University of Guelph Child Care and Learning Centre
20 Arboretum Road N1G 2W1 Guelph, ON, Canada

The "FRHD*3200 Students Supporting Families" Social Media Series continues! As a way to connect with families during their online placements this semester, the third-year undergraduate students in FRHD*3200 (Practicum Child I) have created social media posts with ideas for supporting children’s development and learning at home! We welcome your feedback and reactions to these posts. New posts for this series will be shared throughout the Fall semester. @cyf_cstu_uog @csahs_uog #ece #earlylearning #familiesaspartners #supportingfamilies #onlineconnections #onlinelearning

Last week, two trees that had been killed by the Emerald Ash Bore needed to be cut down on our property. The children were fascinated with watching the process and have begun to research the Emerald Ash Bore to better understand why the trees died. We're eager to see where this natural inquiry goes. Thank you to the professionals from the @uofguelph Physical Resources who were willing to share their knowledge with us! #earlylearning #ece #nature #curious #wondering #researchers #emeraldashbore

The beauty of a simple moment between a child and an educator... #ece #earlylearning #earlyyears #relationships #caring #interactions #guelph #guelphontario

Feeling the earth beneath your feet certainly seems like a beautiful way to go into the weekend. #ece #earlylearning #earlyyears #barefoot #benefitsofbarefoot #natureconnections #guelph #guelphontario

As a way to connect with families during their online placements this semester, the third-year undergraduate students in FRHD*3200 (Practicum Child I) have created social media posts with ideas for supporting children’s development and learning at home! We welcome your feedback and reactions to these posts. New posts for this series will be shared throughout the Fall semester. @csahs_uog #ece #earlylearning #familiesaspartners #supportingfamilies #onlineconnections #onlinelearning

We’re very excited to announce that Thrive Outside our free resource portal on outdoor learning and play is now available! You can find it at >>> www.thriveou...tside.ca Over the last few months, we have received hundreds of requests from educators across the country seeking support as they prepare to welcome children back to their classrooms and daycare settings. In response, we developed this resource hub to help you bring learning and play outdoors during this unprecedented time. We have many more resources to come, including a French portal be sure to follow us for more updates!

Since re-opening, we've been focusing on spending time with and in nature and it is amazing to see the curiosities that have already started. Stay tuned for more on this exciting discovery! #ece #rece #earlylearning #earlyyears #discovery #connectingwithnature #connectinginnature #getoutside #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers #guelph #guelphontario

The University of Guelph Child Care and Learning Centre is excited to be re-opening our doors to welcome families on Monday August 31st. We appreciate the continued support we received from families and the community throughout the closure. We heard from many families who appreciated the opportunities to stay connected to educators and peers through our online programming and supports offered in the early months of the closure. We are so glad this was meaningful for children ...and families during a time of uncertainty and isolation. Thank goodness for technology, which has allowed us to find innovative ways to maintain, and even deepen, our relationships. While we missed the children and families, and each other, the time away has also provided educators with opportunities for professional learning and personal growth. We have continued to think individually and as a team on who we are and have gained a heightened sense of our role in creating transformational change in the world within the context of events in recent months. We are looking forward to engaging in book studies and conversations to continue this growth through thinking deeply together on anti-racism, anti-oppression, the climate crisis, and exploring the pedagogy that will provoke the transformational change our world needs. These pressing issues give us the strength and excitement to return to our important work during this challenging time. We will continue to keep children’s well-being as our top priority as we reimagine caring within our new and ever-changing reality. We look forward to continuing to serve the University and broader Guelph community and wish you well this semester! The CCLC Team

It is a stressful time! The Family Stress Study is welcoming families in Guelph and the surrounding area to help us look at how family stress affects the healt...h of young children. All data is collected with no contact and families can get up to $240 grocery gift cards for taking part. Visit us at www.famstress.com for more information! Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition Guelph Family Health Team Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health Guelph Community Health Centre Shelldale Family Gateway Ten Carden YMCA - YWCA of Guelph The City of Guelph University of Guelph Child Care and Learning Centre College of Social and Applied Human Sciences - CSAHS at U of G See more

Do you live in Guelph or the surrounding area? Do you have a child 2-5 years? Join the Family Stress Study to help researchers understand how stress affects you...ng children! The City of Guelph Ten Carden Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health Let's Talk Parenting Guelph Family Health Team Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition University of Guelph Child Care and Learning Centre College of Social and Applied Human Sciences - CSAHS at U of G See more

