Culture and Diversity
Families in Canada to Benefit From Innovative Early Learning and Child Care Practices
The early learning and child care (ELCC) sector continues to evolve in increasingly complex and challenging environments. Identifying innovative practices and solutions that better address the essential needs of children, families, and caregivers is key to continuing to improve early learning and child care services across Canada. This summer, funding for two projects through the Early Learning and Child Care Innovation Program have been announced. One is a project titled Professional Development for ELCC Workers Through an Indigenous-ECE Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). This project focuses on providing early childhood educators with professional development opportunities to receive training on incorporating Indigenous perspectives, worldviews and pedagogies into early learning and child care environments through the development of an online course. The goal is that by widely offering this free online training across Canada, more ELCC professionals will have these critical skills.
Movie Sparks Reflections on Immigrant Parenting in Canada
A recently released Netflix movie called ‘Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway’ has ignited a flurry of conversations regarding cultural differences between Indian and Canadian parenting styles and their impact on immigrant parents. And sometimes, these cultural variations in parenting styles can put immigrant families at odds with child protection services.
Supporting Diversity In The Early Years: Resources
In Canada today, families come from many different backgrounds and reflect a wide variety of cultures, languages, life experiences and lifestyles. Diversity is a key dimension of our past, present and future. Given this reality, children are likely to live and learn with people who may be very different from them. To prepare children for life in a diverse society, and to help protect them from bias and discrimination, it's important to encourage children’s positive feelings about themselves while fostering understanding and acceptance of differing beliefs, values and traditions. The Canadian Child Care Federation has a variety of resources to support caregivers in this important work.Talking to Young Children about Pride Month
June is a time to promote acceptance, not discrimination, and listen to children without judgment through simple and honest discussions. This collection of wonderful picture books and resources is a great place to start as you celebrate and honour Pride Month with the children in your program.
ONLINE WORKSHOP: Supporting Newcomer Children and Families
In this one-hour online workshop, participants will be encouraged to think with a pedagogy of humility to better support the immigrant and refugee children and families they work with.How to Promote Diversity in CNC
It's never too early to teach children the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In CNC, fostering a culture that prioritizes these values is essential. Try some of these tips for encouraging discussion, and helping children understand the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in CNC.