Explore every episode of the podcast Early Childhood Investigations
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| Educators as sheriffs or allies? Rethinking our relationships with preschool-aged children by Noah Hichenberg, Ed.D | 28 Oct 2026 | 01:24:11 | |
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Trusting children is hard. Really, really hard. We generally lack the language, attitudes, and habits for it. As preschool teachers and parents of young children, we are accustomed – we are trained and expected – to maintain control over a child’s actions. As an educator, Noah Hichenberg, author of A New Vision for Early Childhood: Rethinking our Relationships with Young Children worked his entire career in preschool classrooms – on building a stance of trust, rather than control, towards children. This session will cover the core elements of his approach to reshaping our relationships with young children. A key theme in the webinar will focus on how adults turn into “sheriffs” when we are stuck in a control-oriented relationship with children, always looking to catch them doing the wrong thing and reminding them to do the right thing instead. When we play the role of sheriff, our children’s constant resistance turns them into outlaws. Join is paradigm-shifting webinar to learn how we can work on being an ally instead of a sheriff, supporting children instead of correcting them. When we can become allies instead of sheriffs, there are no outlaws, only collaborators. As in the book, the webinar will offer a concise, critical social construction of childhood. You will learn how requiring groups of toddlers and preschool children to do the same thing, at the same time and the constant presence of adult control shapes early childhood today. Noah will also explain how children retain the power of individual agency to push back against adults’ expectations and control. For children in today’s hyper-surveilled childhood to speak up is often considered to be resistance and defiance. Teachers frequently see expression of individual agency as an act of subversion. Noah will share his thoughts about how to reframe children’s resistance as their agency. In this thought-provoking presentation you will:
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| Preschoolers and Pixels by Amy Reyes-Hauff, CDHP | 27 Oct 2026 | 01:22:17 | |
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What happens when the devices children rely on most begin to shape how they connect, regulate, and learn? In this timely session, together we’ll explore how excessive screen use can affect pre-K children’s social-emotional development, peer relationships, transitions, and engagement in the classroom. Amy Reyes-Hauff, CDHP, State Early Learning and Literacy Specialist with the Wyoming Department of Education, will bring a thoughtful, experience-backed perspective to this growing challenge facing educators and families alike. You’ll examine the behavioral signs that may point to unhealthy digital dependence and discover practical, developmentally appropriate strategies to help children reconnect with active play, real-world interaction, and screen-free learning. We’ll also explore how to build supportive partnerships with families around digital habits at home in ways that feel encouraging, constructive, and grounded in children’s well-being. By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:
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| From First Tour to Long-Term Loyalty: Designing the Family & Staff Lifecycle Journey by Melissa Blotter | 21 Oct 2026 | 01:26:40 | |
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Retention doesn’t begin when someone is thinking about leaving; it begins the very first time they experience your organization. From the first tour to long-term relationships, every interaction a family or staff member has with your program shapes how they feel, what they believe, and ultimately, whether they stay. In this session, you’ll explore how to intentionally design the full lifecycle experience for both families and staff through the lens of everyday leadership moments. You’ll learn why retention is not driven by policies or programs alone, but by the patterns of interaction that happen across five critical stages of the journey. Using a practical and relatable framework, you’ll identify the “moments that matter” within each stage and uncover how small, consistent actions build trust, connection, and loyalty over time. You’ll also learn how to apply the 5:1 interaction principle to strengthen relationships, increase psychological safety, and create experiences people want to stay connected to. Because retention isn’t a single moment. It’s a journey you design, one interaction at a time. Learning Objectives Participants will be able to:
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| Website-First Marketing: The Simple Marketing System Every ECE Program Needs to Grow Online by Chelsea Denny | 20 Oct 2026 | 01:25:25 | |
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You’ve worked hard to build a strong program, but getting the right families to find you and take the next step can still feel overwhelming. If your marketing feels inconsistent, time-consuming, or unclear, you’re not alone. Many child care owners know they need a stronger online presence, but aren’t sure how to turn their website and marketing efforts into a system that actually supports enrollment. In this practical, tech-friendly session, Chelsea, a professional web designer, will walk you through a simple five-step marketing system designed to help child care businesses market with more clarity and confidence. With your website at the center, you’ll explore how to create a digital home that builds trust with families, supports your enrollment goals, and connects strategically to tools like email marketing, lead magnets, and content. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to build a marketing foundation that works together, so they can spend less time guessing and more time using simple, intentional strategies to grow visibility, increase inquiries, and strengthen their business. Learning Objectives
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| From Reactivity to Regulation: A 3-Layer Framework for Emotionally Responsive Classrooms by Dr. Yehudis Smith | 14 Oct 2026 | 01:26:44 | |
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Every classroom moment carries emotional weight. When a child melts down, refuses, pushes, cries, or shuts down, it’s easy to focus on compliance or quick fixes. But what if behavior is not a discipline problem, but a stress signal? In this dynamic and practical session, you will learn how to shift from reacting to behavior to responding with clarity, steadiness, and intention. Emotionally Responsive Practice (ERP) offers a research-informed, classroom-ready framework that helps you understand behavior through a nervous system lens—both in children and in yourself. You will explore how your own regulation shapes the emotional climate of your classroom and why your presence is often more powerful than your words. You will walk away with a clear three-layer strategy model that moves beyond “What do I say?” and into sustainable practice:
Rather than offering surface-level behavior tips, this session strengthens your capacity so your responses feel grounded, confident, and developmentally aligned. You will leave with practical tools you can use immediately—and a deeper understanding of how connection and regulation transform classroom culture. Learning Objectives By the end of this session, you will be able to:
Shift from managing behavior to guiding children with connection and clarity. | |||
| Play Under Pressure: How thinking like a play scientist turns pressure into playful possibilities by Juelie Perry-Schwartz, M.S. | 13 Oct 2026 | 01:27:28 | |
