Parents and Families
There’s plenty to acknowledge and celebrate in October!
Are you busy collecting ideas and planning for your CNC program this month? If so, there are a few important days this month that you might want to incorporate and honour to raise awareness in your CNC program and community! October is Canada Library and Fire Prevention month, and there are harvest festivals around the world! Thanksgiving is celebrated on October 9th, and International Day of the Girl Child on the 11th. Diwali is October 20th, Make a Difference Day is October 23rd, and Hallowe'en is on October 31st.
WEBINAR: Encouraging Families to Embrace Child-led Play
As early childhood professionals, it is our role to educate families on the importance of child-led play and how it is vital for laying the groundwork for early literacy. Join this webinar to gain confidence in explaining how child-led play develops early literacy foundations and prepares children for school. Learn effective ways to engage parents and families in conversations about the importance of child-led play both at school and home. Explore talking points when addressing any concerns families may have, reassuring them that child-led play is more than sufficient for future reading and writing.
The Best Kids’ Books on Mental Health
Each year, it seems that there are new children’s books that address every emotional or learning challenge. But how appropriate and helpful is the messaging? Experts at the Child Mind Institute reviewed over 60 books to choose this top 20 list of kids' books on mental health.
Strengthening Language Development and Cultural Understanding in CNC
Have you signed up for your free account yet at The Source for Learning - ECE? They have a great selection of free training and resources, including this Multilingual Toolkit - a comprehensive starter-kit, guidance and tools to strengthen language development and cultural understanding for all your young learners!
WEBINAR: How to Support Newcomer Fathers as They Adapt to Parenting in Canada
Register now for the New Beginnings: Building Healthy Families webinar to discover how to support newcomer, immigrant, and refugee fathers as they adapt to parenting in Canada and guide their families through the settlement journey. This session is hosted by Mothers Matter Canada, and will bring together experienced community practitioners and service providers who will share practical insights, tools, and lived experiences to help fathers build strong, supportive relationships with their children. Participants will explore parenting through an intersectional lens, examining changing family roles and how community-based support can play a vital role in preventing family violence and fostering healthy, connected families.
Transformative Breakthrough from the Start: Empowering Bilingual Families and Children
Learning a new language and adapting to mainstream customs can be intimidating. In CNC, administrators and SDRs can help set the tone for welcoming newcomer children and families into the programs. This quick article and story offers some lessons learned and things CNC teams can think about to make intentional plans for welcoming newcomer families into their programs.
Empowering Bilingual Families and Children
CNC programs set the tone for welcoming children and families. CNC administrators are also responsible for supporting CNC staff who deal with the behaviours sometimes seen when children and families enter new settings. Learning a new language and adapting to mainstream customs can be intimidating. Culture shock is a real and powerful experience affecting one’s mental health and overall well-being in ways that are often overlooked. This article offers some lessons learned and some things to think about as we make intentional plans to welcome newcomer families into CNC programs.
Activities for anxious kids: How to help children cope with anxiety through play
Anxiety is the feeling of worry, nervousness, fear, or unease. Even if these feelings in kids seem small to adults, they can be very real and important for a child. And they’re also very normal. Parents and caregivers can help tremendously by recognizing what anxiety looks like and providing activities for anxious kids. To help get you started, Active for Life has put together this list of 50 great activities to help children cope with anxiety through play.
WEBINAR – Transforming Challenging Behavior Through Visionary Leadership: The Impact of Culture when Communicating with Staff and Families
Did you see Barbara Kaiser's most recent Early Childhood Investigations webinar? CNC programs are microcosms of the world’s cultures where we find educators, children, families, and administrators from every walk of life who bring a rich tapestry of experiences, values, and norms. This convergence of diverse viewpoints has assets and opportunities for cultural conflict, especially when it comes to children’s behavior. When you know and understand how your culture influences your leadership style – your vision, your expectations, and how you communicate with your staff and the families you are in a better position to work together to support all children. This insightful and enlightening webinar will lead you to explore your cultural influences and how they impact your ability to lead staff, work with families, interpret children’s behaviors, and create a cohesive supportive environment.
18-month Looksee Checklist – Now Available as a FREE Download!
The Looksee Checklist is an easy-to-use developmental tool that features a short list of “yes” or “no” questions about a child’s abilities with tips to help them grow. And now, LookSee has made the 18-month checklist available as a FREE download! It's a great opportunity to download the checklist, use it with the toddlers in your CNC program, and identify potential areas where they may need additional challenge and support.