How some Montreal families are looking beyond screens this March break

At TOHU, a circus and performing arts hub in Saint-Michel, parents and children are spending March Break juggling, dancing and spinning plates.

For many Montreal families, staying home during March break can feel like the easiest — and cheapest — option.

But at TOHU, a circus and performing arts hub in Saint-Michel, parents and children are spending the week juggling, dancing and spinning plates instead.

The venue is opening its doors to families all week for a series of free workshops, including street dance and circus arts aimed at building coordination, concentration and agility in a creative setting.

For some families, like Marie-Pier Cousineau, limits around devices are not just a March break rule.

“At home, we don’t watch TV during the week — only on weekends — because the kids are obsessed with it,” she said.

With free activities and workshops designed for all ages, Cousineau and other parents were not just watching from the sidelines.

“It’s always nice to see them try out things but also to interact with them and find new activities to do at home as well,” she added.

Sparking that curiosity and eagerness to play was the goal, explained director of cultural programming at TOHU, Hélène Dimanche.

“Be curious. Discover your environment, whether it’s going to the park or skating outdoors, or trying something new like dance or circus,” she said.

Alexane Alie-Poirier said the program was enough to get both her and her kid excited.

“They have such great activities for us to explore,” she said, adding that it was also an opportunity to connect with others. “We’re meeting tons of people, too.”

Attendees like her got to learn some street dancing like hip-hop and popping under the guidance of dancer and teacher Marie-Caroline Lemieux of Forward Movements. For her, the objective goes beyond technique.

“It’s about making people dance, making them move, helping them fall in love with the music and just having fun through it all,” she said.

Screen or no-screen: finding a balance

Still, cutting back on screens is not always straightforward.

Psychiatrist Vincent Paquin said children under two should have little to no screen time because prolonged exposure at that age can affect development. After that, he said, the conversation changes.

“It’s more about the quality than the quantity,” Paquin explained.

Rather than simply counting minutes, he encouraged parents to stay involved — especially if screens are part of their child’s interests.

“If your child loves a video game, play with them,” he said. That shared understanding, he added, helps parents become more aware of what their child is doing in the digital world.

Paquin pointed out that clear boundaries around screen time also matter. He suggested rules such as not using devices during meals and keeping screens out of bedrooms at night.