The University of Guelph Child Care and Learning Centre has continued to provide online programming and supports to children and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal was maintaining routines and connections with children and parents, reducing household stress and isolation, providing parents with support, and hopefully easing the transition back to child care once the time comes. After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to cease CCLC operati...ons, including online programming and the Outdoor Learning Program, for the summer. Our hope is to re-open for September, depending on provincial and health directives in place at that time. Our top priority is the health and safety of children, families, and our staff and the emotional well-being of children. The restrictions in place are not conducive to the kind of responsive and nurturing care that we are committed to providing at the CCLC. We did not make this decision lightly; we know how greatly it affects our families and staff. But we sincerely believe this decision is in the best interest of everyone. We appreciate the patience and understanding of our CCLC community. Stay well, The CCLC Team

Each year, our preschool classrooms work together to create an art show that is displayed in the University of Guelph University Centre during the winter exam period. This art show is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the children's beautiful work and our hope is that it also helps to support #gryphon students during a stressful time. Due to #Covid_19, we were not able to display it this year so we have created a virtual version! We hope that this virtual gallery helps you to take a break in your day and puts a smile on your face as you watch and read some of the wonderful work that our preschoolers have been up to. Please feel free to share to help spread the smiles! Higher quality version available here: youtu.be/EdDnWK7DlK8

#Tbt to an exploration of how children's relationship with paint could be impacted by the setting and situation they are in with it. #earlylearning #ece #earlyyears #toddlers #newperspective #freedom #artistsoninstagram #guelph #guelphontario #artistsofinstagram

Though this is a challenging time, our team is remembering that there is certainly still lots to be grateful for... #ece #earlylearning #earlyyears #community #team #zoom #zoommeeting #grateful #guelph #guelphontario

Our families and educators were in the process of creating rocks for the gratitude rock garden at the #guelph General Hospital when the #physicaldistancing guidelines were increased so we decided to move it online! Please help us reach all #healthcareworkers by sharing it! @fdnofggh #whiteheartsforggh #whiteheartproject #whiteheartprojectguelph #thankyou #thankyouhealthcareworkers #guelph #guelphontario In case you are able to share... @mayorcamguthrie @lloydlongfield @mikeschreinergpo @guelphpoliceservice @guelphtoday

Our families and educators were in the process of creating rocks for the gratitude garden at the Guelph General Hospital when the physical distancing guidelines were increased so we decided to move it online! Please help us reach all #healthcareworkers by sharing it! @fdnofggh #whiteheartsforggh #whiteheartproject #whiteheartprojectguelph #thankyou #thankyouhealthcareworkers #guelph #guelphontario

A couple of weeks ago, our families and educators helped to decorate and deliver rocks to the @groveshospital gratitude rock garden. What a beautiful sight! #thankyouhealthcareworkers #community #communitylove #ece #earlylearning #thankyou

We hope you enjoy this last Cards of Kindness video! @uofguelph students, good luck with finishing off your semester! We can’t wait until we see you on campus again! #GoodluckGryphons #ece #community #kindnessmatters #guelph #guelphontario

Our team is wishing all of the @uofguelph students a great end to their semester! Clearly we have missed being on campus with you these last several weeks! #uofg #goodluckgryphons #ece #community #guelph #guelphontario

Keeping the #smiles and #positiveenergy coming with another new Cards of Kindness video! Share if you can you keep spreading the #kindness! #goodluckgryphons #ece #earlylearning #earlychildhoodeducation #community #kindnessmatters #caring #guelph #guelphontario

With today being the first day of the exam period, we hope this latest Cards of Kindness Video brings a smile to your face, @uofguelph students! Good luck finishing the semester, #gryphons! Help us spread these smiles by sharing! #goodluckgryphons @csahs_uog @uofgstudentexp @uglibrary @sustainableuofg @hospitalityuofg @expguelph @csaguelph @guelph_csahssa @uog_arts @integrativebiologyuofg @uofg_gradstudies @uofghousing #guelph #guelphontario #kindness #kindnessmatters #children #ece #earlychildhoodeducation #earlychildhoodeducator #earlylearning

Spreading more smiles with round two of our virtual Cards of Kindness messages! Good luck finishing the semester, #gryphons! Help us spread these smiles to all of the students by sharing! @uofguelph @uofgstudentexp @sustainableuofg @hospitalityuofg @expguelph @csaguelph @csahs_uog @guelph_csahssa @uog_arts @integrativebiologyuofg @uofg_gradstudies @uofghousing @uofgalumni @wellness_uofg #guelph #guelphontario #kindness #kindnessmatters #ece #earlychildhoodeducation #earlylearning

