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This workshop will explore the evolution of Early Care and Education Policy; the growing interest among policymakers in early care and education; why ECE professionals should be involved in policy; and opportunities for advocacy on behalf of infants and toddlers. A discussion/Q&A will follow the presentation.
In this workshop we will think about the continuity and discontinuity of development in the first year of life. Toward this end, we will be joined by two babies (ages 4 and 9 months) and their parents. We will practice our observation skills and link their behaviors to basic theory and research about infant development and implications for infants in group care. No previous study or experience with infants is required, but all prior experience will be welcome as we share our knowledge.
This workshop will focus on relationship-based approaches to working with parents in a variety of community-based settings. We will look at the challenges involved in the work and how we meet the needs of parents in those settings.
In this session, we will explore the relationships directors and experienced teachers have with beginning teachers and student teachers. Through activities and discussion, we will examine ways to help beginning teachers and student teachers contribute their fresh perspectives, energy, and commitment while gaining knowledge, skills, and insights.
A hands-on look at how and why play is so critical in facilitating development. This workshop will include video and play opportunities that will enable participants to understand materials and play experiences for infants and toddlers.
Discussion of what we know about brain development in different domains during childhood.
This workshop will explore the concept of coping as it pertains to processing. It will address the questions: What do children have to cope with? What can teachers do to help children develop adaptive coping skills?
With infants at risk for autism, the feedback to parents is often ambiguous and difficult to read. Such confusion makes it difficult to support infants' learning, expand joint communication and help regulate their emotions and behavior. This workshop will present participants with interactional tools to strengthen the feedback loop between parent and infant. We will also explore the use of video for better understanding of infants' reactions and behavior.
Toddlers experience a range of emotions--happy, sad, anger, fear. The talk focuses on children's use of play to work through emotions and experiences in their daily lives, from normative (i.e., mastering separation and expressing anger) to stressful or traumatic events (i.e., visit to an emergency room in a hospital, experiencing 9/11). Speaker will discuss the importance of emotions and separation for toddlers, why children play and how play provides a stage to make meaning of their worlds.
Tovah Klein is the Director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development and a Psychology Professor at Barnard College. She conducts research on children's social and emotional development and what it is like to be a parent of toddlers. She has written on topics including play, parental influences on children's development, and young children's responses to 9/11. Dr. Klein is an Advisor to Sesame Street and HBO for children's documentaries, and on the Advisory Boards of Room to Grow, NYC Voices of Childhood, and the Rwanda Education Assistance Project.
This Keynote will describe the vastly different conditions under which our youngest children grow up in the U.S., how these different conditions affect children's early learning and development, and the key policy challenges we face to meet the needs of all our nation's youngest children.
J. Lawrence Aber Ph.D., is Distinguished Professor of Applied Psychology at New York University and Board Chair of the Institute of Human Development and Social Change. His basic research focuses on the influence of poverty and violence, at both the family and community levels, on development of children and their parents. He also conducts rigorous evaluations of the impact of complex social interventions on low-income children and families.
This session will provide an opportunity for a more focused dialogue with Lawrence Aber. Participants will be able to explore early learning and development issues related to infants and toddlers in more depth.
The new era father no longer subscribes to the societal definition of financial provider only. He understands his role in supporting his child's holistic development.
The key stages in first and second language acquisition in young children will be presented with the individual variables that impact language growth. Participants will take away essential strategies to support infants and toddlers with a focus on oral language development.
Join veteran home visitors on an exciting journey through the challenges, risks, and joys of home visiting. Topics included will be rapport building, family dynamics, burnout, domestic violence, personal safety, mental illness, and substance abuse. The session will also explore the joys of the job-relationship building, overcoming obstacles, and loving children. Fun, hands-on activities will be shared to use on any home visit!
In a brief introduction, observing and recording will be situated within the field of early childhood education. Then participants will view video footage and have the opportunity to observe and record a young child's behavior. A group discussion will focus on insights derived from that experience.
This workshop will focus on giving participants a deep understanding of the emotional development of toddlers and the ways that the toddler's social and emotional issues can affect parents and teachers.
Through this presentation, I aim to share with the audience my insight and perspective, providing both professionals and caregivers with tangible ideas on how best to exemplify families as partners and work as a collaborative team in the best interests of the child and family.
Using sensory materials and videos, we will explore how sensory activities are linked to social/emotional, regulatory, cognitive, and pre-literacy skill. We also discuss how to share this information with parents at curriculum nights and through handouts.
Helping parents understand that their infants and toddlers need extra support is challenging. This workshop will focus on appropriate strategies to use in making referrals and how to understand the parent's experience in the referral process.
