2019 Conference

'Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.'—E.B. White

We are here to feel, wonder, and gaze in awe at the world. Instead of just teaching our children how to use things and do things, I suggest we nourish their sense of wonder.—Bernie Siegel

Celebrating Relationships—An Early Childhood Conference at Brooklyn College

May 10, 2019
Student Center, Brooklyn College

The Second Annual Art of Play and Wonderment in Early Childhood Conference—Celebrating Relationships is designed to provide a space for early childhood teachers, directors/leaders, coaches, and faculty, as well as artists and art educators within Brooklyn College, CUNY, and throughout New York City, to consider, reflect upon, and think deeply about what we bring and wish to bring to our early childhood classrooms and professional practice, particular to the celebration of relationships.

This year's conference focuses on the significance of engaging in relationships. These relationships can be between children, teachers, parents, families, and communities. These relationships are reflective of the innate desire that children have to connect with others, in the process of learning, and as a response to an extension of their environment.

The Early Childhood/SOE Lab School, in partnership with the faculty in the Early Childhood / Art Education Department, has been transforming the physical space in the Early Childhood Center, which has impacted the learning experiences for children and teachers as well as influenced relationships between teachers, children, and their parents and families.  We are inspired by the intentional curiosity and wonderment that the children present to us on a moment-to-moment basis at the Early Childhood Center/Lab School. Their boundless energy, expert inquisitiveness, and tender engagements impact us as genuine, authentic educators.

The Second Annual Art of Play and Wonderment in Early Childhood Conference—Celebrating Relationships is an opportunity for continuing a rich and meaningful discussion around engagement, relationship building, and collaborative, supportive connections with respect to the art of play and wonderment, which transforms learning experiences for children and teachers in the classroom as well as influences relationships between parents, their children, and their children's teachers.

The conference will include a variety of speakers and presenters. Breakout sessions will include topics on coaching early childhood educators, building a rich and meaningful child-centered curriculum, celebrating families in cross-cultural contexts, play therapy and therapeutic play techniques, building trusting connections while empowering families, examining interoception, attunement and vitality as well as exploring play as a source of joy, empathy, compassion, and connection.

• Dr. Kara H. Ahmed, LYFE Program—Keynote Speaker
• Conference Schedule