Burnout – Are You at Risk?
Working with immigrant and refugee children and families can be incredibly rewarding, but we shouldn’t ignore the toll it can take on the physical and emotional lives of Care for Newcomer Children (CNC) staff.
This toll can lead to burnout - a common side effect for those working in the helping professions.
The good news is that it can be prevented if you know what to watch for. Click
here for more...
Bundle Up and Get Outside: Why is Outdoor Play Important in Winter?
In the winter weather, play is often limited to the indoors - especially for newcomer children! Adult fears about safety and negative attitudes towards the cold are often a barrier. But outdoor play shouldn't be restricted to warm weather - try these
ideas to welcome the winter with a playful attitude!
Quick Tip Tutorial: How do you make sure the toys in your program are safe?
You may believe that a toy is safe if it's on a store shelf, but that's not necessarily true. Canada has rigorous laws on toy safety, but there are still many variables that can actually make a toy hazardous! Toys can become unsafe due to wear and tear, how they are used, or because of recalls and changing standards. Learn how to make sure your toys are safe in this
quick-tip tutorial.
CNC in Action: Creating Outdoor Space
One of the struggles when a family immigrates to Canada is outdoor playtime. There are a number of factors working against them. The climate can be harsh, and they may not have proper clothes for the weather. Most live in apartment buildings when they first arrive and do not have immediate access to playgrounds. Also, when parents must watch younger siblings, there may not be as many outdoor opportunities for the older children. Even in childcare programs, it can be difficult to spend time outdoors, because of space or other limitations. Whatever the reasons, the end result is that many newcomer children just don’t get enough time outside. After years of experiencing this reality,
English at First in Waterloo found a solution.
‘Healing after trauma is possible for both children and adults’
Syrian refugees coming to Hamilton carry little when they arrive, but one thing many will carry is emotional and mental scars from the war zone they fled. The intensity of trauma is affected by many things: "The longer you're exposed, the more kinds of traumatic experiences you're exposed to and the age and stage of development of that child, that's going to have different effects on different kids," explained Smith. However, she adds: "When the right help is there and regardless of how long it takes, healing is possible after trauma for kids as well as adults."
Read more...
Online Learning Opportunities in Early Childhood Education
If you are looking for ways to upgrade your skills in early childhood education, this is a good place to start! The
Canadian Child Care Federation has a list of ECE learning opportunities across the country - part time, full time and distance learning.
Winter Workshop Series in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Are you looking for local opportunities for professional development? In this edition of
Tuned In, early childhood educators and early years professionals in Nova Scotia will find information about over 20 workshop opportunities, the local lending library, curriculum supports and more!
Hundreds of Free Tools to Build Leadership and Enhance Cultural Competence!
The
Community Tool Box is a free, online resource for those working to build healthier communities and bring about social change. It offers thousands of pages of tips and tools for taking action in communities.
Want to learn about community assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, advocacy, and other aspects of community practice? Then help yourself to over 300 educational modules and other free tools. The website is currently available in English, Spanish, and Arabic, and includes an entire unit on Cultural Competence in a Multicultural World
5 Quick Tips for Creating a Sense of Community in Your Newcomer Children’s Program
Early childhood educators have the opportunity and responsibility of helping all children learn to respect themselves and others. When children and teachers speak different languages, they need special strategies to build that sense of community. Here are
5 simple strategies to use every day in your program.
Did you know that children are at an increased risk for food poisoning?
Children aged 5 and under are at increased risk for food poisoning and related health complications because their immune system is still developing and they cannot fight off infection as well as adults can. Food poisoning can also lead to complications that result in serious illnesses requiring hospitalization. This guide offers helpful advice on how to
reduce the risk in your program.
