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Celebrating Lunar New Year

February 12, 2024 by Creating Together

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)

Filed Under: Uncategorized

A Guide to Chasing Away Winter Boredom

January 18, 2024 by Creating Together

January can be a tough time for many people, and with more darkness and freezing temperatures, you may feel that it’s harder than normal to keep minds busy and spirits high. We wanted to offer some easy, accessible learning opportunities for your families. We’ve curated a short list of activities using found, at-home objects that won’t have you running to the store to restock materials, and will have you breathing a sigh of relief as your family battles winter boredom in a fun and educational way.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Winter Holiday Fun

December 15, 2023 by Creating Together

The Holiday season can be a very expensive time of year. Are you wanting to spend fun quality time with family, but hoping to take things easy on the wallet? Read on for some exciting cost-free or low-cost Holiday activities near you from To Do Canada!

Snowflake Walk in High Park Zoo

High Park Zoo, 77 Deer Pen Road, Toronto

December 17, 2023

Price:$10 per family

Friends of High Park Zoo is hosting a very special event – the Snowflake Walk where you get to stroll through the Zoo in the dark and see the 30 plus beautifully decorates and lit up trees, enjoy the carollers …and you might see some animals too!

Toronto History Museums Free Admission

Various, City of Toronto History Museums

January 1, 2023 To December 31, 2023

Price: Free

General admission to all 10 Toronto History Museums is permanently free to provide everyone with an opportunity to fully participate in cultural heritage and spaces. This is one of many initiatives at Toronto History Museums to advance diversity, equity and inclusion. Toronto History Museums is committed to dismantling museums’ ongoing colonial legacies and working towards fostering reconciliation and healing as well as enhancing the understanding of Toronto’s diverse stories from multiple perspectives.

The Bentway Skate Trail

Bentway, 250 Fort York Blvd, Toronto

December 16, 2023 To February 19, 2024

Price:Free

The Bentway is a unique and innovative public space that transforms 1.75km underneath Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway, from Strachan Avenue to Bathurst Street.

The Bentway transforms into a uniquely urban winter wonderland with the December 16 opening of its 220 metre skate trail and experience a special, soaring art installation inspired by the glowing hues of the northern lights.

Check out To Do Canada for the full list:

https://www.todocanada.ca/20-free-things-toronto-december/

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Keeping Your Family Well Through Fall and Winter

November 14, 2023 by Creating Together

With the colder weather comes the flu season. Did you have a chance to read the letter from Toronto Public Health included in our most recent newsletter?

Combined with handwashing, staying on top of vaccinations, and the option of masking, here are a few additional tips to keep your family physically and mentally well in these colder and darker days.

1. Up Your Vitamin D

Not only do we get less sunshine at this time of year, we need to increase our vitamin D to ward off infection and inflammation. Vitamin D helps build strong bones, and even plays a role in mood regulation –  also supporting your mental health! 

2. Increase Sleep

As an additional symptom of less sunlight, you may be finding that your family is needing more sleep. This is perfectly natural – It’s recommended that we do slightly increase sleeping hours in the winter months. Sleep will also help you fight off any illness! 

3. Stay Active 

It can be tempting to hibernate, and though more rest is encouraged, staying active is essential for your physical and mental health! Try to get outside with your kids and soak in the little sunlight that we get. This may be a great time to pick up a new activity or active hobby. When in doubt, pay a visit to Creating Together and make use of our indoor climber! 

What are your favourite wellness tips for the changing weather?

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: health, parenting tips

The Benefits of Sensory Play

April 19, 2023 by Creating Together

Using their senses is one of the most important ways children can learn about the world around them. Here are four quick facts/benefits of sensory play: 

1. Sensory play builds nerve connections in the brain.

Sensory play is necessary for the development of sensory integration and consequently, cognitive development! 

2. Sensory play helps to develop fine motor skills.

Sensory play often involves touch – encouraging specific actions such as squeezing, pinching, moving, and pouring. These actions build fine motor skills, which will become useful in day to day life. 

3. Sensory play encourages scientific exploration.

When children engage in sensory play they will be observing, forming conclusions as well as problem solving! 

4. Sensory play allows children to refine their threshold. 

As children explore the world around them through their senses, they learn to slowly filter out different sensory experiences. This helps them to refine their threshold and manage sensory overwhelm in their day to day life.


Next week at Creating Together we’ll be offering the option to Make Your Own Sensory Bag at the art table! Join us on April 28th and enjoy these sensory benefits! 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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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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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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12947 6248 RR0001
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