Early Childhood Investigations

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Early Childhood Investigations is your gateway to inspiring, research-based professional development. Since 2009, our free webinar series has brought together authors, researchers, and leaders in early care and education to share timely insights and spark meaningful conversations across the workforce. We believe high-quality professional development should be accessible, practical, and immediately useful. ECI is a movement that empowers directors, administrators, and teachers to elevate their practice and strengthen outcomes for children and families. https://ecewebinars.com/spotify

  1. 1d ago

    Beyond the Mess—A Structured Approach to Process Art: Four Core Activities That Spark Creativity, Exploration, and Intentional Learning by Faigie Kobre

    RESOURCES Watch the full webinar hereJoin our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every weekCheck out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management SoftwareWhat if you could stop chasing endless new art ideas—and still offer rich, meaningful creative experiences all year long? In this practical and inspiring session, Faigie Kobre, early childhood educator, former preschool director, and creator of the Beyond Copycat Crafts framework, invites educators to rethink how they approach process art in the classroom. Many educators feel pressure to constantly introduce new and exciting art activities to keep children engaged. Yet in reality, four core process art activities can be expanded, adapted, and revisited in countless ways—enough to sustain an entire year of creative exploration. In this webinar, Faigie will walk participants step-by-step through these four essential activities and demonstrate how they can be used over and over again with fresh purpose and intention. This session is rooted in her Creative Trio PAC Framework, where P = Process Art, offering educators a repeatable system that replaces “cookie-cutter” crafts with meaningful, child-led creative experiences. You’ll learn how to balance structure and freedom, support creativity without chaos, and confidently guide open-ended art that is developmentally appropriate, engaging, and manageable—no matter your classroom setting. You’ll leave with a clear framework, adaptable ideas, and renewed confidence in your ability to foster authentic creativity without the overwhelm. By the end of this session, participants will be able to: Identify the four core process art activities that can sustain creative work across an entire year Distinguish between copycat crafts and true process art Apply the Creative Trio PAC framework to plan intentional, open-ended art experiences Design developmentally appropriate art invitations that balance structure and creative freedom Reduce planning overwhelm while increasing meaningful creative engagement

  2. 2d ago

    When to Say When: Building Confidence in Supporting Neurodivergent and Developing Minds by Michele Hemenway Pullen Michele Hemenway Pullen

    RESOURCES Watch the full webinar hereJoin our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every weekCheck out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management SoftwareAre you finding that more and more children present you with more and more questions? Do you ever feel like some days you just can’t find the answers—or that when you do, nothing seems to work or keep working? In this insightful session, Michele Hemenway Pullen, Project Specialist at the University of Louisville Early Childhood Research Center, will guide you through a simple, step-by-step approach to help you regain your confidence and know “what to say when,” as well as which next steps are best to take. Originally designed for early childhood college students who were experiencing new levels of frustration, Michele’s “When to Say When” checklist has, over the past fifteen years, become a trusted framework for educators seeking composure, clarity, and confidence—especially when working with children whose behaviors are complex or whose neurodivergent traits may be misunderstood. Each step highlights areas where you can seek additional training or collaboration and provides practical strategies grounded in evidence-based practices. You’ll leave with clear, actionable “next steps” to guide your professional growth and interactions with children and families. You’ll gain: Greater confidence in identifying which areas of a child’s development to consider when confronted with confusing or challenging behaviors. Stronger communication skills for engaging families in ongoing, collaborative conversations about what you’re experiencing. A renewed sense of well-being and reassurance that you have a plan—and that you’re doing all you can. As we move through this process, you’ll be invited to use the checklist document to take notes, reflect, and apply your learning in real time.

    When to Say When: Building Confidence in Supporting Neurodivergent and Developing Minds by Michele Hemenway Pullen Michele Hemenway Pullen

  3. Aug 12

    No Child Left Behind: Observation & Assessment Made Simple – A Practical Guide for Early Years Educators by Clare Devlin

