What is EarlyON?
I am a big fan of EarlyON, but not a fan of the EarlyON directory. I am creating this post to help fellow parents in Toronto to easily look for a EarlyON location near them. I will try to create a dedicated page for the entire province of Ontario.
Here’s some background of the program. EarlyON Child and Family Centres are free drop-in programs for parents and caregivers with children from birth to age 6, funded by the City of Toronto. Think play-based learning, songs and story time, parenting workshops, and a room full of other parents who also haven’t slept properly in a while. Most locations run on a first-come drop-in basis — no registration, no fees.
Toronto has 232 EarlyON locations run by 51 different agencies — school boards, neighbourhood centres, and community health centres. The full list below comes from the City of Toronto’s own location data (October 2026).
How to use this list: pick your part of the city, pick an agency, or use both filters together. Each row links to the agency’s website, where you’ll find that centre’s current drop-in hours and calendar — hours change often, so check before you go.
Find an EarlyON centre near you
Use the filters to narrow the list by your part of Toronto — Etobicoke, York, North York, downtown and old Toronto, East York, or Scarborough — or by the agency that runs the centre. If you are new to EarlyON in Toronto, start with the centre closest to home: programs are similar across the city, and the best centre is usually the one you can walk to on a sleepy morning.
| Centre | Agency | Area | Address | Website | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading centres… | |||||
A few tips from experience
– Hours vary a lot by location. Two centres run by the same agency can have completely different schedules. Always check the agency page or call before heading out.
– School-based centres follow the school calendar. The many TDSB and TCDSB locations usually close on PA days and school breaks.
– Arrive early for popular morning drop-ins. Some rooms cap attendance, especially in winter.
Make it a routine: kids settle faster at a drop-in they recognize, so try the same EarlyON Toronto centre a few times before deciding it is not for you — the second visit is almost always easier than the first for both of you.
And if your little one is outgrowing drop-ins, see our favourite wooden toys for toddlers at home too.
Which EarlyON Toronto centre should you pick?
Honestly, the one you will actually go to. Most EarlyON Toronto programs offer the same core mix — free play, circle time, songs, and staff who can point you to other family services — so distance beats almost everything else. If two centres are equally close, look at the agency behind them: school-board centres in TDSB and TCDSB schools are plentiful and consistent, while community agencies often add extras like parent workshops, newcomer support, or Indigenous and French-language programming.
A quick note on timing: EarlyON Toronto drop-ins are busiest on weekday mornings, and school-based centres close on PA days and holidays. Check the centre’s calendar on the agency website (linked in the table) the night before, and arrive a few minutes early in winter when rooms fill up fast.
EarlyON Toronto FAQ
Is EarlyON really free?
Yes. EarlyON centres in Toronto are funded by the City and the Province; drop-in programs are free. Some agencies ask you to sign in on arrival, that’s it.
What ages is EarlyON for?
Children from birth to 6 years old, with a parent or caregiver staying with them.
Do I need to register?
Most programs are drop-in. A few registered workshops and specialty programs do ask for sign-up through the agency — the centre’s website will say.
Who runs EarlyON in Toronto?
51 agencies — the biggest are the Toronto District School Board (75 locations) and the Toronto Catholic District School Board (19), plus community agencies like Macaulay Centres for Children, Malvern Family Resource Centre, and LAMP.
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