HI,

We are off to Toronto and surrounding areas in October for our first recce trip

Now I debated over whether to take the kids 11 and 8 with us or just to go on our own but I think i have decided that it is important to take the kids as its their move too.

Anyhoo we have told them that although we are away for a week it is not to be seen as a holiday like we have normally.

I have said that the first 2/3 days can be spent in Toronto doing 'holiday things' then we are going down to Oakville etc... to look at schools and houses.

So what do you reccomend to do with 2 kids of these ages in Toronto?
also can you reccomend things to do in Oakville area in between visiting schools and houses? I'd like to keep their attention as long as possible and make it fun for them too.

Are schools quite accomodating at showing you around if you phone them first?

Thanks in advance

The Blairs

I also think it's important for the kids to go on a recce too - it gives them an idea of what your talking about and some knowledge of the area you are looking at. If you don't take them,then you may as well say we're moving to the Arctic or some sort of remote place. As soon as you say we're moving to Canada everyone say but it's always snowing there - you'll set the kds minds straight

As for things to do? Someone will be along shortly

Hi The Blairs

We came on our recce with 3 kids 12, 14 & 15 we were only here a week but it was good for the kids to look at schools, houses and the general surroundings to get a feel for where we were coming to 6 weeks later.

It was exhausting but our realtor piled us all into her car and took us around lots of different areas to get a feel for the place and styles of houses before we started to get a good idea of where we wanted to be

We found the schools happy to let us have a look around and gave us lots of information on how the schools work, we were only looking a public schools so don't know about the Catholic schools.

There is lots of stuff to do in Oakville for kids just a few examples:
5 pin bowling
10 pin bowling
glow in the dark golf
swimming pools
Planet Laser (laser tag)
Loads of outdoor playgrounds
In Mississauga a short drive is Imax cinema and Playdium (indoor hightech, interactive play area)

Have fun planning your trip.

[QUOTE=the blairs;7731381]HI,

We are off to Toronto and surrounding areas in October for our first recce trip

Now I debated over whether to take the kids 11 and 8 with us or just to go on our own but I think i have decided that it is important to take the kids as its their move too.

Anyhoo we have told them that although we are away for a week it is not to be seen as a holiday like we have normally.

I have said that the first 2/3 days can be spent in Toronto doing 'holiday things' then we are going down to Oakville etc... to look at schools and houses.

if you contact the schools first they will let you look around, they def won''t without speaking to them first.

So what do you reccomend to do with 2 kids of these ages in Toronto?
also can you reccomend things to do in Oakville area in between visiting schools and houses? I'd like to keep their attention as long as possible and make it fun for them too.We have been on oakville for 4 months now, there is tons to do for the kids when you're living here. Oakville has the biggest indoor soccer stadium in canada and the amount of programmes for kids is huge! We live in the newer area, north of the OEW. Not as pretty as lakeshore, but more for your money and a great place to meet other familys if thats what you're wanting. Be prepared as there are loads of other brits here, which makes it feel more like home! There are 4 kids alone in my daughters class!!
There is tons in Toronto, canada wonderland, ontario place, the islands etc etc - none of these i have been to yet!!!
Oakville has lots of great parks - coronation park is esp nice - on lake ontario, there is a go carting place, lots of trails etc. A lot of the rec centres have waterslides to keep the older ones entertained and if they are over 8, you can watch on the side! Lots to do, but can't think at the mo!!
i think its a good idea to bring the kids - esp the ages they are, give them a good insight of what to expect - which i'm sure will not dissapoint!
I'm not a wealth of info, but feels free to pick my brains about oakville (not that i have have many leftl looking after 3 little ones!! Best of luck. Oh and i'm sure

Are schools quite accomodating at showing you around if you phone them first?

