While this time is exciting, it can also be busy and present some tricky transitions for your family. If you’re looking for a bit of extra guidance to make the transition into the school year easier, I recommend you visit Grandview Kids’ blog. Our Social Work team crafted an excellent article titled “9 tips for Transitioning Your Child from a Summer to School Schedule.” Within the article, the Social Work team provides quick, actionable tips to make your family’s back-to-school experience easier. I encourage you to start by picking one or two that could easily apply to your family’s needs and build from there.

Just like our friends heading to school for the first time or entering another school year, all of us at Grandview Kids are gearing up for an exciting and busy month ahead. Our Family Engagement Team has several events scheduled in September, which promise to deliver exceptional levels of value and fun. From a relaxing Caregiver Café encouraging you to get in touch with your artistic side, to an Adolescent Transition Program Coffee Chat hosted by Canopy Support Services and an indoor park playdate, there is something for everyone. Learn more about all these events in the “Upcoming programs, workshops and events” section below.

Also, in this edition of Gather, we introduce a new content section, called “Strategies from Grandview Kids clinicians.” In this section, we aim to share tips and strategies from our experienced clinical teams across all disciplines at Grandview Kids to empower you with knowledge to support your children and youth at home. In this section, we aim to share a new strategy from one of our clinical teams, enabling us to learn, grow and reach our full potential together! Please check your inbox for Gather at the start of each month to access this content as soon as it is released. 

In the meantime, we have a regularly updated “Resources for Parents and Caregivers” page on the Grandview Kids website that is always available to you. On this page, you will find collections of handouts, presentations, videos and web links devoted to many resource categories, including Talking, Behaviour and Attention, Sensory and Getting Ready for Kindergarten. Please check this page to access a wealth of information that you can use to work on strategies with your child or youth. Thank you to our clinicians who helped compile these high-quality resources! 

I also want to thank you all for continuing to choose Gather as a source of support for your families and everything related to Grandview Kids. We are committed to making sure Gather remains a high-quality resource that our clients and families look forward to reading each month. To help us create content and share updates that you want to see, I kindly ask that you share your valuable feedback with us through this form. 

I wish you and your family a successful school year ahead.

Warm regards, 

Tom McHugh 

CEO, Grandview Kids 

"A scratch felt like a fracture" - International Pain Awareness Month

For International Pain Awareness Month, Suraj’s journey reminds us of the importance of compassion, awareness and belief. Children and youth who experience pain like his often have it go unnoticed because their pain doesn’t follow the usual expectations.

However, with the proper support, understanding of others and an openness to think outside the box, healing can happen for the body, heart and mind. 

Visit our blog to read more >

The importance of advocating for yourself: Charcot-Marie-Tooth Awareness Month

At just 21 years old, Ella Wiley is already making a profound impact on the world around her. A fourth-year pre-med student at York University, majoring in Health Studies with a minor in Life Sciences in Society, Ella is determined to become a paediatric neurologist. This dream is shaped not only by her academic passions but also by her lived experience with a rare condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT). 



Visit our blog to read more >

"Every milestone was met with cheers from 'Team Delilah'" - Myotonic Dystrophy Day

When Delilah was diagnosed with Congenital Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1, her family finally found the clarity they needed after months of uncertainty. What began as a frightening journey transformed into one of hope, connection and support through the care of Grandview Kids. Her story is a powerful reminder that a diagnosis can open the door to understanding, strength and a community that cares.

Visit our blog to read more >

Share your feedback with Grandview Kids!

At Grandview Kids, we greatly respect the feedback we receive from our clients' caregivers. We would like to hear about your experience with the programs and services your child or youth received at Grandview Kids. The feedback you share will help us plan programs and services that best serve Grandview Kids' clients. 

Please share your feedback at the link below. It should take no more than five minutes to complete, and your answers are anonymous.* 

*We will not ask for your name or your child's name. No one will know what you have said. We will keep everything confidential. We will share only the overall results with members of Team Grandview, our Board of Directors and in our annual report. 

If you have questions about this survey, please contact us by email at communications@grandviewkids.ca.

Upcoming programs, workshops and events

Family Engagement

Join Grandview Kids’ Family Engagement Team for many engaging events in September. If you have any questions about the events shared below, please email familyengagement@grandviewkids.ca for more information.

Painting Drop-in Caregiver Café 

Join the Family Engagement Team for a painting activity while we chat about our return to school and the year ahead!  

Date: Monday, September 8, 2025 

Time: Drop-in anytime between 5 and 7 p.m. 

Location: St. Paul's United Church, 178 Church Street, Bowmanville, L1C 1T9 

No advance registration is required. Please note that this special caregiver café is taking place at St. Paul's United Church in Bowmanville, not at The Jerry Coughlan Building. Click the link above to access this month's park playdate location on Google Maps.

Adolescent Transition Program Coffee Chat: Sips & Tips – Presented by TD Bank Group 

For the September 2025 Adolescent Transition Program Coffee Chat, we are hosting Canopy Support Services to chat about passport funding.