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What if the daily pressures you feel in early childhood education are not a signal to do more, but an invitation to examine the conditions more closely? In this interactive, research-informed webinar, you will step into the role of a “Play Scientist” and test a powerful hypothesis: when pressure increases and play decreases, learning, connection, and well-being are compromised. Through real-world insights, reflective play experiences, and brain-based research, you will explore how the current demands of the field—including compliance, documentation, challenging behaviors, and limited time—are influencing educator well-being, nurturing relationships, and children’s outcomes. Using research and practical data points, this session will examine how stress increases cortisol, reduces patience, and disrupts connection, while play boosts dopamine, supports motivation, deepens engagement, and strengthens learning. Rather than adding more strategies to your already-full workload, this session invites you to challenge your thinking in order to change your practice. You will discover how small, intentional moments of play can restore engagement, support regulation, and transform classroom dynamics without requiring extra time or additional resources. The conclusion is clear: play is not an extra; it is essential. You’ll leave with a renewed perspective and practical strategies to play smarter, not harder, boost your impact, and reconnect with the joy and purpose of your work. Learning Objectives Participants will be able to:
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| When Behavior Doesn’t Make Sense: A New Way to Respond by Alyssa Blask Campbell | 08 Oct 2026 | 01:26:01 | |
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You’ve said it before: “They’re not listening.” “They’re overreacting.” “They know better than this.” And yet, the behavior keeps showing up. What if the behavior is not about defiance or choice at all, but about a nervous system that needs something different than what we are offering? In this session, you’ll learn how to differentiate between sensory-driven and emotionally driven behavior so you can respond in ways that support regulation instead of escalating the moment. We’ll walk through the nine sensory systems and explore how they show up in the classroom, often in ways that are misunderstood or mislabeled. You’ll begin to recognize the patterns beneath the behavior and better understand what a child’s nervous system may be communicating in real time. From there, we’ll shift into practical, in-the-moment strategies you can use right away to support regulation, connection, and learning. This work is not just about children. As educators, your own nervous system plays a critical role in how you respond, teach, and connect. You’ll leave with tools to support not only your students, but also yourself and your team, helping the classroom feel more manageable, connected, and sustainable. Learning Objectives Participants will be able to:
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| The Cost of Starting Over A Financial Framework for Hiring, Developing, and Keeping the Team Your Program Needs by Kate Woodward Young, M.Ed. and Carrie Casey | 29 Sep 2026 | 01:26:50 | |
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Every time a staff member leaves, your program starts paying — long before you post the job opening. The obvious costs are easy to see: advertising, background checks, onboarding, training hours, and classroom coverage. The real cost reaches much further. Turnover can mean overtime, leadership time pulled away from enrollment and operations, stressed classrooms, lost family confidence, delayed growth, and months of reduced productivity while a new hire gets up to speed. So the question becomes: do you track it? Join Kate Woodward Young and Carrie Casey for a session that helps child care leaders view staffing decisions through a business lens. Kate and Carrie will break down the financial impact of hiring, training, developing, and retaining staff — including the often-overlooked cost of director turnover and the time it takes a new leader to bring a program back to full strength. Participants will explore how to make smarter decisions about raises, performance bonuses, credentialing, onboarding, and staff development. Rather than asking only, "Can we afford to invest in our team?" this session asks the more important question: "What is it costing us when we do not?" Leaders will leave able to put real numbers to the cost of turnover, weigh a retention investment against the cost of replacing an employee, and build a clearer financial case for keeping the right people. Learning Objectives By the end of this 90-minute webinar, participants will be able to:
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| Advancing SEL—Fostering Character, Creativity, and Culture in Early Learning Spaces by Brian Puerling MS, NBCT | 23 Sep 2026 | 01:19:09 | |
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Ready to go beyond the basics? In this second session of the series, we’ll explore advanced strategies to support children’s social-emotional development through character education, creative expression, and culturally responsive practices. Join Brian J. Puerling, MS, NBCT, nationally recognized author, PBS Innovative Educator Award recipient, and early childhood leader, as he shares practical tools to deepen your SEL approach. Drawing from decades of work with diverse learners, including roles with Sesame Workshop and Chicago Public Schools, Brian will guide you in designing inclusive environments and crafting sustainable classroom practices. This session builds on the foundation of Webinar 1. If you missed the live event, we encourage you to watch the recording of Part 1. Together, these two sessions offer a comprehensive framework for fostering SEL in the digital age. Key Takeaways:
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| Cited. Now What Understanding Licensing Decisions and Your Next Steps by Ronnae Williams | 22 Sep 2026 | 01:23:42 | |
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Receiving a citation can leave even experienced child care leaders with a lot of emotion — and even more questions. What exactly was cited? When did that become a rule? Was the regulation interpreted correctly? Should the finding be accepted as written, clarified, or discussed further based on additional information? Join Ronnae Williams, The State Lady®, for an inside look at how licensing decisions are made, what consultants are evaluating during inspections, and how to respond professionally when findings are documented. Drawing on her experience as a former licensing consultant, Ronnae will help participants better understand licensing reports, identify common areas of misunderstanding, and determine appropriate next steps when concerns arise. Participants will leave with practical strategies for addressing citations, strengthening compliance systems, and communicating effectively throughout the process. Learning objectives: by the end of this 90-minute webinar, participants will be able to:
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| Strong Bodies, Ready Hands: The Playground Path to Handwriting by Stacy Benge, M.S. | 16 Sep 2026 | 01:25:33 | |
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Children need movement to develop their bodies and brains; so, let’s embrace the bending, twisting, and wiggling! Join Stacy Benge, author of The Whole Child Alphabet: How Children Actually Develop Literacy, to uncover how fine motor function depends on stable gross motor skills. You will explore ways to intertwine physical experiences throughout the day to offer fun, engaging, and meaningful experiences that support the development of both. You will discover how to design a play environment that encourages movement and physical development. Leave with the confidence of knowing and explaining that the foundations of literacy and future reading and writing begin on the playground. After this session, you will be able to: · Identify the importance of physical development in the lifespan and academic growth.
