Individual Workshops:

Here is a listing of workshops that are currently being offered:
(all two hour workshops unless otherwise noted.)

**Note to training and conference coordinators:  Please use the class titles and descriptions as written unless changes are previously agreed upon.

• through-u - Families Become MediaWise® is a 4.5 hour workshop (or can be split into 2 workshops) that gives parents, child care providers, and community leaders the information and tools they need to make wise media choices that set kids up for success in school and life.
   [*This workshop recommended for parent education classes.]
   
• Challenging Behaviors: Where Do We Begin?
  This 3 hour workshop from Family Communications is designed as an introductory training workshop to help child care professionals understand more about challenging behaviors in young children, address the strong feelings this behavior may evoke in the educators themselves, and implement changes in their approaches which can support young children's growth in self-regulation and appropriate behavior.  [*This workshop recommended for parent education classes.]
   
• What Do You Do With The Mad That You Feel?
  This 3 hour workshop from Family Communications explores anger, where it comes from, and how young children can gradually learn the self-control necessary to manage their anger and channel it into productive activity. It also suggests ways to intervene when children act out or lose control.
  [*This workshop recommended for parent education classes.]
   
• NEW  Oh, Life Happens
  Can one more thing be added to your life and schedule? More often than not the answer is NO! Stress is a common everyday real life occurrence and experience for us all.  This session will help you to learn and share ways to communicate, cooperate, and negotiate when we find ourselves in those overwhelming times and situations.
  
• NEW  Toilet  Training 101
  Have you ever felt like there has to be a way to communicate and partner with parents and families about potty training? This session will give you some tried and true facts about this common childhood milestone as well  as time to discuss and share what has and has not worked for you.
  
• Bridging Cultures in Early Care and Education
  Why should early childhood professionals consider the role of culture? We are increasingly dealing with children who come from cultural backgrounds other than ours. Early care is generally the first time that children are away from their families for extended periods of time and also a time with identity formation begins. To aid in this formation and provide stability for the child, caregivers need to be culturally consistent with the home.
  
• Could This Be Bullying? Identification, Response, and Prevention of Bullying Behavior.
  This class will provide an opportunity to look at the issue of bullying and what characteristics bullies have and how bullying impacts young children. We will also look at ways we can intervene and provide ideas for empowering and potential victims and share coping strategies.
   
• Does The World Look the Same? Exploring Learning Styles
  As adults, we know that all of us learn differently. Children learn differently also. What are ways that we can guide and discipline children without feeling frustrated? How can we take into consideration children’s learning? Come join us as we reflect on these.
   
• Coloring Within the Lines:  Exploring Ethics and Professional Boundaries in Early Childhood
  Come and learn about ethics in early childhood care and why they are an essential part of early childhood care, both to us as individual professionals and to our profession as a whole.
   
• Food for Thought:  Cooking as Curriculum
  Ever wondered what learning happens in those cooing activities both large and small?  Come and see why and how to incorporate cooking curriculum into your day and try out a few new activities as well.
   
• Beyond Building:  Enhancing Development, Numeracy , Language, and Literacy with Blocks
  It’s not just blocks anymore. Come and see how a child’s learning and development can be enhanced and expanded in all areas by incorporating learning activities into block time.
   
• Biting - Prevention and Intervention
  Biting is a typical and frequent developmental phenomenon in toddlers, much like temper tantrums and separation anxiety. In this session we will discover the reasons and developmental issues behind biting behavior and will gain knowledge in both the prevention and intervention of biting.
  [*This workshop recommended for parent education classes.]
   
• The Developing Child: An Overview of Developmental Ages & Stages
  Studying and understanding child development is an important part of teaching young children. Like snowflakes, no two children are alike. Children differ in physical, intellectual, social, and emotional growth patterns. They differ in personalities and their responses to play, affection, and other factors.  To help all these differing children, you need to understand the sequence of their development.  This knowledge of child development is essential to caring for and guiding young children.
  [*This workshop recommended for parent education classes.]
   
• Surrounding Your Children: Early Care Environments
  We are all affected by our environment.  Our physical surroundings affect how we feel, how comfortable we are, how we relate to others, and how successfully we accomplish what we set out to do.  For young children, the environment is particularly important.  The size, colors, lighting, furniture, and arrangement of your environment all influence how children learn.  Planning your environment will support the goals that you have for your business and the children in your care.
   
• Move Through Your Day
  Need some new or different ideas to help your day flow more smoothly? Find out how music, movement, and utilizing transitions can make your day go better and help the children developmentally.
   
• Let's Get Into Science: The Whys & Hows of Science Curriculum
  Why offer a science curriculum? How do we make one fit in an early childhood setting? During this workshop we will learn what is meant by a science curriculum, and outline a procedure for planning science activities as well as learn various ways to teach science concepts. We will also look at ways of involving families and parents in science exploration and activities.
   
• Sand, Water, and Other Messes & Their Importance in Child Development
  Come and learn how a sand and water area can stimulate a child's development.  Learn about the three areas of developmental play that are enhanced by sand and water activities and gain knowledge of appropriate props and extended learning activities in your child care environments.
   
• The Professional In You
  Want to be treated as a professional?  Want to take your business to the next level? To be treated with respect and as a professional, you need to become more professional. This workshop will provide ideas to market yourself and your business and many community resources to share.
   
• Parent-Provider Relationships
  Build relationships with the parents who are your clients.  Explore and express ways to respectfully communicate in any type of relationship.
   
• Portfolios and Parent Conferencing
  Portfolios are a collection of a child's work and caregiver data from informal and performance assessments... sample of a child's work, observation reports, achievements, and more. Learn how to make portfolios and use them as tools for assessment and parent conferencing. 
   
• Jump, Jive, and Survive
  Busy preschoolers need many different avenues to keep them learning and growing.  See how you can use language, music, art, and math in new and fun ways to enhance the joy of learning in your environment.
   
• The "Family" in Family Child Care
  Ever wonder if there are ways to combine your business with your family, spouse, and everyday life?  Share and explore ways to make child care work for you and your family.
   
• Arts and Crafts - Which Is It?
  Explore the differences between learning experiences and gain ways to improve and add to your environment and your program to enhance creative moments with your children.
   
• Organization, Is It For You?
  From daily schedules and activities to file organizing and environment.  Need some helpful ideas on how to make the day go smoother?  This workshop is for you!  An interactive and sharing session.
   
• Science... and Other Messes
  Science can be fun! This hands-on workshop will have you conducting experiments and concocting formulas with the children in your care for hours of fun and learning experiences.
   
• The ABC's of CDA
  Everything you wanted to know about obtaining a CDA (Child Development Associate Credential) but didn't know who to ask.  I will take you through all the steps, not only as someone who has gone through the program, but also from a CDA advisor point of view.
   
• Observation & Transitions
  Using observation of the children in your care and learning about transitions and how they can be used to make your daily routine easier and less stressful for you and the children in your care.

Above are a sample of the types of trainings and workshops that have been provided.  We can also provide a custom workshop for a variety of topics.  Simply contact us with the type and level of training that you are looking for, and we will talk about the availability of providing a custom class.

Telephone

320-796-6222

Postal address

332 Lake Avenue South
Spicer, Minnesota  56288

Electronic mail

More Information: Tammy