Children Together presents: Fostering Friendships

Register today!  Early Registration Discount and Group Discounts (for 4 or more) available until October 11! Registration:  3:30 - 4:00pm Conference:  4:00 - 7:00pm Children Together is proud to present: Fostering Friendships Supporting Young Learners in Making Social Connections Presented by Kat King Early childhood teachers share that one of their most important goals is creating a culture of inclusivity and acceptance where children of all abilities can form meaningful relationships. Some children struggle to initiate interactions with their peers and maintain friendships. With the right strategies and supports, an educator can facilitate connections by serving as a bridge between children. This interactive workshop will provide participants with the opportunity to: 1)  Learn how to help all children develop their social skills 2)  Engage in an activity to remove barriers to friendship between children with and without disabilities 3)  Use a social mapping tool to effectively analyze interactions between children 4)  Develop a plan to enhance friendship interactions (to include adult guidance, environmental arrangement, and supporting development of social skills) Participants will gain tools to foster a welcoming and inclusive social environment where authentic, reciprocal friendships can thrive. **Note:  The Fostering Friendships workshop is relevant for early childhood educators as well as lower primary educators (Kindergarten and 1st grade). About the presenter: Kathryn (Kat) King has over 30 years’ experience teaching inclusive practices in a variety of settings including inclusive preschool, summer camp, after school, and teen programs and as an adjunct faculty member at UNC-Chapel Hill. Since joining Kids Included Together in 2015, Kat has shared her passion for inclusion around the globe through disability inclusion training, consultation, policy development, strategic planning and keynotes in the United States, South Korea, Bavaria, England, Japan, and Canada. In her current role as Partnerships Director, Kat embeds herself with national organizations to develop the perfect approach to establish and sustain inclusive practice systems change. Kat holds a BS from Virginia Tech in Communications and Marketing and an MS in Recreation Administration from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her articles and research have been published in Camping Magazine, Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, and Discovery Magazine.  For inquiries about accommodations, foreign language interpretation, or sign language interpretation, please e-mail [email protected]. We request that inquiries be made as soon as possible, or by October 1, 2019. The Anne Lipnick Parent Support Fund offers increased opportunities for parents in our area to attend workshops that will provide them with the resources to meet the extraordinary challenges they face. Please e-mail [email protected] for information about possible scholarships for parents. Conference registrants understand that photographs may be taken during the event. By registering for the Children Together Conference, you give permission for photographs containing your image/likeness to be used on the Children Together website or within other publicity which may be seen by the general public. Visit us! children-together.org facebook.com/ChildrenTogetherVA