The Artful Child

Specialties

We offer a comfortable, stimulating and patient environment where 2 ½ to 5 year olds can feel secure to explore a variety of materials, media, costumes, instruments, books and toys. We provide the feeling of safety and an atmosphere of acceptance necessary to enable the children to create and play.

Our hope is that children will find joy in their learning while they paint, build, glue, dig, pound dough, plant seeds, dance and sing, dress-​up and listen to stories.

We promote confidence in problem solving and a desire to innovate, in a space where children feel free and accepted to be themselves.

CLASSES:

Choose, one, two or three sessions per week, by the month.

Programs are available all year round, except some holidays.

Registration is monthly during the year, in July and August we offer flexibility in choices of mornings or weeks.

Monday-​Friday morning programs

From 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Friday afternoon program

From 1:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

History

Established in 1962.

The Artful Child was established in 1962 as The High Park Nursery School. It was started by Irene Atkinson who was a Trustee for the Board of Education. The school was passed on to Patricia Canham and blossomed under her supervision until her retirement in 2001. The school was first located in St. John’s Anglican Church, across from Humberside Collegiate Institute. For 20 years we were located in the Victoria Royce Church, and are now in the Emmanuel Howard Park Church on Roncesvalles Avenue.

Meet the Business Owner

Maria W.

Business Owner

Maria has been working with young children for 33 years. The last 14 years have been as the owner of The Artful Child. She is fascinated by the expressive quality of young children’s art-​work and how they attempt to document their perception of the world in their paintings, sculptures, and other creations. Maria believes that early academics can be presented to children through exploration of materials, music, movement and costumes.

Maria graduated from The Ontario College of Art with a scholarship, in 1980-​something.