- StrongStart (13 centres) - DROP-IN, Abbotsford School District's Early Learning Department, Phone: 604-504-4612 (Curriculum Department) or Donna Wright, District Principal of Early Learning at donna.wright@abbyschools.ca
- Emémel Spá:th (Little Bears), DROP-IN, Phone: 778-880-8554 (Abbotsford Early Years Centre) For information on currently available sessions contact abbyearlyyears@gmail.com or check our calendar HERE.
- Mother Goose - IN-PERSON, Registration by email is required. Phone: 778-880-8554 (Abbotsford Early Years Centre). For information on currently available sessions contact abbyearlyyears@gmail.com or check our calendar HERE
- Pj's and Storytime - DROP-IN, Phone: 778-880-8554 (Abbotsford Early Years Centre) For information on currently available sessions contact abbyearlyyears@gmail.com or check our calendar HERE
- Saturday Family Fun and Story Time - DROP-IN, Phone: 778-880-8554 (Abbotsford Early Years Centre). For information on currently available sessions contact abbyearlyyears@gmail.com or check our calendar HERE
- IPALS - IN-PERSON, Registration by email is required, Phone: 778-880-8554 (Abbotsford Early Years Centre). For information on currently available sessions contact abbyearlyyears@gmail.com or check our calendar HERE
StrongStart is a free, drop-in, parent-participatory early learning program for 0 to 5-year-old children. It runs from September to June and a qualified early childhood educator leads activities, including stories, music and arts, to help children grow linguistically, emotionally and socially. For a complete list of all 13 StrongStart Centres locations throughout the community click. For more information about the program visit the StrongStart page on the Abbotsford School Districts website.
Little Bear is an Indigenous focussed program for families with children 0-5 years old. Drumming and singing with us and enjoying a story at circle time, playing with toys, make something in the art center. Caregiver and child attend together so it’s a great place to meet people (in a safe environment) and make a friend.
The Mother Goose Program serves to teach parents rhymes and songs and give participants opportunities to build on their strengths and learn new skills. This program is for babies ages 0-18 months and one of their caregivers.
Pj's and Storytime program is an evening program for families with children 0-6 years old at Sweeney Neighbourhood Centre. Cookies and Milk, Crafts, Storytime and lots of fun.
Saturday Family Fun and Story Time is a program for families with children (0-6) with professionally led activities, including stories, music and arts, to help children grow linguistically, emotionally and socially.
IPALS (Parents as Literacy Supporters in Immigrant Communities) is a unique program designed to help immigrant parents – and their young children (3-5 years old)– flourish in their new communities. Families learn new strategies to support their young children’s literacy development and the benefits are far-reaching. Families that would benefit from this program have Permanent Resident status in Canada. Families can be immigrants or refugees, English speaking or not so good English speaking.
Currently no programs available for this age group
Abby Dads – Father Involvement Program
- Chai Time - DROP-IN - Tuesdays at 6:00 pm, 33780 Laurel Street, Abbotsford
Drop-in program for Punjabi Dads. Join Nam and Aman to chat about life, parenting, relationships, and whatever else comes to mind.
- Dad Chat - DROP-IN - Wednesdays at 6:00 pm 33780 Laurel Street Abbotsford
Dad Chat is our regular, weekly drop-in program. No registration is required! Come chat about life, sports, relationships, parenting, and whatever else comes to mind. Meet some other Abbotsford dads striving to build strong families! Open to any dad in Abbotsford.
Family Centre – The Parenting Place
- Community Drop-in Monday from 9:00 to 11:15 am 33780 Laurel Street Abbotsford
An excellent venue for meeting friends! Drop-ins provide opportunities for your child to interact with others while developing social skills. Parents benefit from meeting other parents and sharing information and support. We welcome all parents/caregivers with children 0-6 years of age.
- Toddler Time Drop-in - Tuesdays 10:45 am - 11:45 am at 33780 Laurel Street Abbotsford
An excellent venue for meeting friends! Drop-ins provide opportunities for your child to interact with others while developing social skills. Parents benefit from meeting other parents and sharing information and support. Toddler Time is for families with children from birth to 3 years of age.
- Temple Drop-in Tuesdays from 10:00 am – 11:30 am at Khalsa Diwan Society Sikh Temple (33094 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford)
An excellent venue for meeting friends! Drop-ins provide opportunities for your child to interact with others while developing social skills. Parents benefit from meeting other parents and sharing information and support. We welcome all parents/caregivers with children 0-6 years of age. This program is facilitated in Punjab and is located at the Khalsa Diwan Society Sikh Temple.
- Parent in Residence, VIRTUAL, Registration on Family Smart website for In the Know presentations, Corinna.Landsberger@familysmart.ca, +1 855 887 8004
‘In the Know’ provides expert speakers on topics important to families who are parenting a child or youth with a mental health and/or substance use challenge and/or those working to support the mental health of children and youth. Watch an ItK video from our library or join an online discussion with other families to connect and learn. Online ItK discussions are facilitated by Parents in Residence and hosted monthly for families to join. Visit the Family Smart website to check for upcoming online discussions and support groups for parents and caregivers with children ages 0-25
FVCDC receives provincial funding to provide these services, therefore, services are 'free' and also accessible through designated interpreters. You can make a referral for your child by completing an online referral form or contacting FVCDC.
- Family Consultation - provided on specific topics identified by you as priorities for your child's development. We are able to share ideas about how to encourage your child's development at home and in the community.
- Parent/Caregiver and Child Program - fun, play-based programs for a small group of children working on developing similar skills. These programs provide opportunities for your child to learn new skills, and for you to learn how to practice the new skills with your child. They are also a great opportunity to meet other parents
- Parent/Caregiver Education & Training Program - providing an opportunity to learn about child development, parenting and other early years topics.
- Community Consultation - we are available to consult with community programs (e.g. preschool or daycare) in order to foster your child's development and encourage successful inclusion in these environments.
- Individual Sessions - occasionally we may provide individual sessions focused on specific goals for your child.
- Team Work - your team members meet, formally and informally, to discuss your child's services and to share ideas and strategies with each other in order to support your child in reaching the priorities you have identified.