We invite our Creating Together community to fill out this survey from Toronto Children’s Services:
https://cotsurvey.chkmkt.com/?e=391330&d=l&h=AAA8A68D15F5B02
Family Survey from Toronto Children’s Services
Asian Heritage Month on the Bookshelf
May is Asian Heritage Month, and as the month comes to a close, take this as your reminder to continue your celebration and learning into the rest of the year! Check out these reads you can share with the whole family!
- My Day with Gong Gong by Sennah Yee, illustrated by Elaine Chen
- When You Can Swim by Jack Wong
- My Grandfather’s Song by Phùng Nguyên Quang and Huynh Kim Liên
- The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
- Eyes That Speak to the Stars by Joanna Ho
Happy Reading, Creating Together!
You can find more book suggestions here:
Spring Nature Crafts
Spring is finally here, and it’s the perfect weather to get outside as a family! Are you looking for educational but easy spring-themed nature crafts? Check out a few ideas below….
Dande-LIONs
Though this project takes a little more adult-prep or prep-supervision, it’s an adorable activity to enjoy on a long walk, and can be re-used a few times! Save cardboard from a cereal box, add a face, and poke pencil holes. Then take your lion on a family walk and add dandelions to create the mane.
Read more: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5lbmzjuZIf/?igsh=MWNyOWtyZzk1aDBmZg%3D%3D
Nature Bracelets
Short on time? This activity takes almost no planning and no prep, yet has a big payoff! Using packing tape, take a strip and wrap it around wrists, sticky side out. Take a walk and select different pieces of nature to add to your bracelet!
Read more: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5iohtSu8S5/?igsh=MTRqbnM4NzZycDhoeQ%3D%3D
Nature Puzzle
Though this activity also takes preparation, it too can be reused. Draw a large shape on a piece of paper or piece of cardboard. For an older child, choose a more challenging shape. Then, collect nature items to use as puzzle pieces, and when you get home, challenge your child to fill the shape!
Follow the links under each activity for further information.
What do you think of these ideas? Let us know in the comments below!
2024 March Break Family Events in Toronto
Are you looking for accessible ways to keep your family occupied and engaged this March Break? To Do Canada has got us covered with an incredible list of local events. Below you can find our top selections of cost-free or low-cost family activities to bring you maximum fun this March Break!
Art Gallery of Ontario
March 9 to 17, 2024
Get ready for a kid-focused March Break at the Gallery! Enjoy interactive art activations, and afternoon karaoke in Walker Court. Dive into creativity with maker stations scattered throughout the Gallery Details
Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas St W, Toronto
25 and Under FREE
Free Concert Series | Toronto
March 13, 2024 | 12 PM
Enjoy this free concert by the Canadian Opera Company in one of Toronto’s most breathtaking and intimate spaces. The Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, presented by TD Bank Group, brings artists from around the world to share their talent and passion in one of Toronto’s most breathtaking and intimate spaces. Located within the Isadore and Rosalie Sharp City Room at the Four Seasons Centre, this iconic, glass-enclosed space connects the building to its surroundings and community.
Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, 145 Queen St W, Toronto
Free
St Patrick’s Day Parade Toronto
Sunday, March 17, 2024 | 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM
Join us for the biggest St Patricks day parade to hit the streets of Toronto.
A community event in celebrating Irish culture history and heritage. The parade has grown to include a number of diverse communities and non-profit groups and is recognized as the largest Irish-themed event held in Toronto. A fun-filled affordable family day.
Begins on the corner of Bloor Street and St. George Street, Toronto
Free
Todmorden Mills
March – 17, 2024
Celebrate women’s stories and history by making crafts inspired by the work of influential figures such as Alice Eastwood, Jean Lumb and Elizabeth Simcoe. Amplify your experience with added activities that include crafts like 3-D paper birds, clothespin frogs, paper flower bouquets, zines, watercolour painting of local flora and fauna and more!
