Every family does mealtime differently. All we know is food and family go together like PB and J. In Munchland, you show us how your family fills up their tummies.
- CITY: Toronto, Ontario
- OUR BUNCH: Rebeca, 35, non-profit arts and culture enthusiast. Timothy, 36, haunted house creator/theater director. Diego, 4, machinist (one who takes every machine apart to see how it works).
Rebeca fell in love with coffee shops after she moved to New York 12 years ago and discovered they were a great place to sit and be alone and people-watch. Hard at work on a book about New York coffee culture, she found it challenging to write and spend time with her son, Diego. So now she brings him along, and the two get to hang out and explore different neighbourhoods through small, independent coffee shops. Diego accompanies Rebeca and acts as the certified cookie reviewer, which means he gets a treat every time (pretty sweet deal, if you ask us). Their special thing led to a Facebook fan page, a Twitter feed and a video series, which you can watch on their blog, The Coffee Beaners.
While some parents might balk at bringing their children to South Williamsburg or Bed-Stuy, Rebeca says her favourite part is watching Diego learn about other cultures. Even though he’s still too young to drink it, Diego has learned how coffee is made. He’s also learned about the economy and why businesses close sometimes. Every coffee shop outing is an event, and Rebeca says when you watch their videos you see how her and Diego’s friendship has grown.
Wanna explore different neighbourhoods through coffee shops like Rebeca and Diego? Here are Rebeca’s tips!
Read a travel guide of your city. If you don’t have the funds for that, then go to yelp.com or search for a local website or newspaper that lists city coffee shops or restaurants and their locations. If you still do not find the type of info you need, then go to Google and search “coffee shops in (your city).”
Find the coffee shop that you want to visit and what neighborhood it is in. See how far it is from you and how you will get to it. Now, take some time to research the area and find out what is special about that place. Notice how is it different from other nearby places and gather information to talk about with your child. Prepare to share facts on who lives there or what languages are spoken. If you stroll the streets, take the time to ask the child to notice the different types of trees, doors or architecture.
Find the coffee shop and enjoy your time together. Bring a sketchpad with pencils, a special book or a game that you would to like to play with your child, not a video game that will distract your child. Remember, this experience is for them to explore the world they live in with you. Sometimes I bring along a book that will explore the neighborhood’s history too. For instance, I will bring a book on Hanukkah to a coffee shop in South Williamsburg, where there is a Jewish population present, or a Spanish book to one that sells Mexican hot chocolate or pan dulce.
Have them take pictures or video of the neighborhood if they have strong motor skills. This will help them remember what neighborhood they visited.
Enjoy. Sometimes certain coffee shops are small and quiet. Don’t let that discourage you. Cherish the experience with your child no matter how small the place is. And don’t forget to encourage your child to try new sweet treats.
Diego’s tip to kids: Don’t forget to squish your mama or baba in the face.
According to statistics that we just made up, chances are you’re eating as you read this. Which obviously means you want to shoot a video to share how your family chows down. Email amanda@bunchfamily.ca.
