Creating Together Blog

Welcome to Our New Space!

October 24, 2022 by Eliza Martin

Let’s Take a Tour!

This past September we threw open our doors and welcomed families into our brand new space at 1342 Queen Street West. Whether you’ve been to the program in person, or are considering joining us for the first time, here on the blog we’d like to offer you a brief tour of our new space.

Come on in!

The first thing you’ll notice when you enter our bright centre, is a sign-in station on your right. Be sure to sign in, remove your outdoor shoes and gear, and place it away using the cubbies or the hooks. We encourage families to travel light, and fold strollers whenever possible.

We encourage child-led play here at Creating Together. Your child may choose from any number of areas and materials to explore in the centre. Here are a few areas you’ll notice:

Circle Time Area

This window-facing area is used for circle-time gatherings throughout our program, and provides a nice cushioned place for infants to crawl!

Art Table

You can find art activities and materials at the back of the centre. An activity is set out on the table every program day, along with accessible art materials on the shelf. Come express yourself – we are all artists!

Dramatic Play Area

A multitude of materials are available in this area to encourage imagination and dramatic play! In early stages, the dramatic play you’ll begin to notice will focus on imitating every day behaviours, before moving into more formalized pretend play. For this reason many of our dramatic play materials are modeled after objects your child may interact with on an every day basis.

Cozy Nook

This window seat features a number of materials for your child to choose from as they enjoy the stimulating Queen Street view! Curl up with a book or a puzzle, or make use of our city-scape carpet!

Climber

There are many opportunities for gross motor development and play in our program. Our developmentally appropriate climber is a very popular feature at Creating Together.

Sensory Play

Our sensory play changes often, and may feature activities such as sand play, water play, themed sensory play, or other sensory material exploration.

Snack Table/Table Activities

Our 11:00am healthy snack time takes place at the tables in the back of the centre. Outside of snack, these tables will have many different activities placed on them, before being sanitized for eating.

Shelves

Our centre has a number of shelves which remain open and accessible for children. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Feel free to pull an activity or book off of a shelf. All we ask is that after use, the activity is returned to its spot and any mouthed items are placed in the mouthed toys bin!

Information Boards and Displays

We have several information boards and displays around the centre which are updated with helpful community information, as well as centre information. Check back often!

Toy Resource Library

Did you know that we have a toy resource library? Located by the office, the toy resource library is full of exciting materials which you can sign out, and enjoy with your child at home. Feel free to ask a staff for the toy resource binder to sign out materials!

You’re welcome to pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea using our self-serve cart by the office. Hardworking parents and caregivers need to stay caffeinated! Amiright?

Washrooms and change tables can be found in the back of the centre to the right of our office.

Hi Zalikha!

Be sure to greet our hard working manager, Zalikha, as you pass her desk!

That’s The Tour!

Don’t forget to sign out before you leave!

Thanks for stopping by…

Summer Fun for the Whole Family

July 12, 2022 by Eliza Martin

Looking for fun summer activities for your children that won’t break the bank? Explore some of the following cost-free family friendly options around the city…

Toronto Public Library Programs:

https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/search.jsp?N=37850+37867+38807+37846&Ns=p_pub_date_sort&Nso=0

Weekend Nature Play at the Brickworks Children’s Garden

“Designed to showcase and make available to the public the many benefits of place based outdoor play and learning, the Children’s Garden offers play and stewardship-based opportunities for children and families of all ages.

Here, children and caregivers have the chance to engage in active, inclusive and hands-on activities while cultivating a lifelong stewardship ethic. It is truly a place like no other!”

https://www.evergreen.ca/whats-on/event/weekend-nature-play/

Pedestrian Sundays – Kensington Market

The streets of Kensington Market are yours and open in celebration on throughout the market.

Pedestrian Sundays

Family Friendly Days at the Gardiner Museum

Create with Clay!

https://www.gardinermuseum.on.ca/learn-create/familydays/

Imagination Playground

An exciting and cost-free outdoor play area for families, including a life sized chess board!

https://ontarioplace.com/en/whats-on/imagination-playground/

Art Gallery of Ontario – Family Fun for Everyone

https://ago.ca/learn/family

Taste of Regent Park

“Vibrant weekly market features talented local artisans, craftspeople, community organizations, food vendors, caterers and entertainers. In the heart of Regent Park, people come together in The Big Park (Dundas E & Sumach St.) to celebrate, share and enjoy delicious, healthy, affordable and culturally diverse foods.”

Taste of Regent Park Returns

Bloor West Street Fest

https://www.bloorwestvillagebia.com/page.php?pageType=events&eventId=100052759

TD Festival of South Asia

https://gerrardindiabazaar.com/

Toronto Outdoor Art Fair

https://torontooutdoor.art/

What about a cost-free night out for the grownups?

Enjoy a free movie night in the park!

Here are all the FREE movies you can watch in Toronto parks this summer

Let us know what you plan to explore with your family below, and be sure to stay up to date on all of our summer programming at Creating Together. See our calendar for more details.

Exploring Play-Based Learning

June 29, 2022 by Eliza Martin

In early June Creating Together scheduled a Parent and Caregiver Discussion on Play-Based Learning. An understanding of Play-Based Learning is incredibly beneficial for all parents and caregivers of children in their early years.

Why is Play-Based Learning important, and how can we support it? Continue reading to learn more!

What Do Children Learn Through Play?

Child-led play develops areas such as language, communication, literacy, spatial awareness, and social emotional skills, as well as creativity, wonder, self-regulation, self reflection, and problem solving. The experience of play is fundamentally relationship and community building.

What Makes for Meaningful Play?

