Anytime is playtime at Kitsilano Beach Park. (Photo: KK Law)
Play
Tiny tots enjoy a plethora of playgrounds all over the city, sliding, swinging, climbing and jumping to their hearts' content. Top spots include David Lam Park, Kitsilano Beach Park and the many play areas in Stanley Park.
Get Wet
Water babies splish and splash in Kitsilano Pool, Vancouver's only saltwater pool, located outdoors right on Kits Beach. Other favourite watery destinations include the spray park in the Granville Island Waterpark and the wave pool and waterslides in Watermania.
Walk the Dog
Junior and Fido can both get their exercise in the numerous off-leash dog parks scattered around the city. Bonus: they both end the day absolutely dog-tired.
Get Fit
Kids can try out ice skating, badminton, rock climbing and more at the Richmond Olympic Oval, a sleek, environmentally friendly sports centre that was constructed as the speed skating venue for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Go Fast
Even the smallest of speed demons put the pedal to the metal at Richmond Go-Karts, racing around the track like a diminutive Dale Earnhardt or a pint-sized Richard Petty.
Pan for Gold
Petite prospectors try to strike it rich, panning for gold at the Britannia Mine Museum. If that doesn't pan out, seeing rare gems up close and riding the underground train are also worth their weight in gold.
Classes at Yoga Buttons keep both kids and adults active. (Photo: KK Law)
Do Yoga
Downward-facing dog, warrior and tree pose aren't just for adults. At Yoga Buttons, kids as young as three months can start learning healthy habits in a fun environment filled with puppets, storybooks and brightly coloured yoga mats. Grown-ups are welcome, too.
Conquer a Fear of Heights
Junior daredevils get an adrenaline rush crossing the Capilano Suspension Bridge, which sways 70 m (230 ft) above the Capilano River, and on the aerial bridges and viewing platforms of the Greenheart Canopy Walkway at UBC Botanical Garden. And acrophobic kids become so entranced by the views that they forget to be afraid.
See the Seawall
Cool kids hop on a bike, slip on a pair of rollerblades or just lace up some walking shoes to follow the picturesque 22-km (13.7-mi) seawall around downtown and False Creek, all the way to Kitsilano. Countless parks, playgrounds and restaurants along the way keep boredom at bay.
Kites take flight in Vanier Park. (Photo: ©Howesjwe/Dreamstime.com)
Fly a Kite
Winnie the Pooh may struggle with blustery days, but kite enthusiasts consider them the wind beneath their wings. On breezy afternoons, the sky above Vanier Park fills with multi-coloured kites of every shape and size.
By Sheri Radford, where.ca - July 04, 2013