Boredom, be gone: Fun-filled March Break guide

Children have been waiting for this moment for weeks now, and March Break is very nearly here.

But some parents may not be as enthusiastic with the idea of having the kids home for a week, especially if they haven’t yet planned their activity list.

Not to worry, there are plenty of things to do around town that will help you plan a fun and stress-free break.

This is just a suggested list. You know your kids better: ask them what they want to do.


Baby animals galore
You’ve been waiting for it since the Toronto Zoo giant panda cubs were born last fall. Starting Saturday, you can finally see male Jia Panpan (Canadian Hope) and female Jia Yueyue (Canadian Joy) at the zoo. They will be hanging out with mom Er Shun at the panda enclosure.

(Click here to watch the video on mobile.)

But don’t forget about the male white lion cubs, Gus, Hank, Oliver and Harrison, the female polar bear named Juno, and the Indian rhino male calf. Cub and calf viewing times will be listed daily on the zoo’s website.

 

 

Sugar, ah, honey, honey …
Who doesn’t like sugar? In moderation, of course.

Sugar Beach, at Queens Quay East and Lower Jarvis Street, is being transformed into a ‘Sugar Shack.’ Feast on maple taffy, authentic Quebecois food, and hot chocolate, but that’s not all. There will also be carving workshops, sing-alongs and live music including by surf-folk-rocker Melanie Brulée … (Brulée: how sweet is that?). March 12-13, free admission. Click here for the full program.

 

Do you remember this song by the Archies? That should get you into the spirit of things.

Wizard World Fun Park
If your kids have been cooped up at home all winter and ready to burn off some of their energy, the indoor fun park at the Better Living Centre is the place to be. Get ready for over 25 mechanical and inflatable rides, pony rides, and stage shows to entertain children and their parents. March 13-20, click here for ticket info.

 

Indoor stargazing
If you’re like this writer, you probably miss the light shows at the McLaughlin Planetarium. But, you can still catch some starry magic at the Ontario Science Centre. Children will be introduced to the night sky through singing and take in a live planetarium show. March 12-20, click here for admission info and a full guide of March break activities.

Watch a video roundup of March Break offerings at the Ontario Science Centre, or click here to view it on mobile.

Enchanted ROM
Go back in time at the Royal Ontario Museum: Learn how to dance in the Elizabethan court like a knight or princess, or act out a scene from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” If your child prefers science to the arts, they can learn what it was like to be an explorer or find out why Galileo is considered the “father of astronomy.” All drop-in activities are free with the cost of museum admission, discounted after 4:30 p.m. March 12-20, click here for admission info.

 

Dream a little dream
Replace your child’s video game or smartphone with imagination and creativity. At Casa Loma, your child will step into a world of magic and fun with theatrical shows, arts and crafts, and taking a walk through the underground tunnel to the indoor bouncy castle. Top off the day with s’mores, freshly baked cookies and hot chocolate. March 12-20, click here for admission info.

 

Be an opera diva or divo
Opera is not just meant for grown-ups. In fact, children are probably more receptive to the art form because for them, it is different and something they may not have heard of before. I became hypnotized with opera at an early age, when I first heard the Queen of the Night aria from Mozart’s The Magic Flute.

The Canadian Opera Company is hoping that you too become mesmerized with opera at its interactive concert that allows the audience to give their vocal chords a workout as they learn to sing some well-known arias and choruses. March 15, free.

City-run activities
The City of Toronto and other municipalities in the GTA have their own March break programs, which include day camps, skating, swimming, arts and crafts, museum activities, and more.

Toronto | Mississauga | Brampton | Oakville | Markham

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