online programming Archives | Creating Together Parkdale

Teaching Children to Love Themselves

March 1, 2021 by Melanie

Self-esteem and confidence is important to nurture in children. It instills a growth mindset, resilience, and the ability to both act responsibly and take accountability for one’s actions. On the other hand, a poor self-esteem can lead to feelings of frustration and sadness, a loss of interest in learning, and becoming withdrawn / non-committal.

So how do we cultivate Self-Love in our children? Well, according to the Child Development Center in Illinois, here are five simple yet important steps that parents and teachers alike can take to build self-esteem:

Listen to and acknowledge your child’s thoughts and feelings.
Create situations that help your child experience success, not failure. Set clear and appropriate expectations, offer reasonable amounts of help, provide adequate incentives and remove obstacles.
Give your child a feeling of reasonable control over their life.
Reinforce that your child is lovable and capable.
Show your child that you have a positive view of yourself.

(https://www.chhs.niu.edu/child-center/resources/articles/self-esteem.shtml)

Self-Love Programming This Week at Creating Together

This week Creating Together is focusing it’s programming on Self-Love, to offer some stories, songs and tools to move the children of our community in the right direction. Apart from our regular science, craft and movement activities, join us for some of these experiences, designed especially for our theme!

Circle Time: Join us Monday and Wednesday at 10am on our Zoom channel for live songs and rhymes about self-love, with a special focus on infant circle time on Friday at noon (also on Zoom).

Storytime: Read along with us through our Facebook page at noon on Monday, Wednesday or Friday for stories of self-love. For example, this Monday Leah shared “I Am Perfectly Designed” by Jason Brown and his Father Karamo Brown (author reading below as well), “One Love” by Cedella Marley (Bob Marley’s daughter!).

Glitterbug Guest Circle: This Wednesday (and the first Wednesday of every month, join us for a live virtual circle time with special guest Jerry from Glitterbug at 10:00 am on Zoom: zoom.us/j/7391226799.

Parent Drop-In Discussion: On Monday and Friday at 2:30, join us on Zoom for a live drop-in parent discussion.

Enjoy the week families, join us if you can, and please reach out to our staff if we can help you with any resources – We are here to help!

Resources:

Online & Remote Programming

January 14, 2021 by Melanie

Online and remote programming is a lifeline for families right now. Trust us when we say – we understand how difficult isolation can be.

People placed in quarantine or self-isolation may experience a wide range of feelings, including fear, anger, sadness, irritability, guilt or confusion. They may find it hard to sleep. Some people might feel relieved. Humans are social creatures and need connection to others to thrive, which can make isolation challenging.
https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-health-and-covid-19/quarantine-and-isolation

The following suggestions may help you through this challenging time – we want to emphasize to all of our families that we are here to continue offering support to families while they stay home.

Online Support

Please see our virtual programming in the poster below, and craft a routine that can support your rhythm, wherever you are at.

Tips:

For Zoom on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, all you have to do is open (click) on the zoom link, and follow the instructions that Zoom provides for downloading the app onto your device. Here’s the link to join us: zoom.us/j/7391226799
For Facebook circle time on Tuesdays and Thursdays, just sign onto our Facebook page here and watch the session live with us! Here’s the link to join us on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CreatingTogetherParkdale
We do highly recommend you try and come to the live programs, as it can be a more interactive experience both for you as well as you child. At the same time, if you can’t make it to the program then do take a look at the recordings posted on our Facebook page, to have it benefit you at the pace you can manage.

Remote Support

Creating Together now offers remote support through some curb-side pick-up options, with delivery available on request:

food packages,
craft and activity supplies to supplement our online programming,
printed resources.

Telephone Support

We are also ready to talk, so please don’t hesitate to reach out at: (416) 537-1004 if you need access to resources, advice, and support.

Creative Ways to Celebrate the Season

December 9, 2020 by Melanie

Torontonian favorites, such as Nuit Blanche, Calvaclade of Lights, and ice-skating at Ontario Place or Nathan Philips Square, have been cancelled due to the Toronto-wide lock-down, and families are looking for creative ways to celebrate the season.

Rethinking Traditions

Certainly, re-thinking your family traditions does not mean you will be without those sacred traditions this year – however you may need to think a bit differently about them. We all do. In fact, continuity of traditions are so important for children (and adults!). At the same time, those age-old traditions may just need to be approached from a different angle.

For example, if you normally see family, perhaps you could arrange a get-together on Zoom. If you normally go to the theatre, consider the drive-in. If you go carolling, watch some carollers online and sing from home.

How can you continue your family traditions with a slightly different spin?

Some Suggestions

We’ve pulled together a few ideas to help you out this year – and don’t forget, we are always here to offer programming online for you all until our own holidays begin!

At any rate, we do hope you enjoy the season and consider the challenges we all face an opportunity to continue embodying the values of gratitude, generosity, compassion, and love with your friends and families.

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

Keeping Connected

June 11, 2020 by Melanie

The heat of summer has arrived. In previous summers, families across Parkdale would find reprieve from the heat of the day and the confines of their home with air conditioned play space, snacks and programming at Creating Together. Yet here we are, in our 3rd month of closures as a result of COVID-19.

Continued Closures

As many of you already know from our last email update, Toronto Early ON Centres will remain closed in response to COVID-19 until June 19th, with more information to be posted then.

Amidst these continued closures, isolation is at an all time high – and it becomes more important than ever to keep connected so we can support one another.

Keep Connected by Keeping Informed

The safety of our families and communities is of utmost important, as is keeping our families informed – so please keep checking our website for more information, and join our mailing list if you haven’t already done so. We send out regular announcements to all of our families, and it’s often the best way to keep informed. Simply go to our Contact Page or Home Page and scroll down to the bottom, entering your contact information for the mailing list there.

Connecting with Staff and Each Other Through Online Programming

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

We are also committed to providing online programming through our Facebook Page, continuing our commitment to literacy, nutrition, activity and movement, and celebration. Some examples include circle time, story time, cognitive play, and cooking. Catch Tanya and Neetu live each day!

See you there!