Grandview Kids

Every Child And Youth Living Life At Their Full Potential

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9 tips for Transitioning Your Child from a Summer to School Schedule

Adrian Polidano

Written by Grandview Kids’ Social Work team

As summer comes to a close and school approaches, it’s time to start thinking about adjusting your child’s schedule to make the transition from a relaxed summer routine to a more structured one.

Transitions like this one can be tough for young kids, so it’s important to have some tricks up your sleeve.

To support your family’s transition from a summer to school schedule, Grandview Kids’ team of social workers share several helpful tips in this blog.

“Starting school can be a very emotional experience for both parent and child. This can be even more difficult, depending on the child’s behaviours,” says Grandview’s Social Work team. “One way that parents can help ease this transition is to prepare themselves and their child for this next stage”

Tips for the Back to School Transition:

  1. Share your child’s unique likes, dislikes, fears and habits with their new teacher. If the teacher has a fair understanding of your child, this will help to ease the transition and enable proper care to be provided.
  2. Visit the new classroom with your child. Show them where they will be eating, sleeping, playing and learning. Introduce them to the teacher.  When school begins, the child will be a little more familiar with their new classroom, and this may make the transition easier.
  3. Shorten the first few days. Shorter visits will give your child more time to adjust to the new environment.
  4. Prepare the night before. Whenever possible, prepare lunches, school clothes, backpacks, and any other necessary items the night before school. This will allow you both more time to prepare in the morning and reduce the stress that accompanies being rushed.
  5. Allow the child to bring a favourite object from home to comfort them.
  6. Have a calm and positive attitude. Children can be highly sensitive to the moods of their parents or caregivers and will quickly pick up on any tension in their voice, touch, or mannerisms. Some suggestions include singing a favourite song or talking about what the child will be doing that day. Break things down into simple tasks and routines that the child can follow.
  7. Take time to say goodbye in a positive way. Do not sneak out while the child is distracted.  This can destroy trust and make for a more difficult transition.
  8. Avoid repeated goodbyes. Once you have said goodbye, leave. Stalling can make a child more fearful.
  9. Understand that a temporary period of adjustment or feelings of parental guilt or worry are completely normal!

“If necessary, arrange for you and your child’s teacher to communicate by phone during the day to let you know how things are progressing, and to discuss any issues that may have arisen,” says the Social Work team. “Stress from separations and adjusting to new situations can be extremely difficult and challenging for parents and their children.  With careful planning, this adjustment period can be shortened.”

We hope these tips help you and your family with a successful transition out of summer vacation and into a fall school schedule!

Grow with Grandview Kids as a member of the organization’s Board of Directors

Grandview Kids is currently recruiting four individuals to join our Board of Directors and three individuals to join Board Committees* as Community Representatives.

*Learn more about the roles of each Grandview Kids’ Board Committees here.

Grandview Kids – founded in 1953 – is an independently operated not-for-profit organization. We are the only Children’s Treatment Centre in Durham Region, providing specialized programs, outpatient clinical treatment and support to thousands of children and youth with physical, communication and developmental needs and their families.

What we do:

  • Assess, diagnose, prescribe and provide clinical treatment, specialized programs and therapies, and specialized equipment for children and youth with communication, physical or developmental needs;
  • Provide access to specialists, consultation and support for families;
  • Build capacity in the community through information, knowledge exchange and consultation with professionals and other organizations;
  • Participate in research activities and teaching in the field of children’s rehabilitation.

To learn more about our programs and services, click here to access our general fact sheet.

Who are we looking for?

Located in one of the fastest-growing regions in Ontario, Grandview Kids seeks individuals who want to support our organization’s development and growth to meet the need in our community and who are aligned with our vision, mission and values.

As we continue to enact our 2024-27 Strategic Plan, Powering Potential, and we remain focused on maximizing our impact in Durham Region through the delivery of high-quality care at our new, state-of-the-art headquarters based in Ajax and our four satellite locations in Bowmanville, Oshawa, Port Perry and Whitby.