    RESOURCES Watch the full webinar hereJoin our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every weekCheck out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management SoftwareWhat if the key to better planning isn’t doing more—but seeing more? Join the Founder of Clare Devlin - Education Consultancy, in this engaging and down-to-earth session where you’ll discover a practical, no-nonsense approach to observation, assessment, and planning in early childhood education. This isn’t about checklists or paperwork overload—it’s about truly seeing your children, understanding what their play and behavior are telling you, and using that insight to plan meaningful experiences. In this session, Clare Devlin, will walk you through a simple yet powerful three-step reflective cycle—What, So What, Now What—designed to help you observe with purpose, assess with clarity, and plan with intention. You’ll learn how to tune into children’s natural play, record meaningful observations, and collaborate with your team to make confident, informed decisions that support each child’s development. You’ll leave this session feeling inspired and equipped with tools you can use right away—whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just starting out. In this session, you will:  Learn how to record rich, objective observations that capture the essence of children’s play, thinking, and learning.  Strengthen your skills in making sense of observations through reflective team discussions.  Explore how to plan purposeful next steps that build on children’s strengths, interests, and emerging priorities.  Use involvement levels as a practical tool to understand and support deep engagement.  Discover how to simplify your observation, and assessment process using a clear, one-page format.

  4. Aug 11

    Making Sense of Child Care Liability Insurance: Understanding Risk Assessment, Compliance, and Cost by Mia Pritts and Mark Parker

    RESOURCES Watch the full webinar hereJoin our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every weekCheck out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management SoftwareInsurance costs are rising, and for many child care providers, the reasons behind those increases can feel unclear, inconsistent, and out of their control. In this timely session, we’ll explore how licensing inspection data is often used by insurers to assess risk—and why approaches based primarily on counting violations can miss the bigger picture of program quality, safety, and consistency. Participants will examine how these practices can unintentionally penalize providers, contribute to rising liability insurance costs, and create additional challenges for programs already working hard to maintain high standards of care. The session will also introduce a more collaborative and transparent approach to evaluating compliance, one that considers the severity of regulations, applies more consistent scoring practices, and tracks patterns over time to support fairer and more reliable risk assessment. Designed as a participatory conversation, this session invites providers, administrators, and agency staff to think together about what needs to change. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of the problem, a practical framework for rethinking risk and compliance, and concrete ways to contribute to a growing grassroots effort to improve child care liability insurance outcomes. By the end of this session, participants will be able to: Analyze how licensing inspection data is commonly used by insurance carriers and identify the limitations of violation-count-based risk assessments. Compare traditional inspection reporting with a weighted, more universal scoring approach to understand how severity and context influence risk interpretation. Apply at least one strategy for using compliance data more effectively in conversations with insurers, regulators, or organizational partners.

  5. Aug 6

    Infants, Toddlers & Twos, Oh My! by Tracy Patton, M.S.

    RESOURCES Watch the full webinar hereJoin our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every weekCheck out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management SoftwareShine a light on the magic, importance, and unique needs of infants, toddlers, and twos. Too often, early childhood training focuses on preschool-aged children, leaving educators of children ages 0–2 without the tools and preparation they need to feel fully confident in their practice. That gap can make it harder to choose activities, respond to developmental needs, and build classroom experiences that are truly appropriate for the youngest learners. This workshop will help educators deepen their understanding of developmentally appropriate practice for infants, toddlers, and twos. Participants will explore key developmental milestones, discuss how to recognize possible delays, and learn how observation and documentation can support early intervention referrals. The session will also focus on how to thoughtfully adapt activities as children grow, so educators can scaffold learning in ways that are responsive, effective, and realistic for everyday practice. By the end of this session, participants will be able to: Explain the important role educators of infants, toddlers, and twos play in shaping children’s early development. Identify major developmental milestones for children ages 0–2 and use documentation to help inform possible early intervention referrals. Use developmentally appropriate practices to adapt activities and support learning as children’s skills emerge and grow.

  6. Aug 5

    Language Nutrition Swaps to Boost Language Learning and Growth by Jennifer Adams Oppenheimer, MA, CCC-SLP

    RESOURCES Watch the full webinar hereJoin our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every weekCheck out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management Software Creating a classroom where every child’s voice is heard, valued, and nurtured starts with how we talk, listen, and connect. In this session, Jennifer Adams Oppenheimer, M.A., CCC-SLP, Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and President of SpeakJoy Center for Development, introduces the powerful concept of “language nutrition”—the nourishing blend of words, tone, and intentional interaction that fuels a child’s communication and cognitive development during the critical early years. You’ll learn how to intentionally embed meaningful language experiences into daily routines, turning ordinary moments into extraordinary opportunities for connection and growth. Through the lens of “language nutrition,” Jennifer will guide you in reimagining the learning environment as a living, breathing space where communication is not only taught but modeled, celebrated, and personalized. Together, we’ll explore six essential elements that define a language-rich environment, with practical, inclusive strategies to support emerging communicators, multilingual learners, and children with diverse communication needs. Whether during circle time, free play, transitions, or snack time, you’ll discover how simple shifts can lead to lasting developmental impact. This session is designed for early childhood educators, caregivers, and administrators who want to strengthen children’s linguistic and social foundations while deepening relationships through authentic, everyday interactions. In this session, participants will: Identify at least three evidence-based outcomes of language-rich environments for young children. Describe the six key elements that support communication development in a language-rich classroom. Illustrate at least three practical, inclusive strategies to enhance everyday interactions and foster rich language development.

