ABC’s of Child Care Conference
March 26, 2022
Phelps County Ag Center
1308 2nd St.
Holdrege, NE
6 Child Care In-Service Hours
Cost
Early bird discount: $35 if received by Monday, March 21.
$50 after March 21
Agenda
8 - 8:30 a.m. Registration
View resource and display tables
Welcome/Announcements
8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Keynote Speaker
Jeff Johnson, Attack of the Snotterpillers
9:30 - 9:45 a.m. Break
View resource and display tables
9:45 - 11:45 a.m. Morning Breakout - (Choose one session)
A) Jeff Johnson Empowering Child-Led Play
B) Pam Northup Creative Support Strategies for Developmental Concerns
C) Lori Reiner Communication Skills in a COVID World
D) Sharon Hueftle Working On Your Business vs Working In Your Business
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Lunch
View resource and display tables
12:45 - 2:45 p.m. Afternoon Breakout - (Choose one session)
A) Jeff Johnson Do-It-Yourself Early Learning and STEM Play
B) Pam Northup Creative Support Strategies for Developmental Concerns
C) Lori Reiner Communication Skills in a COVID World
2:45 - 3 p.m. Break
View resource and display tables
3 - 4 p.m. Closing
Jeff Johnson, Cows in the Basement
Session Descriptions and Instructor Bios
Attack of the Snotterpillers
Strong relationships with the children are a cornerstone of any quality early learning environment. Creating and maintaining such relationships is hard work when times are good–and downright difficult when you’re stressed, exhausted, tired or being attacked by snoterpillars. This session looks at creating strong emotional environments, maintaining a healthy mindset, and the significance of child-caregiver relationships in building age-appropriate early learning environments.
Session A: Jeff Johnson
Empowering Child-Led Play
Children love to learn. Discover how to empower kids to grow from their interests and knowledge of the world. Explore what to include in your space, setup ideas, mess management, safety and more. Learn how to create reinvigorated, child-led, play spaces full of opportunities for creative and dramatic play to stimulate children’s imaginations and learning.
Session B: Pam Northup
Creative Support Strategies for Developmental Concerns
Approaching parents with a concern about their child’s level of development is difficult, but often necessary. Understand how to identify red flags in child development like early indicators of autism. Gain basic strategies to support children for success including picture schedules, play routines, behavior and learning supports and more.
Session C: Lori Reiner
Communication Skills in a COVID World
Recent societal changes have made effective communication skills even more important. Refresh and renew your skills to increase your interaction effectiveness. Understand the different types of communication, including verbal, facial expression, body language and intonation. Explore positive communication traits and how COVID-19 has impacted social emotional learning, and how to use communication skills for conflict resolution through active listening and the four agreements.
Session D: Sharon Hueftle
Working On Your Business vs Working In Your Business
Have you mastered the daily care of children but need help with the bigger picture of a childcare business? Learn the importance of your career choice in economic development, how to treat your childcare like a business while also caring for yourself, and resources available to you.
Session A: Jeff Johnson
Do-It-Yourself Early Learning and STEM Play
Get a hands-on look at dozens of ideas for using easy-to-find materials from local stores or your recycling bin to promote child-directed play, exploration, discovery and learning. Develop a deeper understand of how children learn about science, technology, engineering, math, and more through hands-on play and exploration.
Session B: Pam Northup
Creative Support Strategies for Developmental Concerns
Repeat of morning session
Session C: Lori Reiner
Communication Skills in a COVID World
Repeat of morning session
Jeff Johnson
Cows in the Basement
The early years should be full of whimsical fantasy play, yet in many classrooms time for such play is limited as more and more time is devoted to teacher-led activities. This session looks at why children should have plenty of time for self-directed fantasy and imaginative play, creative storytelling, and make believe and offers up tips for supporting such play.
Jeff A Johnson, Early Learning Speaker, Author and Advocate: Jeff is the founder of Playvolution HQ, an online home for original and curated early learning content. He has traveled across the United States, Canada and Australia providing trainings since 2000. In addition, he offers live and on-demand sessions online. He created the podcast, The Child Care Bar and Grill, and hosts and produces early learning podcasts featuring popular authors such as Lisa Murphy, Heather Shumaker, Angela Hanscom, Mike Huber and Dan Hodgins.
Pam Northrup worked as an early childhood special education teacher and consultant for 35 years. She has also served as a presenter for state and regional autism teams. She earned her bachelor’s degree in early childhood special education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and her master’s degree from Doane College in curriculum and instruction. Pam currently works for Central Community College as an instructor and supervisor for the early childhood practicum courses.
Lori Reiner is a licensed mental health practitioner and certified social worker. She was the social work director at Phelps Memorial Health Center for 12 years and had a private counseling practice for 30 years. She is currently the foundation/public relations director at Holdrege Memorial Homes and a community educator for the Alzheimer’s Association. Lori is married to Dr. Richard Reiner, and they have four adult children and nine grandchildren.
Sharon Hueftle is the executive director of South Central Nebraska Economic Development District, Inc. which serves 85+ communities. She has 25+ years of experience in business and economic development and earned her bachelor of science in business administration from the University of Nebraska-Kearney with an accounting emphasis. Sharon and her husband enjoy spending time with their kids and ten grandkids.
For more information, contact CCC-Holdrege at 308-995-8133 or holdregeinfo@cccneb.edu
Sponsored by:
Central Community College
Central Early Learning Connection
Early Development Network
Family Service Child Care Food Program
Nebraska Health and Human Services
ruralMED Management Resources
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension