This workshop teaches why there is such an alarming increase in challenging behavior among young children in today’s world and presents specific techniques and approaches for decreasing challenging behavior while increasing positive social development. All techniques taught are based on what current brain research tells us children need.

This workshop will introduce participants to Relationship Roots’ “Caring Connections” program. You will learn a wealth of tools you can begin using immediately in your classroom to improve not only relationships between the adults and children, but also the peer relationships among the children. Based on the latest brain research and attachment theory, the Caring Connections approach is very powerful and highly effective. Often, nothing more is needed to eliminate almost all challenging behavior than to adopt this approach in your classroom.

Teachers of young children have become increasingly vocal opponents of superhero play, voicing concern about behavior in their classrooms. More and more teachers are choosing to ban superhero play from their classrooms in response to their concerns.

In this workshop we will examine:

• Our feelings about superhero play
• Why boys are more interested in this type of dramatic play
• How this behavior can play a developmental function necessary for young children's healthy growth
• How, by banning superhero play, teachers may be denying themselves an opportunity to teach about values, respect, safety and living in a democratic social group.

In this highly interactive and engaging workshop, you will gain new tools to put in your toolbox for responding to difficult behavior among young children. First, you will learn why we need to change our approach to discipline. You will then learn how to apply brain-smart techniques to deal with challenging behavior.
Bring your real-life examples of the most challenging behaviors you’ve seen in your classrooms. You will have the opportunity to practice the new skills you learn using actual situations you face in your work on a daily basis.

In this interactive workshop participants are introduced to risk and resiliency theory and will use the “Resiliency Wheel” model to identify the four most important steps to build resiliency in children. This strengths model provides practical solutions for overcoming common behavior problems exhibited by young children.

As providers and caretakers, adults tend to view the world of children as happy and carefree. After all, kids don't have jobs to keep or bills to pay, so what could they possibly have to worry about? Plenty! Even very young children have worries and feel stress to some degree. Stress may be at the root of the problem behaviors you are concerned about in the children with whom you work.
In this fascinating and engaging workshop, you will learn just how stressful modern society is to the developing young brain and how many of the situations children face every day increase the stress response in children. On the positive side, you will learn what you can do about it. You will come away from this workshop with a variety of positive and effective tools that will greatly reduce the stress children feel while in your programs, as well as tools that will help them in any environment.

The latest brain research shows that the most important factor for healthy development in young children is a network of warm, nurturing relationships.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) understands this and when NAEYC released their 10 new quality standards for Early Care & Education (ECE), they named positive, healthy RELATIONSHIPS as their #1 standard.
This comprehensive workshop covers all aspects of relationships that are important in the field of ECE today. You will learn about:

• The Brain and Relationships
• Today’s Society and Relationships
• Building Relationships with Children
• Building Relationships among Adults