Experiential Learning
High School Co-op — Kindergarten Classroom
My kindergarten co-op gave me my first opportunity to work directly with children in an educational setting. It helped me understand how important patience, communication, and flexibility are when working with young children. I learned that children have different personalities, needs, and ways of communicating, and that activities sometimes need to be adapted to support individual children. development.
What I Learned
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Working with young children
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Communication and patience
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Supporting classroom activities
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Building positive relationships
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Planning and organizing activities
Virtual Placement - Centennial College
Throughout my CYC program, I’ve completed a variety of virtual placement activities, case studies, and projects that have helped me connect what I learn in class to real-life situations. Some of the work I’ve completed includes:
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Case studies
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Child & youth development
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Communication & relationship building
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Problem-solving & decision-making
These virtual placement experiences have given me the opportunity to put my CYC knowledge into practice and think through different situations that children and youth may experience. Through case studies and activities, I’ve been able to build my skills in communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and understanding child and youth development. Each experience has helped me feel more prepared and confident for working with children, youth, and families in a real-world setting.
What I’ve Learned
These experiences have helped me get a better understanding of what working in Child & Youth Care is really like. My kindergarten co-op gave me my first experience working with children, while my virtual placement and case studies have helped me learn how to handle different situations and think about the needs of each child or youth. Together, these experiences have helped me build my communication, problem-solving, patience, and confidence. They have also made me more interested in working in a residential setting and supporting youth in a meaningful way.
Student Learning Project (SLP)
For my SLP, my team and I created a resource guide for Child and Youth Care Practitioners and school staff working with students in Grades 1–4 through the York Region District School Board.
Our project included 30 structured cooperative playground games that can be used during recess, lunch, or outdoor programming. The goal was to create fun activities that encourage teamwork, communication, inclusion, and positive social interactions.
The document beside this section includes the 10 activities that I personally contributed to the project.
Skills & Competencies
Communication – building positive relationships and communicating clearly with children, youth, families, and coworkers.
Evidence: Kindergarten co-op, group projects, presentations, and Public Communication project.
Empathy & Patience – creating a safe and supportive environment where youth feel heard and understood.
Evidence: Kindergarten co-op, Virtual Child/Lifebook, and CYC case studies.
Problem-Solving – thinking through different situations and finding appropriate ways to respond.
Evidence: CYC case studies, scenario-based activities, and SLP project.
Teamwork – working well with others and being open to different ideas and perspectives.
Evidence: Group projects, group presentations, and SLP project.
Observation – noticing changes in behaviour, emotions, and interactions.
Evidence: Kindergarten co-op, Virtual Placement, Virtual Child/Lifebook, and CYC case studies.
