Search Results for: for the love of reading

January Calendar Announcements

January 2, 2019 by Melanie

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:

Science Activities

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.

Literacy Mondays

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!

Information Sessions: Benefits of Dramatic Play

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.

Busy Bodies Exercise Cards

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!

Circle Time with Musical Instruments

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

Black Resistance on the Bookshelf

February 8, 2023 by Eliza Martin

Children’s Books for Black History Month

Reading is not only a wonderful way to support your child’s literacy, but also to support their education and learning around Black History. This year’s Black History Month theme is “Black Resistance”, and we invite you to engage with a few selections from curated book lists. Check out the books below, and feel free to visit the sources linked for further book recommendations.

Life Doesn’t Frighten Me

by Angelou, Maya

Maya Angelou’s brave, defiant poem celebrates the courage within each of us, young and old. From the scary thought of panthers in the park to the unsettling scene of a new classroom, fearsome images are summoned and dispelled by the power of faith in ourselves. Angelou’s strong words are matched by the daring vision of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose childlike style reveals the powerful emotions and fanciful imaginings of childhood. Together, Angelou’s words and Basquiat’s paintings create a place where every child, indeed every person, may experience his or her own.

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History

by Harrison, Vashti

Featuring forty trailblazing black women in American history, Little Leaders educates and inspires as it relates true stories of breaking boundaries and achieving beyond expectations. Illuminating text paired with irresistible illustrations bring to life both iconic and lesser-known female figures of Black history such as abolitionist Sojourner Truth, pilot Bessie Coleman, chemist Alice Ball, politician Shirley Chisholm, mathematician Katherine Johnson, poet Maya Angelou, and filmmaker Julie Dash.

Hey Black Child

by Perkins, Useni Eugene

Collier’s characteristic watercolor-and-collage masterpieces bring joy and gravity to Perkins’s inspirational poem. With a compelling rhythm that begs for recitation, the verse (often misattributed to Countee Cullen) celebrates the power and potential of black children. The illustrations pair young black faces with visions of their successful futures as astronauts, artists, politicians, and more and feature some of the artist’s favorite motifs, including soaring balloons and rays of light. The visuals also contribute historical heft to the lyrical affirmation, layering images from African civilizations, the civil rights movement, and Black Lives Matter into the spreads, connecting the book’s triumphs to African Americans’ roots and ongoing struggles against racism and oppression.

Mae Among the Stars
by Ahmed, Roda

When Little Mae was a child, she dreamed of dancing in space. She imagined herself surrounded by billions of stars, floating, gliding, and discovering. She wanted to be an astronaut. Her mom told her, “If you believe it, and work hard for it, anything is possible.” Little Mae’s curiosity, intelligence, and determination, matched with her parents’ encouraging words, paved the way for her incredible success at NASA as the first African American woman to travel in space.

Read more from this book list here: https://bookriot.com/childrens-books-for-african-american-history-month/

I Am Enough
By Grace Byers

Empire actor and activist Grace Byers along with artist Keturah A. Bobo have written a lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others, and being kind to one another.

Skin Like Mine
By LaTashia Perry

An entertaining yet creative way to address and celebrate diversity among young children.

I Love My Hair
By Natasha Tarpley

A girl named Keyana discovers the beauty and magic of her special hair, encouraging black children to be proud of their heritage and enhancing self-confidence.

Sulwe
By Lupita Nyong’o

A whimsical and heartwarming story to inspire children to see their own unique beauty.

Malaika’s Winter Carnival

by Nadia L. Hohn, illustrated by Irene Luxbacher

Malaika is happy to have her Mummy again, and Mr. Frederic and her new sister Adele seem nice. But being part of a new family means moving to a new country — Canada — where everything is strange. It’s cold in her new city, she misses Grandma, no one understands when she talks and Carnival is nothing like Carnival in the Caribbean. This title is also available in French as Le carnaval de Malaika.

Welcome to the Cypher

by Khodi Dill, illustrated by Awuradwoa Afful

Welcome to the Cypher is a picture book of music and fun hip-hop wordplay. This read-aloud book features children learning confidence and self-expression as they rap together in a group.

Look for these titles and more at your local library, bookstore, or at Creating Together! We look forward to continuing conversations around Black Resistance throughout this month and beyond.

