The Office of the Prince George's County Executive and Child Resource Connect formerly Prince George's Child Resource Center have partnered to host Greatness Grows Here: An Early Childhood Conference for Parents, Caregivers, and Child Care Professionals. This in-person conference is designed for early childhood professionals, as well as the parents and guardians of infants, toddlers, and young children. Expectant parents and adults who support parents and guardians in the care of their young children are encouraged to attend.

MSDE Approval Number: CWO-162484.

**Si necesita ayuda para completar este formulario, llame al 301-772-8420, ext. 1002

$50 Child Care Professional Ticket Includes:

• Continental breakfast, hot lunch, & snacks
• Networking with other child care professionals and experts in the field
• Swag Bag
• Engagement with exhibitors
• MSDE approved certificate with 6 Core of Knowledge (COK) hours

• 1 PAU (Professional Activity Unit) when signing up to facilitate
• Lunch and Learn opportunities
• A chance to win exciting door prizes

Free Parent/Caregiver Ticket Includes:

• Continental breakfast, hot lunch, & snacks
• Networking with other parents, child care professiolnals, & early childhood experts
• Swag Bag
• Engagement with exhibitors
• FREE on-site child care for children ages 2-12 OR a $50 child care expense grant (only 1 of the 2 options can be selcted and both are provided first-come, first served)

• Transportation assistance (first-come first- served)
• A chance to win exciting door prizes

Keynote Speaker, Christina Lopez, President of the Maryland Association for the Education of Young Children (MDAEYC), advocates for high-quality early learning for children aged birth through 8. With over 25 years of experience in early childhood education, she has taught in childcare and public school settings, served as an instructional coach and administrator in Prince George’s County schools, and currently directs the Maryland Early Childhood Leadership Program at UMBC's Shriver Center. Christina holds a BS in Child and Human Development from the University of Maryland, a MA in Early Childhood Education from Towson University, and Maryland Advanced Professional Teaching and Administrator Certificates. A passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Christina presents nationally, statewide, and locally on topics including public policy, developmentally appropriate practice, culturally responsive and anti-bias education, and advocacy. In her downtime, she cherishes sharing life with her husband and six children.