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| Narratives That Nurture: Storytelling as a Tool for Connection and Change in Preschool Classrooms by Kate Shelley | 15 Sep 2026 | 01:25:53 | |
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Step into the world of storytelling and discover its transformative power in early childhood education. In this heart-centered, inspiring session, you’ll explore how storytelling can do far more than entertain - it can uplift, empower, and connect. In this webinar, storytelling expert Kate Shelley will help you uncover how the simple act of sharing stories can become a powerful tool for supporting children’s communication and language development, building social-emotional skills, and offering hope - especially for children with special needs and disabilities, as well as those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Whether you're working to strengthen relationships, encourage resilience, or promote inclusion, storytelling offers a bridge between hearts and minds. Through thoughtful reflection and real-life examples, Kate will guide you to see storytelling as a vital practice in your toolkit - one that can improve life chances, promote equity, and remind us all of the magic we hold when we listen, connect, and share. Join us for insight and inspiration - and walk away ready to use stories to make a lasting impact. By the end of this session, you will be able to:
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| From Turnover to Stability: How ECE Salary Scales Drive Retention and Equity by Dr. Tamar Andrews | 10 Sep 2026 | 01:26:38 | |
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Early childhood educators are the foundation of quality programs—yet high turnover, wage inequity, and inconsistent compensation remain persistent challenges across the field. This webinar examines how structured salary scales can transform ECE workforce stability by creating transparent, equitable pathways for teacher compensation. Designed for program directors, administrators, and early education leaders, this session pairs the evidence on fair pay structures with practical, immediately applicable guidance for building a salary scale—whether you're starting from scratch or refining an existing structure—along with realistic strategies for funding it over time. By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
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| Emotionally Responsive Leadership: Leading with Regulation, Clarity, and Capacity by Dr. Yehudis Smith | 08 Sep 2026 | 01:27:14 | |
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Leadership in early childhood education is deeply emotional work. Every tone you use, every decision you make, and every reaction you have quietly shapes your school’s culture. In this powerful session, you will explore how your nervous system state, decision-making pace, and stress responses directly influence staff morale, clarity, and performance. Leadership breakdown rarely begins with incompetence—it begins with capacity strain. When expectations exceed emotional and structural capacity, pressure replaces presence, reactivity replaces reflection, and culture begins to erode. In this webinar, you will learn how to recognize the early signs of overload in yourself and your team—and shift from survival-based leadership to sustainable, capacity-aligned leadership. You will examine what it means to lead from regulation rather than urgency, reduce invisible decision load, and coach staff through moments of dysregulation without absorbing their stress. By integrating Emotionally Responsive Practice (ERP), leadership psychology, and capacity-based thinking, you will leave with practical tools to design systems that absorb pressure instead of transferring it. If you are ready to move from managing stress to designing for stability—and from reacting under pressure to leading with clarity and intention—this session will provide both the insight and the strategies to help you do it. Learning Objectives By the end of this session, you will be able to:
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| Coaching That Sticks: What to Say When Teachers Resist Feedback by Jaime Rechkemmer | 02 Sep 2026 | 01:28:38 | |
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You’ve been there. You prepare for a coaching conversation, choose your words carefully, and still, something doesn’t land. The teacher shuts down, gets defensive, or nods along without any real change. It’s frustrating, and it can make even the most dedicated leader question their impact. In this engaging and practical session, you’ll learn how to turn those moments into meaningful opportunities for growth. You’ll explore why resistance happens — and, more importantly, what to do about it in real time. Through relatable scenarios and real-world language, you’ll build confidence in navigating difficult conversations with clarity and care, and learn how to shift teachers from resistant to reflective. Together, we’ll move beyond compliance-driven feedback and into coaching that builds trust, reflection, and ownership. You’ll walk away with specific phrases you can use, simple frameworks to guide your approach, and strategies to help teachers feel seen, supported, and motivated to improve their practice. Whether you’re coaching a new teacher who lacks confidence or a seasoned educator who resists change, this session will meet you where you are. You’ll leave with tools you can use immediately — because effective coaching isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about knowing how to ask the right questions, in the right way, at the right time. If you’re ready to shift your coaching from frustrating to effective — and finally see it stick — this session is for you. Learning Objectives
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| How to talk to infants and toddlers while they play: language that fosters connection, confidence, and creativity by Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. | 01 Sep 2026 | 01:24:24 | |
Get ready to play as you learn to speak infant and toddler! Explore how intentional language during play helps infants and toddlers build meaning, connection, confidence, and a lasting love of learning. Grounded in play-based neuroscience, this workshop examines the powerful relationship between adult expressive language and the ways young children process, understand, and respond to the world around them. Participants will look closely at how language supports child-led play, self-exploration, and early problem-solving. The session will introduce different types of prosocial play and explore how specific phrases can nurture curiosity, creativity, and communication in developmentally appropriate ways. Through a linguistic lens, participants will also examine common habits in adult language, consider how young children interpret what they hear, and identify more effective ways to communicate during everyday interactions. Based on The Talking Triangle Framework from Talk to Them Early and Often, this session brings theory to life through modeled examples, video clips, and ready-to-use sentence starters that participants can immediately apply in the classroom or at home. Educators will leave with a practical approach to using language during play in ways that support cognition, strengthen early identity, and foster deeper connection in the first three years. Learning objectives:
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| The Kids are All Right; But What About the Teachers? How ECE Leaders Build Educator Community to Sustain Well-Being and Retention by Dr. Cathi Miller and Dr. Keena Mosley | 26 Aug 2026 | 01:22:35 | |
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Early childhood educators are often expected to give endlessly—to children, families, and programs—while their own well-being is rarely prioritized. For program leaders, this raises an important question: How are the adults in your program really doing? In this webinar, Dr. Cathi Miller—professor, consultant, and host of the podcast Developmentally Inappropriate with Dr. Cathi—is joined by Dr. Keena Mosley, an ECE professor and leadership coach, to explore how administrators can champion strong educator communities that transform program culture, reduce burnout, and support long-term teacher retention. Participants will examine how intentional leadership practices can foster belonging, collaboration, and resilience. Through reflection and practical examples, administrators will learn strategies for cultivating supportive educator communities within their programs, creating environments where teachers feel valued, connected, and able to thrive alongside the children they serve. By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
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| It's All About the Brain! How to Use Music-Making to Unlock Baby's Brain for Reading by Ann C. Kay, M.A. | 25 Aug 2026 | 01:23:41 | |
