Welcoming spring with fresh air, muddy boots, and big smiles!
After a long winter, April brings that much-needed burst of energy with longer days, warmer sunshine, and plenty of opportunities to get outside and explore. Across our centres, educators and children are embracing the season of renewal, curiosity, and growth.
Welcoming Spring at Home
Spring is all about fresh starts, and children feel that excitement too! Here are a few easy, meaningful ways to bring the season into your daily routine:
Plant something together
Whether it’s herbs on a windowsill or flowers in a small pot, children love watching something grow that they helped care for.
Create a “signs of spring” scavenger hunt
Look for puddles, birds, buds on trees, or even the first insects of the season. It’s a great way to build observation skills while having fun outdoors.
Refresh your routine
Swap out winter gear, open the windows, and let in that fresh air. Even small changes can bring a sense of renewal.
Embrace messy play
Spring is the perfect time to lean into sensory experiences, such as mud kitchens, water play, and outdoor art.
Councillor Dianne Saxe recently visited the future home of Children’s Gallery Child Care Centre at 292 Dundas Street West as part of a broader tour of the new residential and mixed-use development at Dundas and St. Patrick. During her visit, she explored each of the playrooms and shared her enthusiasm for the upcoming centre, noting the importance of expanding high-quality child care options in this busy downtown neighbourhood.
We are excited to share that Children’s Gallery Child Care Centre will soon welcome families into a thoughtfully designed space that supports creativity, exploration, and early learning. Located in the heart of downtown, the centre will offer high-quality programming for young children in a vibrant, community-connected setting. The waitlist is now open, and families are encouraged to apply early to secure a spot.
You can connect directly with the centre Supervisor, Erica Marie Regala at childrensgalleryccc@networkchildcare.com
March Highlights Across Our Centres
Take a peek at the joyful, creative, and meaningful moments happening across our child care community the last month, we had so much to celebrate! 💛
A big thank you to all our centres for sharing these special moments! We love seeing our community learn, grow, and celebrate together!
Metamorphosis Child Care
Toddlers Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
Our toddlers had a wonderful time getting into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit! They created shamrock collages using a mix of textures and shades of green, building fine motor skills while expressing their creativity. Many children also wore green, adding an extra layer of fun to the celebration.
Preschoolers Celebrate Ramadan/Eid
Preschoolers explored the meaning of Ramadan through a hands-on cooking experience, preparing a traditional Middle Eastern dessert, basbousa (semolina cake). This rich activity encouraged teamwork, sensory exploration, and confidence, while helping children build a deeper appreciation for cultural traditions.
Holy Cross Before & After Care
Creativity was in full swing at Holy Cross! School-age children participated in a hands-on art workshop inspired by Canadian artist Joyce Wieland, led by Blank Canvases. After sketching their ideas, children brought their designs to life using fabric materials and exploring texture, colour, and design in a fun and engaging way.
St. Bartholomew Child Care Centre
It’s been a busy and exciting month filled with discovery, creativity, and connection:
Celebrations & Special Days
St. Patrick’s Day fun with circle time and sensory play
Pink Shirt Day activities focused on kindness and inclusion
Exploration & Discovery
Nature workshop: “What’s Bugging the Tree?” with Ontario Green
Science fun with colour mixing and playdough “ice cream” experiments
Creative Expression & Play
Exploring Chinese Guo Hua painting
Dramatic play as community helpers (post office, doctor)
Building and creating GO Train-inspired projects
Movement & Music
Ukulele sessions full of rhythm and fun
X-Movement enrichment to get bodies moving
Community Connections
Special visits from the ESM team and a local librarian
Seasonal Activities
Welcoming spring with bright and creative art projects
Liberty Village Child Care Centre
Holi Celebration
Our classrooms were bursting with colour as we celebrated Holi, the festival of colours! With a special visit from a parent volunteer, children enjoyed stories, music, dancing, and vibrant art activities. A beautiful highlight was children kindly and respectfully sharing colours with one another, practicing both friendship and consent.
St. Patrick’s Day Fun
The St. Patrick’s Day excitement continued with hands-on activities and lots of learning! Children explored traditions like wearing green for good luck, went on a fun “green hunt,” and got creative with themed art and sensory play.
St. Gabriel Child Care Centre
Preschool Explorations
Preschoolers explored nature through sensory play and creative art, building fine motor skills and connecting with natural materials. They also became “little scientists” while making playdough by measuring, mixing, and learning about cause and effect through teamwork. A colourful milk experiment sparked curiosity as children made predictions and observed exciting reactions.
Toddler Highlights
Toddlers enjoyed engaging activities led by educators and families. A parent-led traffic light game for Black History Month encouraged movement and listening skills, while story and singing time introduced children to a traditional story and songs in another language.
Children also practiced caring for their environment by watering indoor plants and took part in imaginative “rescue the animals” play, building teamwork and creativity.
A Gentle Reminder
With the weather changing quickly this time of year, layers are your best friend! Packing extra socks, splash pants, and weather-appropriate gear helps ensure children can comfortably enjoy outdoor play, rain or shine!
As we step into this new season together, we’re reminded of how powerful small moments can be, watching a seed sprout, hearing birds return, or simply feeling the warmth of the sun after a chilly day.
Here’s to a joyful, playful, and refreshing April!
