News

Making Small Feel Tall: The Early Childhood Classroom at a Child’s Eye Level

Imagine how the world looks from the eyes of a child: with everything always (literally) over their heads. This article has tips for creating spaces that empower the children in our programs.

9 Tips for Managing CNC: Sharing Promising Practices – New Helping you Manage CNC Webinar

In this webinar, three experienced CNC administrators share tips for managing a successful team that includes both CNC and adult services. Special thanks to Chuck Dowdall from Kingston Literacy, Effat Ghassemi from Newcomer Centre of Peel, and Fitsum Getahun from Immigrant and Refugee Community Organizations of Manitoba for sharing their promising practices. Watch the webinar recording or download the pdf here now!

What is Developmentally Appropriate Practice?

Developmentally Appropriate Practice (also known as DAP) is a teaching perspective in early childhood education where a teacher nurtures a child’s development (social, emotional, physical, and cognitive) based on theories of child development, the needs of the individual child, and the child’s cultural background (community, family history, and family structure).

New Canada Food Guide

The iconic Canada Food Guide has provided Canadians with a snapshot of healthy eating recommendations for over 75 years, and Health Canada has just released the first updated edition in over a decade! The new Canada Food Guide suggests a focus on drinking water, plant-based diets, and home-cooking.

VIDEO: What is Executive Function and Self-Regulation?

The Centre on the Developing Child at Harvard University has a new, 5-minute video that explains how we use executive function and self-regulation each and every day to manage ordinary, and sometimes challenging tasks. It also shows how science offers an explanation for how we navigate tasks successfully, and what can send us off course.

4 Sensory Snow Activities to Try

In CNC, it's important that we offer opportunities for children to explore and discover their new environment. One of the best ways to do this is through sensory activities that combine playful fun and constructive learning. Here are 4 fun snow projects are sure to get the children excited about winter weather!

What are ACES and how do they relate to toxic stress?

The term “ACEs” is an acronym for Adverse Childhood Experiences. ACEs research shows the correlation between early adversity and poor outcomes later in life. Toxic stress explains how ACEs can trigger biological reactions that lead to those outcomes. The Harvard Centre on the Developing Child has developed a simple infographic that explains...

Promoting Healthy Attachments with Children

Attachment facilitates the development of emotional regulation, social skills, and empathy. It plays an important role in children’s overall development and learning. Early childhood educators are consistently learning and creating opportunities to build healthy attachments with the children in their care and supporting families in their own attachment with their children.

CNC in Action: The Value of Storytelling

All cultures share stories. They are passed from generation to generation, allowing the listener to imagine the characters, scenes and details. Storytelling doesn't cost anything, or require books or toys, but it can often fuel creativity better than anything you buy from the store. It is flexible, and allows you to adapt a tale to the situation, interests, and developmental level of the children with whom you spend time. It’s these personal and cultural connections that make storytelling so valuable! Find out how one CNC program supervisor has been spreading this message and practice through the Parent-Child Mother Goose Program.

Why Observe Children at Play?

When we observe children at play, it helps us better understand the strengths and needs of each individual child. It also helps us understand each child's knowledge, skills, and interests, how they are learning and how we can further their learning and development.