CMAS

Creative Expression Activities to Try

Creative experiences can help develop meaningful connections in young developing minds as children move, touch, manipulate different materials and experiment. Here is a list of creative expression activities for preschoolers are an ideal way to develop imagination, expand curiousity and provide opportunities for self-expression!


Heavily Decorated Classrooms Disrupt Attention and Learning In Young Children

This research shows that children in classrooms with too much visual stimulation were more distracted, spent more time off-task and demonstrated smaller learning gains than when the decorations were removed. Read more...

Healthy eating guidelines from food pyramids around the world

This article provides an overview of healthy eating guidelines from seven of the world's healthiest countries. You might be surprised to see how each country has a unique approach, and how culture and geography can impact influences thoughts on nutrition!

50+ Creative and Fun Ideas for Play with Babies

Here is a compilation of fun art and sensory activities for babies 6 months and up. Many of these activities would be fun even through the toddler years and beyond! You'll find lots of baby art and baby sensory play ideas to keep your baby entertained.

10 Tips for Difficult Conversations with Parents: Online Tutorial with Facilitator Guide

Sometimes, we need to have difficult conversations with parents about their child's development, challenges or needs. Planning for these interactions can be stressful, but this 19-minute tutorial will provide you with tools and strategies, common mistakes to avoid, and 10 tips for planning ahead and managing difficult conversations in an approachable and professional way. It also includes a Facilitator guide and 10 Questions for Group Discussion and Personal Reflection to use with your team, extend your learning and help you identify concrete strategies that you can use in your program. Let's get started!

Start planning your celebrations… next week is National Child Day and Child Rights Education Week!

In Canada, November 20-26, we'll be celebrating National Child Day and Child Rights Education Week (CREW). Join in the festivities with these educational resources and play-based activities for your program, including opportunities for active play, arts and self-expression.

New school program helps young newcomers feel comfortable in class

A new basic English language program is helping newcomer students adjust to life at P.E.I. schools. The progress they make in just 4-6 weeks is astounding! The program starts by teaching basics such as how to act in class, what recess is, what lunchtime is, how to ask for help, find school supplies and navigate the library, among other things. Once students can communicate their immediate needs, they move on to colours, the alphabet, reading, spelling and writing.

5 Toddler Transition Tips

Here's a list of five creative transition activities designed to help make it easier for you to move toddlers from one task/activity to the next!

Have you seen this heartwarming video about refugee parents and children?

This video and photos of children happily playing with the superhero in a Lebanese refugee camp recently went viral. The goal of the video and photos was to show just how important the bond between children and their parents can be, and how the constant stress of war and uncertainty can make it hard to keep that bond strong.

Best Practices for Guiding Children’s Behaviour

Healthy Child Manitoba has developed a guide is for early learning and child care staff and family child care providers. It provides effective ways to guide behaviours and enhance the social and emotional well-being of all children in your care. The strategies described are research-based and can help all children, not just those experiencing difficulties!