Child Development

Early Child Development Kit: A Treasure Box of Activities

Giving time for and helping children play during times of stress is one of the most important things you can do.This kit of activities was created to help you help young children continue to develop their skills for thinking, speaking, and interacting with people and things even when times are very difficult.

Preparing the Children of Immigrants for Early Academic Success

>A report published by The Migration Policy Institute shows findings that overall, the children of Immigrants in the U.S. do better than expected in the educational system, given the many disadvantages that they face. Yet the transition into elementary school may be a relatively challenging time for them and, as such, a critical point of intervention. Read the full report, view or listen to the recorded session(s) of the MPI policy symposium where this paper was presented in January 2013.

 

View or listen to the recorded session(s)


Multilingual Health A-Z

In order to better meet the needs of families and health professionals, Hospital for Sick Kids has translated some of their core information about child health and family quality of life into a number of languages. Read more...

Help children learn through play

The Early Childhood Development Association of PEI has put together these beautiful resources on how children learn about the world around them and develop skills that will help them to grow and thrive. Read more

Helping You Meet the Requirements: Supporting Dual Language Learning

As an adult, you understand how speaking multiple languages can be an asset—both in the work force and in everyday life. That’s why it is so important for immigrant children to keep their mother tongues…and for you to integrate their languages, where possible, into your program. Read more

Forward Development: ELECT and the Newcomer Child

ELECT stands for Early Learning for Every Child Today. It also stands for an integrated early learning framework that is being used in Ontario to help children from ages two-and-a-half- to six-years reach their full potential socially, physically and emotionally. Read More

A Blueprint for Supporting Emergent Bilinguals in Your Program: Roma Chumak-Horbatsch’s Linguistically Appropriate Practice

At one time or another, all child care professionals in Canada—whether in a newcomer-focused program or not—will likely look after non-English speaking children. Read More

Creating a Welcoming Program for Newcomer Children

After the trauma of fleeing their home country, refugee families need safe and stable environments. To create this kind of “safe haven”, programs can develop a space where children can hear English but are not pushed to use it, and where they can observe activities and are encouraged to join in but are not required to. Learn about the many other things you can do to reduce stress and help ease this difficult transition for families.

Helping children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)

You know about the five senses—sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell—but you may not be aware that most of us have two additional sensory systems that help us to control and integrate the information we gather. Children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) find it difficult to process and act on information received through these senses. Read more...

The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bond: Focus on Children in Poverty

Play is essential to the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being of children beginning in early childhood. It is a natural tool for children to develop resiliency as they learn to cooperate, overcome challenges, and negotiate with others. Play also allows children to be creative. Read More