North York District • Spring/Summer 2017
Early Years
Arts and Crafts • Drama • Drop-in Play • Music • General Interest • Sports
Have fun with
others and share
your playful side
Parks, Forestry and Recreation is committed
to providing high-quality recreation programs
for children 0 to 5 years of age.
Early Years programming provides a creative,
fun and safe place to introduce your child to
recreation activities while building friendships
and developing physical, social and creative
skills. For specific program activities, refer to
the descriptions.
Integration Services may be requested if an
individual requires assistance to participate
in recreation programs. Refer to the Adapted
Recreation Programs and Integration Services
section or visit toronto.ca/accessibility.
Program Information
Parks, Forestry and Recreation offers exciting
Early Years Recreation programs that align with the
regulations under the Child Care and Early Years Act.
• The Act defines age groupings in programs
for children under 6 years of age.
• Your child must reach the specified age of
the program by the first day of class.
• Programs for children under 3 years of age
are required to have a caregiver attend the
program.
Programs with a Parent/Caregiver Required
Registered programs are intended solely for the
individual client that is registered in the program.
Programs “with caregiver” require a parent or
caregiver of at least 14 years of age to directly
supervise the participant that is registered and
actively participate in the program. Additional
children are not permitted to attend unless also
registered with appropriate caregiver present.
All Other Programs
Children develop independently through active play
and structured, instructor supervised activities.
Parents or caregivers do not attend these programs.
Washroom Guidelines
Programs without a parent/caregiver are intended
for children who are toilet trained. To ensure your
child’s successful participation in the program:
• Encourage your child to use the washroom
before the program begins.
• Tell staff about any special toileting routines or
signs your child uses when they need to use the
washroom.
• Pull up training pants are acceptable in the
program. (Staff cannot change diapers.)
• If your child requires a special needs support
worker to help with personal care, please notify
your Community Recreation Programmer.
Food Allergies and Restrictions
Little Artists
The City of Toronto and its staff cannot guarantee the
contents or ingredients in foods or supplies within
programs. If your child has a food allergy or restriction
you must notify staff at your program location.
Exploration of various artists’ work, fine art mediums
and fundamental art principles.
Program Descriptions
Arts and Crafts
Art Pack
Basic instruction in a variety of art mediums.
Crafty Creations
Explore and use imagination to create basic crafts.
Individual Art Form–Painting/Sculpture/
Drawing
Instruction and skill development in a specific art
form.
Pottery
Instruction and skill development in the art of
pottery.
Dance
Please see the Arts section for descriptions.
Drama
Drama
Explore emotions, physical mannerisms and
participate in dramatic exercises inspiring
imagination.
Puppet Playhouse
Discover the art of puppet making storytelling and
the creation of individual puppets and puppet theatre.
New Early Years Program Titles
Former Program Name
New Program Name
Indoor Play with Caregiver
Recreation Fun and Play with Caregiver
Creative Playtime with Caregiver
Playtime Fun with Caregiver
Sing-A-Long Time with Caregiver
Recreation Adventures with Caregiver
Creative Playtime
Playtime Fun
Sing-A-Long Time
Recreation Adventures
Preschool Discovery with Caregiver
Storybook Adventures with Caregiver
Story Time with Caregiver
Recreation Discovery with Caregiver
Preschool Discovery
Storybook Adventures
Recreation Discovery
North York District – Spring/Summer 2017
Early Years (65-82 for listings) 53
Drop-In Play
Recreation Discovery
Sports
Recreation Fun and Play with Caregiver
An advanced instructional recreation program that
challenges and encourages children to further
advance and develop their physical literacy, fine
and gross motor, and creative skills, enabling
them to build a solid foundation for sports and
the arts. Children will experience the benefits and
enjoyment of participating in more comprehensive
and structured physical and creative play activities
including: theme-based games, arts and crafts,
rhymes, song and dance, storytelling, music, and
unstructured play. A caregiver does not need to
attend. Staff provide supervision and specialized
instruction.
Athletic Adventures
This drop-in program provides a safe place for
children to participate in a variety of supervised,
unstructured recreational activities, and explore
fundamental, fine and gross motor skills through
active play. A caregiver must accompany the child.
