Please note that these descriptions are listed as a reference only.

Interactive Parent and Child Programs:

Age 0 – 6 years:

Circle Time – This fun, literacy based activity is offered on a daily basis to all families. During circle families will learn new songs, finger plays and enjoy a story. Parents are asked to participate in the circle with their children and refrain from using their cell phones or talking to one another to ensure that everybody has an enjoyable experience with their children.

Infant – 0 – 12 months:

Parent/Child Mother Goose – This 8 session group experience for parents and their babies under 10 months of age focuses on the pleasure and power of using rhymes, songs and stories together. Parents gain skills and confidence which enables them to create positive family patterns during their children’s critical early years and give their children healthy early experiences with language and communication.

Tickle Rhymes and Tunes – This 6 session program will focus on rhymes, songs and stories that will encourage early literacy and positive family connections. Parents and their infants under the age of 10 months are invited to join.

Messy Babies – Infants from 6 – 12 months

Come explore sensory play with your babies. Some experiences could include water play, goop and a make and take for home. Babies able to sit on their own would be best suited for this class.

Toddlers – 10 months – 36 months: (registration required)

Waddlers and Toddlers – This 6 session program is designed with the young toddler in mind. Children aged 10 months to 2 years are invited to come and sing and move with their parents as we work through a large repertoire of some favourite and some new songs and rhymes designed to build language and have fun.

Toddler Connections – This 6 session program is designed to strengthen the parent-child relationship while helping your child to develop their sense of themselves and of others through love, language and learning. During a typical session you and your toddler can enjoy a mini circle time geared to them, a guided activity time and a discussion time for parents while the toddlers have snack. This program is for parents and their 12 – 24 month child.

Toddler Tunes – Toddler tunes is a fun and interactive time of singing, dancing and storytelling. At the end of this program, you and your child will feel more confident singing and creating stories. This group experience will expand vocabulary and enrich your child’s early language and pre-reading skills. Children ages 2 and up are welcome to participate in this 6 week program with their parents.

Toddlers and Table Tops – This fun filled parent-child interactive literacy workshop will show you how to create a low cost stimulating early literacy environment at home.

Sensory Explorers – This sensory program is for children 18 – 30 months and their parents. Come explore water play, goop and other fun sensory experiences.

Shake, Rattle and Rhyme – This is a six session literacy program is for children ages 24-36 mos. and their parent. Each week children and their adult will make a simple musical instrument or prop (Stick puppet, I-Spy Bottle) to use in program and to take home to use. At the end of six sessions the children will have made three simple musical instruments, three props to use at home to enhance early literacy. Each week parents will be provided with a song or rhyme to use at home with their children. Early literacy materials will also be provided for parent education.

Early Literacy Bins created by Martha Kovack may also be used to provide exposure and opportunity for pretend play.

Preschool – 30 months – 5 years: (registration required)

Math Magic – There is a lot more to math than numbers. The language and concepts of math help us describe, explore and explain the world we live in. Using activities and games to explore mathematical concepts we will have fun and discover how math is involved in our children’s everyday lives.

The Amazing World of Science – There is a lot more to science than just experiments. The language and concepts of science help us describe, explore and explain the world we live in. Using a variety of activities to explore scientific concepts the children will have fun discovering the world around them.

Rhyme Time Extravaganza – Bring your preschooler and join us for a Rhyme Time Extravaganza; “Rhymers will be readers!” Play rhyming games, read rhyming books, sing rhyming songs and make and take home rhyming tools and crafts. Children between 2.5 and 5 years of age will enjoy this 4 week program.

Little Chefs – This program promotes math, science and literacy skills. Parents and their children ages 2.5 to 5 years listen to a story, prepare a snack and create a craft, all relating to the story of the day.

Step into Stories – Children hear a new story each week and are involved in activities that centre on the book. Children will use creative thought and imagination while developing listening skills, language development, vocabulary and a lifelong love of books. This program is for children ages 3 – 6 years and their parents.

Kindergarten…Ready, Set, Go! – Is your child going into Junior/Senior Kindergarten this fall? This four session parent/child interactive program will help you and your child learn some important tools to be ready for Kindergarten. Topics that will be discussed include Zones of Regulation, Independence, Importance of Relationships/Social Skills and School Readiness.

Sunbeams – This is a 10 session program for children age 3 to 5 years, who have experienced loss (such as death, divorce or separation). The program consists of activities, games, and stories that are designed to help children express their feelings and move through grief. If you would like more information about this program, please phone (705) 792-7878 ext. 233.

Parenting Programs: (registration required)

Life with Baby – This is a wonderful, interactive and informative series for new parents. This 9 session program will provide the opportunity for moms and dads to meet with professionals in their fields; ask questions; gain valuable insights; network with other parents; share experiences and leave with a better understanding of their child’s developmental needs.

The EarlyON facilitator introduces the concept of Healthy Babies, Healthy Brains during the first session of the series. Subsequent sessions include:

Nutrition and Oral Health presented by a Public Health Nurse

Healthy Attachment and Responsive Care by an Infant Development Worker

Post-Partum Emotional Health by a Family Therapist

Gross Motor Milestones by a Physiotherapist

Early Literacy by our EarlyON Early Literacy Specialist

Speech Development and Communication by a Preschool Speech and Language Therapist

Immunization by a Public Health Nurse

Thinking of returning to work? A representative from the County of Simcoe Children’s Services will provide information on child care options and review the subsidy application process.

TRIPLE P: Positive Parenting Program: Triple P group experiences provide a venue to give parents clear and simple strategies to turn problems around and also to prevent problems from developing in the first place. Parents are invited to take the workshops individually or as a series. They will be of most interest to parents of children who are 2 to 6 years of age. For more information about the many facets of Triple P please click here link

The Power of Positive Parenting: Parents learn to identify and examine 5 key principles of positive parenting to help their children develop skills, do better at school, build friendships, feel good about themselves and have fewer problems.

Raising Confident, Competent Children: This parent workshop examines 6 essential life skills and how to manage them in your children. These positive parenting principles, when applied, can create a foundation of success at school and in life.

Raising Resilient Children: Children learn to cope with everyday feelings, strong emotions and stressful situations and events. Parents examine 6 building blocks to help their children manage emotions in a healthy way.

How to Talk so Kids will Listen and Listen so Kids will Talk – This 6 session series offers parents innovative ways to communicate with their children. Parents learn how to “hear” and really understand their child, how to gain children’s cooperation, how to discipline without hurting or alienating and how to help their children attain positive and realistic goals.

Kids Have Stress, too – This is a session week program to help parents understand childhood stress and how to provide children with the tools to deal with stress effectively.

Siblings without Rivalry: The 3 session series, Siblings without Rivalry, is designed to help children learn to live together. Parents/care givers will learn and practice specific skills that reduce friction and generate goodwill between children. Topics to be covered include: negative feelings; fairness; harmful roles; fighting; cooperation; and conflict resolution.