Parent and Caregiver Friendly Resources for Infant and Early Years Mental Health
Please see our shared resources
Disclaimer that we do not endorse these resources, nor monitor them and links to all the committee members listed. ***
Resources
Web-based Resources
1) Children’s Emotional Development Is Built into the Architecture of Their Brains.
This working paper done in the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University looks at emotional development in the early years and how it affects the architecture of the brain.
http://developingchild.
rking_papers/wp2/
2) Relationship of Childhood Abuse and Household Dysfunction to Many of the Leading Causes of Death in Adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study.
This study looks at how adversity in the early years greatly affects well-being in the adult years.
http://www.ajpmonline.org/
3) The Bucharest Early Intervention Project: Case Study in the Ethics of Mental Health Research.
This study explores how environments in the early years affect brain size.
http://www.uclouvain.be/cps/
_Project__Case.12.pdf
Project Site: http://www.
4) The Science of Neglect: The Persistent Absence of Responsive Care Disrupts the Developing Brain.
Another article with Harvard University explores the negative impact of neglect on a young developing brain.
http://developingchild.
rking_papers/wp12/
5) Supportive Relationships and Active Skill-Building Strengthen the Foundations of Resilience.
How supportive and secure relationships affect resilience in infants and children.
http://developingchild.
ers/wp13/
6) Patterns of Infant-Mother Attachments: Antecedents and Effects on Development.
By Mary Ainsworth 1985, this article highlights the main findings from early attachment research.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
0005.pdf
7) The Strange Situation.
An overview of Mary Ainsworth’s Strange Situation looks at attachment styles and relationships between infants and mothers.
8) The Effects of a Secure Attachment Relationship on Right Brain Development, Affect Regulation, & Infant Mental Health.
Allan Schore. A study was conducted that looked at attachment relationships and how it affected the right brain development.
http://www.trauma-pages.com/a/
Allan Schore. A study was conducted that looked at attachment relationships and how it affected the right brain development.
http://www.trauma-pages.com/a/
9) Early Experiences Can Alter Gene Expression and Affect Long-Term Development.
How early experiences can alter gene expression.
http://developingchild.
rking_papers/wp10/
How early experiences can alter gene expression.
http://developingchild.
rking_papers/wp10/
10) Excessive Stress Disrupts the Architecture of the Developing Brain.
Stress and how it affects brain development.
http://developingchild.
rking_papers/wp3/
Stress and how it affects brain development.
http://developingchild.
rking_papers/wp3/
11) Emotional trauma in infancy.
How infants and toddlers who are abused or neglected can be emotionally traumatized by these experiences.
http://cwrp.ca/sites/default/
How infants and toddlers who are abused or neglected can be emotionally traumatized by these experiences.
http://cwrp.ca/sites/default/
12) Early Childhood Investments Substantially Boost Adult Health
The benefits to society and economy of investing in prevention and early intervention.
http://home.uchicago.edu/~
The benefits to society and economy of investing in prevention and early intervention.
http://home.uchicago.edu/~
13) The Developing Mind: How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are
Daniel J Siegel, MD – How the caregiving environment affects brain development
http://academic.evergreen.edu/
Daniel J Siegel, MD – How the caregiving environment affects brain development
http://academic.evergreen.edu/
14) Proven Benefits of Early Childhood Interventions.
Why early intervention programs will be cost effective in the long run.
http://www.rand.org/content/
Why early intervention programs will be cost effective in the long run.
http://www.rand.org/content/
15) Vision Calibrates Sound Localization in Developing Barn Owls.
Study on barn owls and synaptic connections can be linked back to young children and
how easy it is for infants to learn new things.
http://www.jneurosci.org/
Study on barn owls and synaptic connections can be linked back to young children and
how easy it is for infants to learn new things.
http://www.jneurosci.org/
16) Variations in maternal care in the rat as a mediating influence for the effects of environment on development.
A study done on maternal care in rats and how it affected their pups. This can be linked back to human infants as it can potentially model maternal care in humans.
http://champagnelab.psych.
A study done on maternal care in rats and how it affected their pups. This can be linked back to human infants as it can potentially model maternal care in humans.
http://champagnelab.psych.
17) Early Childhood Development: Royal College Position Statement
http://www.royalcollege.ca/
_statement_e.pdf
http://www.royalcollege.ca/
_statement_e.pdf
18) The social determinants of early child development: An overview.
The current state of knowledge of the critical social determinants of child development, and the complex ways in which these can influence health trajectories.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.
