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Enjoying the Benefits of the Arts from Home

August 25, 2020 by Melanie

Toronto is known for being a mecca of art and culture, and many arts and culture buffs (young and old alike) can’t wait for the theatres and museums to open again! That said, you’d be happy to know that the City of Toronto website offers an extensive list of free arts activities for all ages to enjoy in the comfort of your home.

That’s right – even with COVID, you can absolutely get your art on. Check it out for yourself in the link below, for a full table of activities to choose from for ALL ages:

https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-protect-yourself-others/covid-19-reduce-virus-spread/covid-19-stay-play-learn-at-home/

From weekly virtual art classes and theatrical performances to interactive maps of street art from across the city, there are pages and pages to choose from!

Developmental Benefits of Arts and Culture

Apart from the apparent fun that’s ready to be had when exploring art and culture, there are so many developmental benefits of art for children as well:

Motor Skills: According to the National Institutes of Health, developmental milestones around age three should include drawing a circle and beginning to use safety scissors. Did you know that many preschool programs emphasize the use of scissors because it develops the dexterity children will need for writing?

Language Development: Making art gives children opportunities to learn words for colors, shapes and actions. As they get older, children use more and more descriptive words to discuss their creation or how they feel about them.

Decision Making: Over the process of creating art, children need to carry out a number of decisions and choices, and this skill can help them in other areas of life. The act of exploring, thinking, and experimenting can’t be underestimated!

Visual Learning: Children are very visual, taking in information and cues from pictures or objects and learning from what they see are the building blocks for reading, drawing, and sculpting!

“Parents need to be aware that children learn a lot more from graphic sources now than in the past. Children need to know more about the world than just what they can learn through text and numbers. Art education teaches students how to interpret, criticize, and use visual information, and how to make choices based on it.”

Dr. Kerry Freedman, Head of Art and Design Education at Northern Illinois University.

Cultural Awareness: Especially in cities like Toronto and neighbourhoods like Parkdale, we live in a very diverse community. When looking at a piece of art or cultural piece, try to have a conversation with them to help them see the choice or point of view an artist is portraying.

Academic Performance: In an article by the Art and Music Centre a student involved in the arts is:

  • 4x more likely to be recognized for academic achievement.
  • 4x more likely to participate in a math or science fair.
  • 3x more likely to win an award for school attendance.
  • 3x more likely to be elected to class office.

Did you know that lower income or socioeconomic students experience even greater benefits from the arts? It’s true: Low income students highly engaged in the arts are more than twice as likely to graduate compared to their peers with no arts education, and have a 5x lower dropout rate!

Arts and Crafts with Creating Together live on Facebook!

Don’t forget to join us on facebook for some great online arts and crafts activities with Creating Together staff!

https://www.facebook.com/CreatingTogetherParkdale/

So what are you waiting for? Get creating!

Filed Under: Family Playtime, Special Activities, Tips and Tools Tagged With: Art, Culture and Diversity

Nurturing Art in Childhood

November 27, 2019 by Melanie

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

Albert Einstein

Art is vital to the mental, emotional, and psychological development in children. Children benefit from discovering art by doing and exploring an array of art materials. They are naturally curious and love to experiment with colors, textures and art tools. Using, safe, non-toxic art materials, toddlers can get messy using their hands to feel and apply paint; scribbling with markers and crayons; painting with sponges, brushes and other tools; squeezing safe modeling materials; cutting all types of paper products with safety scissors; gluing materials to create something new; and playing with shapes. These types of activities help toddlers to develop fine motor skills and cognitive abilities while promoting creativity and building fine motor skills.

“Research indicates that a child who is exposed to the arts acquires a special ability to think creatively, be original, discover, innovate, and create intellectual property—key attributes for individual success and social prosperity in the twenty-first century.”

International Child Art Foundation

How Parents and Caregivers Can Encourage Artistic Play

Stencil Art Table at Creating Together

Set Aside Space

Having a specific area in the home that always has a variety of art materials available for children is a great way to interest and encourage children to experiment with art. Don’t put everything out at once, as it can be overwhelming and distracting for a young child. Supply paper plates, recycled paper, old magazines and such to encourage creative clipping and for making pictures and collages.

Practice Non-Judgement

Resist the urge to direct a child’s art creation or judge it. Creative expression and making choices builds independence in young children, as they naturally learn to do more and more by themselves each day. A child may experiment with colors and end up with something that looks muddy – yet this unintended outcome is a great opportunity for a child to learn by doing.

