The city puts on a fabulous array of special events for children at Harbourfront. In March, the Children's Film Festival screens 40 entries from 15 countries. In April, Spring Fever celebrates the season with egg decorating, puppet shows, and more; on Saturday mornings in April, the 5-to-12 set enjoys cushion concerts. In May, the Milk International Children's Festival brings 100 international performers to the city for a week of great entertainment. For additional information, call tel. 416/973-3000.
For 30 years, the Young Peoples Theatre, 165 Front St. E., at Sherbourne Street (tel. 416/862-2222 for box office or 416/363-5131 for administration), has been entertaining youngsters. Its season runs from August to May.
Help! We've Got Kids is an all-in-one directory for attractions, events, shops and services appropriate for kids under 13 in the Greater Toronto area. It doesn't provide a lot of detail about most of the entries, but the listings make a great starting point. A print copy costs C$12 (US$8.40); info is free at www.helpwevegotkids.com.
Look in the sections above for the following Toronto-area attractions that have major appeal for kids of all ages. Tied for best venue (at least from a kid's point of view) are:
Harbourfront: Kaleidoscope is an ongoing program of creative crafts, active games, and special events on weekends and holidays. There's also a pond, winter ice-skating, and a crafts studio.
Ontario Place: The Children's Village, water slides, huge Cinesphere, futuristic pod, and other entertainment are the big hits at this recreational and cultural park. In the Children's Village, kids under 13 can scramble over rope bridges, bounce on an enormous trampoline, or drench one another in the water-play section.
Ontario Science Centre: Kids race to be the first at this paradise of hands-on games, experiments, and push-button demonstrations -- 800 of them.
Paramount Canada's Wonderland: The kids can't wait to get on the theme park's roller coasters and daredevil rides. And don't forget to budget for video games.
Toronto Zoo: One of the best in the world, modeled after San Diego's -- the animals in this 284-hectare (710-acre) park really do live in a natural environment.
For more specialized interests:
Art Gallery of Ontario: For its hands-on kids' exhibit.
Black Creek Pioneer Village: For craft and other demonstrations.
Casa Loma: The stables, secret passageway, and fantasy rooms capture children's imaginations.
CN Tower: Especially for the interactive simulator games and the terror of the glass floor.
Fort York: For its reenactments of battle drills, musket and cannon firing, and musical marches with fife and drum.
Hockey Hall of Fame: Who wouldn't want the chance to tend goal against Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky (with a sponge puck), and to practice with the fun and challenging video pucks?
Royal Ontario Museum: The top hits are the dinosaurs and the spooky bat cave, but the interactive earth sciences galleries are also a big draw.
Toronto Islands -- Centreville: Riding a ferry to this turn-of-the-century amusement park is part of the fun.