The current state of knowledge of the critical social determinants of child development, and the complex ways in which these can influence health trajectories.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.
19) Leave No Child Behind! Social Exclusion and Child Development.
Clyde Hertzman
http://www.cccabc.bc.ca/res/
Clyde Hertzman
http://www.cccabc.bc.ca/res/
20) Calm, Alert and Happy.
Written by Dr. Stuart Shanker. This paper provides an overview of self regulation during the early years.
https://www.edu.gov.on.ca/
Written by Dr. Stuart Shanker. This paper provides an overview of self regulation during the early years.
https://www.edu.gov.on.ca/
21) Ontario Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect-2008 (OIS‐2008)
http://cwrp.ca/sites/default/
df
http://cwrp.ca/sites/default/
df
22) Child Temperament: An Integrative Review of Concepts, Research Programs, and Measures
This article provides an overview of temperament.
http://www.unige.ch/fapse/
pdf
This article provides an overview of temperament.
http://www.unige.ch/fapse/
23) Supporting Ontario’s youngest minds: Investing in the mental health of children under 6
Report on the state of mental health services for children under six in the province of Ontario.
http://www.
Report on the state of mental health services for children under six in the province of Ontario.
http://www.
Videos
1) Harvard Centre on the Developing Child – Three Core Concepts on Early Development
a) Experiences Build Brain Architecture
Early experiences influence brain architecture. The brain is built from a bottom up sequence. Simple circuits form first, more complex circuits build on them. Genes provide a basic foundation, but early experiences will influence how these genes are expressed.
http://developingchild.
ain_architecture/
1) Harvard Centre on the Developing Child – Three Core Concepts on Early Development
a) Experiences Build Brain Architecture
Early experiences influence brain architecture. The brain is built from a bottom up sequence. Simple circuits form first, more complex circuits build on them. Genes provide a basic foundation, but early experiences will influence how these genes are expressed.
http://developingchild.
ain_architecture/
b) Serve & Return Interaction Shapes Brain Circuitry
Serve and return interaction is the most essential experience in shaping the developing brain. Infants are naturally born relationship ready and will reach out through babbling, facial expressions, gestures and adults will respond back to them.
http://developingchild.
ve_and_return/
Serve and return interaction is the most essential experience in shaping the developing brain. Infants are naturally born relationship ready and will reach out through babbling, facial expressions, gestures and adults will respond back to them.
http://developingchild.
ve_and_return/
c) Toxic Stress Derails Healthy Development
Toxic stress is the prolonged activation of the body’s stress response system in the absence of a protective caregiver.
http://developingchild.
ic_stress/
Toxic stress is the prolonged activation of the body’s stress response system in the absence of a protective caregiver.
http://developingchild.
ic_stress/
2) Harvard Centre on the Developing Child – InBrief Series
a) The Science of Early Childhood Development
http://developingchild.
inbrief_science_of_ecd/
a) The Science of Early Childhood Development
http://developingchild.
inbrief_science_of_ecd/
b) The Impact of Early Adversity on Children’s Development
http://developingchild.
inbrief_impact_of_adversity/
http://developingchild.
inbrief_impact_of_adversity/
c) Executive Function: Skills for Life and Learning
http://developingchild.
ecutive_function/
http://developingchild.
ecutive_function/
d) The Science of Neglect
http://developingchild.
glect/
http://developingchild.
glect/
The Agenda with Steve Paikin: Early Childhood and Mental Health
The panel looks at how years 0 to 6 lay the foundation for a healthy social emotional life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
The panel looks at how years 0 to 6 lay the foundation for a healthy social emotional life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
4) The role of early experiences in brain development with Dr. Judy Cameron
The presentation focuses on early experiences being the vital role in the development of a child’s brain and how stressful events can be harmful to their development.
https://vimeo.com/73486867
The presentation focuses on early experiences being the vital role in the development of a child’s brain and how stressful events can be harmful to their development.
https://vimeo.com/73486867
5) The Postal Code Lottery
Read, Sing, talk, play with your child, Create a home environment that is supportive of reading and just read are ways we can help children become lifelong readers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Read, Sing, talk, play with your child, Create a home environment that is supportive of reading and just read are ways we can help children become lifelong readers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
6) Connecting with Babies: The Power of Parent/Child Interaction
During the experiment, a parent and infant interact playfully, the parent than suddenly stops responding. After a short period the parent reengages with the infant. Observe the infants reaction and behaviour when the mother is disengaged.