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Current neuroscience reveals a remarkable truth: the way young brains process sound builds the foundation for language and literacy, and music-making actively strengthens that foundation. Join Ann C. Kay, M.A., Co-founder of Rock ’n’ Read Project, for a fun, engaging session where you’ll sing (on mute!), explore the science of early brain development, and learn how to use music-making to help babies and toddlers build essential pre-reading skills. No prior music training is required. Long before a child says “Mama” or “Dada,” they begin “warbling”—experimenting with pitch and rhythm. Through singing, caregivers and educators can nurture connection while strengthening auditory processing, auditory memory, phonological awareness, and beat synchronization, or the ability to keep a steady beat. Research consistently links beat-keeping with later reading achievement, making everyday musical experiences a powerful tool for early learning. In this high-energy webinar, Ann will show you how to turn brain research into simple, practical “Monday morning” strategies that support infant and toddler development. Together, you’ll practice foundational music-making skills such as keeping a steady beat and matching pitch, while discovering how daily musical experiences build “musical fitness” over time. Like physical fitness, musical fitness develops through regular practice and supports the cognitive growth necessary for language and literacy acquisition. By singing the day away, you can create a joyful, nurturing environment while helping lay the groundwork for lifelong learning. Learning Outcomes
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| Beyond the Mess—A Structured Approach to Process Art: Four Core Activities That Spark Creativity, Exploration, and Intentional Learning by Faigie Kobre | 19 Aug 2026 | 01:24:07 | |
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What if you could stop chasing endless new art ideas—and still offer rich, meaningful creative experiences all year long? In this practical and inspiring session, Faigie Kobre, early childhood educator, former preschool director, and creator of the Beyond Copycat Crafts framework, invites educators to rethink how they approach process art in the classroom. Many educators feel pressure to constantly introduce new and exciting art activities to keep children engaged. Yet in reality, four core process art activities can be expanded, adapted, and revisited in countless ways—enough to sustain an entire year of creative exploration. In this webinar, Faigie will walk participants step-by-step through these four essential activities and demonstrate how they can be used over and over again with fresh purpose and intention. This session is rooted in her Creative Trio PAC Framework, where P = Process Art, offering educators a repeatable system that replaces “cookie-cutter” crafts with meaningful, child-led creative experiences. You’ll learn how to balance structure and freedom, support creativity without chaos, and confidently guide open-ended art that is developmentally appropriate, engaging, and manageable—no matter your classroom setting. You’ll leave with a clear framework, adaptable ideas, and renewed confidence in your ability to foster authentic creativity without the overwhelm. By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
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| When to Say When: Building Confidence in Supporting Neurodivergent and Developing Minds by Michele Hemenway Pullen Michele Hemenway Pullen | 18 Aug 2026 | 01:26:48 | |
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Are you finding that more and more children present you with more and more questions? Do you ever feel like some days you just can’t find the answers—or that when you do, nothing seems to work or keep working? In this insightful session, Michele Hemenway Pullen, Project Specialist at the University of Louisville Early Childhood Research Center, will guide you through a simple, step-by-step approach to help you regain your confidence and know “what to say when,” as well as which next steps are best to take. Originally designed for early childhood college students who were experiencing new levels of frustration, Michele’s “When to Say When” checklist has, over the past fifteen years, become a trusted framework for educators seeking composure, clarity, and confidence—especially when working with children whose behaviors are complex or whose neurodivergent traits may be misunderstood. Each step highlights areas where you can seek additional training or collaboration and provides practical strategies grounded in evidence-based practices. You’ll leave with clear, actionable “next steps” to guide your professional growth and interactions with children and families. You’ll gain:
As we move through this process, you’ll be invited to use the checklist document to take notes, reflect, and apply your learning in real time. | |||
| No Child Left Behind: Observation & Assessment Made Simple – A Practical Guide for Early Years Educators by Clare Devlin | 12 Aug 2026 | 01:25:47 | |
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What if the key to better planning isn’t doing more—but seeing more? Join the Founder of Clare Devlin - Education Consultancy, in this engaging and down-to-earth session where you’ll discover a practical, no-nonsense approach to observation, assessment, and planning in early childhood education. This isn’t about checklists or paperwork overload—it’s about truly seeing your children, understanding what their play and behavior are telling you, and using that insight to plan meaningful experiences. In this session, Clare Devlin, will walk you through a simple yet powerful three-step reflective cycle—What, So What, Now What—designed to help you observe with purpose, assess with clarity, and plan with intention. You’ll learn how to tune into children’s natural play, record meaningful observations, and collaborate with your team to make confident, informed decisions that support each child’s development. You’ll leave this session feeling inspired and equipped with tools you can use right away—whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just starting out. In this session, you will:
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| Making Sense of Child Care Liability Insurance: Understanding Risk Assessment, Compliance, and Cost by Mia Pritts and Mark Parker | 11 Aug 2026 | 01:26:32 | |
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Insurance costs are rising, and for many child care providers, the reasons behind those increases can feel unclear, inconsistent, and out of their control. In this timely session, we’ll explore how licensing inspection data is often used by insurers to assess risk—and why approaches based primarily on counting violations can miss the bigger picture of program quality, safety, and consistency. Participants will examine how these practices can unintentionally penalize providers, contribute to rising liability insurance costs, and create additional challenges for programs already working hard to maintain high standards of care. The session will also introduce a more collaborative and transparent approach to evaluating compliance, one that considers the severity of regulations, applies more consistent scoring practices, and tracks patterns over time to support fairer and more reliable risk assessment. Designed as a participatory conversation, this session invites providers, administrators, and agency staff to think together about what needs to change. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of the problem, a practical framework for rethinking risk and compliance, and concrete ways to contribute to a growing grassroots effort to improve child care liability insurance outcomes. By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
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| Infants, Toddlers & Twos, Oh My! by Tracy Patton, M.S. | 06 Aug 2026 | 01:24:03 | |
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Shine a light on the magic, importance, and unique needs of infants, toddlers, and twos. Too often, early childhood training focuses on preschool-aged children, leaving educators of children ages 0–2 without the tools and preparation they need to feel fully confident in their practice. That gap can make it harder to choose activities, respond to developmental needs, and build classroom experiences that are truly appropriate for the youngest learners. This workshop will help educators deepen their understanding of developmentally appropriate practice for infants, toddlers, and twos. Participants will explore key developmental milestones, discuss how to recognize possible delays, and learn how observation and documentation can support early intervention referrals. The session will also focus on how to thoughtfully adapt activities as children grow, so educators can scaffold learning in ways that are responsive, effective, and realistic for everyday practice. By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
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| Language Nutrition Swaps to Boost Language Learning and Growth by Jennifer Adams Oppenheimer, MA, CCC-SLP | 05 Aug 2026 | 01:23:48 | |