Staff supervise, facilitate and organize activities but
do not instruct in this program. Registration is not
required.
Fitness
Fitness
Instruction and skill development in a specific
fitness activity.
Yoga (please bring your own mat)
Gentle exercises promoting flexibility, proper
breathing and relaxation, while strengthening and
toning the muscles.
General Interest
Around The Garden
Learn the basics of gardening, composting,
recycling, insects and plants.
Building Fun
Recreation Discovery with Caregiver
An advanced instructional recreation program that
challenges and encourages children to further
advance and develop their physical literacy, fine
and gross motor, and creative skills, enabling
them to build a solid foundation for sports and
the arts. Children will experience the benefits and
enjoyment of participating in more comprehensive
and structured physical and creative play activities
including: theme-based games, arts and crafts,
rhymes, song and dance, storytelling, music, and
unstructured play. A caregiver must accompany
the child. Staff provide supervision and specialized
instruction.
Explore building activities through ongoing projects
while constructing various objects using tools and
materials.
Science Fun
Creative Chefs
Science Lab
This cooking program lets children explore and be
creative with food while learning etiquette, food
groups, and healthy food choices.
Geography Fun
Learn about the world through the people, places
and cultures that make up your community and this
diverse city.
Little Engineers
Learn the foundations of engineering design,
weights and measures, and physics.
Little Explorers
Learn about your community, city, country, world
and universe by exploring maps, landmarks and
cultures through themed crafts, stories, and
activities. You will learn how to use a compass,
map your community and understand legends and
symbols to explore various countries and their
cultures throughout the world.
Exposure to the fundamentals of specialty
sports and fitness activities in a non-competitive
environment, which may include: archery, golf,
tennis, martial arts, yoga, pilates, track and field
events and badminton.
Gymnastics
Gymnastics builds strong minds, strong bodies and
is an excellent foundation for many sports. The
City of Toronto offers multiple levels of introductory
gymnastics instruction. Visit toronto.ca/parks for
information on gymnastics programs available.
Individual Sport (i.e. Ball Hockey/
Basketball/Martial Arts/Soccer/Tennis)
Basic introduction to a specific sport with an
emphasis on developing skills, team work and fair
play in a non-competitive environment.
Jump and Play
Active program for children who like to climb, ride,
jump and explore.
Ready, Set, PLAY!
An opportunity to explore and use imagination
through basic science experiments.
Explore the foundations of science which may
include chemical reactions, flight dynamics, cellular
mechanics, and the inner working of the human body.
Simply Cooking
An introduction to cooking and baking.
Story Time
An introduction to a variety of children’s stories,
incorporating crafts and dramatic play.
Music
Making Music
Make music in a group setting with some basic
instruments, props and singing.
The ABCs of
Physical Literacy
Children need to learn how to throw a ball before
they can throw out the first pitch. Ready, Set,
PLAY! programs introduce children to the basics
of moving confidently and competently in a fun
and active environment that will help prepare
them for participation in a variety of sports and
activities. Children will learn the fundamentals of
a wide range of physical activities including rolling,
swinging, running, skipping, jumping, balancing,
dribbling, throwing, catching, kicking and more.
Starting out here is the first step towards a lifetime
of fun and activity.
Orchestra Discovery
Create your own instruments and discover how they
work together to create sounds, rhythm and music.
Little Farmers
Discover farm animal life through crafts and
activities while visiting a farm environment.
Recreation Adventures
An introductory instructional program that
introduces children to basic physical literacy
and creative skills through a variety of recreation
activities in a social and fun environment. Children
will be exposed to instruction, active and creative
play activities including: theme-based physical
activities, games, arts and crafts, and unstructured
play. A caregiver does not need to attend. Staff
provide supervision and instruction.
Recreation Adventures with Caregiver
An introductory instructional program that
introduces children to basic physical literacy
and creative skills through a variety of recreation
activities in a social and fun environment. Children
will be exposed to instruction, active and creative
play activities including: theme-based physical
activities, games, arts and crafts, and unstructured
play. A caregiver must accompany the child. Staff
provide supervision and instruction.
54 Early Years (65-82 for listings)
Registration begins – March 7