To support us in achieving our goals and maximizing our impact in the Durham Region, we are seeking individuals with demonstrated experience in:

  • Information Technology
  • Accounting
  • Risk Management

Eligibility criteria

In order to be eligible to stand for election as a Director, each nominee must:

  • Be a resident of Durham Region or in the opinion of the Board maintain a direct and substantial interest in Durham Region, or, in the opinion of the Board, have the potential to make a significant contribution to the Corporation, and
  • Support and promote the purposes and objectives of the Corporation.

In order to be eligible to join as a Community Representative, each individual must support and promote the purpose and objectives of Grandview.

Interested in joining? Contact us.

If you are well-positioned to join Grandview Kids’ Board of Directors or Board Committees, please express your interest to Rachel.Bandele@grandviewkids.ca by Friday, May 9, 2025, and include copies of your resume and cover letter.

Other areas of expertise Grandview Kids is looking for in prospective Board members include:

  • Strategic Thinking – Ability to set long-term goals and develop strategies to achieve them. 
  • Financial Acumen – Proficiency in financial management, budgeting and financial reporting. Ability to analyze financial statements and understand key financial metrics. This could replace ‘accountant’ and ‘finance/banking’.
  • Governance and Compliance – Knowledge of corporate governance principles and best practices. Understanding of legal and regulatory requirements relevant to the organization.  This could incorporate ‘legal’ knowledge, too.
  • Leadership and Management – Experience in managing teams and driving organizational performance.
  • Communication and Interpersonal Skills – Effective communication skills to articulate ideas and build consensus. Ability to work collaboratively with other board members and stakeholders.
  • Ethics and Integrity – Commitment to ethical behaviour and integrity. Ability to uphold and promote the organization’s values and standards.
  • Innovation and Change Management  – Ability to foster innovation and drive change within the organization. Experience in managing organizational transformation and adapting to new trends.
  • Diversity and Inclusion – Understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion in governance, and able to promote diverse perspectives and support an inclusive board culture.
  • Crisis Management – Experience in handling crises and navigating an organization through challenging times, and able to make quick, informed decisions under pressure.
  • Technology and Digital Literacy– Understanding of digital trends and technology’s impact on the organization (e.g., cyber liability) and an ability to leverage technology for strategic advantage and operational efficiency.

Written by Grandview Kids Occupational Therapist, Silvia

Is your child a picky eater and will only eat a handful of foods?

Are none of these foods fruits or vegetables? Does your child refuse to try new and/or unfamiliar foods?

Illustration of a mother gesturing to eat food with her left hand while she feeds her infant son with a spoon in her left hand.

We all want our children to eat a healthy and well-balanced diet.  However, some children may feel anxious about eating or have difficulty getting used to certain textures.  Whatever the barrier may be, accepting a new food can be a slow and gradual process, especially for children who prefer sameness.  

Here are some strategies that may help increase your child’s ability to eat new food. The key is to be patient. Even just one new food is a big win! 

1. Positively reinforce your child for demonstrating any spontaneous interest or exploration of new, difficult, or non-preferred foods

Do not force any food items.  If your child does not want to eat the food item, allow your child to explore the food by looking at it, touching it, inspecting it, smelling it, licking it, or taking a bite, as this may eventually lead to the acceptance of new foods.

2. Give verbal praise for increasing tolerance of new food

(e.g., “yeah!”, “good!”, “mmmm,” “yummy,” etc.) and gestural praise (e.g., smiling, clapping, patting on the back etc.). 

3. Build familiarity

It may be helpful to build familiarity with new foods first by incorporating them into play activities: use books, puzzles, play food to increase their comfort level with new foods. 

Illustration of a mother blending a yellow fruit smoothie while her son excitedly waits for it to be ready beside her.

4. Present food in a fun way

Make mealtimes fun and enjoyable experiences.  Use cookie cutters to cut out fun shapes in meats, make a smiley face with pieces of fruits and/or vegetables, use utensils/plates with their favourite character etc. 

5. Let them be the chef!

Whenever possible, include your child in preparing meals, particularly with non-preferred food items (e.g. pounding meat, picking grapes off a stem, peeling an orange, tearing lettuce or breaking celery sticks to make a salad, etc.). 

