Don’t Sweat the Wet

We Vancouverites love our coastal rainforest. The forest, that is. The rain part, not so much.

But SavvyMoms know how to keep temperaments sunny, even when the weather isn’t. Here are a few tips that will help rainy days rock:

Gear Up
Give the darkest days a cheerful splash—and keep everyone safe—by investing in some bright raingear. Don’t forget that moms can benefit from some colour therapy, too. If you’ve got a hankering for pink rubber cowboy boots, ladies, take yourselves off to Gumdrops, a recently launched family rainwear store in Kits. You’ll find rainsuits for kids, umbrellas and even wet-weather gear for Fido. Puddles will be powerless against bright red ladybug boots or lemon yellow wellies.

Get Out

• Watch a roaring river (from a safe distance) and remind the kids that B.C. gets its electricity from harnessing the power of water (click here for a quick refresher on hydroelectricity, courtesy of BC Hydro!)
• Get down and dirty. Get on the rain gear, haul out the summer’s beach toys and head for the puddliest part of the garden to make mud pies. Create a rain garden; make a fairy pool ringed with the prettiest rocks you can find.
• If the day’s all wet, maybe you should be, too. Meet up with friends at a leisure pool and spend the afternoon splish-splashing away. Two family favourites are Eileen Dailly Pool in Burnaby, and the West Vancouver Aquatic Centre, both of which have super water play areas for tiny tots.

Get Warm
Stock up on hot chocolate and marshmallows, or, for a very special treat, plan a rainy day tea party. Briers on Fourth carries the Teaposy gift set ($65.99), consisting of a small clear-glass teapot and two three-ounce cups that are just right for child-sized hands. Best of all, magic unfolds when the teaposy is put in the pot, and blooms gently into a lovely flower as the tea steeps. Make some tiny tea sandwiches (PB&J or cream cheese and cucumber, perhaps) to complete the experience.

Have Fun
Pull out the dress up box and let the kids create and perform their own play. If they prefer their matinees in miniature, you might want to stock up on tiny finger puppets. Near Briers and Gumdrops you’ll find Hipbaby, which carries a range of knitted finger puppets for $7.80 each.

Whatever the weather, don’t let it rain on your parade. Vancouverites know how to take the foul weather in stride. 

Gumdrops
www.gumdrops.ca
(604) 733-1037
2029 West Fourth Ave.

Briers
(604) 730-0379
2070 West Fourth Ave.

Hipbaby
www.hipbaby.com
(604) 737-0603
2110 West Fourth Ave.

Eileen Dailly Leisure Pool
www.city.burnaby.bc.ca
(604) 298-7946
240 Willingdon Ave.
Burnaby

West Vancouver Aquatic Centre
www.westvancouver.ca
(604) 925-7210
776 - 22nd St.

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