Using Literature to Nurture Social and Emotional Development

Suitable for child care providers, child care workforce, and parents.

Presenter: Andrea Dawson

This workshop will introduce the idea of using children's literature as a way to nurture children's social and emotional development. Through book sharing with children, educators help children develop healthy expressions of feelings, become familiar with mindfulness, learn to label their feelings, develop personal boundaries and develop social connections. In addition to book sharing, participants will be inspired to create meaningful play-based experiences that extend from the books they explore with children in their care.

Andrea has worked with young children and their families for the past 25 years working in non- profit early childhood centres as well as Vancouver Coastal Health’s Early Childhood Mental Health team. Andrea is the department chair of the Early Childhood Education programs at Langara College, in Vancouver.