You keep hearing that raising a kid downtown is somehow unsuitable for our wee ones. Me? I grew up downtown, where I could walk to markets, festivals, plays, bookstores, concerts. I couldn’t wait to give my kid access to a vibrant, interesting landscape. Here’s a fun little photo tour of what it’s like (for me) to raise a kid in dowtown Toronto.Tumblr (3.0; @kidinthetdot)http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72vnvOx5N1rb6n3uo1_400.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Parenthood is such a wild experiment, you never know what kind of kid you’re going to get. But I am hoping my kid grows up to feels rooted in his city, with the confidence and curiosity to explore the world at large.</p>http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27096349668http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27096349668Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:01:00 -0400<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72vw7U5y31rb6n3uo1_250.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>We didn’t have a car until recently - as long as he fit in the bike seat, we were good. OK, grocery shopping and winter was a bit of a pain, but we figured out systems. Here is G. with us on the Ride for Heart. That was a fun day.</p>http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27096695464http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27096695464Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:00:00 -0400<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72vxeuy5d1rb6n3uo1_400.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>This was not the car we got.</p>http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27096746203http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27096746203Thu, 12 Jul 2012 13:59:00 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72w4anorX1rb6n3uo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>First trip to the Island. 15 minutes on your bike, a breezy ferry ride and you’re in paradise.</p>http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27097033713http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27097033713Thu, 12 Jul 2012 13:58:00 -0400<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72whvpTiJ1rb6n3uo1_400.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>There are some crazy awesome parks we can walk to. Dufferin Grove has this amazing sandpit that kids dig in and construct rivers and tributaries with shovels and logs.  Keeps them busy for hours (and filthy, so bring clothes).</p>http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27097591255http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27097591255Thu, 12 Jul 2012 13:57:00 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72ws4dRBM1rb6n3uo1_400.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>And Trinity Bellwoods is really close, too. Big fields, playground, splashpad, and lots of great shopping and cafes steps away, should you want to transition from the sandbox. </p>http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27098011750http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27098011750Thu, 12 Jul 2012 13:56:00 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72x3rSxAK1rb6n3uo1_400.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I am not sure whether this is a good thing, but you can convince your kid they like cafes, too</p>http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27098487983http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27098487983Thu, 12 Jul 2012 13:55:00 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72x5lQTWz1rb6n3uo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>You think your kid likes trucks? The Subway is like Christmas Morning.</p>http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27098563056http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27098563056Thu, 12 Jul 2012 13:50:00 -0400<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72xcvF2sq1rb6n3uo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>This one time we let him ride his scooter in the alleyway and it was really scary. Our elderly Portugese neighbour gave us the stink eye for not dressing him warmly enough. (she was right! It was a bit cool).</p>http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27098859383http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27098859383Thu, 12 Jul 2012 13:45:00 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72xieBKoa1rb6n3uo1_400.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Unlike bigger amusement parks, Centreville on the island has an adorable old-timey amusement park that doesn’t give you the burn-out.</p>http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27099082114http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27099082114Thu, 12 Jul 2012 13:30:00 -0400<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72xm3ixsf1rb6n3uo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Speaking of old timey- the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is also downtown. We go there every year.</p>http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27099233262http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27099233262Thu, 12 Jul 2012 12:30:00 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72xr8eFqy1rb6n3uo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Ahhh, The Ex</p>http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27099438141http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27099438141Thu, 12 Jul 2012 12:00:00 -0400<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72y5uGnQg1rb6n3uo1_400.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Speaking of festivals, there’s an annual <a href="http://torontoist.com/2011/10/spotted-a-night-of-dread-at-dufferin-grove/" target="_blank">Night of Dread</a> at Dufferin Grove Park. Just before Halloween, everyone dresses in black and white and it’s all about celebrating the dead, facing your fears. </p>http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27100032298http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27100032298Thu, 12 Jul 2012 11:00:00 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72yf8ckJO1rb6n3uo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>But my favourite parade is <a target="_blank">Festival of Lights </a>in Kensington Market. The whole market becomes a procession of puppets and lanterns. It’s magical.</p>http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27100413535http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27100413535Thu, 12 Jul 2012 09:59:00 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72yge02Kk1rb6n3uo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>G. thought so too.</p>http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27100459895http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27100459895Thu, 12 Jul 2012 09:58:00 -0400<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72yst7UOO1rb6n3uo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>The downtown doesn’t have a monopoly on good ethnic eats, but does your kid ask for chinese dumplings OR saag paneer for dinner? We might be eating out too much.</p>http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27100954763http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27100954763Thu, 12 Jul 2012 08:00:00 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72yu6RuOs1rb6n3uo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>He doesn’t go to too many concerts, but he dreams of taking centre stage (this pic at the Cadillac Lounge)</p>http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27101008593http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27101008593Thu, 12 Jul 2012 07:00:00 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72z06ln6w1rb6n3uo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I loved the market as a kid. Turns out my kid does too! here he is at Car-Free Kensington, playing the massive percussion bike.</p>http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27101241389http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27101241389Thu, 12 Jul 2012 06:45:00 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72yyfQcSv1rb6n3uo1_400.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I adore the community at our elementary school - smart, engaged parents who walk and bike their kids to school. 8:45am on a school day, it’s one of the happiest places to be.</p>http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27101172330http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27101172330Thu, 12 Jul 2012 06:30:00 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72yvwi6pS1rb6n3uo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>we have memberships to both major museums, but will you judge me if I confess I am bored with the dinos at this point?</p>http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27101075120http://kidinthetdot.tumblr.com/post/27101075120Thu, 12 Jul 2012 06:00:00 -0400