New Online Tutorial: The Power of Play
Children learn best when they are playing. In fact, play is so important to children’s development, that the United Nations has included play as one of the basic rights of every child in the Convention on the Rights of the Child! Through play, children get to know the world around them while exploring and testing their own limits. They’re figuring out how to coordinate their body movements, talk with friends, apply rules, and so much more.
In the
Power of Play tutorial, you’ll have an opportunity to consider why is play so important, how play supports children’s development and learning, three common myths about play, and strategies that can be used to support children’s learning through play in CNC each day.
At the end of the tutorial, you’ll also find resources, references, a
facilitator guide and added
group discussion questions so that you can easily facilitate your own team training.
Online Tutorial: Stages & Strategies for Language Learning in Newcomer Children
Learning a language is a complex process that is experienced differently by every child. But whether you’re supporting dual language learners, single, second or even multiple language learners in your program, it’s important to have a basic understanding of how language learning happens. In the
Stages & Strategies for Language Learning in Newcomer Children tutorial, you’ll learn about the four stages of language learning and what to expect as children move through each phase. You’ll also find practical strategies that you can use to support children during each stage. At the end of the tutorial, there are resources, references, a
facilitator guide and added
group discussion questions so that you can easily facilitate your own team training.
What’s Behind Separation Anxiety
Handling separation anxiety isn’t only about managing an individual child, it is also about working with their parents through it all and creating a safe and welcoming environment. It also helps to understand
what's behind separation anxiety for different age groups, and strategies to help!
Online Tutorial: 10 Simple Ways to Encourage Language in Newcomer Children
How you integrate and support language learning in your program can make all the difference to how children embrace the process. It can also impact how families view the learning of English, and how they appreciate and see the importance of their maintaining their home language. In this tutorial, we look at
10 Simple Ways to Encourage Language in Newcomer Children - and hopefully remind you of all the powerful little things you do each day to support language and learning in your program!
For Syrian Refugee Children, Kindergarten Is A Safe Haven
Positive experiences in the early years shape and connect a child's growing brain. Research shows that exposure to toxic stress can irreparably change the brains of young children. Investing in quality early education for young refugees — and for all children — can have enormous impacts for generations to come. Early years programs are
places to heal and grow strong for children who have experienced trauma.
How-to-Video: 5 Steps for Brain-Building Serve & Return
Did you know that you can help build a child’s brain – starting even before babies can talk? Simple
serve and return interactions between adults and young children help make strong connections in developing brains. And, it’s easy and fun to do! This how-to video from the Harvard Center on the Developing Child breaks down serve and return into
5 simple steps and features adults and young children doing each step together.
A Guide to Toxic Stress in Childhood
Chances are, you’ve heard or read something about toxic stress—maybe from the media, from a physician or other medical professional, or from a family member, friend, or neighbor. You may feel overwhelmed by all of the toxic stress information out there. And, unfortunately, it’s very easy to find misleading or incorrect information. The Center on the Developing Child created this
Guide to Toxic Stress to clear up the confusion and help you learn the facts about toxic stress step by step.
Healthy Baby, Healthy Brain: Videos to share with parents
Parents and caregivers play an important role in the healthy development of a baby's brain. This website is full of helpful
videos to share with parents to help them understand how they can support their baby's healthy development.
Infographic: What is epigenetics and how does it relate to child development?
Epigenetics explains how early experiences can have lifelong impact. Science tells us that environmental influences—including the experiences we provide for children—actually affect the expression of their genes. This means that the old idea of Nature vs. Nurture is no longer a debate. It's nearly always both! To understand more about
epigenetics and how it affects child development and long-term health outcomes, check out this new infographic.
What Is Early Childhood Development? A Guide to the Science
Healthy development in the early years (particularly birth to three) provides the building blocks for educational achievement, economic productivity, responsible citizenship, lifelong health, strong communities, and successful parenting of the next generation. What can we do during this incredibly important period to ensure that children have a strong foundation for future development? The Center on the Developing Child created this Guide to Early Childhood Development (ECD) to help parents, caregivers, practitioners, and policymakers understand
the importance of early childhood development and learn how to support children and families during this critical stage.
