usually declare that they don’t like it, even if that new food hasn’t come close to approaching their mouths.

Let me share my tips for a happy holiday meal that kids will actually eat.

1. Think Outside of the Box when Planning your Holiday Menu

While many of us have grown up with a Christmas dinner tradition, there’s no rule that says you absolutely must have turkey with chestnut stuffing, or roast beef with horseradish. Of course, there’s no rule that says you can’t have that either – but if you decide to stick with your traditional holiday food, and it’s all new to your kids, don’t be surprised when they request a grilled cheese sandwich instead.

Whether you decide to go super traditional or not, you may want to consider adding a few child-friendly items to your holiday menu. These are all quick and easy additions to your meal and won’t add too much prep time to your already busy day:

• Christmas Themed Pizza: Pizza is one of my favourite meal items for kids because it’s so easy to customize. From plain cheese to fully loaded, you can let your kids decide what goes on top. I usually make my own super easy yeast-free crust which doesn’t require rising time and is perfect for a last minute meal. Shape your dough into something that fits the season, such as a Christmas tree, stocking, or wreath, and let the kids top their own pizza pie.

Image Courtesy ALotofLoves on Flickr

• Green Beans and Bacon: The more complicated a recipe is, the less likely it is that my kids will be willing to try it. I’ve found that if something is simple and recognizable, the kids will often eat it with minimal complaint. This means that casseroles tend to be out, and you can forget about anything mashed or mixed with multiple toppings. Funny enough, this green beans and bacon recipe is also usually a hit with the adults at the table too, which proves that simple wins more often than not.

Image Courtesy Gnawme on Flickr

• Sugar Cookies: Year after year, I have struggled to make fancy desserts only to be disappointed when my kids don’t want to touch it, and the rest of the guests are too full to eat another crumb. This year I plan on keeping it simple, but cute. Sugar cookies in festive shapes, such as snowmen, snowflakes, or Christmas trees, are sure to be a crowd-pleaser. This Sugar Cookie recipe is the best one I’ve found, and kids of all ages (including my husband) love cookies in fun shapes. Bonus points for being easy to make, and decorating the cookies is a great holiday activity for the kids.

Image Courtesy Kristin_a on Flickr

2. Fill Out Your Holiday Menu with Fresh Ready-Made Food

If you’ve got the time, it’s wonderful to make everything by hand using only organic, whole, locally-sourced ingredients. If you’re like me, that’s not entirely realistic. Allow yourself to feel guilt-free about giving yourself a break over the holiday season. Take a tour of some of the fantastic specialty grocery stores in Vancouver and see what they have that is already made and ready to go. I’ve found a spectacular octopus salad at Whole Foods that knocked my husband’s socks off. You can also pick up some wonderful cheese from Urban Fare. The food market at Granville Island is, of course, well known for providing a whole host of ready-made options for a quick gathering, and then there’s one of my favourite food shops in Vancouver, Meinhardt on Granville Street, where I could spend ages gazing at their deli items.

3. Relax Your Food Rules for the Day

Now that you’ve planned your menu and included a few kid-friendly items on it, it’s time to enjoy the day. In my house, we usually have rules regarding food, such as the kids must try at least a bite of everything on their plate before they’re allowed dessert, however on Christmas Day I plan on relaxing those rules. No one, including me, wants to hear our usual nit-picking at the dinner table.

The kids will be excited by all of their new gifts and having friends and family over. It’s possible that they’ll be too excited to eat. It’s also possible that they may decide that trying new food is not something they’re willing to do that day. And that’s okay. For one day, the overall happiness of everyone will be more important than ensuring that my kids eat a bite of apple and turnip casserole.

If the kids are feeling surprisingly adventurous, I’ll be thrilled if they want to try everything at the table, however I’m not going to insist that they clean their plate. One day of unbalanced eating during the holiday season isn’t going to hurt them, and we can always go back to our regularly scheduled picky eating on Boxing Day.

What are your tips for preparing a holiday meal that kids will actually eat?

Marilyn writes about parenting, food and life on her blog, A Lot of Loves. She’s a die-hard Christmas fan who started planning her holiday dinner menu six months before the Big Day.

*Image credit – Children having holiday dinner by Elise Ramsey on Flickr.

I grew up in Germany. Some of the best parts of my childhood involved sitting at the dining room table, colouring or drawing with my mom. “Mom, can you draw me a Horse?…Can you draw me a Mermaid? Can you draw me a Lion?” My Mom drew and made lots of things with me. She always encouraged me to be creative and use my imagination. This is really what started it all. I was allowed to paint with different kinds of paints, markers and pencils, and always praised for my drawings. My mom also never tired of reading me books with beautiful pictures that I would study intently. Even after I could read myself, she continued to read to me, which I loved. I would listen and imagine. She would read and act out the various characters with her voice.

A Life of Imagination and Art

In the winter we’d make potato stamps and drip wax on a piece of paper, then colour over it with water colour. In the fall we’d collect leaves and chestnuts from the park and make little figurines out of them with toothpicks. In the spring and summer my mom would set me up outside on the porch with some water colours and paper. No matter what time of the year, my mother and I had fun creating and looking at different little works of art. Art wasn’t something that was only done on a certain day; it was just part of life.

