Family and Early Childhood Anglophone East

⭐ FECAE FRIDAY FAVOURITES ⭐

We're back again with another Friday Favourite and this week we’re highlighting Emily Wheaton, one of our wonderful Family Educators, and a resource she regularly reaches for when supporting families with young children.

Emily brings a thoughtful, practical approach to her work with families, and her pick this week tackles something almost every parent has experienced: tricky transitions!

Getting out the door. Leaving the playground. Turning off the TV. Getting ready for bed. Sometimes simply getting a child from Point A to Point B can feel like a major undertaking. 😅

One of Emily’s go-to resources is “10 Tips to Help Children with Transitions.” She likes it because there isn’t one strategy that will work for every child, every family, or every situation. Instead, it gives caregivers different ideas they can explore and choose from based on what feels realistic for their family.

Of course, strategies are only part of the picture. Emily also encourages families to think about what might be happening underneath a difficult transition, whether it’s related to temperament, a child’s unique development, or simply the situation itself.

And one of her favourite reminders might be the simplest:

Sometimes, get down on their level, be a little silly, and make the transition fun. A playful voice, a race to the door, a silly challenge or turning the task into a game can completely change how a child responds.

As Emily says, “You’d be amazed at how differently a child may respond, and how much more willingly they might ‘do the thing’ you are asking!” 💛

Thanks, Emily, for sharing one of your favourites, and for all the creative, thoughtful ways you support children and families every day!

📅With September getting closer, you might be thinking about getting your child “back into the routine.” But after a summer of later nights, slower mornings and different schedules, jumping straight back into school mode can be a big adjustment for little ones (and grown-ups too!).

The good news? Back-to-school doesn’t have to happen all at once and you don’t need a perfect routine. A few small changes now can help make that first week feel a little easier.💛

Over the next couple of weeks, try:

🌙 Moving bedtime a little earlier, even 10–15 minutes every few nights can help.

⏰ Bringing mornings back, gradually getting up, dressed and eating breakfast closer to the time you’ll need to once school begins.

🎒 Practicing the routine. Talk about what mornings will look like: First we get dressed, then breakfast, then brush teeth, then backpack!

💬 Talking about what to expect: Who will take them? Where will they go after school? What might their classroom be like? Knowing what comes next can make new situations feel less overwhelming.

👟 Letting them practice independence: opening their lunch containers, putting on their shoes, zipping their coat, packing their backpack or recognizing their belongings.

❤️ Making room for ALL the feelings: excitement, worry, sadness, curiosity… sometimes all at once! Instead of trying to convince them not to worry, try: “It makes sense to feel nervous about something new. We’ll figure it out together.”

And remember, children don’t need to arrive at school knowing everything. They need to arrive knowing they have grown-ups in their corner who will help them learn, adjust and find their way.

A little predictability, a little practice and a lot of reassurance can go a long way. 💛

It’s again, and this week we’re encouraging you to take a walk on the wild side! 🦁🐾

Our local Magnetic Hill Zoo is packed with fun, learning and TONS of opportunities to move! If you’re squeezing in a trip to the zoo before summer winds down, let it inspire a little extra movement along the way!

Of course, there will be plenty of walking, but there are lots of other ways to get those growing bodies moving too!

🔎 Make it a movement scavenger hunt, find something you have to reach UP high to see, crouch DOWN low to spot, or travel a little farther to investigate.

🛝 Take the playground detour; climbing, sliding and playing all count and the zoo playground is always a favourite stop!

🚦 Play Red Light, Green Light along a quiet stretch of the path.

👣 Count your steps between two exhibits. Which animals were the farthest apart? Which were the closest?

↩️ Take the long way. Let your child choose the route to the next animal, even if it isn’t the quickest one.

🗺️ Hand over the map. Let your child help navigate and decide where the adventure takes you next.

The goal isn’t to pack more into the day. It’s simply to notice all the little opportunities for movement that are already there. When children are excited about where they’re going and what they’re discovering, all that movement just feels like part of the adventure. 💛

No zoo trip in the plans? No problem!

Try the same ideas at a local park, playground, trail or even on a walk around your neighbourhood. Movement doesn’t need a special destination (or cost a thing!) sometimes all kids need is a little space, some curiosity and the freedom to explore.

Want more details about the zoo, follow the link for more. https://www.zoodemagnetichillzoo.ca/

We are taking a break from our Friday Favourites series today to celebrate Quinze Août! 💙⭐🤍❤️

Tomorrow marks National Acadian Day, a day that has been celebrated by Acadians since 1881, when August 15 was chosen as their national day right here in Memramcook, New Brunswick.

Here in southeastern New Brunswick, Acadian culture is all around us, in our communities, our language, our music, our food, our families and our history. Quinze Août is an opportunity to celebrate that culture, but it's also a wonderful chance to help our children learn a little more about the community they call home.

💬 How can you explain Quinze Août to young children?

Keep it simple! You might say:

"Quinze Août is a special day when Acadian people celebrate who they are, where they came from and the language and traditions that are important to them. People celebrate with music, flags, food and lots of joyful noise!"

You can also look for the Acadian flag together and talk about its colours, listen to Acadian music, learn a few French words, or, perhaps the most fun for little ones, take part in a Tintamarre! 🥁📣

A Tintamarre is a big, joyful parade where everyone makes as much noise as possible with bells, whistles, instruments, pots, pans and whatever else they can find. It's a pretty great celebration when the kids are actually encouraged to be loud! 😉

🎉 Want to celebrate as a family tomorrow?

