Early Childhood Investigations

Leadership and Play: It’s Serious Business by Kimberlee Burt Hendricks

RESOURCES * Watch the full webinar here [https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/webinar/leadership-and-play-its-serious-business-by-kimberlee-burt-hendricks?utm_campaign=27724553-2025%2F05%2F21%20%7C%20Leadership%20and%20Play%3A%20It%E2%80%99s%20Serious%20Business&utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=spotify] * Join our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every week [https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/webinar?utm_campaign=27724553-2025%2F05%2F21%20%7C%20Leadership%20and%20Play%3A%20It%E2%80%99s%20Serious%20Business&utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=spotify] * Check out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management Software [https://www.tryplayground.com/?utm_source=eci&utm_medium=podcast ad&utm_campaign=spotify&utm_content=serious] Leadership isn’t positional—it’s relational. Whether you’re a president, owner, principal, director, teacher, counselor, parent, or the person responsible for making sure lunch arrives on time—if you work with people, and especially with children, you lead. Leadership is not defined by a title; it’s expressed through presence, listening, and creating space for others to thrive. In this session, Kimberlee Burt Hendricks, The Play and Learn Leader at A Child’s Space 2 [https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/presenters/kimberlee-hendricks], will guide participants through an exploration of how play is not just for children, it’s a vital practice that nurtures creativity, connection, and emotional well-being for adults as well. Through stories, research, and reflective experiences, Kimberlee will illuminate how neuroscience and well-established leadership models reveal that play is not a distraction from leadership, but a catalyst for it. As early learning environments continue to evolve, embracing play, both personally and professionally, has never been more important. Participants will engage in reflective discussions and playful moments that highlight how curiosity, imagination, and laughter strengthen leadership at every level. Because when we understand the power of play, we lead and live with greater joy, empathy, and purpose. Learning Objectives After this session, participants will be able to: * Explain how neuroscience supports the role of play in fostering creativity, focus, and well-being for both children and adults. * Identify leadership models—including servant, whole, transformational, and psychological safety frameworks—that align with playful, human-centered practice. * Reflect on strategies for integrating play into everyday professional interactions to enhance connection and trust.

Self-Regulation In Early Childhood Classrooms: Improving Teacher Practice While Supporting Engagement and Achievement by Carrie Comer-Yates

RESOURCES * Watch the full webinar here [https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/webinar/self-regulation-in-early-childhood-classrooms-improving-teacher-practice-while-supporting-engagement-and-achievement-by-carrie-comer-yates?utm_campaign=32418718-2026%2F05%2F14%20%7C%20Self-Regulation%20In%20Early%20Childhood%20Classrooms%3A%20Improving%20Teacher%20Practice%20While%20Supporting%20Engagement%20and%20Achievement%20by%20Carrie%20Comer-Yates&utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=spotify] * Join our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every week [https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/?utm_campaign=32418718-2026%2F05%2F14%20%7C%20Self-Regulation%20In%20Early%20Childhood%20Classrooms%3A%20Improving%20Teacher%20Practice%20While%20Supporting%20Engagement%20and%20Achievement%20by%20Carrie%20Comer-Yates&utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=spotify] * Check out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management Software [https://www.tryplayground.com/?utm_source=eci&utm_medium=podcast ad&utm_campaign=spotify&utm_content=self-regulation] What if strengthening self-regulation could transform not only children’s behavior—but your entire classroom experience? In this research-informed session led by Dr. Carrie Comer-Yates [https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/presenters/comer-yates-carrie], you’ll explore how young children’s self-regulation skills directly influence teacher practice, classroom expectations, and student success. Dr. Comer-Yates is deeply committed to helping educators build foundational skills in social-emotional development, differentiate classroom supports, and care for their own social-emotional well-being alongside their students’. Drawing from a comprehensive study of early childhood classrooms, this webinar examines the shared responsibilities between children and educators, the role of the learning environment, and the levels of support needed for children to thrive. You’ll gain practical, actionable strategies grounded in real classroom data—highlighting the critical roles of professional development, family engagement, and intentional instructional practices. The session also explores how factors such as culture shape self-regulation and influence classroom expectations. By strengthening your understanding of self-regulation, you’ll be better equipped to foster positive social, emotional, and academic growth—creating more responsive, supportive, and successful learning environments, even within complex early childhood systems. Learning Objectives By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to: * Identify how children’s self-regulation skills impact teacher practice and classroom dynamics * Examine the shared responsibilities between educators, students, and the learning environment in supporting self-regulation * Describe effective instructional strategies that strengthen self-regulation in early childhood settings * Recognize the influence of culture and other contextual factors on self-regulation and classroom expectations * Apply research-based approaches that support positive social, emotional, and academic outcomes for young children

The Joyous Equation: Purpose + People + Prosperity = Vibrant Early Childhood Organizations by Karen Foster-Jorgensen

