Blog

3 November 2025

❄️ Cozy Outdoor Play Ideas for Cold Weather ❄️

As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, it can be tempting to stay indoors — but children thrive when they can explore, move, and play outside all year long! Even in the colder months, nature offers endless opportunities for creativity, connection, and cozy fun. Here are a few simple, joyful ideas to help children (and grown-ups!) enjoy the outdoors this season: 🧣 1. Bundle Up and Keep It Cozy A warm child is a happy child! Encourage families to send layers, waterproof mittens, boots, and cozy hats. Wool socks and neck warmers make a big difference too. When everyone is comfortable, outdoor play stays fun and stress-free. 🍂 2. Go on a Nature Treasure Hunt Children love collecting things — leaves, pinecones, sticks, or smooth stones. Bring a little basket or bag and let them search for “treasures.” Back inside, these can be used for crafts, sorting games, or a cozy “nature display.” ☕ 3. Outdoor Picnics in the Cold Pack up a warm drink and a small snack and have a quick winter picnic outside! Sitting on a blanket, watching the clouds or listening for birds can feel magical — even if it’s just for 10 minutes. 🐾 4. Animal Tracks & Winter Watch Look for footprints in snow or mud, listen for winter birds, and talk about how animals prepare for the cold. It’s a gentle way to build observation and wonder while connecting children to the changing seasons. 🌨️ 5. Snowy Sensory Play When the snow arrives, bring out buckets, scoops, and sand toys for building, pouring, and exploring. Add natural materials like sticks or evergreen sprigs for creative play. For non-snowy days, mix birdseed or dry oats into sensory bins outdoors! 🏃 6. Movement Games to Stay Warm Play classic games that keep everyone moving — Follow the Leader, Animal Races, or Freeze Dance (extra fun when it’s actually freezing!). Movement keeps bodies warm and moods bright. 🔥 7. End with a Warm Welcome Indoors When you head back inside, create a cozy transition — warm hands under running water, a story time with blankets, or a comforting snack. These rituals help children feel safe, calm, and cared for after their outdoor adventures. ❤️ A Note for Families Outdoor play in the colder months builds resilience, curiosity, and joy. Children learn that every season has something special to offer — and that fresh air, even on chilly days, helps everyone feel their best. Let’s keep embracing the outdoors, one cozy layer at a time!
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8 October 2025

🎃 Spook-Out in Edmonton: Top Halloween Activities for Families

As the leaves turn and cooler days arrive, Edmonton transforms into a festive Halloween playground. Whether you’re planning a family outing, a fright-night experience, or something in-between, here are some of the best events around town. 1. Family-Friendly Pumpkin Walk & Light Displays Check out Pumpkins After Dark at Borden Park (Sept 26 – Oct 31, 2025) for a magical stroll through thousands of hand-carved pumpkins, enchanting displays and fall treats. edmonton.pumpkinsafterdark.com+1Why it’s great: It’s less scary, more seasonal magic — perfect for young kids (like your daughter!) to enjoy the Halloween vibe without being spooked.Tip: Dress warmly, bring a camera and maybe go early for fewer crowds. 2. The Big Haunt for Teens & Adults For a more intense Halloween experience, check out DARK at Fort Edmonton Park (Oct 3 – Nov 1, 2025). With dedicated haunts, scare zones and roaming performers, this is geared toward older teens and adults. fortedmontonpark.ca+1Why go: A high-energy, immersive Halloween event — great for educators, staff outings, or older kids who want the “wow / scary” factor.Important: Costumes are not allowed inside the haunts for safety. fortedmontonpark.ca 3. Haunted Houses & Thrill-Seekers If you’re up for a real thrill, check out Deadmonton Haunted House (9300 47 St NW) — Edmonton’s big haunted house experience for 2025 with bold themes and jump scares. Deadmonton Haunted HouseGood for: Visitors who love being spooked. Maybe not the youngest children, but teens and adults will get a kick out of it. 4. Mega Costume Parties & Bar-Crawls For grown-ups or educators looking to celebrate Halloween night out, there are several events like the “Haunted Hop & Halloween Bar Crawl” in Edmonton. Eventbrite+1Note: These are adult-oriented — plan ahead for babysitting if needed! 5. Choose Your Pumpkin Patch & Fall Farm Fun Take a trip out to find pumpkins, navigate a corn maze and enjoy the farm atmosphere. For example, Fall‑o‑Ween Festival at Prairie Gardens (Bon Accord) has hay rides, mazes, animals and more. To Do Canada+1Why families love it: Outdoors, active, and engaging for a child who loves to run, jump and explore (sounds a lot like your daughter!).Tip: Make sure to check weather and wear boots — fall in Edmonton can be muddy! 🧒 Our Top Picks for You & Your Day Home Families Given you run a day home and your daughter is energetic and creative, here are suggestions you might share with your families or incorporate into your program: 🍬 Have a Safe & Spooktacular Halloween! Wherever your Halloween adventures take you, we hope your days are filled with cozy sweaters, happy pumpkins, and just the right amount of spookiness! Remember to dress warm, plan ahead for outdoor events, and most importantly — have fun celebrating this festive season with your little ones.
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17 September 2025

