Culture and Diversity External Resources
It’s Multicultural Children’s Book Day!
The goal of Multicultural Children’s Book Day is to raise awareness for the kid’s books that celebrate diversity and get more of these books into classrooms, libraries and collections. Here's a list of books and activities... maybe you'll find a new favourite!
Multilingual Learners Need Materials With Intrinsic Meaning
When young children are new to the language spoken by their teacher, they depend on useful materials to provide content and comprehension for their learning. That’s why multilingual learners need materials with intrinsic meaning. When children understand the teacher’s language, they may benefit from spoken explanations. But, when a child does not understand what the teacher is saying, they may not guess what the purpose of the activity is… and that blocks both comprehension and skill development. Here are some examples and tips for making materials and activities meaningful.
Connecting with Foods from Around the World
With many families gathering to celebrate a variety of holiday traditions, a theme is often food! Traditional meals and sweets are baked into celebrations from around the world, pun intended! Because child care programs reflect the broader community, it is safe to say that the children enrolled in your program will also be celebrating and enjoying these culinary traditions. This newsletter shares ideas for cooking with children and exploring foods from different cultures, not just during the winter holiday season, but year-round.
WEBINAR: An Introduction to ‘Welcome Sesame’
Follow along for an introduction to resources designed to support families experiencing displacement or resettlement as a result of crisis. In this webinar, Sesame Workshop’s Shanna Kohn and Tara Wright introduce caregivers and providers to resources designed to support children and families experiencing displacement and/or resettlement after crisis.
A Very Angry Preschool Song… Will it Work for Multiple Languages?
"This is an Angry Song” is a popular early years song in England that is a simple way to enable a child to express their anger with words and actions, and help other children understand the feelings a friend is experiencing. When we're working with multilingual groups of children, it's important to consider: Are the expressions and actions meaningful within the children's cultural context? Do they actually understand the words? Here are some tips for adapting songs like this for your CNC group.
5 Indigenous Games to Try
Canada is home to more than 1.6 million Indigenous people, including 600 First Nations communities, as well as Inuit and Métis communities. These distinct nations and groups have diverse histories, traditions, and cultures—as well as games and activities. Here are 5 traditional indigenous sports and games that you can try with the children in your program.
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.
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.
Ontario CECE Practice Guidelines: Diversity and Culture
The Ontario College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE) has developed a set of diversity and culture practice guidelines that highlight expectations and helpful recommendations. It's also a useful tool for CNC staff across the country to use as an opportunity for self-reflection and professional learning!12 Spring Traditions Around the World
Spring is a time of rebirth, renewal, and warm-weather activities. Baby animals are born, flowers bloom, and families around the world welcome spring with their own traditions. Through food, festivals, and various activities, the spring celebrations are endless. Here’s a list of how 12 different countries welcome spring.