EarlyON Toy Bus

The Toy Bus program is a mobile EarlyON child and family centre. Toy Bus strives to provide a warm and welcoming environment that engages children and stimulates creativity and learning in every experience. It's our goal to provide families living in rural communities access to high quality services, and to support parents in their role as their child's first teacher. We offer free drop-in programs for children up to the age of six, their parents, and their caregivers. It’s a great place to learn, play, meet people, and get advice from professionals trained in early childhood development.
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Toy Bus participants have opportunities to: 
‌- Meet other children and parents 
‌- Access play and inquiry-based learning opportunities
‌- Play with age-appropriate toys 
‌- Join fun activities such as reading, storytelling, sing-alongs and games 
‌- Get advice from professionals trained in early childhood development 
‌- Find out about other family services in their community 
‌- Connect with other families with young children‌
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‌We offer: 
‌Play and learn drop-in groups
‌Toy Bus Play and Learn Drop-ins take place on a weekly basis in several communities along the Highway 60 corridor. Every group provides an assortment of learning centres that are designed to encourage children to explore, create, and stimulate the senses. Opportunities to share, take turns, listen, and express feelings are built in everywhere. After play time, parents and children are encouraged to help tidy up, followed by songs, rhymes and finger plays. Stories are read to children while they enjoy their snack; a relaxing end to a busy playgroup!
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‌Information and referral
‌Early years specialists available on-site, by phone or e-mail to answer your questions or refer you to appropriate resources and services. Wondering who to ask or where to go about about a concern regarding your child’s development? Ask a Toy Bus Team facilitator! 
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‌School readiness
‌Designed for children entering Junior Kindergarten. These programs strengthen children’s abilities to build their self-help, social/emotional, reasoning and language skills and most importantly, help to prepare them for school.
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‌Infant Massage
‌Teaches parents effective techniques to reduce gas and colic, to help their babies sleep better and to support their babies' health and development. Nurturing touch provides a loving connection and strengthens this attachment as your baby grows. Babies are able to relax and calm themselves more readily, and they thrive on receiving gentle touch, attention, and love.
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‌Positive discipline
‌This parenting program teaches your children important social and life skills and offers encouragement and mutual respect for every life stage on your parenting journey. Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting - Get ready to have lots of deep discussions about parenting, and how to maintain a positive home throughout your child’s growing years. We will explore how children think and feel, and problem-solve those challenging situations. PDEP is an approach to parenting that will ultimately build strong relationships between you and your child.
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