The FREE webinar is happening on March 27, at 2 PM EST.  Register Here

Within any given infant classroom, you will see children display a myriad of  developmental milestones. Some are just learning to roll over or sit up, others are able to crawl and scoot around the room. With all of these developmental differences, how do you create a classroom environment that accommodates and supports every child?    

 Dr. Sandra Duncan, International Specialist in Classroom Design and author, will share three simple strategies to help you solve this problem in her upcoming webinar, An Intentional Approach to Designing Infant Classrooms. This webinar will help you design an intentional infant classroom space that creates enriching visual, sensory, and physical experiences for all.  

The FREE webinar is happening on March 27, at 2 PM EST.  Register Here

And, when you attend the webinar, you will also receive a free CE credit.  

 We can’t wait to see you there! 

Registration Here

  ​Join on March 24th, 1:00 PM via Zoom for our first ​Ready to Grow Gardening Early Childhood Professional Development session, presented in collaboration with Purdue Extension and Unity Gardens!​ This FREE virtual session will explore how to start, revitalize, or expand a garden at your program. Information and resources about garden beds and container gardening with young children ages 2 - 5 will be shared.

🌱 This event marks the launch of Ready to Grow’s Health, Nutrition​ & Movement ​Initiative supporting early educators and program leadership in creating enriching outdoor and nature learning experiences​ while fostering holistic development. Earn 1 hour of training. 

🌻 Please note - If youou registered with the QR code from the Event poster, please also register with RTG Here as it provides information for training certificates, info for final grant reports and info for future funding. Thank you!

🌿  "Every time we plant a seed or a seedling with a child, we foster curiosity, wonder, and the foundation for a lifelong love of nature"

Growing Resilient Children; The Garden as a Non-Judgmental Teacher

Growing Resilient Children; The Garden as a Non-Judgmental Teacher Description: Gardens are more than places to grow food and flowers; they are outdoor classrooms, places of hope, connection, and inspiration, places where children learn compassion, communication, and essential early life skills. A garden’s very nature encourages children to slow down, listen deeply, and simply ‘touch the earth.’ Join staff from Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) to learn more about our Therapeutic Garden and Youth Education Programs. Participants will receive tried-and-true tips for teaching in the garden and activities that encourage personal and interpersonal growth and success.

Register Here

2025 RTG Annual Community Meeting via Zoom: March 20, 2025 @ 1:00 PM

RSVP Here - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJfH3kwk6j1vXkYfJwGHyYRwtaxQ4cEYrUaRyYyxZQasvpYQ/viewform?usp=dialog

Agenda:

1:00 – 1:15 PM | Welcome, RTG Recap & Looking Ahead
1:15 – 1:30 PM | The Lourie Center & TIPS ECHO Pilot
1:30 – 1:40 PM | Talk with Your Baby
1:40 – 1:50 PM | Special Olympics – Young Athletes
1:50 – 2:00 PM | Open Discussion: What’s Working & Support Needed for Families & Early Educators

Community Meetings are a great way to hear about the state of early childhood on a local, statewide and national scope. Community partners across sectors come together annually to learn from one another, share updates and build a stronger network of support for the families in St. Joseph County. 

FREE Virtual Webinar l Register Here l Register to receive a link if you are unable to attend the live session.

Join this insightful session to discover the nine temperament traits that are present from birth. Explore the link between some of the most perplexing traits in group settings and discover helpful strategies for reducing the behaviors that may present challenges for adults. You will learn methods to support all children to flourish in your caregiving setting.

In this dynamic and strategic webinar, presented by experienced early childhood expert, Raelene Ostberg, you will:

• Identify nine different temperament traits that are typically present from birth

• “Consider how the mix of adult and child traits can fuel difficulty and increase stress for adult and child alike”

• Discover several strategies to adapt care to provide a good fit for children with high-intensity, high-persistence, and slow-to-warm traits.

Register Here

Instagram LIVE

Join Kids Gardening for an interview with children’s book author Janna Matthies as we discuss her new book, Over in the Garden! This gorgeous counting picture book is packed full of colorful plants, adorable gardeners, and the numbers one to ten.

Find us on Instagram on Tuesday, March 18, at 1pm ET!

Join Instagram Live Here

Your Role in Cultivating Psychological Safety in Early Care and Education Programs

It is the responsibility of a leader to create a culture where people can flourish. Whether you are the leader of an early care and education program or the leader of a team within one, you hold the tools for cultivating an environment where candor and truth are welcome and the organization and individuals within it are on a path to learning and growth. When staff are afraid to speak up, offer opposing viewpoints, provide constructive feedback, make mistakes, and collaborate with colleagues, they suffer and the organization is stunted. Unfortunately, many leaders are unaware that staff are fearful.

