Here are some places to find great consignment kids’ gear in Metro Vancouver.

Best Secondhand & Consignment Shops in Vancouver for Kids Stuff

Bean Sprouts

Main Street is where you will find this consignment shop, with a play area for the kids and great savings for parents. Bean Sprouts, which has won many reader’s choice awards in the local press, has been open for over two decades and accepts most items for consignment on a seasonal basis on select days, while things like toys, rubber boots, and books are accepted on an ongoing basis space-permitting.

Little Earth Children’s Store

The owners of Little Earth describe their shop as a gathering place for the community. Two moms run this store on Commercial Drive which carries not just consignment items but new items from local small businesses. They pride themselves on being eco-friendly and community-minded.

MacGillycuddy’s Children’s Consignment

This beloved consignment shop, located on the Westside of Vancouver, has over thirty years of tiny fashion history. MacGillycuddy’s accepts current, on-trend clothing from fashionable and high-end brands and donate all unsold merchandise seasonally to support local and global charities. Looking great for less and supporting the community made easy!

Young’n Thrifty

Located in North Vancouver, Young’n Thrifty features pre‑loved kids’ clothes and accessories in good condition. Requires appointments for consignment drops. They have a very strong focus on quality pieces.

There are lots of ways to be eco-friendly in Metro Vancouver! Consignment is a great first step on that journey.

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Paid Options for Tobogganing in Vancouver

Mount Seymour

Mount Seymour is further east of Cypress Mountain and located in North Vancouver. It’s family owned and operated, and maybe as a result, we find the staff on the friendlier side—but the parking could be better organized.

Mt. Seymour Snow Tubing

It’s $33 per person for two hours in the snow tubing area during the weekend. (Good to know: the price includes inflatable tube rental.) Hours are 10 am to 4 pm and there is a minimum 48″ height requirement. We love that at Mount Seymour there are three separate tube parks—a smaller one for beginners (ideal for smaller kids who are wannabe thrill seekers) and two intermediate parks.

Tobogganing at Mt. Seymour

Mount Seymour has a designated toboggan area (no age restrictions) with several different lanes—which helps reduce wait times. Weekdays are $10 per person, weekend rates are $60 for a family of five or $15 per person, children under the age of 3 are free with an adult, and sliding mats are available for purchase for $10.

Photo credit: cypressmountain.com

Snow Tubing and Tobogganing at Cypress Mountain

Cypress Mountain is West of Mount Seymour in West Vancouver. The snow tubing and tobogganing areas are located past the cross-country kiosk, so turn right into the cross-country area once at the top of the mountain. Cypress doesn’t vary pricing for weekends or weekdays. Rates are $36 per person over the age of six. Hours are 10 am to 6 pm on weekends, but they occasionally have extended hours on select dates. Kids must be at least six years of age and those under ten must be accompanied by an adult. Youthful staff will spin tubes, and kids can link tubes and slide as one big unit.

The sliding area is less intense and is $16 per person for all ages. For both tubing and sliding, pre-book tickets online.

Free Options for Tobogganing in Vancouver

The joy of the snowy season is available at all sorts of price points, including free so you can get out and enjoy the white stuff while it’s still around. We canvassed a couple of local parenting writers to find their favourite choices.

Tamara from Discovering Parenthood had some fun suggestions to try out with your family. Bundle up and check these out:

• Meadows Edge Park in Langley (Willoughby Way & 198 Street)
• Central City Plaza in Surrey (13450 102 Ave)
• Fort Langley National Historic Site in Langley (not in the fort itself, but outside, 23433 Mavis Avenue)

Tairalyn Ciulla had some good ideas of her own. Grab your sled and head off to these hills:

• Coquitlam Crunch (2665 Runnel Drive)
• Whistler – AWESOME and FREE tobogganing hill right in the village as well as an ice rink right beside it for free (bring your own skates).

Feel like driving just a little bit further? Our family loves the hill at Manning Park – it’s free and our little guy had a blast. Looking a little closer to home, there is good sledding to be done near Rotary Stadium (on Discovery Trail in Abbotsford.)

Now you know where to get some fun sledding time in with your family. There’s no greater excitement than the rush of flying down a hill and feeling the cold air on your face (and doing it for free is even better!)

Let us know which spot is your favourite!

With files from Deanna Regan

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Andria Anderson, an occupational therapist from Collective Therapy and advocate for Peekaboo Beans, provided some insight into this condition and how to accommodate a child who experiences sensory symptoms.

As humans we take in sensory stimulation into our brains and we process it, make sense of it, and then respond appropriately. Someone who struggles with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) has difficulty processing sensory information. SPD means they are either overly sensitive or experience sensation less than most people.

For kids who are over-sensitive to light or sound, what might seem like ordinary stimuli can be too much for the brain to process. Similarly, kids with high sensitivity to touch can have big reactions when overwhelmed. The way they process sensory information is different and can be anxiety provoking.