Pride Book Recommendations from Glitterbug’s Niña!

June 7, 2022 by Eliza Martin

Niña shares a story at Creating Together (May 2022).

As we welcome June in Toronto, we look forward to supporting and celebrating the 2SLGBTQ+ community through Pride month (and beyond)! To kick off these celebrations and important conversations at Creating Together, we’ve asked Niña Cabaguio (she/her), RECE and Coordinator of Glitterbug: 2SLGBTQ+ EarlyON Mobile Program at the 519, to offer some children’s book recommendations!

Niña’s Book Recommendations for Pride Month

#1) Love Makes a Family (Ages 0-3)

Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer is a wonderful board book for our 0-3 years of age that talks about the various structures of family and types of love. There are beautiful illustrators of cultural diversity and family diversity that enriches a welcoming and inclusive space!

#2) Neither by Airlie Anderson (ages 4-8)

Neither by Airlie Anderson is one of my go-to books when it comes to explaining the spectrum of gender (and outside of the gender spectrum) that exists! Neither showcases the nonbinary terms in a child-friendly and fun way. Did you know the “+” in our 2SLGBTQ+ acronym is to showcase all the types of gender identities?

#3) Sparkle Boy (ages 4 to 8)

Sparkle Boy by Leslie Newman is a great story for our 4 to 8 years old. It talks about acceptance within the family and having that inclusive space within the environment and supporting our gender-diverse children.

#4) Our Rainbow by Little Bee Books (0 to 3 years)

Our Rainbow by Little Bee Books is a beautiful, illustrated children book that talks about the meaning behind each color of the rainbow. I truly love this book, as it is a great conversation starter about the brown and black on the rainbow too!

#5) Call me Tree (ages 4 to 8)

Call me Tree by Maya Christina Gonzalez is a beautiful multi-language book (Spanish and English) that talks about belonging. We may all identify differently, but we all belong together as a community. Did you know some folks uses “tree” as a pronoun?

Happy Reading!

Thank you so much Niña for these recommendations! Some of Niña’s suggested reads will be available for families to enjoy in the centre, and we encourage you to take advantage of book selections through the Parkdale Library as well. You can enjoy stories and songs with Niña on June 8th, when she joins us for guest circle time at 10:00am. Keep your eyes on our calendar for other exciting events going on this month.

HAPPY PRIDE!

-Creating Together

Setting Intentions for 2022

January 1, 2022 by Melanie

With the solar new year just completed and the lunar new year fast approaching (February 1st this year), its a great time to set some intentions and goals for the new year.

Just like adults, children benefit from goal and intention-setting. Creating a clear idea of what you’d like to achieve or experience, making a plan to go after it, and experiencing that sense of accomplishment when you’ve reached your goal – what an important life skill.

Whether it’s learning something new or spending more time with that special someone, talking about their goals and intentions for the year has several benefits:

Create clarity. Getting clear about what we want in life is a life skill that is key to actually attaining what we want in life.

Improve ability to communicate as a family – When we ask and truly listen to each other, it helps us all experience what healthy, supportive communication looks like.

Learn to celebrate resilience. Creating milestones so loved ones can come together to celebrate challenges and successes along the way. When parents and caregivers share their challenges in achieving their goals and children witness you learn from those challenges, celebrate those lessons, and get back to trying again, they learn resilience as well.

Increase trust. Sharing our goals and values and having them truly heard, supported and celebrated helps bring loved ones closer. It takes practice, but when it’s done well the trust that can be created is beautiful.

Teach important lessons. Sharing and working towards individual or shared intentions helps us learn important qualities of collaboration, cooperation, and working towards a common vision.

Have fun! Making it a game helps to take the pressure off, and teaches that goal setting can be fun. Imagine a better year together (sky’s the limit!), try out a worksheet, build a family collage. Enjoy the process!

Ready to give it a try? Here are some examples of worksheets you can create at home, to help guide some conversations with members of your family, about your own goals and one another’s!

Helpful Tip – we are here for you as a hub and a resource. If your child has a goal that you would like some resources on or would like to talk about (eg., reading, behaviour, healthy eating, exercise), let us know! We can also help you with goals related to parenting, healthy eating, and literacy.

