FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2010

Investing in Children is pleased to present Kids First Day 2010, and hope you and your family with join with our community partners in celebrating the wonderful opportunities that London as to offer, and to recognize the people, businesses and organizations making them possible.

To celebrate Kids First Day with your family, please visit any of our partner locations below and participate in free or discounted activities and events.

If you have any questions about Kids First Day or would like to be a partner location, please call Greg Picken at (519) 433-8996 ext. 225 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Kids First Day Passport

The newest edition to the Kids First Day lineup is the passport. If children visit at least three partner locations, they can enter their passport into a draw to win one of the many great prizes donated by our community. All you need to do is pick up a passport at your first partner location, and drop it off at the last location you visit. Check our website next week for a full list of our passport prize winners.

This year's Kids First Day Passport Prizes include:

• Corolle Equestrian Doll (Toy Shoppe of London)
• Under the Sea Activity Kit (Ontario Early Years Centre London Fanshawe)
• Two Library Bags (London Public Library)
• Storybooks, Verse Packs and Felt Board (Ontario Early Years Center at Childreach)
• Dreamcatcher Kit (Museum of Ontario Archaeology)
• $20 Walmart Gift Card (Whitehills Childcare Assocation at Wilfrid Jury Public School)
• Two Waterpark passes (East Park Golf Gardens)
• $25 Scholar's Choice Gift Card (Scholar's Choice)
• Mad Science Gift Bag (Mad Science of London)
• 3 month Child Membership (YMCA of Western Ontario)

About Kids First Day

Kids First Day is a unique-to-London solution that began over seven years ago. Investing in Children recognized that while negative issues often grab the headlines, there are even more positive things happening in our city that don’t always get the spotlight. Kids First Day was born as a way to recognize all of the opportunities that London offers to families and children, and became a celebration of the businesses, organizations and people who make those opportunities possible.

Kids First Day is support by:

London Central

Covent Garden Market - 130 King St. - 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Backyard Farmyard - Plant a bean, decorate a farmyard animal cookie and enjoy a Farmers Feed Cities colouring sheet.

Exploring the Stars - Cronyn Observatory, University of Western Ontario - 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Explore the Stars with UWO's Department of Physics and Astronomy, with presentations, telescope tours and viewing (weather permitting!) and activities that are out of this world.

John Labatt Centre - 99 Dundas St. - 12:00 noon - 2:00 pm
Skate on the same ice as OHL and NHL superstars with a 2-hour family skate! All children must bring a CSA approved helmet to wear during skating. Please enter at Gate 4 off of Dundas.

La Ribambelle - 265 Maitland St. (at Childreach) - 10:00 am & 1:30 pm
Imagemots - French language interactive play, songs, stories and games.

London Public Library, Central Branch - 251 Dundas St. - 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
London Public Library, Cherryhill Branch - 301 Oxford St. W. - 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
It's "Earth First" on Kids First Day! Drop in and create an eco-friendly craft, discover "green" books and make your own personal pledge to go green with us!

London Regional Children's Museum - 21 Wharncliffe Rd. S. - 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Free admission to the museum from 5:00 to 8:00 in the evening. Hands-on, interactive galleries, 3 floors of educational exhibits with various themes.

N'Amerind Friendship Centre - 260 Colborne St. - 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Celebrate a carnival with a variety of fun activities in the N'Amerind Friendship Centre gymnasium.

Ontario Early Years Center at Childreach - 265 Maitland St. - 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Welcome spring with Rainbow handprint flowers and jewel-like suncatchers. Plus, enjoy the toys, games and learning centres at the Early Years Playroom. For children birth to 6 years with parent or caregiver.

The Grand Theatre - 471 Richmond St. - 10:00 am & 11:30 am
Tours backstage at The Grand, including dressing rooms, the green room, the McManus Theatre and a peek at the main stage. Tours begin promptly at 10:00 am and 11:30 am at the front doors on Richmond and will last 45 minutes to an hour.

YMCA of Western Ontario, Centre Branch - 382 Waterloo St. - 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Recreational swim in the large pool.

London North

Aikido Network - 1615 North Routledge Park, #6 - 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Children ages 6-11 will be able to learn and explore London's only Non-Violent martial art. Have fun learning stance, how to roll forward and backward, non-aggressive self-defense techniques, and how to resolve conflict without violence. Please wear loose fitting clothing without zippers.

Chapters - 86 Fanshawe Park Rd. - 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Alice in Wonderland activities and crafts. Make your own cheshire cat, enjoy a kids tea party and join us for storytime in a giant teacup at 2:00.

East Side Marios - 94 Fanshawe Park Rd. - All Day
Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entree. Available at this East Side Mario's Location only.

Home Depot - 600 Fanshawe Park Rd. E. - 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Painting and planting small pots and building a pop bottle terrareum.

Loblaw Great Food Fanshawe Market - 1740 Richmond St. - 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Celebrate spring by decorating a cupcake. The cooking school is not an allergy free zone.

London Public Library, Masonville Branch - 30 North Centre Rd. - 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
London Public Library, Northridge Branch - 144 Glenora Rd. - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
It's "Earth First" on Kids First Day! Drop in and create an eco-friendly craft, discover "green" books and make your own personal pledge to go green with us!

Museum of Ontario Archaeology - 1600 Attawandaran Rd. - 10:00am - 4:30 pm
Scavenger hunts, pottery making and many other activities.

Scholar's Choice - 101 Fanshawe Park Rd. E. - 9:30 am - 8:00 pm
Join the staff for a craft activity, demonstrations and fun interactive games.

