If a move to Toronto with your family is in your future, you’re in for a treat! Toronto is proud of its reputation as a kid-friendly city, teeming with sights and sounds to delight your active explorer, the young Picasso, the budding astrophysicist, and everyone in-between! Below we’re sharing what makes Toronto an ideal city for raising a family, and how to tap into the best kid-friendly experiences upon your arrival:
Family-Oriented Neighbourhoods
There are close to 150 dynamic neighbourhoods dotting the city, each with a distinct character and culture. Families will be relieved to know that several of these neighbourhoods include many of the features that make it comfortable and accessible for living with children; namely, access to quality schools, ample greenspace, detached and semi-detached housing options, and a tight-knit community feel.
A few of the highly coveted family-friendly Toronto neighborhoods include:
- Riverdale: One of Toronto’s largest neighborhoods, Riverdale ticks off all the boxes, offering abundant green space, quiet streets, great schools, and delicious eats! Riverdale sits east of the Don River, close to the Danforth neighbourhood.
- Davisville Village: Nestled in the midtown region of the city, Davisville Village boasts some of the highest-rated public schools in the area and offers a variety of different housing options with age-old charm. Convenient access to subway stations and a quick drive to the heart of the city.
- Bloor West Village: West of the city and bordering High Park, Bloor West Village residents enjoy a family-friendly community and no shortage of green space! As a bonus, this is well-known as one of Toronto’s safest neighborhoods.
Tip: To learn more about which of Toronto’s family-friendly neighbourhoods would best meet the needs of your family members and your budget, ask about our Neighborhood Home Search service.
Explore Toronto’s Greenspace
Toronto has done an exceptional job of integrating a patchwork of beautiful greenspaces throughout the city, perfect for families with children of all ages. Take your family on a park-hopping adventure to discover all that Toronto has to offer – from modern play structures to free zoos, amphitheatres, sports fields, splash pads, community pools, and so much more!
Here our some of our favourite family-friendly Toronto greenspaces to add to your list:
Kew Garden: Nestled in The Beaches neighborhood, this castle-themed waterfront park has something for everyone, including a jungle gym, fountains, wading pools, tennis courts, a baseball diamond, and its very own medieval village circling the garden. Fun for all seasons, Kew Gardens also features a skating rink in the winter.
High Park: Consider High Park to be the Central Park of Toronto! Over 160 hectares of hiking trails, a dog park, playgrounds, a zoo, restaurants, greenhouses, and a full roster of year-round events (including the beloved tradition of catching a glimpse of the blooming cherry blossom trees in late spring).
Centre Island: You may need to hop on a ferry to get there but trust us when we say that the destination is worth the journey! Part of the collection of Toronto Islands, Center Island is a popular summertime destination for Toronto families, featuring beautiful gardens, walking and cycling trails, restaurants, an amusement park, and arguably the best view of the Toronto skyline.
Visit Toronto Parks & Recreation for park locations, facility listings, and programs for all age groups to appeal to every adventure-loving member of your family.
Entertain & Educate
Beyond school hours, Toronto is a hub of world-class attractions that offer opportunities to entertain and stimulate young minds, with something available for every budget! The AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario), ROM (Royal Ontario Museum), Ripley’s Aquarium, and The Ontario Science Centre are just a few of the many attractions in the city that offer year-round enriching experiences for children outside of the classroom. But there are also a countless number of smaller, more intimate programs to be found, particularly if your goal is to meet other local families with young children.
The links below are a great source of inspiration when it comes to finding unique, interactive, and engaging community events and local programming geared towards families with kids:
https://www.toronto4kids.com/: Stay on top of everything fun and family-friendly happening across the Greater Toronto Area, including free programs. And get the scoop on all the best family-friendly restaurants and eateries in and around the city!
https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/recreation/: Discover indoor and outdoor recreation opportunities around the city, including “virtual recreation” options that can be accessed through a computer, smartphone, or tablet.
https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/programs-and-classes/: Tap into one of the many live and online family-friendly programs offered through the Toronto Public Library System, including family book clubs!
EarlyON Child & Family Centres: EarlyON Child and Family Centres offer free, high-quality programming for families with children under the age of 6. With over 260 locations stretching across the city of Toronto, these centres are a great way to connect with other local families in your neighbourhood, as well as discover other family-friendly resources in the city.
The best part about living in the city is that you have the freedom and flexibility to get around without a car. With walkable streets and plenty of alternative transportation options (from subways and streetcars to buses and bike-share programs), you can safely navigate the city with your family and allow older teenaged children the independence to explore on their own.
There is so much to love about living and raising a family in this dynamic, diverse city. Whether you’re hoping to settle your brood into an open-concept loft in the heart of the action, or a three-bedroom townhome on a quiet, tree-lined street, you’re sure to find everything you need to make Toronto feel like home.
Keen to learn more about how to make your transition to Toronto with a family as seamless and successful as possible? As your local Toronto relocation experts, we can’t wait to help; reach out to the relo-to team today.