Bank Street Family Center: Heather Prince-Clarke, Interim Co-Director, Mary Ellen Markman, Early Intervention Coordinator, Bank Street Family Center; Tarima Levine, Co-Director of the SEIT Program
This presentation will include a video and slide presentation and discussion of the inclusive childcare, home, and community settings offered at Bank Street College.
Singing and Being Musical with Young Children
Betsy Blachly, Certified Music Therapist and Music Specialist, Bank Street Family Center and School for Children
The intention of this musical day for early childhood teachers is to provide musical confidence, repertoire, and understanding. During this day the act of singing new and old songs will allow "non-musicians" to become familiar with your voice, your range, your rhythm, your ability to make up music ideas with the children, to hear phrases, to hear changing tempo. Knowledge is power: the day will include accompanying with maracas, dulcimers, guitars, drums; making a recording of the new repertoire that we collect, sharing classroom strategies, using each other as resources, and discovering your inner joys of the art of singing time with children; even for Old MacDonald and Twinkle Twinkle.
A Journey in Problem Solving
Carla Poole, Child Development Specialist, Private Practice, ICDL Floortime Specialist Certification Candidate, Los Angeles, California; Gil Foley, Associate Professor of School-Clinical Child Psychology, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University
This all day workshop will draw on multiple sources, including DIR (Developmental, Individual-Difference Relationship-Based Model), sensory integration and psychodynamic models to deepen our understanding of divergent behaviors, always placing them in a developmental and cultural context. The leap from careful observation, history, and parental insight to "WHAT TO DO" is the challenge that faces every teacher/clinician. Collective strategizing about potential interventions will be encouraged through discussion of video clips of children with mild to pronounced behaviors. Active participation and collective thinking will be encouraged.
In this workshop we will look at children's exploration of the material as well as the developmental stages that children progress through as they work towards representational structures. We will also discuss the connectedness of block building to social skills, early language and early math and problem solving skills.
This workshop will review typical speech and language developmental milestones as well as issues related to language delay or disability. Approaches to intervention and language stimulation techniques will also be discussed.
This workshop will explore the potential barriers and pathways to building a strong network of adult relationships for infants and toddlers who most need the important people in their lives to collaborate, but whose special needs can intensify differences in child rearing beliefs. Infants and toddlers with special needs can stir up a range of emotions in those who care for them. However, when childcare professionals and parents work toward under-standing one another's experiences, valuable information can emerge about the kinds of interactions and activities that will most benefit the child.
The importance of timing, choice, and modes of nutrition in infancy and childhood to promote lifelong health will be discussed.
We can, and should, cook with toddlers if we plan simply and in a developmentally appropriate way. Experience toddler cooking activities as you would set it up in your program.
The purpose of this workshop is to introduce the Descriptive Review Process in infant toddler programs as a framework for staff development. Participants will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding about how this process supports connections among teachers, children, and families.
In this workshop we will explore what we mean by reflective practices and participants will have an opportunity to experience reflective work.
Unfortunately, there are no guaranteed ways to prevent biting in our toddler program. What we can do is try to understand why toddlers bite, how to reduce the likelihood of biting occurring and how to respond to toddlers when the behavior occurs. Come to this workshop to gain a better understanding of this challenging behavior! Discuss how to develop policies related to biting that reflect this understanding.
The Bank Street Family Center has always supported mixed-age groups for infants and toddlers. This model provides a nurturing, caring, and educational environment that supports all children's development in a setting that is more reminiscent of home. This workshop includes video and slide presentations that demonstrate concrete strategies, including primary care, for making mixed-age groups successful.
This workshop will provide a foundation of how language development typically occurs for infants and toddlers. Learn how to create a language-rich environment for young children. Teachers will be able to practice a variety of language activities that will enhance children's language skills.
This workshop is intended as an overview to guide administrators and staff. It will include everyday issues and challenges related to medications, trends in regulations, and best practices in creating and implementing policies and procedures, the designation of staff, liability and the accommodation of children with special needs who require medications.
Come to the workshop to learn about the impact of domestic violence on young children and their families and to learn how you can help. The workshop will include small and whole group discussions and a PowerPoint presentation.
Research describes how literacy, the hallmark of school success, is a developmental progression originating in a child's exposure to written and spoken language from birth. For families not accustomed to reading or even conversing with their babies, attempts to share books with infants and toddlers are often frustrating failures. This workshop will conduct exercises in shared reading and discuss filmed material depicting a variety of babies under two 'reading' with a parent.