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Master of Arts (MA) in School and Clinical Child Psychology
Expected year of graduation: 2024 (MA) and 2028 (PhD)

The Atkinson Centre promotes research on child development, and the development of early learning policy and practice that serve young children and their families.

Video on the benefits of high quality early childhood education

Dr. Akbari speaks to how high-quality licensed child care helps children develop vital skills during their first five years, which marks a critical developmental period in a child’s life. Early childhood educators (ECEs) provide children with the foundation they need to grow into future leaders. ECEs use their extensive knowledge of learning and child development to create high-quality learning opportunities through play and exploration.

Inspired by her 8-year-old, Jennifer co-founded Captains & Poets, a social emotional learning initiative that helps kids develop their best, authentic selves.

The Atkinson Centre promotes research on child development, and the development of early learning policy and practice that serve young children and their families.

Excerpt: "What’s the problem with the early childhood workforce? Frankly, we don’t know. The common buzz is educators are underpaid, overworked and dropping out. Officials respond with money for wages, tuition supports, workshops, etcetera, completely unaware of the impacts. This is why a handful of children’s services managers in Ontario decided to pool their resources and put some data into their decision-making. As managers of children’s services including child care, EarlyON family centres, special needs resourcing and more, regional officials have contact with operators, not educators. If they are to develop policies for the workforce, they need to understand it better."

Excerpt: "Starting Sept. 1, 2023, families with children in eligible half-day preschool and before- and after-school programs will save as much as an additional $145 per child, per month. The Province is providing the funding directly to participating child care centres so families do not need to apply to receive the savings."

The Atkinson Centre promotes research on child development, and the development of early learning policy and practice that serve young children and their families.