50 short videos of open-ended play ideas
This free video library is a collection of
50 activities that can easily be done at home - so it's perfect for sharing with families! It includes fun science, math, art and nature activities.
Sesame Street in Communities: Information, Activity Ideas and PD
Your care and support can make a huge difference in the life of a young child.
Sesame Street in Communities is here to support your important work with activities, professional development and tips for the challenges and joys along the way.
How to provide a virtual ‘group time’ to young children
One of the ways of keeping connected with children during this time is by offering a virtual group time. This can strengthen your relationship with the families and can also support children in reconnecting with their educators and peers. No matter which platform you use, here are some virtual 'group time' tips to help you provide a good experience.
Time to Come In, Bear: A Video Children’s Story About Social Distancing
Trying to explain social distancing to little ones during the COVID-19 outbreak can be difficult. That's why children's author, Kim St. Lawrence recently released a video story called Time To Come In, Bear. It's the story of a young bear who needs to come in from playing outside because "the world caught a cold." The narrator goes on to explain that the little bear "won't catch its germs if you just stay at home," and that this won't last forever, an important element for little kids to hear. It's simple and sweet and less than two minutes long, making it easy to follow for little ones who need to understand the new way of things.
How to Help Children Calm Down
Many children have difficulty regulating their emotions. Tantrums, outbursts, whining, defiance, fighting: these are all behaviours you see when kids experience powerful feelings they can’t control. The good news is that
learning to calm down instead of acting out is a skill that can be taught.
Everyday Social-Emotional Learning
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) helps kids with decision-making, building friendships, feeling empathy, and understanding their own emotions. Having these skills in place sets up kids for better outcomes as lifelong learners.
Here are a few examples of everyday SEL that you can incorporate into your program.
10 Ways to Increase Positive Behaviour
There isn't just one simple tool or technique that works for every child, so it's always a good idea to have a few new strategies and tricks up your sleeve! Here's a helpful list of
10 ways to increase positive behavior in your CNC program.
Why is observation so important?
Most CNC staff understand the role of observation in early childhood education. But do they understand why it’s important? And more importantly, do they have the best systems and techniques in place to accurately assess toddler development? Early childhood education is not about teaching; it’s about exploration and learning, and observations play an important role in meeting the developmental needs of the newcomer children in your program.This important article and free ebook explain
why observation is important, what it impacts, and how you can make it easier.
Sign up for free weekly activity ideas!
Sign up to receive developmentally appropriate, weekly activities for infant-toddlers, preschool, or school age children. All activities include helpful tips on developmental milestones for observation and programming. Each week you will receive one activity for each age group in the areas of STEM, Literacy, Arts, Movement, Social-Emotional, and Transitions - right to your phone!
Play and Exploration for Infants and Toddlers
When infants are thought to be helpless, then they are often treated as helpless - leading to limited learning opportunities and experiences in our programs. The
Play and Exploration for Infants and Toddlers booklet reminds us that we need to reframe our thinking and recognize that even our youngest learners are competent and capable. It also provides readers with strategies for encouraging independence and competence as infants and toddlers grow, mature and achieve new skills.
