Our Children, Our Ways consists of six videos, with accompanying guides, based on early childhood curriculum areas. Filmed across Canada, the series includes beautiful images from quality child care programs in diverse First Nations and Inuit communities. Elders, parents and caregivers share their thoughts about the importance of developing programs that reflect the values, experiences, languages and priorities of their communities.
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Family Resource Programs is a video series that celebrates the diversity, scope and value of family resource programs across Canada. Told through beautiful images and in the voices of parents and staff, the series reflects how family resource programs support and strengthen both families and communities.
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Science of Early Childhood Development uses multimedia and interactivity to make research come ‘alive’. The resource consists of 5 modules with a combination of readings, videos, links to important websites, examples, audio clips, questions for reflection and interactive games.
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Emergent Curriculum & Machines guides the viewer through the implementation of an emergent curriculum project with preschool children.
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Our Children, Our Ways: Early Childhood Education In First Nations And Inuit Communities

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OUR CHILDREN, OUR WAYS consist of six videos, with accompanying guides, based on early childhood curriculum areas. Filmed across Canada, the series includes beautiful images from quality child care programs in diverse First Nations and Inuit communities. Elders, parents and caregivers share their thoughts about the importance of developing programs that reflect the values, experiences, languages and priorities of their communities.

The guides are informative and expand on the central messages of the videos as well as provide practical planning and activity ideas. This series is a valuable tool for Early Childhood Education training and can be beneficial for any individual or group involved with young aboriginal children and their families.

The six programs in OUR CHILDREN, OUR WAYS are:

Child Care in Our Communities (16 minutes)
This video introduces the series and discusses the importance of family, play and cultural relevance for children’s programs in Inuit and First Nations communities.
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Speaking Our Languages (18 minutes)
In this video many people speak of the importance of teaching their native language to the next generation and ways to include it in their children’s programs. A wide variety of languages are heard illustrating the diverse cultural heritage of First Nations and Inuit people across Canada.
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Exploring the Natural World (19 minutes)
Filmed across the country, in all four seasons, children and caregivers are seen involved in a wide variety of outdoor activities from ice-fishing to planting a garden to exploring along wooded paths. Throughout the program, the emphasis is on children’s curiosity and the adult’s role in helping them learn to care, respect and live in harmony with the natural world.
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Music and Dance (18 minutes)
Traditional Inuit drumming, pow wow dancing, jigging and throat singing – music and dance traditions are integral to Inuit and First Nations cultures. In this video, children and adults celebrate the music and dance traditions of their communities as well as enjoy contemporary music activities.
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Telling Stories, Reading Books (15 minutes)
The tradition of storytelling can be easily incorporated into children’s programs. In this video, Elders and caregivers tell stories and use books – both purchased and homemade, to share the magic of storytelling with children. As well, children’s emerging literacy is supported by their activity at writing centres and computers.
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Supporting Children’s Art (15 minutes)
This video shows children involved in a wide variety of open-ended art activities as well as learning some traditional art forms. The program also looks at how some centres have incorporated art into the environment, making it both beautiful and culturally relevant. Purchase Single Program:
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Family Resource Programs

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"Family Resource Programs" is a video series that celebrates the diversity, scope and value of family resource programs across Canada. Told through beautiful images and in the voices of parents and staff, the series reflects how family resource programs support and strengthen both families and communities.

Family resource programs work for all kinds of families and all kinds of communities with a wide range of cultural, geographic and socio-economic backgrounds. The series portrays effective practices that can inspire both new and established programs and is relevant to a wide range of audiences.

“There’s a sense of belonging. There are familiar faces. There’s always someone to talk to while the children are socializing so we’re both benefiting at the same time and how often do you get that?”

Gayle Raynor, parent Winnipeg Military Family Resource Centre

Supporting Communities
This video provides an overview, showing a wide variety of family resource programs reflecting specific communities while holding common values. The value of investing in families, to society as a whole, is a central message. (17 min.)
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Supporting Babies
This program stresses the importance of the first two years as a foundation for development. It shows particular ways in which family resource programs support parents and children under 2 1/2 years through drop-in and other programs. (19 min.)
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Supporting the Early Years
The importance of family resource programs in the lives of children between 2 and 6 years of age is the focus of this program. Examples of both informal and specialized programs for children and their parents are highlighted. (22 min.)
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Supporting Families
This video describes how family resource programs strengthen families and often communities through particular services such as community kitchen, toy-lending libraries, special military family supports, clothing exchange and other activities which in turn, benefit children. (24 min.)
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Emergent Curriculum & Machines

(14 minute DVD)

This video guides the viewer through the implementation of an emergent curriculum project with preschool children including the origins of the project based on the children’s observed interests, provocations to test those interests, children’s visual representations, the inclusion of books in the project, and a fun culminating event.

The project is based on a collaborative relationship between the children and adults and highlights a respect for children and their interests.

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