Duration:  3 hours

Reflective practice is the ability to reflect on one's actions so as to engage in a process of continuous learning and self-improvement.  Reflective practice has huge benefits in increasing self-awareness, which is a key element in developing a better understanding of one-self and others. It can help develop thinking skills and encourages active engagement in processes.

If our goal is to support children in their growth and development and to be lifelong learners ourselves then it is essential that we regularly reflect on our own experiences and practices.

This interactive workshop provides participants with the opportunity to critically reflect upon their current practice, to confirm their own values and beliefs and to identify those they hold in common with their ELCC colleagues. They will reflect on how these values and beliefs are evident in the philosophy of Early Learning and Child Care and in their daily work with children and families.

Duration:  2 hours

Watch what you say, where you say it, and to whom you say it!

Confidentiality is a set of rules or a promise that limits access or places restrictions on a certain type of information. It includes, keeping information protected from unauthorized viewers, ensuring that information is accessible only to those authorized to have access. Confidentiality refers to an ethical principle that is associated with the early learning and childcare profession.

Facilitators will lead participants in discussion to create an awareness and understanding of "Confidentiality" and how it applies to the early learning and child care profession. Participants will engage in self-reflection to identify "What they can do personally and professionally to improve their practice in preserving the confidentiality of children, families, coworkers, the program and other stakeholders they work with?"

Duration: 2 hours

Lack of teamwork creates a stressful environment not only for the adults but also for the children spending time with them on a day-to-day basis. There is no “I” in Team offers participants a fun and engaging way to develop team dynamics and gain insight as to what their coworkers bring to the workplace. This interactive workshop uses a number of interactive tools and strategies to engage participants, improve staff morale and develop respectful relationships.

Duration: 2 hours

Motivated people have a positive outlook, they’re excited about what they’re doing, and they know that they’re investing their time in something that’s truly worthwhile.

Laughter is an important part of building a team. Being able to laugh, play and have fun together makes being part of a team more enjoyable and helps the team to solve problems, connect with each other and be more creative. The more early learning and child care teams can play together and relieve stress, the harder and more efficiently the team works, leading to better outcomes for the children and families.

This highly interactive workshop makes laughter, humor and play a prominent part of team building. Getting to know each member of the team and having an idea of what makes each person tick can go a long way in helping motivate the team to achieve their goals. "There will be Laughter"

Duration: 2 hours

Communication is more than just a way to get ideas across or exchange points of view. It is a process by which we interact with others and seek out information essential to the delivery of quality care. This workshop engages participants in a variety of reflective activities that identify effective strategies as well as barriers to communication with parents, children and coworkers.

Duration: 2 hours

Professionalism describes a certain type of behaviour in the workplace. It is based on our values, an understanding of our professional roles, and is evidenced by our behaviour. This workshop will challenge participants to define professionalism and guides them through a self-reflective process to critically appraise how their values and beliefs influence their professional understandings.

Duration: 2 hours

Ethics define the moral commitments of an individual and involve the behaviours that one must or must not engage in. It is the study of right or wrong, duty and obligation, it involves critical reflection on morality and the ability to make choices. This workshop will examine the core values of the early learning and care field. It will guide participants through activities that will allow them to reflect on their own ethical responsibilities and help individuals resolve moral dilemmas they may encounter in their work.

Duration: 2-3 hours

Co-workers often spend more time with each other than they do with the people they have chosen to be in their lives. Just as family members don’t always get along, this dynamic can sometimes be found in the workplace.  In this workshop participants will learn critical conflict managing and problem- solving skills. Facilitators will introduce a collaborative problem solving approach to conflict resolution where parties work together to develop a win-win solution.

Duration: 3 hours

You need to have a tough conversation with one of your employees and you have no idea what you are going to say or how to begin. Sound familiar?

This workshop provides real world examples, easy to follow strategies and tips for resolving difficult situations. Participants will work through scenarios highlighting some of the most common and challenging conversations that leaders need to have with their employees. They will explore strategies to ground themselves and be better prepared to navigate workplace difficulties with more confidence and success.

Duration: 2 hours

What is gossip? What is the difference between that and rumors? How does gossip impact professionalism and the care we provide?