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Creating a classroom where every child’s voice is heard, valued, and nurtured starts with how we talk, listen, and connect. In this session, Jennifer Adams Oppenheimer, M.A., CCC-SLP, Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and President of SpeakJoy Center for Development, introduces the powerful concept of “language nutrition”—the nourishing blend of words, tone, and intentional interaction that fuels a child’s communication and cognitive development during the critical early years. You’ll learn how to intentionally embed meaningful language experiences into daily routines, turning ordinary moments into extraordinary opportunities for connection and growth. Through the lens of “language nutrition,” Jennifer will guide you in reimagining the learning environment as a living, breathing space where communication is not only taught but modeled, celebrated, and personalized. Together, we’ll explore six essential elements that define a language-rich environment, with practical, inclusive strategies to support emerging communicators, multilingual learners, and children with diverse communication needs. Whether during circle time, free play, transitions, or snack time, you’ll discover how simple shifts can lead to lasting developmental impact. This session is designed for early childhood educators, caregivers, and administrators who want to strengthen children’s linguistic and social foundations while deepening relationships through authentic, everyday interactions. In this session, participants will:
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| Storytelling’s Magic Wand: Developmental Fairydust for Literacy, Make-Believe, and Representational Thinking by Stephanie Goloway, EdD | 31 Jul 2026 | 01:25:54 | |
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Imagine discovering that the key to unlocking the interwoven secrets of play, literacy, and even resilience can be found in the whimsical stories of young children—the ones they seem to conjure out of thin air as they transform snack crackers into hungry tigers and twigs into telephones. Guided by professor emerita of Early Education and Child Development Dr. Stephanie Goloway, this workshop invites you to explore how the magic in those flights of fancy builds the foundations for language, literacy, imagination, and more. Sometimes referred to as representational thinking, a child’s growing ability to construct and play with symbols is one of the core developmental tasks of early childhood. Yet too often, we overlook the power of children’s make-believe as we focus on more concrete milestones on our developmental checklists. Dr. Goloway will help you examine the theory and neuroscience behind the development of representational thinking and reflect on how it emerges in young children’s play. You’ll connect the dots between storytelling, symbolic thinking, make-believe play, and emergent literacy. Throughout the session, you’ll explore a variety of ways to wave the “magic wand” of storytelling in your setting—sharing folk and fairy tales, narrating creative movement experiences, and using quick anecdotes to scaffold transitions and routines. You’ll discover how, with each story you tell, you can nurture children’s capacity to transform their experiences into the wondrous web that underpins their play, reading, writing, problem-solving, and interactions with others. The best part: the wild sense, curiosity, joy, and stories of young children will be truly honored and celebrated as you help them spin narratives and weave meaning into their world. Participants will:
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| Understanding the Science of Reading Through Child-Led Play by Laura Shea, M.S.Ed | 29 Jul 2026 | 01:21:00 | |
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You care deeply about nurturing early literacy—but you’re tired of being caught between play and pressure. Maybe you’ve heard about the Science of Reading but aren’t sure how it applies to young children—or how to implement it in a play-based setting. Maybe someone has told you to stop the play and start the worksheets. Or maybe you’re simply searching for a clear, developmentally responsive way to support all your learners as they build the foundation for reading.
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| Good Grief! Effective Practices for Supporting Conversations about Death in Early Childhood Settings by Melody Passemante Powell, M.Ed. | 28 Jul 2026 | 01:24:04 | |
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Talking with young children about a topic as nuanced and complex as death can feel overwhelming—even for the most experienced educators. Just as no two adults process grief in the same way, children also experience and understand loss differently. In this thoughtful and supportive session, led by Melody Passemante Powell, M.Ed., Supervisor at Fairfax County’s Institute for Early Learning and a veteran early childhood leader with over two decades of experience, participants will reflect on their own values, consider key factors that should be taken into account before engaging children in conversations about death, and explore practical techniques and supportive language that will help educators approach these discussions with both sensitivity and confidence. Learning Objectives By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
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| A Strong Child Protection Policy that Works for Your Organization by Debbie Ausburn, J.D. and Tom Rawlings, J.D. Attorneys | 23 Jul 2026 | 01:26:06 | |
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Youth-serving organizations know they need strong child protection policies—but building (or rebuilding) one can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re balancing staffing, operations, and daily program demands. In this practical, action-oriented session, you’ll learn a clear, manageable process for creating a child protection policy that is not only compliant on paper, but usable in real life—aligned with your organization’s size, setting, and risk areas. Together, we’ll walk through how to bring the right people to the table, identify the current standard of care, audit what you already have, and adapt policies so they are clear, trainable, and consistently implemented. You’ll also explore how to move beyond “one-and-done” documents by making child protection a living part of your culture—supported through training, communication, and ongoing accountability. By the end of this session, you will be able to:
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| How Teachers Can Teach Without Taking Over: Scaffolding Learning in Preschool Classrooms by Amy Chiu, MSEd | 22 Jul 2026 | 01:26:08 | |
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What does it really mean to support children’s learning without doing the work for them? In this session, presented by early childhood consultant Amy Chiu, M.Ed., from The Work of Play, you’ll explore the art and practice of scaffolding - one of the most essential tools in early childhood education. Scaffolding helps bridge the space between what a child can do independently and what they can accomplish with guidance. But it’s more than a strategy - it’s a mindset rooted in trust, observation, and responsiveness. You’ll be invited to reflect on how you offer help: When is it supportive? When might it unintentionally take over the learning process? Through vivid examples from real classrooms and common parenting experiences, you’ll see how scaffolding can empower children to become confident and persistent problem-solvers. We’ll explore how observation, timing, and gentle prompts allow you to provide “just enough” support - nurturing both competence and independence. You’ll also consider common pitfalls of over-helping and how to shift into a facilitation role that honors children's voice and agency. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, instructional coach, or administrator, this session will give you concrete tools and language to elevate your practice. Most importantly, it will reframe scaffolding not as something you do to children, but as a way of being with them as they grow. Join this session to learn to:
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| Play-Based Literacy Through Storytelling and Storyacting by Laura Shea | 21 Jul 2026 | 01:26:31 | |
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This professional development session explores how you can use storytelling and storyacting to support early literacy in young children. Rooted in research, including the science of reading, this hands-on training provides practical strategies to enhance vocabulary, narrative skills, and concepts about print through play-based, child-led storytelling experiences. Storytelling is one of the oldest and most powerful tools for fostering connection, imagination, and learning in young children. This session explores how you can harness storytelling and storyacting to support foundational literacy skills in developmentally responsive, playful ways. Drawing from research-based insights, including the Science of Reading, and years of hands-on experience, this session offers practical strategies you can immediately implement in your classrooms. You will discover how to use child-led storytelling to build concepts about print, vocabulary, and narrative skills while fostering creativity and collaboration. Through engaging demonstrations and examples, you will see how storyacting—bringing children’s stories to life—can deepen understanding and spark joy in learning. This session is designed to empower you with realistic, actionable techniques to integrate storytelling into daily rhythms and transitions. By the end, you will leave with a toolkit, a plan for overcoming common challenges, and renewed confidence in your ability to nurture a love of literacy through play and creativity.