http://www.zerotothree.org/
During the experiment, a parent and infant interact playfully, the parent than suddenly stops responding. After a short period the parent reengages with the infant. Observe the infants reaction and behaviour when the mother is disengaged.
http://www.zerotothree.org/
7) How Brains are Built: The Core Story of Brain Development
Shares key concepts of Brain Development.http://www.
brain-development8) Nadine Burke Harris: How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Shares key concepts of Brain Development.http://www.
brain-development8) Nadine Burke Harris: How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
9) Still Face Experiment: Dr. Edward Tronick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
10) Ainsworth Strange Situation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
11) Prenatal brain development
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
12) Psychogenic Disease in Infancy René Spitz 1952
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
13) The Secret Life of the Brain: Episode 1: The Baby’s Brain (pbs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Web Based Resources
1) IMHP-Comfort, Play and Teach (Parent Friendly Resources & Activities)
Comfort, Play & Teach is a parent friendly resource that incorporates the science of early childhood development into activities and experiences that are practical, easy-to-understand and easy to do to help support children’s development.
Comfort, Play & Teach is a parent friendly resource that incorporates the science of early childhood development into activities and experiences that are practical, easy-to-understand and easy to do to help support children’s development.
http://www.imhpromotion.ca/
2) IMHP/ TVOParents.com partnership
An initiative aimed at promoting the importance of healthy brain development in the early years of a child’s life, and to raise awareness to infant mental health.
http://www.imhpromotion.ca/
http://tvoparents.tvo.org/
3) Alberta Family Wellness Initiative
A multi-disciplinary initiative that connects early brain and biological development and children’s mental health with addiction research, prevention, and treatment. features online learning modules, videos and print ready resources for practitioners
www.albertafamilywellness.org/
4) Mothercraft – Caring for Canada’s Children
Free professional development course featuring informative online lectures by leading academics and researchers were delivered to professionals working with newcomer families, focusing on issues for families with infants and young children under six years of age.
http://www.mothercraft.ca/
5) Healthy Baby and Healthy Brain
The healthy baby healthy brain website is a parent friendly website that demonstrates how parents support their child’s development through a series of videos.
http://www.
6) Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development (CEECD) (bilingual resource)
A wealth of print ready briefs and research articles on a range of topics concerning child development
http://www.excellence-
7) Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development (bilingual resource)
Selections of tip sheets and parent friendly resources from the CEECD
http://www.child-encyclopedia.
8) Best Start Resource Centre/ Health Nexus (bilingual resource)
A range of culturally sensitive print ready resources for effectively serving families.
http://en.beststart.org/
A range of culturally sensitive print ready resources for effectively serving families.
http://en.beststart.org/
9) Zero to Three
The Zero to Three website is a resource rich website that equips parents, professional and policy-makers with knowledge about early child development.
http://www.zerotothree.org/
Zero to Three Parents Portal:
A resource portal for parents that provides parents with useful tip sheets and brochures aimed at developmental stages, social-emotional development, importance of play, as well as, challenging behaviour, school readiness and sleep.
http://www.zerotothree.org/
The Zero to Three website is a resource rich website that equips parents, professional and policy-makers with knowledge about early child development.
http://www.zerotothree.org/
Zero to Three Parents Portal:
A resource portal for parents that provides parents with useful tip sheets and brochures aimed at developmental stages, social-emotional development, importance of play, as well as, challenging behaviour, school readiness and sleep.
http://www.zerotothree.org/
10) Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal
Current research on child welfare in Canada
http://cwrp.ca/
Current research on child welfare in Canada
http://cwrp.ca/
11) Public Health Agency of Canada
Provincial initiatives supporting families
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-
Provincial initiatives supporting families
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-
12) Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health
The Centre’s growing collection of resources is designed to help service providers use the best available evidence to provide the best possible care. Featuring Learning modules, videos, research and policy documents.
http://www.
The Centre’s growing collection of resources is designed to help service providers use the best available evidence to provide the best possible care. Featuring Learning modules, videos, research and policy documents.
http://www.
13) First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada
Resources to support work and engagement with first nations families
http://www.fncaringsociety.
Resources to support work and engagement with first nations families
http://www.fncaringsociety.
14) Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
Aims to incorporate the science of early brain and child development to inform policy change. Resources include print ready papers and briefs, as well as videos and multimedia learning resources.
http://developingchild.