Thanks in advance

The Blairs[/QUOWe have been on oakville for 4 months now, there is tons to do for the kids when you're living here. Oakville has the biggest indoor soccer stadium in canada and the amount of programmes for kids is huge! We live in the newer area, north of the OEW. Not as pretty as lakeshore, but more for your money and a great place to meet other familys if thats what you're wanting. Be prepared as there are loads of other brits here, which makes it feel more like home! There are 4 kids alone in my daughters class!!
There is tons in Toronto, canada wonderland, ontario place, the islands etc etc - none of these i have been to yet!!!
Oakville has lots of great parks - coronation park is esp nice - on lake ontario, there is a go carting place, lots of trails etc. A lot of the rec centres have waterslides to keep the older ones entertained and if they are over 8, you can watch on the side! Lots to do, but can't think at the mo!!
i think its a good idea to bring the kids - esp the ages they are, give them a good insight of what to expect - which i'm sure will not dissapoint!
I'm not a wealth of info, but feels free to pick my brains about oakville (not that i have have many leftl looking after 3 little ones!! Best of luck. Oh and i'm sure TE]

[QUOTE=pinkkristen;7731862] Sorry about the mess i made of my reply, i'm trying to do it all outside (can't see screen very well!) whilst having 3 little ones making life barmy!! hope you can make sense of it!!

My two are a bit younger, so I may not have all the answers for stuff to keep 8 and 11 year-olds entertained, but I'll endorse Pinkkristen's comments that there is tons to do when living here - it's been a battle this summer to keep the organised activities to manageable proportions so we're not spending the whole time shuttling them from one thing to the next. Plenty of sport - the soccer club and the rugby club are both large and well-run, there's hockey, swimming, tennis... pretty much anything goes. The town runs a load of activities, and these are well supplemented by private enterprises

For quick-hit things on your recce, a great deal depends on the weather. The outdoor parks are probably still a good option in October, although it will be getting chilly in the evenings. There's laser tag or countless indoor playgrounds if its peeing down. Hopedale Mall has a bowling centre on the basement level. The Oakville Museum is probably a bit non-interactive for kids that age, but may be worth a go if they're interested in history. There are a number of farms in the surrounding countryside that will be doing a roaring trade in pumpkins (Thanksgiving at the beginning of Oct; Halloween at the end...) - try Springridge Farm near Milton (www.springridgefarm.com), may be worthwhile to get into the North American pumpkin-obsessed autumnal mood!! Or, of course, you could just take a walk along Sixteen Mile Creek's trails or through Bronte Creek Provincial Park and admire the fall colours... if the kids are into photography they'll get some good pics to show their friends when they get home.

Without knowing your and your kids' interests, it's difficult to advise, but there's a steam museum in Hamilton (working steam pumping engines), the Royal Botanical Gardens on the Hamilton/Burlington boundary, Niagara is less than an hour by car, with the Welland Canal Centre (good hands-on museum) en route. Also within an hour's drive is the Children's Museum in Kitchener/Waterloo. All these are a bit further afield and may be difficult to do between house/school visits, but if you have half a day spare may be worth the trip.

In Toronto, try the Ontario Science Centre (a bit like London's Science Museum), the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum - sort of a cross between the V&A and Natural History museums), Ontario Place (amusement park aimed at younger kids), Canada's Wonderland (ditto, older kids), a trip over to Centre Island, the CN tower... there's way too much to do in a couple of days!

Thanks ! snow is all the kids talk about lol they might be a bit confused in Oct when theres none

Thank you so much !! my daughter has booked glow in the dark golf already

[QUOTE=pinkkristen;7731867] Thats ok I'm a mum too so I must have that special eyesight that enables you to read other barmy mums writing LOL Thanks for the info about oakville ! I am getting really excited about our visit now !!!

I'll make sure to pack the gloves then !!

I think the kids will like the science museum and the CN Tower.

Think we will leave Niagra until our summer trip next year, can't be doing it all in the first trip even though I would like too

Thanks for all your info !!!!!!

We are just at the start of our long journey but I know its going to be fun !!!!!

Feel free to post any pics

Thanks

The Blairs