1. Identify the key benefits of storytelling and storyacting for supporting early literacy development. 2. Learn storytelling and storyacting technique that can be easily adapted to different classroom settings and age groups. 3. Develop a personalized action plan to integrate storytelling into daily rhythms, addressing potential challenges and tailoring strategies to meet diverse learner needs. 4. Gain confidence in facilitating child-led storytelling activities that foster creativity, collaboration, and a love of literacy. | |||
| Creating Connections with Teen Parents Practical Strategies to Engage and Empower Young Families in Early Childhood Settings by Debrah Clark, M.A., CFLE and Treasa Howard, MEd, MBA | 16 Jul 2026 | 01:26:04 | |
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Teen parents are navigating two critical developmental journeys at once: adolescence and parenthood. The image of teenage pregnancy and parenting often elicits an emotional response shaped by personal beliefs, systemic bias, and media narratives. This workshop will empower early childhood professionals to create meaningful, relationship-based, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive connections that build confidence, strengthen parent-child interactions, and support long-term success for young families—and for the professionals who care for them. Learning Objectives By the end of this session, you will be able to:
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| HuUbuntu: I Am Because We Are - Reconceptualizing family engagement by Dr. Patrick Makokoro | 10 Jul 2026 | 01:26:54 | |
RESOURCES
Step into a space where you are invited to experience connection, reflection, and renewal. In this session, you will explore HuUbuntu, an African relational philosophy that reminds us, “I am because we are.” You will be called to reimagine what family engagement means. This is not about a checklist of school events or communication strategies, but a living, breathing practice of interconnectedness. Together with author, academic and founder of the Nhaka Foundation, Dr. Patrick Makokoro, you will trace how knowledge, identity, and moral growth are not individual pursuits, but collective creations shaped within the webs of family, community, and culture. Through guided dialogue and shared stories, you will see how embracing HuUbuntu transforms relationships among educators, families, and children into co-created spaces of belonging. You will leave with a deeper understanding of how to cultivate educational environments that honor the fullness of each child’s communal heritage and lived experience. By the end of this session, you will be able to:
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| Billing & Tuition Policies That Work Strengthening Financial Foundations [Part 2] by Monique D Reynolds | 09 Jul 2026 | 01:27:43 | |
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Billing and tuition policies are the backbone of every successful child care program. In this engaging webinar, Monique Reynolds, VP of ECE Business Support Services, will share practical strategies for creating or strengthening systems that ensure payments are received on time, reduce stress, and keep operations running smoothly. You’ll learn how to set clear expectations from the start—or refine the approach you already have—while confidently navigating tough conversations and establishing policies that protect revenue and foster positive family relationships. By the end of this interactive session, you’ll have actionable tools to strengthen your financial foundation, streamline processes, and gain peace of mind. Whether your goal is to eliminate late payments, update your current practices, or build trust with families, the strategies shared in this session will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to make your billing policies work for you. Learning Objectives After attending this session, you will be able to:
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| The Science of Play: A framework for deep, joyful, and developmentally essential learning by Amanda Morgan, MS | 01 Jul 2026 | 01:23:04 | |
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Play isn’t a break from learning—it is learning. Yet in classrooms around the world, play is often the first thing squeezed out by mounting academic pressures. In this eye-opening session, Amanda Morgan—author of Not Just Cute: How Powerful Play Drives Development in Early Childhood—will explore why play is not only developmentally appropriate, but developmentally essential for all children. Blending research, real-world examples, and her signature warmth and wit, Amanda will guide you through the Recognize–Emphasize–Maximize Method—a practical framework for making play purposeful and powerful in any early childhood setting. Whether you're a teacher on the ground or a leader shaping program direction, this session will reframe the way you view play—and inspire you to champion it with clarity and confidence. By the end of this session, you will be able to:
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| Be Your Program’s Thermostat: Your Role in Creating a Positive Environment by Kristen Darling, BS.Ed, M.P.P. and Liza Pringle, B.S., M.Ed. | 30 Jun 2026 | 01:24:56 | |
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Do you feel like the ‘temperature’ in your learning setting is too hot or too cold some days? Are children or colleagues having trouble connecting or working and playing together productively? Are you struggling to get a handle on what’s wrong? You are not alone! Join this exciting session by Kristen Darling, MPP, for a reflective journey on your role in setting the thermostat (rather than just reading it!) and creating the kind of learning environment in which both children and staff will thrive.