Studies found on SPDstar.org indicate 5-16% of kids exhibit symptoms of SPD (which may include picky eating, sensitivity to certain clothing, and multisensory challenges.) These symptoms can make dressing a challenge, but Andria has tips to help make that process as painless as possible.

• Select soft fabrics. Ideally you want something that feels like it’s been worn a lot, so consider washing clothing 4 or 5 times before presenting it to your child.
• Limit small parts like zippers and tags (particularly tags in the back)
• Be mindful of seams, they can be distracting. Seamless socks and underwear are particularly good options for kids with SPD.
• Watch for loose threads.
• Select a size that keeps fabric loose to your child’s body
• If your child likes the cut and fit of something at a particular store, buy it in a bunch of different colours so you are stocked up with options that you know will work

When it comes to shopping for clothes for your child with SPD, it pays to be a clothing detective. Find out what works, what doesn’t, and apply those ‘clues’ to new purchases. Think about their preferences for things like buttons, zippers, and waistbands. Kids don’t always know what’s bugging them. As a parent, it’s important to deduce what is wrong so you can help them problem solve and learn how to accommodate themselves as adults.

Once you pick the clothing, the dressing process can make a difference.

• Make the routine predictable. It’s less stressful if they know what to expect.
• Try using pictures to sequence your routine. Children who can’t read yet can follow along with images.
• Match the clothes to your child’s activities for the day. Accommodate clothing choices to allow for stressors and preferences. Let them re-wear something they find comforting if it’s going to be a busy or frustrating day.
• Pick your battles. If your kid is stuck on a particular article of clothing, make a schedule and let them know when they can wear that preferred thing again.

Getting out the door on time can be a challenge for any parent. Armed with these tips, you should be able to call a truce in the ‘daily dressing battle’ once and for all.

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We chatted with lifestyle blogger and style and beauty expert Jenn Falik to get her insights on how even beginners can achieve pumpkin greatness this October. She’s been on the talk show circuit sharing her tips to get the best looking gourd in your neighbourhood. This style maven has all the tricks you need to make the process both easy and fun – even if you’re feeling low in the inspiration department. Some of her handy tips come from her friends at Pumpkin Masters.

Jenn is no stranger to giving great advice. This publicist turned brand ambassador and lifestyle guru has been giving beauty and style tips since childhood. Something we particularly loved was how she had some unique pointers on a safe and clever way to light up your pumpkin that we would have never considered. From selecting the perfect pumpkin, to ‘no hack’ carving hacks for safety, to suggesting innovative ways to decorate them (like with stencils), Jenn has all the ideas you need to make your pumpkin (and porch) look their very best.

Pumpkin Carving Tips from a Pro

Check out this video with all of Jenn’s advice for a painless, creative and fashionable Halloween pumpkin. It’s even comes full of ideas that will help you make the most of this spooky season with your family. Listen in and you, too, can achieve pumpkin greatness. Your next-door neighbours will be ‘orange and green’ with envy.

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I feel like I’ve come up short and the defeat feels crushing.

Maybe I’ve responded too sharply to a predictably child-like infraction. Maybe I haven’t listened as closely as I should have when my child tried to tell me something he considered important because I found it to be ill-timed in the scheme of my schedule.

I look at his sleeping body and wonder why I didn’t savour more of the moments. He’s growing up so fast, as those who have been there before are quick to remind me. I lay a kiss on his forehead and promise myself I will be a better mom tomorrow.

Tomorrow comes and finds me inattentive, not engaged enough, or forgetful of some administrative detail of his life. I feel bad that I let something slip my mind and let him down somehow. I hate to see the look of disappointment on his face. I tell myself I am teaching him about forgiveness but I wonder if perhaps the lessons need to be so frequent.

The house isn’t as clean as I would like and maybe that’s a lesson in understanding our limitations and the need for teamwork to tackle insurmountable problems. I should probably have a more detailed routine, I chastise myself silently, picking up something left on the floor.

Parenting seems to be an exercise in demonstrating how to handle the feeling that you are never quite good enough, often from first-hand experience.

It is a lesson in grace.

As we rehash the details of his latest mischief I hear myself telling him, “Everybody makes mistakes, it’s what we learn from it that’s important.” He feels so bad when he falls short of his own expectations and I realize I’m not just telling him that he needs to move on, but I’m also telling myself. Parenting is about going back to basics and re-learning old lessons every day.

Some days are disappointing, but like my son, I’m learning from my mistakes and I’m glad he’s not too sharp with me.

I’m grateful I can coax him to take off his headphones long enough for me to tell him the things that are important to me, even if my interruption is ill-timed.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to tuck him in every night. He’s growing up so fast, but as he teaches me new things every day, so am I.

There will be more to come. We will have more moments to savour, and I know deep down that I will try to be a better mom tomorrow.

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