Family Resource Centre
Each year, Creating together welcomes children with their families and caregivers to enjoy a day of food and festivities at our local park.
This year, we’ll be having our annual picnic on August 8th, and hope you can make it!
We also close each year for summer holidays, and this picnic is our way of kicking off our summer holidays with a great celebration together.
Staff are looking forward to bringing a fresh year of programming and support for Parkdale families. January promises an action-packed calendar for children and parents / caregivers alike. In addition to a great calendar of activities we are also happy to announce earlier opening hours (9am instead of 9:30).
Coming up this month, below is a visual calendar to accompany the link provided above, along with a small sampling of activities you won’t want to miss:
We will be continuing our monthly Science Activities, with this month’s creation featuring jars. On the 9th, we’ll be creating a rainstorm in a jar, and on the 31st, we’ll be creating musical jars.
While every day involves opportunities to develop children’s literacy skills, at Creating Together we have a particular focus on literacy each Monday. Children can read and sing along with parents/caregivers and a staff member. The 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. For more information on literacy, you may enjoy “For the Love of Reading” – a blog written last May providing some great tips on supporting your child in reading!
The benefits of dramatic play for children are incredible. It’s one of the reasons why Creating Together has such a large amount of space dedicated to its dramatic play area. On the 10th and 30th, come and learn more about our dramatic play station and how to support children in getting the most out of this station.
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? Busy Bodies Create Healthier Communities – and “Busy Bodies exercise cards” use pictures to prompt kids to get moving! The exercises help to promote gross motor movements, improve posture, and promote concentration while enhancing language and vocabulary. Join us on the 16th and see for yourself!
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. While circle time happens every day, we have feature circle time with musical instruments on Tuesdays from 11-11:30 and 2:30-3pm. For more information, check out this article on The Benefits of Music for Children
Our Holiday Party this year was only a couple of days before the Winter Solstice (Friday December 21st), also celebrated as the first day of Winter. It is the longest night of the year, and days following get longer and longer until the Summer Solstice in June.
For the families, children, and caregivers of Creating Together, we were celebrating at the Masaryk-Cowan Community Centre in Parkdale, with our annual party featuring a feast, santa, and entertainment! Dozens came out to enjoy this magical time of year together, and we were all so grateful to come together before closing our doors for the winter break.
Closed between December 20th-January 6th, our doors will open again on Monday January 7th. The upcoming calendar will be posted shortly!
Last month, Creating Together introduced a new program feature: “Information Sessions” – opportunities for parents and caregivers to learn about the theory, thinking, tools and tips behind each of our learning stations.
While November’s feature was Block Play, this month we will be going over the benefits of Sand Play.
Did you know that sand play promotes physical development, hand-eye coordination, small muscle control, language development, mathematical skills and social skills?
Do you know how to support your child in getting the most out of their sand play? Try statements like “I wonder what would happen if . . .” and “Tell me about . . .”. To encourage play, include access to materials like measuring cups, ladles, funnels, sifters, colanders, or small manipulatives like plastic animals.
Bring your child and learn more on this Friday, December 7th, and stay for morning snack and circle time afterwards!
Many of the parents and caregivers who come to Creating Together have shared with the staff and students how much they appreciate a place to go and be with other adults while also caring for the young ones.
It may not come as a surprise that social support plays an important role for all of us in managing stress. This is particularly true for mothers and caregivers, who are often isolated with their child/children and have less opportunities to build and maintain trusting, supportive relationships. While time and obligations of life tempt us to spend less time with friends and family, research has found that the more parents and caregivers surround themselves and their child/children with loving social support, the healthier and happier the child will grow up to be.
This is why Creating Together has begun to implement “Adult Activity” sessions a couple of times a month. The sessions are designed to get parents and caregivers out to meet one another, talk, and create together. These sessions create a natural bridge for staff and parents / caregivers to mingle as well, so those with questions or any need for additional support or information can easily and informally access it.
Last month’s activity was making a fabric quilt. Our next “Adult Activity” is coming up December 6th, and the focus will be on creating a Hanukkah Craft. So come on out and meet some other parents and caregivers, and enjoy some adult company while creating together! We hope you can make it!
