Child Development Workshops

Imagine Insitute for Learning (IIFL) offers child development workshops for early childhood educators and parents. AECEA professional and student members receive 15% off public sessions and associate members receive 15% off on-site sessions. 

Responding to Trauma in Early Childhood (1 Day)
This one-day training focuses on the unique impacts that exposure to ongoing or repetitive trauma in childhood can have on the developing brain. Using a trauma-informed lens, signs and symptoms of trauma in children will be examined to better understand the needs behind these behaviours. Finally, participants will learn a variety of strategies for responding to and supporting children who may be experiencing trauma. 

Building Secure Relationships (3 Hours)
This three-hour session supports early learning professionals in applying the attachment model of early relationships in their learning and care environments. The attachment model that children develop in the early years of life becomes the base from which they will build all of their relationships. While a child's attachment model begins with their primary caregivers, secure relationships with other significant adults in their life, like early childhood professionals, can have large positive impacts. 

Engaging with Challenging Behaviours (3 Hours)
This three-hour session will engage participants in exploring which child behaviours they find particularly challenging and why. With a focus on reducing the occurrence of challenging behaviours in the first place, this session will aid participants in developing strategies for addressing these behaviours while maintaining caring and understanding relationships with children. 

Understanding Temperament (3 Hours)
This three-hour session will introduce participants to temperament which refers to the physical, mental, and emotional traits of a person. Each of us has our own unique temperament which influences how we interact with the world around us. Participants will explore how their temperament traits match or mismatch with those of the children in their care and, explain how to use this information to create and strengthen supportive relationships.

Play (3 Hours)
This three-hour session will explore play in all its forms. Participants will be encouraged to embrace play more fully both in children's learning environments and their own lives. Looking at play through theory, examples, and hands-on fun, participants will leave with a complete view of play that can be used immediately with people of all ages.

Supporting Children Through and After COVID (3 Hours)
This three-hour session will describe the potential mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and explore what we as adults can do to support them. Participants will also explore their own pandemic stress and how they can continue to keep themselves healthy as they support children. 

Children, Teens and Technology: Raising Kids in the Age of Screens
This three-hour session supports both caregivers and professionals in finding technology balance for children, youth, and themselves. Participants will be presented with perspectives from both sides of the debate, current research regarding children and youth’s relationship with technology and media, and strategies for healthy technology use. 

The Early Years of the Developing Brain (2 Hours)
Having a basic understanding of brain development is crucial for anyone who interacts with children, from caregivers to educators. While brain science is extremely complex, there are pieces that can be made very practical. This two-hour introductory session will outline what influences brain development in childhood, how the brain influences childhood behaviour, and what we can do to support healthy brain development. While this session is designed to apply to children 0-12 years of age, the information in this session is applicable to all ages. Whether you are looking to better support children in learning new skills, reduce challenging behaviour, or better understand your own brain, this is the session for you.  

An Introduction to Social-Emotional Development (2 Hours)
More and more, people are equating social-emotional development with health and happiness throughout life, so how do we support this important development in children? This two–hour session will review introductory concepts of social-emotional development, what children need to thrive socially and emotionally, and what we can do as caregivers and educators to best support them.  

Guiding Behaviours Through a Trauma-Informed Approach (2 Hours)
It is often said, “children are communicating through their behaviours,” so what might they be trying to tell us? The two basic motivators of human behaviour start with having information that suggests we are safe (physically, emotionally, and socially) and connected (a sense of belonging). Unfortunately, those are not feelings all children feel throughout their childhood, resulting in experiences of trauma. If we can create an environment and promote interactions that support these needs, then we may be able to reduce the observable behaviours that may be considered challenging. This 2-hour session will take a look at trauma-responses, discussing strategies to create a space that fosters individual safety, and interactions that promote choice and control, with the goal of creating trauma-informed interactions. 

Pedagogical Practice: Planning and Playing (2 Hours)
Children’s learning is best supported through exploration of their interests with meaningful engagement. Within this 2-hour session, participants will explore the philosophy of pedagogical process, also known as how learning takes place. We discuss interactions to build collaborative relationships and explore strategies and concepts to support observation, documentation, planning, implementation, with thoughtful critical reflection. 

For more information, and to register for an available workshop, click here.

Release time funding may be available. Please contact IIFL for more information.