2019 Annual Early Learning and Child Care Conference
Health & Wellness in the Early Years
Saturday April 6th, 2019
8:30 am to 1:30 pm
Conestoga College, Doon Campus, Blue Room
Health and Wellness in the early years encompass the physical and mental health of children, families, and those who work supporting children’s learning and development. When children feel well, happy, secure and socially successful they are able to fully participate and learn from daily routines, play, interactions and experiences. Professionals who are mindful of their own well-being and take steps to maintain it, are better able to support children and families in their road to wellness. This conference will focus on strengthening early learning professionals’ capacity to satisfy children’s wellness needs, their ability to support families as they ensure the healthy development of their children, as well as their skills in acknowledging and managing their own personal health and wellness. Conference workshops will build on this capacity by providing current and stimulating information about health and wellness in the early years and through the exploration of practical strategies and tools that can be applied in daily interactions.
Participants will take part in two different workshops throughout the morning. Session 1 will be between 9:00am to 10:30am and Session 2 will be between 11:15am to 12:45pm.
The event will include a display of research projects completed by the Conestoga College’s Degree of Early Learning and Program Development students, as well as an array of vendors. Light refreshments will be available throughout the event.
Early Bird Price: $35 for Members; $45 for Non-Members (Available until March 15th)
Regular Price: $40 for Members; $50 for Non-Members (Registration will close on Thursday April 4th, 2019 or when maximum number of spaces are sold out)
Registration Instructions
Instructions on how to register
Please visit www.eceprc.ca to access the workshop titles and descriptions. You will need the correct title of the workshop you wish to select to be able to register.
1. Select an Early Morning Event from the list below.
2. You will not be able to select a Late Morning Event until you have first selected an Early Morning Event.
3. Select a Late Morning Event from the list below.
4. Click Next (at the bottom) and continue with registration
**Price of the Conference includes attendance to two sessions.
Registering more than one person?
Please register one person at a time and follow the prompts below. You will be given an option to come back to the main page and select the next individual’s events before checkout. You can select "Use my address" when registering more than one person from an organization
On-line registration must be accompanied by payment by credit card. All other methods of payment (cheque or cash) must be made in person at the Professional Resource Centre (PRC) at time of registration. For more information please contact the PRC at 519-748-5220 ext.3388
Presenter: Ildiko O’Dacre, RECE, WCDSB
Description: Getting to know ourselves better, seeing others in a different light, developing positive dispositions and maintaining it, while learning new ways to foster healthier and happier early childhood classroom environments, benefits children and adults equally. Through this presentation educators will dig deep for the roots of stress, frustration, anxiety and other emotions or conditions that undermine the social and emotional well-being of children and will walk out confident without needing Pete's “cool blue, magic sunglasses.” The five dimensions of well-being will be highlighted and attendees will concentrate on the social, emotional and spiritual (not in a religious understanding) dimensions, examining personalities, temperaments and positive behavior management, as well as the importance of the relationship approach to avoid burnout and maintaining social and emotional well-being. Attendees will go away with a renewed vision of early childhood classroom environments that contribute to social and emotional well-being, learn some ways to keep a balanced approach and develop positive dispositions to problem- solving. Moreover, they will gain support through recent literature and handouts.
This event is currently sold out.
Presenter: Sarah Stewart, Registered Social Worker, owner, and lead trainer, Open Minds
Description: Compassion Fatigue (CF) is known as ‘the cost of caring’ for helping professionals. We’re drawn to our work by a desire to make a positive impact on others’ lives, but that same quality makes us vulnerable to giving until we’re totally drained. Early childhood professionals face unique job stressors that contribute to CF, including working with families who face multiple barriers, supporting children with complex needs, and carrying high caseloads and paperwork demands. The good news is that we can learn skills that can help protect us from these occupational hazards, and that being proactive about building our resilience can help sustain us both personally and professionally. This evidence-based workshop will provide an overview of compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout, give participants tools for guided self-reflection, and share strategies and resources for taking care of oneself while caring for others.
Registrations for this event are not available at this time. Please try again later.
Presenters: Priya Somaia and Crystal Pahuta, Resource Consultants, KW Habilitation
Description: Through this presentation, participants will be empowered to understand, identify and develop their own strategies to support self-regulation skills in the children in their care. Participants will be able to identify self-regulation challenges and developmentally appropriate behaviors in the context of their classroom. Once aware of the challenges, educators will be supported to develop strategies to support self-regulation skills, keeping best practices in mind. These concepts will be explore through the use of multimedia as well as interactive discussions.
This event is currently sold out.
Presenter: Katie Stortz, Professor at Conestoga College, and Professional Learning Coordinator at London Children’s Connection
Description: Do you know what your risk comfort level is? This presentation will invite participants to engage in powerful discussions about adventure play through the use of large loose parts and the benefits that these materials have in supporting children’s physical development and social/emotional wellness. Learn more about this movement and the risk of not embracing it. Come prepared to participate in engaging play experiences that reflect the principles of Ontario’s Pedagogy How Does Learning Happen?.
Registrations for this event are not available at this time. Please try again later.
Presenter: Rosalba Bortolotti, RECE and Pedagogical Consultant.
