Skill-Building Stream:
Sunshine Sprouts (aged 0-2)
This class fosters a nurturing environment for both caregiver and child. The program emphasizes interaction and bonding through activities such as movement and motor skills, sensory experiences, music and sounds, art and creativity, and stories.
Intended for: Infants with developmental needs and/or diagnoses, infants who would benefit from social, play-based opportunities. Parents/caregivers are required to attend and participate, as this is a parent and infant class.
Sensory Explorers (aged 3-5)
This class is designed to enhance sensory functioning through exciting activities that focus on individual senses and integrate multiple senses for a richer experience. Through playful exploration, kids will learn about their surroundings and develop their unique sensory preferences.
Intended for: Children with sensory preferences, behavioural needs, neurodiverse children, those with attention or sensory processing needs, and those who would benefit from regulation strategies.
Schedule: Monday 2:00-3:00 pm
or Tuesday 2:30-3:30 pm
or Wednesday 11:00 AM-12:00
pm
Mind Lab (aged 6-8)
This class focuses on enhancing functioning through emotional regulation. It aims to improve emotional awareness and understanding of our bodies’ energy levels to support regulation. Using engaging science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities, kids will gain insights into their energy levels and how this relates to regulation.
Intended for: Children who have the cognitive ability and receptive language to understand basic emotion regulation concepts, children who have a communication method for expressing their understanding of concepts, verbal or non-verbal. To fully enjoy and benefit from the program, participants should be interested in science-based activities and able to participate in a group setting.
Schedule: Tuesday 4:00-5:00
pm
Communication Club (aged 9-12)
This class emphasizes collaborative play and covers topics such as non-verbal skills, self-advocacy, self-esteem, flexible thinking, and turn-taking. These skills are taught in a play-based manner through crafts, experiments, and gross and fine motor activities.
Intended for: Children who have the cognitive ability to interact with peers, good receptive language (understand instructions and information), can converse through verbal or nonverbal means (i.e., competence to operate high tech AAC system or verbal), and can regulate their behaviour enough to allow for group interactions, with or without support. This class is designed for children working on higher-level communication skills. For children who do not meet the criteria above, please refer to the Game Masters class, which offers fun social communication opportunities through play.
Schedule: [ Not occuring for Winter session ]
Please note the Communications Club class is no longer available for the Winter 2025 session. If you are interested in future sessions of this class, please contact Move Learn Grow staff at movelearngrow@marchofdimes.ca.
Engagement Stream:
Crafty Kids (aged 3-5)
This class offers opportunities for self-expression and interaction with the arts. Kids will enjoy a variety of accessible and fun art activities aimed at fostering social communication, fine and gross motor skills, and sensory experiences.
Intended for: Children with interest in arts and crafts, children with an ability to sustain short tabletop art activities. This arts-based class will often feature tabletop activities. To fully enjoy and benefit from the program, children are encouraged to have an interest in arts-based activities.
Schedule: Monday 3:00-4:00
pm
Game Masters Level 1 (aged 6-8)
This class introduces younger kids to group games, including tabletop games, card games, interactive and collaborative games, and gym-based games.
Intended for: Children who have the cognitive ability and receptive language to understand basic game instructions and are interested in games. To fully enjoy and benefit from the program, participants should be interested in games-based programming and willing to participate in a group setting.
Schedule: Wednesday 3:30-4:30
pm
Game Masters Level 2 (aged 9-12)
This class introduces older kids to group games, including tabletop games, card games, interactive and collaborative games, and gym-based games.
Intended for: Children who have the cognitive ability and receptive language to understand basic game instructions and are interested in a variety of group games. To fully enjoy and benefit from the program, participants should be interested in games-based programming and willing to participate in a group setting.
Schedule: [ Not occuring for Winter session ]
Sensory Scientists (high needs aged 6-12)
This class focuses on kids with high care needs who may not be able to participate in other class options. This class provides a fun play environment where children can learn and grow. It aims to promote engagement in shared activities with peers and exposes children to a variety of sensory-based play experiences.
Intended for: Children with higher to total care needs. Caregivers are expected to be present to support care and medical needs in this class.
