With support from the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA) and the Alberta Government’s Return to Play grant program, we piloted programming for some of the youngest members of our community. Public health restrictions placed on early childhood programming impacted the cognitive development, physical development, and the social, emotional, and behavioral development of young children, with children experiencing disabilities more likely to experience negative impacts of the lockdowns and restrictions (Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology (UK), 2021). 

With this new project, Little Activators, we aimed to provide enriching, intentional play programming for children experiencing disability, 2-5 years old. Activities in the program included music and movement, sensory play, instructed games, and exploratory free play. 

This child-centric, instructor-led program was offered both onsite at the Centre and through visits to early childhood programs in Edmonton schools and childcare.

By expanding TSC program offerings to the early years, we will connect children and families who are new to TSC to a stream of physical activity programming they can grow with, through every age and stage.

The pilot year of Little Activators included 371 total participants over 4 school sites and 49 total class visits.