Are you looking for activities that will save you time and money but that are big on fun and learning? Let us introduce 2 more activities from our featured series. All materials for the activities can be found at home or purchased in dollar stores.
#11 Bottles and Jars
Objective:
Using simple objects such as plastic bottles and jars to support teaching in many different areas of development. Continue reading
Educators have numerous responsibilities to the children in our care. Most importantly we are responsible for fostering their social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. In our school age program for children aged 6 to 8, we set goals for creating new friendships between peers and fostering skills to support basic social interactions (e.g. asking to join a game already in progress). But where to start?
Our CISS Resource Consultant told us about a former program called “Amigos Time”. It sounded exactly like what we were looking for. The concept is fairly simple. Each week, the educators place the children in pairs. The pairings are written on a dry erase poster hanging on our Amigos Club bulletin board, and the children are very excited to see who their partner will be upon arrival from school on Mondays. Each educator introduces a cooperative activity once or twice a week that they do together. Continue reading
The document How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years stresses the importance of Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECE’s) engaging in a strong and respectful relationship with children and their families in order to foster a sense of belonging.
In February 2016, Judith Colbert PhD was the keynote speaker at the Welcoming Newcomer Children Conference who spoke about meeting and responding to the needs of young immigrants and refugees. Judith shared that young newcomers have distinctive needs arising from their settlement experience which may differ from other children in child care programs. Continue reading
Summer is coming! As you are planning for your summer, consider some new and exciting activities or variations of old favorites for your outdoor play spaces.
The following websites provide an inclusive and inspiring approach to promoting physical activity in programs and at home. Continue reading
Throughout Canada, changes are being made to facilitate and provide a positive inclusion experience for all children with special needs. In our society, it’s important that we emphasize the dignity and value of each child. The myth that only “some” children can be included is false, all children can be included with the proper community support. The key to a successful inclusion experience is team work and communication. We need to remember that the parents\guardians are such a vital part of our team.
Here are some strategies that I’ve used as a preschool teacher.
Basic guidelines:
Are you looking for activities that will save you time and money but that are big on fun and learning? Let us introduce 3 more activities from our featured series. All materials for the activities can be found at home or purchased in dollar stores.
This activity can help to develop fine motor and language skills.
Purchase a collection of containers such as: small coin purses, small tin toy lunch boxes, cases for eye glasses, pencil cases, plastic/tin containers with hinge lids, salt/pepper shakers, etc., with a variety of fasteners such as: velcro, zippers, snaps, latches, magnets, fasteners, screw tops, etc. Continue reading
Mealtimes can be a great opportunity for children to increase their vocabulary and learn some of the skills that are necessary for engaging in conversations, such as listening to others and taking a turn to talk.
Here are some general suggestions.
Get your children to help prepare part of the meal
There are many opportunities for learning and using vocabulary such as ‘wash’, ‘spread’, ‘tear’, ‘mix’, ‘stir’, ‘rinse’, and ‘peel’. At mealtime, ask each child to tell the rest of the family what they did to help. Continue reading
Acorn Early Learning Centre
As Early Childhood Educators, we have an extremely important role when it comes to teaching children self-help skills. Providing opportunities for the children to serve themselves snack, lunch, milk and water is something that we value at Acorn Early Learning Centre.
Each day during lunch, two of the children are picked to be the helpers. Their responsibilities are to wash and set the tables as well as hand out facecloths to each of their peers at the end of lunch. The children serve themselves both their meals/snacks and pour their milk/water. Continue reading
Are you looking for activities that will save you time and money but that are big on fun and learning? Let us introduce 3 more activities from our featured series. All materials for the activities can be found at home or purchased in dollar stores.
TACTILE EXPLORATION
Freeimages.com / Silvio Mechow
Find a large box with a lid. Cut a square hole in the side and cover loosely with fabric or paper so that the children can’t see what is in the box but can still reach in. Continue reading
Excerpts taken from Be Your Child’s Play Coach
Chapter 11, “TalkAbility” by Fern Sussman
Before you invite another child over to play, help your child feel comfortable around other children by taking him to places where you’re bound to run into them. Visit playgrounds, parks, petting zoos and even toy stores or family restaurants. When you meet other children in places like these give your child a model of how to be friendly by smiling and greeting some children every now and then.
Once you decide to have more formal play dates, you’ll need to take a more active role. Think of yourself as a coach, helping when the “players” need you to keep the play going and standing on the sidelines when all is going well between the children. Continue reading
ACCESS Inclusion Newsletter 