Rev. November 2025
Why Small Classes Change Big Feelings: The Science Behind 6:1 Learning Environments Did you know that school is emotional long before it’s academic? New routines, noisy rooms, and social rules all stress developing nervous systems. Understanding the science of small...
Creativity Is Not ‘Extra’: How Art, Music, and Making Support Children’s Mental Health Parents sometimes walk into Oak and say something like “I love that they’re painting and playing music… but is this really as important as reading and math?” Here’s the honest...
Benefits of Ripping Paper Why Ripping Paper Is So Good for Kids As adults ripping paper is one of those things we call “making a mess” but for kids, it is one of those “the best activities.” Give a child a stack of scrap paper and they’ll usually know...
How Mixed Neurodivergent and Neurotypical Groups Learn From Each Other Walk into Oak on any given day and you’ll see this: One child is quietly drawing every tiny detail of a tree. Another is talking a mile a minute about Minecraft. Someone else is pacing while...
Friendships Under the Trees: How Summer Camp Supports Shy or Anxious Kids You know that feeling when you want your child to have friends and fun in the summer… But you also secretly worry they’ll spend the first three days hiding behind the counselor or asking when...
3 activited that include plastiline Kids usually love to play with plasticine. The bright colours, the squish, the endless shapes… It's all very inviting. But from a child-development point of view, plasticine is doing something much deeper: Plasticine, which is...
Why Kids Need Green Space More Than Ever (and How Oak Brings Nature to Toronto Families) Kids don’t just enjoy nature. Their brains are wired to need nature-based learning. How to bring Nature-Based Learning for Kids In Toronto. If you’re raising a child in Toronto,...
Summer Camp as an Extension of Oak Creativity, Confidence, and Community in Action If you’ve ever watched your child come home from Oak with muddy shoes, glitter on their sleeves, and three new story ideas… summer camp at Oak is basically that energy on “extended...
At Oak Learners, we see these behaviours every day. To us, they’re not “bad habits” or “misbehaviour”. They’re often a form of sensory seeking: a child’s nervous system trying to get the input it needs to feel organized, calm, and ready to learn.
♫“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”♫ Back-to-School shopping has always been the most wonderful time of the year for me, while others believe shopping for school supplies marks the end of summer vacation.
On June 5th, Oak Learners wrapped up the 2024–2025 school year with a spectacular outdoor concert at Amos Waites Park. Students from our Day School, B.A.S.E. (Before and After School Enrichment) program, and private music lessons took to the stage to share the music and theatre pieces they’ve been working so hard on all year.
At Oak Learners, we are committed to creating a learning environment that celebrates the individuality of each child. Through the integration of UDL and DI, we offer flexible, differentiated learning opportunities that support every student’s unique journey.
Each summer, from July through September, Oak Learners has become the home to dozens of Monarch Caterpillars so that the children attending programs and members of the community can learn more about these beautiful and endangered insects.
Summer Skills Boosters at Oak Learners are intensive, one-week workshop experiences for students from Grades 1–12 in a variety of subject areas including math, literacy, study skills and more.
From June 1 to 9, 2024, Ocean Week is a time to engage in events, learning activities, and community initiatives that highlight the importance of our oceans and their connection to our daily lives. This year, Oak Learners was selected to receive the Ocean Week Canada Grant towards the purchase of a Freshwater Testing Kit from Water Rangers!
Risky play can sound intimidating and many parents feel the same way. In fact, these concerns are natural, but they also often limit our ability to allow children to fully explore their surroundings and be exposed to new opportunities. Although risky play can sound dangerous and sometimes scary, it is important to remember that it is an essential part of development in several domains.
Finding a great preschool or kindergarten readiness program is half the battle. Your child will still need support at home to continue their development.
A good pre-kindergarten program offers important skills development such as social interaction, school readiness, and improved executive function. Let’s look at them further: