How will you honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th?
In response to the
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, the federal government passed legislation in June recognizing September 30, 2021, as the
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We encourage all CNC community members to reflect on this important milestone and consider how they can acknowledge and honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with their CNC programs, communities and families.
Read more.
The Refuge: A CYRRC Podcast
The Child and Youth Refugee Research Coalition (CYRRC) has launched a new, monthly podcast series,
The Refuge, to share what they have learned from four years of research on social isolation, education, and mental wellbeing of refugee children, youth, and families. This series brings together youth with refugee experience, academics, and community partners to discuss issues affecting refugee children, youth, and families in Canada.
CMAS Webinar Series: Modelling Flexible Ideas About Gender in an Early Childhood Setting
We come from different families. We come from different cultures. We grew up in different decades. We each have our own individual experiences. We probably all see and experience gender in a slightly different way. Gender “refers to the attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that a given culture associates with a person’s biological sex” (American Psychological Association).
CMAS is pleased to present an opportunity for CNC staff to learn more about Modelling Flexible Ideas About Gender in an Early Childhood Setting. This two-part webinar series will include information about gender and child development, and will centre around the ideal of creating the best possible environment for nurturing the social and emotional development of children of all genders. Watch Part 1 and Part 2.
Note that live sessions are only open to CNC-funded programs that are working with CMAS, but the recordings will be available online for everyone this fall.
Gross Motor Activities for Preschoolers and Toddlers
During the early years, children need to be exposed to many activities that strengthen their large motor muscles. As babies, it begins with their trunk, neck, and head control, and then they strengthen their legs and feet. As preschoolers, once body control is achieved, you can help them work on throwing, running, and climbing! It's important to intentionally integrate fun, physical activities that kids can do to strengthen these muscles into your program. And since most gross motor activities center around physical fun, it won’t be hard to get the students excited about them!
Here are some examples of ways to enjoy gross motor activities with children.
Increasing Opportunities for Free Play
Did you know that the United Nations has created a list of rights for every child around the world? And did you know that the right to play is included on that list along with the right to access water and food? In this newsletter, you'll find
inspiration and ideas for creating more engaging play experiences in your program!
PROMOTING DIVERSITY IN THE PRESCHOOL CLASSROOM: IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES
The definition of diversity is simply a range of different things. When children learn very early that differences are normal, they learn to view them without a lens of discomfort. Children naturally begin to pick up on differences, and you may hear questions about why their skin isn’t the same as another child’s, why someone needs to use a wheelchair, how people speak other languages, and more beginning around this age. Many parents and educators experience that initial moment of panic. How am I supposed to explain to a three-year-old about racism, poverty, and disability? The key is to
keep it age appropriate, honest and simple.
Programming to Promote Multiculturalism and Diversity
Scholastic has compiled these
tips from experts, ideas and ready-to-go activities to help you plan for your CNC program in a way that promotes multiculturalism and diversity.
Supporting Emergent Bilingual Children in Early Learning: CHECKLIST
Young children’s first learning experiences outside the home often happen in child-care settings, and many children come to school as emergent bilinguals (i.e., children who are exposed to two or more languages, also known as dual language learners). Research shows that learning multiple languages is very beneficial for development, yet few early child-care educators know best practices for supporting the learning of more than one language.
This checklist can help us better support children’s bilingual learning in our programs.
Moving Upstream: Confronting Racism to Open Up Children’s Potential
The scientific evidence is clear and growing: racism imposes unique and substantial stressors on the daily lives of families raising young children of color. Understanding how these stressors affect child health and development provides a compelling framework for new ideas about how communities, policies, programs, and funding streams might confront and dismantle these inequities and build a stronger future for us all. This new brief discusses how
racism creates conditions that harm the well-being of children and families, and the need to go “upstream” and create policy solutions to address the source of structural, cultural, and interpersonal forms of racism
Preventing and responding to children’s exposure to intimate partner violence
The risks of intimate partner violence intensified due to the pandemic context. The Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development has launched an
infographic summarizing the latest knowledge on the consequences associated with children’s exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) and on ways to mitigate and avoid them. We invite you to share this infographic with your networks, as we all work together to put in place, as quickly as possible, the most promising interventions to reduce the distress and hardship of domestic violence.
