Resources

Observing Immigrant and Refugee Children: What’s Different?

Observations are key to supporting the development of every child. This is especially true for immigrant and refugee children settling into their new country. Yet, for newcomer children, observation takes on an added dimension of complexity. Ann Hutchings is supervisor at the Graybridge Malkam CNC program in Ottawa. She shares a few key things to consider when observing immigrant and refugee children.

How to stay current as an Early Childhood Educator

Since the research around early childhood education is constantly evolving, it can seem difficult to stay on top of what’s new. Leading early childhood educators keep learning, discover new techniques, keep up with the latest trends and research in the field, and respond to these changes by incorporating them into their curriculum. Read more...

Looking for PD in Nova Scotia?

Did you know that Mount Saint Vincent University has professional development workshops for Early Childhood Educators? Find out more and register now!

Can Technology Help with Child Observations?

The staff at Newcomer Centre of Peel have a commitment to meet the individual needs of the child. This is not easy, as the program has over 100 children with 15-16 per class. Given these large numbers, caregivers were having trouble finding time to record observations. If they tried to jot down an observation as it happened, it took attention away from the group. When they waited until the end of the day, they struggled to remember what took place. They tried different observation techniques, including notepaper on a wall and a shared camera. None of these worked well. This is a frustrating situation faced by many programs. Read how a CNC program brainstormed a better way to observe and document using technology.

Quick Tip Video – How to Make Transitions Fun

This 2-minute video will show you how you can use attention getting games to make transition times fun for the children in your program!


Don’t Abandon PD: How One Program is Incorporating Professional Development

CNC teams have always displayed a strong commitment to constant improvement. PD sessions often have great turn-outs, as caregivers want to keep learning. The last few years have seen a significant decrease in organized PD opportunities. For some programs, however, it didn’t mean the end of PD. Read on to find out how the CCLCS CNC program incorporates PD.

Childhood Interrupted: Lost Years for the Children of the Syrian Refugee Crisis

Earlier this year, a team travelled to Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey to assess the situation of refugee children in the region. Their report describes the children and families at risk, and documents the educational crisis. It also recommends consideration of family unity and the best interests of the child when developing services. Read more...

4 quick recipes for sensory play that you’ve probably never tried before

Children can spend hours exploring with touch, language and imagination, but you don’t have to spend a lot of money and time creating exciting sensory materials.  Here are four sensory play ideas you can make with everyday ingredients you already have!

Kids in Motion: Ideas for Active Play, Every Day

Babies, toddlers and preschoolers love to play and move. Kids in Motion is full of information about children's natural need to be active, ages and stages of development, and activity ideas for encouraging active play, every day.

Does your team know the 5 steps to follow if a child has a severe allergic reaction?

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. Training, awareness and planning are essential to managing risks and keeping children safe. Train staff quickly and easily with this quick-tip-tutorial!