Experiential Learning

High School Co-op — Kindergarten Classroom

During high school, I completed my co-op placement in a kindergarten classroom. This gave me my first experience working directly with young children and helped me realize how much I enjoyed supporting their learning and development.

What I Learned

Working with young children
Communication and patience
Supporting classroom activities
Building positive relationships
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:

📝 Case studies
🧠 Child & youth development
💬 Communication & relationship building
🧩 Problem-solving & decision-making

Below are a few case study assignments I’ve completed throughout my CYC program. These are some examples of the different situations I’ve worked through and the learning I’ve gained along the way.

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.

Empathy & patience – creating a safe and supportive environment where youth feel heard and understood.

Problem-solving – thinking through different situations and finding appropriate ways to respond.
De-escalation – learning how to stay calm and support youth during challenging situations.

What I’ve Learned

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.

Empathy & patience – creating a safe and supportive environment where youth feel heard and understood.

Problem-solving – thinking through different situations and finding appropriate ways to respond.
De-escalation – learning how to stay calm and support youth during challenging situations.

Trauma-informed care – understanding how past experiences can affect behaviour and responding with empathy.

Teamwork – working well with others and being open to different ideas and perspectives.

Observation – noticing changes in behaviour, emotions, and interactions.

What I’ve Learned

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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.

Empathy & patience – creating a safe and supportive environment where youth feel heard and understood.

Problem-solving – thinking through different situations and finding appropriate ways to respond. De-escalation – learning how to stay calm and support youth during challenging situations.

Trauma-informed care – understanding how past experiences can affect behaviour and responding with empathy.

Teamwork – working well with others and being open to different ideas and perspectives.

Observation – noticing changes in behaviour, emotions, and interactions.

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Problem-solving – thinking through different situations and finding appropriate ways to respond.
De-escalation – learning how to stay calm and support youth during challenging situations.