Stronach Community Recreation Centre - 1221 Sandford St. - 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Teen basketball drop-in for 13-17 year olds.

Toy Shoppe of London - 685 Fanshawe Park Rd. W. - 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Crayola new creations for ages 3 to 8.

UCMAS London - 28 Cedarwood Crescent - 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Learn numbers on an abacus. Play memory games based on abacus numbers. Challenge yourself and enjoy brain exercise.

Upper Room Book Store - 1695 Wonderland Rd. N. - 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Come to the Upper Room and celebrate spring!  Make your own spring book mark and enjoy springtime activities!

Whitehills Childcare - 950 Lawson Rd (at Wilfrid Jury Public School) - 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Enjoy songs and dance with special guest Mother Goose. There will also be special activities in the Polar Bear Room.

 

London East

Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre - 656 Elizabeth St. - 10:00 am - 12:00 noon
Free drop-in gym activities for children 6-13 years old.

East Park Golf Gardens - 1275 Hamilton Rd. - All Day
One free round of minigolf with a paying adult.

Home Depot London East - 448 Clarke Rd. - 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Woodworking projects and planting seeds in the outside seasonal section of the store.

London Public Library, Beacock Branch - 1280 Huron St. - 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
London Public Library, Carson Branch - 465 Quebec St. - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
London Public Library, Crouch Branch - 550 Hamilton Rd. - 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
London Public Library, East London Branch - 2016 Dundas St. E. - 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
It's "Earth First" on Kids First Day! Drop in and create an eco-friendly craft, discover "green" books and make your own personal pledge to go green with us!

LUSO Community Services @ Northland Mall - 1275 Highbury Ave. N. - 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Welcome spring and celebrate Earth Day by planting seeds and learning about how to care for plants. Fun for all ages. Pretend, Play, Plant!

Ontario Early Years Centre - London Fanshawe - 1892 Dundas St. E. - 9:00 am - 12:00 noon
Join us for an "on land" deep sea adventure as we explore the many treasures under the sea. Crafts, snack and take-home activities.

Real Canadian Superstore London Gammage - 825 Oxford St. E. - 10:00 am - 12:00 noon
Decorate a delicious cupcake.

RONA - 1305 Commissioners Rd. E. - 10:00 am, 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm
Take part in a one-hour Little Hammer's Club workshop. Call RONA at (519) 649-6603 to pre-register to guarantee a spot!

Scholar's Choice - 2323 Trafalgar St. - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Join the staff for a craft activity, demonstrations and fun interactive games.

London South

Adventures on Wonderland - 3198 Wonderland Rd. S. - 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discounted admission of $5 for all ages from 3:00 - 5:00 pm, and half price laser tag all day.

Chapters - 1037 Wellington Rd. S. - 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Storybook Sock Puppets! Create your favorite storybook character or fairytale character. Use your imagination to design a unique puppet.

Families First CAPC - 1119 Jalna Blvd. - 9:00 am - 11:00 am
It's a circus of fun, with facepainting and crafts in the gym, and a a clown show from 10:00 am - 11:00 am.

Glen Cairn Community Resource Centre @ Bowl-a-Rama - 138 Thompson Rd - 10:00 am - 12:00 noon
Take your family bowling! Preregister for only $2 per person, or drop in for $3 per person. Call Charis at (519) 668-2745 to register early!

Home Depot - 3035 Wonderland Rd. S. - 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Assemble a kid's workshop kit.

Loblaw Great Food Wonderland - 3040 Wonderland Rd. S. - 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Come upstairs to the Cooking School and decorate a fun garden cookie critter with coloured icing and sprinkles. The Cooking School is not allergy free.

London Public Library, Byron Branch - 1295 Commissioners Rd. W. - 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
London Public Library, Jalna Branch - 1119 Jalna Blvd. - 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
London Public Library, Pond Mills Branch - 1166 Commissioners Rd. E. - 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
London Public Library, Westmount Branch - 3200 Wonderland Rd. S. - 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
It's "Earth First" on Kids First Day! Drop in and create an eco-friendly craft, discover "green" books and make your own personal pledge to go green with us!

Mad Science - 4026 Meadowbrook Dr., Unit 123 - 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Spark your imagination and amaze your mind with our Mad Scientists! Perform experiments, explore our hands-on activity table and have a hair-raising experience through the wonders of electricity. Bring in your Kids First Day passport and receive a free gift.

Scholar's Choice - 3120 Wonderland Rd. S. - 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Join the staff for a craft activity, demonstrations and fun interactive games.

London West

London Public Library, Landon Branch - 167 Wortley Rd. - 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
London Public Library, Sherwood Branch - 1225 Wonderland Rd. N. - 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
London Public Library, Lambeth Branch - 7112 Beattie St. - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
It's "Earth First" on Kids First Day! Drop in and create an eco-friendly craft, discover "green" books and make your own personal pledge to go green with us!

Ontario Early Years Centre London West @ Jean Vanier School Gym - 1019 Viscount Rd. - 10:00 am - 10:45 am
Take in the Silly Hat Ian concert, featuring young children's favourite sing-a-long songs and Ian's famous silly hats.

Real Canadian Superstore - 1205 Oxford Street W - 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm
Celebrate spring by decorating delicious treats!

RONA Home & Garden - 820 Blythwood Dr. - 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Build an Inukshuk or other wood working kits.

Whitehills Childcare at St. Thomas Aquinas - 1360 Oxford St. W. - 9:30 am - 11:00 am
Drop in to an open house with creative activities, sensory activities and science activities.