External Resources

Beyond Trauma: Strategies for Working with New Canadians Living with Trauma

Are you looking for strategies to support newcomers living with trauma?  Language Instruction Support and Training Network (LISTN) has developed this in depth guide for language instructors, but is a good starting point for early years professionals as well. It provides information on trauma, vicarious trauma and the importance of self-care, support strategies and things to consider, creating alternative learning spaces and more...

Report: Collaboration Improves Access to Early Childhood Education for Refugees

Collaboration among multiple services is essential to effectively serve the range of needs that refugees and immigrant families experience. This report reveals benefits of and barriers to collaboration, and identifies critical factors and specific strategies for facilitating collaboration between service systems.

Cultural Competency: What it is and why it matters

Cultural competency is the ability to work effectively across cultures. For individuals who work with immigrant children and families, it is an approach to learning, communicating and working respectfully with people different from themselves. Learn more about cultural competency here...

Space Speaks! Early Childhood Spaces and Cultural Diversity

Parents and children feel valued when there are visual representations of their culture/community throughout the program, and when program staff speak their home language. This also helps children develop a sense of belonging. Find ideas for helping children and parents feel welcome in your program here.

Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps

The Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training regulation requires training for every worker and supervisor in Ontario. This online module explains your rights and responsibilities on the job. You can also learn more about the regulation, training requirements, and free training resources here...

Enhancing Learning of Children From Diverse Language Backgrounds: Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual or Multilingual Education in the Early Years

This literature review was commissioned by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Education Sector, and discusses mother tongue based bilingual or multilingual education for children starting in early childhood. The report is meant to inform policy-makers and raise awareness of the value of maintaining the world’s languages and cultures by promoting and resourcing mother tongue-based education for young children. Read more...

Culturally Responsive Instruction: Listening to Children

LEARNing Landscapes is an open access, peer-reviewed, online education journal supported by LEARN (Leading English Education and Resource Network). This issue includes an insightful article on Culturally Responsive Instruction. Culturally Responsive Instruction aims to promote the academic success of young children of diverse backgrounds and close the achievement gap that typically exists between these children and their mainstream peers.

Bilingualism in Young Children: Separating Fact from Fiction

Our world is becoming increasingly multilingual. This means that many children are being raised as bilinguals. Sometimes bilingualism is a necessity, as a child’s parents may not be fluent in the majority (dominant) language spoken in the community, but sometimes bilingualism is a choice. Read more...

Let the children learn through play

Twenty years ago, kids in preschool, kindergarten and even first and second grade spent much of their time playing. Increasingly, these activities are being abandoned for the teacher-led, didactic instruction typically used in higher grades. A growing group of scientists, education researchers and educators say this might be slowing emotional and cognitive development, causing unnecessary stress and perhaps even souring kids’ desire to learn. Read more...

Looking for free programming resources to download and print?

Twinkl has multilingual resources and activity ideas that you can use with the children in your program!