Family Resource Centre

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Gratitude and Support for Families

May 25, 2017 by Creating Together

Family is the single most important influence in a child’s life. From their first moments of life, children depend on parents and family to ensure they are safe and their needs are met. Parents and family form a child’s first relationships, preparing them for the world around them. And certainly, children thrive when parents are able to actively promote their positive growth and development. However, every parent knows that it’s sometimes difficult to do this important work without help, support, and additional resources.

Creating Together is committed to supporting parents and caregivers, understanding the vital role they play in nurturing the healthy growth and development of children. Here are a few examples:

Mothers and Fathers Day: Traditions of Gratitude

Last month, we honoured and celebrated Mothers Day with a lovely day of food, crafts, and activities.

It was beautiful to witness the moms and caregivers come out to celebrate and share this special tradition of gratitude and motherhood with the children of our community.  A lovely time was had by all! Keep in touch regarding what our plans are for Father’s Day next month!

Parent Relief Program

At Creating Together, we know how busy it can get being a parent. This is why we offer our Parent Relief Program every Thursday from 10am-2pm. If you haven’t tried it out yet, come in and ask the staff how it works. They’d be more than happy to share with you how to sign up, tips for nurturing the transition for your children, and when you can get started!

Parenting Workshops and Information Sessions

It can be hard to attend workshops and information sessions when you have a busy little one. Not an issue at Creating Together. Whether it’s a workshop in Toddler Food prep (Next visit: June 14th), or an onsite visit from a Health Nurse (Next visit: June 26th) to answer questions, we make it possible for parents and caregivers to access expert advice on important topics, in a child-friendly environment.

Toy Library 

Toys are expensive, and your child’s interests shift constantly. With the Toy Library, families and caregivers can borrow fun, educational toys all year long.

Clothing Exchange

Located in the storage cabinets in the kitchen, this program gives families the opportunity to bring cloths they don’t need any longer, and borrow cloths that would be helpful.

Resource Library

The Resource Library, located near the sign-up sheet at the front of the Centre, offers tips and tools for parents and caregivers on a wide range of topics. If there’s something you’re working through and you’d like to take a look at the literature, swing by – you can browse our collection yourself, or ask one of the staff for some guidance on a particular topic. Further resources online can be found on ParentsCanada.

See our Calendar for a listing of what’s on this month.

Filed Under: Special Activities Tagged With: Clothing Exchange, Parent Relief, Resource Library, Toy Library, Workshops

Busy Bodies Creates Healthy Communities

May 17, 2017 by Creating Together

Did you know that children who aren’t active enough are at a higher risk of developing chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other cardiovascular illnesses? On the other hand, adequate levels (60 minutes/day) of physical activity helps children:

  • develop cardiovascular fitness, strength, flexibility, and bone density
  • maintain a healthy body weight
  • reduce the risk of chronic disease and health problems
  • lessen the likelihood of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use
  • feel better every day, through improved mental health and well-being

 

In 2013, only 1 in 10 children in Canada met the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines, so efforts are being made across the country to support children and their families in making physical activity a regular part of their daily living. Making regular physical activity a habit at an early age will provide your child with lifelong benefits. Adults with higher levels of activity are able to carry out their daily tasks more easily and with less fatigue and, later in life, enjoy lower rates of bone loss associated with osteoporosis while also maintaining strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination.

What Can You Do to Help?

As childcare providers, caregivers, and parents, we all play an important role in the development of good health habits in children. Children under the age of six are constantly learning by copying what they see and hear, being more likely to develop healthy attitudes and adopt healthy behaviours when they see and hear positive health habits at home, at childcare and at school.

 

Here are a few tips to help teach children the importance of daily physical activity:

  • Encourage – gently encourage them to walk or ride their bikes
  • Schedule – be sure there is active time scheduled each day
  • Mix it up – intersperse periods of moderate activity (e.g., walking or biking) with periods of more vigorous activity (e.g., running or or tag)
  • Register – check with the Fun Guide, local schools and community centres for affordable programs (e.g., swimming, soccer, gymnastics)
  • Unstructured Activity – For children who shy away from competition, build in physical activities that are informal and unstructured (e.g., tag)
  • Mimicry – children under the age of six are constantly learning by copying what they see and hear, so set a positive example by being physically active as a family.
  • Praise – remember to praise your children for being active. Confidence is the key to success!
  • Share – reinforce positive health messages with other parents and caregivers, with information about physical activity, healthy eating and self-esteem
  • Let us Help! At Creating Together, we apply the City of Toronto’s Rainbow Fun Guide in our programming – a physical activity and healthy eating program for children 3-6 years old.  Through this program, children build on skills like listening, singing, movement and participation, while developing their fine and gross motor skills.  Keep your eye out in our calendar for the busy body exercise cards, parachute play, and scarf dancing.

