Early Childhood Educators & Related Professionals

Whether you’re looking to complete required clock hours or you want to push your thinking in new ways, I want you to love our training together.
My goal is to get you excited about new research, deepen your understanding, and challenge you to expand your thinking. And, of course, to become even more fascinated by the super nerdy side of early childhood education!
Trainings are designed for:
- Any stage early childhood educator wanting to know more about the science of “why” or “how” behind child development.
- Directors, supervisors, and teacher educators looking for unique information stemming from an ever-growing body of research.
Amanda is a MSDE Approved Trainer! CKI-161867
Here are the current training offerings:
ACE Interface: Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic or stressful experiences, such as abuse or neglect, that occur during childhood or adolescence. ACEs can harm a child’s brain and its development, which can lead to long term negative health and social outcomes. Armed with powerful new insights into how toxic stress changes the physiology of early brain development, we can begin to find sustainable solutions to childhood trauma by empowering resilient, self-healing communities.
Designed for Parents/Families, Educators, Supervisors, Directors, and other Early Childhood Professionals
Offered virtually or in person
MSDE COK Approved- AH-09112023-01 2 COK (Child Development/2)
How To Use Music Purposefully Throughout the Day (And Stop Hiding the Basket of Instruments)
Using the latest research centered around music therapy, attachment theory, and Polyvagal Theory, this workshop will challenge your understanding of how and why to use music in a classroom setting. Focusing on the physiological effects of music and the effects on social and emotional development allows you to deepen your understanding of music’s purpose and use throughout the day. After exploring the academic side of this information, we will begin applying this knowledge by sharing ideas and activities, all while increasing your confidence to be more musical. This workshop is designed for caregivers and educators working with infants/toddlers, young children, and even those young at heart.
Designed for Parents/Families, Educators, Supervisors, Directors, and other Early Childhood Professionals
Offered virtually or in person
MSDE COK Approved- AH-08102023-01 3 COK (Child Development/1.5 Curriculum/1.5)
How Other People Do It- Empowering diversity by exploring education and parenting practices around the world
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 understand your program’s expectations better.
The main take-home message from this presentation is the ability to acknowledge the parenting beliefs and biases we each bring into interactions with families from different cultural backgrounds. With more understanding and respect for the “why” behind various beliefs and practices, participants will be able to lead better conversations with families regarding the practices and expectations of your program. In this way, families’ home culture will not only be more included in their child’s daily experiences, but they will also gain a deeper understanding of “why” the program has specific beliefs and expectations too.
Designed for Parents/Families, Educators, Supervisors, Directors, and other Early Childhood Professionals
Offered virtually or in person
Regarding MSDE COK- I am currently going through the approval process. Please check back for approved training options.
Polyvagal Theory 101: Rethinking Behaviors from a Trauma-Informed and Sensory-Based Lens
This training is designed to help providers move past traditional ways of viewing children’s behaviors by rethinking from a trauma-informed lens. Using the Polyvagal Theory as a guide, participants will gain knowledge of how our bodies perceive sensory information, how our nervous system processes this sensory information into physiological responses, and how all of these processes result in behaviors. Participants will spend time understanding their own need for self-regulation before assisting children in co-regulation with trauma-informed and sensory-based strategies.
Designed for Parents/Families, Early Childhood Educators, Supervisors, Directors, and other Early Childhood Professionals
Offered virtually or in person
Regarding MSDE COK- I am currently going through the approval process. Please check back for approved training options.
Social Media and Marketing 101 for Childcare Businesses
Growing a successful childcare business relies on continuously increasing your brand’s awareness. The more families in your community are familiar with you, the more referrals you will receive. In this training, I’ll break down the basics of social media and other forms of marketing into easy-to-implement ideas.
Designed for Supervisors, Directors, and other Early Childhood Professionals
Offered virtually
Regarding MSDE COK-I am currently going through the approval process. Please check back for approved training options.
“Coming Soon” offerings:
- From conception to the classroom: A deeper look at children’s musical development across multiple stages of growth
- Using music to Avoid Tantrums, Improve Communication Skills, and Bond, even if you’re a “terrible singer.”
- Brain Development and Epigenetics: How everything we do lays the foundation for future learning