Early Childhood Professional Development & Resources
RespectingChildren.com
Karen Rucker, M.S.
ECE Master Trainer
717-314-8368
CHILD DEVELOPMENT
The Basics of Brain Development (and why it really, REALLY matters) (2 hrs)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) 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) 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) There are multiple important early milestones we will explore to better understand how movement and physical development unfold in the first 5 years.
Creating Relationships with Children Through Powerful Interactions (2 hrs) Positive, supportive relationships are the cornerstone to a successful classroom community. 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.
NOTE: Formerly titled "The Importance of Relationships: Creating Powerful Interactions to Support Children"
FAMILIES
Understanding the Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework (3 hrs) 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.
ACES and the Effect of Family Stressors on Children (2 hrs) Children's experiences influence their development in not only the short term, but well into adulthood. The ACES study brings to light the potential long-range impact of stress on children. 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 improve outcomes for the children in their care.
NOTE: Formerly titled "Beneath the Iceberg: ACES and the Effect of Family Stressors on Children"