Being a LEGO fan is not only given to children! This was felt when we visited the public exhibition of the largest gathering of LEGO fans in Canada, Bricks in the Six, an event mainly dedicated to adults. On July 22 and 23, 2023, the event was held in Greater Toronto, specifically in Mississauga at the Hilton Meadowvale/Mississauga hotel. An exhibition where fans had the opportunity to see the creations of their peers. This was a great opportunity to allow our little ones to be inspired by the models on display and to create their own models for fun.

The event was held in two halls: one contained the work of around 100 LEGO exhibitors and fans, the other offered vendors of various LEGO boxes and a creative space for the little ones.

On the exhibition side, there was enough to spend more than an hour there. Hundreds of unique fan-made designs each had a personalized touch. Whether it's large castles, a miniature supermarket, TMNT character models, reproductions of famous houses, huge cities with a railway network, space stations, robotic mechanisms, or even a replica of the Titanic, there are had something for everyone.

It was also interesting to be able to chat with the designers and ask them about their work. It was clear that in most cases, it is passion that motivates them, because many could not give a precise duration on the time spent creating their works!

In the second room, it was possible to buy LEGO boxes from vendors across Canada. Often even discontinued boxes were on sale, allowing collectors to add to their collection. In the center of the room, children could have fun with LEGO pieces. The children spent a good hour there creating all kinds of models, which were then put in the center to display the work of all.

The event cost about $15 per person for a duration of 3 hours. More Bricks in the Six events are coming in the future, and we recommend a visit if you get the chance.

​And if you are in Montreal and looking for an activity for your little ones, visit us at Bouge Petit!

During this period of containment, Nintendo's latest console, the Switch, has enjoyed immense success. It is quite possible that your child plays with it regularly.

So we have put together a list of games that we particularly like and which can make a great gift idea for your child. Some of these games are currently offered at a discount of up to 60%.

1) Yoshi's Crafted World ($49, a 40% discount)
Who does not know Yoshi, this friendly character from the environment of Mario Bros. In this original looking game, your child explores attractive and colorful environments in order to reach the finish line. A concept of double-sided levels makes the gameplay interesting and very challenging.

2) Mario Tennis Aces ($49, a 40% discount)
This is the ultimate sports game to have fun with your children. Use the Switch controller to hit the tennis ball virtually like a racket. Your child, regardless of age, will have fun!

3) Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker ($49)
This original puzzle-style game promises hours of fun as you complete each level with increasing difficulty. A colorful and imaginative game for everyone.

4) Splatoon 2 ($49, a 40% discount)
A shooter for ages 10 and up, Splatoon 2 is more popular because it allows people to play online with others. By using color to determine their territory, your child will develop their reflexes!

5) Minecraft ($29)
Another very popular game, which will appeal to slightly older children. This game allows you to develop your creative spirit in the Lego way by building virtual structures in a world full of surprises.

6) Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle ($29, 60% discount, 10 years +)
A game created by Ubisoft including a mix of Rabbids and Mario Bros. This strategy game will require reflection to face the situations offered and is recommended for children aged 10 and over. At less than $30, this game is currently a great deal.

7) The Lego Movie 2 Videogame ($29, 10yrs +)
For young fans of Lego and the latest movie in the name, this game offers the exploration of magical Lego worlds. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

Monopoly was our quintessential family game when "little". In fact, the popular board game is relatively complex for young children. So it was a little older that we were playing.

But did you know that there is a "Junior" version for ages 5 and up? This is a significantly reduced version of the standard version. Thus, 2 to 4 players (children with or without adults) share the game board of 24 squares. The currency (Monopoly dollars) is simply denominations of $1. Have you come across the Pizzaria? The purchase price is $1. Are you buying Promenade? Get out your big $5!

Also, the concept of houses/hotels has been simplified. So, when buying land, we just need to deposit a token representing our pawn. When a player stops on our land, the amount of the invoice is the same as the purchase price. Ouch! This ensures that the games end quickly and last about twenty minutes.

Only “Chance” cards exist to enhance the game and sometimes help the less fortunate. But beware: it is still possible to fall on the “Prison” box!

We tried Monopoly Junior with a 4 year old and he quickly understood the rules. So don't hesitate to introduce your child to the interesting concepts that this game offers. It makes a great family activity and the game costs around $20.

This game exists in different themes: regular, Frozen, Disney Princess, etc. A good gift idea at a low price. This game is one of our favorites!

It is normal for a toddler to wet the bed. However, by the age of 5, if this problem persists, we should start paying attention. It should still be put in context that 9% of children between 5 and 10 years old have nocturnal enuresis.

Tip 1: Don't lose patience!
As parents, we must not lose patience with this problem and not blame our child. Rather, we need to help him get through this period when self-esteem can be affected.

Tip 2: anxiety or fear
Is the bedroom or hallway to the toilet too dark for your child to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom? Does your child have anxiety or nightmares? You have to be attentive to the needs and state of mind which may have a connection with the problem.

Tip 3: Reduce fluids at night
Obviously, drinking more fluids during the day and less in the evening is essential.

Tip 4: Empower your child
A pee in the night? No problem. Ask your child to help you help wash the pajamas and bed sheets the next day.

Tip 5: Wake him up at night
Wake your child up at a specific time when you know they should urinate normally. But if your child is sleeping soundly, don't push it.

Tip 6: Use a "wet stop" (wet alarm)
Sometimes your child does not feel the urge to urinate. There are small devices that detect the first drops and emit sounds to wake up the child. This has been shown to have positive effects in allowing a better understanding of the needs of the body. You still have to be patient, but after a few weeks of use you can already see improved results.

For example, we tested the Wet-Stop3 alarm. This small device works with 2 AAA batteries. It is possible to put in vibration, sound or vibration-sound modes. The sound is loud and the child wakes up every time. A cable with a liquid detector is attached to your child's panties. It should be placed on the front of the panties in order to detect urine early on. A button on the side silences the alarm.

The Wet-Stop3 comes in three colors: blue, green or pink. It retails for $66.99 CAD. It was designed by a pediatric urologist and is suitable for both boys and girls.

Tip 7: Motivation
It is good to find a system to motivate our child during successes, for example a calendar with stickers and maybe a small reward after a few days without pee.

For example, why not give your child some new panties according to their current taste?

This is a great gift idea for the whole family, especially for us parents who grew up with Super Mario Bros in our living room. Nintendo has just launched a new Game & Watch-type handheld console, 30 years after the last of its kind: the Game & Watch Super Marios Bros. This retro-looking console comes with the “Super Mario Bros 1” and “2: The Lost Levels” games, as once found on the original NES console, as well as the classic 1980 Ball Game.

​This pocket console is indeed very small. Compared with another vintage Donkey Kong 3 console from 1984 (see photos), it is the smallest we have tested. It is still of good quality with sound and a screen allowing you to play for a long time! It also offers other surprises such as an animated clock display. It comes with a USB wire for charging.

Like other systems that Nintendo makes in limited supply, the Nintendo Game & Watch Super Mario Bros might be running out very quickly. If you are a Nintendo fan or want to introduce your children to the classic games of your youth, this is a great opportunity to seize. It retails for $69.99 CAD.
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Don't wait too long, this one will quickly become a collector's item!

Looking for an original gift idea for new parents? Give a Gift Card Bouge Petit! Now available in store.