The Little Paper

Dressing up for a holiday show at the theatre, bundling up for a skate and a hot chocolate at Nathan Phillip Square, heading downtown to admire the decorated windows, assembling a gingerbread house or watching the first lights of the season fill the sky – all experiences that remind us of our own childhood. Looking back, our lasting memories of the holiday season have more to do with the things we did and the people we did them with than any particular gift, so... we've taken Giving Experiences as our theme this month and have assembled a list of magical experiences for you and your family

The Magic of the Theatre

From the silly to the sublime, there is so much to choose from this season. The highly regarded Lorraine Kisma Theatre for Young People is a great place to start for the young thespian on your list. Upcoming productions include: The Princess and the Handmaiden and The Monster Under The Bed. Mooredale offers a popular classical music series for children called Music and Truffles, and you even get a wrapped truffle after the show. If you are looking for a seasonal performance, Ross Petty’s pantomime Robinhood: The Environmental Family Musicalis playing at the gracious Elgin Theatre. Petty is king of the double entendre, and it’s an amazing thing to witness adults and children laughing at the same joke for completely different reasons. Pia Bouman’s School for Ballet and Creative Movement’s Nutcracker offers a lovely, traditional telling of the tale with wonderful costumes at a reasonable price.
Check out author Roald Dahl’s take on the popular fairytale, Jack and the Beanstalk, with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The show is a very kid-friendly introduction to the symphony with actors, puppets, and a 60-foot tall beanstalk all for a mere $15! Another affordable ($10!) and inspiring option is The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobeat Calvary Community Church and The Walmer Centre. At The Palmerston and Burnhamthorpe libraries, Cow Over Moon Theatre’s hilarious rendition of Jack Frost is sure to be a hit and George Brown Theatre School’s annual children’s show returns to the well-loved stories of Robert Munsch this year with Munsch Crunch.  Theatre Direct’s Beneath The Banyan Tree, is a dynamic blend of theatre, dance, puppetry and music. And last but not least, Puppetmongers’ production of Cinderella in Muddy York rounds out the year at the Tarragon.

A Real Train Ride for the Toy Train Lover

Is your child absolutely crazy about Thomas? Do they wear an engineer hat to bed and thrill to the sound of a train whistle? The Orangeville Brampton Railway hosts a Santa Train  for just $14.50 per person. Their 55 min trip departs from Orangeville and Inglewood, travels through the Credit Valley and offers a personal visit with Santa himself. York Durham Heritage Railway has a Santa Train as well which runs through the Oak Ridges Moraine. Puddicombe Farms offers The Polar Express, a short train ride on the seasonally decorated train and a visit to the ‘north pole’ to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. If your party has over 15 people in it, Puddicombe can arrange a winter campfire for you, with hotdogs, marshmallows and warm drinks. Finally, bringing a food bank donation is the cost of entry to greet Santa on CPR’s  Holiday Train at The Rona Stockyards on December 1st.

There is, of course, nothing children love more than your time and undivided attention. If you throw in some gingerbread, a tea party or a whirl on the ice, so much the better.

Open since 1929, Arcadian Court, The Bay’s elegant Art Deco dining venue located in downtown Toronto hosts a Breakfast with Santa (6, 13, 20 Dec) and a 14 Dec Grandparents Supper with Santa. Bring your skates and take a spin or two around Nathan Phillips Square and remember to view each and every holiday window. Toronto’s stately hotels are also memorable places for a lovely meal or tea with a special child. How about making something together? The Chef Upstairs on Mount Pleasant offers a family Gingerbread House Class or you could build your house at historical Montgomery Inn. Colborne Lodge offers a wreath-making workshop and, for something completely different, you could animate together at a hands-on National Film Board family animation.

Gifts that Keep on Giving

While a family memberships might not be the big impact gift of the year, consider giving a membership to the Toronto Zoo, the ROM, the AGO or the Science Center to the whole family. Lessons might be hard to wrap, but they can make a big hit and make a great grandparent combo: one gift under the tree and piano, hockey or pottery classes to last the year. Check the November Little Paper for programs in your neighbourhood offering everything for children from sports to dance to yoga.
Finally, sharing skills and time make for great experiences; consider regular baking dates with Grandma, knitting tips from Grandpa, sailing lessons from a favourite uncle, woodworking with a treasured friend…