Todmorden Mills Heritage Site, 67 Pottery Road, Toronto
Free
Fort York
March 9 to 17, 2024
Enhance your visit with added family-friendly and interactive programming. Reserve ahead for access to a variety of enhanced activities that include baking, drumming, dancing, storytelling and beading. Engage in discussion about the presence of women in historical military contexts within the free pop-up talks.
Fort York National Historic Site, 250 Fort York Blvd., Toronto
Free to $20/family
Gibson House Museum
March 9 – 17, 2024
Try your hand at a variety of games in the parlour and weaving in the Sustainable Studio. Dive into a multi-sensory experience of Toronto’s foodways through demonstrations and food activations.
Gibson House Museum, 5172 Yonge Street, Toronto
Free
Montgomery’s Inn
March 9 – 17, 2024
March Break at Montgomery’s Inn celebrates and showcases the foods and culinary traditions of immigrants and Indigenous communities because these cultural elements are an integral part of Toronto’s identity. Visitors can share their cultural heritage by contributing a family recipe and sample local treats from the communities that make up our neighbourhood!
Montgomery’s Inn, Dundas Street West, Etobicoke
Free
Nature Connection: Winter Trees
Sunday March 10, 2024 | 2 – 3:30 PM
During this program, we will be practising our tree Identification skills and playing some activities as we explore the wonderful winter world of trees.
Downsview Park, 70 Canuck Ave, Toronto
Free
Lumière: The Art of Light
March 12 to April 20, 2024
This free light exhibition allows visitors to explore the park and experience light installations developed by local artists. Utilizing innovation, light and discovery, Lumière offers the opportunity for local artists and creators to “illuminate” the park under the curatorial theme “CONNECTIONS”.
Trillium Park, 955 Lake Shore Blvd W, Toronto
Free
Toys “R” Us March Break
Visit your local Toys ”R”Us store Monday through Friday of your March Break to enjoy free activities. No event registration is required. Recommended for ages 4 and up. Event material is available while supplies last and distributed to participants only. Parental supervision is required at all times.
TBA
Toys “R” Us Stores
Free
Toronto Public Library
Monday, March 11 to Friday, March 15
Looking for something to do during March Break? The Toronto library offers more than 100 free activities for kids, teens, and the whole family. Browse the programs or use our search tool to find out what’s happening at your local branch.
Toronto Public Library branches.
Free
Read More: https://www.todocanada.ca/march-break-activities-toronto/
You can find the complete list in the link above. We hope you enjoy these events, families! And remember, you can always come and spend the day at Creating Together!
Celebrating Lunar New Year
This past weekend was the celebration of Lunar New Year, falling on February 10th in China. As the year of the Dragon begins, here is some information about traditions and celebrations!
Also known as the Spring Festival, the Lunar New Year is celebrated across Asia, as well as by communities across the world. The Lunar New Year begins with the rising of the second new moon after the winter solstice. The festivities usher out the old year and are meant to bring luck and prosperity in the new one.
Some examples of different traditions:
In China, houses are decorated with red for good luck, and children are given money in bright red envelopes. New year celebrations last for two weeks, ending with a lantern festival, which marks the full moon.
In Korea, celebrations last three-days, and include traditional costumes (known as hanbok). In order to show respect to their elders, children honour them deep bows (known as seh bae).
In Vietnam, Lunar New Year, also known as Tết, is celebrated with family. Food, like bánh tét (log-like cylinder) and bánh chưng (square) sticky rice cakes, plays a vital role in the celebrations!
In the Philippines, when the clock strikes midnight, you’ll see children and adults jumping for joy, as it’s said that it will make them grow taller. The most traditional celebration of the Lunar New Year is called Media Noche, where Filipino families come together for a midnight feast to celebrate a year of prosperity ahead.
In the Chinese zodiac, this year is the Year of the Wood Dragon. It is said that children born in the year ahead will be known for their intuition and intelligence, and as such will enjoy lots of success!
Read from sources:
-Maggie Hiufu Wong (CNN), Wanyuan Song & Jeremy Howell (BBC News), Anna Kim (Travel + Leisure)
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