Family Playtime Archives | Page 11 of 15 | Creating Together Parkdale

The Importance of Play

April 17, 2019 by Creating Together

This month’s information sessions for parents and caregivers is about the importance of play. This is a great opportunity to bring your questions and learn how to support your child’s development through the power of play.

These are free opportunities for parents and caregivers,
provided by staff at Creating Together. No RSVP necessary!

So why is play so important? Well, children learn the best when they actively engage in play – and it fosters all aspects of development: social, emotional, cognitive, and language skills.

Play supports cognitive skills, such as language and literacy, math, and the arts.

Play enhances children’s social and emotional development, including self-esteem, empathy, cooperation, and respect for others.

Play enhances children’s physical development, such as balance, coordination, and muscle enhancement.

Play increases creativity. According to a growing body of research, scientists have found a strong link between kids who engage in this type of play with a high level of creativity in adulthood. It is also predictive of “divergent” thinking — generating creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions — and original thinking over time.

So what kinds of activities and experiences can you facilitate to cover these developmental domains at Creating Together? Here are some quick and easy tips:

*Come take a look at our Building Blocks learning station…*

Blocks – Block Play encourages children to be productive and creative, while giving experiences in sorting, grouping, comparing, and arranging. Did you know we have a special Building Blocks station at Creating Together for you to come and enjoy?
Sensory Activities – Sensory activities support children’s science and mathematical concepts. Sand Play and Water Play are naturally soothing materials so make for great mediums for both learning and relaxation. Sifting, scooping, sinking, floating – these are all activities that promote physical dexterity while enhancing cognitive and social skills. At Creating Together, you can enjoy our sensory tables and reap the benefits of Sensory Play!
Art – Art experiences provide children with the pleasure of working with and manipulating materials, while also fulfilling their need for movement, self-expression, and achievement. Coming soon: Egg and Cupcake Decorating on April 18th!
Music – Music increases children’s perception, imagination, language skills, and self-expression. All this, while also contributing to the development of listening skills and memory strategies! Join us for circle time with musical instruments at Creating Together every Tuesday at 11 and 2:30.

So mark your calendars for the April 24th and 26th Information Sessions, to learn how you can take advantage of all we have to offer at Creating Together, to give your child the best start.

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

Benefits of Sand Play: Information Session Summary

December 13, 2018 by Creating Together

Over the last couple of months, Creating Together has been leading information sessions at different play stations, with a different play station featured each month.

To continue our last article regarding this months theme around Sand Play, we wanted to offer a summary of what was covered in the information session, so parents and caregivers can continue to use the blog as a helpful resource when playing with their children and encouraging their learning and development.

If you’d like further information about Sand Play, please visit us at Creating Together and let us know – we’d be happy to share some tips with you in person!

Summary

Sand Play is a great opportunity for Social, Emotional and Language development. While playing in the sand, children use communication skills as they talk about what they are doing and how to do things. They share equipment and learn to get along with each other. As they role play and work together this also provides an opportunity for story telling in the sand.

As you likely already are aware, toddlers love the sand and will spend hours digging, building, scooping, carrying, molding, and scraping. There are dozens of great sand pit toys you can introduce, all of which help your child develop gross and fine motor skills. Playing in the sand provides opportunities for the children to develop their muscles when they dig, shovel, lift, carry, tunnel and rake. These activities help develop the large muscles – gross motor. Pouring, sifting, moulding, drawing, patting, and decorating all help exercise the smaller muscles – fine motor.

Sand play develops an understanding of basic science and math concepts such as exploring, classifying, estimating, experimenting, comparing, counting, measuring and constructing. Before long, they will take their sandpit skills into the garden!

Sand Toys Include…

Buckets of different shapes and sizes
Small spades for scooping
Large spades for digging
Rakes
Watering cans
Plastic pipes which can be used for tunnels
Diggers and dump trucks
Old kitchen utensils such as potatoe mashers, spoons, sifters, strainers, scales, funnels
Different sized containers like drink bottles, containers, flower pots, natural materials like rocks, large shells, and water.

Child Can…

Learn basic concepts related to science, measurement, space and math
Enhance motor skills
Develop eye-hand coordination
Experience various textures
Enhance thinking skills
Develop concentration
Have fun!

Adults Can…

Build hills and mountains
Pretend to be at a construction site
Pretend to cook (measure, mix, etc)

For more information about our upcoming Information Sessions,

please visit our calendar!

Hope to see you at the next one!

The Benefits of Sand Play

December 4, 2018 by Creating Together

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?

Did you know that sand play promotes physical development, hand-eye coordination, small muscle control, language development, mathematical skills and social skills?

How can you support your child?

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!

Thank You for Joining Us at the Diwali Celebration This Year!

November 17, 2018 by Creating Together

Diwali was celebrated on November 7th this year, in accordance with the Lunar Calendar, across Toronto. With over 2000 people identifying as Hindu in the Parkdale-High Park area alone, our local Diwali celebrations fostered a sense of home and community for those who observe the holiday, while increasing awareness, understanding, and compassion among children, parents and caregivers who observe other holidays.

At Creating Together, we celebrated with decorating paper diyas, henna painting, and the sharing of food and sweets.

According to Penn State Extension, children begin to notice gender and racial differences at about age 2, gender labels (boy/girl) and colours (including those applied to skin colour) at about 2 ½, and by 4-5 years, they start to display gender appropriate behavior and become fearful of differences.

Diversity activities teach young children to respect and celebrate the differences in all people, while also helping them understand who they are the context of race, ethnic group, culture, religion, geography, language and familial history. It helps them realize that we’re all humans, despite differences in how we look or dress, or what we eat or celebrate. Games and activities offer a fun way for young children to learn about differences and similarities among people and to introduce the concept of diversity. In so doing, we support them in their own identity formation and sense of belonging within the context of a diverse community.

Thank you to all of you who came out to enjoy Diwali with Creating Together this year.

May joy, prosperity, and happiness illuminate your life and your home!

Resources:

Public Broadcasting Sysyem. “Diversity in the Classroom.” Precious Children. www.pbs.org/kcts/preciouschildren/diversity/

Biles, Barbara. “Activities that promote racial and cultural awareness.” In “Family Child Care Connections” edited by C. M. Todd 4(3): 4. Urbana-Champaign, IL: University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service, 1994. Retrieved September 2012. http://www.pbs.org/kcts/preciouschildren/diversity/read_activities.html