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.
Keeping Reusable Water Bottles Clean
We often ask parents to bring in reusable water bottles, but did you know that without proper cleaning, children's water bottles can be filled with germs?
Reusable water bottles must be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis to avoid contamination.
How to Facilitate Risky Play
Risky play is when children engage in risk-taking activities. This benefits the child because it helps them build essential skills for their development; for example, their confidence, self-regulation, and independence. But how can we
facilitate risky play safely in our programs?
How to Transform Challenging Behaviour
Are you struggling with children's behaviour and looking for ways to teach social-emotional skills in your CNC program? Here's a website and resources might help! You can even
download a free resource that's full of simple, practical strategies to help you create positive changes in your CNC program.
Dos and Don’ts of Classroom Decorations
What you put on your classroom walls can affect your students’ ability to learn. Heavily decorated classrooms can bombard students with too much visual information, interfering with their memory and ability to focus, a new study finds.
So what do researchers say teachers should do?
Toddler Activity Idea: Colour Run & Sort
With the long winter months, many children are missing outside play… so this
fun toddler activity idea that combines gross motor and colour recognition might be just what your program needs!