Aims to incorporate the science of early brain and child development to inform policy change. Resources include print ready papers and briefs, as well as videos and multimedia learning resources.
http://developingchild.
ACTIVITIES GUIDE: Enhancing and Practicing Executive Function Skills with Children from Infancy to Adolescence
This is a helpful resource for parents/caregivers to support children’s executive functioning skills through developmentally appropriate activities and games.
http://developingchild.
g_executive_function_skills_
This is a helpful resource for parents/caregivers to support children’s executive functioning skills through developmentally appropriate activities and games.
http://developingchild.
g_executive_function_skills_
15) Urban Child Institute
This website is aimed at bringing about awareness to infant and toddler development through a variety of resources.
http://www.
Urban Child Institute (Parent Resources)
This resource is a parent friendly section that provides parents with tip sheets and ideas to help them support their child’s development in the first years.
http://www.
This website is aimed at bringing about awareness to infant and toddler development through a variety of resources.
http://www.
Urban Child Institute (Parent Resources)
This resource is a parent friendly section that provides parents with tip sheets and ideas to help them support their child’s development in the first years.
http://www.
16) AboutKidsHealth: Babies – the First Year
This site from the Hospital for Sick Chidlren, provides credible information on a range of topics concerning pregnancy and early child development.
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/
ault.aspx
AboutKidsHealth (Ages and Stages) (bilingual resource)
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/
This site from the Hospital for Sick Chidlren, provides credible information on a range of topics concerning pregnancy and early child development.
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/
ault.aspx
AboutKidsHealth (Ages and Stages) (bilingual resource)
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/
17) Public Health Agency of Canada Family Front and Centre, A Support Resource Promoting Healthy Child Development
The following is a PHAC document that describes and highlights attachment issues at varying stages of development—infancy to 6 years of age. It also discusses factors that affect attachment and social relationships, as well as, strategies and actives to help
children cope.http://www.child-encyclopedia.
child-attachment.pdfFor more in-depth resources (professionals)
Research Articles
The following is a PHAC document that describes and highlights attachment issues at varying stages of development—infancy to 6 years of age. It also discusses factors that affect attachment and social relationships, as well as, strategies and actives to help
children cope.http://www.child-encyclopedia.
child-attachment.pdfFor more in-depth resources (professionals)
Research Articles
1) Children’s Emotional Development Is Built into the Architecture of Their Brains.
This working paper done in the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University looks at emotional development in the early years and how it affects the architecture of the brain.
http://developingchild.
rking_papers/wp2/
2) Relationship of Childhood Abuse and Household Dysfunction to Many of the Leading Causes of Death in Adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study.
This study looks at how adversity in the early years greatly affects well-being in the adult years.
http://www.ajpmonline.org/
3) The Bucharest Early Intervention Project: Case Study in the Ethics of Mental Health Research.
This study explores how environments in the early years affect brain size.
http://www.uclouvain.be/cps/
_Project__Case.12.pdf
Project Site: http://www.
4) The Science of Neglect: The Persistent Absence of Responsive Care Disrupts the Developing Brain.
Another article with Harvard University explores the negative impact of neglect on a young developing brain.
http://developingchild.
rking_papers/wp12/
5) Supportive Relationships and Active Skill-Building Strengthen the Foundations of Resilience.
How supportive and secure relationships affect resilience in infants and children.
http://developingchild.
ers/wp13/
6) Patterns of Infant-Mother Attachments: Antecedents and Effects on Development.
By Mary Ainsworth 1985, this article highlights the main findings from early attachment research.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
0005.pdf
This working paper done in the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University looks at emotional development in the early years and how it affects the architecture of the brain.
http://developingchild.
rking_papers/wp2/
2) Relationship of Childhood Abuse and Household Dysfunction to Many of the Leading Causes of Death in Adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study.
This study looks at how adversity in the early years greatly affects well-being in the adult years.
http://www.ajpmonline.org/
3) The Bucharest Early Intervention Project: Case Study in the Ethics of Mental Health Research.
This study explores how environments in the early years affect brain size.
http://www.uclouvain.be/cps/
_Project__Case.12.pdf
Project Site: http://www.
4) The Science of Neglect: The Persistent Absence of Responsive Care Disrupts the Developing Brain.
Another article with Harvard University explores the negative impact of neglect on a young developing brain.
http://developingchild.
rking_papers/wp12/
5) Supportive Relationships and Active Skill-Building Strengthen the Foundations of Resilience.
