Last year's conference focused on finding the joy in returning to our roots after the pandemic. We invited participants to join us to learn more about how our intentional focus on rebuilding strong foundations brought a renewed sense of joy, purpose, and connection to the work we do in early childhood. This year, we look forward to exploring the powerful nature of care and nurturing, investigating the ways our image of childhood shapes pedagogy and practice, and celebrating the impact early educators have on children and childhood. 

We are still building out the program for this year’s ELI, but here are the themes we’re exploring and excited to share with you!

• Learning alongside very young children

• Supporting neurodivergent learners

• Developing an image of the child with families

• STEAM in kindergarten

• Coaching in early childhood programs

• Mindfulness in early childhood education

• Project work from across the program:

  • Light (infants)

  • Color in motion (young toddlers)

  • Birds (older toddlers)

  • The meaning of home (older toddlers)

  • Games (preschool)

  • Potions (preschool)

  • Cultures (preschool)

  • Senses (preschool)