The Artful Child has been operating for over 50 years in the High Park area and offers art and play-based preschool programs, creative after school clubs, adult/child art drop-ins, pop up Saturday children’s workshops, or simply reserve a creative playdate for your own group. We asked our good friend and current owner Jessica Borowets a little about the family run business.

Q. Hi Jessica, we love how unique your school is! Can you give us a little background on how the business got started and what programs you offer?

A. Thank you! Yes of course! The Artful Child actually began as The High Park Nursery School in the late 60’s. My mother took it over when I was 3, over 50 years ago! It was passed down to my older sister, an artist, who renamed it The Artful Child. I inherited the school 5 years ago and introduced additional creative programming. Currently we offer a creative preschool for ages 3 to 5, an Afterschool Art Club ages 4 to 7, and an adult/child creative drop-in for caregivers and their young children.

Q. What is the Artful Childs philosophy?

A. Our philosophy is that children learn through play and art. We believe free play is best for the child, when the child chooses what they would like to play with.  They are not instructed on how and what to play with. Also, art, is different from craft. The process is what’s important, not the product, and there is no adult involved, no agenda. They should be free to create and play in an open-ended environment, filled with unique and interesting objects. We try to expose them to various artistic materials each week.

Q. What are the different age groups that can enrol in your programs?

A. Our creative drop-in is ideal for toddlers around 2 years of age and our afterschool clubs and workshops are for older children up to ages 8 or 9.  A child must be 3 for our preschool.

Q. What is the schools most popular program, and can you tell us about it?

A. It’s difficult to say. At the moment our preschool is full with a wait list. Our drop-in is very popular with mothers of toddlers who are very eager to get out somewhere, where a mess can be made that they don’t have to clean up! Our Afterschool Club is very popular with the school age, they run in as though it’s their second home!

➤ Have a look at some of our other featured business’ of the month.

Q. Do you offer your space to rent for private functions?

A. We do occasionally rent our space to mom groups in the Roncesvalles community where we are situated. Parents also come from Etobicoke, Bloor West, Roncesvalles and even the Beaches these days!

Q. You have a very unique, well-loved space! Do you have any plans to expand the space or open another location?

A. Thank you so much for this shout out! Yes, we are currently looking to open another location for September 🙂

Thank you for chatting with us and for what you do! We feel like art is not a focus in the public school system and The Artful Child enables children to unleash their inner Picasso, Keith Haring or Monet 🙂

To find out more information or book a program for your child contact The Artful Child below:

Artful Child
214 Wright Ave.
Toronto, ON
M6R 1M3

www.theartfulchild.ca | IG: theartfulchild