 

Other Resources:

  • Handbook for Canada’s Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living –
  • Fitness Tax Credit – Allows parents to claim up to $500 a year for each child under 16 years of age or under 18 years of age if eligible for the disability tax credit, at the beginning of the year in which an eligible fitness expense was paid.
  • Towards a Healthier Canada – 2015 Progress report on advancing the federal / provincial / territorial framework on healthy weights.

 

 

Filed Under: Family Playtime Tagged With: busy bodies, children, health, physical activity, rainbow fun guide

Farewell and Thank You, to Vijaya, Laura, and Jennifer

May 12, 2017 by Creating Together

We wanted to extend a warm farewell and heartfelt gratitude to a few very special and generous individuals who will be stepping down from the Creating Together Board of Directors.

Vijaya Agrawal, Laura Faberman & Jennifer Spencer – thank you so much for all you have done for our community. Your time, energy, and thoughtful care has helped Creating Together be what it is today. Your kindness and generosity has shaped the community around us, a message to all of us to give what we can to our days and the lives we touch.

All the best to you as you move on to new adventures!

Filed Under: Announcements

Spring into Parkdale this Saturday at Creating Together!

May 9, 2017 by Creating Together

Last year, Creating Together celebrated it’s 40th year serving Parkdalian families and caregivers with children 0 to 6 years of age. We have changed and grown over the years, but have always stayed committed to serving the children and families of our community. Each year, Creating Together provides free services to hundreds of children, parents, and caregivers.

So it only makes sense that as Parkdale celebrates the season with it’s “Spring into Parkdale Sidewalk Festival and Night Market” this Saturday, we open our doors to the community and join in the fun!  Our doors will be open between 11-4:30pm.

Apart from the programming that Creating Together will be offering, the community is going to be filled with fabulous activities for families. From Scavenger hunts and art projects to a pirate ship and mobile skate park, you’ll definitely want to stay in the neighbourhood this Saturday. As you’re enjoying the festivities, swing by Creating Together for a visit! We would love to see you 🙂

A full listing of events and activities can be found on the Parkdale BIA website at: parkdalevillagebia.com/tag/spring-into-parkdale/

 

Filed Under: Announcements

The Benefits of Music for Children

May 5, 2017 by Creating Together

Music ignites all areas of child development. It helps the body and mind work together, helps children learn the sounds and meaning of words, allows for self expression, helps memory skills, and improves mathematical learning. Interested in understanding how? You may enjoy this recent study by the Brain and Creativity Institute, which found that learning music in childhood can actually accelerate brain development, particularly in the areas of language acquisition and reading skills.

 

 

 

And we can’t forget the amount of joy that music brings! Take a look at these shining faces at Creating Together when we incorporated musical instruments into our circle time on Tuesday, one of our weekly offerings.

If you can’t make it out on Tuesdays, perhaps you’d like to make some instruments from home. Here are some fun musical creations to choose from: http://www.howweelearn.com/spectacular-homemade-musical-instruments/ – and you may take it a step further and incorporate some free online learning tools (eg., A2Z), or resources from organizations like the Children’s Music Network.

We are all so fortunate to be in Toronto. It is incredible what people across the city are doing to ensure the influence of music is felt among the children and youth of our communities, regardless of income. Teachers voluteer their time and talent, community centers and schools offer their spaces, and students come from all over to benefit. Here is a quick list of inspiring work happening in our city, for you to keep in mind as you keep music a strong component of your child’s life:

  1. Sistema – A social development program offering free, ensemble-based musical instruction in Toronto
  2. Axis – A tuition-free music program that makes music accessible to children and youth living in Toronto Community Housing
  3. Toronto Public Library (Parkdale Branch) – “Borrow a musical instrument” program lends musical instruments to children under the age of 18.
  4. The Regent Park School of Music – Offers subsidized, quality music education in priority areas across Toronto and at satellite location across the city, including Parkdale.
  5. Help We’ve Got Kids – Has put together a fairly extensive listing of music programs across the city.
  6. The Toronto Music Garden – A bach-inspired garden by the waterfront, hosting free concerts all summer long!

Filed Under: Special Activities Tagged With: axis, child development, circle time, music, regent park school of music, sistema, toronto music garden, toronto public library

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Creating Together Parkdale Family Resource Centre

Our mission is to support the healthy social, cognitive, emotional and physical development of children 0 to 6 years and their families. We welcome children aged 0 to 6 years and their families/ caregivers to relax and connect with each other and with the greater communities through our many programs.
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Hours

MON 9:00am - 2:30pm
TUE 9:00am - 2:30pm
WED 9:00am - 2:30pm
THU 9:00am - 2:30pm
FRI 9:00am - 1:30pm
SAT 10am - 2:00pm (twice monthly)
SUN Closed

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Creating Together
1342 Queen Street West
Phone: (416) 537-1004
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Charitable Registration Number:
12947 6248 RR0001
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