How supportive and secure relationships affect resilience in infants and children.
http://developingchild.
ers/wp13/
6) Patterns of Infant-Mother Attachments: Antecedents and Effects on Development.
By Mary Ainsworth 1985, this article highlights the main findings from early attachment research.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
0005.pdf
7) The Strange Situation.
An overview of Mary Ainsworth’s Strange Situation looks at attachment styles and relationships between infants and mothers.
http://www.simplypsychology.
8) The Effects of a Secure Attachment Relationship on Right Brain Development, Affect Regulation, & Infant Mental Health.
Allan Schore. A study was conducted that looked at attachment relationships and how it affected the right brain development.
http://www.trauma-pages.com/a/
9) Early Experiences Can Alter Gene Expression and Affect Long-Term Development.
How early experiences can alter gene expression.
http://developingchild.
rking_papers/wp10/
10) Excessive Stress Disrupts the Architecture of the Developing Brain.
Stress and how it affects brain development.
http://developingchild.
rking_papers/wp3/
11) Emotional trauma in infancy.
How infants and toddlers who are abused or neglected can be emotionally traumatized by these experiences.
http://cwrp.ca/sites/default/
12) Early Childhood Investments Substantially Boost Adult Health
The benefits to society and economy of investing in prevention and early intervention.
http://home.uchicago.edu/~
13) The Developing Mind: How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are
Daniel J Siegel, MD – How the caregiving environment affects brain development
http://academic.evergreen.edu/
14) Proven Benefits of Early Childhood Interventions.
Why early intervention programs will be cost effective in the long run.
http://www.rand.org/content/
15) Vision Calibrates Sound Localization in Developing Barn Owls.
Study on barn owls and synaptic connections can be linked back to young children and how easy it is for infants to learn new things.
http://www.jneurosci.org/
An overview of Mary Ainsworth’s Strange Situation looks at attachment styles and relationships between infants and mothers.
http://www.simplypsychology.
8) The Effects of a Secure Attachment Relationship on Right Brain Development, Affect Regulation, & Infant Mental Health.
Allan Schore. A study was conducted that looked at attachment relationships and how it affected the right brain development.
http://www.trauma-pages.com/a/
9) Early Experiences Can Alter Gene Expression and Affect Long-Term Development.
How early experiences can alter gene expression.
http://developingchild.
rking_papers/wp10/
10) Excessive Stress Disrupts the Architecture of the Developing Brain.
Stress and how it affects brain development.
http://developingchild.
rking_papers/wp3/
11) Emotional trauma in infancy.
How infants and toddlers who are abused or neglected can be emotionally traumatized by these experiences.
http://cwrp.ca/sites/default/
12) Early Childhood Investments Substantially Boost Adult Health
The benefits to society and economy of investing in prevention and early intervention.
http://home.uchicago.edu/~
13) The Developing Mind: How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are
Daniel J Siegel, MD – How the caregiving environment affects brain development
http://academic.evergreen.edu/
14) Proven Benefits of Early Childhood Interventions.
Why early intervention programs will be cost effective in the long run.
http://www.rand.org/content/
15) Vision Calibrates Sound Localization in Developing Barn Owls.
Study on barn owls and synaptic connections can be linked back to young children and how easy it is for infants to learn new things.
http://www.jneurosci.org/
16) Variations in maternal care in the rat as a mediating influence for the effects of environment on development.
A study done on maternal care in rats and how it affected their pups. This can be linked back to human infants as it can potentially model maternal care in humans.
http://champagnelab.psych.
17) Early Childhood Development: Royal College Position Statement
http://www.royalcollege.ca/
_statement_e.pdf
18) The social determinants of early child development: An overview.
The current state of knowledge of the critical social determinants of child development, and the complex ways in which these can influence health trajectories.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.
19) Leave No Child Behind! Social Exclusion and Child Development. Clyde Hertzman
http://www.cccabc.bc.ca/res/
20) Calm, Alert and Happy.
Written by Dr. Stuart Shanker. This paper provides an overview of self regulation during the early years.
https://www.edu.gov.on.ca/
21) Ontario Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect-2008 (OIS‐2008)
http://cwrp.ca/sites/default/
df
22) Child Temperament: An Integrative Review of Concepts, Research Programs, and Measures
This article provides an overview of temperament.
http://www.unige.ch/fapse/
pdf
23) Supporting Ontario’s youngest minds: Investing in the mental health of children under 6
Report on the state of mental health services for children under six in the province of Ontario.
http://www.
