Great Beginnings Webinar Series

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2025 Webinar Series

The Power of Loose Parts Play: Strengthening Whole Child Development

Discover the power of “loose parts play” and how it fuels creativity, problem-solving, and overall development in young children. In this fun and informative webinar, we’ll explore what loose parts are, where to find them, and simple ways to incorporate them into your child’s daily life. You’ll gain practical tips and easy-to-implement strategies to create an environment that encourages curiosity, independent thinking, and whole-child development—without the need for expensive toys. Join us and unlock the endless possibilities of loose parts play! Join Angela Odusanya for this wonderful learning opportunity!

Presenter(s): Angela Odusanya

Getting Ready for Kindergarten: Building Social-Emotional Skills

Starting kindergarten is a major milestone in a child’s life and preparing them for this transition goes beyond academic skills. Kindergarten readiness is not just about knowing letters and numbers; it’s about nurturing connection with others, navigating emotions, and adapting to new environments. In this session, you’ll discover how social emotional skills can help prepare your child for this exciting journey, while setting the stage for meaningful learning, connection, and well-being.

Presenter(s): Steffanie Pelleboer

Kindergarten kick-off at the DDSB!

Is your child registered for Kindergarten at the DDSB? Are you curious about what they might learn during their first two years of school? Do you wonder about what a “typical Kindergarten day” might look like? This “kick-off to Kindergarten” webinar will provide families with information and tips to help prepare children for this new and exciting chapter in their young lives: Kindergarten! Families will be provided with general information about The Kindergarten Program, an explanation of play-based learning, things to consider when preparing for September, and helpful tips for a successful transition.

Presenters: Samantha Churchill, Lorra Walter, Amanda Gleed, Conor Jinkinson, Kristin Bennett, Karina Bogardts, Smita Sharma

2024 Webinar Series

Navigating the Transition: Understanding Behaviour When Starting School

In this information session, caregivers will learn about how starting school may affect behaviours in children. We will focus on learning about behaviour and what it communicates, how to set your child up for a successful school start and even some tips and tricks to use right now! Families are welcome to come to the session with questions they may have for Heidi Perryman and Marcia MacKay as they begin to embark on the Kindergarten transition for September 2024!

Self-Reg: Supporting the Path to Young Children's Well-being

In this session we will explore self-regulation and its role in supporting young children’s social and emotional development, and overall well-being. We will discuss self-regulation strategies that support the growth of children’s social and emotional development as well as their academic engagement and successful and positive early learning. Families are invited to join Lisa Bayrami and bring any questions they may have about self-regulation as they begin to embark on the Kindergarten transition for September 2024.

Available Resources from the Mehrit Centre:

2023 Webinar Series

Getting Ready to Communicate!

Communication with teachers and other children is important for success in school. Watch speech-language pathologists from the DDSB and Grandview Kids Preschool Speech-Language Program to learn about communication and language skills that support learning and participation. Information will be shared for how to access supports and resources in the community and in the DDSB, as well as other helpful tips to encourage communication at home.

During this video, families will have the opportunity to learn helpful information about speech and language development, receive details on how to navigate additional supports, and will be able to pose general questions they may have about their child’s speech and language development.

The Joy of Kindergarten

The last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic have presented many challenges for young children. As we prepare to support our children with the transition into Kindergarten, you may have many questions about your child’s ability to cope within a new learning environment, as well as their ability to interact socially and make new friends.  

In response to these questions and concerns, we invite families to watch Dr. Jean Clinton, MD, as she discusses the vital role that families play in promoting healthy human development. During the video, Dr. Clinton will advocate for the importance of relationships, and share how families can support a young child’s social and emotional development. Dr. Clinton will also support families in their understanding of how to create a positive sense of belonging and connection through play in the early learning environment. 

Although the last two years have been unlike anything we have faced before, Dr. Clinton shared the latest research, reflect on her own experiences, and remind families that successful development is possible through connection and relationships.

Making Sense of Self-Regulation in Young Children

You may have heard that self-regulation is an important factor affecting children’s school success and their social and emotional development – but how do we make sense of this information to support our young children as they transition into Kindergarten? In this video, educator and self-regulation consultant, Rebecca Leslie, will show families a helpful way to understand self-regulation and what they can do to support its development in a child. Rebecca will review how stress affects a child’s body and brain, the connection between self-regulation and stress, the difference between misbehaviour and stress behaviour, as well as how excess stress affects behaviour and moods across five domains of experience.  

Over the last two years, children have had to face a lot of obstacles, and have been challenged with many stressful scenarios. Rebecca will highlight the Shanker Method®, and the five ways to support self-regulation, which will help families to see their child in a whole new way.  

Watch this informative session on how to make sense of self-regulation in young children!

Available Resources from the Mehrit Centre:

Connection Before Correction: Emotion Focused Approach to Parenting

Connection before correction: An emotion focused approach to parenting, was designed to help parents and other caregivers learn skills to better support and coach their child(ren) through their emotions and behaviours. During the session, parents, guardians, and caregivers were introduced to the concept of emotion coaching, the reason for why it matters, and the skills connected to emotion coaching. Recognizing the difficulties of parenting a child through intense emotions or acting out behaviours, families were invited to join Steffanie Pelleboer on the call and arrive with questions they may have as they begin to embark on the Kindergarten transition for September 2023. Please view the video link to watch a recording of the session originally presented on June 15th, 2023.

 

Great Beginnings Start at the DDSB and three small children