Connection, Communication, and Play: The Why Behind What We Do

This interactive professional development session is designed specifically for home childcare providers and focuses on the foundational reasons behind best practices in early childhood education. Through the lens of Conscious Discipline, emotional intelligence, brain development, and relationship-based care, participants will explore how connection, self-regulation, language development, literacy, play, mixed-age learning, family engagement, and outdoor experiences work together to support children's growth and success.

Providers will engage in hands-on activities, reflective discussions, movement-based learning, and practical applications that demonstrate how everyday interactions shape children's social-emotional development, communication skills, and readiness for learning. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the "why" behind their work and strategies they can immediately implement in their home childcare programs.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the connection between relationships, self-regulation, and learning.

• Explore the role of emotional intelligence in children's behavior and communication.

• Recognize how language and literacy develop through play and meaningful interactions.