How caregivers can help build children’s emerging language skills
Research shows that children’s early language skills have a long reach in affecting later life outcomes. Because when children develop the ability to understand language, as well as speak and communicate, it helps them to interact with others and learn about the world around them. Here are
three simple ways that we can help build children’s emerging language skills in our programs and families.
Sing & Sign Webinar: Supporting Emerging Language Through Music, Sign Language, and Play
Join
this interactive and informative presentation to learn simple steps to start signing with young children, key benefits, and easy ways to incorporate signing across the environments and routines of your day with young children!
VIDEO: How Early Childhood Experiences Affect Lifelong Health and Learning
How is ongoing, severe stress and adversity in early childhood connected to chronic disease in adults? And, what can we do about it? In this animated video, learn what the latest science tells us about
how early experiences affect not only early learning and school readiness, but also lifelong health. Challenge yourself to think about how we can address the sources of these problems. And, consider how integrating primary care into every aspect of early childhood programming may be an important part of the solution.
Brain-Building Through Play: Activities for Infants, Toddlers and Children
From infancy on, play is an important part of a child’s life. Through games and playful activities, children can practice and strengthen important skills that will help them throughout their lives, including learning to focus their attention, strengthening their working memory, and developing basic self-control. This series of handouts provide
suggestions for games and play-based activities based on a child’s age, so they are perfect for inspiring educators and sharing with parents!
WEBINAR – Big Conversations with Young Children: Discussing Questions, Worries, and Fears
In our work with young children, we sometimes encounter unexpected—and hard-to-answer—questions. This edWebinar addresses the big adult questions children sometimes ask that may cause us to pause, silence the child, or deflect the concern. The webinar guides participants so that they can be prepared to answer difficult questions respectfully and in ways that are developmentally appropriate for even the youngest children.
Let’s team up with Active for Life!
Research shows that the pandemic may have a lasting impact on the physical activity of children - and we need to get kids active! So we’ve teamed up with
Active for Life to promote physical literacy in our programs. Active for Life is a privately funded national charitable initiative that helps Canadians raise kids who love to move. At
Activeforlife.com parents and educators will find fun activities, engaging articles and free resources to get kids active, healthy, and happy. Get all you need by connecting with Active for Life via their social media channels and subscribe to their parent and “pro”
newsletters. Watch for an upcoming webinar as well as Active for Life articles and resources to help you incorporate active play into each day.
Multilingual Activities Guide: Enhancing and Practicing Executive Function Skills with Children from Infancy to Adolescence
This
activities guide offers a variety of age-appropriate activities and games to support and strengthen various components of executive function and self-regulation in children. Each chapter contains activities suitable for a different age groups, ranging from infants to adolescents. The full guide is also available in
Arabic! And two sections—5 to 7 year-olds and 7 to 12 year olds—are available in
French.
Teaching Emotions to Young Children: Tips and Tricks
With all of the research out there on emotions, the studies are far from complete, but one thing is very clear – naming our feelings helps us develop skills to manage our emotions. This article is full of
tips and tricks to help us give the children in our programs the important emotional tools and language they need.
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math for Preschoolers?
Lately, everyone seems to be talking about STEAM. It’s a hot topic in the world of education, but
what does it really mean?
STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, art and math. You may think some of these subjects seem lofty for young children to grasp - and in some ways, that’s true. But young children can build a strong foundation for future learning by exploring STEAM preschool skills and concepts through play. And there are lots of STEAM activities that you can do with children to keep them
engaged and learning using simple household items!
Free Toolkit: Engaging Families in Healthy Development
Parents are their child’s first teachers—and when they’re actively involved in promoting early development, the results are better outcomes and stronger parent– child bonds. Children with involved parents are more likely to get the support they need and be prepared for school and future success. Adapted from the trusted Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ®) family of products, you can use this
toolkit of resources to help you engage families in nurturing their child’s development - and help them get their children off to the best start in life!
