CMAS

NEW! LET’S PLAY: Dinosaur Activity Ideas

Dinosaur play sparks a child’s natural curiosity about the world, history, and animals. It also is a great creative outlet, where they can imagine and set up whole new, awe-inspiring environments. A team of CNC staff put their heads together and came up with over 80 dinosaur activity ideas for CNC… and now you can find them here! Special thanks to the CNC team that worked on the new content.

Listening: A Key to Cultural Competence

https://mccormickcenter.nl.edu/library/listening-cultural-competence-220823/?utm_source=McCormick+Center+Subscribers&utm_campaign=55bd686d94-listening-cultural-competence&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8653d0e879-55bd686d94-229879049

New Activity Ideas have been added to LET’S PLAY!

New activity ideas are being added all the time! Do you have a child who’s really interested in textures? Or maybe you have a group of children who really love to dump and pour? Do you ever feel like you’ve run out of activity ideas to extend their play and learning? We gathered a team of experienced CNC staff to put their heads together and our collection of inspiring play extension activity ideas for CNC is growing every month! You can find them here, in LET'S PLAY: CNC Activity Ideas

CMAS Tutorial: Invitations to Play

An invitation to play can be a simple way to spark children’s curiosity and imagination! They offer children opportunities to explore and direct their own play, follow their interests, learn more about the world around them, express themselves creatively and use their imagination.

In this tutorial, you’ll find 10 tips for creating your own Invitations to Play for the children in your CNC program.

Did you know that all our tutorials include a facilitator guide?

At the end of the tutorial, you’ll also find resources and a facilitator guide that includes an extensive list of questions to spark group discussion and personal reflection. Many of the themes that you’ll find in the Invitations to Play tutorial and facilitator guide are really important for us to understand and keep in mind when working in CNC. We encourage all programs to keep the important conversations going – and try facilitating your own team training! 

Team training based on the Invitations to Play tutorial, Facilitator Guide, and Questions for Personal Reflection/Group Discussion will create an opportunity for your team to:

  • collaborate and learn together
  • discuss issues that are specific to your site
  • share ideas, expertise and challenges
  • build supportive team relationships, and 
  • Improve your programming for newcomer children.

New Activity Ideas have been added to LET’S PLAY!

A team of CNC staff put their heads together and came up with over 50 community helper activity ideas for CNC… and now you can find them here!

Gratitude activity for kids: Make a South African Ubuntu Collage!

Ubuntu is an important idea in South Africa. The word comes from the Zulu language and refers to the bond that connects all people. It is often translated as, “I am because we are.” The practice of Ubuntu means caring about the needs of others by being kind, helpful and generous, and it’s a lovely reminder of how connected we all are. An Ubuntu collage can be a wonderful gratitude activity for kids!

WEBINAR – Big Conversations with Young Children: Discussing Questions, Worries, and Fears

In our work with young children, we sometimes encounter unexpected—and hard-to-answer—questions. This edWebinar addresses the big adult questions children sometimes ask that may cause us to pause, silence the child, or deflect the concern. The webinar guides participants so that they can be prepared to answer difficult questions respectfully and in ways that are developmentally appropriate for even the youngest children. 

Introduction to Positive Discipline – Available in 7 Languages

The Introduction to Positive Discipline tips sheets, video, and facilitation guide are part of the Family Life in Canada resource series. The goal of this series is to help newcomers adjust to life in Canada and encourage them to access information, programs, and services in their community. All you have to do is sign up to get access to the free resources that are available in 7 languages - making them easy to use with the newcomer families you work with! 

SickKids Research on the Impact of COVID-19 on Children’s Mental and Physical Health

https://www.sickkids.ca/en/news/archive/2021/research-covid-19-pandemic-impact-child-youth-mental-physical-health/#:~:text=Among%202%2C206%20participants%2C%20the%20researchers,depression%20and%20anxiety%20they%20experienced.

Active for life resources are available in more than 10 languages!

Physical activity is key to the physical, emotional, and social well-being of our children. That’s why Active for Life offers free resources in more than 10 languages, in addition to English and French, to help get kids active today so they can be active for life. Share these helpful resources with families, communities, and organizations that work with children, and they will thank you!