Playgroups for babies and toddlers and their parents in Toronto’s East End
So much more than just parent and baby classes! Build lasting friendships with other moms, dads, and caregivers who have kids the same age and stage as yours by attending weekly playgroups in your neighbourhood.
While we’re called Mom Friends because the community was started by and run by moms, but please note that all caregivers are welcome in every group. From itty bitty babies to busy toddlers and everything in between, there is a playgroup for you!
Meet your new best friends
You’re in this together. Join a Playgroup with other parents at the same stage of parenting as you.
Discover local businesses
Find out where all the hottest baby and toddler hang out spots are in the East End.
Get exclusive discounts
Take advantage of group discounts negotiated by East End Mom Friends.
Stay connected on WhatsApp
Whether it’s 2PM or 2AM, you can message your new besties to trauma bond and share cute baby pics.
Always know where to go
You have too much to think about already. Playgroups are designed so you don’t have to plan a thing.
Access special events
Playgroup members are the first to know about special events like photoshoots, markets, fundraisers, and more.
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Itty Bitty Babies
These little ones are in the early stages—non-mobile and primarily focused on sensory experiences and simple activities. They may be napping all over the place and staying within arms reach of their parent(s) at all times.
Activities: coffee shops, breweries, libraries, and generally seated activities
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Senior Babies
Babies in this group are sitting independently and starting to move by crawling, pulling to stand, or cruising.
They follow a more consistent schedule with 2-3 naps per day.
Activities: coffee shops, community spaces, and baby-safe exploration such as indoor playgrounds
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Toddlers & Preschoolers
Energetic toddlers and preschoolers who may nap once per day or not at all.
They’re fully mobile, confident in walking (or running!), and enjoy more independent exploration and play.
Activities: Play spaces that are designed for more physical activities, including climbing, running, and group play
Find a playgroup in an East End neighbourhood near you
Playgroups run 7 days a week in neighbourhoods across Toronto’s East End, including:
“Joining two play groups when my kids were 18 months and 6 months old was truly life-changing for me and my family. These groups became more than just a weekly activity—they became a cornerstone of our lives. Not only did my kids make their very first friends, but I also found an incredible group of moms who I know will remain lifelong friends.
Through these groups, I gained so much—an amazing support system, insight into local small businesses in the neighbourhoods that cater to kids, and an entirely new appreciation for our local parks with their fantastic outdoor activities for little ones. Along the way, I even discovered new breweries and workout studios that made the experience even richer.
Navigating life with two under two was made infinitely better because of these play groups. I truly can’t imagine a better ‘early years’ experience for our family. Thank you for creating such a welcoming, enriching space for both parents and kids!”
— Kendra Teale, mom of 2 under 2
Sample playgroup schedule for babies
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Week 1: Chocolate shop
Get to know each other at a specialty chocolate shop with delicious treats for parents and lots of room for babies
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Week 2: Library
A visit to a local library branch to discover children’s books, activities, and programming
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Week 3: Riverdale Farm
Enjoy the outdoors and teach your baby about animals at the city’s only real working farm
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Week 4: Swimming
Discover a baby-friendly pool and introduce your baby to a fun sensory experience in the water
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Week 5: Restaurant
Grab brunch or lunch with your friends at a local family-friendly restaurant with delicious food options
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Week 6: Indoor play space
Discounted admission to a local play space featuring age-appropriate toys and activities
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Week 7: Brewery
Craft beer and cute babies at one of east Toronto’s many excellent breweries
Sample playgroup schedule for toddlers
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Week 1: Indoor play place
Discounted admission to a local play space featuring age-appropriate toys and activities
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Week 2: Fire station visit
Behind-the-scenes access to a local fire station - trucks, hoses, firefighters and all
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Week 3: Kids gym
Let your kid(s) bounce off the walls and burn off some energy while building important gross motor skills
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Week 4: Library
Spark your toddler’s love of reading with a visit to a local library branch with children’s books, activities, and more
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Week 5: EarlyON
Meet up at your local EarlyON Child and Family Centre to play with all the toys and clap along during circle time
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Week 6: Park playground
Weather permitting, spend a few hours climbing, sliding, and swinging at one of the east end’s best playgrounds
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Week 7: Another play place
You can never have too many play places on the Playgroup schedule when toddlers are involved
“I had my first child in April of 2020 and as you can imagine my maternity leave was not at all what I expected. Having survived through that I vowed that next time would be vastly different.
