Karen Rucker, M.S.
ECE Master Trainer

717-314-8368

Child Development

& Families  

Early Childhood Professional Development & Resources

RespectingChildren.com

Interested in a topic not listed? Contact the instructor, Karen Rucker, regarding the possibility of customizing a session to address your center's specific professional development needs or to address a specific age group. For additional information, click the Contact tab or send an email to krucker@RespectingChildren.com or call 717-314-8368.



CHILD DEVELOPMENT


The Basics of Brain Development (and why it really, REALLY matters) (2 hrs / C2)One critical role of the early childhood practitioner is to foster and support healthy brain development in young children.  This makes your job REALLY important!  We will take a look at how the brain unfolds and factors that affect its growth and neural wiring over time.  Partially based on work by Zero to Three, this session focuses on ages birth to five years.


Communication and Language Development Including Dual Language Learners - Ages birth to 5 years (2 hrs / C2)  There are multiple important early milestones we will explore to better understand how communication and language skills develop in the first 5 years, including Dual Language Learners.

Social and Emotional Development - Ages birth to 5 years (2 hrs / C2)  There are multiple important early milestones we will explore to better understand how social and emotional skills develop in the first 5 years.  Partially based on work by Zero to Three, this session focuses on ages birth through five years.


Movement and Physical Development - Ages birth to 5 years (2 hrs / C2) There are multiple important early milestones we will explore to better understand how movement and physical development unfold in the first 5 years.  


Cognitive Development - Ages birth to 5 years (2 hrs / C2) There are multiple important early milestones we will explore to better understand how cognitive skills develop in the first 5 years.  Content will include executive functioning - the "air traffic controller of the mind."  Partially based on work by Zero to Three, this session focuses on ages birth through five years.

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The Importance of Relationships: Creating Powerful Interactions to Support Children (2 hrs / C2)  There's a huge difference between going through the motions of teaching and actually supporting children's learning.  The key lies in the types of interactions - both verbal and nonverbal - that you engage in with children throughout the day.  Based on the book Powerful Interactions: How to Connect with Children to Extend Their Learning, this session explores strategies to become more intentional and purposeful in building relationships with young children.​​


FAMILIES


Understanding the Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework (3 hrs - K3.11 C1/C2)  All families benefit from protective factors that can be supported in the early childhood setting.  Participants will be introduced to the Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework which includes five research-based protective factors (resiliency, social connections, knowledge of parenting/child development, concrete support in times of need, and social/emotional competence of children).  We will also identify strategies that help families build protective factors and explore the Strengthening Families Protective Factors self-assessment and goal-setting tool.  

Beneath the Iceberg: ACES and the Effect of Family Stressors on Children (2 hrs / C1)  Children's experiences influence their development.  The ACES study brings to light the potential long-range impact of stress on children into adulthood. Join us as we explore the myriad of stressors faced by today's families, the possible effects, and how practitioners can help buffer the impact to better serve the children in their care.