Inspired by the amazing Sally Jaeger...
A Rhyme for That!
A program for babies and caregivers with rhymes, songs, and stories to help you make the best of your time together everyday!
with Meghan
Spring 2025! – On now!
Where do we meet?
Mable’s Fables at 662 Mt. Pleasant Avenue. Upstairs.
Strollers must be left in front of the store outside. However, please note that the bookstore staff cannot be responsible for safeguarding strollers left outside. If you are concerned, please bring a lock to secure them to a bicycle stand on the street in front of the store
Coming next! Registration is OPEN!
10:45 am - 11:15. WAITLIST ONLY.
Preschoolers age 2-4 years with caregivers
11:30 am - 12:15. WAITLIST ONLY.
Babies age 0-2 years with caregivers.
12:30 pm - 1:15.
Babies age 0 -2 years with caregivers.
What is the cost?
A 6 week session is $125 for babies and $90 for the preschooler program. The Mini-May session is only 4 weeks and costs $85 for babies and $60 for the preschooler program.
If you or your baby are unwell, please stay home. If I am unwell or unable to come for weather related reasons, I will stay home and either reimburse you for the class, or give you credit for another session for which you choose to register or to come for a one time make-up.
Fill out the form on “Sign-up now” and I will send you details about how I accept payment.
Why should we join?
- Build connection with your child.
- Practice your teaching together! You are your child’s first teacher!
- Fill your child’s day with lots and lots of language! Be ready with “A Rhyme for That!”
- Meet new people.
- Learn rhymes to recite as you go about your day with your child even when things are hard.
And because…
- “Rhymers will be readers. It’s that simple” – Mem Fox, Australian children’s book author and educator that specializes in literacy
- “Oral language is the basis of literacy” – Kindergarten, Language Arts Curriculum 1998. Ministry of Education, Ontario.
- Fun! Our time together will be happy!
Who is leading us?
My name is Meghan and I am the mom to two teenage daughters and I live in the Davisville area. After 10 years as an elementary teacher, I was very lucky to be able to decide to stay home with my kids and volunteer in the community. Since leaving teaching in a school (I am still a member of the Ontario College of Teachers), I have also completed my Reading Specialist with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.
When my girls were babies and toddlers, I attended many different programs. Our favourites were Sally and Erika Jaeger’s “Lullabies and LapRhymes” and “Mr. Bear Says Hello” which we attended at Mabel’s Fables.
Being home alone with little people is a privilege and a joy, but also very hard! Sally and Erika gave me tools that helped me get through the tough moments and gave me the gift of quality interactions with my children. Singing and rhyming didn’t just get me through the day – they helped me be the best first teacher my children could have.
Reading skills begin with hearing lots and lots of language – and Sally and Erika helped me make sure I was always filling my children’s days (and ears!) with lots of rich rhymes and songs. What Sally and Erika did for me, is what I hope to give to you and your child, by participating in “A Rhyme for That!”
What should we expect?
All rhymes, song and stories will be shared in a circle.
Meghan will guide all participants in rhymes, songs and stories.
What is expected of caregivers?
- Participate! Be prepared to sing – don’t worry about singing well, in time or in key or remembering the words! Show your children that you don’t have to be perfect to try!
- Continue at home!
- Practise and share with others in your child’s life!
- Please keep toys at home, but special blankets on which to sit, are great.
- Please help your child feel their best with a small snack if appropriate before class, but nursing or bottle feeding if needed during class is definitely understood!
- This is a cell phone free class. Put your cell phone away and silent notifications. If you MUST answer a phone call please completely remove yourself and your child from the circle and answer your call elsewhere. Please join us again when you are done!
- We also recognize that you may want to take pictures. Please wait until the end of the class and we can try to reenact and get the same reaction from your child – BUT – we want the children to know that they themselves are our focus – not the phone.
What is expected of children?
To be kids! Hopefully they will be engaged with us, but sometimes they may crawl or walk away from our circle if they are able. We will do our best, but don’t be embarrassed or worried. Gently guide them back to us.
What is “A Rhyme for That! – for Preschoolers”?
I am looking forward to spending time with the bigger kids! The rhymes, songs and stories may be the same as the original program for babies, but I plan to be speaking to the kids directly. Usually I am trying to teach the caregivers the rhymes so they can take them home and be the star of the show for their children. With this program, I am hoping the kids will learn and share these rhymes themselves with trusted adults and friends. What a great way to continue your kids’ literacy journey and foster the love of telling stories and reading! This class will only be 30 minutes and will also include a storytime. Please email rhymeforthat@gmail.ca if you are interested in giving it a try! This class will be scheduled on Thursday and Saturday mornings from 10:45 am – 11:15 am if I have sufficient enrollment for a session. Younger siblings are welcome. Please let me know the siblings age when you email me at rhymeforthat@gmail.ca. ‘Looking forward to it! Google Forms for January start for Thursday and Saturday programs both on “Sign-up now!”
Who inspired “A Rhyme for that!”
Sally Jaeger – long time Toronto storyteller and child advocate, – and her daughter Erika Jaeger are one of the reasons my children love reading today! Sally and Erika both taught the classes I attended with my girls, and through their sharing and generosity, I am able to share their gifts with you!
Thank you Sally and Erika!
Email: rhymeforthat@gmail.com with any questions
Instagram: rhymeforthat
Testimonials
"Thank you so much Meghan! C and I had such a great time!" " So much fun today!" - Maddie and Baby C
"There’s so much we love about your class! It’s such a welcome, low-pressure environment that seems to attract really lovely parents (and babies) and you have the perfect personality to connect with all the participants. Having it in such a fantastic independent bookstore is another plus, and the rhymes are really a godsend on the days when I’m so tired I can’t think straight - they really prevent meltdowns in the car, on the changing table, or when I’m preparing lunch (and they help me keep my patience on really fussy days!). We’ve been to a number of different classes and it’s one that really keeps "A " engaged and I love that it’s social for her as well as educational. Also having print outs of the rhymes and not having to prepare anything beforehand is ideal for busy/forgetful mums!" - Vicky and Baby A
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