Planning for Positive Guidance: Powerful Interactions Make a Difference

Guiding children’s behavior is something done throughout the day, not just when a child acts in a way that is unsafe or unacceptable. You guide behavior by establishing predictable routines, setting clear rules with children, and modeling kindness and respect. You are also attentive and aware of what is going on. Together, these actions help children feel noticed, confident, and secure. Children experience your attention and guidance as a caring embrace holding everything together. They know you’re on their team. (Dombro, Jablon, & Stetson 2011, 58) Here are some strategies we use to plan for positive guidance, keeping a Powerful Interactions approach in mind.
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4 September 2025

It’s A Child’s World Air Quality Policy

As the air quality can rapidly change daily, we’ve had some questions about Air Quailty and outdoor time. Here is our policy as written in the Parent Handbook: 1-3 Low Risk – no precautions necessary. 4-5 Moderate Risk- Reduce consecutive time spent outside to a max of 1.5 hours. Monitor closely for symptoms like coughing, wheezing, irritated throat. If children experience symptoms they will be brought inside. 6 Moderate Risk – Reduce consecutive time spent outside to a max of 1 hour. Monitor closely for symptoms like coughing, wheezing, irritated throat. If children experience symptoms they will be brought inside. 7-10 High – Only small groups of children with no existing conditions to participate in an intentional facilitated experience that is not strenuous with reduced time to a max of 30min. 11+Very High Risk – Children will be kept indoors
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25 August 2025

Helping Your Child Cope with Back-to-School Anxiety

Helping Your Child Cope with Back-to-School Anxiety Anxious feelings are normal and expected during times of transition or change. This is especially true for children and teens going back to school, or for first-timers starting kindergarten. This transition can be stressful and disruptive for the entire family! Prior to the first day of school, your anxious child may cling, cry, have temper tantrums, complain of headaches or stomach pains, withdraw, and become sullen or irritable. Worries are Common. Anxious children and teens worry about many different school-related issues, such as teachers, friends, fitting in, and/or being away from their parents. Some common worries include: Who will be my new teacher? What if my new teacher is mean? Will any of my friends be in my class? Will I fit in? Are my clothes OK? Will I look stupid? Who will I sit with at lunch? What if I miss the bus? What if I can’t understand the new schoolwork? What if something bad happens to mom or dad while I am at school? Although it is normal for your child to have worries, it is crucial to make your child attend school. Avoidance of school will only increase and reinforce your child’s fears over the long-term, and make it increasingly more difficult to attend. Please checkout more resources and information at the Anxiety Canada website.
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1 August 2025

Tasty Trails – Guided Walk

Have you always wanted to try those berries in your campsite but weren’t quite sure if they were safe? Can you safely eat that leaf? Before you start snacking on our local plants, you may want to come along on this guided walk to learn more about edible and yummy plants in Alberta. Check out this free event happening at miquelon lake provincial park.
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23 July 2025

Ottewell Community League at the Mural Paint Party!

Come Paint With Ottewell Community League at the Mural Paint Party! They’re bringing the mural project to life — and they’d love your help! Join us Thursday, July 31 from 4–7PM inside the Ottewell Community League Mural panels will be set up for community members to help block in colour — especially if you feel comfortable with a brush! Bonus for the kids! We’ll have mural-inspired colouring sheets, and each completed page is a chance to win a prize! Whether you’re painting, colouring, or just stopping by to see the progress, we’d love to see you there.Let’s make something beautiful, together. Learn more here.
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27 June 2025

Things to do July long weekend in Edmonton

The July long weekend in Edmonton, 2025, will be from Friday, June 27th to Tuesday, July 1st. Canada Day celebrations will be a highlight, with fireworks and various festivals happening across the city and the Alberta Capital Region, according to To Do Canada. Taste of Edmonton, a 11-day food festival, also takes place during this time, according to Taste of Edmonton.  Here’s a breakdown of what to expect:
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27 June 2025

Leading the Movement for Childhood Independence

Let Grow champions childhood, helping kids build confidence, resilience, and self-reliance through independent play and real life experiences. Let Grow is a movement dedicated to breaking through today’s culture of overprotecting children and restoring the childhoods they deserve. With free programs like The Let Grow Experience, Play Clubs, and Independence Therapy, they help kids build resilience, creativity, and self-reliance through unsupervised play and real-life challenges Their signature Play Clubs—designed by psychologist Peter Gray—encourage mixed-age, unstructured play before or after school. Kids organize their own games and work through conflicts independently, boosting leadership, empathy, and problem-solving skills. Early results show fewer behavioral issues and a happier, more inclusive school community. Beyond schools, Let Grow offers a wealth of free parent resources, including independence kits, toolkits, and a supportive Facebook community. They’re also advocating for “reasonable childhood independence” laws in multiple communities, ensuring parents have the right to let their children explore and grow. In an age of anxiety and constant adult oversight, Let Grow reminds us that kids are stronger than we sometimes give them credit for—and that they need space to stumble, learn, and thrive on their own.
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2 June 2025

Edmonton Riverhawks Home Opener

The crack of a baseball against a bat. The roar of a crowd in the bleachers. The smell of hotdogs in the air. Baseball is back, baby! Join the Edmonton Riverhawks as they play their home opener against the Victoria HarbourCats at RE/MAX field. Get your tickets and enjoy the perfect summer afternoon, June 3, 2025. The evening begins with lively pre-game festivities, including a traditional hoop dance performance. Plus, Windspeaker Media and 89.3 The Raven are back in the media centre, bringing you the return of their incredible Cree-language broadcast!
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Edmonton, AB T5S 1R5

(780) 489-2626

itsachildsworld@shaw.ca