Online retailer offers up family-friendly activities both indoors and outdoors

SEATTLE - Feb. 7, 2008 - Whether you have a family of homebodies or winter outdoor thrill seekers, there are many ways to enjoy Family Day on Monday, Feb. 18, this year. As Family Day approaches, Amazon.ca recommends a few different activities to fit the tastes of any family.

"It's difficult to find quality time to spend with your family these days," said Julie Todaro, director of Amazon.ca. "Family Day offers an ideal opportunity for families to set aside their work, school and other commitments and just have a fun time together. We hope to inspire them with these activity ideas from Amazon.ca."

If frigid temperatures are keeping you indoors this Family Day, Amazon.ca has come up with some creative ways to get parents and kids talking, laughing and having a good time together while keeping cozy indoors. Get your thinking caps ready.

Indoor Activities

 

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  • Be a mad scientist at home: How cool would it be if you could make lightning in the living room or keep paper dry under water? Think it's impossible? Not with the help of Jean Potter's "Science in Seconds for Kids: Over 100 Experiments You Can Do in Ten Minutes or Less." Your kids will be wowed and wonder "how'd you do that?"
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  • Cook together: Turn up the heat in the kitchen and break out Grandma's special recipes. Take the time to pass on family food secrets to the kids or try "Kitchen Playdates" by Lauren Bank Deen.
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  • Play family-friendly video games: You don't have to be the Partridges or the von Trapps to break out in song. Try "Karaoke Revolution." If your vocal cords aren't quite up to the challenge, then go head to head with "Wii Play" or "Super Mario Galaxy."
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  • Get crafty: From model airplanes to papier mâché, use your hands, grab some glue and paint, and get your fingers a little dirty with the family. Or how about building an army of origami cranes? "Easy Origami" by Didier Boursin can show you how.
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  • Learn how to dance: Want to find out what the kids are listening to these days and try out the latest dance moves? Then grab the hottest albums and have your own dance party at home. Check out Radiohead's "In Rainbows," Alicia Keys' "As I Am" and Rihanna's "Good Girl Gone Bad."
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  • Cozy up to a movie: Microwave some popcorn, snuggle up with a few blankets and enjoy a good flick together. Pick a family favorite like "The Sound of Music" or try some soon-to-be classics like "Ratatouille" or "The Simpsons Movie."
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  • Create a family tree: What better way to spend time together than to discover, explore, preserve and share your family history? "Family Tree Maker 2008" lets you easily build a family tree starting with names, dates and events. You can add photos and videos, and even use interactive maps to explore the places where your ancestors once lived.


 

For those families who aren't afraid of a little frostbite, Amazon.ca offers up ideas for some fun activities outside the house. Put on your hats, gloves, boots and scarves, and get ready for an outdoor adventure.

Outdoor Activities

 

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  • Get out and take some turns: With record powder on the mountain and hilltops, why not hit the slopes with the family? Don't worry about the long car ride. Pick up a copy of "Songs for the Car" and the drive time will fly by.
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  • Drop the puck and face off: Lace up and hit the ice with the kids. Teach them the ins and outs of hockey with a little help from "Kids' Hockey" by Gary Abraham and Michael Smith.
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  • Build a snowman: Frosty's corncob pipe and button nose could use an update. So bundle up and take the family into the yard to construct a modern-day snowman. Dig out an old hockey jersey, a pair of shades and the most ridiculous hat in your closet to don on Frosty. For inspiration, have the family read "All You Need for a Snowman" by Alice Schertle before you head out.
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  • Take a winter nature walk: Winter is no time to limit nature activity. Grab a copy of "The Jumbo Book of Outdoor Art" by Irene Luxbacher and spend a night under the starry sky observing winter constellations. You can also work together to draw a wintery landscape or sparkling ice chandeliers.


 

For more family-friendly activity products and ideas, visit www.amazon.ca.

About Amazon.ca

Amazon.ca (www.amazon.ca) is part of the global family of Amazon websites that have become known for great prices, selection and convenience. Amazon.ca customers can find and discover millions of English and French books, CDs, videos and DVDs, as well as a vast array of software, video games and consoles--all at everyday low prices. Amazon.ca also offers FREE Super Saver Shipping, available on orders of $39 or more delivered to a single Canadian address. Amazon.ca sources products directly from Canadian publishers and distributors, ensuring a rich offering of Canadian titles and content. Features such as original editorial reviews in English and French and product recommendations help Amazon.ca customers find the right products for them among the site's broad selection. Through Amazon Marketplace, Amazon.ca customers can conveniently buy and sell used, new and collectible merchandise on the same pages where Amazon.ca sells those items new.

To ensure all orders are delivered to customers quickly and efficiently, Amazon.ca works with Canada Post, one of the world's most progressive postal companies. Orders placed at Amazon.ca are fulfilled and shipped from within Canada by Assured Logistics, a part of the Canada Post Group of Companies.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, significant amount of indebtedness, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and subsequent filings.

Media Contacts:
Amazon .ca
Margaret Antkowski/Mark Van Tol
NATIONAL Public Relations
416-586-0180
mantkowski@national.ca/mvantol@national.ca