Creating Together Blog

Tips for Choosing a Book for Your Child

April 12, 2019 by Creating Together

Last month, we shared The Benefits of Reading With Your Child, but how do you go about choosing a great book for them? Here are 13 tips to help you:

Choose a theme that will interest your child.
Thick pages are easier for little fingers to turn.
Clear, concrete pictures / photos are best for small children.
Choose a book with lots of repetitive words and phrases.
Small children like manipulative books.
Try to choose some books with rhymes.
Pick books that encourage non-speech sounds (ie., animal sounds, sounds around the house).
Pick books that encourage actions or gestures (ie., The Wheels on the Bus).
Pick books that encourage pretend play.
Use books to help teach concepts (ie., size, shape, texture).
Try to find books with a surprise ending.
Try making books or photo albums to share with your child.
Choose a variety of books (ie., fiction, non-fiction, poetry).

In addition to the tips above, think about what kinds of routines you can introduce to encourage reading. You might have a reading routine at home, or make a weekly trip to your local library. Did you know that the Parkdale Public Library allows you to browse by age? Give it a try at this link: https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/books-video-music/books/childrens-books/

At Creating Together, we are here to support you. Consider joining us on Mondays for Literacy Mondays, Story Time every day at 1pm, or make a point of sharing some reading time in our Literacy Corner! See you there!

Canada’s New Food Guide

April 5, 2019 by Creating Together

Health Canada has completed its revision process and early this year, began to roll out an updated version of Canada’s Food Guide, marking the first update since 2007.

Food guide poster available for download here: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/food-nutrition/educational-poster.html

With the Food Guide originally aimed at tackling wartime rationing and malnutrition, it has an interesting history – with many updates and transformations that have taken place since its inception in 1942. The new plan is based on an updated set of guiding principles, focused on consuming more nutrition-dense foods on a regular basis and staying away from harmful fats, sodium and sugar. The guiding principles highlight the importance of knowledge and skills relating to health and nutrition, advising that Canadians shop for nutritious foods, plan and cook healthy meals and then share them with family and friends, which “can help reinforce positive eating habits and help children develop healthy attitudes towards food.”

The Guiding Principles also move the conversation beyond the individual to include the impact of healthy eating on our environment, encouraging us to look at the impact of our food systems (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions, water quality, food waste, animal welfare, soil degradation).

The new Canada’s food guide is a mobile-friendly web application, which provides Canadians with easier access to dietary guidance. There are also dietary guidelines and considerations for health professionals and policymakers.

This month, Public Health Nurse Rachel joins us at Creating Together to go through the changes in the food guide, and be available to answer any questions parents and caregivers might have. See you on April 12th at 10am!

Additional Resources

Nature Play for Spring!

April 1, 2019 by Creating Together

Even though it may seem like Winter is hanging on, Spring is certainly here – and with that, comes some great opportunities to get outside, and enjoy the benefits that nature has to offer.

We wanted to share some great activities coming up, to celebrate the nature of the season with your children in Toronto.

Children’s Garden Revamp at Evergreen Brickworks: This month’s theme at Evergreen is “Earth Month”. Come enjoy play, art and stewardship in celebration of the earth and it’s creatures! Hop on a free shuttle bus from Broadview Station, and get involved with the Children’s Garden Revamp this month! https://www.evergreen.ca/get-involved/evergreen-brick-works/.
Riverdale Farm Field Trip: Explore the trails, visit the barns, and see the farm animals!
Sorauren Farmers Market: Open every Monday from 3-7pm, the Sorauren Farmers Market isn’t an outdoor affair until May – but the park and indoor vendors make for a great outing right here in Parkdale. Its also a great opportunity to teach your children the importance of shopping locally, and creating a healthy relationship with healthy food. It also has an incredible unobstructed view of the night sky for evening star gazers!
Signs of Spring Detective Quest: Spend a day in High Park looking for the signs of Spring. Become nature detectives and find buds, sprouts, mud, robins, while enjoying the trails, castle playground, and zoo!
Create a Nature Table: Bring some items from outside inside, and throw in some symbols of the season: eggs, seeds, flowers…create a tactile learning centre that brings your child’s senses in tune with the season. Take a look at these photos on Pinterest for some inspiration: https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/45458277473802237/

More Nature Resources and Activities for Children:

Free “Nature as a Classroom” guide by the David Suzuki Foundation
Free “Nature Explorers Workbook” by the National Recreation and Park Association
“Nature Activities for Children” images on Pinterest

Toddler Food Prep: Pinwheels

March 25, 2019 by Creating Together

Each month for years now, Marcella from Food Share has come into Creating Together to offer a workshop for families around toddler food prep. This month’s workshop on March 20th was a great hit – cheese and bean tortilla roll-ups (pinwheels). Take a look at the recipe below, and mark your calendars for next month’s workshop: April 24th from 10-11am.

The Benefits of Reading to Your Child

March 19, 2019 by Creating Together

Did you know that the Literacy Area at Creating Together holds incredible opportunities for communication, language, literacy, and social skills? Reading aloud here not only improves expressive language and vocabulary, but also social skills such as imitation, turn taking, social interest, and the ability to maintain connection across space.

On March 11 & 15, Creating Together hosted “Benefits of Literacy” information sessions, to share with parents and caregivers why reading to your child is such an important part of childhood development. Read below to learn what reading aloud to your child for 15 minutes per day will bring, while preparing them for success in school.

10 Great Reasons to Read to Your Child (A Message From the Toronto Early Literacy Specialists)

Reading stimulates your child’s imagination.
Children learn lots of new words through reading.
Reading builds a child’s ability to concentrate.
Children learn about the world through books.
Reading builds a child’s listening skills.
children gain awareness of letters and words.
Children learn to appreciate the richness of language.
Reading together brings you and your child closer.
Children thrive on the positive attention at story time.
you will give your child a life long love of books by reading aloud regularly.

Join us each Monday for Literacy Mondays!

Every Monday at 9:30 and 1:30, Creating Together hosts “Literacy Mondays“, and we’d love to see you there. Come read and sing along with parents/caregivers and a staff member. This program is designed for one-on-one or small group storytelling, featuring developmentally appropriate books and CDs. Children also have a choice to listen to a story with headphones on their own.

Tips for Choosing a Book for Your Child

Canada’s New Food Guide

Additional Resources

Nature Play for Spring!

Toddler Food Prep: Pinwheels

The Benefits of Reading to Your Child

Creating Together Parkdale Family Resource Centre

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