| DATE & TIME | WORKSHOP & PRESENTER | CLASS DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
|
Saturday
1/24/2026 8:00 am - 10:00 am |
Building Brains through Rough and Tumble Play (KCF I) - Sherry Tiegs | Explore the developmental value of Rough and Tumble Play. Identify Key characteristics of rough and tumble play, distinguish it from aggression and describe it's developmental benefits. Create save and supportive environments, manage risk and accommodate individual learning needs. Reflect on the cultural perspective and develop strategies that promote healthy whole-child development through energetic movement. |
|
Saturday
1/24/2026 10-15 am - 12:15 pm |
In the know: Fly, Fly Away, Monarch Butterflies in Child Care (KCF IIB) - Cyndi Cunningham | Discover how raising monarch butterflies and studying their migration broadens children's view of their role in the world both close to home and far away. Learn the fundamentals of how to integrate the raising Monarch butterflies in your Child Care setting. Identify techniques for managing the raising of the monarchs, milkweed management (including DHS licensing criteria for poisonous plants), resources for lesson plans and tracking of the migration. Please note: The full migration window is approximately March through November which allows this topic to encompass most of the calendar year for curriculum use! |
|
Saturday
1/24/2026 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm |
When Families Experience Change (KCF IIC) - Kristen Wheeler Highlands | Growing up is an ongoing process of change that involves losses as well as gains for all children. Preparing children for change, no matter the source, is difficult. We live in a world of constant change. This workshop is designed to support those that care for children in personal or professional settings. Discuss children's understanding of loss, discuss how children of various ages display grief. This session will focus more specifically on common varieties of change (birth, death, moves, divorce) that children experience. Tips and strategies for supporting children during this confusing and stressful time will be provided. |
|
Monday
1/26/2026 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm |
Courageous Conversations (KCF III) - Carrie Z Johnson | Communicating with families about their child's development requires careful planning and preparation. Identify best practices for building cultural competency in partnerships with families as a strategy to promote healthy child development. Model how positive parent-child interactions can foster warm and nurturing relationships within the family structure. Utilize relationship-based and reflective practice to engage parents and caregivers in courageous conversations that will lead to better outcomes for children. |
|
Tuesday
1/27/2026 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm |
Sticks and Stones: Supporting Child Care Safety & Healthy Risk Taking (KCF VIIB) - Stacey Boysen | This class does meet the annual Active Supervision requirement for all providers. Explore the correlations between child development, healthy risk-taking, and child injury in nature play. Assess opportunities, variables, and hazards found in outdoor environments and implement safety measures to prevent child injury. Create outdoor environments and facilitate play activities that support children's creativity, motor, and sensory development, as well as their developmental needs for risky play. |