Programs and Activities Helpful Links

How to Plan & Observe: Play Ideas for Babies & Toddlers

To plan effectively for the 0-2 Years age group takes a little thinking outside the box. Here, you'll find ideas for planning play experiences and programming for babies and toddlers that are not only easier and faster, but also more meaningful and effective for the children and educators.

Open-Ended Art: Setting Up for Success

Open-ended art is defined as an art activity where children are free to use their imagination as they explore a variety of materials without a planned idea of what the final project will look like. This usually takes place in the form of an art centre where children have large blocks of uninterrupted time to explore art materials and create projects at their own pace. However, when children have free access to an art centre, teachers may be challenged by mess and waste. The key is setting up the environment for success.

Building Emotional Literacy: Video

Children have so many emotions. Have you ever tried using a mood metre or starting the day with a moment of silence? In this video, we're reminded of how important it is to help children learn awareness and strategies for calming down.

Slime Sensory Activity Idea: Video

Sticky, gooey, sensory fun. And it's a safe alternative to borax based slime! Watch this quick video for a recipe you can easily make with the children in your program.

When Children’s Behaviour is Challenging: Online Tutorial Now Available with Facilitator Guide

Sometimes a child’s behaviour challenges us and forces us to step outside our usual comfort zone. Find out what to do when children’s behaviour is challenging you, common mistakes to avoid, and 7 steps to take when behaviour is challenging in your program. We’ve also developed a Facilitator guide that includes 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!

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.

Video: Building Emotional Literacy

Jennifer Hawkins teaches students to identify and describe feelings by reading Go Away Big Green Monster and engaging in related activities. In this video, we see students looking at themselves in mirrors and developing an understanding of what different emotions look like when expressed on faces.

4 quick recipes for sensory play that you’ve probably never tried before

Children can spend hours exploring with touch, language and imagination, but you don’t have to spend a lot of money and time creating exciting sensory materials.  Here are four sensory play ideas you can make with everyday ingredients you already have!

Program Ideas

Video Playlist: Early Childhood Education
VIDEO: INVESTIGATING CONTAINERS – PROGRAM PLANNING IDEAS FOR YOUR PROGRAM!
Developing Cultural Understanding: Tips for Administrators
Cross-Cultural Lessons: Early Childhood Developmental Screening and Approaches to Research and Practice
Video Reminders and Tips

Special Needs

ConnectABILITY - Special needs resources for parents and caregivers
Building on Every Child's Abilities