Find the perfect drop-in centre

Baby: Sometimes parents just need to get out of the house. For family-friendly activities and a sense of community, try a drop-in centre

Rosalind Stefanac,

Originally published in Today's Parent March 2012

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Photo by: Aurelie and Morgan David De Lossy/Cultura/Corbis

The first months of parenthood can consist of blissful bonding time with your baby. But then there are those times when cabin-fever sets in, when mom, dad and child could all use a change of scenery, stat. Consider a drop-in centre: a place where parents gather to share information, meet other families and learn new parenting skills.

“You just show up and it’s easy,” says Pauline Leanage, a Toronto mother of two children now ages six and three. “For me, the networking with other parents is the best part.” Leanage went to a drop-in centre up to three times a week; her daughter played with other kids while she swapped advice with the moms. “I even started checking out the drop-ins in different neighourhoods, too, because I found them to be such a great resource,” she says.

Drop-in centres can be found in most provinces, organized through local community libraries and privately run groups. They’re usually geared to kids up to six years old and staffed by early childhood educators and volunteers. Expect a room stocked with books, puzzles and toys. To find a centre near you, start by searching your province’s website, and when you visit a drop-in, ask around about others.

Ontario’s Early Years Centres (ontarioearlyyears.ca), are free — they’re funded by the province, including in rural and northern locations. In British Columbia, drop-ins are often affiliated with local recreation centres and subsidized through community grants and partnerships with municipal governments.

Special programs at the centres can include breastfeeding support, immunization information sessions, music classes, cooking classes and even infant sensory learning workshops encouraging play with water, sand and paint. Some programs require pre-registration and a nominal fee. Fathers can look for drop-in hours specifically designated for dads, which lets them take the lead parenting role for a few hours and socialize with other fathers.

At the North Shore Neighbourhood House Family Resource Centre in Vancouver, staff set up play and craft stations to encourage parents to have fun with their kids. A group snack time promotes good eating habits.

“Our purpose is to build and support healthy families by offering quality programs and a place to connect with other parents,” says Megan McDonnell, a coordinator at North Shore. Many drop-ins are linked to family health services in the community, and will direct parents to other resources as needed.