News
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.
INFOGRAPHIC: How Racism Can Affect Child Development
This infographic explains in basic terms how racism affects learning, behavior, and lifelong health. Let's start with a shared understanding so that we can work together toward creative strategies to address these long-standing inequities…Grief: Yours, Mine & Ours Webinar Recording & Resources
Living through a pandemic has meant losing many things that are important to us. We grieve loss of life and health for many who contract the virus. We grieve the loss of connection through schools, activities, and family gatherings while we’re stuck at home. And on top of all that, we feel the loss of control over our daily lives as routines and plans have been upended. This Pandemic Parenting Exchange webinar explains different types of grief and how it may have been present for you, your child(ren), and your community.
CMAS Webinar: Resolving Conflict at Work with Karen Minty
Do you know how different personality styles behave under stress? How does your team resolve conflict under stressful situations? Karen Minty explains the basic needs of each personality style, and appropriate strategies to deal with difficult behaviour to quickly diffuse situations and prevent further conflict in this Resolving Conflict at Work webinar.
Prioritize “connections over content” in all virtual learning efforts
Ideally, virtual classrooms and programs can represent a space for children to focus on learning and to process the emotional and social effects of the pandemic. This article includes a list of considerations, including a recommendation to prioritize “connections over content” in all virtual learning efforts for children and families.
Creating Early Learning Spaces for Multi-Age Groups
Designing and creating engaging early learning spaces for children of different ages can be a challenge but here are a few simple strategies to make the process a little easier, and make life less stressful for caregivers - with a focus on providing as many opportunities as possible for the children to explore and play, challenge themselves or try something new!
Looking for activity ideas?
HiMama has curated a variety of arts and crafts activity ideas that support children's development and enhance their motor skills. Just provide the materials and let the children explore shapes, colors, textures… all while having fun!
CNC Pandemic Response: The Importance of Connecting with Parents
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