Programs and Activities External Resources

Brain-Building Through Play: Activities for Infants, Toddlers and Children

From infancy on, play is an important part of a child’s life. Through games and playful activities, children can practice and strengthen important skills that will help them throughout their lives, including learning to focus their attention, strengthening their working memory, and developing basic self-control. This series of handouts provide suggestions for games and play-based activities based on a child’s age, so they are perfect for inspiring educators and sharing with parents!

Podcast: The Magic of Loose Parts

Whether you’re an experienced ECE or new to the field, this podcast takes what we know about loose parts to the next level. Listen in to learn more about loose parts, how to get started, personal mindset and reflection, and so much more!

16 Resources for Finding Diverse Books and Classroom Materials

These 16 helpful resources can help you ensure that your bookshelves reflect the diversity of the world around us. Some focus more on school-age programming, but there are lots of great resources to support the early years too!

A Trauma-Informed Approach to Teaching Young Children

It’s estimated that over half of all children aged 2–5 have already experienced a severe stressor. However, early childhood educators and other support staff don’t necessarily need the details of what happened, as long as they are being faithful to the concept of trauma-informed care. This includes developing an awareness of the impact of preverbal trauma and how it may present in early childhood.

WEBINAR: Reimagine Documentation to Support the Quest for Program Quality

The last two years have been challenging in terms of holding on to our values and intentions for our programs and for ourselves as professionals. This inspiring webinar explores how you can support the use of documentation to help educators refresh their thinking about practice, gain insight into children’s actions, and continue to learn. Participants will uncover how documentation can become a form of professional learning, and how raw documentation is possible – despite the challenges!!


8 Tips for Making Your Program Culturally Inclusive Year Round

Celebrating diversity is a huge part of building the empathy and perspective-taking skills necessary for the development of kind, inclusive, caring human beings. As educators, we have an incredible opportunity and responsibility to support the development of these skills with even our youngest learners. Here are 8 tips for making sure your program is culturally inclusive year-round!

Try some holiday fun physical activities!

Active for Life has fun list of holiday activity ideas for families that are always popular this time of year.

Have you explored the Devereux Centre for Resilient Children YouTube channel?

Devereux Center for Resilient Children (DCRC) promotes resilience, social and emotional development in preschool children, and promotes the resilience of the adults who care for them. Their YouTube channel provides helpful videos that share guidance and tips, as well as a new 4-part series on culturally responsive care and teaching practices!


Have some soccer fun during FIFA World Cup!

The FIFA World Cup is one of the world’s most widely watched sporting events, with countries around the world participating. So it's a great time to have some soccer fun with the children in your programJust about any sport or physical activity will help to develop physical literacy and good movement skills. However, if you had to pick one sport that developed the most skills and capacities for little ones, it would have to be soccer.

Have you tried making your own games?

During the pandemic, the CNC team at Ottawa-Carleton District School Board’s Bayshore site put their heads together to come up with creative ways to re-purpose cardboard delivery boxes. They used their extra time to save money and have some fun making everything from race tracks to carnival-style games for their program. Many of their creations were even laminated for quick disinfection! Click here to learn more.