Early Childhood Education

July 30, 2026 Milestones in Motion: Tracking Growth and Standardized Screening in Early Childhood (HYBRID) 6:30 – 8:30 PM

KY All STARS Standards: Submitted for A1R (Developmental Screening) and B5 (Curriculum-based Assessment)

Cost:  FREE

Core Content Subject Area: 4) Learning environment and curriculum; and  7) Program management and Evaluation

CDA Subject Area: 6) Understanding principles of child development and learning; and 7) Observing and recording children’s behavior

Audience: All Providers

Training Level:  2

Description: Discover the vital link between everyday child observations and formal, research-based screening tools. This interactive 2-hour workshop equips early childhood educators with the foundational knowledge required to track developmental milestones across physical, social-emotional, and cognitive domains. Participants will master the distinction between continuous developmental monitoring and formal, age-specific screening processes. By the end of this session, you will confidently utilize standardized screening tools to build child-focused action plans that support school readiness.

Instructor: Bridget Jackson

Location:Hybrid – In-Person (7300 Turfway Rd. Suite 530, Florence, KY  41041) or Virtual (Zoom)

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Saturday, August 1, 2026 Setting the Stage for Learning: Intentional Lesson Planning and Environmental Design for a Successful Preschool Year (HYBRID) 9AM – Noon

KY All STARS Standards: Submitted for B1R/B2R: Curriculum, Instructional Practices or Teaching and Learning

Cost:  FREE

Core Content Subject Area: 4) Learning environment and curriculum;

CDA Subject Area: 6) Understanding principles of child development and learning;

Audience: Preschool Providers

Training Level:  2

Description: Summer is coming to a close and you are about to welcome a new set of children to your room, so where do you begin? The beginning of the school year is a critical time for establishing routines, building relationships, and creating an environment where children feel safe, welcomed, and ready to learn. This training focuses on how intentional lesson planning, and thoughtful environmental design can help preschool teachers successfully launch a new year. Participants will explore strategies for creating engaging first-week experiences, introducing room expectations and routines, and designing learning spaces that promote independence, exploration, and a sense of belonging that will last throughout the year. Through discussions, reflections, and practical planning activities, educators will learn how to align lesson plans with children’s developmental needs while creating a classroom environment that supports smooth transitions, positive behavior, and meaningful learning opportunities. Participants will examine ways to prepare learning centers, organize materials, and establish classroom systems that foster confidence and engagement from the very first day. By the end of the training, teachers will have tools and ideas to create a strong foundation for a successful year, ensuring that every child feels connected, supported, and excited to learn.

Instructor: Kim Ross

Location:  Hybrid – In-Person (7300 Turfway Rd. Suite 530, Florence, KY  41041) or Virtual (Zoom)

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Monday, August 3, 2026 Using Diverse Children’s Literature to Help School Agers Affirm and Assert Themselves (VIRTUAL) 6:30 – 8:30PM

KY All STARS Standards: Submitted for B1R/B2R: Curriculum, Instructional Practices or Teaching and Learning

Cost:  FREE

Core Content Subject Area: 4) Learning environment and curriculum;

CDA Subject Area: 3) Supporting children’s social and emotional development

Audience: School Age Providers

Training Level:  2

Description: In this workshop, we will be expand on the training session Using Children’s Literature to Teach Diversity and Social Emotional Skills to School-Age Children and going into more depth with book examples and activities to help children affirm self and others, and to assert self through diverse and culturally relevant children’s literature. Attending the prior session is NOT a requirement; all are welcome to join this session. It is recommended but not required for participants to read the following picture books prior to the training: Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson (2012), Louie by Ezra Jack Keats (1975), Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman (2007), and The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi (2001). If you do not have access to these books through your school or local library, there are read alouds available on YouTube. This is an interactive training where participants will discuss and practice the steps for introducing books to teach about affirming others, self, and asserting self (present the story, story synopsis, discussion, enactments, and real-life applications). Participants will leave the training with practical ideas and resources for extension activities and further reading.

