Selective mutism is a childhood anxiety disorder which results in great difficulty speaking in school or community settings. Dr. Kotrba will provide information on what selective mutism is, how to assess for selective mutism characteristics, and what teachers and caregivers can do to support and help children.

At the heart of our profession is the power of meaningful and positive relationships with each family. We understand and know that all learning begins with families and home life.

This course offers several strategies to help children thrive in outdoor environments using a therapeutic approach to nature play. Angela Hanscom uses the same philosophy that lies at the heart of her popular TimberNook program - that nature is the ultimate sensory experience, and that psychological and physical health improves for children when they spend time outside on a regular basis - as she provides these strategies.

The presenter will provide an overview of the four main types of child abuse, including signs of possible abuse. Reporting suspected child abuse and prevention activities will also be addressed.

Diversity and culture are all around us and it is our job to introduce little ones to the wonders of our world. Teaching acceptance of one another, despite our differences, is one of the greatest lessons that we can provide to our children.

The following course will walk participants through the process of family-centered practice. How to have difficult conversations with families and teams will also be addressed.

This course will explore cultural differences that could interfere with working and communicating with Latino families. Participants will learn about potential barriers and helpful strategies to use when working with Latino families.

The following presentation guides the participant through tips on how to prevent accidents and injuries in the car, home, and at play for young children. A special section will also be presented specifically for wandering in children with autism.

To be effective, leaders must be self-reflective—think about who they are, become aware of their strengths and weaknesses, and look for ways to develop their own and their staff’s competencies and resilience. As school districts increasingly prohibit the suspension and expulsion of young children the Director/Administrator needs to believe in this goal and have the skills to develop and lead a team that supports it.

Visual supports are especially helpful to use with young children who have autism or who may have communication difficulties. This course will describe designing and utilizing visual supports in the early childhood classroom.