By attending, you will gain insight into:
At the end of the webinar, you will:
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| Rethinking Group Time: Supporting Regulation, Belonging, and Participation by Amy Chiu, MSEd | 26 Jun 2026 | 01:24:21 | |
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Group time is often one of the most challenging parts of the day for both children and adults. This session helps educators examine why group times can feel dysregulating and how adult presence, pacing, and expectations shape children’s participation and sense of safety, agency, and belonging. Through reflection and practical, relational strategies, you will explore how to move away from power struggles and compliance-based expectations and toward shared regulation, flexibility, and connection. Participants will leave with concrete ways to support meaningful participation during group time while honoring individual differences and developmental needs. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Participants will be able to:
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| The Break-Even Decisions Childcare Leaders Cannot Afford to Miss by Kate Woodward Young, M.Ed. | 25 Jun 2026 | 01:23:50 | |
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Break-even is not just a finance formula. It is the result of leadership decisions made every day across enrollment, staffing, pricing, schedules, and classroom structure. In this session, Kate Woodward Young, M.Ed helps child care leaders look at break-even through a more practical lens by connecting the numbers to the real choices that shape financial stability. Participants will explore the common assumptions that keep programs stuck, the hidden impact of under-enrolled classrooms and staffing misalignment, and how stronger decision-making can improve both confidence and outcomes. This session is designed for owners, directors, and administrators who want to better understand what drives sustainability and how to respond before small issues become bigger financial problems. Key takeaways:
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| Unlocking the Power of the Pyramid Model to Build Bright Futures by Robin Levy, M.A. | 23 Jun 2026 | 01:24:42 | |
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Step into a session designed to inspire you, empower you, and strengthen the way you support young children every day. In this uplifting introduction, you’ll explore the Pyramid Model—a research-based framework proven to promote healthy social and emotional development in young children. Join Robin Levy, M.A., to discover how this model supports your work by offering practical, compassionate strategies you can pair with any curriculum. The Pyramid Model is not a curriculum itself; instead, it functions as a powerful approach that enhances your existing practices and helps you create more responsive, predictable, and nurturing environments. As you move through each tier of the model, you’ll see how its emphasis on relationships, supportive environments, and targeted teaching practices can transform your daily interactions. You’ll learn how greetings, routines, expectations, and problem-solving moments become opportunities to build confidence, cooperation, and emotional resilience in every child. You’ll also explore how the Pyramid Model is used across early childhood settings by early educators, early intervention personnel, early childhood special education teams, infant and early childhood mental health consultants, and families—giving you a shared language and approach that strengthens collaboration and consistency for the children you serve. Through real examples, reflection, and practical strategies, you’ll gain clarity on how this framework can reduce challenging behaviors and increase children’s sense of safety, belonging, and joy. Whether you’re brand new to the Pyramid Model or ready to refresh your understanding, this session will leave you excited and equipped to bring its strategies to life in your own setting or program. Come ready to learn, connect, and grow—your work has the power to transform children’s lives, and the Pyramid Model is here to support you. Learning Objectives By the end of this session, you will be able to:
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| Hidden compliance asks for trust. Visible compliance earns it. by Lynn Wenger and Ronnae Williams | 18 Jun 2026 | 01:23:58 | |
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Trust Grows Where Proof Shows™ just as it is with industries from aviation to healthcare, early education compliance isn’t optional. The reality is that safety and trust aren’t just feelings. In regulated industries like ours, they’re facts you can see, measure, and demonstrate. Your stakeholders need more than reassurance. They need proof they can believe in. So how do we put this concept into visible practice? The Compliance Alliance and The State Lady® come together to give you practical examples and strategies to make the invisible visible from how you market your compliance to ways to showcase your practices to preventative measures to avoid a citation, or worse, an insurance claim or lawsuit. Because compliance isn’t defined when everything goes right—it’s defined when something goes wrong. That’s when real practices show up. Together we will bridge the gap between compliance systems and real-world application. We will share how to turn your website messaging, parent communication, licensing visits, audits, and documentation into visible, trust-building proof. When your practices show every day, your stakeholder confidence grows—and families, staff, and regulators don’t just hear you’re safe… they see it. With a combined lens of compliance strategy and licensing experience, this session will highlight the difference between programs that say they’re compliant and those that can demonstrate it at any moment. Key Takeaways:
"Stakeholders don’t just need to be told we’re safe—they need to believe it for themselves." | |||
| Coaching vs. Mentoring: What’s the difference? by Dr. Tamar Andrews | 11 Jun 2026 | 01:25:16 | |
RESOURCES
As early childhood leaders, we're constantly supporting the growth of the educators around us — but are we using the right tools for the job? Coaching and mentoring are both powerful, yet they serve very different purposes. Knowing when to coach and when to mentor can transform how you lead your team and build a culture of continuous growth in your program. In this session, we'll cut through the confusion and give directors, coordinators, and educational leaders a clear, practical framework for understanding both approaches — and confidently knowing which one to reach for. Participants will:
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| More Than We Imagined: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Thrive Through Everyday Challenges by Ellen M. Drolette | 10 Jun 2026 | 01:24:00 | |
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Early childhood professionals regularly navigate unpredictable situations: big feelings, complex behaviors, competing demands, and the constant balancing of children’s needs, family expectations, and program requirements. Whether you’re an administrator, a family child care provider, or a center-based educator, these everyday challenges can stretch your capacity and shape the climate of your work. This webinar explores how Appreciative Inquiry offers practical tools for responding to challenging moments with clarity, presence, and intention. Drawing from the book More Than We Imagined by Ellen M. Drolette, we’ll examine how what we notice, amplify, and choose to focus on can shift the trajectory of an interaction and open up new possibilities. Participants will learn strengths-based strategies that support well-being, build trust, and promote resilience across early childhood settings. You’ll walk away with actionable approaches rooted in play, connection, and reflection—approaches that help reduce stress, strengthen professional relationships, and create conditions where both adults and children can thrive. Learning Objectives
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| Leading Across Generations: Strategies for a Stronger, More Collaborative Team by Dr. Keena Mosley | 05 Jun 2026 | 01:22:18 | |
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In today’s work environment, leading a team requires a nuanced understanding of each member’s values, expectations, and work styles. With a focus on collaboration, this workshop is designed to equip leaders with the tools and insights needed to effectively engage, motivate, and guide multiple generations. Join Dr. Keena R. Mosley, former award-winning collegiate professor, author, and Founder of Momentum Leadership Group. With her people-centered strategic approach, participants will explore practical skills that foster a productive, responsive, and inclusive workplace. Through interactive activities, they will bring current research to life and identify clear next steps for applying the content in their real-world settings. Learning Objectives By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
This session will empower you to lead with confidence and build a cohesive, high-performing team—no matter the generational mix. | |||
| AI Search Is Here - The Gold Rush Opportunity for Child Care Centers in 2026 by Bruce Spurr | 05 Jun 2026 | 01:25:42 | |
RESOURCES
Only 3 centers will own the leaders in your market—How to make sure you’re one of them Search is being completely rebuilt — and most childcare centers don’t realize it yet. Parents are no longer just clicking ads or scrolling your social posts. They’re:
At the same time, buying attention through ads is getting harder, more expensive, and less predictable for local businesses—the cost is out of reach of most child care centers. (Google finally admitted to us that new ad accounts need $100/day media spend to train their AI buying algorithm! That’s absolutely ridiculous for the ECE industry!) In this live training, Bruce Spurr, CEO of Grow Your Center, will break down how AI-powered search is transforming the way parents discover childcare — and why this shift is creating the biggest local visibility opportunity we’ve seen since 2008. History is being made. We’re not just going to talk about AI search, but give you CONTEXT in how the new world of “SEO” fits into your complete marketing stack in 2026…how owners just like you are filling their open classroom spots! In this session, you’ll learn:
This training is especially valuable if:
We’ll also have a Q&A and select 3-5 audience volunteers to review your rankings! | |||
| The Science of Play, Part 2: Making It Work — Applying the Recognize–Emphasize–Maximize Framework for Deep Learning Through Play by Amanda Morgan, MS | 29 May 2026 | 01:26:16 | |
RESOURCES
You’ve explored why play matters—now it’s time to focus on how to make it work. In this practical follow-up to The Science of Play, Amanda Morgan—author of Not Just Cute: How Powerful Play Drives Development in Early Childhood—will dive deeper into the Recognize–Emphasize–Maximize Framework to show how intentional, guided play can support meaningful developmental outcomes without co-opting the play itself. Through relatable play examples and reflection tools, you’ll learn how to align play with your curriculum and objectives, make strategic amendments to support standards, and introduce authentic, play-based assessment methods. Whether you’re teaching in the classroom or leading at the program level, this session will help you bridge the gap between theory and practice—so play can flourish as both joyful and truly rigorous learning. Learning Outcomes:
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| From Idea to Launch: Starting Your Early Childhood Business the Right Way by Chelsea Denny | 27 May 2026 | 01:23:20 | |
RESOURCES
Are you considering starting an early childhood business? Let's learn how to take your small business from the idea phase to launch.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1. Participants will be able to outline the process required to start a legal business in the United States.
