Here is your May EYMPD newsletter that I hope finds you well.
This month’s edition is dedicated to the topic of connection. Due to the current pandemic, we all gained a deeper understanding of the importance of connection. Understanding expressed, albeit in relation to 1950s outbreak of polio, by Pamela Hicks in her book titled Daughter of Empire: Life as a Mountbatten:
“(…) the outbreak of polio had become a major headache (…) All functions were to be held out of doors, the children’s rally cancelled and there was to be no handshaking at any time. (…) I realised just how much the personal contact, that human touch in a handshake, was at the heart of this royal tour and how much it meant to people to be able to say afterwards (…) ‘the Queen shook my hand’. I was surprised how removed we all felt, and we tried to make up for it by talking that much longer, engaging people in the best way we could.”
I hope you enjoy the few resources on connection included in this newsletter. Please share any resources on that topic with our Early Years Community if you would like. You can do so by sending the resources to me for distribution. Thank you~
On a personal note, I would like to share with you a turtle cookie recipe I absolutely love. Please let me know if you decide to try it out yourself.
Stay in touch,
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Kasia Oxley, Children’s Services Community Facilitator, Children’s Programs and Services
Work Cell: (705) 644-1533
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Please note that the information contained in this newsletter is intended to encourage conversation and self-reflection and is not to be considered as advice. |
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The Power of Connection
Time commitment: 1 hours, 7 minutes
Areas of interest: attachment, connection, mental health, asking why versus how
Format: video
*Please note that you will need to set up an account with wholehearted.org to access this video.
For the first time, Dr. Gabor Maté will take you on a journey of discovery; weaving together common struggles we all experience through his unique perspective. Topics include: the epidemic of addiction, childhood trauma, parenting, the mind-body connection, relationships, communication failures, common misconceptions, as well as his thoughts on where society and politics intermix.
This lecture offers a comprehensive overview of the crucial role that connection plays in every aspect of life. Gabor describes the role of connection at the earliest stage of life, where connection with caregiving parent is crucial for survival. How these early parent-child interactions occur impacts how the brain and its neural pathways develop, and influences our emotions, the development of our immune system, our communication and coping strategies later in life, our risks of addiction, serious illness such as asthma, MS, arthritis and cancer, and more.
Gabor skillfully weaves together the medical, scientific, and psychological research on how brain and body interact, and how our relationships affect that development, and paints a picture that helps us understand why and how we behave, and how our perceptions influence our world… but before that, how the world influences our perceptions.
This one-hour video is an excellent introduction to Gabor’s perspective on the absolute necessity of connection to healthy existence, and how deficits in connection early in life influence everything from our bodies, to politics, to society. He ends by encouraging us to consider what changes we could make and what we’d need to do to begin to make those changes.
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The Importance of Human Connection
Time commitment: will vary depending on depth of exploration
Areas of interest: being social,
Format: article
What do you do from day to day to care for yourself? Most would say that to be healthy, you need nutritious food and exercise.
But what about your social connections?
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Embracing the Early Years - Attachment
Time commitment: 8 minutes, 2 seconds
Areas of interest: early attachment, importance of creating meaningful and secure connections between children and those that provide primary care to them.
Format: video
Embracing the Early Years is a 6 part video series developed in collaboration with Dr. Jean Clinton as a resource for Early Childhood Educators, parents and others who care for infants and toddlers
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Please write to Kasia to let her know your thoughts on connection or any other topic for a chance to win a resource of your choice
(value of up to $50.00)
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EARLY YEARS PROFESSIONALS IN MUSKOKA |
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What is your current job, and how did you arrive at it, in other words why do you do what you do?
I am currently employed by Trillium Lakelands District School Board. This school year I am working online for TLDSB Elementary Learn@home school. I really had no idea that I had a passion for early childhood development prior to having my children. After having my children my interest in their development became my new passion. My children attended licensed child care, summer camps and before and after school programs while my husband and I worked full time. I was truly amazed of the knowledge the ECE staff had and how freely they shared their knowledge with me. I feel blessed to have had these services available for our family. This led me to years of volunteering on field trip, in classrooms and many hours of reading about child development in my spare time. When I moved to Bracebridge in 2005 I decided to attend Georgian College's Early Childhood Education program full time and received my ECE Diploma. My career has given me the opportunities to work in the before and after school programs, summer camps, daycare and presently the board of education. I truly can't imagine myself working in another field.
