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2009 Critical Issues in Child Care Conference Bryant University, Smithfield THEME: Transforming Early Childhood Environments into Low-Stress, Safe Settings KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Scott Noyes, President and Owner of Empowering Programs If you wish to receive an pdf copy of the conference brochure, click here. You may also download a pdf of our entire 2009 Spring Training calendar. If you have any questions, please contact Jessica M. Baéz, Administrative Assistant, at (401) 721-6419 or at jbaez@childspan.net. There will be an early bird discounted rate of $50.00 as well as a discounted student rate of $45.00 this year. Both rates have specifications attached to them, so please contact Ligia Diaz at (401) 721-6407 for more information. 7:30 to 8:15 Registration Continental Breakfast 8:20 to 8:30 Opening Remarks 8:30 to 9:15 Keynote Address: Scott Noyes Owner, Empowering Programs 9:15 to 9:30 Transition time to Workshops 9:30 to 12:30 Block Session Workshops 9:30 to 11:00 Session I Workshops 11:15 to 12:45 Session II Workshops Block Session Workshop Topics (1 - 6) PLEASE NOTE: Block Sessions replace your Workshop Sessions I and II - in other words, you may register for one block session, or workshops in Session I and II. Block 1. Intentional Teaching By evaluating the phrases children are being told daily, parents and providers learn to understand the impact of their words. This workshop looks at ten common expressions adults use with kids. Discovering language flaws and finding ways to better express ourselves supports healthy relationships with children. Avoiding the pitfalls in communicating with children is the primary focus of this exciting session. Presented by: Scott Noyes, Owner, Empowering Programs Target Audience: I, T, and P Child Age Group Addressed: 18 - 36 months Experience Level: 3, 4, and 5 Block 2. Childhood Stress: Helping Adults to Understand This workshop is designed to give staff as all levels critical information about childhood stress and adverse early childhood experiences, the indicators, ramifications, and intervention strategies for use in the classroom, programs, and for mentoring parents. The presenter will offer concrete techniques that staff can offer to parents for use at home to minimize and manage childhood stress. Presented by Katherine M. Begin, Executive Director, Prevent Child Abuse of RI Target Audience: I, T, PS, SA, FCC, HT, LT, D, and A Child Age Group Addressed: Birth - 8 years Experience Level: 3, 4, 5 Block 3. Children with Challenging Behaviors The presenters will discuss children’s expression of their emotions through challenging behaviors and ways to help children appropriately express themselves. In addition, the presenters will offer strategies for working with children with disruptive behaviors and will facilitate an open discussion among participants to address their specific issues. Presented by Ardell Brackley, LICSW, Clinical Social Worker, Permanency Programs, and Michelle Hirst, MSW, Social Worker, Permanency Programs, Children’s Friend and Service Target Audience: I, T, SA, PS, FCC, HT, LT, D and A Child Age Group Addressed: 18 months – 8 years Experience Level: 3, 4, 5 Block 4. Play in the Lives of Young Children: The Importance of Play in a Stressful Time We know that play is the key to the overall development of young children in Rhode Island. How can we support play and playfulness in today’s stressful world? We will explore the importance of play in providing children, families, teachers and even the community with a greater understanding that play is central in children’s optimal development and growth! Let’s learn more about the impact of play as it relates to children in a stressful time. This is a presentation of the New England Symposium on Play. Presented by William H. Strader, Ed.D., Early Childhood Consultant Target Audience: I, T, PS, SA, FCC, HT, LT, D, and A Child Age Group Addressed: 5 – 8 years Experience Level: 3, 4, 5 Block 5. Managing Stress: Practical Ideas for Adults and Children Teaching young children can be very demanding, both physically and emotionally. What’s important is knowing how to deal with all that tension! Come to this session for practical ideas on managing your own stress, and discover some great techniques to help your students do the same. Leave your burdens at the door, come out feeling more relaxed and in balance. Dress comfortably, as this workshop is fully interactive. Be prepared to participate in some simple yoga positions with accompanying poetry. A professional resource bibliography will be provided. Presented by Laura Mason Zeisler, M.Ed., Owner, Explorations Unlimited Target Audience: P, SA, FCC, HT, LT, D, and A Child Age Group Addressed: 3 – 8 years Experience Level: 3, 4, 5 Block 6. Child-Centered Communication: Using the Language of Play to Facilitate Emotional Development and Success Children’s first language is play. As significant adults in children’s lives, we can learn from their play and use facilitative language to support and encourage their emotional development and competence. Emotional intelligence and confidence leads to academic and life success. Learn to help children identify and appropriately express their feelings. Encourage self-esteem, self-direction, and positive behavior. This workshop will introduce the preliminary concepts of play therapy. These techniques can be used by anyone who wants to be more therapeutic in interactions with children. Presented