Category Archives: Children with Special Needs

A Home Away from Home: the Infant and Toddler Programs at Elizabeth Park Child Care Centre

GCCS2Elizabeth Park Child Care Centre is one of seven child care centres operated by Global Child Care Services. We serve infants, toddlers and preschoolers, and are located in a renovated wing of the Uplands Catholic Elementary School on the CFB Uplands military base. We are surrounded by many playgrounds, walking trails and a water park.

Our Infant and Toddler Programs have been in operation since 1987. These programs are the first stepping stone on a long journey for the children, their families and the staff providing care.

The staff at Elizabeth Park Child Care Centre work hard to create a “home away from home” environment where all families and children feel welcomed and safe. The first initial phone call to parents starts the journey, by providing important information about our programs, and extending an invitation for families to come and visit our centre. Continue reading →

Positive Transition to Preschool

September is always an exciting time for children and parents starting preschool. Along with all the fun associated with new surroundings, new friends, new adults in the child’s life, comes the anxiety about parent and child separating from one another. It’s a very emotional time for parents to leave their child but can be equally scary for some children. This is especially true for children whose first language is not English or for a child with special needs who has not been separated from their parents before. Here are some strategies that we have used to ease the transitions for children, parents and educators.

1. Prior to starting in the program, hold an open house for children enrolled in the group and their parents so that they may meet the other children, parents and educators. Plan your open house so it happens when your centre is in operation. This will provide an opportunity for everyone to experience a preschool day. Continue reading →

Preparing for Separation Anxiety

September is a very busy time of year especially for educators and providers as they prepare to receive many children. Some will be returning but many will be new. This means many children along with their parents/guardians will experience Separation Anxiety. Here are some considerations to help with this short lived anxiety.

Create a small booklet with pictures of your centre or home child care setting that you can give to parents/guardians so they can read it with their children.
Post and use a visual schedule not only in each classroom or playroom in a provider’s home but also next to the schedule posted for parents/guardians. Continue reading →

Inclusion Ideas Corner – Lin Teaches Children About Autism

DollkitChildren are curious about the world around them. Let’s teach them about how similar we all are and that differences are a good thing. CISS has Educational Dolls Kits that come with a comprehensive binder where educators and providers will find detailed suggestions for every routines and transitions. Although your program may not currently be supporting a child with a specific diagnosis, may we suggest that you make use of the doll kits in your daily programming to promote diversity.

The following are examples of how a child care program may set up their environment with the contents from an Educational Doll Kit. The Doll Kit chosen is Lin – Autism Spectrum Disorder. Continue reading →

Family is Family: Everyone has the Right to Travel the World with Pride

Is travelling with children with special needs really that different? Not really. When we travel with our six children, five of whom have special needs, we are more careful in the planning and execution of our vacations. Because we require two hotel rooms, we always contact the hotel directly and request connecting rooms. This ensures that there is only one access to the hallway from our room because one of our children sleepwalks. The second room door remains bolted at all times. We also ensure that we have a small refrigerator in the room for quick snacks and/or beverages.

Our children’s diagnoses vary, from ADHD to global delays to Autism, each requiring special considerations such as being more sensitive to their environment. Although the thunder during the luau at SeaWorld startled our middle daughter, she was still thrilled to be on stage doing her version of the hula. If children are afraid of loud or sudden noises, take into consideration experiences that could frighten them such as the Indiana Jones attraction at Disney World. Our choices of attractions tend to be on the “mild” side on purpose. Our more daring children “buddy up” to experience the more exciting rides. This ensures everyone can fully enjoy their vacation. Continue reading →

A Big Step: Our Family’s Transition to School (Part 2)

Read Part 1

Following an enjoyable summer, a week before school started, we met with our son’s school team; kindergarten teacher, Resource Teacher and Educational Assistant. Everything was in place: a designated change room, as he was not yet potty trained, a room for his physiotherapy, occupational therapy and time away from the classroom. We were really impressed how much was done to make sure that our son was integrated into a regular school and classroom.

Once school starts, it is important to start thinking about your child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP). The IEP is specific to your child’s goals that he or she is expected to achieve during the school year. It is a working document and can be changed or updated at any time. It is up to the parents to decide what information will be included in the IEP, if you don’t agree with it, don’t sign it. As parents we know best whether the goals listed are attainable by our child. Continue reading →

Mindfulness: What’s the Buzz?

MindfulnessJust about everywhere you turn these days, mindfulness has become the new hot item. In fact, mindfulness has become so popular that sometimes it seems as though it is ubiquitously applied to just about everything – physicians can use it to improve patient care, athletes to improve their game, and yes, parents to reduce distress and prevent burnout. But how does mindfulness work? Is it really effective? Or is it just a trend?

Despite its newfound popularity, mindfulness is an ancient practice that combines awareness of the current moment with a nonjudgmental attitude. Mindfulness is based on Buddhist insight meditation but there is nothing inherently religious about it and people of any faith can practice it. Practitioners concentrate their awareness on a single-pointed focus and accept the reality of the situation as it unfolds, moment-by-moment. This is a concept that is better experienced than described. That is, understanding mindfulness requires going beyond reading about it – you need to practice it firsthand. Continue reading →

Interview with Children’s Village at Stoneway

Pina, Resource Consultant from CISS interviewed Brenda Fick-Kahler, Program Supervisor, Bernie Seville and Darren Walker, educators at the Children’s Village at Stoneway. The purpose for this interview was for them to share their process in contributing to Team Service Plans.

Resource Consultant: How do you prepare for a Team Service Plan?

Brenda: It’s a collaborative on-going process within our program blending the Early Learning for Every Child Today (ELECT) with Emerging Curriculum. The team has weekly meetings where they evaluate the program and discuss the children’s needs. From the time the child enters the program, the educators begin taking notes and developing profiles for all the children. When CISS is involved, the team meets with the Resource Consultant on a regular basis. With our process, we are able to deal with issues, resolve challenges and try different approaches. This style of programming lends to the children being successful. Continue reading →

Your Library Can Help Children Talk, Sing, Read, Write and Play EVERY DAY!

With 33 Branches, 2 Bookmobiles and a strong online and digital presence, the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) is in your neighbourhood, your child care centre, your child’s classroom and your home. With core values that include “access and inclusion”, “bilingualism”, and “love of reading”, OPL and its employees are great resources. If you are looking for accessible collections, story time programming or expertise related to early literacy, OPL is here to help.

Children’s Services employees offer early literacy programs in the Library and out in the community for example at early learning and care centres and schools. Employees are trained in presenting engaging programs for children and also in educating parents and educators on best practices for preparing children to read. OPL uses a curriculum called Every Child Ready to Read, which is based on five simple practices which parents and caregivers can easily integrate into everyday activities. These practices include: Talking; Singing; Reading, Writing and Playing. Continue reading →

Inclusion Ideas Corner – Job Chart, Greeting/Goodbye Apron and Classroom Accountability System

Job Chart

At Gardenway School Age Program, we have been implementing many aspects of Conscious Discipline©. This is a comprehensive self regulation program that integrates social-emotional learning and discipline.

Job ChartOne of the tools we have successfully implemented is a Job Chart for the children. It is important for these jobs to be meaningful. Every child has their picture on the job board. Each job has a corresponding picture. At the beginning of the week, we ask the children which job they might like to do. Once the job is chosen, we take it and Velcro it to their picture on the board. Some jobs are composter, pet care-taker, room and cubby checker, book tidy-er, door-holder, line-leader and caboose, tidy-up, snack announcer and helper, first-aid, and the ‘We Care’ helper. The children are always thrilled and excited to pick and carry out their new jobs. Continue reading →