Instructor: Charla Heersche

Location:  Virtual (Zoom)

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Thursday, September 17, 2026 Exploring Early Math Concepts Through Play and Everyday Experiences with Infants and Toddlers (HYBRID) 6:30 – 8:30PM

KY All STARS Standards: Submitted for B1R/B2R: Curriculum, Instructional Practices or Teaching and Learning

Cost:  FREE

Core Content Subject Area: 4) Learning environment and curriculum;

CDA Subject Area:2) Advancing children’s physical and intellectual development; & 3) Supporting children’s social and emotional development

Audience: Infant/Toddler Providers and FCC

Training Level:  2

Description: Infants and toddlers develop foundational cognitive skills by actively exploring their environment, engaging in play, and participating in daily routines. This professional development session will focus on how young children gain and recall information, recognize the characteristics of objects, and begin to understand early math concepts such as patterns, spatial awareness, sorting, and measurement. Participants will explore strategies to create engaging environments that support sensory exploration, problem-solving, and mathematical thinking. Emphasis will be placed on using routine and play-based experiences to naturally integrate early math concepts, promote curiosity, and support cognitive growth. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to foster exploration, learning, and mathematical awareness in developmentally appropriate ways.

Instructor: Elizabeth Singleton

Location: Hybrid – In-Person (7300 Turfway Rd. Suite 530, Florence, KY  41041) or Virtual (Zoom)

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Monday, September 28, 2026 Strong Starts: Building Social-Emotional Foundations for Children Zero to Five (HYBRID) 6:30 – 8:30PM

KY All STARS Standards: Submitted for B1R/B2R: Curriculum, Instructional Practices or Teaching and Learning

Cost:  FREE

Core Content Subject Area: 4) Learning environment and curriculum;

CDA Subject Area: 3) Supporting children’s social and emotional development

Audience: All Providers

Training Level:  2

Description: Strong Starts is a dynamic training designed for early childhood educators, caregivers, and program administrators. This session explores the critical window of social-emotional (SE) development from birth through age five. Participants will gain practical, evidence-based strategies to foster resilient, emotionally secure, and socially competent young children.

Instructor: Allyson Williams

Location: Hybrid – In-Person (7300 Turfway Rd. Suite 530, Florence, KY  41041) or Virtual (Zoom)

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Cost: $30 (3-hours)

Core Content Subject Areas: 1 – Child growth and development, 4 – Learning environment and curriculum

CDA Subject Area: 1 – Planning a safe, healthy learning environment; and 3 – Positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development

Audience:  All

Description: Our everyday interactions with young children have the power to build something essential within them – resilience. This course offers simple, meaningful strategies to help children grow to become emotionally strong, confident, and capable people. Participants will begin with learning that resilience is a child’s ability to cope with stress, recover from challenges, and keep going – even when things are hard. Then the course takes early care and education professionals through the five resiliency tip sheets designed in collaboration with NorthKey and EC LEARN with funding from the Kentucky Early Childhood Regional Collaborative in Boone, Campbell, Kenton, and Pendleton counties. The five tip sheets include: 5 Ways to Help Children Feel Safe; 5 Ways to Build a Positive Relationship with Children; 5 Ways to Encourage Children; 5 Ways to Help Children Be Creative; and 5 Ways to Help Children Cope. Participants will be asked to reflect on how their everyday interactions with young children foster resilience by focusing on encouragement, connections, problem-solving, and emotional support.

Register Here

Cost: $50 (6-hours)

Core Content Subject Areas: 1 – Child growth and development, 4 – Learning environment and curriculum

CDA Subject Area: 3 – Positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development

Audience:  All

Description: This web-based, on-demand course is designed to introduce you to four easy-to-remember steps to transform the behaviors in your classroom. Connect the Dots is a joint collaboration between multiple early education and mental health specialists across Kentucky. The collaboration was built to address a common need: The need for a short yet powerful skills-based training teaching the basics of social and emotional best practices. Connect the Dots highlights 4 easy-to-remember steps, or dots, to address challenging behaviors. Connect the Dots will reduce frustrating and challenging behaviors but more importantly begin the development of strong social and emotional skills critical for success in school and in life!

Objectives:

• Describe the three brain states and apply the information to challenging behavior.
• Identify how a predictable schedule, organized routines and transitions, and age-appropriate physical environment improve a child’s behavior.
• Use proven skills to help the child link positive behaviors to positive experiences and feelings.
• Demonstrate at least two positive discipline techniques that teach children how to handle their feelings and needs in appropriate ways.
• Identify how unique temperaments and personality strengths have a critical impact on behavior and relationships.
• Reframe a child’s behavior using the 4 dots.

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All STARS Approved Training: Standard A1R: Developmental Screening

Cost: $30 (3-hours)

Core Content Subject Area:  5 – Child assessment; 6 – Family and community partnerships

CDA Subject Area: 4 – Strategies to establish productive relationships with families; 7 – Observing and recording children’s behavior

Audience:  All

Description:  This course is designed to help you understand and use the Ages and Stages Questionnaires to monitor children’s progress and to make sure that all children have the supports needed to succeed. Participants will learn the purpose of these screeners, when and how to use them, how to score and interpret, and best practice for communicating results with families.