RESOURCES * Watch the full webinar here [https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/webinar/the-joyous-equation-purpose-people-prosperity-vibrant-early-childhood-organizations-by-karen-foster-jorgensen?utm_campaign=25701750-2026%2F05%2F13%20%7C%20The%20Joyous%20Equation%3A%20Purpose%20People%20Prosperity%20%3D%20Vibrant%20Early%20Childhood%20Organizations&utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=spotify] * Join our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every week [https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com?utm_campaign=25701750-2026%2F05%2F13%20%7C%20The%20Joyous%20Equation%3A%20Purpose%20People%20Prosperity%20%3D%20Vibrant%20Early%20Childhood%20Organizations&utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=spotify] * Check out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management Software [https://www.tryplayground.com/?utm_source=eci&utm_medium=podcast ad&utm_campaign=spotify&utm_content=joyous] What if joy wasn’t a byproduct of good leadership—but the very foundation of it? This inspiring and practical webinar invites early childhood leaders to explore what it truly means to lead with joy and purpose. Led by global consultant and innovation champion Karen Foster-Jorgensen [https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/presenters/foster-jorgensen-karen], participants will discover how to apply the Joyous Organization Framework and the Joyous Leadership Collabratory™ to strengthen both the heart and health of their organizations—blending purpose, prosperity, positive mindset, and people-centered leadership for lasting impact. Learning Objectives: * Discover the principles of the Joyous Organization Framework and identify how joy fuels engagement, innovation, and long-term success. * Explore the Joyous Equation as a model for balancing purpose, people, and prosperity within early childhood organizations. * Reflect on leadership mindsets through the lens of invitational leadership and joyful practice. * Design actionable next steps to strengthen both the joy and sustainability of your organization. * Connect with peers through the Joyous Leadership Collabratory™ model—building community, reflection, and shared growth.

Developing 21st-Century Skills in Early Childhood through STEAM Learning Centers by Tiffany Berman, M.Ed

RESOURCES * Watch the full webinar here [https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/webinar/developing-21st-century-skills-early-childhood-steam-learning-centers-tiffany-berman-med?utm_campaign=24165728-2026%2F04%2F30%20%7C%20Developing%2021st-Century%20Skills%20in%20Early%20Childhood%20through%20STEAM%20Learning%20Centers&utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=spotify] * Join our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every week [https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/?utm_campaign=24165728-2026%2F04%2F30%20%7C%20Developing%2021st-Century%20Skills%20in%20Early%20Childhood%20through%20STEAM%20Learning%20Centers&utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=spotify] * Check out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management Software [https://www.tryplayground.com/?utm_source=eci&utm_medium=podcast ad&utm_campaign=spotify&utm_content=steam] What if the everyday “problems” you see in your classroom could become the spark for deeper learning? When a block tower tumbles down or paint drips across a page, children are already engaging in problem-solving, experimenting, and exploring big ideas. This webinar will show you how to transform those ordinary moments into extraordinary opportunities through problem-based STEAM learning. Together, we’ll explore how to design hands-on, developmentally appropriate centers that invite children to question, investigate, and solve challenges in creative ways. You’ll see how science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math can come alive through playful exploration that nurtures curiosity and builds essential 21st-century skills. In this approachable STEAM session, hosted by Tiffany Berman, M.Ed [https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/presenters/tiffany-berman] we’ll walk through the process step by step—from observing children to uncover the problems they’re naturally drawn to, to choosing the right materials, to guiding child-led investigations that empower independent learning. Learning Objectives: * Discover how to use an observation and discussion tool to identify children’s curiosities and classroom challenges that can spark STEAM investigations. * Create a plan for a developmentally appropriate, problem-based STEAM learning center that fosters exploration and discovery. * Explore practical strategies for facilitating child-led investigations that encourage independence, creativity, and joyful learning through play.

Reimagining Early Childhood Education to Embrace Nature-Based Learning by Dr. Rachel Larimore

RESOURCES * Watch the full webinar here [https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/webinar/reimagining-early-childhood-education-to-embrace-nature-based-learning-by-dr-rachel-larimore?utm_campaign=37117976-2026%2F04%2F29%20%7C%20Reimagining%20Early%20Childhood%20Education%20to%20Embrace%20Nature-Based%20Learning%20by%20Dr.%20Rachel%20Larimore&utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=spotify] * Join our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every week [https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/?utm_campaign=37117976-2026%2F04%2F29%20%7C%20Reimagining%20Early%20Childhood%20Education%20to%20Embrace%20Nature-Based%20Learning%20by%20Dr.%20Rachel%20Larimore&utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=spotify] * Check out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management Software [https://www.tryplayground.com/?utm_source=eci&utm_medium=podcast ad&utm_campaign=spotify&utm_content=reimagining] Early education program leaders around the world are increasingly enthusiastic about nature-based learning. Many leaders want to jump in wholeheartedly but find shifting the culture of their organization incredibly challenging. This webinar is a pause to say, “Imagine if…” Imagine if nature were another teacher in the classroom, if nature-based learning were core to the program’s culture, and if families were choosing your program because of its nature-rich experiences. In this session, Dr. Larimore will explore different ways to consider a nature-based approach in your teaching—from the structure of the day and the physical environment to planning and teacher-child interactions. She’ll share a wide range of possibilities for imagining—or reimagining—the ways we support young children through nature-based learning. In this action-focused webinar designed for program leaders and administrators, experienced early childhood nature-based program leader and author Dr. Rachel Larimore will share her Trail Map for Leading Change—an approach for inspiring and supporting staff as they move toward nature-based teaching. In previous ECI webinars, she focused on the big picture of the Trail Map for Change and Step 1: preparing yourself as a leader. In this webinar, she’ll focus on Step 5 of the Trail Map: reimagining teaching practices to embrace nature-based pedagogy. Come be inspired by the diverse and innovative ways early childhood programs are integrating nature-based learning into their classrooms. Objectives Participants will be able to: 1. Describe the core components of nature-based pedagogy. 2. Identify at least two ways to reimagine daily structure to embrace nature-based pedagogy. 3. Identify at least two ways to reimagine the physical environment to deepen nature-based learning. 4. Describe ways to support teachers in making small shifts toward nature-based teaching.