COVID-19 INFORMATION:We are closely monitoring the current pandemic situation. At this time, our upcoming

conference will take place as planned, and we are adhering to New Jersey State guidelines,as well as planning additional accommodations for health, safety, and social distancingwith the Hyatt Regency. However, if you are sick or feel you are getting sick, we ask that

you please stay home. We reserve the right to require proof of immunization.

Connections & Solutions:

2021 ConferenceSaturday, October 30, 2021

Pathways of Change & Growth

Group A Workshops 10:00 AM-12:00 PM

A1: Reframing the Uncertainty

A2: Trauma-Informed Approach to Managing Challenging Behaviors

A3: Building Up STEAM in the Block Center

A4: Oh Those Boys! Meeting Their Needs

As we move forward in the early childhood field, we are in a moment of uncertainty -- exploring where we are in themoment and creating a path forward in the role each of us plays. The administrator’s role has shifted to creating aSAFE space for all to flourish. The role of the teacher has shifted from planning an environment centered aroundmany materials to one centered around choices. Let’s explore where we are and move in baby steps to where we aregoing!

Mary Farelly, M.A.Ed., Owner, Haniels Heart Healing Energy, LLC

What drives children's “bad” behavior? Discover the surprising reasons, and learn to uncover the hidden factors androot causes of common misbehaviors. Use brain science and compassion to understand and solve children’sbehavioral challenges with a trauma-informed lens. Interactive, engaging, practical and packed with real-lifeexamples to help participants in real-life classrooms. Powerful solutions and strategies for cultivating emotionalregulation, empathy and resilience, as well as promoting social-emotional development and teaching childrenmindfulness.Anna Seewald, M.Ed., Authentic Parenting

Do you think the block center is messy, noisy and chaotic? This workshop will address strategies for storage,exploration and cleanup. Participants will learn and discuss the ages and stages of unit block building, withchildren from infant/toddler to kindergarten, to promote cognitive, language, physical and social skills.Cathy Griffin, M.S.Ed., Director, The Children’s Campus at Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC)

There has been an amazing amount of research occurring regarding the needs of boys in the school setting andblending the educational knowledge with that of neurology and biology. This workshop will provide attendeeswith the research information leading to the practical implications of identifying and applying it in the classroomsetting.Rick Ellis, Early Childhood Consultant

A5: Using the Inclusive Classroom Profile to Support Inclusion Come explore using the Inclusive Classroom Profile to better support the inclusion of children with disabilities andspecial needs. We will review the research-based indicators of high-quality inclusion and the pilot program for NJ.Stefanie Babits, M.Ed., Early Childhood Inclusion Specialist, New Jersey Inclusive Child Care Project

A7: Professional Formation: Ways of Knowing, Being, and Doing

A6: Co-Regulation Before Self-Regulation: Using Ourselves to Prevent ChallengingBehaviors

We are in a transitional time in early education. Teachers and administrators need to lead families throughchanges in priorities and teaching methods. Administrators need to lead their staff through what are stillunpredictable times. Gain insights into why people view change differently, the different types of adopters, how tocreate workgroups and how to communicate change in a way that is motivating.

ADMINISTRATORS TRACK A

AA1: Leading Change

Cindy Terebush, M.S., Early Childhood Consultant/Author, Helping Children Achieve

Adopting a “posture of wondering” by the infant, child, or family worker suggests that the process of coming to knowand understand a child must involve an awareness of the many forces that influence how we are and what we dobased on what we know. These forces are within the child and his/her life AND within the caregiver. We will explorehow feelings, particularly stress, undermine a higher capacity for learning and how we can respond appropriatelyusing Social Emotional Ways of Knowing to impact what we do and identify what this stirs up in us.

Carmela McCleary, M.S.Ed, IMH-E®, Lead Infant and Early Childhood Consultation Specialist, Montclair State University Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health

This workshop is for all teachers and caregivers that feel overwhelmed when big feelings and behaviors are exhibitedin the classroom. These behaviors, which challenge the classroom or the ability to learn, can often be prevented whenwe attune to the child’s needs and provide ourselves as co-regulators. Come explore the topic and understand howco-regulation is directly linked to classroom management!

Lindsay Pearson, M.Ed., Assistant Director of Educational Programming, Montclair State University Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health

Group B Workshops 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Come explore gentle movement yoga and meditation practice that you can take with you anywhere, as well as somegentle lymphatic tapping to boost the immune system. In this meeting we will ground ourselves by connecting toour bodies and the place we are in. We will connect to our breath and learn ways to bring calm, serenity, andharmony with breathing exercises, and do gentle yoga poses without the need of using the mat or any other props,and moving the spine in every direction. Folding and reaching, stretching and contracting -- all of the movementsthat help us feel more connected and comfortable in our bodies. The same exercises may be used in the schoolsettings with the students. We will end with a Himalayan singing bowl sound-healing session.

B1: Finding Bliss in Chaos

Participants will develop an understanding of how neuro-development influences emotional regulation andadjustment in young children, particularly in relation to early adverse experiences. Preventive practices, includingstructuring the child’s routine, giving them developmentally appropriate choices, and establishing rapport will bereviewed. Participants will learn how to set limits with children using choices and natural consequences throughvideo examples, experiential exercises, and group discussion.