FREE l Register HERE l If you register you will receive a link to the recording in the event you can’t attend.

Register Here Free

Description: In these LIVE storytimes, we will read wonderful garden-themed books with a social emotional focus and have a “show and tell” about interesting plants. Both teachers and students will love these interactive learning sessions! Spring is right around the corner and we are ready to get those gardens started! Are you? Join us to learn how to say hello to worms and other tiny garden friends and how to grow and enjoy the fruits of spring together.

• Story: How to Say Hello to a Worm by Kari Percival

• Sing Along: Spring Garden Song

• Handout: Springtime Learn and Play

2025 Spring Garden Storytime Presenters:

Noel Nicholas (she/her) is the educational content manager for KidsGardening, where she co-develops original educational materials designed to help kids play, learn, and grow through gardening. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing from University of Southern California, where she developed a passion for informal education while teaching poetry at 32nd Street School/USC Magnet. Prior to joining KidsGardening, Noel worked as museum educator at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, developing and delivering educational programs for diverse, multi-generational audiences, and managing the museum’s Storytime Live program. In her spare time she teaches in the school garden at Third Street Elementary in Los Angeles.

Wednesday, March 12, 2025 | 2:00 - 3:00p.m. ET
Free Virtual Webinar with Amazing Angela Searcy
Gain Practical Strategies for Navigating Challenging Conversations in Early Childhood Programs!

Register Here

Join this edWebinar to learn how to approach difficult conversations with confidence and positivity. Discover how to embrace differences and connect with families and colleagues effectively.

In this session, you will:

Get nonjudgmental, practical advice for managing conflicts with ease.

Explore strength-based, evidence-based techniques that promote professional growth and learning in your early childhood program.

Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your communication skills and build stronger partnerships! Register now to save your spot.

📚 The Science of Reading Meets Learning Science

🗓 Wednesday, March 12, 2025 | 🕐 1:00 p.m. ET
🔗 Register Now – Free Webinar! Register Here

Join for an insightful conversation with Natalie Wexler, author of Beyond the Science of Reading: Connecting Literacy Instruction to the Science of Learning.

In this must-attend webinar, you’ll:

✅ Gain a deeper understanding of why the Science of Reading must include building knowledge.

✅ Learn how reading and writing are interconnected—and their role in the Science of Learning.

✅ Discover how integrating reading, content-rich curriculum, and writing can help every student reach their full potential.

📖✨ Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge and elevate literacy instruction!

FREE l Virtual l Register and you will receive a link to the recording if you are unable to attend the live event. Register Here

Managing early childhood classrooms so they are peaceful and productive can sometimes feel overwhelming, leaving teachers and leaders searching for sustainable solutions. This strategy-rich webinar addresses these challenges by providing early care and education leaders with the tools to support staff in creating calmer, more positive learning environments.

Join this webinar which is designed specifically for early care and education leaders and supervisors who seek effective ways to support staff facing challenging classroom dynamics. Led by behavior coach Prerna Richards, the session goes beyond traditional behavior management, offering research-based coaching practices that leaders can use to encourage teachers to foster prosocial behaviors, cooperation, and self-regulation in children. Participants will learn actionable techniques that help teachers adopt a proactive, intentional approach, reducing reliance on reactive responses and creating a foundation for positive child development. The coaching framework includes three components: adopting a growth mindset, building meaningful relationships, and understanding brain states to influence behavior. By mastering these strategies, coaches can nurture a resilient, supportive team environment that boosts staff satisfaction, enhances program stability, and promotes lasting transformation in the classroom.

Register Here

Calling all who support young children and their families: Join us for a free webinar! We will shine a light on the most ordinary ways that you can support and strengthen the resilience of families…and with the help of a resilience-building parenting curriculum.

Grab your spot here 👉 https://ow.ly/9Hyo50UZLOW

Host - Devereux Center for Resilient Children

Webinar l FREE l Register to receive a recording link if unable to attend the live session.

Register Here

One of the most important steps you can take with families is to help them integrate into your program with an intentional, consistent, and complete onboarding process. Planning to prepare a step-by-step onboarding process that you can use every time you enroll new families will ensure you establish open communication, avoid misunderstandings, and establish policies. Your onboarding plan should individual and group meetings, family handbooks, and maybe even pairing new families with others who are more familiar with the program. Join this idea-packed webinar with early childhood program leadership expert, Evelyn Knight to learn how to create a replicable and comprehensive new family onboarding system that informs, educates, and welcomes families to your program.

