Creating Together Blog

Summer Fun in the Hood

July 4, 2019 by Melanie

Looking for some fun things to do with your child / children this month? Well, one of the beautiful things about Toronto is that it sure has a lot to offer families. Here are just a few things happening in our neighbourhood:

Pop-up Skatepark Saturdays at Ontario Place

This skatepark made of Freshpark ramps offers quarter pipes, rails, and fun boxes complete with an awesome view of the CN Tower!

Have your own skate gear? The skatepark is open daily from 10am – 6pm. If you need to rent gear or interested in taking a lesson, CJ’s Skatepark staff will be onsite every Saturday between 12-5pm to offer up some great lessons!

Magic with Scott Dietrich at the High Park Public Library

On Wednesday, July 17th from 2-3pm, popular and award winning Toronto magician Scott Dietrich comes to the High Park Public Library to put on a magic show for ages 12 and under and their caregivers.

Drop in, however space is limited. Large groups and camps should contact High Park branch in advance.

Art in the Park: An Outdoor Painting Event for Parent and Child

For children 6yrs old and their caregiver(s), “Art in the Park” is a 3 part series presented by Mama Soul Living. The event, held July 13th in High Park, will be coupled parent and child creating art together on one canvas. This event for the child will be Fun, Creative and for the parent, Connected, intimate. Both will get to know eachother at an equal level.

Both of you will have fun! and create art together!

Star Wars Day

This free event, held at the Toronto Public Library at 228 Roncesvalles on July 25th from 2-3pm, invites all those over 6yrs of age and their caregivers to come in costumes and celebrate all things Star Wars!

Museum of Contemporary Art

Mark Dion’s “Life of a Dead Tree” – May 24-July 28

“Life of a Dead Tree” by Mark Dion is an exhibit that brings attention to our role in observing and caring for Ontario’s natural ecosystems. With the support of the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Toronto and other partners, visitors can observe and participate in a kind-of autopsy of the tree that will unfold over the course of a two-month exhibition period. This shared investigation will remove, preserve and document all the various life forms the tree continues to support.

Most importantly, the project will act as a site for conversations around specific pernicious, invasive insects threatening North American forests, such as the Emerald Ash Borer and Elm Bark Beetle. Everything from beetles to liverworts, fungi to bug galleries will be revealed during the examination.

CultureLink’s Annual Picnic in High Park

CultureLink’s Summer Picnic was an annual tradition that got lost some years ago. But we are happy to announce that we are bringing it back!

Join our family and bring yours to enjoy a BBQ and an afternoon of outdoor fun. Food, drinks and games on us. All you have to do is RSVP(*) and count the days to July 27th. We’ll be at High Park’s Picnic Area #14, across the road from the Outdoor Pool. See you there!

Birding with Toddlers

June 27, 2019 by Melanie

Nature discovery is an incredible activity for children and adults alike. It reminds us how incredible life is, and certainly this time of year is brimming with opportunities to go out and connect with the life around us.

This month, the families of Creating Together are having fun with nature through a number of trips to the zoo, Downey farm, and local parks. On 2 days we had a specific focus on birds: the 18th we went to Beaty Park to identify birds in our neighborhood, and on June 26th our monthly science activity is creating bird feeders!

This summer, we thought you might like to do some bird watching yourself, because it has a lot of great benefits for families:

builds respect and compassion for nature and all living things
kids can refine their skills in concentration, observation and reasoning
can be done at any time of year and across continents
its fun and interesting to learn about bird behaviour (also called “birding”)

Before you get started, here are some tips on good birding manners, what to bring, and some birding activities to do with your children.

Birding Manners

Be respectful of habitat and neighbors’ yards.
Don’t shake trees, take eggs, or wreck nests.
Walk slowly and quietly.
Point out birds, don’t yell.
Shoot birds with a camera, nothing else.
Leave grounded fledgling birds alone; Mom is probably nearby waiting for you to leave before she helps it back to the nest.
Keep pets leashed so they don’t chase birds, disturb neighbors, or destroy fragile habitats.
Take only memories away with you and leave only footprints behind.

Bird Watching Supplies

A water bottle and backpack of snacks is wise.
If you go into rugged areas, take a first-aid kit, too.
Dress so you don’t invite poison ivy or insect bites.
Bring binoculars (or a spotting scope) so kids can focus on details, like bird color or beak shape.
A camera or a sketch pad and pencils help children focus on detail and allow them to reflect on what they observe.
A pad and pencil for recording species is handy, too.

Activity Ideas

Preschoolers can make their own binoculars by taping together two empty toilet paper rolls. Attach yarn for a neck strap.
Remind kids that birds are hard to spot, but easy to hear. Have them close their eyes and listen. Can they point to where the song is coming from?
Kids can keep a yearly bird record to track bird population increase or decrease.
Bird identification guides, called field guides, name birds and help distinguish between similar looking birds. They narrow down possibilities by providing range maps of seasonal bird territory and preferred habitat. Some illustrate nest styles, too.
Scavenger Hunt! To fire up kids’ powers of observation, make a list of target birds before heading to the yard or park. Use general categories like ducks and hawks or even critters in groups of threes or fours.

Tips

Stick to areas near water if you can. You’re likely to spy herons, egrets, and swans, which are easier for kids to see. Plus . . . ducklings!
Striking out on live birds? Point out the signs they leave behind such as nests, cracked seeds, whitewash (poop), or owl pellets.

More Resources

Birding With Kids Resource Guide

Adventures in a Box Bird Watching with Kids (CBC)

Birding Colouring Pages

Understanding and Preventing Misbehaviour in Your Children

June 20, 2019 by Melanie

Children are not born knowing how to be well behaved, so some help and guidance from parents and caregivers is needed. At the same time, it’s not always an easy job. To help support parents and caregivers in this, we held an information session on June 10th to talk about some behaviour strategies.

Why do children misbehave?

Kids use their behavior to show their feelings and thoughts, often when they have a hard time finding words for them. Responding appropriately requires understanding the underlying cause. Here are a few examples:

Feeling left out / craving attention
Copying behaviour seen by others / from a show
Testing limits
Lacking problem-solving skills
Wanting independence
Having unmet needs (tired, hungry, etc)

How do I prevent misbehaviour?

One great place to start, is to work on preventing misbehaviour in the first place. Here are some tips for preventing misbehaviour in children:

Anticipate a problem before it happens (carry snacks and feed them before they act out, set reasonable limits for play before they begin)
Set up your home and play areas so children are free to play comfortably and safely for their age.
Be clear about what you want and expect from children.
Make a few important rules that you can enforce.
State them in advance.
Listen to your child. Look for signs that show your children’s mood. Recognize feelings.
Repeat the limits you set. Help children remember with reminders such as notes and pictures. Point out choices.
Be a good example.
Be consistent.

And remember, the staff of Creating Together are here to help – if you’d like some support in this, please come to a staff member and we’d be happy to help you navigate your child’s misbehaviour, and support you with some strategies. You are not alone!

Delicious Blueberry Oatmeal Squares

June 13, 2019 by Melanie

We made some delicious blueberry oatmeal squares this week – always a hit with the kiddies. But apart from being delicious, here are some pretty surprising health benefits of blueberries:

Blueberries have the highest antioxidant capacity of all the popular fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids appear to be the berries’ antioxidant with the greatest impact.
Several studies suggest that blueberries and blueberry juice reduce DNA damage, which is a leading driver of aging and cancer.
The antioxidants in blueberries have been shown to reduce a predominant risk factor for heart disease by preventing oxidative damage to “bad” LDL cholesterol.
Regular blueberry intake is tied to lower blood pressure in numerous studies.
The antioxidants in blueberries seem to benefit your brain by aiding brain function and delaying mental decline.

Source: healthline.com

Looking for an easy way to incorporate some blueberries into your family life?

Try out our recipe below, at home.

And, if you’d like to learn more, don’t forget to join us on June 19th for our monthly Toddler Food Prep workshop with Marcella from Foodshare, at 10am!

Learning More About Autism Spectrum Disorder

June 5, 2019 by Melanie

Last month, Creating Together Staff held 2 information sessions on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), to better equip parents and caregivers with information and resources to better support the children of our communities.

We know ASD is on the rise, and knowledge is key. So, here is some more information from aboutkidshealth.ca, especially for those who were not able to make it to the Information Sessions last month. Should you require any further support or if you’d like to learn more, please reach out to the staff at Creating Together and they would be happy to connect you with resources and support.

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a specific set of behavioural and developmental problems and challenges, affecting a child’s communication, social and play skills.

“Spectrum” is used because every child is unique and has their own combination of characteristics that combine to make their own unique profile. As your child grows, the expression of these challenges will change – and usually they have these social / behavioural differences for life.

Characteristics of ASD

Here are a few:

Shows little response when you call their name, especially if in preschool.
May not respond when others try to talk or play with them.
Shows little interest in getting attention from others.
Doesn’t point with index finger to show what they are interested in.
Shows a lack of interest in toys or plays with toys in an unusual way.
May seem moody, irritable, or passive.
May suddenly change from being very passive to very irritable in a short period of time.
May have difficulty using eye gaze appropriately in social situations.

Prevalence of ASD

ASD is the most common developmental condition, with one in four people having ASD and four out of five of those being male. It affects people from all parts of the world, every social economic background and race.

Possible causes of ASD

There are no specific known causes of ASD, however current studies suggest it may be related to differences in how the brain develops before birth and during the first few years of life.

In some families, there seems to be a pattern of ASD in more than one member of the family. This suggests there is a genetic basis to ASD. At this time, some specific genes have been directly linked to ASD. In most people, ASD is most likely a result of a complex interaction of several genes. These vary among families, and research is ongoing. We do know:

ASD is not a mental illness.
Children with ASD are not unruly kids who choose to misbehave.
Bad parenting does not cause ASD.

What to do if you think your child has ASD?

If you suspect your child has ASD, book an appointment with the family doctor. They may refer your child to a child psychologist who specializes in the diagnosis of ASD.

Diagnosis of ASD

Diagnosing a child with ASD is complex, because the characteristics change over time as your child develops. Best practices for determining whether a child has ASD include:

Observing the child.
Talking to the parents.
Using standardized assessment tools to document development and behaviour.

There are no lab tests for diagnosing ASD, however some lab tests can be helpful to detect other issues such as low iron (causing anemia). Some children may develop seizures and need an EEG to document brain electrical activity before starting seizure treatment.

Treating ASD

There is no medical cure for ASD. However, we are finding ways to help people deal with different characteristics of ASD. With the right treatment, some of the behaviour can be changed. Some medicine can help with low iron levels, with others can reduce symptoms of anxiety.

Children respond well to highly structured, specialized education programs that meet the specific needs of the child. They work best one-on-one or in a small group setting. An effective program would be flexible, and able to change over time while teaching the social communication skills the child needs at each stage of their development. Some examples may include:

Behavioural teaching
Communication therapy
Training in social skills development
Sensory motor therapy