  7. Jul 31

    Storytelling’s Magic Wand: Developmental Fairydust for Literacy, Make-Believe, and Representational Thinking by Stephanie Goloway, EdD

    RESOURCES Watch the full webinar hereJoin our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every weekCheck out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management SoftwareImagine discovering that the key to unlocking the interwoven secrets of play, literacy, and even resilience can be found in the whimsical stories of young children—the ones they seem to conjure out of thin air as they transform snack crackers into hungry tigers and twigs into telephones. Guided by professor emerita of Early Education and Child Development Dr. Stephanie Goloway, this workshop invites you to explore how the magic in those flights of fancy builds the foundations for language, literacy, imagination, and more. Sometimes referred to as representational thinking, a child’s growing ability to construct and play with symbols is one of the core developmental tasks of early childhood. Yet too often, we overlook the power of children’s make-believe as we focus on more concrete milestones on our developmental checklists. Dr. Goloway will help you examine the theory and neuroscience behind the development of representational thinking and reflect on how it emerges in young children’s play. You’ll connect the dots between storytelling, symbolic thinking, make-believe play, and emergent literacy. Throughout the session, you’ll explore a variety of ways to wave the “magic wand” of storytelling in your setting—sharing folk and fairy tales, narrating creative movement experiences, and using quick anecdotes to scaffold transitions and routines. You’ll discover how, with each story you tell, you can nurture children’s capacity to transform their experiences into the wondrous web that underpins their play, reading, writing, problem-solving, and interactions with others. The best part: the wild sense, curiosity, joy, and stories of young children will be truly honored and celebrated as you help them spin narratives and weave meaning into their world. Participants will: Define representational thinking in the context of early childhood development. Explain the role of representational thinking and the use of symbols in emergent literacy and make-believe play. Identify ways oral storytelling supports the development of representational thinking, literacy, and make-believe play. Investigate how to incorporate different kinds of storytelling into any early childhood setting and schedule. Examine the added benefits of telling folk and fairy tales to support representational thinking, emergent literacy, play, and resilience.

  8. Jul 29

    Understanding the Science of Reading Through Child-Led Play by Laura Shea, M.S.Ed

    RESOURCES Watch the full webinar hereJoin our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every weekCheck out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management Software You care deeply about nurturing early literacy—but you’re tired of being caught between play and pressure. Maybe you’ve heard about the Science of Reading but aren’t sure how it applies to young children—or how to implement it in a play-based setting. Maybe someone has told you to stop the play and start the worksheets. Or maybe you’re simply searching for a clear, developmentally responsive way to support all your learners as they build the foundation for reading. In this engaging and practical session, Laura Shea, M.S.Ed., early childhood educator, adjunct-professor, and founder of Little Stories That Stick, will show how the Science of Reading can complement—not compete with—child-led play. With over a decade of experience in literacy development and play-based learning, Laura will unpack what the research truly says, how children build foundational reading skills before decoding begins, and why oral language, storytelling, and play are powerful tools for building brains ready to read. You’ll walk away with ideas you can implement right away—whether you work with toddlers, preschoolers, or pre-K students. Expect a balance of relatable classroom examples, real-world analogies, and actionable takeaways. You'll leave feeling more confident in your approach and more equipped to speak to families, administrators, and peers about how and why play supports reading. Learning Objectives: Understand how play-based experiences support key components of the Science of Reading, including oral language, phonological awareness, and vocabulary development. Identify the difference between developmentally appropriate literacy learning and early reading instruction. Explore ways to support emergent reading and writing through storytelling, storyacting, and incidental teaching. Gain language to explain and advocate for play-based literacy practices with families and administrators.

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Early Childhood Investigations is your gateway to inspiring, research-based professional development. Since 2009, our free webinar series has brought together authors, researchers, and leaders in early care and education to share timely insights and spark meaningful conversations across the workforce. We believe high-quality professional development should be accessible, practical, and immediately useful. ECI is a movement that empowers directors, administrators, and teachers to elevate their practice and strengthen outcomes for children and families. https://ecewebinars.com/spotify

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