Browse blog by category

The Power of Playdough

Daniele CasciatoCreate, Play, Talk

Playdough is a powerful learning tool for children. It offers a wide range of learning opportunities and is fun and creative! Here are some ideas and reasons to play with playdough at home:  1. Sensory and Creative Development: Playdough is a blank canvas that allows children to express their creativity and imagination. Simply provide playdough and let your child’s imagination …

Kindergarten: A Big Step!

Daniele CasciatoRead, Talk

Starting school for the first time is a big deal for your child. It brings up many different emotions like excitement, joy, fear, and uncertainty. Here’s how you can talk to your child about these feelings: Be Positive and Create Excitement Tell your child that school is like an exciting adventure. Talk about the fun things they’ll do, like making …

Getting Outdoors!

Daniele CasciatoCreate, Play

Outdoor play and nature have a significant impact on the overall development and well being of children. Running, jumping, climbing and playing with natural materials, like sticks and rocks, help children develop their balance, coordination, strength, and agility. Being in nature provides children with experiences that expand their imaginations and understanding of the world around them. Through outdoor play, children …

Playing with Letters

Daniele CasciatoCreate, Play, Read, Talk

Learning about letters is more than learning letter names and singing the alphabet song. As children learn to read and write, they begin to notice certain features and characteristics of letters.  Using magnetic letters gives children practice sorting and spelling their name and other important words. There are many more fun things to do with magnetic letters to develop literacy …

Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

Daniele CasciatoCreate, Play

We’re going on a Scavenger Hunt!Looking for things outside can be a fun way to notice our natural world.It helps to: develop observation skills by encouraging children to pay attention and be curious about things around them develop problem solving skills by challenging children to think creatively  promote physical activity such as running, jumping and climbing Here are some things …

Secure and Calm

Daniele CasciatoCreate, Play, Talk

We want children to feel secure and calm.  In our fast-paced, technology-centred world, it is important to provide children with opportunities to experience nature and fresh air.  Outdoor play provides a calming effect on children while boosting their sense of security.The Dalai Lama Centre for Peace and Education provides many resources for families. One resource is Feeling Nature With Our …

Exploring Print in Our World

Daniele CasciatoRead, Talk

  “Hey, mom. You have an “M” in your name – just like in McDonald’s” Early experiences with environmental print, the logos, words, and symbols found in a child’s world, are some of the first exposure children have to written language. Noticing print helps children make sense of abstract symbols and helps them to make sense of written language through …

Yoga for Children

Daniel NiesingCreate, Play

12 reasons yoga is great for kids Active For Life Do you want to know the 12 reasons why yoga is great for kids? Dina Kulik, wife, mother, pediatrician and emergency medicine doctor shares her own family’s story and the scientific evidence about why yoga is a great exercise for kids. Active for Life is a Canadian not-for-profit social initiative …

Self-Regulation Strategies for Young Children

Brendan LaytonCreate, Play

Heart-Mind Online is for all those who are searching for evidenced-informed resources that educate the hearts of children. The collection of resources builds capacity in individuals and communities to support the Heart-Mind well-being of children, and promotes their positive social and emotional development. This website was developed by the Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education. We can help the young children in …

Healthy Habits for Children

Brendan LaytonCreate, Play

Caring for Kids provides parents with information about their child’s health and well-being. Because the site is developed by the Canadian Paediatric Society — the voice of more than 3,600 Canadian paediatricians—you can be sure the information is reliable. This site offers a wealth of information and good practices to encourage your child to develop healthy habits. The following are a few great suggestions: …