Description: In this presentation, led by Rosalba Bortolotti, participants will be invited to engage in dialogues and interactions about different materials that contribute to children’s learning and creativity. The ‘Atelier of Taste’ demonstrates a deep meaning into the senses of touch, taste, and smell, building on theories about more time and moments to explore the ideas and traditions with food, school gardens, and the languages of plant life. How do we explore the ideas of food sustainability and food waste to children? Why is it important to talk to children about values and traditions? Participants will have the opportunity to explore different materials that connect to the languages of food as well as engage in conversations about making learning visible by using observation and provocations to build on pedagogical documentation and creativity in the classrooms.
This workshop is aimed both at early childhood educators and cooks and it will connect with the cooking demonstration led by Emily Richards on building on the New Canada’s Food Guide and supporting cooking with fresh and local ingredients.
Registrations for this event are not available at this time. Please try again later.
Presenter: Ildiko O’Dacre, RECE, WCDSB
Description: Getting to know ourselves better, seeing others in a different light, developing positive dispositions and maintaining it, while learning new ways to foster healthier and happier early childhood classroom environments, benefits children and adults equally. Through this presentation educators will dig deep for the roots of stress, frustration, anxiety and other emotions or conditions that undermine the social and emotional well-being of children and will walk out confident without needing Pete's “cool blue, magic sunglasses.” The five dimensions of well-being will be highlighted and attendees will concentrate on the social, emotional and spiritual (not in a religious understanding) dimensions, examining personalities, temperaments and positive behavior management, as well as the importance of the relationship approach to avoid burnout and maintaining social and emotional well-being. Attendees will go away with a renewed vision of early childhood classroom environments that contribute to social and emotional well-being, learn some ways to keep a balanced approach and develop positive dispositions to problem- solving. Moreover, they will gain support through recent literature and handouts.
This event is currently sold out.
Presenter: Sarah Stewart, Registered Social Worker, owner, and lead trainer, Open Minds
Description: Compassion Fatigue (CF) is known as ‘the cost of caring’ for helping professionals. We’re drawn to our work by a desire to make a positive impact on others’ lives, but that same quality makes us vulnerable to giving until we’re totally drained. Early childhood professionals face unique job stressors that contribute to CF, including working with families who face multiple barriers, supporting children with complex needs, and carrying high caseloads and paperwork demands. The good news is that we can learn skills that can help protect us from these occupational hazards, and that being proactive about building our resilience can help sustain us both personally and professionally. This evidence-based workshop will provide an overview of compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout, give participants tools for guided self-reflection, and share strategies and resources for taking care of oneself while caring for others.
Registrations for this event are not available at this time. Please try again later.
Presenters: Priya Somaia and Crystal Pahuta, Resource Consultants, KW Habilitation
Description: Through this presentation, participants will be empowered to understand, identify and develop their own strategies to support self-regulation skills in the children in their care. Participants will be able to identify self-regulation challenges and developmentally appropriate behaviors in the context of their classroom. Once aware of the challenges, educators will be supported to develop strategies to support self-regulation skills, keeping best practices in mind. These concepts will be explore through the use of multimedia as well as interactive discussions.
This event is currently sold out.
Presenter: Katie Stortz, Professor at Conestoga College, and Professional Learning Coordinator at London Children’s Connection
Description: Do you know what your risk comfort level is? This presentation will invite participants to engage in powerful discussions about adventure play through the use of large loose parts and the benefits that these materials have in supporting children’s physical development and social/emotional wellness. Learn more about this movement and the risk of not embracing it. Come prepared to participate in engaging play experiences that reflect the principles of Ontario’s Pedagogy How Does Learning Happen?.
This event is currently sold out.
Presenter: Emily Richards, Celebrity Chef and Author.
Description: PARTICIPANTS WHO WISH TO REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION NEED TO ATTEND THE ATELIER OF TASTE: WORKSHOP IN THE EARLY MORNING.
Emily Richards, Professional Home Economist, Cookbook Author and Chef will showcase how using seasonal, local ingredients can create flavourful meals that are healthy and simple to get on the table. With the importance of eating together, cooking together starts that process and brings an important skill to children and adults alike. Showcasing recipes from the new Canada’s food guide and Emily’s Cookbooks the kitchen will continue to be the heart of the community.
Registrations for this event are not available at this time. Please try again later.
Make an additional donation
$
Session 1: (Early AM) Social and Emotional Well-Being in Early Years Classrooms:
Session 2: (Early AM) Transforming Compassion Fatigue: Tools for Resilience:
Session 3:(Early AM) Understanding Self-Regulation and Developing Strategies to Support Children:
Session 4: (Early AM) From Bubble Wrap to Chainsaw:
Session 5a (Early AM): Atelier of Taste: Workshop:
Session 1: (Late AM) Social and Emotional Well-Being in Early Years Classrooms:
Session 2: (Late AM) Transforming Compassion Fatigue: Tools for Resilience:
Session 3: (Late AM) Understanding Self-Regulation and Developing Strategies to Support Children:
Session 4: (Late AM) From Bubble Wrap to Chainsaw:
Session 5b (Late AM): Atelier of Taste: Cooking Demonstration:
If you are experiencing difficulties with this registration form please call the PRC at 519-748-5220 x 3388