WORKSHOPS & DESCRIPTIONS

• AM01 / PM01 Kids Who Listen, Is It Possible?!? | All young children exhibit challenging behavior from time to time. How we respond to them is important not only in teaching them how to behave correctly, but also necessary in maintaining our own sanity. During this workshop participants will learn and practice strategies to use with young children including ways to respond to emotions and using creativity to gain cooperation.
• AM02 / PM02 Visual Communication Tools: Steps to Easier Learning | Delve into the use of “visuals,” a universally used strategy proven to support children’s abilities to comprehend and process information more easily, follow (appropriate) directions with greater ease, and strengthen relationships. Help children shift to feel and be more competent, reduce challenging behavior, be more joyfully engaged, and develop self-regulation skills. Participants will be shown numerous examples of visuals that have been effective in the facilitator's classrooms and will be welcome to photograph them. Participants will learn the steps to design a visual for a child or group of children and support will be available as needed.
• AM03 / PM03 Autism 101: Parenting Children in Early Childhood | All young children exhibit challenging behavior from time to time. How we respond to them is important not only in teaching them how to behave correctly, but also necessary in maintaining our own sanity. During this workshop participants will learn and practice strategies to use with young children including ways to respond to emotions and using creativity to gain cooperation.
• AM04 / PM04 How Other People Do It: Unlocking Our Implicit Biases Regarding Parenting Practices to Deepen Relationships With Families | Explore parenting practices from cultures worldwide and which of these practices triggers our implicit biases. Develop a deeper understanding of the “why” behind various parenting practices in order to understand better the diverse families entering your program. Learn strategies to help build relationships with families while embracing cultural differences and helping families to understand your program’s expectations better.
• AM05 / PM05 Using Household Chemistry in Class for All Ages | Teach with Household Chemistry in class without fancy or expensive items. Start and build the foundation for further learning and exploration through fun and inquiry. The word chemistry often makes teachers or parents stop and pause as not everyone is comfortable teaching chemistry. But we do many activities that are really ‘chemistry’. Starting children with household chemistry lets them explore with is fun without having to know formulas and feel they have to understand for a test. As educators for young children and early elementary, we don’t need to know everything about chemistry, just how to make it fun, but safe, and encourage children to go beyond and not fear the word. We create the steppingstones that will encourage children to keep learning. In this workshop, learn and do some fun household chemistry that you can take with you. Learn how animals use chemistry to stay safe or to find food.
• AM06 / PM06 Creative Well-being: A New Approach to Social Emotional Learning (SEL) | Participants will be introduced to the mind, brain, and education science that conceptualizes how the human brain learns. Front and center in the learning process is emotion. Participants will gain an understanding of how positive and negative emotions impact learning and well-being. Parents and educators gain strategies for teaching young children about this emotional process. Directors and administrators gain language and knowledge to communicate future educational trends related to emotion and learning. Next, participants will be introduced to the mind, brain, and education science that explains how emotions impact creativity. Participants will be introduced to the skills needed to enhance creative thinking and the role emotions play in the creative process. Parents and educators gain strategies for teaching young children about the creative process. Directors and administrators gain language and knowledge to communicate educational trends related to creativity and well-being. A variety of strategies will be provided to support participant understanding of emotional development, learning, and creativity. This offering is appropriate for early childhood professional and parents.
• AM07 / PM07 The ROI (Return on Investment) of Risky Play | Risky play – no way! No way? Keeping children “safe” doesn’t mean we should eliminate all risk from their play. This workshop will explore the benefits of risky play for children and how caring adults can support risky play happening “as safe as necessary”. We will also evaluate methods for including risky play elements for both indoor and outdoor play environments.
• AM08 / PM08 No More Surviving: Helping Children Thrive in Today’s World | Our times are changing. Today’s families are recovering from the effects of the COVID pandemic, increased socialization online, bullying, global wars, and a changing economy. At times, it may feel like we are simply surviving. In this training, we will discuss the life skills children need to thrive in changing times. Participants will be introduced to strategies for fostering these skills both at home and in the classroom. Additionally, we will discuss community resources that can help families in need or children with unique learning needs.
• AM09 / PM09 Visionary Art Journaling | Art journaling is a creative activity that invites educators and parents to express themselves through visual art. Participants use journals or sketchbooks to create pages filled with drawings, paintings, collages, and written reflections. It’s a space for self-expression, where emotions, memories, and dreams come alive. Art journaling encourages mindfulness, fosters creativity, and provides an outlet for both adults and children to explore their inner worlds. Whether it’s a simple doodle, a heartfelt poem, or a vibrant watercolor, each page becomes a personal canvas. Educators can introduce art journaling in classrooms, and parents can enjoy it as a bonding activity with their children.
• AM10 Child Passenger Safety | Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in children under the age of 12. Data shows that proper car seat and seat belt usage reduces risk of death and serious injury. Learn some Child Passenger Safety basics to help keep the children in your life safe while riding in vehicles.
• AM11 Servicios de Atención Médica Independientemente del Estado Legal (delivered in Spanish only) | Jhoselyn Rodríguez, trabajadora de salud comunitaria y educadora de salud, ha podido brindar acceso a la atención médica y concientización a más de 10,000 personas desde 2022 en todo el centro de Maryland. Con un conjunto integral de habilidades y un profundo compromiso para capacitar a las personas para que lleven una vida más saludable, Jhoselyn continúa marcando una diferencia significativa en su comunidad a través de Coaching Salud Holística al brindar concientización sobre diferentes servicios de atención médica independientemente de su estatus legal. Esta sesión permitirá a los asistentes comprender cómo navegar mejor a través de la complejidad de los servicios de atención médica para todos los miembros de la comunidad.