In this session you will:

• Learn why it is so important to educate families why early childhood programs offer open-ended experiences and developmentally appropriate practices.

• Learn how to help newly enrolled families set realistic expectations about your program and understand child care industry standards.

• Develop tools to create a family orientation that will alleviate common potential misalignment issues with families.

• Prepare to be proactive by educating families on common policies and procedures to avoid future issues.

  Register Here

SUPER SATURDAY with SPARK LEARNING LAB 

GUIDING GROWTH - Strategies for Developmental Success & Family Collaboration

South Bend for Early Educators, In Person, FREE,  Feb 22, 2025

Location: Downtown Library’s Community Learning Center, 305 S Michigan Street, South Bend, IN 46601

Lunch Provided + Free Materials

Registeration via I-Lead, limited seats - Register Here.

3 hours Training Certificate + Free Materials for your Program

Please Note: PreRequisite to Registration: CDC’s Learn The Signs, Act Early required prior to registering. Available 24/7 on Indiana Learning Paths

Need help registering: 1-800-299-1627 (SPARK HELP DESK)

Thriving Temporal Environments for Young Children and Educators: Unlocking the Right P.I.T.C.H. February 12, 2025 | 2 PM Eastern Time FREE Virtual

If you register and are unable to attend the live session you will receive a link of the recording.

Register Here

If you’ve ever wondered why a program or classroom feels stressed, frenzied, or just not right, chances are that the PITCH is one of the primary causes of that “ick” feeling. There are four types of environments in early childhood programs: The Physical environment, the Interpersonal environment, the Temporal environment, and the Curricular environment. These four,: P, I, T, and C can be designed to create harmony in each classroom and the program. When they work well, your program has the right PITCH, and everything flows. When they do not work together, programs may be dysregulated.

You may already know how to set up most of these environments, but you might not realize that the temporal environment is responsible for an imbalance. The temporal environment is all about timing: Daily schedules, including arrival, snacks, choice time, group times, outdoor play, and the transitions from one to the other. Directors often set up schedules for teachers to have turns with their classes on playgrounds, in music, dance, etc. But is the schedule really working for the children, or are the adults scheduling to fit children into constructs that work for them, not the children?

In this paradigm-shifting webinar by Dr. Tamar Andrews, professor and the Director of Early Childhood Education at American Jewish University and Lindsay Astor Grant, MA, OTR/L, Occupational Therapy Consultant from Learning Redesigned, you will explore how to find the right PITCH, with a special focus on temporal environments. Tamar will deepen your understanding of predictable routines and help you uncover how to know when the PITCH in your program is working.

Strategies that Build Connection and Empathy with Children Using The Power of Perspective-Taking
February 6, 2025 | 2 PM Eastern Time
FREE

In our early childhood programs and communities, often we focus on the skills of kindness and empathy as a way for children to connect with others in a caring, positive way. Yet a skill often overlooked is perspective-taking. “Perspective taking skills” refer to the ability to understand and consider a situation from another person’s point of view, encompassing their thoughts, feelings, and experiences and putting aside our own. It goes beyond empathy, as it not only understanding someone’s emotions, yet also understanding their reasoning and viewpoint. This session will focus on how we can support children’s growth in these skills, sharing specific examples that can be shared in early childhood programs and with families.

Register Here

Resilience and Racial Equity in Early Childhood

We invite you to join us to think about how resilience work is equity work. Together, we will explore the intersections of risk, protection, resilience, social-emotional learning, and racism. We will learn to use a resilience framework to combat racism and promote social justice in early care and education.

This is a 75-minute webinar. Can't make the live delivery? You can still register so that you receive the recording!

FREE l Devereux Center for Resilient Children l Register Here

Trust is the foundation of strong teams, yet well-meaning micromanagement and reactive behaviors can subtly undermine it. Join experienced early childhood leadership strategist, Christina Fecio to shed light on how leaders’ behaviors either attract or repel trust. You will explore why micromanagement — while often cloaked in good intentions like “staying informed” or “being invested” — becomes “death by a thousand papercuts” to morale.

FREE! If you register and are unable to attend, you will receive a link to a recording of the event.

With real-world examples and actionable steps, Christina’s insights will empower you as a program administrator to replace micromanagement with trust-building strategies, creating spaces where employees feel both supported and empowered to lead.

Register Here

In this workshop, we will learn about the child and teen brain and why these years matter. The years of growing up are essential to forming the foundation of how we engage with the world around us. Self-Healing Communities of Michiana is a community change capacity-building movement whose mission is to nurture community and personal well-being through the understanding of the neuroscience of resilience and the celebration of our collective strengths.

