What We’ve Been Up To… (ie summer activities with a 1 Year Old)

What a beautiful summer so far!  Some days have been rainy, and some days have been too hot but I can’t really complain.  I’m still at home with Bastien full time, and he’s very active so I make sure we are doing something pretty much all the time for his sanity as much as mine.  Here’s what we’ve  been up to:

We’ve done swimming lessons not once but twice.  That’s right folks – we have completed the Starfish level twice.  He loves the pool, and it’s a good way to keep cool.  We go to our local NDG Sports Centre for lessons.  For just playing around we’ll head to the Côte-St-Luc Aquatic Centre which I find much more suitable for little ones as it has a beach entry, much larger changing rooms, and water games.  If that’s closed we’ll head to the Aquadome in Lasalle.

More water!  Sometimes we are in the water twice a day and I keep a bag separate from his diaper bag stocked with pool supplies.  Our fave is the kiddie pool on Murray Hill in Westmount, but we also like the kiddie pool in Montreal West.  There are lots of splash pads around, but I think they are probably better for when he’s a bit older.

That’s my little guy with the maraca and the blue sweater to the right.

Music in the Park has been great.  I originally hesitated buying the pass due to the cost ($120) but it’s perfect to fill that lull in the afternoon after his nap but before dinner.  He’s into it about 50% off the time, but when he’s into it it’s pretty fun and I saw him dance for the first time while attending a session.  Our fave is Loony Lorny (pictured above).

I wrote about the Biodome here.  He loved it, and if I was better prepared I would have loved it more too.  This will be a great one for the winter.

We also headed out to the EcoMuseum Zoo located at the western tip of the island in St-Anne-de-Bellevue.  Getting there was a breeze.  Bastien enjoyed it, and I was prepared this time with no stroller and a backpack so I could run after him.  Highlights were the deer, foxes and porcupines!

We were fortunate enough to be invited out to stay at two friends cottages (or chalets as we say in Quebec).  Bastien just loves the outdoors and getting out of the city was such a great change of pace.

For the month of August we’ll be at my parents cottage in Northern Saskatchewan.  I can’t wait to see him run around picking up sticks and ripping off leaves!  This will probably be my last post until we return the end of August.

Do you have any other favourite activities with a toddler in Montreal?