Since we aren’t able to share our Cards of Kindness in-person this semester we are sharing them virtually! More videos to come over the next couple of weeks! Good luck finishing the semester #Gryphons! #goodluckgryphons #caring #kindness #kindnessmatters #guelph #guelphontario #guelphlife #community #communitylove #connecting #smile #support #ece #earlylearning @uofguelph @uofghousing @uofgstudentexp @expguelph @wellness_uofg @csahs_uog @csaguelph @gryphonsguelph @sustainableuofg @uofg_gradstudies

How do we view the marks a child makes? #tbthursday to when one of our preschool classrooms was studying line as part of their exploration into printmaking. We are eager to continue these explorations through lino carving when we return. #ece #rece #earlylearning #artistsoninstagram #documentation #pedagogical #pedagogicaldocumentation #tbt #guelph #guelphontario

Our virtual morning meetings have offered great opportunities for us to connect with our children and families. The virtual platform has inspired some creative thinking and experiences. On Friday, one of our classrooms made bannock together... virtually! #ece #earlylearning #connecting #zoom #rece

Due to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation, our study tour, Reimagining Caring: Pedagogy for Transformational Change, has been postponed until the Fall.

We want to thank all of our families and staff for their flexibility and understanding during this rapidly evolving situation. We have made the difficult decision to close the University of Guelph Child Care and Learning Centre effectively immediately for at least two weeks.

Our "The Heart of Art" Preschool Art Show is only one month away! Keep an eye out for the @uofguelph University Centre Lounge to be transformed! #ece #earlylearning #community #wellness #caring #CCLCart #gryphonfamily #guelph #guelphontario

Registration for our May study tour "Reimagining Caring: Pedagogy to Promote Transformational Change" is open! Join us for a two-day study tour that will provoke deep thinking on our roles as educators and advocates, and what it really means to care for children. Our time together will include discussions and workshops about pedagogical approaches, inspirations, and research; in-depth explorations of our indoor learning environments and newly renovated naturalized outdoor le...arning environment; studio experiences; and an evening reception with a keynote from Dr. Patrizia Albanese. More information and registration here: https://eventbrite.ca/e/97233583265 #reimaginingcaring #pd #ECE #learning

Many successful smiles spread by our preschoolers in the @uofguelph Athletic Centre as they shared paintings they had created to celebrate #RandomActsOfKindnessDay! @gryphonsguelph #community #kindness #KindnessMatters #kindnessiscontagious #RandomActsOfKindness #ECE #earlylearning #communitylove #guelph #guelphlife

Some of our preschoolers had a pretty busy morning yesterday bringing a large donation to the Guelph Student FoodBank. Thank you to all of our families who donated! @studentfoodbank @uofguelph #guelph #helping #community #caring #earlylearning #ece

Our new playground looked beautiful in the Fall but it sure does look nice in the Winter! @earthscapeplaygrounds #ece #earlylearning #earlychildhoodeducation #outdoors #Guelph #naturalizedplaygrounds #optoutside #beautifulday #photography

We've joined Instagram! Follow us at UofG_CCLC!

Is there anything better than climbing in a tree with your friend? #ece #earlylearning #relationships #joy #Happiness #risk #toddlers

We're happy to have made our first donation of prepared meals to MealCare! We look forward to continuing to contribute to the MealCare food diversion program in support of students!

The registration for our summer school age Outdoor Learning Program opens on Monday at 7:00 am! Registration filled up quickly last year so make sure to register ASAP.

The children in our Birch Room have been exploring the magic of printmaking with our Artist in the Centre, Laura, for the last few months. They have tried various methods of creating prints and are currently working towards creating prints using lino and lino cutters. Recognizing that printmaking with lino will be more challenging and require skill with using the specific cutting tools, we have been thinking about how to help the children begin to feel comfortable with this p...rocess. In an effort to help the children understand the removal of material to create a print, Laura offered clay and carving tools to the children today. She wondered if the children might associate the material with creating sculptures and move in that direction with it but they were quite intrigued with the digging, removing, and collecting. #ece #earlylearning #printmaking #artistinthecentre See more

With several of our educators and families celebrating Chinese New Year as part of their own cultures, it often becomes a celebration at our Centre. This collaborative art piece was hung at our main entrance today to welcome the children and families as they entered. #ece #earlylearning #ChineseNewYear #collaboration #art

We're excited to announce that we will be hosting a study tour at the beginning of May for educators, administrators, and other professionals working in early learning. More details and registration information to follow shortly. #reimaginingcaring #pd #ECE #learning

The Guelph Family Health Study is seeking fathers to participate in a research project on Canada's Food Guide. See the information below if you are interested!

Have some thoughts on Canada's Food Guide you would like to share? This study is looking for dads and moms to share what they think about Canada's Food Guide. $30 grocery gift card as a thank you for participating.