Resources
How will you honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th?
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (also known as Orange Shirt Day) is an opportunity for the CNC community to stand with the Indigenous peoples in Canada, listen, reflect, and learn. To help you acknowledge and honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with the children and parents in your program this month, here is a beautiful collection of Anishinaabe nursery rhymes recordings and read-alongs.
WEBINAR: Encouraging Families to Embrace Child-led Play
As early childhood professionals, it is our role to educate families on the importance of child-led play and how it is vital for laying the groundwork for early literacy. Join this webinar to gain confidence in explaining how child-led play develops early literacy foundations and prepares children for school. Learn effective ways to engage parents and families in conversations about the importance of child-led play both at school and home. Explore talking points when addressing any concerns families may have, reassuring them that child-led play is more than sufficient for future reading and writing.
Let’s Get Kids Active Every Day!
Canadian kids aged four and under are spending too much time in front of screens. To encourage healthy growth and development, young children need parents and caregivers to encourage an active lifestyle with a healthy balance of rest and physical activity. Children should be participating in a variety of safe, fun, developmentally appropriate, play-based physical activities in different environments every day! Following these Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines through the early years is associated with better growth, health and well-being.
The Best Kids’ Books on Mental Health
Each year, it seems that there are new children’s books that address every emotional or learning challenge. But how appropriate and helpful is the messaging? Experts at the Child Mind Institute reviewed over 60 books to choose this top 20 list of kids' books on mental health.
WEBINAR: How To Talk with Infants and Toddlers
How do babies turn your words into meaning, connection, and learning? In this webinar, participants will learn 10 intentional communication strategies and script starters to strengthen relationships, promote emotional regulation, and spark early learning—all through meaningful, developmentally rich conversations.
Active Supervision: Fostering Joy, Safety, and Connection in Early Childhood
As early childhood educators, we often find ourselves juggling multiple tasks and responsibilities throughout the day. In the midst of this busyness, it’s easy to fall into autopilot, going through the motions without truly engaging with the children in our care. One of the core aspects of our role, and one which is often on autopilot is supervision – but what if we could transform our approach to supervision from a mindless task to a mindful practice? What if supervision could become a tool for safety, joy, connection and personal growth?
What Surrounds Us Shapes Us
Children's development is significantly influenced by their surroundings, encompassing both positive and negative experiences within their living, growing, playing, and learning environments. This includes factors such as access to safe housing, clean water, and green spaces, which not only provide play areas but also support the mental health of children and caregivers.These environmental influences directly and indirectly shape a child's development from birth, impacting their caregivers, communities, and broader relationships. Centre on the Developing Child, Harvard University has developed this Expanded Story of Early Child Development. At the bottom of this brief, you can also find explanations of key concept and resource guides on topics like: Developmental Environments, Toxic Stress, Brain Architecture, and Serve and Return.
Summer Safety
Here are some important reminders for keeping children safe during the hot summer months, while promoting the healthy benefits of outdoor play!
8 Activities that Teach Young Children Social-Emotional Skills
We know how important healthy social-emotional development is, especially in a child’s formative first years. This article shares some fun and easy activities for you to try in your CNC program to help boost emotional regulation, turn-taking skills, communication, interpersonal skills, and more!
Ooey Gooey Messy Fun! Designing Sensational Sensory Experiences
Have you watched Ooey Gooey Messy Fun! Designing Sensational Sensory Experiences yet? It was one of our top-rated sessions! Here’s what participants had to say: I have participated in a lot of sensory workshops in the past and this had to be the most informative one ever... I thought that the presenter was really knowledgeable and very upbeat. She kept me super engaged!