WE STRIVE TO SEE THE WORLD FROM A KIDS-EYE-VIEW
Bellwoods Playschool uses a child-centred, socially conscious pedagogy to engage young children in social and artistic thought and action. Using what the city has to offer, we empower our students with the knowledge to be socially and environmentally responsible citizens while they develop into explorers of their urban landscape.

WE THINK OF THE CITY AS OUR CLASSROOM
A valuable aspect of the Bellwoods Playschool program is to empower children as navigators of their city. We journey on regular excursions, by foot and by public transportation, to art galleries, museums and cultural events, as well as markets, parks and city landmarks.

WE KNOW ITS TAKES A VILLAGE

Our Playschool runs on a model that links a range of artists together to engage and inspire children. We like to bring in different perspectives and actively pursue a diverse teaching staff. As such, professional educators and artists trade chalkboards for personal anecdotes and textbooks for real life experiences. Together, they create an atmosphere that is at once intellectually stimulating and deeply personalized.


Our Community

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Music in the Summer!

Eating popsicles + watching music in the park as part of the North By North East Music festival! Live in Bellwoods puts free shows on in the park! We saw many bands, including a friend of Bellwoods, Doldrums who sang through pedals and over his beats, out of a suitcase.



Sunnyside Beach

Reusing other people's junk!

Some days ago, we spent the afternoon in Kensington market learning about reusing and recycling other people's junk! We learned about how you can give things away that you don't need to someone who will use them and that you can use things that someone else might not need anymore. Its way better to do this than to add to the mounds of garbage.

 Nicole from the Its Your Life jewellery shop above the Kapisanan Philippine Centre showed us all the ways she used other people's "junk" to furnish and decorate her shop - - - bits of wood to display her necklaces, old baskets for shelves, tables that others left on the street. The kids were also in love with her original jewellery designs.

Next door, Helena from vintage clothing store, Pretty Freedom, showed us how the entire shop was furnished with items found the the street! The kids were surprised because the store did not look like junk at all! We also learned about how the clothing for sale was also previously used.

Around the corner, we visited the Whipper Snapper Gallery's Free Store. People could leave things they didn't need anymore, and pick up things they might. Some of us left with some new fun items, and some of us left with nothing.

We ended the day exploring the market. Cora's Kitchen gives out delicious mini cupcakes to any little kid that visits.


Thursday, June 02, 2011

Electric Guitar Lesson w/ Alex Laurence

We had a great music lesson in Alex's basement studio last week. He plays in local Toronto band, The Miles, among a few others. It was interesting to see someone else's music space and he was also pretty good at playing with us too!

Park Drawings w/ Burnt Wood