1. Children make their own decisions.

2. Children are intrinsically motivated.

3. Children become immersed in the moment.

4. Play is spontaneous, not scripted.

5. Play is enjoyable.

(Nell & Drew, n.d.)

How Can You Support Play-Based Learning?

As a parent or Caregiver, how can you support play based learning? One of the first steps in supporting play is understanding it, and respecting it. When we as adults learn to value play, we allow children the time and focus they need to aid their learning and development.

What is Your Role?

Follow their interests – allow the child to lead!
Expand through language, materials, planning
Observe

Interested in learning more? Explore the following resources:

https://www.wonderschool.com/p/parent-resources/what-is-play-based-learning/

https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/five-essentials-meaningful-play

Join us at Creating Together for play-based learning opportunities. See our calendar here.

References

Nell, M. L., & Drew, W. F. (n.d.). Five Essentials to Meaningful Play. NAEYC. https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/five-essentials-meaningful-play

Pride Book Recommendations from Glitterbug’s Niña!

June 7, 2022 by Eliza Martin

Niña shares a story at Creating Together (May 2022).

As we welcome June in Toronto, we look forward to supporting and celebrating the 2SLGBTQ+ community through Pride month (and beyond)! To kick off these celebrations and important conversations at Creating Together, we’ve asked Niña Cabaguio (she/her), RECE and Coordinator of Glitterbug: 2SLGBTQ+ EarlyON Mobile Program at the 519, to offer some children’s book recommendations!

Niña’s Book Recommendations for Pride Month

#1) Love Makes a Family (Ages 0-3)

Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer is a wonderful board book for our 0-3 years of age that talks about the various structures of family and types of love. There are beautiful illustrators of cultural diversity and family diversity that enriches a welcoming and inclusive space!

#2) Neither by Airlie Anderson (ages 4-8)

Neither by Airlie Anderson is one of my go-to books when it comes to explaining the spectrum of gender (and outside of the gender spectrum) that exists! Neither showcases the nonbinary terms in a child-friendly and fun way. Did you know the “+” in our 2SLGBTQ+ acronym is to showcase all the types of gender identities?

#3) Sparkle Boy (ages 4 to 8)

Sparkle Boy by Leslie Newman is a great story for our 4 to 8 years old. It talks about acceptance within the family and having that inclusive space within the environment and supporting our gender-diverse children.

#4) Our Rainbow by Little Bee Books (0 to 3 years)

Our Rainbow by Little Bee Books is a beautiful, illustrated children book that talks about the meaning behind each color of the rainbow. I truly love this book, as it is a great conversation starter about the brown and black on the rainbow too!

#5) Call me Tree (ages 4 to 8)

Call me Tree by Maya Christina Gonzalez is a beautiful multi-language book (Spanish and English) that talks about belonging. We may all identify differently, but we all belong together as a community. Did you know some folks uses “tree” as a pronoun?

Happy Reading!

Thank you so much Niña for these recommendations! Some of Niña’s suggested reads will be available for families to enjoy in the centre, and we encourage you to take advantage of book selections through the Parkdale Library as well. You can enjoy stories and songs with Niña on June 8th, when she joins us for guest circle time at 10:00am. Keep your eyes on our calendar for other exciting events going on this month.

HAPPY PRIDE!

-Creating Together

Get Outside! Outdoor Programming at Creating Together

May 9, 2022 by Melanie

New Outdoor Program has begun!

It’s that time of year! The weather is getting nicer and we are so happy to announce the return of outdoor programming starting May 2nd.

Our new outdoor program will be held on Mondays and Tuesdays, with Drop-in program provided from 9:00am-10:30am at Beaty Avenue Parkette (66 Beaty Avenue, a two minute walk from Creating Together).

Benefits of Nature

Researchers and natural environmentalists have been studying the effects of exposure to nature on children, and have found some interesting results: Engagement with nature has huge benefits for children physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially.

For instance, Adams & Savahl (2017) discovered it has a significant influence on children’s emotional and social well-being, while Pensini, Horn, & Caltabiano, (2016) discovered that early exposure to nature improves one’s mental health as an adult. Would you like to help improve your child’s short-term memory and ability to focus? Another study shows that being in nature for extended periods of time promotes the development of attention skills, while protecting against inattention-hyperactivity symptoms such as (Ulset, Vitaro, et al, 2017). There are also a number of physical benefits, such as improved vision, and reduced risk of obesity.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s get outside!

What should I bring?

It’s always good to come prepared 🙂 Please bring:

water bottles,
sunscreen, and
weather appropriate clothing.

After the outdoor program ends at 10:30 am, the Creating Together staff will stroll back to the centre to continue the program and provide snack at 11:00 am. We welcome families to join us on our stroll back to the centre, and for those who wish to join at the centre, we encourage you to come at 11:00 am or later.

Do I need to wear a Mask?

Masks will not be required for outdoor programs however our staff will remain masked. During Outdoor Programming Creating Together indoor space will be closed for drop-in, however if you need to use the washroom during the outdoor program you can head to the centre.

What if it rains?

If the outdoor program is rained out, we will instead open the indoor drop-in program at the centre.

Outdoor and Indoor Program Schedule

Here’s when we are outside and inside through the week:

Monday & Tuesday

9:00am – 10:30am- Beaty Avenue Parkette (Outdoor Program)
10:30 – 11:00 – Family Transition Time
11:00am – 1:30pm – Creating Together (Indoor Program)

Wednesday – Friday

9:00am – 1:30 pm – Creating Together (Indoor Program)

Two Saturdays a month:

10:00am – 2:00pm – Creating Together (Indoor Program)

You can view additional program details and special events on our monthly calendar, linked here.