SMART START

Right from birth, babies learn so much through playing and exploring, and by watching and listening to the grownups they love.

Open to parents or other caregivers, our six-week program creates a safe and stimulating environment to happily join in, experiment, get silly, and feel closer to your baby while discovering fun ways to interact and grow your baby’s development inside activities like circle time, music, stories, sensory, and toy play.

Not in a rush? Stick around for coffee/tea and get to know other parents.

Available to babies 18 months of age or younger, groups are limited to 8 parent/caregiver-baby dyads to maximize the learning experience. Join now to support your baby’s first years.

It’s an opportunity to:

Learn more ways to talk, interact, and play with your baby.
For your baby to discover abilities and learn new skills.
Meet other parents.
Hear latest research in infant development.

Lead by Dr. Laurie Vismara, who has over 20 years of experience helping families grow their children’s early communication, social-emotional, and cognitive development.

Program Details

When, where, and what time does the program meet?

The program meets Wednesday mornings for six weeks from 9:30-11:00 AM at our clinic location, 18 Wynford Drive, Suite 706, Toronto, ON M3C 3S2 .

Sign-up is required; dates to be determined from enrollment.

What happens during the program?

Each visit is a group experience for parents and their baby to play together and alongside other families. Different topics will be shared in the first hour about babies’ development and ways to enhance language, communication, interaction, and other skills through activities like circle time, music, stories, sensory, and toy play.

Coffee/tea refreshments will be provided in the last half-hour for those who can stay.

What Does the pRogram cost?

The program costs $390 for the six sessions and includes access to our toy lending library. Families are asked to pay in advance to reserve their spot in the program and to return toys by the final session.

Where can I park?

There is parking on the premises at the front and side of the building (please check signage as rates/ times may vary).

What are the program topics?

From helping your baby tune into your face and voice to copying your play, encouraging babbling and other speech, or motor strengthening activities, your baby learns the most by doing things with you! Click on each program topic and focus area below to learn more for more information. more below about the program topics and skills covered in each class.

Program Topics (6)

What types of toys and activities are best for babies' development?

You might think the best toys for baby development are the ones that your baby can play with independently. But the best toys actually engage parents or other caregivers along with babies.

Play-based interactions that are rich in language, pretending, problem-solving, reciprocity, cooperation, and creativity are the best ways to help young children develop.

Whom can I contact with questions? Sign-up?

Please email inquiries to info@growingmindsto.ca

Alternatively please complete our registration form for the program

What about other services or supports?

Other resources can be found on our home page, or within 'services' main drop-down menu.

Services