Observing Play with Intention: Enriching your Skills in Observations with the Emergent Curriculum Approach Ever take the time to sit back and simply observe children playing? The conversations they have, even by themselves. They show curiosity when they are exploring something new. The expressions of satisfaction when they are deep in thought in play and […]
Nurturing Self-Regulation in Early Childhood: Co-Regulation, Connection and Calming Practices for Big Emotions Young children experience big emotions, rapid transitions, and stressors they cannot yet name or manage on their own. This interactive workshop—rooted in Stuart Shanker’s self-regulation approach—helps educators understand the roots of stress behaviour, the difference between misbehaviour and stress responses, and the […]
March Pop Up Play Workshop: Elevating Sensory Play: Designing Multidimensional and Immersive Sensory Play Experiences Inspired Minds ECC Pop-Up Play Workshops are in-person, intentionally designed professional-learning experiences offered four times a year in communities around Edmonton. These workshops are hands-on, interactive, and reflective, inviting educators to actively engage in play, explore materials, and participate in […]
No Waiting! Get Them Shaking! Exploring and Extending Engaging Transitions I can picture it as clearly as if it were happening right now—children wiggling, climbing, and weaving around one another as we navigate snow pants, jackets, and boots. The scene feels chaotic, overwhelming… and all too familiar. Transitions are hard. Whether it’s the legendary “clean-up […]
The Third Teacher: Creating Responsive Environments to Support Children’s Behaviours Children experience big feelings and have big actions to communicate these feelings with the people around them. It’s important that early childhood educators create an environment that is safe, physically, mentally, and emotionally, for children to learn about these emotions and discover ways to express […]