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Early Childhood Investigations: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Playground
Early Childhood Investigations is your gateway to inspiring, research-based professional development. Since 2009, our free webinar series has brought together authors, researchers, and leaders in early care and education to share timely insights and spark meaningful conversations across the workforce. We believe high-quality professional development should be accessible, practical, and immediately useful. ECI is a movement that empowers directors, administrators, and teachers to elevate their practice and strengthen outcomes for children and families. https://ecewebinars.com/spotify
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- 3 days ago1h 26m
Boundaries vs. Requests: Setting Limits Without Escalation by Alyssa Blask Campbell
RESOURCESWatch the full webinar hereJoin our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every weekCheck out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management SoftwareYou’ve supported regulation.You’ve slowed your body, connected, and helped a child come back online.And then comes the moment that still feels hard:“Time to clean up.”“We’re not hitting.”“Shoes stay on outside.”Suddenly, everything escalates again.It can feel like you are either giving in or bracing for a power struggle. But what if the goal is not compliance, but to hold a clear boundary while staying connected?In this session, we’ll build on your understanding of the nervous system and explore what it looks like to set limits in a way that supports regulation rather than disrupts it. You’ll learn the difference between a boundary and a request, and why that distinction matters so much in early childhood classrooms.We’ll explore why children push against limits, what may be happening in their nervous system when they do, and how to respond in a way that reduces escalation while still holding the line. This is not about being permissive or rigid. It is about being clear, consistent, and connected.You’ll leave with language you can use in the moment, along with strategies for following through on boundaries without increasing dysregulation in the classroom.This session bridges the gap between understanding behavior and responding in ways that actually work in real time.Learning ObjectivesParticipants will be able to:Differentiate between boundaries and requests and identify when each is appropriate in early childhood classrooms.Recognize how nervous system states influence the way children respond to limits, transitions, and expectations.Use clear, regulation-informed language to set and hold boundaries while maintaining connection.Respond to pushback or resistance in ways that reduce escalation and support emotional safety.Apply consistent follow-through strategies that support connection, classroom safety, and children’s developing self-regulation.
- 5 days ago1h 31m
The Enrollment Hot Seat: A Live Marketing Workshop with Three Real Child Care Programs by Bruce Spurr
RESOURCESWatch the full webinar hereJoin our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every weekCheck out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management SoftwareJoin us for a new twist on a webinar. This isn’t your typical session—you’ll watch a live workshop as we dig into the enrollment marketing of three real child care programs and improve it on screen, in real time.On November 3, Bruce Spurr, founder of Grow Your Center, will put three real programs in the hot seat. Together, we’ll examine the full enrollment picture in one view, including licensed capacity and current enrollment, Google Business Profile, reviews, website, advertising, lead flow, and tour conversion.For each program, we’ll work through:The empty-seat math: Calculate how many open spots the program has and what those vacancies may be costing.A trust-asset scorecard: Examine how families find and evaluate the program online, including through AI search tools like ChatGPT.The enrollment funnel: Identify where prospective families may be dropping off between inquiry, tour, and enrollment.The one move to make first: Determine the highest-impact marketing action to test over the next 30 days.We’ll also build one enrollment ad three different ways: using the traditional manual approach, a generic ChatGPT prompt, and a system trained on eight years of child care-specific marketing. You’ll see how the approaches differ, what changes in the final result, and why.Not in the hot seat? Bring your own licensed capacity and current enrollment numbers so you can assess your program alongside the featured centers and apply the same framework to your own enrollment strategy.WHAT YOU’LL WALK AWAY WITHBy the end of this workshop, you’ll be able to:Calculate your program’s empty-seat gap and estimate the financial impact of unfilled enrollment.Assess your program’s online presence using a trust-asset scorecard.Identify the weakest point between first inquiry, tour, and enrollment.Select one practical marketing action to test within the next 30 days.
- 1 weeks ago1h 25m
Our Voices Across Generations: AANHPI Educators in Early Childhood Education Panel by Dr. Jamie Cho, Ninderjit Gill, M.Ed., Debbie LeeKeenan, M.Ed., and Nicol Russell, Ed.D.