B2: Choices and Consequences: Effective Limit-Setting for Children

The social-emotional competence of young children is directly related to the social-emotional competence of theircaregivers and teachers. You play an integral part in building social-emotional skills and resilience. Come explorethe critical role you play, and identify how your own “self care” impacts the resilience of children. Each participantwill walk away from this workshop with an individualized self-care plan, focused on reflection, restoration, andrejuvenation.

B3: Building Resilience in Young Children

Come explore the concept of neurodiversity and the wide range of thinking and learning styles that are evidenced.Acquaint yourself with brain anatomy and neurochemistry. Learn how our brains are physically and chemicallychanged during trauma or stress, resulting in sensory and emotional-processing difficulties and challengingbehaviors. Enact proven techniques to truly embrace diversity at its most fundamental level, within the human brain.

B4: Understanding Your Brain: An In-Depth Discussion of Neurodiversity, Behavior,and Inclusion Strategies

Jamie Mikulus, Owner and Founder, One Family Early Childhood Enrichment Program

Lindsay Pearson, M.Ed., Assistant Director of Educational ProgrammingMontclair State University Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health

Carmela McCleary, M.S.Ed., IMH-E® Lead Infant and Early Childhood Consultation Specialist,Montclair State University Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health

Christian Bellissimo, MSW, LCSW, RPT, LLC, Child Play Therapist, Private Practice

Magdalena Swioklo, Registered Yoga Instructor

Preparing our children for their future begins now! STEM is much more than its individual components of Science,Technology, Engineering and Math. It is the integration of these concepts across the curriculum and in variouscontexts to solve real world problems. Integrating STEM into the classroom and outdoors is not only easy andinexpensive, but fun to do and an exciting way to increase enrollment. Go beyond digging in the dirt and watchingplants grow to real problem-solving and engineering types of STEM!

B5: STEM: Bringing the Future into Your ECE Program

B6: A-Z Through BTT: Using Play and Building Brains from Birth to 36 MonthsTo explore for their personal and professional use, participants will receive limited-edition copies of the BuildingBrains from Birth to 36 Months cards, which are based on NJ Birth to Three Early Learning Standards (BBT). Educators willdevelop and share multiple and amazing ways to promote parent/child interactions and to access them to monitorchild development with their colleagues. Collected recommendations will be shared for future participant access.

B7: Science that Won’t Bust Your Budget, Is Fun, and Is Easy to Teach! Teachers often shy away from science because it appears hard to teach, involves extensive set up and requiresexpensive supplies. On top of that, we are unsure of our preschoolers' interest. As teachers, we can build on ourstudents' natural inclination to question the way the world works and why. A good science curriculum will includecapturing, as well as creating, the science moments that occur throughout a child’s day. Science is fun, and ourgoal is to get teachers excited and engaged. In this workshop you will conduct science experiments you can easilybring back to school on Monday and excite your class to want more!

BB1: What Did We Learn? How COVID-19 Forced Us to Reevaluate and Modify OurPolicies and ProceduresCOVID-19 forced us to re-evaluate and modify our policies and procedures leading to many AHA! moments. Whatwere the valuable lessons learned about our resistance to change. What will never go back to the way it was? Whatdidn’t work? What was the most challenging? Participants will share what they learned in an effort to support eachother as we enter the next phase of education during a pandemic.

Michele Fortier, Early Childhood Consultant/Trainer, Early Childhood Strategies and Executive Director,Cornerstone School of Summit

Carole O’Brien, Owner/Consultant, The Educator’s Academy

Cynthia Soete, M.S.Ed., IMH-E®, President, Coalition of Infant Toddler Educators (CITE)Jennifer Metzger, IMH-E®, CITE Board Member-At-Large

Dr. Tamar Andrews, Director of Early Childhood Education Programs, American Jewish University

ADMINISTRATORS TRACK B

We are at a crossroads in the field of early childhood education. We can't go back, and the path forward isbeing paved as we live through each day. We need to use this unique moment in history to set a path thatfocuses on what is best for children and families. We need to advocate more and louder than ever for:

KEYNOTE ADDRESS:

Where Do We Go From Here?

The fact that social-emotional skills are the backbone for learning all other skills

Play is essential for children to practice the skills they learn

Clear and specific understandings of what are developmentally appropriate practices and ensuringthat they are implemented in all settings (including public school programs)

Having a multiple delivery plan for early education so that private and public schools work inpartnership and families have the plethora of choices they should for their very young children whoare at an age when the foundations for their brain development are determined

Keynote Speaker: Cindy Terebush

Cindy Terebush has been involved in the field ofearly childhood for over 20 years. She hasexperience teaching and directing in child care,preschool and school-age programs. CindyTerebush is the author of Teach the WholePreschooler: Strategies for Nurturing DevelopingMinds and the popular blog Helping Kids Achievewith Cindy Terebush, the co-host of the podcastHow Preschool Teachers Do It, and a frequentcontributor of articles for educational andparenting publications and websites. Cindy'sInstructor of Adults specializations are in the areas of cognitive development, positive guidance and discipline, curriculum development, developmentallyappropriate practice and best practice. In addition to coaching, consulting and public speaking, Cindy isactively involved in a number of early childhood education professional organizations. She has proudlylobbied in Washington, DC as part of the NAEYC Public Policy Forum and has testified on behalf of NJAEYC atNew Jersey State Senate Budget Hearings.