A study done on maternal care in rats and how it affected their pups. This can be linked back to human infants as it can potentially model maternal care in humans.
http://champagnelab.psych.
17) Early Childhood Development: Royal College Position Statement
http://www.royalcollege.ca/
_statement_e.pdf
18) The social determinants of early child development: An overview.
The current state of knowledge of the critical social determinants of child development, and the complex ways in which these can influence health trajectories.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.
19) Leave No Child Behind! Social Exclusion and Child Development. Clyde Hertzman
http://www.cccabc.bc.ca/res/
20) Calm, Alert and Happy.
Written by Dr. Stuart Shanker. This paper provides an overview of self regulation during the early years.
https://www.edu.gov.on.ca/
21) Ontario Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect-2008 (OIS‐2008)
http://cwrp.ca/sites/default/
df
22) Child Temperament: An Integrative Review of Concepts, Research Programs, and Measures
This article provides an overview of temperament.
http://www.unige.ch/fapse/
23) Supporting Ontario’s youngest minds: Investing in the mental health of children under 6
Report on the state of mental health services for children under six in the province of Ontario.
http://www.
VIDEOS
1) Harvard Centre on the Developing Child – Three Core Concepts on Early Development
a) Experiences Build Brain Architecture
Early experiences influence brain architecture. The brain is built from a bottom up sequence. Simple circuits form first, more complex circuits build on them. Genes provide a basic foundation, but early experiences will influence how these genes are expressed.
http://developingchild.
ain_architecture/
b) Serve & Return Interaction Shapes Brain Circuitry Serve and return interaction is the most essential experience in shaping the
developing brain. Infants are naturally born relationship ready and will reach out through babbling, facial expressions, gestures and adults will respond back to them.
http://developingchild.
ve_and_return/
c) Toxic Stress Derails Healthy Development
Toxic stress is the prolonged activation of the body’s stress response system in the absence of a protective caregiver.
http://developingchild.
ic_stress/
2) Harvard Centre on the Developing Child – InBrief Series
a) The Science of Early Childhood Development
http://developingchild.
inbrief_science_of_ecd/
b) The Impact of Early Adversity on Children’s Development
http://developingchild.
inbrief_impact_of_adversity/
c) Executive Function: Skills for Life and Learning
http://developingchild.
ecutive_function/
d) The Science of Neglect
http://developingchild.
glect/
a) Experiences Build Brain Architecture
Early experiences influence brain architecture. The brain is built from a bottom up sequence. Simple circuits form first, more complex circuits build on them. Genes provide a basic foundation, but early experiences will influence how these genes are expressed.
http://developingchild.
ain_architecture/
b) Serve & Return Interaction Shapes Brain Circuitry Serve and return interaction is the most essential experience in shaping the
developing brain. Infants are naturally born relationship ready and will reach out through babbling, facial expressions, gestures and adults will respond back to them.
http://developingchild.
ve_and_return/
c) Toxic Stress Derails Healthy Development
Toxic stress is the prolonged activation of the body’s stress response system in the absence of a protective caregiver.
http://developingchild.
ic_stress/
2) Harvard Centre on the Developing Child – InBrief Series
a) The Science of Early Childhood Development
http://developingchild.
inbrief_science_of_ecd/
b) The Impact of Early Adversity on Children’s Development
http://developingchild.
inbrief_impact_of_adversity/
c) Executive Function: Skills for Life and Learning
http://developingchild.
ecutive_function/
d) The Science of Neglect
http://developingchild.
glect/
3) The Agenda with Steve Paikin: Early Childhood and Mental Health
The panel looks at how years 0 to 6 lay the foundation for a healthy social emotional life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
4) The role of early experiences in brain development with Dr. Judy Cameron
The presentation focuses on early experiences being the vital role in the development of a child’s brain and how stressful events can be harmful to their development.
https://vimeo.com/73486867
5) The Postal Code Lottery
Read, Sing, talk, play with your child, Create a home environment that is supportive of reading and just read are ways we can help children become lifelong readers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
6) Connecting with Babies: The Power of Parent/Child Interaction
During the experiment, a parent and infant interact playfully, the parent than suddenly stops responding. After a short period the parent reengages with the infant. Observe the infants reaction and behaviour when the mother is disengaged.
http://www.zerotothree.org/
7) How Brains are Built: The Core Story of Brain Development
Shares key concepts of Brain Development.http://www.