RESOURCESWatch the full webinar hereJoin our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every weekCheck out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management SoftwareWhat becomes possible when the voices, histories, and lived experiences of AANHPI educators are more fully centered in early childhood education?This panel discussion brings together four contributors to No Single Story: Amplifying the Voices of Asian American and Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Early Educators for a thoughtful conversation about identity, leadership, legacy, and change in the early childhood field.Through personal and professional storytelling, panelists will explore how AANHPI early educators, higher education faculty, and policy voices are shaping the field while building on the wisdom, resilience, and cultural knowledge of generations before them. The conversation will highlight the rich diversity within AANHPI communities and invite participants to move beyond stereotypes or single narratives to better understand the many histories, cultures, traditions, and lived experiences that influence AANHPI educators’ work.Together, the panel will examine how identity shapes the way educators show up in classrooms, leadership spaces, higher education, and policy conversations. Participants will reflect on whose knowledge is most often centered in the field, what perspectives may be missing, and how educators and leaders can more intentionally partner with AANHPI educators, children, and families.Designed for educators, program leaders, and teacher educators, this session offers an opportunity to listen deeply, reflect honestly, and consider how centering AANHPI voices across generations can help shape a more inclusive, culturally sustaining, and responsive future for early childhood education.Note: No Single Story: Amplifying the Voices of Asian American and Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Early Educators is available for purchase through NAEYC.Learning ObjectivesBy the end of this session, participants will be able to:Describe key themes from the lived experiences of AANHPI early childhood educators shared by the panelists.Recognize how systemic inequities and dominant narratives affect the experiences and work of AANHPI educators in early childhood education.Reflect on how centering AANHPI voices across generations can inform culturally sustaining, asset-based, and equity-focused practices in early childhood education.
- 2 weeks ago1h 24m
Educators as sheriffs or allies? Rethinking our relationships with preschool-aged children by Noah Hichenberg, Ed.D
RESOURCESWatch the full webinar hereJoin our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every weekCheck out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management SoftwareTrusting children is hard. Really, really hard. We generally lack the language, attitudes, and habits for it. As preschool teachers and parents of young children, we are accustomed – we are trained and expected – to maintain control over a child’s actions. As an educator, Noah Hichenberg, author of A New Vision for Early Childhood: Rethinking our Relationships with Young Children worked his entire career in preschool classrooms – on building a stance of trust, rather than control, towards children. This session will cover the core elements of his approach to reshaping our relationships with young children.A key theme in the webinar will focus on how adults turn into “sheriffs” when we are stuck in a control-oriented relationship with children, always looking to catch them doing the wrong thing and reminding them to do the right thing instead. When we play the role of sheriff, our children’s constant resistance turns them into outlaws. Join is paradigm-shifting webinar to learn how we can work on being an ally instead of a sheriff, supporting children instead of correcting them. When we can become allies instead of sheriffs, there are no outlaws, only collaborators.As in the book, the webinar will offer a concise, critical social construction of childhood. You will learn how requiring groups of toddlers and preschool children to do the same thing, at the same time and the constant presence of adult control shapes early childhood today. Noah will also explain how children retain the power of individual agency to push back against adults’ expectations and control.For children in today’s hyper-surveilled childhood to speak up is often considered to be resistance and defiance. Teachers frequently see expression of individual agency as an act of subversion. Noah will share his thoughts about how to reframe children’s resistance as their agency.In this thought-provoking presentation you will:Identify moments of adult controlLearn how to become an ally to childrenExplore why children are hyper-surveilled todayPlan to make changes to your practices
- 2 weeks ago1h 22m
Preschoolers and Pixels by Amy Reyes-Hauff, CDHP
RESOURCESWatch the full webinar hereJoin our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every weekCheck out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management SoftwareWhat happens when the devices children rely on most begin to shape how they connect, regulate, and learn?In this timely session, together we’ll explore how excessive screen use can affect pre-K children’s social-emotional development, peer relationships, transitions, and engagement in the classroom. Amy Reyes-Hauff, CDHP, State Early Learning and Literacy Specialist with the Wyoming Department of Education, will bring a thoughtful, experience-backed perspective to this growing challenge facing educators and families alike.You’ll examine the behavioral signs that may point to unhealthy digital dependence and discover practical, developmentally appropriate strategies to help children reconnect with active play, real-world interaction, and screen-free learning. We’ll also explore how to build supportive partnerships with families around digital habits at home in ways that feel encouraging, constructive, and grounded in children’s well-being.By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:Define device addiction and its impact on the developmental milestones of pre-K children.Identify behavioral red flags, such as decreased peer engagement and difficulty transitioning to non-digital activities.Examine the connection between excessive screen time and delays in social-emotional development.Implement evidence-based strategies to support active play and create a more screen-free classroom environment.Develop a communication framework for partnering with families around digital consumption at home.
