RRC Polytech’s Early Childhood Development Research (ECDR) team is on a remarkable journey to expand the collective knowledge base across this critical sector and strengthen the abilities of those who work with the world’s most precious resource – children.
New to the Research Partnerships & Innovation portfolio, ECDR moved from its original longtime home in the College’s School of Health Sciences and Community Services in January 2024. From its roots developing and promoting the Science of Early Child Development (SECD) since 2001, ECDR is a forerunner of all applied research at RRC Polytech, and has been impacting the work of the early learning and child care sector, both in Canada and on a global scale for decades.
SECD and Knowledge Mobilization
SECD is an internationally renowned suite of media-rich online and offline resources – North American and International – living textbooks and modules based on the understanding that early brain development in children (and even before birth) is influenced by the environment and experiences surrounding the child, setting the foundation of lifelong health, learning and wellness.
SECD helps translate the explosion of neuroscience research into strategies and daily practices for anyone whose work supports and influences children and families – with ongoing updates that include video content featuring experts, children and caregivers and most recently, French translation and expanded content related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
The Science of Early Child Development ›
The Abecedarian Approach: The Ripple Effect of an Enriched ECD Initiative
Community of Change explores the relationships, transformations and chain of positive effects that happened when investments were made in children, their families and their community.
Community of Change documents a research project funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, examining how an early childhood intervention program influenced the parents and the staff at Lord Selkirk Park Child Care Centre, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This project is a partnership between Red River College Polytechnic, Manidoo Gi-Miini Gonaan, and Healthy Child Manitoba. Background information about the community, the child care centre, and the early childhood intervention provide the context for understanding the findings of this research study.
MyBaby and the Power of Collaboration
MyBaby is a free, online resource that sends positive, engaging, evidence-based video messages, by text or email, to individuals who subscribe.
MyBaby is an example of a special initiative created by the ECDR team in collaboration with Healthy Child Manitoba and first brought to life by students enrolled in the BIT Program and one of three finalists of the Manitoba Open Innovation Challenge (2019) focused on literacy and numeracy. Currently, MyBaby continues to provide evidence-based ECD information and videos for expectant parents and parents of young children who subscribe.
RRC Polytech campuses are located on the lands of Anishinaabe, Ininiwak, Anishininew, Dakota, and Dené, and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.
We recognize and honour Treaty 3 Territory Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, the source of Winnipeg’s clean drinking water. In addition, we acknowledge Treaty Territories which provide us with access to electricity we use in both our personal and professional lives.