Illustration of a kid girl wearing a chef hat, holding a pan and spoon while cooking in the kitchen.

6. Displaying a picture for each food item to be eaten during the meal.

Providing a visual sequence of the food items to be eaten in a given meal may help decrease anxiety-related behaviours around mealtime.

7. Keep a log

Try to keep a log of the types of foods (type, taste, texture, preparation) that your child will eat. This will help you understand their sensory preferences better to transition your child to foods that the family is eating.

8. Repeated exposure

It is important to know that new foods often need to be introduced a minimum of 10 to 20 times before deciding that a child is not ready to try that food.

On January 14, 2025, Grandview Kids announced the restructuring of its fundraising operations by introducing a Centre-led Development Department. Effective immediately, the Centre will assume full responsibility for fundraising, and the Grandview Kids Foundation will begin winding down operations. A new Development Department will be established, led by Interim Executive Lead, Development, Linda Flynn. With 35 years of fundraising experience and deep connections within Durham Region, Linda will ensure a seamless transition and maintain a focus on donor care and development.

Below is a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help you understand what this transition means and how it may affect you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why has Grandview Kids’ Board of Directors made the decision to change its fundraising structure?

As Grandview Kids (“the Centre”) and Grandview Kids Foundation (“the Foundation”) celebrated the successful completion of their “Believe” capital campaign and the opening of their new Ajax-based headquarters, The Jerry Coughlan Building, it was the perfect time to evaluate operations in a number of areas, including their fundraising activities.

This analysis has led to the decision that the Centre will assume fundraising responsibilities for Grandview Kids moving forward and the Foundation will wind down its operations and transfer all assets to the Centre.

This decision comes at an important time for the Centre and provides an opportunity to develop a highly integrated fund development and donor care program. These relationships are critically important as donors ensure that Grandview Kids can deliver more programs and services to our clients and their families.

In addition, the efficiencies achieved by integration means more donor dollars will be directed to supporting Grandview Kids’ mission of supporting children and youth with physical, communication and developmental needs to live, learn and play. Having one organization, with one voice, in the community will be more efficient. Two distinct organizations with all the governance, management and business functions that currently exist are duplications of resources. We believe this new structure will reduce fundraising costs, increase revenue and ultimately enhance care for the kids we serve.

Who will lead the fundraising efforts for Grandview Kids?

Linda Flynn, a well-known Durham Region resident with significant experience in the not-for-profit sector, has been hired as Interim Executive Lead, Development, for Grandview Kids. Grandview Kids will conduct a search for a new Executive Lead for Development in due course. Existing Foundation staff have been provided with the opportunity to continue in their roles within the new fundraising structure at Grandview Kids, and we expect that the Development Team will remain the same going forward.

If I want to support the children, youth and families Grandview Kids serves, who should I give to?

Effective immediately, the Centre is leading the fundraising efforts and encourages all donors to support our mission by making gifts to Grandview Kids. 

Our donation form is still available online on the Grandview Kids Foundation website. This placement will change in the future and donors, clients and families will be notified when this change takes place.  

Gifts can be mailed or dropped off to Grandview Kids – The Jerry Coughlan Building located at 1461 Harwood Ave N, Ajax, ON L1T 0R3.  Please make cheques payable to “Grandview Children’s Centre.”

How does this impact donors/my donation(s)?

Grandview Kids is a registered charity, so under the agreement with the Foundation, the Centre will assume all contracts of the Foundation, including any donor agreements. The Centre will honour all donor wishes and restrictions pursuant to any donor agreement

We expect this to be “business as usual” for Grandview Kids fundraising. Over the next few weeks, we will be reaching out to all donors to explain this restructuring and to ensure their continuing support for Grandview Kids and their families.

If you are a monthly donor, your donation will automatically be transferred over to the Centre. Please be advised that we will be in contact with all our monthly donors to explain the process.

I donated to the Foundation this year. Will the money I donated still help support the children, youth and families you serve?

We know your objective with your donation(s) is to support the high-quality care Grandview Kids provides to children, youth and families in our community, and we deeply appreciate your ongoing commitment. Funds donated to the Foundation will be transferred to the Centre.