Register Here

All STARS Approved Training: Standard A1R: Developmental Screening

Cost: $30 (3-hours)

Core Content Subject Areas: 5 – Child Assessment; 6 – Family and community partnerships

CDA Subject Areas: 2 – Steps to advance children’s physical and intellectual development; 7 – Observing and recording children’s behavior

Audience:  Preschool

Description:  This course is designed to help you understand and apply the screening tool to assist in the development of child-focused plans of action. We will go over the purpose of the tool, how to use the tool, how to apply the results to your classroom, and how to share the results with parents.

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Cost:  $45

Training Title: Meet me Where I Am: Promoting the Protective Factors

Description: Protective factors are characteristics that promote family wellness and ensure families are well-positioned to overcome challenges. This training reviews the Strengthening Protective Factors Families framework and provides practical strategies for implementing six protective factors in programs serving families with young children. This training supplements the Meet Me Where I Am workbook developed by the Resilient Children and Families Program (RCFP).

In this course, we will cover:

• Introduction to RCFP and CYRC
• Introduction to Protective Factors
• Protective Factors Framework:
  • Social and Emotional Competence of Children
  • Nurturing and Attachment
  • Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development
  • Social Connections
  • Parental Resilience
  • Concrete Support in Times of Need

Core Content Subject Area: 6 – Family community partnerships

CDA Subject Areas: 3 – Supporting children’s social and emotional development; & 4 – Building productive relationships with families

Audience:  All

Training Level:  2

Location:  Online (web-based, on-demand)

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Cost:  $25

Training Title: Meet me Where I Am: Nurturing Family Resilience and Wellness

Description: More and more families are experiencing adversity and stress, and early childhood professionals are well-positioned to help families overcome their challenges. This training explores values and perceptions related to parenting. It provides strategies for early childhood professionals to create effective partnerships with parents, respond to their needs, and promote their resilience. This training is designed to supplement the Meet Me Where I Am workbook developed by the Resilient Children and Families Program (RCFP).

In this course, we will cover:

• Introduction to RCFP and CYRC
• Principles of Effective Family Engagement
• The Ladder of Inference
• Building Effective Parent Partnerships
• Strategies for Building Effective Partnerships

Core Content Subject Area: 6 – Family community partnerships

CDA Subject Areas: 4 – Building productive relationships with families

Audience:  All

Training Level:  2

Location:  Online (web-based, on-demand)

Register Here

Cost:  $25

Training Title: Meet me Where I Am: Nurturing Social-Emotional Wellness

Description: Young children rely on caring adults and positive environments to develop positive relationships and understand their feelings and behaviors. This training provides strategies for helping families and children connect their behavior to their feelings and thoughts. Through empathy, co-regulation, and wondering with children, early childhood professionals learn effective ways to respond to children, avoid crises, and promote their social-emotional well-being. This training is designed to supplement the Meet Me Where I Am workbook developed by the Resilient Children and Families Program (RCFP).

In this course, we will cover:

• Introduction to RCFP and CYRC
• What is Social-Emotional Wellness?
• Creating a Supportive Environment
• Attuning to the Inner Child
• Helping Children Cope
• Partnering With Parents

Core Content Subject Area: 4 – Learning environment and curriculum

CDA Subject Areas: 3 – Supporting children’s social and emotional development

KY All STARS Standards: B1R/B2R – Curriculum, Instruction, Teaching, Learning

Audience:  All

Training Level:  2

Location:  Online (web-based, on-demand)

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Saturday, December 5, 2026 – First Aid and Pediatric CPR Certification & Epi-Pen and Blood Borne Pathogens Training (IN-PERSON) 9AM – Noon

Audience: All

Description: This face-to-face training session provided by Northern Kentucky EMS which utilized the American Safety & Health Institute standards is approved to meet licensing and certification requirements and includes training on the following:

• CPR (Adult, Child, and Infant)
• Relief of Foreign Body Airway Obstruction (Adult, Child, and Infant)
• Signs of Heart Attack, Cardiac Arrest and Stroke
• Use of the AED for Adults, Children, and Infants
• Preventing bloodborne pathogens spread and exposure incidents
• First Aid (Patient assessment, wound care, bleeding control, head/eye injuries, heat & cold emergencies, chest & abdominal injuries, shock, burn, fractures/sprains/strains, seizures)
• Epi-pen administration

Time:  9 am – Noon

Location: EC LEARN’s New Office Training Room (7300 Turfway Rd. Suite 530, Florence, KY  41042)

Instructor:  NKEMS

Register Here