Programs and Activities External Resources

12 Spring Traditions from 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.


Physical Development 101: A Guide to Motor Skills in Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers

Through daily play and movement, babies and toddlers begin to develop fundamental motor skills: gross motor skills (big movements like crawling, walking, and jumping) and fine motor skills (smaller actions, like grasping and picking up tiny objects). These skills grow naturally over time, but no two children develop them at exactly the same pace. That being said, there are so many fun activities you can do to help encourage physical development in engaging and healthy ways - and you can find them here in the Active for Life Physical Development 101 guide!


Have you seen this top-rated 2024 CNC conference session recording?

Supporting Children’s Home Languages was one of our top-rated sessions, and it's definitely worth checking out! In this presentation, a Speech and Language Pathologist discusses multilingualism, the importance of self-awareness and objectivity, dispels myths, and encourages reflection.  They also share specific tools and strategies for educators to create warm and welcoming environments for everyone as they journey towards creating more diverse, equitable, and inclusive programs.


How did Black History Month come to be?

February is Black History Month! This is a time to celebrate and remember all the ways that Black Canadians have contributed to Canada’s history and culture. Throughout February, this celebration provides a chance to learn about African cultures.


Ten Sesame Street Resources All About Love

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, but every day is the right day to celebrate all the people, places, and things that you love! So here are ten songs, videos, and activities that you can use in your program to celebrate the power of love all year round


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!


Fun Ideas for Celebrating Lunar New Year with Kids

The Lunar New Year is the beginning of the Lunar calendar, which is based on the phases of the moon. This year, Lunar New Year starts on January 29, 2025, and it is the Year of the Snake, which symbolizes wisdom, charm, transformation, and intuition in the Chinese zodiac.  This day is celebrated around the world… Here are some of the many ways that you might choose to celebrate with the children and families in your program! 


Family Literacy Day 2025: Let’s Have a Family Party!

Family Literacy Day takes place every January 27th. The theme this year is “Let's Have a Family Party!”. You can check out ABC Life Literacy Canada’s website, join the celebration virtually, find community events, and download free resources to share with parents!

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

From infancy on, play is an important part of a child’s life. For babies and toddlers, simple, playful interactions with adults help brain development and the building blocks for health and resilience. Through games and playful activities, children can practice and strengthen important skills that will help them throughout their lives. This handout series provides all kinds of great suggestions for games and play-based activities based on a child’s age!


20 Creative Cardboard Box Games and Activities for Kids

Cardboard boxes are one of the greatest and most versatile toys. Yep. You read that right. Before you take those boxes to the recycling bin, think of all the things your kids could do with them. From tissue boxes to shoe boxes, TVs, cereal, fridges, crackers, pizza, and all those online shopping spree items, there are so many ways to DIY these cartons into some fun. Here’s a list of 20 cardboard box craft ideas, games, and activities to get you started.