This work is steeped in decades of evidence-based research. Learning about the development of the child and teen brain can help us all better understand ourselves as we support the young people in our lives.

Learning Objectives:

Build a personal motto to explain the child and teen brain development.

Explore the Expanded ACEs and their impact on brain development.

Examine the role of protective factors for Youth Workers.

Outline the skills you have or would like to develop to support healthy teen development.

Presenter: Velshonna Luckey, M.S., Executive Director, Self-Healing Communities

Register Here

FOR EARLY-CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS - An Amazing Event with An Amazing Presenter/ Early Childhood Guru and its FREE Tuesday at 1:00PM Eastern TIme!!! FREE Register here

The Magic of Connection

How to start conversations with children that help them become curious thinkers… and more engaged learners!

Multiple dates & times available:

GRAB YOUR SPOT NOW: Tuesday at 1 PM Eastern Time

It’s totally FREE, online, and there will be a replay emailed to you if you can’t attend live!

It’s time for a conversation… about conversations

… And how we talk with children.

If you’re asking children “open ended” questions but still getting surface-level answers…

Or you’re just not sure how to engage children in conversations that deepen their thinking and build connections…

Sally will show us a new way to talk with young children about the ideas you’re exploring together — and watch it spark something incredible in your classroom in the very next week.

The result? You’ll feel more excited for the rest of the school year, more confident in your plans, and children will be more responsive to your ideas.

Register here

FREE Webinar

What is self-regulation, and what are developmentally appropriate expectations for young children? How can educators and caregivers support the development of these important social-emotional skills in the classroom? Explore these questions and learn applicable strategies during our engaging session.

Register here - Self-Regulation in Early Childhood: Strategies for Emotional and Sensory Support

“Anti-Bias Education in Practice: Families Embracing Anti-Bias Values” with Debbie LeeKeenan. From the makers of the award-winning video where we learned from educators reflecting on their anti-bias classroom strategies, we now get to dive into the lived experience of families working to build a more just world by supporting young children. Come to learn from the amazing Debbie LeeKeenan about how we all can build true communities of care.

FREE Register here

JumpIN for Healthy Kids and Indiana Department of Health, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity (IDOH, DNPA) are excited to share with you an invitation for Indiana childcare providers to join a limited opportunity Learning Cohort. (FREE)

Free Lakeshore Materials for particpants who complete the entire series of 4 to 5 Zoom Meetings. Lakeshore Learning’s Eat, Play, and Thrive Kit - a nearly $300 value.

This small group will meet four to five times (on Zoom) between the last week of January and the first week of April, to complete one module in Go NAPSACC.

Providers will gain knowledge on evidence-based health, safety, and physical activity practices to help improve their programs at their own pace. This cohort is structured and guided by trained Go NAPSACC consultants excited to assist you with your program.

Providers will receive learning credits for their time as well as an incentive from Lakeshore Learning valued at almost $300! You must register for one of the two info sessions to be able to apply to the learning cohort. Space is very limited, so please act quickly!

To participate, attend a virtual info session. We have two day/time options (only one is required):

Register for Info Session #1, 6:00 – 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 - https://us06web.zoom.us/.../tZIsceCppjkuGNCZQqa4EbajmwUJ...

OR

Register for Info Session #2, 1:00 – 1:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 - https://us06web.zoom.us/.../tZ0sc...

Please contact Kayliegh Holsapple, Early Care and Education Coordinator at kholsapple@health.in.gov with any questions you may have.

Hosted by the Devereux Center: Free, Virutal

Fully understanding the concepts of risk factors, protective factors, and resilience can serve as a powerful catalyst for helping each of us navigate life's challenges. But all too often, the use of jargon and unfamiliar language can get in the way of individuals making true meaning of these terms. We would like to change that! Parents, families, teachers, and anyone interested in learning more are invited to this interactive, reflective learning experience. Join us as we uncover some of the key terms often found in the resilience research. We will define those key terms and think about what each word means to us, individually.

Grab a few rubber bands and don't forget your umbrella! Invite a friend and let's learn together.

This is a one-hour webinar. Can't make the live delivery? You can still register so that you receive the recording!

Register Here

Join the Fred Rogers Institute for a discussion about Trusting Ourselves as Parents and Caregivers. Join us for a conversation with parents, caregivers, and other child-serving professionals about what we can learn from Fred Rogers to support us in trusting ourselves in these roles.

Register Here