2021 Conference for Early Care and EducationHyatt Regency Princeton

October 30, 2021

SCHEDULE

Attending Keynote, Session A, and Session B provides five contact hourstoward licensing requirements.

Hyatt Regency Princeton - 102 Carnegie Center - Princeton, NJ

Registration, Continental Breakfast, and Exhibits8:00 A.M. - 8:30 A.M.

Keynote Speaker

Training Session-Workshop Group A

Training Session-Workshop Group B

LunchExhibits and Raffle

10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

12:15 P.M. - 1:15 P.M

1:30 P.M. - 3:30 P.M.

Welcome8:30 A.M. - 8:45 A.M.

Cindy TerebushMS, Early Childhood Studies

Early Childhood Consultant, Author & Podcast Co-Host

All conference attendees will attest to a COVID-19 checklist to ensure that they have no signs orsymptoms of COVID-19 (fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell), nor have been exposed to a person with signs or symptoms or a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Individuals will have their temperature taken by a Connections and Solutions staff member beforeentering the conference area. If a person’s temperature is 100.3 degrees or higher, he or she will not

Participants, including presenters, must wear a mask throughout the event, except when eating ordrinking. Disposable masks will be available at registration; participants are encouraged to bring theirown.

Everyone should practice good hand hygiene and utilize hand sanitizer frequently. Sanitizer stationswill be located throughout the conference meeting spaces and individual hand sanitizer will bedistributed to all participants.

Seating in meeting and meal rooms will be spaced out according to CDC guidelines.

Connections and Solutions staff are working closely with hotel catering staff to ensure food andbeverage service will be provided in the safest manner possible.

Attendees will be given the ability to choose and display a sticker on their name badge indicating theirlevel of personal comfort onsite. Display stickers are not indicative of an individual’s vaccination status.

be permitted to attend the conference.

The stickers will have the following noted:

If you do become sick while on-site, there are multiple urgent care clinics and a hospital all located within afew miles of the conference venue. Hotel staff and the Connection and Solutions team can provide directionsor a phone number, if needed.

If you have specific COVID-19 concerns, you can contact the Mercer County Health Department via phone at(609) 989-6526 or https://www.mercercounty.org/departments/division-of-public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19.

Child Care Connection and Community Child Care Solutions will continue to update this plan as COVID-19mandates and recommendations change.

Your attendance indicates that you have read and agree to abide by the above health and safety protocols.

Connections and Solutions Conference 2021 COVID-19 Safety Practices:

Red- I Need DistanceYellow- Elbow BumpGreen- Hugs will do

Early registration will help guarantee your workshop choices, but we cannot guarantee your 1st or 2nd preference will be met

Please Circle: Family Child Care - Center - Before/After School - Nursery School - Other___________________

You are encouraged to register online at www.ccc-nj.org/conference.cfm

Please indicate your choice for lunch:

Date: October 30, 2021

*Please make your non-refundable check or money order payable to: Child Care Connection

The registration fee includes workshops, keynote, continental breakfast, lunch, and the conference education packet.

If you wish to have your registration confirmed, be sure to include your e-mail address above.

For conference information or further details, call Cindy Jackson at 609-989-7770 (ext.139) inMercer County or Angie DeFazio at 732-934-2882 in Somerset or Middlesex County.

REGISTRATION FORM

Payment Method

Workshop Selection

CONNECTIONS & SOLUTIONS:Pathways of Change & Growth

Conference Workshops Administrators TrackRegistration Fee: $80 Registration Fee: $95

Registration - Please check one (walk-in registration additional $10 & LIMITED availability):

Chicken Fish Vegetarian

Mail payment and form to:Child Care Connection, Conference Registration, 1001 Spruce Street, Suite 201, Trenton, NJ 08638-3957.

Registration closes October 22, 2021. All registrations must be postmarked no later than that date.

Group A Workshops:

Group B Workshops:

Administrators Track:

A1

B1

AA1 BB1

Please indicate your first and second preferences for workshop selection by placing the numbers 1 and 2next to your workshop choice for each session. Do not put a checkmark next to selection!

A2

B2

A3

B3

A4

B4

A5

B5

A6

B6

A7

B7

Participant Information

Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone: (Home)______________ (Work) ________________ (E-mail) __________________________________

Title: ______________________________________ Program Affiliation: ___________________________________

Conference Fee

ASSUMPTION OF THE RISK. I acknowledge and understand the following: Participation includes possible exposure toand illness from infectious diseases including, but not limited to, COVID-19. I hereby knowingly assume the risk of injury,harm, or loss associated with this conference, including any injury, harm, or loss caused by the negligence, fault, orconduct of any kind on the part of CCC and CCCS.