What will happen to the existing Foundation endowment funds?

All endowment funds will be transferred to Grandview Kids. Grandview Kids is grateful for the foresight and commitment of donors who have made endowed gifts. We recognize the importance of transparent management, and the use of these funds and investments will continue to be managed responsibly, as they always have. All existing agreements will be respected, and funds will be used as donors intended. A Grandview Kids Development staff member will be in touch with endowment donors in the near future.

Will I still get my tax receipt for donations made to the Foundation this year?

The Grandview Kids Foundation will be preparing tax receipts for all gifts made to the Foundation in 2024. In the future, the Centre will process all gifts and receipts.

Is this fundraising structure unique to Grandview Kids?

Transitioning fundraising efforts into Grandview Kids is not unique and is a structure utilized by many other organizations/institutions like ours.

We believe that this is the optimal structure for Grandview Kids moving forward and will achieve operational and cost efficiencies.

What happens to the Foundation volunteers who support the Centre?

The Centre Board of Directors has great appreciation for the years of service and dedication of the many fundraising volunteers who have helped over the years. As the Centre embarks on the new fundraising structure, we will be reaching out to those who have dedicated countless hours to raise funds for the Centre. We trust our volunteers will want to stay involved to continue to raise funds to support the children, youth and families we serve.

How can I volunteer to help with fundraising?

Volunteers are the building blocks of fundraising for the Centre. Individuals with varied interests, networks and skills will ensure our future success. As we design our new fundraising program (from events to major and planned giving), community members with an array of skills will be welcomed to help. Please contact Linda Flynn, Interim Executive Lead, Fundraising (linda.flynn@grandviewkids.ca) to discuss how you would like to help.

How will the transition take place? What will happen to the Foundation?

The restructuring will be implemented over the coming months. Current members on the Foundation’s team will work to authorize the distribution of the Foundation’s assets to the Centre, followed by the revocation of the Foundation’s charitable registration and the formal dissolution of the Foundation.

As part of the restructuring, Grandview Kids Foundation (the “Foundation”) will transfer all its assets to the Centre (the Centre is a registered charity, with the charitable registration number 107447856RR0001) following satisfaction of any outstanding liabilities of the Foundation. Following the transfer of the Foundation’s assets to the Centre, the Foundation will file for voluntary revocation of the Foundation’s charitable registration with the Canada Revenue Agency.

The full transition is expected to be completed by June 2025.

Who can I contact with questions?

Please feel free to contact any of the Foundation Transition Team’s members listed below if you have any questions regarding the restructuring.

Grandview Kids announces new fundraising structure with the establishment of a Centre-led Development Department

Media Release – Tuesday, January 14, 2025

AJAX, ONT. — Grandview Kids (“the Centre”) announced today the restructuring of the fundraising platform for Grandview Kids, whereby the Centre will assume fundraising responsibilities for Grandview Kids going forward, effective immediately. As part of the restructuring, Grandview Kids Foundation (“the Foundation”) will wind down its operations over the coming months as the Centre establishes a Development Department dedicated to fundraising.

As the Centre and the Foundation celebrated the successful completion of their “Believe” capital campaign and the opening of their new Ajax-based headquarters, The Jerry Coughlan Building, it was the perfect time to evaluate operations in a number of areas, including their fundraising activities.

As part of the restructuring, Brigitte Tschinkel, the Foundation’s Executive Director, will be retiring. The Centre will be conducting a search to identify and appoint a new Development Lead for the Centre. It is expected that existing Foundation staff will become employees of the Centre and continue their commitment to fund development and donor care.

To assist with the transition, the Centre appointed Linda Flynn to serve as Interim Executive Lead, Development. Flynn will work with the Centre’s Board of Directors and staff to ensure the continuity of development activities, develop strategic priorities and focus on donor care. Recently retired from Durham College as their Associate Vice-President of Advancement and Alumni Relations, she brings 35 years of experience, a master’s degree in leadership, and a strong track record of raising millions of dollars in the Durham Region. In addition, her active community engagement means she already has strong relationships with many of our donors and volunteers.  

