Parenting
Fred Rogers’ Six Fundamentals of Learning
Have you ever wondered, what may help or hinder a child in their development? The Fred Rogers Institute says that these six fundamentals come immediately to my mind: self-worth, trust, curiosity, the capacity to look and listen, the ability to play, and have times of quiet solitude. To learn more about the six fundamentals, and particularly what educators have learned about what the six fundamentals look like in practice, check out the Fundamentals of Learning and Growing.
Physical Development 101: A Guide to Motor Skills in Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers
Through daily play and movement, babies and toddlers begin to develop fundamental motor skills: gross motor skills (big movements like crawling, walking, and jumping) and fine motor skills (smaller actions, like grasping and picking up tiny objects). These skills grow naturally over time, but no two children develop them at exactly the same pace. That being said, there are so many fun activities you can do to help encourage physical development in engaging and healthy ways - and you can find them here in the Active for Life Physical Development 101 guide!
NEW! Routines and Transitions CNC Learning Moment
In this 25-minute session, CMAS consultant Tricia Kassotis joins us to talk about Routines and Transitions. She also share ideas for including culture and supporting children in managing their emotions during daily transitions. We encourage you to watch on your own, or as a team! You’ll also find that each new session includes a list of resource links to extend your learning and further support your CNC team.
Family Day Across Canada
Family Day is celebrated differently across the country, but no matter where you live, it's a great opportunity to encourage families to get outside and have some fun with the kids! Here are two lists full of outdoor winter activity ideas to share with parents this month: 40 Outdoor Activities for Kids this Winter & 10 Fun & Easy Outdoor Winter Activities for Kids
Ten Sesame Street Resources All About Love
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, but every day is the right day to celebrate all the people, places, and things that you love! So here are ten songs, videos, and activities that you can use in your program to celebrate the power of love all year round
NEW! Imaginative Play CNC Learning Moment
In this 20-minute session, CMAS consultant Tricia Kassotis joins us to talk about the benefits of Imaginative Play and provides lots of ideas for activities and diverse materials you can use in your program!
Global Family Day 2025
Apart from welcoming New Year, people across the world celebrate Global Family Day every year on January 1st. This day reminds us all to spend quality time with family, and come together to start the new year off with a positive message of unity to the world. Happy New Year and Global Family Day!
20 Creative Cardboard Box Games and Activities for Kids
Cardboard boxes are one of the greatest and most versatile toys. Yep. You read that right. Before you take those boxes to the recycling bin, think of all the things your kids could do with them. From tissue boxes to shoe boxes, TVs, cereal, fridges, crackers, pizza, and all those online shopping spree items, there are so many ways to DIY these cartons into some fun. Here’s a list of 20 cardboard box craft ideas, games, and activities to get you started.
December Fun and Activities: Sesame Workshop
It's a wonderful time of year for families to connect! Sesame Workshop has put together a fun list of books, music, movies and more that you can share with the children and families in your program this month.
Building a Gratitude Jar Together
Highlight the power of gratitude! Some ideas for self-care take longer to show results, but the more we keep them up, the easier it is to remember them when we need them the most. In tough times, help children pause, notice, and savor the feelings that the good things in our lives bring. In this quick, 5-minute Sesame Workshop gratitude jar video, kids can watch Grandma Nell create a Gratitude Jar to help Tamir and Gabrielle practice gratitude.