Dieppe Celebrates l'Acadie – MusiquART Site
Festivities begin at noon with free admission, live music and bouncy castles from 12–6 p.m. The Tintamarre begins at 5:55 p.m., followed by more music and the official National Acadian Day celebration in the evening.

Quinzou Moncton / Acadie Rock – Downtown Moncton
Downtown Moncton will also be celebrating with music, family-friendly fun and its own Tintamarre. Bring along your pots, pans, spoons, bells or other noisemakers and join in!

Whether your family is Acadian or you're simply learning more about the culture and history of the place we call home, tomorrow is a great opportunity to get out, celebrate and learn together.

Bon Quinzou! 💙⭐🤍❤️

📣Salisbury families: who doesn't love a sleepover party? Don't let your family's stuffies miss out on the fun!

We’re inviting ALL stuffies to come to an evening storytime at the library, followed by a sleepover! Participants will leave their stuffies at the library after storytime and can pick them up the following day!

Nous invitons TOUTES les toutous à venir passer une soirée à la bibliothèque pour écouter des histoires, suivie d'une soirée pyjama! Les participants laisseront leurs peluches à la bibliothèque après l'heure du conte et pourront les récupérer le lendemain!

We're pleased to share that our Annual General Meeting has been rescheduled for September 21st at 4pm.

We hope you'll join us!

This , we're hitting the trail!

Around here, we're lucky to have no shortage of beautiful parks, trails, and green spaces just waiting to be explored. Whether it's a stroll through Mill Creek, Centennial Park, a walk along the riverfront, or your favourite neighbourhood trail, nature offers endless opportunities to move, play, and discover together.

The next time you're out for a walk, slow down and see the landscape through your child's eyes. A fallen log becomes a balance beam. A stick becomes a hurdle to jump over. Trees become a zig-zag course. Before you know it, an ordinary walk has turned into an adventure.

Need a little inspiration? Here are a few ways to turn your next nature walk into an obstacle course:

🍂 Jump over a stick
🪨 Balance on a log
🌼 Hop to five flowers
🌳 Zig-zag between trees
🐿️ Walk like your favourite animal
🍃 Throw leaves in the air and try to catch one
🪵 Step over rocks or roots
⭐ Create your own nature adventure!

The best part? Every trail is different, so every walk becomes a brand-new experience. Children don't need fancy equipment to have fun and build new skills. Sometimes all they need is a little fresh air and the freedom to explore.

Happy trails everyone!

⭐FECAE Friday Favorites ⭐

We're back with another edition of Friday Favorites, where we ask our Family Educators to share the activities, games, and resources they reach for time and again when supporting children and families.

This week's favourite comes from Erin Lutes, who has been part of the Family & Early Childhood Anglophone East team since 2022. Erin co-facilitates our Circle of Security Parenting program and enjoys supporting families through home visits.

🎲 Erin's favourite game:
Cranium Hullabaloo

💙 Why it's one of her favourites:
It's easy to adapt for a wide range of ages, gets kids moving, and naturally creates opportunities to practice turn-taking, sharing, and good sportsmanship, all while having fun!

🌱 What it supports:
• Listening skills
• Gross motor development
• Cognitive skills
• Colour and shape recognition
• Language development
• Social-emotional skills, including turn-taking and sharing
• Self-regulation

🏡 Try it at home:
Did you know there's a free Hullabaloo app available for smartphones?

If you already have the game, simply lay out the Hullabaloo pads, start the app, and let the fun begin!

Don't own the game? No problem! Create your own version by cutting coloured paper into different shapes (or using construction paper, felt, or foam sheets). Spread them around the room and use the app, or call out your own directions:

🟢 "Hop to a green circle!"
⭐ "Find a yellow star!"
🔺 "Touch a blue triangle with your elbow!"
🐸 "Jump like a frog to the nearest square!"

You'll be amazed how quickly a few simple shapes can turn into an active game that builds movement, listening, and learning through play.

It's a great activity that has children laughing, learning, and moving, all at the same time.

Stay tuned next Friday as another member of our team shares one of their tried-and-true favourites!

📚 Did You Know?

You don't have to read every word in a book to help your child build early literacy skills.

In fact, sometimes the best stories happen between the pages.

Before you turn the page, try asking questions like:

👀 What do you notice?
🤔 What do you think is happening?
💭 What do you think will happen next?
😊 How do you think that character is feeling?
🔍 Can you find something that starts with the letter B? (or any letter!)
🎨 What colours or shapes do you see?

These simple conversations help children build:
💙 Vocabulary
💙 Comprehension
💙 Critical thinking
💙 Observation skills
💙 Confidence in expressing their ideas

And here's the best part...

There are no wrong answers!

Your child is learning to make predictions, notice details, solve problems, and connect stories to their own experiences, all of which are important building blocks for reading.

So, the next time you snuggle up with a favourite book, don't worry if you don't read every single word.

Pause.
Wonder.
Talk.
Laugh.

Because talking about a book is every bit as valuable as reading one.

What's your child's favourite book to read together? We'd love to hear your recommendations! 📖❤️

💛 Happy New Brunswick Day! 💛

Today, we're celebrating the place we call home!

Whether you're spending the day at the beach, exploring a local trail, visiting a park, enjoying a community event, or simply sharing a meal with the people you love, we hope you find time to slow down, connect, and make memories together.

From all of us at Family & Early Childhood Anglophone East, we wish you a safe, relaxing, and joy-filled New Brunswick Day!