The Centre is closed today so that staff can complete preparation for TOMORROW’S Auction! The auction is a social night that raises funds for the Centre, as government funding does not cover the costs of all activities we include in our programs. We hope to see you at the event tomorrow!

In this workshop Danielle (Family Nutritionist & Picky Eating Expert) will show you: 5 reasons why kids don’t eat well, 5 powerful ways to encourage kids to try new foods, 3 “picky eating” myths that every parent should know, and the 6 phrases that are CRITICAL for turning picky eaters into healthy eaters. Learn more about Danielle and pick up some powerful tips here:  www.daniellebinns.com.  

Join her Facebook Group here:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1447191338904412/ 

The Centre is closed today so that Staff can work in the office and toy library to help plan for our quality program

Come to the Ralph Thornton Community Centre (765 Queen Street East) dressed in your costume to play games, create, and enjoy healthy Halloween-themed snacks!

Howl-o-ween is a free Halloween celebration for children and families. We co-host the event with Queen/Saulter Library and Ralph Thornton Community Centre.

There will be limited room for stroller parking in the drop-in backyard and outside of the building. Please leave your stroller at home, if possible. 

The 40th Anniversary Auction is  less than a month away; THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15 ! Your fresh energy is needed in this home stretch! Please let staff or a Committee Member know how you can support  this fundraiser for your Centre.

Page Dixon is a Public Health Nurse with Toronto Public Health. She has been the South Riverdale Child Parent Liaison nurse for a year.  She is also an Expressive Arts Therapist.  Come and join us for the 2nd facilitation on Positive Parenting. The second will focus on Positive Parenting Strategies. Be prepared to get creative with your thinking on how you relate to your child!

The Centre is closed today so that Staff can complete their First Aid/CPR training

A trainer from Link to Life presents this workshop. Although you will not receive a certificate, you will learn/refresh your knowledge on what to do in case of an emergency and will also become familiar with first aid guidelines. To register for this workshop, visit the drop-in and add your name to the registration list. The list will be posted on September 21. 

If you are not able to attend this workshop, you are welcome to borrow the CPR training kit in our Parenting Library. 

Page Dixon is a Public Health Nurse with Toronto Public Health.  She has been the South Riverdale Child-Parent Liaison nurse for a year.  She is also an Expressive Arts Therapist.  Come and join us for two facilitations on Positive Parenting.  The first session will focus on Temperament and Goodness of Fit.  The second will focus on Positive Parenting Strategies.  Come to one or both.  Be prepared to get creative with your thinking on how you relate to your child!  

** Part 2 will be Wednesday, October 17th, 2018**

This outing is for children 0-6 years and their parents and caregivers. We will meet at the drop-in at 9:15am and take the Magic Bus to Andrews’ Scenic Acres (a 45- to 60- minute drive) (http://www.andrewsscenicacres.com/). When we arrive, we’ll pick apples and pumpkins, visit animals, play at the playground, and eat lunch together.  The bus will return to the Centre at 2:30pm.

Suggested donation is $20 per family to help cover the cost of admission and the bus; all families are welcome!   To join us on this trip, visit the drop-in to sign up your family.

***We will post the registration on Sept.5th***

We’re going to KidSpark; a hands-on discovery area for children aged 8 and under and their caregivers. We will meet inside the Science Centre, in front of the lockers near the main entrance at 10:30 am. You may pack a lunch or purchase from the cafeteria. Suggested donation is $10; everyone is welcome

Before the fun night arrives, the 40th Anniversary Auction Committee offers you a chance to develop your fundraising and event planning skills alongside other parents and caregivers, while your child plays in the drop-in. The Committee needs volunteers for various roles, from preparing the online auction catalogue to assisting with child care for other volunteers. Today, the Committee will meet upstairs while staff care for children in the drop-in.

If you would like to join the Committee, or if you would like to donate to the Auction, please speak with staff or a member of the Auction Committee.

The Centre is closed today so that Staff can work in the office and toy library to  help plan for our quality program!

It’s almost time for our four-year-old participants to start school! Each year, we support this transition by hosting a party especially for four-year-olds. Invitations have been sent out in the mail. Please call us by July 5th if your child who is  starting school in September did not receive an invitation.

Join us at Corktown Common, a new park located near Lower River Street and Bayview Avenue. We will tour the park to see the naturalized area featuring a wetland , play in the new  playground and have some fun in the splash pad. Be sure to wear appropriate clothes for the sunny weather and don’t forget your swimsuit and lunch!

