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Things to do with your aupair in Toronto, Ontario

If your Toronto nanny wants to further her education while working for you, let her know about the variety of educational opportunities available in the city.

Toronto is home to major universities. They include:

• University of Toronto;
• Ryerson University;
• York University;
• University of St. Michael's College.

Most of these schools offer day and nighttime classes. Classes can be credit or non credit. It could be she is working toward a degree, or she just wants to take a course for fun.

There also are dozens of smaller colleges and specialty schools, covering everything from traditional Chinese medicine to performing and culinary arts. Perhaps she can find a class on child development, or can brush up on her CPR by taking a first aid course.

What can your Toronto nanny and kids do for fun and activity, when the cold winter winds blow off Lake Ontario?

They can head to PATH, the city's 27 km underground walkway and shopping mall that connects much of the city's downtown.

PATH links more than 50 downtown buildings, with 4 million square feet of retail space. More than 100,000 commuters use the PATH daily in winter and summer, along with tourists, visitors and young people.

Your Toronto nanny can use the PATH to go to some of the city's attractions, such as the Hockey Hall of Fame, Air Canada Centre, the Rogers Centre and the CN Tower.

Or she and the kids can enjoy hot cocoa and desserts at city cafes or window shop below ground. Remember, PATH isn't just a winter attraction. When it's hot outside, the PATH is a cool way to get around the city.

Your Toronto nanny and children can have fun, learn things about the city, and get some good exercise by trying out the city's new Discovery Walks.

The walks are designed to help residents learn more about their city. They also encourage people to get outside and enjoy some physical activity, which should be a priority with your nanny and kids. With rising obesity rates, health experts are encouraging people to step away from computer and TV screens and get more exercise.

This citywide program offers self-guided tours of parks, gardens, beaches and neighborhoods. Your nanny and kids can get free maps from the city, which are available at downtown information booths and kiosks. The walks also are marked by signs along the trail.

On these walks, your nanny and kids can learn about nature and area history as well as see beautiful buildings as well as blooming gardens in the late spring and summer. The city of Toronto's web site offers more detailed information.

Now that you have a Toronto nanny to help with child care, she can take your children to the after-school programs they could never attend because you were working.

Here's just a sample:

• Karate and trampoline clubs;
• Dance and performing arts schools, including Canada's National Ballet School and the Toronto Youth Music Theatre Co.;
• Language lessons (Hebrew, French, Portuguese, German, English as a Second Language);
• Music lessons;
• Yoga;
• Life skills coaching
• Creativity workshops.

Check Toronto's own "Help We've Got Kids" web site for a complete listing of after-school and evening classes for your children and for your Toronto nanny as well.

One great thing about having a Toronto nanny: As long as she has a vehicle and driver's license, she can take the kids to and from school, after-school activities, the orthodontist, and sports practices.

But make sure your Toronto nanny has a valid driver's license and that the vehicle she uses can pass a mechanic's inspection.

Her car should have working seat belts. Provide car seats for younger children. Some nannies arrive with their own cars; others may use vehicles owned by their host family.

If she's going to be driving in the winter, it's probably a good idea to make sure that she has some experience driving in snow and ice.

Your Toronto nanny has up to 60 days to apply for an Ontario driver's license, if she's going to be claiming Toronto as her official place of residence.

If she will continue to claim her former place of residence while working in Toronto, her current license will work as long as it remains valid.

There are defensive driving schools across the Toronto area, specializing in all-weather driving, skid control and overall safe driving. Look them up on the web for more information.