• AM12 ACEs (Adverse Child Experiences) to Greatness | ACEs to Greatness curriculum through Community Advocates for Family & Youth (CAFY) is comprised of four lessons that utilize dynamic activities and discussions to appeal to all learning styles. The will have an opportunity to share perspectives on adverse childhood trauma, identify and discuss childhood adverse experience versus resiliency experiences, talk about some best practices to positively reverse this societal epidemic, and discuss and identify actions parents/guardians, educators, and other individuals who work with children can develop in their homes and professional settings that can lead to a positive impact.
• AM13 Financial Education | This presentation covers topics on Importance of savings, Introduction to Budgeting, checking accounts, Types of savings account, types of expenses, building emergency funds, financial milestones, meaning of credit, how to build credit, Loans, types of loans and credit. understanding credit score, elements of credit score, personal identity information, Identity theft awareness, fraud identification, and fraud prevention.
• AM14 Setting Goals for Higher Quality: An Exploration of Professional Goals for Early Childhood Educators | This training explores the different types of goals that are pertinent to early childhood professionals and focuses on how to create SMART goals to guide improvement. As a result of participation in this training, attendees will be able to create goals that are directly aligned with their professional growth and that can also be used to support the development of program improvement plans.
• AM15 Ideas into Action: Getting Started with Joining Voices Advocacy | COMING SOON
• AM16 Nurturing a Thriving Organizational Culture: The Impact of Leadership, Communication & Growth | Join us for an active and insightful session on cultivating a positive organizational culture to unlock the potential within those you serve. In today's rapidly changing early childhood education landscape, a strong organizational culture is a critical driver of success. This session will include 3 key elements that contribute to a thriving culture. These elements are: the leader's role, effective communication and transparency, and fostering professional development and growth opportunities. Discover how effective leadership practices can shape the cultural fabric of your organization, creating an environment where collaboration, innovation, and employee engagement flourish. Learn practical strategies to enhance communication and transparency, fostering trust and building strong relationships across all levels of the organization. Through interactive discussions, this session will provide actionable insights and practical tips you can implement immediately. Whether you are a seasoned leader or someone passionate about creating a positive work environment, this session is for you.
• AM17 Helping Children Manage Anger | Anger is the most researched and misunderstood emotion. This workshop will explain the dynamics of anger, possible causes and how to help children express anger in a way that is safe and acceptable. Additionally, daycare workers will come away with an understanding of their own triggers and how to separate their personal issues from the workplace.
• AM18 Abrazando Nuestra Cultural Como Educadores de la Primera Infancia (delivered in Spanish only)| Esta sesión tiene como objetivo ayudar a los educadores de la primera infancia y a los padres a comprender y aceptar sus propios orígenes culturales y cómo influyen en sus percepciones sobre el comportamiento de los niños. Utilizando técnicas y prácticas de autoconciencia, los participantes aprenderán a crear un ambiente acogedor e inclusivo en el aula y en el hogar que respete y celebre la diversidad de todos los niños pequeños.
• AM19 Outside Your Door: Exploring the Arts in Nature (Wolf Trap Partnership)| Expand opportunities for STEM learning by using arts strategies to investigate the world around you. Explore earth, life, and physical sciences through drams, music and puppetry. Discover how the arts can enhance children’s understanding of weather and seasonal changes, and the natural world outside your door.
• AM20 Discovering the Math Hidden in Books (Wolf Trap Partnership)| Math is everywhere if you know how to find it! Let’s look at children’s literature to discover the math that is already there; hidden in books you love. We’ll uncover math concepts and create active, arts-based experiences that support the curriculum, and engage children in creating and performing as a means of developing math skills.

• PM10 Rethinking Learning: Neuromyths Debunked & Insights Applied | This interactive workshop bridges the gap between myths about how we learn and modern findings from learning science (LS) and Mind, Brain, and Education Sciences (MBE) research. We will explore a ‘crash course’ about the brain, the process of learning and commonly held misconceptions, such as learning styles. With LS and MBE principles, we will dispel these ‘neuromyths' and offer practical knowledge/tools to educators and parents. This will involve small group engagement and 'brain breaks,' all centered on brain plasticity and behavioral adjustments to enhance holistic learning (Brown & Kaminske, 2018; Tokuhama-Espinosa, 2018; Ferreira & Rodríguez, 2022). Ultimately, the workshop seeks to equip educators and parents with the knowledge and means to refine their educational practices in line with solid, science-backed learning principles. It represents a vital move towards creating learning environments that are both efficient and nurturing, resting on the sturdy foundation of LS and MBE. This workshop seeks to facilitate a clear understanding of the link between neuroscience and education while empowering participants to effectively apply these insights.
• PM11 Aplicando Estrategias de Aprendizaje Socioemocional (SEL) para Fortalecer la Construcción Comunitaria y la Resiliencia Emocional (delivered in Spanish only) | En tu experiencia! ¿Cuánto tiempo se necesita para refrescar nuestro estado físico y emocional? ¿Cómo podemos relacionarnos con nuestros hijos y nuestros colegas mediante movimientos que aumenten la relación, la confianza y el disfrute? Brain Power Wellness espera brindarle métodos simples y sorprendentemente poderosos para aumentar su sensación general de bienestar y desarrollar una mayor participación comunitaria y resiliencia emocional.

