Kid-Friendly Vancouver: West Side Family Place

Looking for kid-friendly Vancouver fun on the West Side? Contributor Jo Ramsay has a suggestion.

It’s nearly two years since I first arrived in Vancouver filled with trepidation at setting up home in a country I’d never even visited before. Fortunately it didn’t take long before a kindly soul suggested I visit West Side Family Place. That person deserves a medal.

As soon as I stepped out of the rain and into the warm, kid-friendly Vancouver space I breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps I wasn’t destined to a long winter stuck indoors with just a nine month old, a two year old and endless games of Thomas the Tank Engine for company after all. As soon as we arrived my boys were immediately occupied by the wide variety of age appropriate toys and books, painting, craft tables, a sand box and of course plenty of fellow children. I was even able to have actual conversations with grown-ups.

Kid-Friendly Vancouver Community

West Side Family Place was set up in the early 1970’s by two young mothers who wanted a place where parents of young children could come and share their experiences and provide a safe place for their children to play. That sense of community is still integral to what they do, it’s the perfect place for parents and caregivers from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds to meet, chat and make new friends.

For newcomers and locals alike West Side Family Place can be an absolute lifeline. Aimed mainly for children aged between 0-5 and their caregivers the centre is open for kid-friendly Vancouver drop in sessions Monday to Friday 9:30am to 12:00pm (except for the last Friday of the month) and Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons 1:00 to 4:30pm ($2 a visit with membership). As well as free play they also hold a circle time with singing and stories at every drop-in session (it was here we were introduced to that Canadian favourite ‘Baby Beluga’). The welcoming and experienced staff are always on hand to answer any parenting questions you have, big or small.

Programs to Suit Everyone

West Side Family Place also offers a range of parent education and support groups. I took part in the ‘Nobody’s Perfect’ program, which is designed to help parents of 0-5 year olds meet others and discuss issues with the goal of learning skills to enable them to parent with increased confidence. To be totally honest, with two children under three the lure of two hours a week free childcare whilst I was taking part (plus tea and cakes) was a major part of the appeal of the course. Actually though, I found that I learned a great deal and got a lot of comfort and support from hearing the stories of others.

You’ll also find kid-friendly Vancouver parent and child early literacy programs at the family place. My children took part in their ‘Mother Goose’ program and still sing the songs and rhymes they learned with gusto.

Toy Lending Library Plus a Safe Play Area

Another fabulous resource is the toy lending library (free to members), which stocks a range of good quality toys, games, puzzles and books. Your little ones can always have something new and exciting to play with without breaking the bank. All this plus a safe and enclosed outside play area and plenty of celebrations and activities throughout the year makes the West Side Family Place a kid-friendly Vancouver community you’ll definitely want to join.

West Side Family Place was the first centre of its kind in Canada, but there is now a network of similar organizations across the country. It is now part of The Five Family Places Partnership comprised of centres across Vancouver (Marpole Oakridge Family Place, Mount Pleasant Family Centre, Eastside Family Place and South Vancouver Family Place). They are all independent, registered not for-profit organisations, but are united in offering a stimulating and caring environment for young families.