Network Childcare in November
Network Child Care Services (Network) is proud to deliver to your inbox, the Organization’s November Newsletter! Please enjoy a few moments to review the brief articles and noteworthy celebrations for all families, staff and affiliated home child care providers. We truly hope you enjoy these quick highlights as we focus on one of Network’s Child Care Centres as well as other events of interest for the month of November!
Visiting Network’s Child’s Nest 121 Child Care Centre!
Network’s Child’s Nest 121 Child Care Centre is located in an active neighbourhood in the East York area of Toronto. Upon entering Child’s Nest 121, families immediately feel at ease as this Centre is actually a home away from home! Caring for 20 infants and 20 toddlers, families are greeted by friendly staff who always take the time to fully interact with them, creating a true sense of an extended family-like environment. In connecting with Amanda Fulton the Centre’s Supervisor, she describes this location as a warm, caring, and responsive setting where staff readily converse with all families from their first steps into the Centre. Staff acknowledge that many families are placing their children in care for the very first time which may create challenges and uncertainty however, these concerns quickly disappear at Child’s Nest 121. This incredible site also offers daily in-home meals which are prepared by Effie and Andrea, the resident chefs. Children also enjoy Child’s Nest 121’s yoga expert, Casta, who brings monthly classes to the Centre. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are further cultivated at this unique site as all celebrations are fully integrated into the daily programming. This month, children will be offered the experience of connecting with local Veterans as Remembrance Day will demonstrate the importance of peace and freedom for which we are very thankful for in Canada!
Mark Your Calendars – These Dates Are Noteworthy!
November 2nd
is the Annual Symposium for Network’s Staff!
All registered staff from Network will be gathering for the Annual Symposium at Marriott Courtyard (475 Yonge Street, Toronto) for the day.
November 3rd
is a Return to Standard Time and Farewell to Daylight Savings Time!
On this day in the early hours (at 2:00 a.m.), we will be “falling back” in a return to standard time and gaining back the hour which was “lost” in the springtime. This “extra hour” will provide a sense of increased daylight in the morning however, the evening darkness will also appear earlier!
November 11th
is Remembrance Day!
This important day is annually observed as a somber reminder of the loss of life by Canada’s brave soldiers during World War 1 as well as subsequent wars. On this day, soldiers and veterans are thanked for their courage and sacrifice to ensure that Canada has remained a free country.
November 13th
is World Kindness Day!
First introduced by the World Kindness Movement in 1998, this unique day shines a light on the real value of being kind to others. This year’s theme highlights “The Importance of Kindness in Child Development”.
November 20th
is World Children’s Day!
Established by the United Nations, this important day is an annual celebration for children around the world. This year’s theme is: “Investing in our future means investing in our children.” In Canada, this important day is considered “National Child Day” in celebration of our most precious resource – our children.
The Importance of Kindness in Child Development
In reflecting on the aim of World Kindness Day, this year’s theme ignites the need to refocus on why teaching and modeling kindness in early child care settings is so vital. This early social emotional learning (SEL) is foundational to developing a caring and genuinely kind society which is seemingly needed now more than ever before.
In his research, Dr. K. Pruett stresses that kindness is the most powerful and useful of all social-emotional skills. Furthermore, performing acts of kindness often improves the well-being of the one who is offering the act of kindness more so than perhaps the one who is the receiver of the act itself.
Teaching and modeling kindness throughout the child care day involves both active learning opportunities as well as responding to spontaneous interactions with children. These important building blocks require understanding and practice as children begin to comprehend why kindness is so important. The sharing of toys and other articles between infants and toddlers evolves into the development of the concept of empathy over time, as children consider the feelings of other children within a group dynamic.
Try a little kindness today. You will feel amazing!