Many years later my location had changed several times, but some things hadn’t. I sat at a table in Vancouver making drawings while getting my BFA in Visual Arts. After graduating I wrote and illustrated two picture books of my own.

Inspiring Others

In 2010 I started I Heart Picture Books, a blog on children’s picture book illustration. I was soon teaching the subject at my former place of study, The Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design. When I started teaching, students would come up to me after class and tell me how much fun they’d had, and I realized how much fun I had inspiring others to be creative and use their imaginations.

I had found my calling, so I sat down and wrote a business plan. I wanted to create a line of prints, cards and activities to be enjoyed by kids and parents together. What better way to complete the circle? That’s how Draw me a Lion was born. It was created out of my never ending passion for drawing, colouring, and creating things, and my wish to inspire kids and adults to create images and stories on their own. It also came out of my strong conviction of the importance and benefits of creativity in any ones life.

We Need Your Imagination

I believe that by being surrounded by art, making things and working together to create things, the imagination grows strong. This helps us to think creatively not just when it comes to our artistic endeavours, but life in general. A strong imagination helps us think outside the box. It lets us create new images, new stories and of course most importantly, new ideas! And ideas, as we all know, are priceless. My motto: We need your imagination! Who is we?; Only the world!

How do you nurture creativity and build a strong imagination in your own children? Leave us a reply and share your tips.

Lisa Cinar is the local author and illustrator of the picture books The Day it all Blew Away and Paulina P. for Petersen. She is also teaching three classes on the subject of children’s book writing and illustration at The Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design. Recently she launched an online-shop called Draw me a Lion. It carries limited edition prints, colouring posters, postcards, cards, and a very cool ‘Story Activity Kit’. Everything in the line is lovingly designed and assembled by Lisa herself and printed in the Vancouver area.

Making Theatre Accessible to Children

Carousel Theatre specializes in making theatre arts accessible to children. Each season more than 40,000 young people and their families benefit from Carousel Theatre’s unique children’s theatre programming, which includes Literary Classics, a Teen Shakespeare Program and a year-round theatre school for kids between the ages of 3 and 17. Each play has specific age guidelines, and the shows are tailored to those guidelines. The Wizard of Oz, for example, is for children age 4 and up.

When my daughter Beatrice and I arrived at the theatre and found our seats for last night’s show, we were delighted to see how close we were to the stage. With an intimate theatre space only 16 seats wide and 14 rows long at the Waterfront Theatre, no matter where you’re sitting you will be close enough to see the action and emotion of the actors shine through. As soon as the lights went down and the Wizard of Oz music started, five year old Beatrice was enthralled.

Children’s Theatre isn’t Just for Kids

The Wizard of Oz was written in 1900, and the songs, phrases, characters and themes have become part of our cultural consciousness. Young and old alike love Dorothy, and girls from 5 to 50 turned up to the show wearing their french braided pigtails and ruby slippers. As children’s theatre, Carousel’s shows have been designed with kids in mind, but the adults in the audience appeared to love The Wizard of Oz no less than the children, especially the whimsical munchkin scenes.

Backstage at The Wizard of Oz

When the lights went up after the show and the audience cleared, Bea and I waited to meet the actors and have a peek backstage as part of our Blogger Night invitation. I’d assumed that there were wings and dressing rooms along narrow corridors backstage at the Waterfront Theatre, but it turns out that it’s pretty much what-you-see-is-what-you-get. The backstage space is tiny, and the actors skillfully nest stage props, fly through costume changes and navigate past each other while the show is on.

General Manager Jessie van Rijn did a great job explaining everything to the kids and the actors fielding questions like, “Where does the fake snow come from?” (a hidden box above the stage) and, “How do you change clothes so quickly?” (practice and lots of velcro).

As the night drew to a close and we headed back home, I thought about the way Jessie described Carousel Theatre’s role in the community as a “cultural concierge”.  It’s true – by making theatre accessible to young and old alike, Carousel Theatre is helping people learn not only about the dramatic arts and music, but also the themes of family, love and belonging in a show like The Wizard of Oz. When it comes to what to do in Vancouver with your kids this holiday season, this children’s theatre production is definitely worth checking out.

If you want to see The Wizard of Oz before it ends, buy your tickets soon because shows are selling out fast! Contact Carousel Theatre by phone or online to purchase tickets. The show runs until December 31 on Granville Island.

Carousel Theatre

http://www.carouseltheatre.ca/ | Twitter | Facebook | 604.669.3410

The holiday season is one of the best excuses to go shopping – and it’s already here! Some people start shopping months in advance, and that is wise of them because they don’t have to worry about finding the perfect gift at the last minute. But if this isn’t you don’t despair, because we’ve got you covered.

When shopping online, you have to consider shipping time. Canada Post does tend to be pretty busy at this time of year, so now is probably a good time to get started.

