Resources
Mental Health Skills for Preschool Children: Video Series
This series of 5 short videos introduces important ideas, taught the way young children learn best: through entertaining, relatable stories set in a vivid, imaginary world! The Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids Pre-K Project video series is based on mental health research, created to make important mental health skills available to preschool children (age 3 to 5). Each video features a memorable song that reinforces the key messages. We invite you to watch the complete series with the children in your program. You can also download the free companion guides that summarize key ideas and include an activity that can use to help kids practice the skills they’re learning.
Multilingual Spring Activities Scavenger Hunt
This active scavenger hunt will get children moving outside this spring... and it’s available in 10 languages, so it’s a perfect resource to share with parents this spring!
May is Food Allergy Awareness Month
May is Food Allergy Awareness Month in Canada and there are many exciting things we have planned this month to increase awareness and education of food allergy across the country. Food allergy is one of the leading causes of potentially life-threatening anaphylactic reactions and a public health concern in Canada, especially among children. This year’s theme is debunking myths and misinformation about asthma and allergies, including what causes them and how to treat them. Kids with Food Allergies has resources and tools you can use to spread awareness during May and all year long.
Hazards in a Childcare Centre
Keeping children and caregivers safe is a key responsibility of any early years program. It involves education, supervision, and safe-proofing the environment! It is simply impossible to watch all children all the time, so hazard identification and elimination becomes a key part of the strategy. Here is a guide to help you identify the common and not so common hazards so you can make your program safer for everyone.
Emotional Wellbeing – Mental Health Support for Big Feelings
In challenging times, it’s important for children and adults alike to take care of themselves so that they can take care of each other. Sesame Workshop, the global nonprofit behind Sesame Street, is here to help. No matter your age, here are ten resources to help you get started on your emotional wellbeing journey.
Earth Day
Our planet is an amazing place, but it needs our help to thrive! That’s why each year on April 22, more than a billion people celebrate Earth Day to raise awareness. Even small children can learn a little bit about the history of Earth Day, take part in activities like picking up litter and planting trees to help make our world a happier, healthier place to live. Here are 21 fun earth day activities you might want to try in your program this month!
Our Kids’ Health is a Website for Diverse Parents
Our Kids' Health shares evidence-based health information that is translated and adapted to help diverse parents and caregivers make the right decisions for the health of their families. It's a great resource for you to encourage newcomer parents to explore to support their children's well-being. Topics include nutrition, mental health, all in one place!
Exploring Culture Through Children’s Eyes
Educators can provide many opportunities for children to interact with other cultures within the walls of their classrooms. The more exposure to other cultures they have, the more children will acknowledge these similarities and differences; this will help them to become open-minded and accepting of others. One way to bring other cultures closer to young children is through natural and meaningful activities they enjoy engaging with in their daily lives. People in every culture in the world have their childhood songs, rhymes, stories and games, and so a good starting point is to integrate elements from traditional children’s culture that may be familiar in their own context.
Prevent Bullying by Embracing Differences Through the Art of Storytelling
Starting from the earliest age, we can show children that everyone is different in some way and difference is a part of life. Everyone has things that make them unique — be it skin color, hair texture, body shape, gender, temperament, religious beliefs, ethnic or cultural background, and more. We do this in the early years by modeling an appreciation for individual differences through our attitudes, emotions, behaviors, and body language. Storytelling is also a great way to teach children about the importance of celebrating differences.
Early Childhood Matters
The 2023 edition of Early Childhood Matters launched by the Bernard Van Leer Foundation is here and it's all about wellbeing. This year's issue explores the challenges that parents and caregivers face in raising children, and the urgent need for better support systems.