brain-development8) Nadine Burke Harris: How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
9) Still Face Experiment: Dr. Edward Tronick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
10) Ainsworth Strange Situation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
11) Prenatal brain development
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
12) Psychogenic Disease in Infancy René Spitz 1952
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
13) The Secret Life of the Brain: Episode 1: The Baby’s Brain (pbs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
The panel looks at how years 0 to 6 lay the foundation for a healthy social emotional life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
4) The role of early experiences in brain development with Dr. Judy Cameron
The presentation focuses on early experiences being the vital role in the development of a child’s brain and how stressful events can be harmful to their development.
https://vimeo.com/73486867
5) The Postal Code Lottery
Read, Sing, talk, play with your child, Create a home environment that is supportive of reading and just read are ways we can help children become lifelong readers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
6) Connecting with Babies: The Power of Parent/Child Interaction
During the experiment, a parent and infant interact playfully, the parent than suddenly stops responding. After a short period the parent reengages with the infant. Observe the infants reaction and behaviour when the mother is disengaged.
http://www.zerotothree.org/
7) How Brains are Built: The Core Story of Brain Development
Shares key concepts of Brain Development.http://www.
brain-development8) Nadine Burke Harris: How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
9) Still Face Experiment: Dr. Edward Tronick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
10) Ainsworth Strange Situation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
11) Prenatal brain development
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
12) Psychogenic Disease in Infancy René Spitz 1952
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
13) The Secret Life of the Brain: Episode 1: The Baby’s Brain (pbs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Web-Based Resources
1) IMHP-Comfort, Play and Teach (Parent Friendly Resources & Activities)
Comfort, Play & Teach is a parent friendly resource that incorporates the science of early childhood development into activities and experiences that are practical, easy-to- understand and easy to do to help support children’s development.http://www.imhpromotion.ca/
2) IMHP/ TVOParents.com partnership
An initiative aimed at promoting the importance of healthy brain development in the early
years of a child’s life, and to raise awareness to infant mental health.
http://www.imhpromotion.ca/
http://tvoparents.tvo.org/
3) Alberta Family Wellness Initiative
A multi-disciplinary initiative that connects early brain and biological development and
children’s mental health with addiction research, prevention, and treatment. features
online learning modules, videos and print ready resources for practitioners
www.albertafamilywellness.org/
4) Mothercraft – Caring for Canada’s Children
Free professional development course featuring informative online lectures by leading
academics and researchers were delivered to professionals working with newcomer
families, focusing on issues for families with infants and young children under six years
of age.
http://www.mothercraft.ca/
5) Healthy Baby and Healthy Brain
The healthy baby healthy brain website is a parent friendly website that demonstrates
how parents support their child’s development through a series of videos.
http://www.
6) Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development (CEECD) (bilingual
resource)
A wealth of print ready briefs and research articles on a range of topics concerning child
development
http://www.excellence-
7) Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development (bilingual resource)
Selections of tip sheets and parent friendly resources from the CEECD
http://www.child-encyclopedia.
Comfort, Play & Teach is a parent friendly resource that incorporates the science of early childhood development into activities and experiences that are practical, easy-to- understand and easy to do to help support children’s development.http://www.imhpromotion.ca/
2) IMHP/ TVOParents.com partnership
An initiative aimed at promoting the importance of healthy brain development in the early
years of a child’s life, and to raise awareness to infant mental health.
http://www.imhpromotion.ca/
http://tvoparents.tvo.org/
3) Alberta Family Wellness Initiative
A multi-disciplinary initiative that connects early brain and biological development and
children’s mental health with addiction research, prevention, and treatment. features
online learning modules, videos and print ready resources for practitioners
www.albertafamilywellness.org/
4) Mothercraft – Caring for Canada’s Children
Free professional development course featuring informative online lectures by leading
academics and researchers were delivered to professionals working with newcomer
families, focusing on issues for families with infants and young children under six years
of age.
http://www.mothercraft.ca/
5) Healthy Baby and Healthy Brain
The healthy baby healthy brain website is a parent friendly website that demonstrates
how parents support their child’s development through a series of videos.
http://www.
6) Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development (CEECD) (bilingual
resource)
A wealth of print ready briefs and research articles on a range of topics concerning child
development
http://www.excellence-
7) Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development (bilingual resource)
Selections of tip sheets and parent friendly resources from the CEECD
http://www.child-encyclopedia.
