Preschool

Salem embodies creativity, innovation and a touch of sly cleverness, constantly encouraging children to think outside the box and express themselves. With their natural charm, artistic flair and quick wit, Salem often turns challenges into opportunities, inspiring children to look at problems from fresh perspectives. Whether leading craft sessions, drawing murals or creating imaginative stories, Salem’s resourcefulness and playful cunning make them a captivating and relatable figure. Their vibrant orange fur, "paintbrush" tail and slight mischievous smile add to their appeal, sparking enthusiasm for art, self-expression and creative problem-solving.

Bayly leaps into action with boundless energy and enthusiasm, embodying the spirit of play and teamwork. Whether organizing games, leading group activities, or encouraging children to try new things, Bayly’s charisma and lively personality make them the heart of any adventure. Their cheerful green skin, playful smile and sporty headband reflect an active lifestyle, inspiring children to stay physically engaged while promoting teamwork and resilience. With a passion for building connections and fostering friendships, Bayly is the ultimate cheerleader, motivating young minds to embrace the joys of collaboration and active play.

Audley soars with elegance and determination, embodying the spirit of curiosity and exploration. With vibrant blue feathers, a pair of binoculars and a backpack for everything needed for an action-packed adventure, Audley is always ready to inspire children to take flight in their imagination and discover the beauty of the world around them. Whether encouraging children to explore nature, try something new or solve challenges together, Audley’s adventurous personality makes them a beacon of inspiration and wonder. Their love for storytelling and sharing knowledge sparks curiosity, helping children see the magic in every day.

Goal: Foster cognitive development, independence and school readiness through teaching and routine. We believe preschoolers thrive in nurturing environments where play is purposeful.

Goal: Provide meaningful opportunities for preschoolers to express themselves, build confidence and encourage their imagination.

Goal: Burn off energy while building essential gross motor skills. Through active games, music and movement, kids develop coordination, balance and body-awareness all while having fun.

Children will enjoy arts & crafts, songs, creative play and more while parents enjoy a night out!

Available at two locations: Lakeside Public School (Community Centre) | Audley Recreation Centre (Preschool Room)

Date: Friday nights from September to mid December, mid January to the first week in March and end of March to end of May.

Time: 6 - 8 p.m.

Ages: 2.5 - 5 yrs.

Please note: This is a drop-in program (no registration required) and is first-come, first-served.

View the Calendar

Enjoy a free and supervised drop-in program for Town of Ajax residents. An excellent opportunity for children to meet new friends in their local community and enjoy active and passive games, make crafts, attend off-site trips and more! Each site offers a unique summer experience that should not be missed!

No pre-registration required. Simply sign up on location with the site leaders any time throughout the summer. Parents are expected to stay during the preschool hour to help their little ones participate.

Preschool Hour (formerly known as Pints)
Ages: 3 - 5 yrs
Monday, June 30 to Friday, August 22, 2025
Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Excluding Trip Days

Cancelled: Tuesday, July 1, 2025 (Canada Day) & Monday, August 4, 2025 (Civic Holiday)

Please contact 905-619-2529, ext. 7259 or InclusionServices@ajax.ca if you have any questions or are planning on bringing in your own outside support worker to programs. 

Participants must be an Ajax resident registered in a program to receive enhanced staffing. Support is limited to a maximum of three weeks of summer camp or one program in a session and is based on available resources at the time of registration. Participants must register for Inclusion Support Services using the enhanced staffing barcodes. Please ensure that the enhanced staffing barcode matches the session that the participant is registering in.

Outside Support Worker:

If an outside support worker is accompanying a participant to a camp or Playgrounds Program location, an Outside Support Worker Release Form must be signed by the parent/guardian and the support worker. The Outside Support Worker Release Form, along with an original Vulnerable Sector Check (dated within the past 6 months) must be submitted two business days prior to the camp start date or two business days before attending a Playgrounds program location. Please contact InclusionServices@ajax.ca or 905-619-2529, ext. 7259 for more details. 

Age Overrides:

Please contact InclusionServices@ajax.ca or 905-619-2529, ext. 7259 to discuss an age exception for participants who are accessing Inclusion Support Services. 

If you need financial assistance, there is help.

The Town of Ajax provides eligible residents in financial need with options to participate in programs.

A parent/guardian of a child enrolled in a class marked with a “P” (for parented) are required to stay with the child for the duration of the class -- unless stated otherwise in the class description.

For all other classes, we kindly ask parents/guardians to assist by:

• Hanging up outdoor clothing, taking off boots, etc.
• Helping participants get their snack out of their bag.

After this, we ask parents/guardians to say goodbye and promptly exit the room to allow all preschoolers the opportunity to settle into their class. Please note: it’s completely natural for a preschooler and their parent/guardian to feel upset during separation. Please rest assured that our instructors and assistants are well-trained, experienced and compassionate. They are skilled in handling these moments with care and will do their best to comfort and support each child as they adjust to the classroom routine. There are a variety of techniques that they will use to see which one best works with your child.

Parented classes have a “P” (for parented) after the title of the class. Often it will be noted in the description as well. 

Please be mindful when selecting snacks for your preschooler: we are a nut-aware program. We kindly ask that participants do not bring nuts or nut products into class. If there are other types of severe allergies for anyone in the class, we may also require you to adjust your choices so that we can keep everyone safe.

We recommend healthy, easy to eat snacks (e.g. apple slices, apple sauce, crackers, cheese, granola bars, berries, veggies, etc).

Water in a reusable water bottle is a good choice for a drink.

Please bring snacks in reusable containers that are easy to open for little hands. Our intent for most classes with snack is to help participants learn independence and get them ready for school. To help us keep organized, please label all containers with your child’s name or initials. Thank you for being environmentally friendly. 

You know your child best. If there are things that you believe will help your child feel more comfortable and confident, we encourage you to begin preparing them before the class begins. 

• Talk about what to expect (e.g. meeting the teachers, meeting new friends, etc).

• Be honest with your child. Let them know that you are leaving but that you will return. Remind them that you won’t be coming into the class but you will be excited to hear about their experience when you pick them up. 

• Speak positively about the class. Show excitement for your little one.
• If this is the first time – or the first time in a while – being away from each other, please expect some difficulty with separation for the first few weeks. Feelings of sadness, anxiousness and tears are normal emotions for both children and parents. Working through these emotions is an important part of your child’s development. It helps them build resiliency and confidence. Our staff are there to support your child with care and encouragement as they learn independence in a safe and nurturing environment.

• Each child is different, therefore the number of classes that these negative emotions can happen will vary and depend on the child. However, after a few weeks, these emotions should ease. Some children experience this and others do not.

• Plan an activity for your child to look forward to after class. 

Preschoolers should wear something comfortable that can get messy. In most of our programs we have crafts, sand/water/rice tables, and may have sensory bins. These activities may get on your preschooler’s clothing so please send them dressed in items that you are ok with getting messy.

Sometimes we also do theme days. Parents will be made aware in advance, so if your little one wants to come dressed up, they are able to. Please speak with the instructor on the first day to note dates of any theme days in your child’s class.