If you are looking for something to do with the kids on a summer evening try taking in some free live theatre in the park.

This summer Repercussion Theatre is featuring Shakespeare’s play “As You Like It”. They’ll be appearing at various parks around the West Island.

Here’s a partial list of the Repercussion Theatre schedule for 2009:

If you are not familiar with the play take a quick look at the Wikipedia As You Like It summary by William Shakespeare.

For more information, or to see the complete schedule visit the Repercussion Theatre website.

Doesn’t every parent want a happy child? Raising children can be hard work. Raising children that become happy productive adults requires a little more involvement. Here are seven secrets, from Zenhabits, to raising a happy child.

• Let your child know you are excited to see them when they enter the room.
• Teach your child it’s okay to be bored. Life’s not always going to be fun and games.
• Manage your child’s exposure to media.
• Let your child know they are more important than work.
• Let your child make some of the rules.
• Teach your children. Don’t outsource this to others.
• Model appropriate behavior. If you don’t set the example, who will?

For more information on these 7 secrets to raising a happy child visit the Zenhabits website.

Time is running out if you want to send a letter to Santa and get a reply back before Christmas.

Here are the addresses where your children’s letters should be mailed to and some links to more information:

SANTA CLAUS
NORTH POLE H0H 0H0
CANADA

or in French at:

PÈRE NOËL
LE PÔLE NORD H0H 0H0
CANADA

Remember to include your child’s name, a return address and send it at least a few weeks before Christmas if you want to ensure a timely reply.

Some links to more information:

• Letters to Santa
• Track Santa on Christmas Eve
• Life at the North Pole

You know spring is here once the sap starts running from the maple trees. If you’ve been thinking of taking the kids out to visit a maple sugar shack but don’t want to drive off the island and spend the better part of a day on your outing then you are in luck. There’s a small sugar shack right in the West Island.

At the Cap St. Jacques park you can visit a maple sugar operation every weekend until April 20th, 2008. It’s open Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the site which includes a tractor ride out to the shack and back. They also have a maple pull for a few extra dollars.

Don’t forget to visit the animal farm which includes geese, horses, cows, sheep and goats. There’s no charge for visiting the farm.

To find out how to get to Cap St. Jacques Park check out the interactive Nature Parks Map and click on the Cap St. Jacques entry.