Huge gratitude to our funders for this new art station we were able to bring in
for the children of Creating Together!

Ask Questions

Parents can show interest by asking their child about the story behind the artwork. “How did you make it?” What is it all about?” “What do you really like about it?” Listen up! When a child asks a question, encourage the child to solve it by him/herself. “How do you think that might work?” “What can you try?” What would happen if….” Parents and caregivers can reinforce language by discussing colors, shapes, patterns and all aspects of the creative process.

Displaying Artwork

Art on display at Creating Together

Displaying a child’s artwork is also a great way to encourage a child to create art because it shows how much a parent values the child’s very original creation!

Filed Under: Family Playtime, Tips and Tools Tagged With: Art, child development, Play

Summer Fun in the Hood

July 4, 2019 by Melanie

Looking for some fun things to do with your child / children this month? Well, one of the beautiful things about Toronto is that it sure has a lot to offer families. Here are just a few things happening in our neighbourhood:

Pop-up Skatepark Saturdays at Ontario Place

This skatepark made of Freshpark ramps offers quarter pipes, rails, and fun boxes complete with an awesome view of the CN Tower!

Have your own skate gear? The skatepark is open daily from 10am – 6pm. If you need to rent gear or interested in taking a lesson, CJ’s Skatepark staff will be onsite every Saturday between 12-5pm to offer up some great lessons!

Magic with Scott Dietrich at the High Park Public Library

On Wednesday, July 17th from 2-3pm, popular and award winning Toronto magician Scott Dietrich comes to the High Park Public Library to put on a magic show for ages 12 and under and their caregivers.

Drop in, however space is limited. Large groups and camps should contact High Park branch in advance.

Art in the Park: An Outdoor Painting Event for Parent and Child

For children 6yrs old and their caregiver(s), “Art in the Park” is a 3 part series presented by Mama Soul Living. The event, held July 13th in High Park, will be coupled parent and child creating art together on one canvas. This event for the child will be Fun, Creative and for the parent, Connected, intimate. Both will get to know eachother at an equal level.

Both of you will have fun! and create art together!

Star Wars Day

This free event, held at the Toronto Public Library at 228 Roncesvalles on July 25th from 2-3pm, invites all those over 6yrs of age and their caregivers to come in costumes and celebrate all things Star Wars!

Museum of Contemporary Art

“Life of a Dead Tree” by Mark Dion is an exhibit that brings attention to our role in observing and caring for Ontario’s natural ecosystems. With the support of the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Toronto and other partners, visitors can observe and participate in a kind-of autopsy of the tree that will unfold over the course of a two-month exhibition period. This shared investigation will remove, preserve and document all the various life forms the tree continues to support.

Most importantly, the project will act as a site for conversations around specific pernicious, invasive insects threatening North American forests, such as the Emerald Ash Borer and Elm Bark Beetle. Everything from beetles to liverworts, fungi to bug galleries will be revealed during the examination.

CultureLink’s Annual Picnic in High Park

CultureLink’s Summer Picnic was an annual tradition that got lost some years ago. But we are happy to announce that we are bringing it back!

Join our family and bring yours to enjoy a BBQ and an afternoon of outdoor fun. Food, drinks and games on us. All you have to do is RSVP(*) and count the days to July 27th. We’ll be at High Park’s Picnic Area #14, across the road from the Outdoor Pool. See you there!

Filed Under: Family Playtime, What's On in Parkdale Tagged With: Art, Outdoor Play, Parkdale, Picnics, Roncesvalles, Summer Fun

Celebrating Canada Day at Creating Together

July 13, 2017 by Melanie

Children with their families and caregivers came to Creating Together to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary this month. A wonderful time was had by all, honouring the shared history, symbols, and values that define us as Canadians.

If you’re looking for more, here are some ways to honour Canada throughout the year with your children:

  • Check out the very best of Canadian literature for children with this “One Hundred Best” list from Kids Space (Toronto Public Library)
  • Learn more about Canada with National Geographic’s Canada Country Profile, offering information about Nature, Geography, People and Cultures of Canada
  • Understand the meaning behind the symbols of the Parliment of Canada with this great online resource, “Searching for Symbols” offering games, a symbols gallery, and symbols tour!
  • CBC’s “Best of Canada” video playlist – their favorite Canadian videos, all about Canada (below), offering a fun spotlight on what it is to be Canadian

Filed Under: Family Playtime, Special Activities Tagged With: Art, Canada Day

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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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Hours

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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Charitable Registration Number:
12947 6248 RR0001
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