2025 CNC Conference Sessions

Carla Ward of Early Learning Foundations explores the fundamental aspects of professionalism in the classroom, emphasizing the role of educators in creating respectful and collaborative environments. Participants will learn how to maintain professional boundaries, communicate effectively with colleagues and families, and approach challenges with confidence and clarity. The session also provides practical strategies for fostering trust, modelling professional behaviour, and reflecting on personal practices to ensure they align with professional standards.

This session with Lobna Ajaini of Childhood Empowerment explores how storytelling can enhance care, language, imagination, and emotional resilience in early childhood education. This online workshop equips educators with practical strategies to integrate storytelling into daily routines, support children from diverse and newcomer backgrounds, and foster inclusive, high-quality learning environments.

Handout: Workbook

Story Sacks are an engaging way to enhance story-time, support preliteracy, stimulate language development, and encourage children to tell their own stories. Developed in 1995 by UK principal Neil Griffith, story sacks also strengthen connections between early learning programs, homes, and across age groups.

In this interactive session led by ECCDC’s Ginette Wilson, participants will explore links to other curriculum areas and learn how to create their own story sacks. Educators are encouraged to bring their favourite children’s story.

Handouts:
Session Highlight and Reflection Journal
Higher Order Thinking Prompts

Helping Children Thrive and Grow explores the emotional journey of parenting while settling into a new country. This workshop focuses on building parental resilience through nervous system and body-based practices that can be modeled and shared with children to support regulation, security, and connection. Participants will learn how attachment-based strategies, emotional awareness, and cultural strengths can help newcomer families move beyond coping to truly thrive.

Led by Georgianna Lee, Counsellor and Coach, this session supports professionals in helping parents recognize emotional needs, strengthen empathy, and deepen parent–child relationships during times of transition.

Handout: Helping Children Thrive and Grow

Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment with kindness and acceptance. When introduced early, it helps children build habits that support calm, confidence, and resilience throughout life. Mindfulness can reduce anxiety, promote well-being, and give children practical tools to manage stress and approach challenges with self-awareness.

Ginette Wilson of ECCDC will share resources and hands-on experiences to highlight the benefits of mindfulness and support curriculum planning for children of all ages.✨

Handouts:
Introducing Yoga in Preschool
Mindfulness Exercises for Kids
Reflection Journal
Why Mindfulness Belongs in the Classroom

When new to Canada, many parents are experiencing the expected overwhelm that can often accompany change; new physical spaces, languages, cultures, support networks, and routines. Additionally, parents are navigating new frameworks of childcare and support. They are learning through potentially a new lens, Canada’s model and approach to disability–through both the social and medical models.  As a first point of contact, the importance of how we approach conversations regarding children with support needs, disability, or neurodiversity cannot be overstated. Monica Maddison guides participants through an understanding of neurodiversity, the social model of disability, and strategies to come alongside parents in conversation that feels both connected and collaborative. 

Kerry Drake of KD Talks explores how thoughtfully designed early childhood spaces can support positive behaviour, emotional regulation, and connection. Rather than managing challenges, this session focuses on creating environments that help children feel safe, capable, and understood. Participants will discover practical redirection strategies, learn how design choices can support big feelings and self-awareness, and gain tools to create calm, responsive spaces that encourage social-emotional development. This session is ideal for caregivers seeking respectful, strengths-based approaches to behaviour guidance.

Handout: Workbook