Gossip is talk that is somehow "juicy," meaning it deals with subjects that are shocking or personal. Gossip is usually about things like love and relationships, or private things that people don't talk openly about. Gossip is passing along information that’s not relevant to anyone doing their job effectively. Gossip in the workplace has a negative on teamwork, professionalism and confidentiality.

Facilitators will lead participants in discussion to create an awareness and understanding of "Gossip" and how it applies to the early learning and child care profession. What is the definition of gossip and why is it different from rumors and slander? Why do individuals' gossip? What are the negative impact on the children and families we serve and on our workplace environments? Participants will engage in self-reflection to identify what they can do personally and professionally to improve their practice in dealing with gossip in the workplace.

Duration: 4 hours

This module will provide hands-on activities that foster building open, honest and trustful relationships. The focus is active listening, respectful peer interactions and awareness of others' individuality and how that impacts teams. Participants gain understanding of how staff diversity (age/ culture/gender) can add to the team and how to better understand and support diverse needs and communication styles.

Duration: 4 hours

Module 1.2 will focus on communication and conflict resolution and how the two are related. Communication is more than just a way to get ideas across or exchange points of view. It is a process by which we interact with others and seek out information essential to the delivery of quality care. This workshop engages participants in a variety of reflective activities that identify effective strategies as well as barriers to communication and conflict resolution with parents, children and coworkers.

Duration: 4 hours

This workshop focuses on the meaning of your mission, vision and philosophy statements, how they shape you organizational culture and how you implement them in your everyday practice. We will explore how personal values shape your leadership skills and how to keep your integrity during challenging times.

Duration: 4 hours

We all have our own leadership styles but it's how we use those styles that create a strong work environment. We will evaluate how to maximize your strengths, your team's strengths and the impacts of coaching or mentoring and how these skills impact quality childcare.

Duration: 4 hours

Through hands-on interactive experiences participants will understand that the environment provides the foundation for the delivery of high quality, developmentally appropriate programs for children. Comfortable, inviting places and spaces are necessary for healthy learning and development to occur. Without a sense of comfort it is very difficult for adults and children to benefit from the experience. Participants will learn how to create environments that foster learning and success.

Duration: 4 hours

Parents are not only the experts on their children but they are one of the most powerful resources a childcare program can have. This workshop is filled with those very important strategies that build respectful and engaging relationships with parents. We will provide communication strategies as well as strategies to build partnerships.

Duration: 4 hours

This workshop focuses on time management and planning skills. We will explore different strategies on how to better support directors and the team. Providing these supports in a timely manner provides better opportunities to engage with children and provide quality childcare.

Duration: 2 hours

Early childhood educator training, support and at times reminders are needed to understand and consistently implement proper health and safety procedures. The workshop explores current health and safety standards and encourages participants to reflect on their own practice.

Duration: 2 hours

We’ve all sat through bad meetings. A lot is said, but nothing gets accomplished. No one leaves with action items they can work on, and employees are just as confused on what’s next as they were before the meeting. If this happens too often, your team members will begin to tune out.

Staff meetings need not be monotonous or dull gatherings; they can and should be opportunities to move the organization forward. They should provide a forum to build interpersonal relationships that help promote teamwork, collaboration, and reduce the potential for miscommunication and misunderstanding. Regularly scheduled staff meetings can create a sense of inclusion among staff making everyone feel like they are part of a cohesive team.  With some preplanning and effort, you can make staff meetings fun for the participants and productive for the team.

Facilitators will lead participants through discussion and hands on activities, introducing tips and techniques to breathe new life into staff meetings and unlock the door to self and team improvement.

Duration: 2-3 hours

Our sector is constantly experiencing change. How we deliver programming, provincial regulations, or understanding of how a child’s brain develops means that we must be willing to embrace transformation.

Program changes can be emotionally intense and confusing. People can feel fear, anxiety, and helplessness. Experts believe that the experience of going through change at work can be similar to people suffering from grief over the loss of a loved one. With change being so physically and emotionally draining , it can lead to burnout and encourage a negative cycle that sees the team put up an even bigger resistance to change.

Facilitators will lead participants to create an awareness and understanding of why change is necessary and how it can happen rapidly. Participants will learn the guiding principles of Emotional Intelligence (E.I.) and how they can apply it in the workplace for their personal growth and impart it to the children in their care. Participants will use tools to understand  their E.I. and how having a healthy E.I. improves children’s early learning environments and outcomes.