Fast forward to 2024, I gave birth in June and decided this would be my ‘YOLO mat leave’. Social engagements, physical activity, travel, I’m doing it all and East End Mom Friends has been indispensable in helping me to live my best life.
The weekly meetups give me a reason to get out, meet other parents and try a variety of local spots but most importantly they’ve given me a community. I’ve made new friends, reconnected with old ones and even become a team captain. Because of Easy End Mom Friends I feel a sense of excitement, engagement, and purpose that I don’t think I ever recovered after my first baby.”
— Tia, mom of 2 and EEMF Playgroup Team Captain
What to expect
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Add your preferred playgroup(s) to cart and complete the check out process. You’ll be asked a few questions about yourself and your child(ren) to ensure you’ve joined the best group. You should receive a confirmation email that the order went through.
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Before your next playgroup session begins, you’ll receive an email with important information, including the link to your Playgroup’s private WhatsApp chat. Please join the appropriate chat as soon as possible and ensure your WhatsApp profile includes your name and photo, which should be visible to non-contacts. Team Captains will only approve people who have registered.
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Once all Playgroup participants have joined the WhatsApp chat, your Team Captain will facilitate introductions and share the schedule for your session.
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Stay in touch with your new friends on WhatsApp, whether it’s commiserating about late-night wake-ups or sharing cute baby/toddler outfits. You’re in this together!
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Your Playgroup membership will expire at the end of your session unless you register for the next one. WhatsApp chats will stay active so your group can continue to communicate with each other, if you wish.
FAQs
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One session is $69.99 per family. Our aim is to keep this as affordable as possible in order to prevent financial barriers. If you are unable to commit to this rate, please reach out privately. If you’d like to sign up for a second group, the rate is 25% off your second group! Use the code DOUBLE25 on your second sign up.
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Playgroups usually run for 8 weeks, depending on the season, statutory holidays, and scheduled breaks. Each group meets once per week on a pre-determined day and time.
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It depends. Groups often have the option to discuss amongst themselves if they’d like to alter timing slightly as the needs of the groups change, however some dates and times are not moveable due to the nature of facility rentals or local business hours.
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Yes. Your membership will expire automatically on the final Friday of your playgroup session.
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Prices are per family. Many parents of multiples attend our Playgroups. Twins, triplets, 2 under 2 - or even 3 under 3 (yep, it happens!) - your membership is for your household. When it comes to tiny humans, the more the merrier!
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Some Playgroup locations may have an entry fee, and/or you will have to pay for your own food and beverages. Whenever possible, East End Mom Friends tries to negotiate an exclusive discount for Playgroup members. If additional costs are a concern for you, please reach out to us to be placed in a Playgroup that only attends free spaces.
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The link to the Playgroup WhatsApp community will be added to the Welcome Guide page about a week before playgroups begin.
If you’re not sure what the Welcome Guide is, check your order confirmation email - the link is there!
Didn’t get a confirmation email? Check your spam folder or reach out to us in the event that you used an email address you no longer have access to.
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At East End Mom Friends, we strive to create a supportive and enriching experience for all our members. We understand that sometimes plans change, and we want to accommodate your needs as best as we can. Please review our refund policy, which was also available at checkout and in the Welcome Guide for members, below:
Refund Availability:
Refunds are available up until the start of the playgroup session
To be eligible for a refund, you must not have participated in any playgroup activities, including joining the group chat. Participation in the chat is considered active involvement, as significant preparation and organization work are completed for each participant by this stage.
No Refunds After Playgroups Begin:
Once the playgroups begin, no refunds will be issued.
This policy ensures fairness, as resources and efforts have already been allocated to each participant by this time.
Extenuating Circumstances:
We understand that unexpected situations may arise. In cases of extenuating circumstances, please contact us directly at admin@eastendmomfriends.com to discuss your situation. We will review each case individually and strive to find a compassionate solution.
Discounts:
Discounts cannot be applied retroactively to orders that have already been purchased.
When switching groups, a new transaction occurs and previous discounts may not apply to your new order, such as limited or time-bound promotional discounts.
Supporting Our Small Business:
As a small business, refunds directly impact our ability to provide quality services and maintain our operations. We appreciate your understanding and support in adhering to our refund policy.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. We look forward to having you and your little ones join us for a wonderful session of play and connection!
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Both parents or other caregivers are welcome to attend sometimes or every time! The playgroup is for the whole family, not just one parent or child.
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No! Any parent or caregiver is welcome to join any playgroup. We created a Dads playgroup by request to help dads and father figures build relationships with their peers.