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Welcoming Spring’s Rebirth

March 23, 2021 by Melanie

March 21st marks the first day of spring! And with this, families are starting to prepare for the traditional celebration of Easter. However, normally it is a time of opening our doors, reuniting with family members, enjoying community egg hunts, decorating eggs, and for many, a time of sacred prayer and family reflection. With COVID-19 still a very present reality, many of us are looking for creative ways to celebrate the holiday amidst social distancing protocols. Here at Creating Together, we cannot emphasize enough the value and role of traditions in increasing happiness, emotional wellness, and positive self-identity in children.

So – regardless of COVID-19, the themes of renewal, rebirth, and resilience remain. And it becomes more important than ever to uphold the family traditions you hold most dear. From one point of view, we could see this holiday as perfectly timed, to remind us all of the importance of these values and themes in our homes, our families, and our communities. Consider the values that are important to your family at this time of year, and try to find some ways to weave these into teachings for your family. Traditions of Gratitude, for example, fit in beautifully with this time of year.

And don’t forget to have some fun together! According to FamilyEducation.com the top 10 Easter activities for families include:

  • Egg and Spoon Race.
  • Jelly Bean Guessing Games.
  • Read Easter and Spring Children’s Books.
  • Plant Flowers.
  • Decorate an Easter Egg Tree.
  • Make Chocolate Fondue.
  • Create Easter Crafts.
  • Give a Gift Basket.

Described in further detail here, you could try a variation of many of these activities in the comfort of your home or yard. Women’s Day also describes some fun Easter activities you can enjoy while practicing social distancing.

At Creating Together, we are getting ready to set you up with some really great crafts, stories, and songs to help you and your little ones celebrate. Check out our virtual program schedule, and join us the week of March 29th-April 2nd!

Certainly during this time of unprecedented unrest and upheaval to the daily routine, holding true to traditions becomes a lifeline that all of our children need now more than ever. Never underestimate the power of tradition. We hope you’ll join us!

Filed Under: Announcements, Celebrating Diversity, Traditions, What's On in Parkdale Tagged With: family traditions

Early ON Resources for Families and Caregivers

December 17, 2020 by Melanie

During this time when physically distancing from others is important, having a plan and activities ready for your child may help to make your day go a little easier.

Early ON Resources for Parents and Caregivers

This is why Early ON and the City of Toronto compiled an extensive resource for families and caregivers to foster child development while social distancing. Whether it’s physical play or quiet play, this guide is filled with helpful resources for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners. Click the download button for the full document.

EarlyON-Printable-Resource-0-6-years-ActivitiesDownload

The resource also has tips for how to speak to your children about Coronavirus, some useful telephone numbers and support links, and a plethora of helpful resources.

In addition, Toronto Children’s Services has completed an incredible COVID-19 Resource List for Families. Click the download button for the full document.

COVID-19-Resource-List-for-Families-Dec-04-2020_saDownload

We hope you’ll find these resources helpful!

References

https://playandlearn.healthhq.ca
https://www.facebook.com/ladysmithwaterfrontgallery/
https://busytoddler.com/2020/03/pom-pom-tube-ramp/
https://hes-extraordinary.com/improve-emotional-regulation-just-7-minutes-perday?fbclid=IwAR08xB9WpvGwZc0MlS-5ww-HAKeLyw66wxjsOa97y6TiM9M88yUkjB_oZdo
https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/how-talk-your-child-about-coronavirus-covid-19

Filed Under: Announcements, Tips and Tools

Funding Subsidy for Families

December 3, 2020 by Melanie

Families, we have some wonderful news about a program that has been launched by the Ministry of Education to support families through the COVID-19 pandemic. You may be eligible to receive $200 per child or $250 for children with special needs through a government subsidy!

Applications must be submitted by January 15, 2020 to access these funds, so please read below for information about eligibility and the application process!

About Support for Learners

You can get financial support to help with additional costs during the 2020-2021 school year due to COVID-19.

Eligible parents or guardians will receive a one-time payment of:

  • $200 for each child up to age 12
  • $250 for each child or youth up to age 21 with special needs

The deadline to apply is January 15, 2021.

Eligibility

You are eligible to apply if you are a resident of Ontario and a parent or guardian to a child:

  • up to age 12
  • up to age 21 if they have special needs

A child with special needs is:

  • any student reported to be receiving special education programs or services by their school board
  • any child enrolled in licensed child care reported to be receiving special needs funding or support
  • any child identified as having a special need

We do not consider students who are identified as being solely gifted to have special needs under this program.

It doesn’t matter if your child is enrolled in school or child care. All children are eligible based on their age.

You are eligible if your child:

  • attends a publicly funded school
  • attends a private school
  • attends a First Nation operated or federally operated school
  • attends school in-person or online
  • is homeschooled
  • is enrolled in child care
  • is at home

If you received funding under programs that are now closed, like the Support for Parents or Support for Families, you can still apply.