This relaxed gathering is designed to give caregivers a well-deserved break and a chance to recharge.

It’s a two-hour event where you can unwind, enjoy coffee or tea, meet others who understand and pick up helpful tips to make caregiving a little easier.

Whether you’re looking for a friendly chat or some solid advice, this event is all about connection, support and having a bit of fun!

Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025 

Time: 6 to 8 p.m. 

Location: Grandview Kids – The Jerry Coughlan Building (Boardroom – Room 1003), 1461 Harwood Avenue North, Ajax, ON, L1T 4T9  

Registration is required! Click here to register. 

Indoor Park Playdate

Join us for a fun-filled indoor park playdate at the YWCA Durham! Children and youth can jump into exciting active play with plenty of space to run, move and explore, while also taking a break to challenge their friends to a giant game of Connect 4. It’s the perfect mix of movement and brain-boosting fun, all in a safe and welcoming space. Come laugh, play and make new friends.

Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Time: Drop-in anytime between 5 and 6:30 p.m. 

Location: YWCA Durham, 1 Mcgrigor St, Oshawa, ON L1H 1X8

No advance registration is required. Please note that this special park playdate is taking place at the YWCA Durham in Oshawa, not at The Jerry Coughlan Building. Click the link above to access this month's park playdate location on Google Maps.

Accessing the Wellness Room at The Jerry Coughlan Building 

Did you know? On Level 2 of The Jerry Coughlan Building, there is a dedicated Wellness Room, which provides a quiet and private environment for rest, reflection, prayer or caregiving. Amenities include a privacy screen, a small selection of books and toys for children and youth and the option to use it as a nursing room. 

Supporting our Muslim clients and families 

At Grandview Kids, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all individuals in our care. To support the spiritual needs of our Muslim clients and families, we are pleased to offer a dedicated prayer space located within our Wellness Room. 

In addition to the amenities noted above, this space includes: 

• A sink and foot washer for wudu (ablution) 
• Prayer mats for individual use 
• Clear marking of the Qibla direction for ease and comfort 

Finding the Wellness Room 

• Enter through our main doors, turn right towards the Welcome Centre, and from there, you can either take the stairs to Level 2 or use the elevator to reach Level 2. 
• After the stairs and/or the elevators, you make another right, pass the Level 2 Welcome Desk and head towards the end of the hallway. 
• The Wellness Room will be at the end of the hallway on your right-hand side. 
• If you need assistance, please find a member of our team at the Level 2 Welcome Desk or Welcome Centre in the Atrium. We will be happy to escort you!

We invite you to use this space freely whenever needed. If you have any questions about the space or require additional accommodations, please connect with a Team Grandview member at the Welcome Centre located in the Atrium, or any of the Welcome Desks throughout The Jerry Coughlan Building. We are here to support you.

Strategies from Grandview Kids clinicians:

What’s all this talk about interoception? 

Written by Grandview Kids Occupational Therapist, Samantha M.

In the last few years, there has been a lot of “buzz” around the term "interoception," including the role it plays in regulation skills and how it may impact our neurodivergent community.

Interoception is the sense that helps us notice internal body signals such as hunger, thirst, temperature or the need to use the washroom. Developing interoceptive awareness means learning to connect these body cues to specific feelings, which can vary from person to person.

On the Grandview Kids blog, Occupational Therapist (OT) Samantha M. recently shared strategies families can use in daily routines to support interoceptive awareness at home. Learn more about interoception and take away some of Samantha's evidence-based strategies below.

What is interoception?

Interoception is our sense responsible for noticing feelings in our body. By feelings, I don’t just mean emotions like happy or sad. Feelings include hunger, thirst, being cold or hot, or having to use the washroom. Interoception helps us answer the question: “How do I feel?”

Our feelings are really just a formula of things that happen in our body, like: 

• Stomach growling + cranky = hungry 
• Heart racing + palms sweaty + feeling sick to the stomach = nervous 

Our interoceptive system must notice those internal body cues, such as “stomach growling” and “cranky,” and figure out what feeling they are connected to. This is known as "interoceptive awareness." Everyone’s formulas are unique, as we all experience things in our bodies a little differently.

It sounds easy, but for many neurodivergent folks, this can be a challenge. They may be too aware of these sensations or may miss them entirely.

Interoception and self-regulation 

The term “self-regulation” refers to a person’s ability to understand and manage their own behaviour, as well as their reactions to feelings and the things happening around them. 

Someone who has a hard time understanding their feelings (i.e., challenges with interoceptive processing) will have difficulty with self-regulation. This is because they may miss when their body starts to have a tough time coping with the situation or environment (i.e., dysregulates). It is impossible to use coping strategies for self-regulation when you cannot feel when you need to use them (i.e., when you are starting to dysregulate). 

Supporting interoceptive awareness at home 

Good news! Research shows there are ways you can help improve interoceptive awareness (see the complete list of references and sources informing this blog here).