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| Leadership and Play: It’s Serious Business by Kimberlee Burt Hendricks | 22 May 2026 | 01:22:12 | |
RESOURCES
Leadership isn’t positional—it’s relational. Whether you’re a president, owner, principal, director, teacher, counselor, parent, or the person responsible for making sure lunch arrives on time—if you work with people, and especially with children, you lead. Leadership is not defined by a title; it’s expressed through presence, listening, and creating space for others to thrive. In this session, Kimberlee Burt Hendricks, The Play and Learn Leader at A Child’s Space 2, will guide participants through an exploration of how play is not just for children, it’s a vital practice that nurtures creativity, connection, and emotional well-being for adults as well. Through stories, research, and reflective experiences, Kimberlee will illuminate how neuroscience and well-established leadership models reveal that play is not a distraction from leadership, but a catalyst for it. As early learning environments continue to evolve, embracing play, both personally and professionally, has never been more important. Participants will engage in reflective discussions and playful moments that highlight how curiosity, imagination, and laughter strengthen leadership at every level. Because when we understand the power of play, we lead and live with greater joy, empathy, and purpose. Learning Objectives After this session, participants will be able to:
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| Self-Regulation In Early Childhood Classrooms: Improving Teacher Practice While Supporting Engagement and Achievement by Carrie Comer-Yates | 15 May 2026 | 01:23:45 | |
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What if strengthening self-regulation could transform not only children’s behavior—but your entire classroom experience? In this research-informed session led by Dr. Carrie Comer-Yates, you’ll explore how young children’s self-regulation skills directly influence teacher practice, classroom expectations, and student success. Dr. Comer-Yates is deeply committed to helping educators build foundational skills in social-emotional development, differentiate classroom supports, and care for their own social-emotional well-being alongside their students’. Drawing from a comprehensive study of early childhood classrooms, this webinar examines the shared responsibilities between children and educators, the role of the learning environment, and the levels of support needed for children to thrive. You’ll gain practical, actionable strategies grounded in real classroom data—highlighting the critical roles of professional development, family engagement, and intentional instructional practices. The session also explores how factors such as culture shape self-regulation and influence classroom expectations. By strengthening your understanding of self-regulation, you’ll be better equipped to foster positive social, emotional, and academic growth—creating more responsive, supportive, and successful learning environments, even within complex early childhood systems. Learning Objectives By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
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| The Joyous Equation: Purpose + People + Prosperity = Vibrant Early Childhood Organizations by Karen Foster-Jorgensen | 14 May 2026 | 01:25:32 | |
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What if joy wasn’t a byproduct of good leadership—but the very foundation of it? This inspiring and practical webinar invites early childhood leaders to explore what it truly means to lead with joy and purpose. Led by global consultant and innovation champion Karen Foster-Jorgensen, participants will discover how to apply the Joyous Organization Framework and the Joyous Leadership Collabratory™ to strengthen both the heart and health of their organizations—blending purpose, prosperity, positive mindset, and people-centered leadership for lasting impact. Learning Objectives:
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| Developing 21st-Century Skills in Early Childhood through STEAM Learning Centers by Tiffany Berman, M.Ed | 01 May 2026 | 01:26:17 | |
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What if the everyday “problems” you see in your classroom could become the spark for deeper learning? When a block tower tumbles down or paint drips across a page, children are already engaging in problem-solving, experimenting, and exploring big ideas. This webinar will show you how to transform those ordinary moments into extraordinary opportunities through problem-based STEAM learning. Together, we’ll explore how to design hands-on, developmentally appropriate centers that invite children to question, investigate, and solve challenges in creative ways. You’ll see how science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math can come alive through playful exploration that nurtures curiosity and builds essential 21st-century skills. In this approachable STEAM session, hosted by Tiffany Berman, M.Ed we’ll walk through the process step by step—from observing children to uncover the problems they’re naturally drawn to, to choosing the right materials, to guiding child-led investigations that empower independent learning. Learning Objectives:
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| Reimagining Early Childhood Education to Embrace Nature-Based Learning by Dr. Rachel Larimore | 30 Apr 2026 | 01:27:45 | |
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Early education program leaders around the world are increasingly enthusiastic about nature-based learning. Many leaders want to jump in wholeheartedly but find shifting the culture of their organization incredibly challenging. This webinar is a pause to say, “Imagine if…” Imagine if nature were another teacher in the classroom, if nature-based learning were core to the program’s culture, and if families were choosing your program because of its nature-rich experiences. In this session, Dr. Larimore will explore different ways to consider a nature-based approach in your teaching—from the structure of the day and the physical environment to planning and teacher-child interactions. She’ll share a wide range of possibilities for imagining—or reimagining—the ways we support young children through nature-based learning. In this action-focused webinar designed for program leaders and administrators, experienced early childhood nature-based program leader and author Dr. Rachel Larimore will share her Trail Map for Leading Change—an approach for inspiring and supporting staff as they move toward nature-based teaching. In previous ECI webinars, she focused on the big picture of the Trail Map for Change and Step 1: preparing yourself as a leader. In this webinar, she’ll focus on Step 5 of the Trail Map: reimagining teaching practices to embrace nature-based pedagogy. Come be inspired by the diverse and innovative ways early childhood programs are integrating nature-based learning into their classrooms. Objectives Participants will be able to:
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