8) Best Start Resource Centre/ Health Nexus (bilingual resource)
A range of culturally sensitive print ready resources for effectively serving families.
http://en.beststart.org/
9) Zero to Three
The Zero to Three website is a resource rich website that equips parents, professional
and policy-makers with knowledge about early child development.
http://www.zerotothree.org/
Zero to Three Parents Portal:
A resource portal for parents that provides parents with useful tip sheets and brochures
aimed at developmental stages, social-emotional development, importance of play, as
well as, challenging behaviour, school readiness and sleep.
http://www.zerotothree.org/
10) Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal
Current reserch on child welfare in Canada
http://cwrp.ca/
11) Public Health Agency of Canada
Provincial initiatives supporting families
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-
12) Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health
The Centre’s growing collection of resources is designed to help service providers use
the best available evidence to provide the best possible care. Featuring Learning
modules, videos, research and policy documents.
http://www.
13) First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada
Resources to support work and engagement with first nations families
http://www.fncaringsociety.
14) Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
Aims to incorporate the science of early brain and child development to inform policy
change. Resources include print ready papers and briefs, as well as videos and
multimedia learning resources.
http://developingchild.
ACTIVITIES GUIDE: Enhancing and Practicing Executive Function Skills with
Children from Infancy to Adolescence
This is a helpful resource for parents/caregivers to support children’s executive
functioning skills through developmentally appropriate activities and games.
http://developingchild.
g_executive_function_skills_
A range of culturally sensitive print ready resources for effectively serving families.
http://en.beststart.org/
9) Zero to Three
The Zero to Three website is a resource rich website that equips parents, professional
and policy-makers with knowledge about early child development.
http://www.zerotothree.org/
Zero to Three Parents Portal:
A resource portal for parents that provides parents with useful tip sheets and brochures
aimed at developmental stages, social-emotional development, importance of play, as
well as, challenging behaviour, school readiness and sleep.
http://www.zerotothree.org/
10) Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal
Current reserch on child welfare in Canada
http://cwrp.ca/
11) Public Health Agency of Canada
Provincial initiatives supporting families
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-
12) Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health
The Centre’s growing collection of resources is designed to help service providers use
the best available evidence to provide the best possible care. Featuring Learning
modules, videos, research and policy documents.
http://www.
13) First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada
Resources to support work and engagement with first nations families
http://www.fncaringsociety.
14) Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
Aims to incorporate the science of early brain and child development to inform policy
change. Resources include print ready papers and briefs, as well as videos and
multimedia learning resources.
http://developingchild.
ACTIVITIES GUIDE: Enhancing and Practicing Executive Function Skills with
Children from Infancy to Adolescence
This is a helpful resource for parents/caregivers to support children’s executive
functioning skills through developmentally appropriate activities and games.
http://developingchild.
g_executive_function_skills_
15) Urban Child Institute
This website is aimed at bringing about awareness to infant and toddler development
through a variety of resources.
http://www.
Urban Child Institute (Parent Resources)
This resource is a parent friendly section that provides parents with tip sheets and ideas
to help them support their child’s development in the first years.
http://www.
16) AboutKidsHealth: Babies – the First Year
This site from the Hospital for Sick Chidlren, provides credible information on a range of
topics concerning pregnancy and early child development.
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/
ault.aspx
AboutKidsHealth (Ages and Stages) (bilingual resource)
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/
17) Public Health Agency of Canada Family Front and Centre, A Support Resource
Promoting Healthy Child Development
The following is a PHAC document that describes and highlights attachment issues at
varying stages of development—infancy to 6 years of age. It also discusses factors that
affect attachment and social relationships, as well as, strategies and actives to help
children cope.http://www.child-encyclopedia.
child-attachment.pdf
This website is aimed at bringing about awareness to infant and toddler development
through a variety of resources.
http://www.
Urban Child Institute (Parent Resources)
This resource is a parent friendly section that provides parents with tip sheets and ideas
to help them support their child’s development in the first years.
http://www.
16) AboutKidsHealth: Babies – the First Year
This site from the Hospital for Sick Chidlren, provides credible information on a range of
topics concerning pregnancy and early child development.
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/
ault.aspx
AboutKidsHealth (Ages and Stages) (bilingual resource)
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/
17) Public Health Agency of Canada Family Front and Centre, A Support Resource
Promoting Healthy Child Development
The following is a PHAC document that describes and highlights attachment issues at
varying stages of development—infancy to 6 years of age. It also discusses factors that
affect attachment and social relationships, as well as, strategies and actives to help
children cope.http://www.child-encyclopedia.
child-attachment.pdf