Online Story Time

June 17, 2020 by Melanie

Literacy is key to our programming at Creating Together, for all of our families. And even when programs are closed due to COVID, we are here continuing to help reading be fun, for all of you.

Did you know that early literacy begins before a child can read? According to research by the Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network, children who are successful readers have usually engaged in many early language and literacy activities before starting school. In fact, hearing and engaging with books read aloud to them is one of the most important activities for infants, toddlers, and pre-school children.

So join us from home for live storytime with our staff – and enjoy the reads below with your little one at your next reading time!

Happy Reading!

Why I Love My Mommy (illustrated by Daniel Howarth)

This charming book features children telling, in their own words, endearing things about their mothers, with gentle illustrations of familiar animals. Perfect for that special day for mom, be it Mother’s Day, her birthday, or just to lift her spirits.

For more books to celebrate mothers and fathers days (Father’s Day is around the corner!), check out: https://myfamilystuff.ca/mothers-day-fathers-day-books-harpercollins/

Story Time ( Why I Love My Mommy) with Tanya
Posted by Creating Together Parkdale on Tuesday, June 9, 2020

If you Give a Mouse a Cookie (by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond)

Help kids understand the importance of personal responsibility with this fun story about an energetic young mouse who follows a young boy making a string of requests…eventually tiring out the boy!

LEARNING TIP: Teaching our children that every action causes a reaction, is essential in parenting. Understanding cause and effect helps children see that our behaviors and actions has an effect on ourselves, others, and our environment. Use this book to continue this important lesson in personal responsibility.

"If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"-Laura Numeroff
Story time
Posted by Creating Together Parkdale on Friday, June 5, 2020

Twinky the Dinky Dog (by Kate Klimo, illustrated by Michael Fleming)

This story is perfect for children who love dogs, and who are ready to begin the exciting and fun journey of reading on their own. Twinky is a mix of determination, practice, and bravery – and shows the town that he is most certainly, not dinky at all!

Story Time (Twinky The Dinky Dog) with Neetu
Posted by Creating Together Parkdale on Thursday, June 4, 2020

Hush Little Polar Bear (by Jeff Mack)

Jeff Mack has illustrated many books, but this one is the first that he both wrote and illustrated! Hush Little Polar Bear takes a girl and her stuffed polar bear on a beautiful trip through a variety of places before they return to her bedroom. A recommended bedtime read!

Story Time (Hush Little Polar Bear) with Tanya
Posted by Creating Together Parkdale on Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Search Results for: for the love of reading

Science Activities

Literacy Mondays

Information Sessions: Benefits of Dramatic Play

Busy Bodies Exercise Cards

Circle Time with Musical Instruments

Life Doesn’t Frighten Me

by Angelou, Maya

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History

by Harrison, Vashti

Hey Black Child

by Perkins, Useni Eugene

Mae Among the Starsby Ahmed, Roda

I Am EnoughBy Grace Byers

Skin Like MineBy LaTashia Perry

I Love My HairBy Natasha Tarpley

SulweBy Lupita Nyong’o

Malaika’s Winter Carnival

by Nadia L. Hohn, illustrated by Irene Luxbacher

Welcome to the Cypher

by Khodi Dill, illustrated by Awuradwoa Afful

Niña’s Book Recommendations for Pride Month

#1) Love Makes a Family (Ages 0-3)

#2) Neither by Airlie Anderson (ages 4-8)

#3) Sparkle Boy (ages 4 to 8)

#4) Our Rainbow by Little Bee Books (0 to 3 years)

#5) Call me Tree (ages 4 to 8)

Happy Reading!

Why I Love My Mommy (illustrated by Daniel Howarth)

If you Give a Mouse a Cookie (by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond)

Twinky the Dinky Dog (by Kate Klimo, illustrated by Michael Fleming)

Hush Little Polar Bear (by Jeff Mack)

Creating Together Parkdale Family Resource Centre

Now Open for In-Person Program!

Sign up to receive our monthly calendar

Hours

Contact Us

Mae Among the Stars
by Ahmed, Roda

I Am Enough
By Grace Byers

Skin Like Mine
By LaTashia Perry

I Love My Hair
By Natasha Tarpley

Sulwe
By Lupita Nyong’o