Top 10 Blogs of the 2010s

While I've only been blogging since shortly after the minions were born (August of 2011), these end of the decade wrap ups still are a good enough excuse to bring together my top blog posts of all time.  I am also working on a top 20 albums list of the 2010's, but will be posting it later.

Take a read, or a walk down memory lane, like I have. I am so happy that I've continued to write about my journey as a parent and my lovely kids.  Hopefully one day they'll cherish this blog as much as I do.

My Top 10 Blog Posts of All Time

Hiking Algonquin

via Giphy

Happy Wanderer - Hiking Algonquin Park Booth Rock Trail 

Newborn Days

First Time - Post Baby Shopping List

Fine Motor Skills

Hands - Activities To Boost Fine Motor Skills

Parenting

via Tenor

Footloose - Motivating Kids With Rewards

Playground Reviews

via Giphy

The Whole World is Our Playground: Vermont Square Playground Review


The Whole World is Our Playground: Marie Curtis Park 


The Whole World is Our Playground: Review Neshama Playground/Oriole Park


The Whole World Is Our Playground: Revisiting Jeff Healey Playground  

Milestones

via Giphy

The First Time - Celebrating Little (Big) Moments 

Body Image

The Climb - Body Image

The Whole World is Our Playground: Trinity Bellwoods Park

We had been hearing about how amazing Trinity Bellwoods Park was long before Toronto's hipsters turned it into their own personal beer garden.  A couple of weeks ago, on one of the blistering Humidex heat alert days, we decided to head over and give the playground and splash pad a try.

My park review disclaimer: If you don't live in the area I hope you enjoy the pics and can use some of the ideas to inspire and explore in your own city. If you have any recommendations for great playgrounds (or new criteria I haven't thought of) please post a comment on this post or email me.

Park Name:

Trinity Bellwoods Park 790 Queen Street West

Parking:

This park has a lot of local street parking around the perimeter of the park.  It is also steps away from the Queen Street Car Stop (Crawford Street Stop). 

Theme of Park:

Green escape in the city.

Ground Coverage:

Primarily sand in the playground with grassy areas on the exterior.  Pavement around the wading pool area.

Variety of Equipment for different ages:

There are some great climbers for a variety of ages in this park.  I'd argue that there aren't enough "baby" swings here to meet visitor's needs, so there is a lot of waiting if your little ones like swings or slides.

Best Parts of the Park:
On a hot and sunny day this playground area provides a great deal of shade coverage to keep little ones and their caregivers cool.  This playground area has a number of picnic benches in a wooded area adjacent to it, allowing for some great picnic space.

Downfalls:

The playground equipment is spaced very close together, which makes the park seem busier than it is.  We spent significant time waiting for other kids to finish with more popular pieces of equipment like the twisty slide and swings. There were also a number of older boys who were roughhousing and being rowdy and pushy, climbing up the slides and not really being super considerate of the younger kids trying to play - they ignored my dirty looks and appeared to be unsupervised.  We were told that the wading pool would open up at 12 o'clock and anxiously waited in the 30 degree heat.  By 12:10 it was apparent that it either wasn't opening at all that day (despite what was posted on the city website) or the person running the water was late for work.  We packed up and left for another park at that point because both kids really wanted to cool off and everyone was tired of waiting for the water.

Overall Rating:
I would rate this park a 3 out of 5.  If you live in the area, don't let my review scare you away from enjoying Trinity Bellwoods, it's just not a playground that I would go out of my way to visit but a solid local option if you live nearby.  It was too crowded to merit the distance for us.

To read my review of Perth Square Park in Junction Triangle click here.

To read my review of Jean Sibelius Square in the Annex click here.

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The Whole World is Our Playground - Review of Valleyridge Park

A while ago I came across this list of free/cheap things to do with children  and we've been slowly exploring some of the destinations mentioned.  Another 40 degree day (with Humidex) seemed like the perfect time to visit this Oakville playground and splash pad.

My park review disclaimer: If you don't live in the area I hope you enjoy the pics and can use some of the ideas to inspire and explore in your own city. If you have any recommendations for great playgrounds (or new criteria I haven't thought of) please post a comment on this post or email me.

Park Name:

Valleyridge Park - 2524 Valleyridge Road Oakville 

 The dry side of the playground.

