CMAS

WEBINAR: Exploring Challenging Behaviours and Implicit Bias

In this edWebinar, Dr. Angela Searcy challenges educators to stop, reflect on their own implicit biases, and grow so they can better understand and serve children exhibiting challenging behaviors within their classroom. Participants will be provided with self-reflective tools and strategies for examining the origins of implicit bias, reflecting on everyday conversations and recognizing potentially biased statements.

Valuing Diversity: Developing a Deeper Understanding of All Young Children’s Behaviour

Everything we think, say, and do is processed through our own cultural backgrounds. But because culture is absorbed and passed down from generation to generation rather than explicitly taught, we’re seldom aware of it. Culture shapes not only our values and beliefs, but also our gender roles, family structures, languages, dress, food, etiquette, approaches to disabilities, child-rearing practices, and even our expectations for children’s behavior. In this way, culture creates diversity. For educators, it is important to think about your own culture and how the cultures of children and their families play a role in your CNC program.

Encouraging School Readiness Skills in Preschoolers

The early years are a time when we can help children develop the tools they need to succeed before heading to formal K-12 schooling. Developing these school readiness skills help prepare children for optimal learning throughout their educational journey. This article takes a closer look at some of the school readiness skills that children can work on before they head off to kindergarten!

200+ activities ideas you can do at home with kids

Many programs across the country are closed in order to slow the spread of COVID-19, and kids are staying home due to the pandemic. Thankfully, learning doesn’t only happen in classrooms. Even while social distancing or self-isolating, children can keep on learning through play, using active games to keep them moving and learning at home. Here is a helpful article and list of over 200 activities ideas you can share with families to help them stay active at home!

Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers and Toddlers

We all know that fine motor skills are important, but are we making sure our curriculum integrates them enough into our early childhood activities? They are not just helpful for writing, but they are essential for everyday activities like feeding, dressing, and other hygiene activities.

Here is some fine motor fun you can implement into your curriculum or home to strengthen those muscles that control your child’s hands, fingers, and thumbs.

We are different, we are the same: Activities that teach young children about diversity

Diversity activities teach young children to respect and celebrate the differences in all people. Learning about different cultural aspects offers new experiences for children. It also helps them realize that we’re all humans, despite differences in how we look or dress, or what we eat or celebrate! Games and activities are a fun way for young children to learn about differences and similarities and to introduce the concept of diversity.

Transform Challenging Behavior FREE Online Conference for Early Childhood Providers

In this online event, participants will consider the topic of challenging behaviour from many angles, focus on prevention and look at how to support children using innovative strategies. Sessions will also explore racial disproportionality and implicit bias surrounding issues of challenging behaviour in the early years.

FILM: Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action- The Early Years

A new film, Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years, features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film demonstrates the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education and provides a much-needed resource for teacher education and professional development. It also includes an accompanying viewer guidebook and suggestions for using the film for professional development for your team!

April is Autism Awareness Month!

All children experience the world differently, and those differences are even greater for children with autism. April is Autism Awareness month, and Sesame Street in Communities has developed these new resources to share and help remind us to celebrate the amazing in every child!

50 Earth Day Activities for Children and Families

Earth Day is our annual reminder to slow down and appreciate the bounty of the earth. Here's a list of 50 Earth Day activity ideas that you can share with families this week to encourage children to create objects from natural and recycled materials and spend more time outdoors.