• PM12 Empowering Minds: Nurturing Child Development, Mental Health Advocacy, & Special Needs Inclusivity | Embark on a crucial exploration of child development, mental health advocacy, and special needs inclusivity in our workshop, 'Empowering Minds.' This session underscores the imperative role of mental health advocacy in shaping a child's developmental journey, with a special emphasis on students with unique needs. By delving into the intricacies of inclusivity, we illuminate the indispensable connection between mental well-being and overall growth. Attendees will gain insights and practical strategies to foster an inclusive environment, ensuring that every child, especially those with special needs, receives the support necessary for holistic development. Join us in this essential conversation as we collectively work towards nurturing resilient, empowered minds in educational settings.
• PM13 21st Century Skills for Early Care Professionals | 21st-century skills are the building blocks for success in the workplace, the family, and the classroom. They are based primarily on “deeper learning” skills (like critical thinking, problem solving, and teamwork) and are comprised of a combination of soft-skills (such as interaction, collaboration, processing information, and managing people) life skills (assisting in the management of daily life activities), and hard-skills (mostly technology based). Active learning is an approach that utilizes activities and experiences to allow children to develop these skills, to think critically, to generate in-depth ideas, and to implement these ideas. In preschool, children begin to acquire these skills; designing classrooms with this focus creates an inspiring learning environment where children can flourish. The adoption of Artificial Intelligence will hasten the automation and replacement of jobs held by many. 21st Century Skills are required to be successful in society.
• PM14 Understanding Adverse Childhood Expereinces (ACEs) | Adverse Childhood Experiences(ACE) are traumatic or stressful experiences, such as abuse or neglect, that occur during childhood or adolescence. ACE cam harm a child's brain and its development, which can lead to long term negative health and social outcomes. There are powerful new insights into toxic stress changes the physiology of the early brain development. We can find solutions to childhood trauma by empowering resilient, self healing communities.
• PM15 Engaging Enthusiastic County Leaders for Child Care | For us in Prince George’s County, the child care policies we are carrying out in centers and family child care generally come from the federal government, from the Maryland General Assembly, and Maryland State Department of Education. But it is also true that there’s a role for solving child care at every level – and we need champions among our county leaders! This session is intended for those ready to build relationships and build champions among the members of the Prince George’s County Council.
• PM16 Marketing Your Child Care Program | This training, “Marketing Your Program for Center-Based Child Care Providers,” helps child care administrators and providers improve their ability to develop a marketing plan and use marketing tools to communicate with families about the benefits of their program. This training reinforces the belief that sound business practices improve the sustainability of child care businesses. Strong and sustainable child care businesses can support program initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for children. The purpose of this training is to strengthen child care providers’ understanding of marketing tools, audiences, and elements necessary to develop a marketing plan. It encourages providers to tailor marketing practices to the audience they are trying to reach and to develop effective communication strategies to promote their services.
• PM17 Learning While Your Heart “Jumps To The Beat!” with My Little World | Achieve Maryland Early Learning Standards in an atmosphere of fun and giggles, with the cultural music program “My Little World Educational Music Series." MLW is a vibrant educational tool featuring innovative activities that engage early educators and young children in daily physical activity and fun healthy nutrition education. Through dynamic music, MLW lessons serve to combat childhood obesity and the development of related illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. This hands-on, interactive workshop offers the opportunity to practice the implementation of MLW and experience the programmatic support of the memorable songs and movements which deter sedentary behavior, instill healthy living habits and reinforce early literacy, pre-math and social emotional skill development. The training model for this workshop focuses on “Practical Application”, which includes a review of the program manual, study of selected lessons and participation in an interactive demonstration of the MLW techniques designed for classrooms and homes.
• PM18 Helping Children Overcome Anxiety & Fear | Stress is needed in our lives, but too much stress is distressful causing dear and anxiety. Children are not immune to stress which is often caused by living in fast-paced situations and households where there is a lot of activity and sometimes chaos. Learn strategies that will help calm and redirect stress and anxiety to healthy interactions

• PM19 Construyendo Liderazgo de Defensa en la Educación Temprana (delivered in Spanish only)| La sesión se centra en la importancia de educar al personal de educación infantil sobre el papel que desempeñan en la formulación de políticas y los esfuerzos de promoción en el estado de Maryland. La sesión proporciona una descripción general de qué es el liderazgo y cómo convertirse en un verdadero líder en la profesión de ECE. También explica cómo funciona el proceso legislativo en Maryland y cómo cada uno de nosotros puede contribuir a los esfuerzos de promoción para cambiar las leyes que rigen nuestra profesión en beneficio de nuestra comunidad y principalmente de nuestros niños.
• PM20 I've Got a Feeling (FAMILY INVOLVEMENT WORKSHOP - 1 HOUR ONLY)| This is a 1-hour long family involvement workshop for parents/caregivers and their children . This workshop uses music and storytelling to work with emotions and self-regulation.