Remember how nice it was to be the center of attention, getting to unwrap all these gifts and feeling so anxious for the morning to come? When you become a parent, the winter holidays start to have a different meaning and you don’t really expect the same things you used to. It becomes even more fun to see the excitement in your kids’ eyes and watch them open one gift after another. But let’s not lie to ourselves, because it still feels pretty good to be given something. This is why we took all of you into consideration when searching through these online Canadian stores for the best gift ideas. This way, nobody gets left out and it just requires a few minutes and clicks of your time.

Here is what we came up with. And Vancouver moms, please do not forget to forward to your respective partners. Like we said, giving is great, but we all like to receive, too!

For the House

Room6

Special things for nice people.

Shipping: From $8.95, free shipping over $150; Pickup option in Deep Cove, BC
Payment: Paypal, Visa, Mastercard
Return policy: 10 days of receipt for exchange or refund
We like: The most gorgeous and unique selection of products ever! Take a look at their holiday selection for some beautiful ornaments. The overall design of the website is also very user-friendly.

For Little Kids

Cool Toys for Tots

Unique educational and fun toys for toddlers.

Shipping: Fedex rate based on distance and weight, from $16
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Paypal
Return policy: Return within 14 days of receiving it
We like: Family run online store based in Edmonton with a wide choice of unique and quality toys. You can search by very specific categories (dress, up construction, trains, play kitchens, eco-friendly, etc.). There’s plenty to choose from. Not all of their catalogue ships from Canada so you might want to stick to these brands if you want your order fast and to avoid duty fees: Melissa & Doug, Imagiplay, Deux par Deux, KidKraft Canada and P’kolino.

For Teenagers

Cry Wolf Clothing

Limited edition, collectable, wearable and affordable pieces of art.

Shipping: From $7.29
Payment: Paypal, Paypal E-Cheques and Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard and American Express).
Return policy: Refund or Exchange within 30 days of receiving it
We like: We love the very unique designs of the whole product line; the selection of accessories is quite different from what you would find elsewhere and combined with the designs, they make perfect gifts. They have free backgrounds for iphones, ipads, etc using their own designs. We also love the gallery that shows pictures of their products in real life on real people!

For Vancouver Dads

Marquis Wines

Online Wine store sourcing premium wines in all price ranges.

Shipping: Only ship to BC. Average $25 shipping for a case. Free shipping in Vancouver if you order a case. Free shipping for gift cards.
Payment: Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Paypal
Insider Tip: Use coupon “Winedeal” to get 15% off your order (not on BC wines)
We like: Browsing their online store almost feels like you are at the actual retail location on Davie street. The selection of wine is very large and the website is very informative. Most of their product descriptions are actual tasting notes from the owners. Also, their community section is a very nice example of how you can use your online store to reach out to your customers. For example, they have a Youtube Video channel that allows them to share their daily experiences with their followers. Their “Staff Picks” page is also worth checking and their wine tasting events seem to book pretty fast.

For Vancouver Moms

Smart Box

Themed gift boxes (Adventure, Serenity, Charming Getaway, Gourmet Getaway, etc.).

Shipping: From $9.99. Current free shipping holiday promo with code CAXMASFSD.
Payment: Visa, American Express, Mastercard
We like: Great concept (pick a theme and let the person choose where and what). The beautiful packaging makes it look like more than just a gift card. You can easily search for the perfect box by selecting location and category, plus the website allows you to read through all of the guidebooks.

Capturing the Holiday Spirit by Giving Back

Because the holiday season is mostly about giving to people who really need it, here is a nice way to support a cause and give a very unique gift at the same time.

Making Magic Fund

Local online stores banding together to help.

How it works: 12 local online stores are working together to raise money. If you buy something from any of their shops from now until Sunday, December 11 they will donate a portion of their proceeds to the Adopt-a-School program, which benefits schools in Metro Vancouver. The participating businesses are:

• Apricot Culotte
• Bumblebee Toys
• dandelion KIDS
• Fill Your Own
• Giving Gifts
• Green Planet Parties
• Kippo Kids
• Maxwell Designs
• My Little Green Shop
• Onyx Containers
• Puddlegear
• Today I Ate A Rainbow

Plan Canada

International development agency for the improvement of children’s lives.

Payment: Visa, Mastercard, Amex
How it works: You place your online order and you can either send a free personalized e-card, gift card or have a free card sent to you that you can personalize yourself and give to the recipient. What is nice is that they actually match some of the donations that are made according to a ratio. Some of the gifts include goats, hens, library boxes, clean water as well as gift items like jewelry and plush toys.

United Way of the Lower Mainland

Charity that supports children and seniors in Metro Vancouver.

Payment: Visa, Mastercard
How it works: You place your order online and they send you a card with a picture and description of the gift. You can then personalize it. You have the choice between paper card, e-card or print-your-own-card. Some of the gifts include after-school activities, Help Line support and homework helpers.

Happy holiday shopping!

Emilie Sarkissian owns Apricot Culotte, an online store selling affordable European baby clothing. She carries previously loved baby clothing directly imported from France, and end of season baby clothing at up to 50% off retail value. To keep up-to-date on her latest news and specials, follow Apricot Culotte on Facebook.