Have you ever felt overwhelmed by toddler screams, food-throwing, or frustrated outbursts? You’re not alone—and there are effective ways to turn those challenging moments into opportunities for connection and learning. In this engaging session, led by toddler expert, Raelene Ostberg, you’ll discover practical techniques that foster both verbal and nonverbal language skills, helping children replace ear-shattering screams with meaningful phrases and gestures.

You’ll also gain insight into how infants and toddlers develop the critical language skills that reduce negative behaviors and learn the typical developmental expectations for expressive and receptive language in the first two years.Through entertaining real-life stories and engaging videos, you’ll see strategies in action and leave inspired with numerous evidence-based tools to build harmony in your early learning environment. Join us to transform everyday challenges into joyful breakthroughs—reducing stress, strengthening connections, and unlocking the magic of early learning.

Objectives: Adult learners will be able to:

• Identify effective techniques that promote communication skills in infants and toddlers

• Explain how adult interactions influence the development of executive function and learning skills

• Apply prompting cues to support young learners during behavioral challenges

RESOURCES

• Watch the full webinar here
• Check out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management Software

Babies are natural engineers—and Loose Parts are their tools for exploration! This engaging session explores how Loose Parts play supports infant development, encourages sensory exploration, and fosters early cognitive and motor skills.

Join Infant Mental Health & Early Years Specialist, Sophie Rayner-Grignon to discover how to become an active, responsive partner in play with infants. You’ll dive into the curious minds of babies, unpack common barriers, and reframe your approach to infant play through a developmental and trauma-informed lens. Leave with practical ideas, real-world examples, and a curated collection of next-step resources to help educators, infants, and their communities engage meaningfully with Loose Parts.

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Describe the benefits of Loose Parts play for infant learning, development, and sensory exploration.
• Identify strategies for becoming an active and responsive partner in infant play using Loose Parts.
• Recognize and address common barriers to implementing Loose Parts play in early childhood settings.
• Apply practical strategies and setup ideas for safe, developmentally appropriate Loose Parts experiences.
• Reflect on personal beliefs and practices around infant play, and plan actionable next steps to integrate Loose Parts into daily routines.

RESOURCES

• Watch the full webinar here
• Check out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management Software

This engaging and interactive workshop will explore practical, joyful ways to nurture early literacy, emotional regulation, and social connection in young children through the powerful combination of carefully selected picture books, songs, rhythm, and rhyme. Join Anne Meeker Watson, Ph.D., MT-BC, Music Therapist and Early Childhood Consultant at SING.PLAY.LOVE., author of Sing & Sign with Young Children: A Guide for Early Childhood Professionals, and recipient of NAPPA and Parents’ Choice Honors awards for her global music programming. You’ll discover how these simple, everyday tools are deeply intertwined with social-emotional learning (SEL), providing a holistic foundation for development. We will delve into clear criteria for selecting rich picture book literature that captivates young minds and offers concrete opportunities for teaching a variety of essential skills.

The session will feature favorite books with concrete examples of activities and songs, demonstrating how to bring stories to life with musical elements to support:

• Early Literacy: Enhancing phonological awareness, vocabulary, and print motivation through rhythmic reading and sing-alongs.
• Emotional Regulation: Using specific songs and movements to help children identify, express, and manage big feelings.
• Social Connection: Fostering cooperation, empathy, and positive interactions through shared musical play and story experiences.

You'll leave with key takeaways for seamlessly including music and books into your daily routines, transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary learning opportunities that build joyful, confident, and connected young learners. Join us to unlock the magic of harmonizing growth in your early childhood setting!

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Participants will be able to:

1. Identify simple, joyful ways to integrate picture books, songs, rhythm, and rhyme into early childhood settings.
2. Explain how music and books support social-emotional learning (SEL) in young children.
3. Demonstrate concrete activities and songs using selected picture books to support early literacy, emotional regulation, and social connection.

RESOURCES

• Watch the full webinar here
• Check out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management Software