News
Child Development and Trauma Guide
This child development and trauma guide is full of simple resources to help us understand the typical developmental pathways of children and possible indicators of trauma at differing ages and stages.Free Teachers’ Toolkit: Including Refugees in the Classroom
Teachers are facing new challenges in making sense of forced displacement and its complexities. Teaching newcomers often comes with specific needs relating to language acquisition and adaptation to a new culture and environment. Some refugee children may suffer from stress or trauma preventing them from participating fully in school activities, and requiring specific support. To help, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has released a free Teachers’ Toolkit, professional development and guidance to help teachers understand the needs of refugee children, as well as a collection of adaptable teaching materials on refugees, asylum, migration and statelessness.5 Steps for Brain-Building Serve and Return
Child-adult relationships that are responsive and attentive—with lots of back and forth interactions—build a strong foundation in a child’s brain for all future learning and development. This is called "serve and return." Harvard Centre on the Developing Child has a quick video that explains "serve and return," and 5 important steps to follow when you're interacting with children.CMAS in Action: CNC Serves as a Model for Supporting Refugee Children Abroad
As Syrian refugee families find homes in countries across the globe, an international perspective on settlement strategies is valuable. Canadian initiatives are part of that conversation, with Europe taking notice of CNC support for refugee children.10 Activities to help young children express and label feelings & emotions
Children can have a difficult time understanding their emotions and the way certain events make them feel in the early years of life. As educators, it is our responsibility to help and support them to manage their emerging and often confusing emotions. Here are 10 strategies and 10 activity ideas for helping children express and manage their emotions.Webinar: Updated recommendations for early introduction of allergenic foods
Did you know that the Canadian Paediatric Society has updated recommendations on the early introduction of allergenic foods for high-risk infants? Register now to learn about the new recommendations.New mental health videos for newcomers
It is important for families talk about mental health and for children to be supported if they have challenges, anxieties, or stresses in life. Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has launched two new videos about the mental health challenges of settling into a new country that you can share in your community.A New Book by Anna Humphrey
Anna Humphrey has worked with CMAS for years, and she's just released Megabat and Fancy Cat - the hilarious and adorable sequel to Megabat!