CMAS

Webinar: Trauma Informed Care for Refugees and Children

What are the effects of trauma on immigrant children? How is mental health screening done? What are some options for helping children who have experienced trauma? Recorded in November 2016, this webinar discusses issues that children face when exposed to trauma and helps caregivers learn to respond appropriately.

Breaking the Stigma: Can Children with Special Needs Learn a Second Language?

Some families and professionals believe that it’s too difficult for a child with special needs to learn a second language, but research shows that children with special needs can become bilingual. In a study of children with language impairment, Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder, researchers confirmed that children’s ability to learn is based on their age, the degree of their disability, their intellectual capacity and their proficiency in their first language.

40 Fine Motor Skills Activities

Before a child can learn to write they need strength in their hands and fingers and hand-eye coordination. Here are 40 fine motor activities for babies to five year olds that help to build these skills. These ideas are not only well-explained but are simple, open-ended and make use of art, sensory play and simple manipulative games.

Risks of Sleeping in Car Seats: Keeping Children Safe

Shepard Dodd was not even 3 months old when he died after being put to sleep in a car seat at daycare. It is not safe for babies to be in a seated or semi-reclined position to sleep. When sleeping, a baby's head can fall forward because their muscles are under- developed, and their airway can become constricted.

Anaphylaxis Education, Anytime, Anyplace

AllergyAware.ca offers free online courses to increase awareness of anaphylaxis, including a course designed specifically for child care staff/caregivers called Anaphylaxis in Child Care Settings. Available in English and French, the interactive course takes about 30 minutes to complete and ends with a short review quiz. When this quiz has been successfully completed, participants can download and print a personalized certificate of completion.

Video: Why are the early years so important?

Did you know that 90% of brain development happens in the first 6 years of life? Watch this fun 2-minute video to learn more about how early experiences impacts everything!

Podcast: Immigrant and Refugee Children in Childcare

In this recording, Julie Dotsch, writer, presenter and trainer for CMAS, discusses research and practices that support refugee children and families. She looks at the importance of keeping traditions alive by integrating them into the new culture as well as the importance of newcomer families maintaining their home languages.

Immunization Information for Newcomer Families

All CNC programs must provide newcomer families with information on immunization in Canada. This can be difficult when you serve a vast number of languages and the information is complex. Health Canada has recently jreleased: A Parent’s Guide to Vaccination in Canada that can help. The in-depth guide is available in French, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil and Urdu.f valuable material) is available in French, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil and Urdu.

Hand in Hand: A Parenting Journey – Parenting Guide for Newcomers

What are the Canadian laws surrounding child abuse? Do I need to change my parenting style? Should I be scared of losing my child? Hand in Hand: A Parenting Journey answers these common questions from newcomer parents. Developed with input from Canadian families and newcomers, this guide gives families new parenting tools and information about resources to support their parenting here in Canada.

VIDEO: What is Resilience?

Resilience is defined as a good outcome in the face of adversity. So why do some people succeed, even when they have experienced extreme hardships? And how can we help build resilience in children who have experienced trauma? Learn more about how to build resilience in children, explore the latest research, watch videos, and play the resiliency game here.