by Sarah O’Brien, LICSW, RPT-S, Play Therapist, New England Association for Play Therapy Target Audience: I, T, P, SA, FCC, HT, LT, D, and A Child Age Group Addressed: 3 – 16 years Experience Level: 3, 4, 5 Session I Workshop Topics (A – D) A. Introduction to the ITERS-R (Infant Toddler Environmental Rating Scale) This workshop will provide participants with an introduction and overview of the ITERS-R, including a discussion of the tool’s administration and scoring. Participants will also be introduced to the concept of using the ITERS-R for self-assessment. Presented by Tammy Camillo, Director, RIAEYC and BrightStars, Shane Szrom, Program Assessment Specialist, BrightStars Target Audience: I, T, HT, LT, D, and A Child Age Group Addressed: Birth – 36 months Experience Level: 3, 4, 5 B. Don’t Touch That!: Finding the Balance Between Exploration and Safety with Young Toddlers Keeping toddlers safe, while allowing them to achieve the amount of exploration necessary for learning can be a challenge for any toddler care provider. This workshop will help providers evaluate their current environments using useful tools, including developmentally appropriate guidelines. Ideas and suggestions will be shared for creating an environment that is safe, but also inviting and engaging to this dynamic age group and the adults who work with them. Presented by Sheila Grant Orphanides, Infant and Toddler Consultant Target Audience: I, T, FCC, HT, and LT Child Age Group Addressed: Birth – 36 months Experience Level: 3, 4 C. Team Building Through Improv Improv changed my life and I want to share it! It’s fun and encourages active learning, respect for others’ ideas, cooperation, communication, and creative risk-taking. Stretch out of your box, de-stress and get to know your family away from home. Presented by Lynn Swanson, Educational Consultant, The Toy Lady Target Audience: PS, SA, FCC, HT, FFN Child Age Group Addressed: 6 – 12 years Experience Level: 3, 4, 5 D. Jest for the Health of It Jest for the Health of It is not a stand up comedy act. It is a fun way to explore the scientific benefits of humor in managing stress. Humor, like many other stress management tools, can be learned. Some people are naturally funny; others may have to work at it. However, this is a fun opportunity to take a serious look at humor. The ability to be flexible and understand the role of perception is essential to any problem solving, anger management, and basic communication skill. Humor is full of opportunities to develop these skills. This workshop is highly participatory, full of information useful for personal and professional development, and fun! Join your friends and colleagues jest for the health of it! Presented by Lorraine Kaul, Owner/Trainer, UPTYME Prevention Services Target Audience: I, T, PS, SA, FCC, HT, LT, D, and A Child Age Group Addressed: N/A Experience Level: 3 Session II Workshop Topics (E - H) E. Introduction to the ECERS-R (Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale) This workshop will provide participants with an introduction and overview of the ECERS-R, including a discussion of the tools, administration, and scoring. Participants will also be introduced to the concept of using the ECERS-R for self-assessment. Presented by Tammy Camillo, Director, RIAEYC and BrightStars, and Shane Szrom, Program Assessment Specialist, BrightStars Target Audience: I, T, PS, SA, FCC, HT, LT, D, and A Child Age Group Addressed: 3 – 5 years Experience Level: 3, 4, 5 F. Great Spaces to Be a Baby During this workshop, participants will be introduced to elements of designing stimulating learning environments that support the appropriate developmental needs of infants and toddlers. Target Audience: I, and T Child Age Group Addressed: Birth – 36 months Experience Level: 3, 4 G. Smiling Over Stress This interactive workshop will help participants see how stress is important for everyday life (after all, some of us would never get out of bed in the morning without a little bit of stress!) Rather than focusing on how stressed a person is, this training will discuss ways that one can de-stress, starting with the way each of us views the world and the people around us. We will share some stress triggers along with de-stressors and learn how to create a less stressed environment in one’s personal life as well as the work place. Presented by Tracy Cheney, Vice President, Kids Klub Target Audience: I, T, PS, SA, FCC, HT, LT, D, and A Child Age Group Addressed: Birth – 8 years Experience Level: 5 H. Teaching Friendship and Other Relationship-Building Social Skills to Young Children This workshop will teach 5 techniques for motivating children to learn friendship-making skills. Other supporting skill sets will be introduced to help children sustain positive relationships once they have established friendships. We will cover a variety of methods for working with children with different learning styles. Participants will learn steps in teaching skills on how to make and keep friends. We also will explore obstacles that get in the way of skill teaching and how to get around them. The methods can be used for teaching other social skills as needed. This workshop will be interactive and fun! Presented by Lorraine Kaul, Owner/Trainer, UPTYME Prevention Services Target Audience: PS Child Age Group Addressed: 3 – 5 years Experience Level: 3 Key for Workshop Target Audiences I= Infant T= Toddler FCC= Family Child Care PS= Preschool SA= School-Age D= Director HT= Head Teacher LT= Lead Teacher A= Administrator |