Family Resource Centre
We are excited to be opening up again this Tuesday, and look forward to seeing your familiar faces (and hopefully some new ones!).
After a much needed break, Creating Together programs open again September 7th. We know that many of our youngsters will be heading to school, and wish them all the best in their adventures!
We will continue to offer Virtual Programming (starting Tuesday), and will gradually be reopening the in-person program again (but not quite yet – stay tuned).
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:
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!
Getting children outside to enjoy time for free play in natural environments increases attentions spans, creative thought, and the desire to learn through exploration (https://www.asla.org/ContentDetail.aspx?id=39558). It also helps their motor, sensory, social and cognitive development – and is great for their general health and well-being (https://www.learningpotential.gov.au/the-benefits-of-outdoor-play).
Finding ways to be active in colder winter months can be challenging, and even more so with physical and social distancing measures in place. The Parkdale Village BIA is proud to support a local community initiative; Parkdale FitPlay! The Parkdale FitPlay Campaign provides a fun affordable way for Parkdalians to be active outdoors safely throughout the winter months. Kicking-off on Wednesday, January 27 for 4 weeks, and with the support of local fitness leaders and personalities from Parkdale’s diverse Black / BIPOC communities, you’re invited to get outside, get fit and have fun!!
Community members are encouraged to visit designated public park locations and participate in self-led physical exercise and play, inspired by the FitPlay letter key.
Each letter of the alphabet, A to Z, is associated with a simple exercise most can perform some variation of safely. E.g. A = 10 high knees on the spot.
Participants self-select a word or phrase and perform the exercises associated with each letter. E.g. P A R K D A L E = 10 squats, 10 high knees on the spot, etc.
Mix up your FitPlay by choosing a new word, a new park or a new challenge each time and invite your Parkdale friends and neighbours to do the same!
FitPlay Contest Details (Article by Anna Bartula)
Hashtags: #parkdalefitplay
Instagram/Facebook Tags: @parkdafitplay@supafitmama
According to the government of Ontario, given the high transmission of COVID-19 in Ottawa, Peel, Toronto and York Region, traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating is not recommended. But it doesn’t mean we can’t have a tonne of fun, right?! Here are some trick-or-treat alternatives to get ready for this year, and make sure your family keeps the spirit of halloween alive!
The government of Ontario recommended it, and guess what – we are offering one! Creating Together Early ON Centre is excited to invite you to our Virtual Halloween Costume Party next Friday October 30th 🙂 We CAN’T WAIT to see everyone’s costumes and hopefully you all will enjoy our Halloween songs and craft activities!
On Friday October 30th at 10am, click this link to join: zoom.us/j/7391226799
Feel like hosting your own? Indy With Kids offers some great how-to tips here:
https://indywithkids.com/halloween-zoom-party/
It is recommended that this be with the people living within your household, due to COVID-19. So here’s some tips to do in advance, to make sure all goes smoothly ~
Looking for ideas? Spruce Crafts offers some awesome tips here: https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/pumpkin-carving-ideas-for-kids-4153104
KOA offers some awesome scary campfire stories which will do the trick, here: https://koa.com/blog/kid-friendly-spooky-campfire-stories/
Trick-or-treat 2020 might be cancelled, but that hasn’t stopped enthusiasts from doing up their front yarns with some haunting delights! Once your done your own lawn, go and do a drive-by on some of the greates lawns in the city: The Brenyon Way houses, 1 Krisbury Avenue, and 27 Glenlake Avenue are just some of the usual spooky staples to check out!
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!