Welcome back  for a  regular drop-in day after our summer break. Because this is our first Wednesday back after our summer break,  we will not be going on an outing. We will  play, sing and have snack on a regular drop-in schedule.  No pre-registration is required.

Join us in the park behind Jimmie Simpson Rec Centre for a potluck picnic!  We’ll play in the sand, cool off in the wading pool, and maybe even play games in the green space. Bring your sun protection, swim gear, and a nut-free sweet or savory treat to share for lunch. We will meet at the park.

You can meet us at Riverdale Library (Gerrard and Broadview) at 10:00 a.m. or at Allan Gardens (in front of the main entrance, on the east side of the greenhouse) at 10:30 a.m. We will walk around the greenhouse. Then, we will eat lunch and play in the playground behind the greenhouse (weather-permitting). Please pack a lunch and dress for sand and water play.

The Garden Party is an annual tradition. Current participants and alumni enjoy a potluck dinner and special activities in the backyard. This year, the Garden Party also celebrates Mien and all that she has contributed to the community in her twenty years at the Centre.

We hope you can join us!

Happy belated birthday to the drop-in! (We turned 40 in April.) To celebrate, we’ll visit the animals, have a picnic lunch, and play parachute games at our favourite farm.

Meet at the picnic tables outside of the farm, near the corner of Sumach Street and Winchester Street.

If you are able to bring a baked treat to share at lunch, please make sure it is nut-free.

Children and their parents and caregivers will  plant together and leave with labelled and decorated pots to take home! Depending on the weather, the planting workshop will take place in the backyard or inside the drop-in.

 Please dress in clothing that you are willing to get dirty!

The Centre is closed today so that Staff can work in the office and Toy Library to help plan for our quality program!

Today we will take the free shuttle bus to Evergreen Brickworks, a community environmental centre. Our activities will include watching animals in the pond, exploring the gardens, and walking the trails on a nature scavenger hunt.  We will meet at 10:00 a.m. at the parkette on Erindale Avenue just North of Broadview Subway station or at 10:30 a.m. at the entrance of Brickworks.  Please dress for the weather. You are welcome to pack a lunch or purchase one at Cafe Belong.

Do you want to know how to make play dough that is as smooth and soft as the drop-in play dough? Mien will show you today! Adults will cook play dough while children play in the drop-in with Nina and occasional staff. Each family will leave with play dough to take home! 

Many families have told us that The Children’s Book Bank is a great  place to enjoy books together, and children get to take home a gently-used children’s book!  We will explore the book bank and enjoy a small song circle.

Meet at the Centre at 10am to take the TTC together OR meet at the Book Bank (350 Berkeley St.) at 10:30am.

Feel free to bring a gently used book to donate if you have any!

Our spring fundraiser supports the daily activities and workshops at the Centre. It is also a chance to enjoy the drop-in backyard on one more Saturday before the summer! (Saturday drop-in ends on April 28 and resumes on September 8.)

The backyard and bake sale will be open all morning, and a walk through the neighbourhood will begin at 10:00 a.m.

Stop by to play, join us for a stroll, and enjoy some delicious baked goods!

Volunteer and bake sale sign-up lists coming soon!

Our Stroller-a-thon and Bake Sale is a few days away!  Join us to for last  minute plans for Saturday.

We have also begun planning for our Annual Auction. 

Child care is provided by Mien and an occasional staff member in the drop-in while parents and caregivers enjoy coffee and snacks upstairs. If you’d like to be involved and can’t make the meeting, please speak with Nina or Mien.

We will be visiting the Fire station on 840 Gerrard St. East this Wednesday!  While visiting the firefighters and checking out the firetruck, we are learning about fire safety and how helpful firefighters can be.You can meet us at the Centre at 9 a.m. or meet us at the Fire station (840 Gerrard St. East) at 9:30 a.m. After the outing, we will serve a tasty snack at Withrow Park. 

We turn 40 in April!

Let's celebrate our birthday and the invaluable contributions of the many volunteers who keep the Centre going and growing!

Please RSVP (info@srcpc.org, 416-469-3776, or in person when you're at the drop-in) so that we can plan child care for the business portion of the night (the Annual General Meeting) and order enough food.

Chef and Mom Jenna will be leading a class on meal prep, sharing some delicious simple meals!  Meal prep and some shortcuts/tips are a great way to save you time and teach you how to work more efficiently and economically. Jenna will be tailoring to participants’ wishes and can address challenges with feeding your family or focus on specific skills—please let us know what you’re interested in. Mien and Nina will take care of your children in the Centre while you are upstairs prepping!