Refugee children have written a book of fairy tales!
Travelling Tales is a beautifully illustrated collection of fairy tales written by Syrian and Kurdish refugee children in Greece. The collection includes a story about chickens fighting an alien invasion and seven other stories. Proceeds from the sale of this captivating collection will go towards alternative housing solutions for refugee families in Greece.
When Children’s Behaviour is Challenging: Online Tutorial Now Available with Facilitator Guide
Sometimes a child’s behaviour challenges us and forces us to step outside our usual comfort zone. Find out what to do when children’s behaviour is challenging you, common mistakes to avoid, and 7 steps to take when behaviour is challenging in your program. We’ve also developed a Facilitator guide that includes 10 Questions for Group Discussion and Personal Reflection to use with your team, extend your learning and help you identify concrete strategies that you can use in your program.
Let’s get started!
Invisible Wounds: The impact of six years of war on the mental health of Syria’s children
At least three million children under the age of six know nothing but war. For many Syrian children, prolonged exposure to war, stress and uncertainty has left them in a state of “toxic stress.” Some of the immediate impacts of this stress are increased bedwetting, self-harm, suicide attempts and aggressive or withdrawn behaviour. Left untreated the long-term effects may be even greater. Save the Children has completed the largest and most
comprehensive study of Syrian children’s mental health and well-being. This 25-page report documents the impact of war on children and their families and ends with recommendations for creating solutions.
Webinar: Trauma Informed Care for Refugees and Children
What are the effects of trauma on immigrant children? How is mental health screening done? What are some options for helping children who have experienced trauma? Recorded in November 2016,
this webinar discusses issues that children face when exposed to trauma and helps caregivers learn to respond appropriately.
Podcast: Immigrant and Refugee Children in Childcare
In this
recording, Julie Dotsch, writer, presenter and trainer for CMAS, discusses research and practices that support refugee children and families. She looks at the importance of keeping traditions alive by integrating them into the new culture as well as the importance of newcomer families maintaining their home languages.
CNC in Action: Syrian Refugees
The Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) CNC Program is no stranger to welcoming newcomer families with open arms. When approximately 100 Syrian refugee families arrived within the same period, the staff had to stretch their arms that much wider. While parents attended workshops, caregivers had to provide short term care to 22 new children at a time. This was in addition to running their regular program. Flexibility and a team approach with all hands on deck were key to
managing the influx of newcomers.
A year in Calgary: 3 families with very different refugee stories
CBC News reconnects with three refugee families they first met a year ago. One woman is thriving in her new home, another family is struggling to even get out of the house, and the third family has left town.
Read more...
READY-TO-USE PARENT WORKSHOP: Building Resilience in Young Children
Everyone has the capacity for resilience. Building resilience is something we work on throughout our lives, and parents play the biggest role to play in helping their children develop strengths that support resilience. The purpose of this
ready-to-use parent workshop is to provide practical tips and simple messages for parents about how to build resilience from infancy to age 6.
Observing Immigrant and Refugee Children: What’s Different?
Observations are key to supporting the development of every child. This is especially true for immigrant and refugee children settling into their new country. Yet, for newcomer children, observation takes on an added dimension of complexity. Ann Hutchings is supervisor at the Graybridge Malkam CNC program in Ottawa.
She shares a few key things to consider when observing immigrant and refugee children.
Childhood Interrupted: Lost Years for the Children of the Syrian Refugee Crisis
Earlier this year, a team travelled to Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey to assess the situation of refugee children in the region. Their report describes the children and families at risk, and documents the educational crisis. It also recommends consideration of family unity and the best interests of the child when developing services.
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