Parking:

There are about 20 parking spaces right near the park and street parking available.

Theme of Park:

Jungle Theme.

Ground Coverage:

Grassy area and pavement surrounding the actual playground that is made of rubberized material.

Variety of Equipment for different ages:

There is some great equipment here for all kids under about 10, but I'd say the main focus of the playground is for little ones under 8.

Best Parts of the Park:
The splash pad is by far the best feature of this park.  There are sprinklers that shoot out of the ground, hippos who squirt water and as Jack and Chris put it, "an elephant who throws up water on you".  It has a giant gazebo in the centre of the playground to provide shade for a picnic, snack or for parents to monitor their kids.  Molly said she liked the castle climber and the hungry, hungry, hippos who squirt water the best, while Jack liked the ground sprinklers and that he was able to somewhat control the sprinklers by pushing buttons placed in the plastic willows.

The castle climber was a big hit.

Downfalls: 

Without the water feature this park isn't really worth a far drive for us, but on a hot summer day it is totally worth it.  Unfortunately, there were a number of families who threw their stuff on some of the picnic tables in the shady gazebo to mark there territory, but then never actually sat at them throughout our entire hour and a bit at the park.  It was frustrating to people (such as Chris and I) who were then forced to stay in the sun.

Overall Rating:
I would rate the splash pad a 4.5/5, and a great place to go when it's hot outside.   The overall park itself has some innovative playground equipment and we would be regulars if we lived in the neighbourhood, but without the splash pad open I would only rate this park a 3.5/5.

To view my post about the Lakeview Promenade Park in Mississauga click here


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The Whole World is Our Playground: Review Little Norway Playground

I first saw this park in BlogTo's Best Playgrounds in Toronto Edition last summer.  We decided to explore it with the minions this weekend to see what the fuss was about.

My park review disclaimer: If you don't live in the area I hope you enjoy the pics and can use some of the ideas to inspire and explore in your own city. If you have any recommendations for great playgrounds (or new criteria I haven't thought of) please post a comment on this post or email me.

Park Name:

Little Norway Park

Parking:

 There is a little bit of parking on Stadium Road near the park, but while we were there people who didn`t obey the signs were ticketed.  This park is a three minute walk from the Fleet Street Stop on the Bathurst Streetcar line.

Theme of Park:

Little retreat in the big city.

Ground Coverage:

Mixed coverage of sand, concrete and grass.

Variety of Equipment for different ages:

 This park has a couple of unusual features (Lion Slide and Tunnel) and spider web climber as well as a very basic wading pool.  Most of the kids playing here were six and under.

Best Parts of the Park:

If you want to check out some neat sculptures and a city view this is a great park to relax and enjoy the view.  It's well hidden with some decent shade covering on a hot and steamy day.  For kids who are obsessed with planes you can see a lot of take-offs and landings because of the close proximity to Billy Bishop Airport.  The people-watching at this park is unparallelled: If you've ever wanted to know where "the beautiful people" go to hang out, Little Norway Park is the answer: from the fitness buffs doing boot camps, to hot moms, to those sunbathing, there is a lot to see.

Downfalls:

 After exploring some of the neat sculptures, the slide and a once over all of the playground equipment, the kids got bored. Some other patron took a deuce in the wading pool they had to shut it down for half an hour while they chlorinated (it wasn't my kids, I checked.  No seriously, I checked). That's when we knew it was time to go home.

Overall Rating:

This people-watching paradise is something that is worth going to at least once to check out the scenery and relax - Chris now refers to it as "Hot Mom Park".  If you live in the area, find yourself nearby or are waiting for a flight from Billy Bishop it may become more of a regular retreat.   Rating 3.5/5.

To read my review of Marie Curtis Playground click here

To read my review of Dufferin Grove Playground click here

To read my review of Vermont Square Playground click here

I have been nominated for Voiceboks 2014 Multiple Parenting Blog Awards - If you have a moment to spare: Click Here Now and cast your vote for Multiple Momstrosity #27, it's the little heart icon that pops up in the top right hand corner that registers a vote NOT clicking on the photo.  If you follow any of the other blogs or enjoy them like say HDYDI (#21) you can vote for them too - you can vote for up to five different blogs daily.