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Programs and Activities External Resources

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 National Family Week is October 2-8. Thanksgiving is also celebrated on October 9th, and International Day of the Girl Child on the 11th. Make a Difference Day is October 23rd, Dress Purple Day is October 27th, and Hallowe'en is on October 30th!

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.

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.

LET’S PLAY: CREEPY CRAWLY THINGS ACTIVITY IDEAS

Do you have a child in your program who is interested in bugs and creepy crawly things? A team of CNC staff put their heads together and came up with over 60 bugs and creepy crawly things activity ideas for CNC… and now you can find them here! Special thanks to the CNC team that worked on the new content.

WEBINAR: The Healing Power of Play and Optimism

Optimism is powerful. When human beings strengthen their ability to see and focus on the goodness and value in themselves, others, and the world around them, their social, emotional and cognitive superpowers emerge. Optimism, however, is fragile. Chronic stress, fear and overwhelming adversity can weaken and destroy our capacity for optimism. This inspiring webinar helps Early Childhood Professionals discover the power of optimism to create safe, loving, joyful, and engaging environments where kids can heal, grow and thrive. Using research, humor and personal stories, it shares how practicing optimism can bring out the best in ourselves, our colleagues and our children.

How caregivers can help build children’s emerging language skills

Research shows that children’s early language skills have a long reach in affecting later life outcomes. Because when children develop the ability to understand language, as well as speak and communicate, it helps them to interact with others and learn about the world around them. Here are three simple ways that we can help build children’s emerging language skills in our programs and families.

Magic Moments: Active Problem Solving with Young Children

Every problem, large or small, is an opportunity for young children to learn and grow. From spilled glue to a conflict in the block corner, problems are an unlimited natural resource generated inside our own classrooms. This insight-building webinar will explore how early childhood educators can take the problems, mistakes, and accidents that inevitably occur in every early childhood program, and turn them into teachable moments.

WEBINAR – Art in the Trauma-Informed ECE Classroom: Process over Product

Open-ended art is a creative process of self-discovery that literally grows the brain. Why then, do many teachers deliver cookie-cutter crafts as art? Process art builds the brain in early childhood and serves to both calm the nervous system and release emotions. These calming and releasing functions have important implications for trauma-informed classrooms. Art is a safe way to experience choice and control, make our own decisions, take risks, and express our thoughts and feelings. In many ways, all art is self-discovery. This webinar will share key practices that to help reduce the use of cookie-cutter crafts in favor of true art that reflects children’s authentic thoughts and feelings.