Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP)

09/03/2026

📅 Save the Date!

On November 20, 2026, join us for National Child Day as we come together to recognize children’s rights and take action to build a future where every child can grow, learn, and thrive.

This year’s theme: Growing Up Digital: Protecting Children’s Rights in a Digital World.

More details coming soon!

November 20, 2026

09/02/2026

🙌 HELP Director Dr. Mariana Brussoni was recently celebrated as a leader driving growth amongst Canadian women leading injury prevention! 👏

Read the full interview with Pamela Fuselli via Parachute Canada and celebrate the incredible women who have led, inspired, and shaped this field! 👇

https://parachute.ca/en/celebrating-canadian-women-leading-injury-prevention/mariana-brussoni/

09/01/2026

🍎 Wishing you a wonderful back-to-school! 🍎

Check out the expert advice from HELP Faculty Magdalena Janus, for starting the school year smoothly👇

https://news.ubc.ca/2026/09/starting-kindergarten-expert-tips-for-a-smooth-school-transition/

09/01/2026

🌟 Congratulations to HELP Director Dr. Mariana Brussoni on being elected as 2026 Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS)! 🌟

Election to Fellowship in the CAHS is considered one of the highest honours for individuals in the Canadian health sciences community.

Learn more about the election and this year's recipients via the UBC Faculty of Medicine website:

Ranked among the world’s top medical schools with the fifth-largest MD enrollment in North America, the UBC Faculty of Medicine is a leader in both the science and the practice of medicine. Across British Columbia, more than 12,000 faculty and staff are training the next generation of doctors and ...

08/07/2026

🍎✏️ Out now! New research from HELP faculty Magdalena Janus and colleagues reveals math gaps between kids start in kindergarten and often persist through Grade 9, reinforcing the importance of investing in the early years to improve educational outcomes.

Read now via The Conversation Canada 👉 https://hubs.la/Q04sj5fD0

Math achievement gaps begin in kindergarten and persist through Grade 9, highlighting the importance of investing in children’s early development.

07/27/2026

☀️📚 Looking for some summer reading inspiration? Why not catch up on the latest publications from our faculty and affiliates in the latest issue of HELP Reads!

This month we are featuring a wide selection of new publications, resources, and numerous editor's picks.

Dive in now 👉https://hubs.la/Q04qLJ8W0

07/21/2026

Physical activity is important for everybody. To expand accessible, affordable ways to be active close to home, BC Alliance for Healthy Living (BCAHL) is now accepting applications for the Active Communities Grant program.

Supported by the Province of British Columbia, this program provides grants of up to $20,000 to Indigenous and local governments to create or expand physical activity opportunities.

Find out more and download an application on our website: https://ow.ly/MGes50Zlmz6

07/21/2026

📣 New publication alert ✏️

🔗https://hubs.la/Q04qc-FC0

New HELP research using Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (CHEQ) and Early Development Instrument (EDI) data strengthens evidence that outdoor risky play supports early childhood development in alignment with the Canadian Paediatric Society's position statement on “Healthy childhood development through outdoor risky play”.

The research highlights the need to limit screen time and provide thrilling outdoor risky play opportunities in the early years to help reduce developmental vulnerability in kindergarten.

Read the full publication here 👉 https://hubs.la/Q04qc-FC0

Outside Play UBC
Mariana Brussoni

07/10/2026

Are you a Musqueam, Squamish, or Tsleil-Waututh artist? We invite you to apply to illustrate a workbook for researchers learning to decolonize the academic ego and partner in relational ways.

We are hiring 3 artists for paid summer work in collaboration with the project team, who are Indigenous and allied staff at UBC. Deadline to apply is July 31.

Learn more and apply now: https://hubs.la/Q04pd6Zy0

07/09/2026

🪀🧸 Did you hear? HELP Director Dr. Mariana Brussoni in conversation with CBC Radio's Amanda Pfeffer, discussing Toy Story 5: How the toys vs screens battle is playing out at home.

🎧 Catch the segment around the 22 minute mark 👉 https://hubs.la/Q04nQz8s0