Your June News & Updates
Greetings!

This week our office has an air of somber sadness, and I am struggling to find the words to express how I am feeling about the tragic news of the senseless and horrific loss of 215 Indigenous children. I am a white women of privilege with children of my own, and I deeply sympathize with what the families of these children have gone through and continue to go through. And especially this month, I will take time hold space and learn more, and understand more about these families. Brene Brown suggests 4 key steps to showing empathy: 1. Perspective taking, or putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, 2. Staying out of judgement and listening, 3. Recognizing emotion in another person that you have maybe felt before, and 4. Communicating that you can recognize that emotion.

“Empathy is a choice, and it’s a vulnerable one.”– Brené Brown

Take care of you and your families,
Melissa Hunt,
Executive Director
CCRR Manager
JUNE - National Indigenous History Month
JUNE 21 - National Indigenous Peoples Day
Please Hold Space for the Loss of 215 Indigenous Children
In your own authentic way with your childcare and early years teams, hold a space for grief and acknowledgement of the tragedy and loss of these children and impacts on their families. This is part of our living history and this effects us all.

Please take a few minutes to listen to this song written, recorded and filmed with students from Sk'elep School of Excellence in Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc, Kamloops, British Columbia.

For more support, please review these
Please share our newsletters with your families and co-workers by forwarding emails or encourage them to sign up for their own newsletter.
What's new at Childhood Connections?
New Playful Healing Gear has Arrived!
As part of The #1MillionCampign, proceeds from each purchase from The 'Playful Healing' Collection help to fund free play therapy and child life therapy for children and families in financial need. We now have t-shirts, and stickers and now just in time for summer we have hats for purchase to help support the program!

Benefits of Play Therapy:
  • developing coping strategies and creative problem-solving skills
  • self-respect
  • empathy and respect for others
  • alleviation of anxiety
  • learning to fully experience and express feelings
  • stronger social skills
Childcare Educators: Did You Know?
Start Up Grant for Licensed Family & In-Home Multi-Age
One-time Start-Up Grants are available to assist Registered Licence-Not-Required (RLNR) and Licence-Not-Required (LNR) child care providers, Early Childhood Educators (ECEs), and any other eligible adults over the age of 19 to cover the costs of becoming licensed child care providers under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and Child Care Licensing Regulation. Start-Up Grants are subject to funding availability.
Subsidy Information

Families who make up to $111,000/yr are eligible for Affordable Child care Benefits (ACCB). Families require an "Arrangement Form" from their care provider to apply.
This applies to in-home care providers, preschools, licensed school programs, licensed childcare, in child's own home care providers and even friend or neighbour that may be helping out with care.

Health & Safety

This information is to assist child care providers with health and safety information and support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Updated frequently asked questions for child care operators and staff here from the BC Centre for Disease Control.
Empowering Parents
Mindful Activities for Families

New research explores how teaching mindful practices to young children may support stress reduction, self-regulation, levels of well-being and increase the capacity for compassion. We already know that these activities make a difference with adults too.
Indigenous Early Learning Corner
Early Years Indigenous Cultural Safety Resource Guide was created in 2019. This guide includes a variety of resources: courses, webinars, posters, websites, videos, podcasts and links to fact sheets and posters.
The guide is available on the Early Years Policy and Programs webpage. The guide will be updated regularly, and suggested resources can emailed to EarlyYearsOffice@gov.bc.ca for review.
Métis Family Connections is for Métis families with children birth to 8 years. Métis Family Connections is focused on helping families build a network of support that provides children with opportunities for early learning and childhood development.
Métis miyoopimatishihk (Wellbeing) Program has just been launched and it is similar to Jordan’s Principle. Métis families can apply for and access services funded directly by MNBC and they can access up to $5,000.
How to say 'thank you' in Indigenous languages?

Do you know the following languages? 

ay-hiy
HÍSW̱ḴE
klecko klecko! 
limləmt
megwetch
sechanalyagh
gunalchéesh
t'oyaxsut nüüsm
giasixa
gilakasla
hawa'aa 

Answers provided next week in IndigiNews
Elements of Truth: Before Reconciliation
Overview of our shared history of colonization & explores how Indigenous worldviews must inform our journey towards a better future for all.

Elements of truth: before reconciliation
An experiential workshop series guided by Indigenous values: reciprocity, inclusion, curiosity, and humility.
1. Earth: Impacts of Colonization
SHARED HISTORY means knowing where we come from.

COLLECTIVE PURPOSE is coming together to make the change we want -- to restore healthy places for all.
Our Workshop Opportunities this Month
sisters_kissing.jpg
Recognizing Stress in Children and How You Can Help
Collaboration by Kelowna CCRR and East Kootenay CCRR
Tuesday, June 15th 6:00- 7:30pm PST

This online workshop will help you:
  1. Understand the difference between a stressor and the stress response
  2. Understand the hard-wired process of the stress response
  3. Understand the presentation of stress in children (what does it look like)
  4. Understand what may exacerbate stress in children (what makes it worse)
  5. Learn some strategies to effectively recognize and help manage stress for the children under your care.
Happy Day Yoga in the Park with Hannah Day For Childcare Providers

Mondays June 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th from 6:30- 7:30pm

Enjoy Outdoor Monday evening Yoga with experienced yoga instructor Hannah Day (RYT® 500) of Happy Day Yoga. This is a Hatha based yoga class of 60 minutes. We will focus on healthy movement for the spine, and releasing stress & tension in the neck and shoulders. We will focus on helping you feel stronger and more energized, giving you tools to release fear and anxiety with the breath. All levels of yoga welcome. Social distancing practices in effect. Max of 8 students per class, be sure to set up with lots of room between each other :)
Early Childhood Resources
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Feelings First Resource
Now more than ever, it’s vital for all of us to familiarize ourselves with the important role of social and emotional development in the early years.
Here is a fantastic resource for Child Care Providers and Parents with tools, articles and more, supporting child's social & emotional development. 
Resource for Opening Up Childcare
 Are you a small family child care program thinking about expanding or currently working in a child care program looking at branching out into your own child care program. Connect with Women’s Enterprise Centre to assist and grow your business.




Child care providers honoured at 2021 awards of excellence

Take a look and celebrate the Child care providers who help families and communities thrive by supporting quality, inclusive child care in B.C. were recognized at the virtual Child Care Awards of Excellence ceremony .
Early Years Library
This wall features a fun water maze for your child to engage in as he or she scoops water and watch it cascade through spinners, zigzags, and funnels. Suitable for ages 18 months and up.
Call in to borrow # 1865
Learning Through Play
Engage children in these fun June activities! And always remember that the mud will wash off, but the memories will last a lifetime!

FREE Webinar on Peer-Mentoring for ECEs with CCCF, ECEBC and West Coast CCRR
This is a pre-recorded webinar led by Dr. Laura Doan, associate professor and the finding of the Peer - Mentoring for Early Childhood Educators in BC. You will be asked to enter your name and email address to view.
Training, News and Resources
Funded by the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development
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