What book/resource could you recommend to our readers?
I stumbled upon the book "The Secret To Unlocking The Stress Cycle". This book was written by sisters Emily Nagoski, Ph.d and Amelia Nagoski. They explain how burnout affects women differently than men. This book gives a roadmap to help individual to minimize stress and manage emotions. The goal is to live more joyfully.
What’s your favorite quote?
These are two of my favourite quotes;
"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain! -- Dolly Parton
"We're stronger in the places that we've been broken" -Ernest Hemingway
Who inspires you and why?
I am not able to name one person because there are so many. But, I would have to say my family because they are so motivated and continually looking for new adventures and experiences. I am also inspired by others that I have worked with throughout my life. They are individual that are not shy to take a healthy risk to better themselves, their community and remain active learner.
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In the last couple of years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life?
My husband's friend introduced us to a book called Fiber Fueled by Will Bulsiewicz, MD.MSCI. It is a plant-based gut health program. I have always struggled with food sensitivities, so I decided to dedicate 4 weeks to this program. This has been life changing for me. I am now able to enjoy all of the foods that I have not been able to eat for years. I look forward to going out and eating at a restaurant with friends without feeling ill for days.
What have you learnt to say “no” to?
I never liked how I felt after I would quickly say "Yes" and then the regret of volunteering time that I truly didn't have to offer. So, I have learnt over the years to allow myself to take some think time to make decisions.
Could you name a song that can easily put you in a good mood?
Closer to the Heart by RUSH
Anything else that you would like to share?
To the world you may be one person. But, to one person you may be the world. -- Dr. Seuss
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A few weeks ago, my son and I visited a nearby trail and decided to play a game featured in one of the best children’s (and not only!) books ever.
If you know the name of the book and the name of the game, please email me by May 31, 2021 for a chance to win a copy of the book in question.
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Agencies Providing Services for Children and Families in Muskoka |
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Community Living Huntsville
(Thank you Stacey Bullock with Community Living Huntsville for sharing this message with our Readers)
Community Living Huntsville’s Children and Youth Services team supports children and families in North Muskoka from the age of 18 months to 18 years. We offer a flexible and individual service to help children and their families access community supports and funding as well as education, learning and advocacy opportunities, and more.
Our Resource Consultant team has two Resource Consultants, Yvonne Bush and Caitlin Griffin, and one Resource Consultant Assistant, Caitlyn Coombs, who support families with children ages 18 months to six years. Resource Consultants are able to support parents and guardians concerned about their child’s development. No diagnosis is required.
Our Family Support Worker team has two Family Support Workers, Gwen Jones and Kevin Rows, who support children and youth ages six to 18 diagnosed with an intellectual disability, and their families.
We offer co-ordination of respite services for our families as well.
Our team also works in collaboration with licensed childcare centres and schools to ensure all children and youth are able to access support, and to promote inclusion for all children and youth.
In addition to our services for children and youth, we also have team members that provide a range of services for adults, who live with a developmental disability, too.
Community Living Huntsville supports more than 300 children and adults, and their families, in North Muskoka.
We envision a future where the community listens to and honours the voice of all citizens, respects the rights of all citizens, and values the contributions of all citizens, while fostering inclusiveness for people to live, work and play in unique and purposeful ways.
Visit clhuntsville.ca or call our office at 705-789-4543 for more information.
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For a chance to win a resource of your choice (value of up to $50.00), please submit a reflection of yours to Kasia on a topic of your choice that you would like to be considered for publication in one of the upcoming newsletter editions.
Your submission does not have to be in a form of an essay, other forms of expression are welcome, such as: poetry, video footage, note, opinion piece, interview, photos accompanied by a short text, review, etc.
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