There are two simple strategies you can use in your daily routines with your child:

1. Interoception Talk: talk about how your body parts feel during activities and routines. For example, “My lips feel cold when I drink from my water bottle," "My hands feel wet when I wash them" and "My heart feels like it’s racing when I chase you.” 
2. Interoception Attention: encourage your child to pay attention or notice how their body parts feel during activities and routines. For example, you may ask:

• “How does your mouth feel when you eat ice cream?"
• "How do your hands feel when I hold them?"
• "Look at how fast your chest is moving when you run"
• "Put your hand on your chest to feel how fast it is moving.” 

Note: Your child does not have to answer any of the questions you ask. The goal is for them to shift their focus in towards their body, not answer the question. 

Conclusion 

Interoception is a complicated sense that helps us understand what is happening in our body.

If you suspect your child is having difficulty with interoceptive awareness, using the strategies above is a no-risk way of helping your child learn more about what is happening in their body. 

Celebrating Team Grandview

On Monday, August 18, Grandview Kids hosted its very first "Career Exploration Panel" at Grandview Kids – The Jerry Coughlan Building!

Designed for individuals interested in exploring various career pathways at Grandview Kids, the panel provided insights into the diverse roles that help power our organization every day. 

Professionals from across Human Resources, People and Culture, Finance, Communications, Scheduling, Behaviour Services and Clinical and Client Services came together to share their knowledge, experiences and advice with attendees—highlighting the many ways we work together to support children and youth in Durham Region.

Topics discussed by panellists included what a typical day in their role looks like and what some of the most challenging and rewarding parts of their jobs are. Panellists also provided tips for standing out when applying for an exciting opportunity and answered many insightful questions from attendees. 

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Rhonda B., Urooj A., and Michelle F. from the Human Resources, People, and Culture team for coordinating this high-impact event. 

And an extra-special thanks to our incredible panellists: Sarah P., Cherie K., Mitchell D., Vera O., Ashley A., and Harry D. Thank you for generously sharing your time and expertise, making this event such a success! 

Interested in a career at Grandview Kids? 

Grandview Kids is actively hiring for several positions in clinical and non-clinical roles, including Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists and a Building Services Specialist. To learn more about the benefits of joining #TeamGrandview and to view Grandview Kids’ current career opportunities, visit GrandviewKids.ca/Careers. 

Community Corner

Ajax Public Library

The Family Resource Centre at The Jerry Coughlan Building is home to

the Ajax Public Library's Grandview Kids Express Branch.

The Ajax Public Library invites you to attend the following events in September and into the fall:

Library Card Registration Days 

Register for an Ajax Public Library card and learn about the upcoming fall programs at Grandview Kids!

Dates: Saturdays – September 6, October 25 and November 22 

Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Location: Grandview Kids Express Branch

Registration is not required. Click here to learn more! 

Drop-in Sensory Storytime 

Connect with other families through inclusive storytime featuring fun themes, songs and stories. All are welcome.

Main Branch: Thursdays – September 11, October 9, November 6 and December 4 

Grandview Kids Express Branch: Thursdays – September 25, October 23 and November 20 

Time: 10 to 10:30 a.m. 

Ages: 2 to 6 

Location: Main Branch

Registration is not required. Click here to learn more! 

PA Day Craft and Movie: Lilo & Stitch 

Create a cool craft based on the movie, then stay to enjoy the show!

Date: Monday, October 20 

Location: Grandview Kids Express Branch 

Time: 1:30 to 4 p.m. 

• Craft: 1:30 to 2 p.m.  
• Movie: 2 to 4 p.m. 

Film Summary: Lilo & Stitch (Rated PG) – A lonely Hawaiian girl befriends a runaway alien, helping to mend her fragmented family. 

Click here to register. Advanced registration is required! 

Family Storytime

Drop-in and engage in hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) literacy activities that promote creativity and collaboration. 

Dates: Saturdays – September 6, October 25 

Time: 10 a.m. to noon 

Ages: 3 to 12 

Location: Grandview Kids Express Branch 

Themes:  

• September 6: Nature – Celebrate fall with stories, crafts and LEGO.  
• October 25: Cast a Spell! – Dress up for a spooky Halloween-themed celebration. 

Registration is not required. Click here to learn more! 

For more Ajax Public Library events and collection information, visit: www.ajaxlibrary.ca. 

September Dates of Significance

Every month, members of Team Grandview’s Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee research and share blog posts about holidays, cultural celebrations, awareness days and other dates of significance that are meaningful to staff, clients, caregivers, partners and the community. 

In September, we acknowledge International Pain Awareness Month, Chiari Malformation Awareness Month, Charcot Marie Tooth Disease Awareness Month, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Duchenne Awareness Month, World Duchenne Day, World Physiotherapy Day, International Literacy Day, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Day, Worldwide Cystic Fibrosis Day, Myotonic Dystrophy Day, IT Professionals Day, World Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Day, Rosh Hashanah, Gender Equality Week, International Day of Sign Language and Orange Shirt Day.

Read more on the blog >

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

In September, we also observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as “Orange Shirt Day,” which falls on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. This day honours the children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.

Read our blog commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation >

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Content in Gather is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor. Views expressed in posts and resources listed do not signify endorsement by Grandview Kids.