Apply Now

https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-support-learners

Filed Under: Announcements

Orange Shirt Day: Because Every Child Matters

September 26, 2020 by Melanie

September 30th is Orange Shirt Day, “a day when we honour the Indigenous children who were sent away to residential schools in Canada and learn more about the history of those schools”. (CBC.ca).

Between the 1860s and 1990s, approximately 150,000 Métis, Inuit and First Nations children were sent to church-run residential schools. The schools harmed Indigenous children by removing them from their families, forcing them to speak English or French instead of their ancestral languages, disconnecting them from their culture and traditions and forcing them to adopt Christianity in order to assimilate into Canadian society. The government has since acknowledged that this approach was wrong, cruel and ineffective, and offered an official apology to the Indigenous people of Canada in 2008.

Why an Orange Shirt?

The legacy of Residential Schools is still felt by survivors (former students), their families and communities, and on September 30th, the time when children were taken to these schools. But why an orange shirt?

The “orange shirt” in Orange Shirt Day refers to the new shirt that Phyllis Webstad was given to her by her grandmother for her first day of school at St. Joseph’s Mission residential school in British Columbia. When Phyllis got to school, they took away her clothes, including her new shirt. It was never returned. To Phyllis, the colour orange has always reminded her of her experiences at residential school and, as she has said, “how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and I felt like I was worth nothing. All of us little children were crying and no one cared.” The message that Phyllis wants to pass along on Orange Shirt Day — and every day — is that every child matters. Orange Shirt Day was started by Phyllis to educate people about residential schools and fight racism and bullying.

What You Can Do

  1. Share Phyllis’ story. You can watch it on YouTube or below:

2. Continue learning about what happened to Indigenous Peoples. Take a look at Phyliss’ book “The Orange Shirt Story“, written for younger people, and these 12 books, recommended for adults by CBC.

3. Join over 10,000 teachers and over 500,000 of Canadian youth on September 30 to honour Residential School Survivors, their families and communities at an extraordinary virtual event to support and encourage meaningful Reconciliation across Canada. For Grades 5 through 12: https://education.nctr.ca/

4. Wear your orange shirt on September 30th – not only because of the pain and tragedy that was caused, but to recognize the strength, resilience and healing of the indigenous peoples and our commitment to creating a better future, where every child matters.

Filed Under: Announcements, Celebrating Diversity

Virtual Programming at Creating Together

September 8, 2020 by Melanie

Creating Together staff are committed to ensuring families are supported and having fun. Our doors may be closed, but our virtual programming is fully open!

Take a look below for a snapshot of our Virtual Programming offered on Facebook and Zoom, and download the pdf file here to access the embedded links to connect you directly to our facebook and zoom channels. Each week we explore a different theme, and there’s something special planned for you Monday through Friday so enjoy – and let us know if you need anything!

Virtual-Programming-Poster-FinalDownload

Filed Under: Announcements, What's On in Parkdale Tagged With: Virtual programming

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About Us

Our Programs

Guidelines

Resources

Upcoming Events

Apr
19
Mon
9:00 am Family Play-Time
Family Play-Time
Apr 19 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Join us every day for developmentally appropriate activities: explore our toys and costumes, book corner and storytimes, sand and water tables, and craft stations.
9:30 am Literacy Monday
Literacy Monday
Apr 19 @ 9:30 am – 10:30 am
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[...]
10:45 am Rainbow Fun Physical Activity Pr...
Rainbow Fun Physical Activity Pr...
Apr 19 @ 10:45 am – 11:00 am
The Rainbow Fun Physical Activity Program was produced by the City of Toronto & The Grey Bruce Health Unit. We choose different physical activities for each session and adapt them as needed to suit the[...]
11:00 am Circle Time
Circle Time
Apr 19 @ 11:00 am – 11:30 am
Songs, rhymes and dancing for children and their caregivers to join in. Every Circle Time is slightly different – we feature scarf dancing, musical instruments and more each week.
1:00 pm Story Time
Story Time
Apr 19 @ 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Reading helps children become familiar with sounds, words, language and the value of books. This all builds your child’s early literacy skills, helping her go on to read successfully later in life. We gather and read[...]
1:30 pm Literacy Monday
Literacy Monday
Apr 19 @ 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
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[...]
View Calendar

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.
Learn more »

Upcoming Events

Apr
19
Mon
9:00 am Family Play-Time
Family Play-Time
Apr 19 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Join us every day for developmentally appropriate activities: explore our toys and costumes, book corner and storytimes, sand and water tables, and craft stations.
9:30 am Literacy Monday
Literacy Monday
Apr 19 @ 9:30 am – 10:30 am
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[...]
View Calendar

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Hours

MON 9:00am - 5:00pm
TUE 9:00am - 5:00pm
WED 9:00am - 5:00pm
THU 9:00am - 2:30pm
FRI 9:00am - 2:30pm
SAT 10am - 2:00pm (twice monthly)
SUN Closed

Please refer to our Calendar »

Contact Us

Creating Together
1497 Queen St. West (at Sorauren Ave.) Phone: (416) 537-1004
Send us a message online »

Charitable Registration Number:
12947 6248 RR0001
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