Programs and Activities
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.
LET’S PLAY: PLAY DOUGH ACTIVITY IDEAS
Play dough play provides children with lots of great opportunities to use their imagination and strengthen their fine motor skills. It can also provide hours of fun while children develop problem-solving, language and social skills! A team of CNC staff put their heads together and came up with over 125 play dough activity ideas for CNC… and now you can find them here! Special thanks to the CNC team that worked on the new content.
5 Tips for Teaching and Practice Gratitude with Children Every Day
Gratitude is an important skill that needs to be nurtured and practiced often, which is why it is so important to teach children about gratitude, empathy, and helping others. Here are five ways to ensure kids are practicing gratitude daily, along with suggestions for simple language you can use!Helping newcomer families prepare for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Refugee 613 and Circles for Reconciliation have partnered up to create a multilingual infographic explaining the commemoration of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and why newcomers should participate. It’s currently available in English, French, Spanish, Ukrainian, Arabic and Swahili, with more languages still to come! You can access the full infographic here for free. Please share it with your friends and personal networks.
National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
September 30th is Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation. As a community, this is a time for us to learn, unlearn, and critically examine our own practice as we work towards meaningful action on Truth and Reconciliation. Helpful resources like Indigenous People of Manitoba: A Guide for Newcomers, and Indigenous Peoples in Toronto: An Introduction for Newcomers (with associated Facilitator’s Guide) encourage us all to learn with an open mind, and to unlearn and re-learn through the voices of Indigenous peoples themselves. The resources may have been developed to help newcomers, but they are full of great information that can help everyone understand the richness and complexity of Indigenous histories, cultures, spiritualities, and practices. Be sure to share them with your team and families!
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.
ONLINE WORKSHOP: Getting Ready for Gradual Entry
In this one-hour online workshop participants are provided with a gradual entry checklist to help them with their gradual entry strategy and process. They will also go through age, development, and group considerations to reflect on how they can best support a variety of children and families through the gradual entry process.7 Critical Components of Empathy
Empathy isn't something we are either born with or without, but a more complex way of being that is shaped by our experiences and relationships. Here are seven ways we can nurture empathy for the little ones in our lives everyday - both at home and in the classroom. After all, the magic of connection and learning happens when we are present for the little moments of everyday life.Regulation Activities for Kids During Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and to set the tone for the season and beyond, we can focus on an important part of our own mental health and well-being and the mental health and well-being of children: emotional regulation. Many children are currently navigating emotional meltdowns, social conflicts, chaotic transitions, and difficulty focusing or paying attention at school. But how do we meet children where they are now and support children’s mental health through emotional regulation? Why is it so important to do this? What strategies can we use? Here are the answers to these questions and some fun emotional regulation activities you can start doing with children right away!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.