CMAS

NEW! January Virtual Cafés

To support CNC professional development, share promising practices, and provide opportunities for CNC programs to connect, Virtual Cafés have started up again this month.

January topics will include:

NEW! Effective Communication with Parents
NEW! Self-Care for CNC Staff
NEW! How does your CNC team support parents?
NEW! Monthly SDR Session: Supporting your team while working remotely
NEW! Program-to-Program: An Interview with NYCH – How one CNC program uses technology to connect with parents
NEW! Program-to-Program: An interview with JIAS: How one program uses social media to promote and encourage their programming
NEW! Responding to Children’s Fear
NEW! The Science of Resilience
NEW! Program-to-Program: Red River College Shares Ideas for Child-Centred CNC
NEW! Supporting Newcomer Parents Who Have Children With Special Needs
NEW! Webinar: Beyond Observation; Bringing Your Skills into Practice
Program-to-Program – Nursery Rhymes with Ivanka
Virtual Security and Safety for CNC Staff
Virtual Security and Safety for CNC Administrators

Check your email for the schedule and registration information or contact info@cmascanada.ca.

Note that these sessions are only open to CNC-funded programs that are working with CMAS.

A Look Around the World – Winter Celebrations

The winter holiday season is a special time of year, especially for children. How we celebrate this year may look different, but the spirit will be the same! As early childhood education professionals, we strive to make this time of year special for the children in our lives and welcome the opportunity to celebrate diversity and promote inclusion. With the winter months upon us, we look around the world to explore 10 different winter celebrations. Learning about the celebrations of other cultures can bring us closer together and make us stronger.

Webinar: Building Holiday Diversity

In this HiMama Helps Webinar, participants will take a look at diversity and inclusion around the holiday season, explore tips, and ways to be inclusive in early childhood programs while celebrating different holidays.

CNC Pandemic Response: The Importance of Connecting with Parents

COVID badge This tutorial has been developed in response to challenges faced by CNC programs during the pandemic. Public health directives that limit face-to-face interactions between CNC staff and parents during drop-off and pick-up each day may have a serious impact on our ability to have important conversations and moments of connection with families. Many parents are feeling anxious, so it’s more important than ever to find ways to connect and share important information.
In the CNC Pandemic Response: The Importance of Connecting with Parents tutorial, you have an opportunity to explore why it is so important to connect with parents each day, and strategies to build relationships, connect and share information with parents - even when face-to-face interactions are limited. At the end of the tutorial, you’ll also find resources, a facilitator guide and added group discussion questions so that you can easily facilitate your own team training.

Are you using WhatsApp to connect with families?

Many CNC programs have been using WhatsApp to connect with newcomer parents and children throughout the pandemic. No matter what virtual platform you're using, it's important to use the technology responsibly and understand best practices when it comes to safety and security. Here's a helpful article on how to use WhatsApp responsibly.

Are you using Zoom to connect with children and families?

COVID-19 is forcing everyone to change how they function, and CNC is no exception. If your program is using Zoom to offer online sessions for families during the pandemic, here are two articles with some tips and tricks that might help: How to use Zoom as an early childhood educator and How to Do Zoom Sessions for Little Tiny Squirmy Kids

Webinar: Diversity & Inclusion In Early Childhood

This webinar offers activity suggestions, books, songs, and practical tips to create a diverse and inclusive early years classroom. Participants will discuss race, gender and ability, the importance of knowing personal biases and promoting inclusion, as well as how to include parents in the conversation!

Feeling anxious? These tips from two mental health experts might help

As many of you have made or are about to make the transition back into the CNC program, you may be experiencing stress or anxiety. Here are some tips and strategies to help you “find your calm” so that you're able to keep supporting the children in your care.

Playful Learning Spaces for Babies and Toddlers

Creating engaging, welcoming and playful learning spaces for babies and toddlers is just as important as setting up environments for older children. Yet it can be challenging to find the right balance between offering an environment that is developmentally appropriate while still allowing for both security and basic caregiving needs to be met alongside the freedom of exploration as they challenge and extend upon new skills.

Anti-bias Early Childhood Education

Anti-bias education work in early childhood is shaped by a deep-seated belief in the importance of justice, the dream of each child being able to achieve all he or she is capable of, and the knowledge that we can make a difference. Here is a list of anti-bias articles and e-books to help you make connections, learn new strategies and become a leader in your program.