Outings within the Community

[spud]

The Ontario Early Learning Centre (OELC) has many free programs available at various times through out the week that parents and caregivers alike can engage in. Some of the programs you need to pre-register for and others are drop in.

The Public Library holds various programs for various ages. Storytimes.

A local Bookstore will often hold special events as will specialty stores.

Swimming and skating are great activities to do with your children or daycare kids.

[CareDC]

Libraries used to have great free programming for kids of all ages. Family film night and special events were very popular. They used to also have toys available for borrowing. Due to budged cuts all those things had disappeared.

[spud]

I guess -again- it depends on where you are, our LIBERAL local govt has decided to fund that as well (it also has funded our local best start childcare funding so we can continue the programs we currently have in place that was established with the liberals funding for best start prior to the conservatives squashing that funding at the federal level once they were mistakenly voted in by the unknowledgable public) oops off topic...
I actively participate in several local libraries in my area, where there are guest speakers from local businesses ie clowns, musicians, story tellers , animals, etc
there are crafts for the kids the do (pre registration required) and parent education classes, groups for various ages..it truly is wonderful and it's nice to see people in our communty using the services - because ultimatly it was that that saved our programs and libraries...the # of people who use them.

[CareDC]

Yes, alot of daycares still take their groups to local libraries where they can participate in programs for various age groups. The frequency of the walk-in type programs has greatly deminished.

[jharrisece]

Locally, our library will not allow daycares to participate in the library program (lirarian reads a story, has a few songs, does a craft) because they say that daycares are supposed to be doing this anyways so only families can participate.  We have a Childcare Resource and Referral program that has a toy lending library that members can borrow from.  They also have a low-cost play centre ($2 for the first child, $1 for each additional child) which is open to anyone.  They have stories, songs, a theme-related craft and the parents/caregivers are required to participate.  They just bring their own snack and for 2 and a half hours the daycare/families have the use of the space.  On rainy or snowy days it is a nice place to go.  I don't use it as I have preschool but I stopped in there today because I was borrowing some Farm-themed kits.  There was about ten children and families/daycare there.     

[spud]

I do not know any other daycare that uses the library services..Im the only one lol..but I have a small group..The ontario early learning centres are open to daycares and families alike, but again I rarely see daycares there..sometimes a few providers come, but only those with a few kids.

[CareDC]

From what I remember some groups were rather large, 20+ kids. Then again, that was years ago. Perhaps things have changed.

[jharrisece]

20 plus in a group would be 'group childcare' not family and I know from working in group that you don't get to take chidlren on field trips when the group is that large.

[spud]

When I worked with schoolage children in a group of 30 with 2 staff in a licensed organization we went on field trips to larger community locations..like to a heritage/museum , or to the zoo, or waterparks etc..lots of places, but the library would not be appropriate for large groups...they would take up all the space!

[spud]

I have used the library for various reasons with my older kids..we either go and research a hot topic of interest and discuss as a group, or write essays or letters to the political parties lol...or we participate in age appropriate activities..so maybe i only drop off my 10-13 year olds to do paper mache while i still run my reg program with the littler kids..story and craft..but its an outing for the big kids to go without me in the program -giving them variety in their day and summer...and teaches them that the library is a safe and fun place to go ! Perhaps as teenagers they will see the use of the library as an option as apposed to
hanging out downtown or something...

[spud]

Book stores are another great place to go to when they hold special events ... like chapters...or other small community bookstores or toy stores/kid friendly stores often hold events -watch your newspaper for fun free events within your community!

[Laura]

20 plus in a group would be 'group childcare' not family and I know from working in group that you don't get to take chidlren on field trips when the group is that large.

Really..well where i was working we took the kindergarten group (20-24 kids) to the library every month.  We were provided with stories, songs, occasional (for special events) crafts.  The main goal of the library visits is to encourage the children to engage in literacy and reading.  We were therefore requested to sign out books for the children to use within the classroom.

[jharrisece]

I guess since I worked on-campus and we had so many resources that I didn't think of them as 'field trips' since they were everyday events:)  We had the college library, arts facility, gym, pool, gymnastics club across the street, college campus restaurants, nature trails, other sports facilities, science building and program, animal health, etc.  We were limited off-campus though due to costs and when a parent did not give permission it meant no one could go.  One of the reasons I left there was because I wanted the freedom to do more and that did mean putting 60 to 70% of fees into the program; taking very little or even nothing at times for my income.  It meant I did what I was happy at though! 

[jharrisece]

Oh, and spud, reading your reply was like reading my own!  I, too have had my school-aged (when I worked with them!) express their ideas, concerns 'the way they see it''s and write to politicians about it!  In fact, somewhere in storage I have the presentation I was asked to display at the ECEBC conference about 6 or 7 years ago!  It showed how the children researched their concerns, wrote letters and the response we got from Gordon Campbell.  Apparently we were the only ones in the province who they knew of that got a response!  The parents were proud of their children and I think they taught their parents something too!

[CareDC]

I think, perhaps, things are different when it comes to how libraries are utilised in different parts of Canada. I worked for the library for over 10 years and we had all kinds of age groups come in (from daycares or even schools). The whole idea was to show the children how to find books and such. Visits of such nature were pre-booked well in advance to give the library staff plenty of time to prepare for such visits. The benefits were mutual really. The children got to do something new / different and the library would get much needed book circulation.