- 3 weeks ago1h 26m
From First Tour to Long-Term Loyalty: Designing the Family & Staff Lifecycle Journey by Melissa Blotter
RESOURCESWatch the full webinar hereJoin our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every weekCheck out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management SoftwareRetention doesn’t begin when someone is thinking about leaving; it begins the very first time they experience your organization. From the first tour to long-term relationships, every interaction a family or staff member has with your program shapes how they feel, what they believe, and ultimately, whether they stay.In this session, you’ll explore how to intentionally design the full lifecycle experience for both families and staff through the lens of everyday leadership moments. You’ll learn why retention is not driven by policies or programs alone, but by the patterns of interaction that happen across five critical stages of the journey.Using a practical and relatable framework, you’ll identify the “moments that matter” within each stage and uncover how small, consistent actions build trust, connection, and loyalty over time. You’ll also learn how to apply the 5:1 interaction principle to strengthen relationships, increase psychological safety, and create experiences people want to stay connected to.Because retention isn’t a single moment. It’s a journey you design, one interaction at a time.Learning ObjectivesParticipants will be able to:Identify the five key stages of the family and staff lifecycle and the critical “moments that matter” within each stage.Apply the 5:1 interaction principle to strengthen relationships and build trust across the lifecycle experience.Recognize how everyday leadership behaviors influence retention, engagement, and overall experience.Design simple, intentional connection strategies that improve both staff satisfaction and family loyalty.Evaluate current practices to identify missed opportunities and strengthen retention through consistent interactions.
- 3 weeks ago1h 25m
Website-First Marketing: The Simple Marketing System Every ECE Program Needs to Grow Online by Chelsea Denny
RESOURCESWatch the full webinar hereJoin our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every weekCheck out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management SoftwareYou’ve worked hard to build a strong program, but getting the right families to find you and take the next step can still feel overwhelming. If your marketing feels inconsistent, time-consuming, or unclear, you’re not alone. Many child care owners know they need a stronger online presence, but aren’t sure how to turn their website and marketing efforts into a system that actually supports enrollment.In this practical, tech-friendly session, Chelsea, a professional web designer, will walk you through a simple five-step marketing system designed to help child care businesses market with more clarity and confidence. With your website at the center, you’ll explore how to create a digital home that builds trust with families, supports your enrollment goals, and connects strategically to tools like email marketing, lead magnets, and content.Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to build a marketing foundation that works together, so they can spend less time guessing and more time using simple, intentional strategies to grow visibility, increase inquiries, and strengthen their business.Learning ObjectivesIdentify five key components of a digital marketing system that can help child care programs increase visibility and attract prospective families.Develop a simple marketing plan that uses a website, email, and content strategically to support enrollment and business growth.Compare digital marketing tools and strategies to determine which options best fit their program’s goals, capacity, and audience.
- Oct 14, 20261h 26m
From Reactivity to Regulation: A 3-Layer Framework for Emotionally Responsive Classrooms by Dr. Yehudis Smith
RESOURCESWatch the full webinar hereJoin our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every weekCheck out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management SoftwareEvery classroom moment carries emotional weight. When a child melts down, refuses, pushes, cries, or shuts down, it’s easy to focus on compliance or quick fixes. But what if behavior is not a discipline problem, but a stress signal? In this dynamic and practical session, you will learn how to shift from reacting to behavior to responding with clarity, steadiness, and intention.Emotionally Responsive Practice (ERP) offers a research-informed, classroom-ready framework that helps you understand behavior through a nervous system lens—both in children and in yourself. You will explore how your own regulation shapes the emotional climate of your classroom and why your presence is often more powerful than your words.You will walk away with a clear three-layer strategy model that moves beyond “What do I say?” and into sustainable practice:Proactive Layer: How you design environments, routines, and expectations to reduce stress before it escalates.In-the-Moment Layer: How you regulate yourself and respond effectively during dysregulated moments.Reflective Layer: How you process challenging situations to support long-term growth and prevent recurring patterns.Rather than offering surface-level behavior tips, this session strengthens your capacity so your responses feel grounded, confident, and developmentally aligned. You will leave with practical tools you can use immediately—and a deeper understanding of how connection and regulation transform classroom culture.Learning ObjectivesBy the end of this session, you will be able to:Understand behavior through a nervous system and stress lens rather than a compliance lens.Recognize your personal stress signatures and how they show up in classroom interactions.Apply the three-layer ERP strategy model (proactive, in-the-moment, reflective) to real classroom scenarios.Use practical regulation tools that can be implemented immediately.Shift from managing behavior to guiding children with connection and clarity.
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About Early Childhood Investigations
Early Childhood Investigations is your gateway to inspiring, research-based professional development. Since 2009, our free webinar series has brought together authors, researchers, and leaders in early care and education to share timely insights and spark meaningful conversations across the workforce. We believe high-quality professional development should be accessible, practical, and immediately useful. ECI is a movement that empowers directors, administrators, and teachers to elevate their practice and strengthen outcomes for children and families. https://ecewebinars.com/spotify
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