The restructuring will be implemented over the coming months and will require a special meeting of members of the Foundation to authorize the distribution of the Foundation’s assets to the Centre, followed by the revocation of the Foundation’s charitable registration and then the formal dissolution of the Foundation. Pursuant to an asset transfer agreement entered into today between the Foundation and the Centre, the transfer of assets from the Foundation (and the assumption by the Centre of the Foundation’s liabilities) is expected to close on or near February 5, 2025.  All donor agreements with the Foundation will be assumed and honoured by the Centre.

Quotes

“This decision comes at an important time for the Centre and provides an opportunity to develop a highly integrated fund development and donor care program. Donor relationships are critically important to ensuring that Grandview Kids can deliver more programs and services to our families. We are grateful for the support of the Foundation for the last 30 years. We believe this new structure (which is similar to the fundraising structures of many not-for-profit organizations) is the optimal structure for Grandview Kids moving forward.” – Leo Plue, Chair, Grandview Kids Board of Directors

“The Foundation Board is supportive of this restructuring and will work with the Centre to ensure a seamless transition for our donors and supporters. The Foundation is very proud of its results in supporting Grandview Kids, including our recently completed $20 million Believe Campaign – and we thank the Foundation staff and team, the Foundation Board of Directors, and our donors and supporters, for their support of the Foundation and their continuing support of Grandview Kids. On behalf of Grandview Kids and our donors, we thank Brigitte for her commitment and support of Grandview Kids for the last 15 years, especially her leadership through our $20 million Believe Campaign, and we wish her well.” – Bryan Yetman, Chair, Grandview Kids Foundation Board of Directors

“We are grateful for the support of the Foundation. I am confident that Linda will help us navigate this transition and ensure continued support for Grandview Kids under this new structure.” – Tom McHugh, Chief Executive Officer, Grandview Kids

About Grandview Kids

Founded in 1953, Grandview Kids is a family-centred, independently operated non-profit organization dedicated to supporting children and youth with physical, communication and developmental needs. Through specialized programs, rehabilitation services and outpatient clinical therapies, Grandview Kids supports children and youth to live life at their full potential.

Learn more at grandviewkids.ca.

Media contacts

Sandra Harris

Executive Lead, Development

Grandview Kids

437.738.0022

Sandra.Harris@grandviewkids.ca

Adrian Polidano

Acting Director of Communications and External Relations

Grandview Kids

437.703.3559

Adrian.Polidano@grandviewkids.ca

Join Grandview Kids’ growing team of volunteers!

We are looking for regular weekly volunteer support at our new Ajax-based headquarters (1461 Harwood Ave. N.) and our Dwyer site (590 Rossland Rd. W., Oshawa). Read more below about the types of volunteer roles we are recruiting for.

“Meet and Greet” Volunteer

Locations available: Ajax Headquarters and Dwyer

Located at our Welcome Centre/Front Desk, and also referred to as the “Director of First Impressions,” the “Meet and Greet” volunteer role provides a warm welcome to clients, families and visitors entering our sites. Volunteers in this role answer general questions, support wayfinding and assist with reminder calls for upcoming appointments. They may also assist in answering an overflow of incoming calls and support administrative tasks from administrative and clinical teams. 

Café Volunteer

Location available: Ajax Headquarters

Fulfilling drink and snack orders from families, visitors and staff, maintaining clean operations, ensuring inventory is stocked and operating and taking payment via a point-of-sale device. No food preparation is required as all food items available in the café will be prepackaged. Only cashless payment options will be available at the café.

Weekly shifts will be Monday through Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., or 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. It is anticipated that 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. shifts and Saturday shifts will be added in 2025 based on appointment volumes.

Other roles you may perform as a volunteer

Volunteers are also considered for more hands-on volunteering opportunities when new ones come up. Some more recent opportunities include assisting with groups during March Break and Summer Camps, Recreation Therapy programs and services, special events in the community, assisting clinicians with workshops, working with our Research Team, etc.

How to apply

If you are interested in and able to commit to being an engaged volunteer for at least four months on a regular volunteer shift, please visit our Volunteer webpage to learn more and complete an application.

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