Workshops

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS OFFERED BY WAUPACA COUNTY UW-EXTENSION FOR WISCONSIN EARLYCHILDHOOD REGISTRY CREDIT

January-December 2016Early Childhood Education
Sandy Liang
Waupaca County
Family Living Educator

Please note: it is suggested that requests be made at least one month in advance to discuss your staff and center’s needs to create a program that fits your interests. All classes are at least one hour. Series-based programming is also available for up to 12 credits.

Workshop 1

Yummy Carrot Sticks: How Children Learn to Like Nutritious Foods (1-2 credits) Eating Carrot Sticks

  • Understand why nutrition predicts lifelong health outcomes
  • Learn strategies to positively influence children’s attitudes toward food with social cues, setting expectations and working with parents
  • Work on setting childcare setting mealtime expectations
  • Gain tools to avoid power struggles while encouraging children to try new foods
  • Making mealtimes pleasant for everyone

Workshop 2 Healthy Snacks

What’s for Snack? Nutrition to Support Healthy Growth (1-2 credits)

  • What good nutrition is for children of different ages in the preschool years
  • Practice looking at ingredients and making healthy choices for children
  • Learn ways to modify center’s current snacks to make them healthier

Workshop 3 Choices

Cupcakes for Lunch: Creating a Food and Nutrition Policy for Your Program (1-2 credits)

  • Understand how and why early childhood programs develop nutrition policies and see examples of existing ones
  • Practice communicating a nutrition policy
  • Dealing with emotional responses related to policy implementation

Workshop 4 ECP5

Count, Read, Share: The Meal Table as a Learning Center (1-2 credits)

  • Children are always learning and mealtimes are no exception
  • Learn how meal and snack times can be used as a very effective learning center for both intellectual and social-emotional development
  • Practice making a list of ways to make mealtimes a time to promote growth in many areas such as impulse control, planning and other practical life skills

Workshop 5 fruit face

Helping Children Make Good Choices (1-12 credits)

  • Learn evidence-based ways to encourage children ages 4-7 to think and problem solve
  • Based off of UW-Extension’s state and nationally recognized program, “Raising a Thinking Child”—using brain research and tips from what has worked for parents and professionals
  • Practice helping children learn “how to think” rather than what to think

Workshop 6Reading

The Joy of Reading (1 credit)

  • “Dialogic reading” is an evidence-based approach for children ages 2-5 that has been found to help children improve language skills above and beyond traditional reading
  • This is a hands-on workshop that will engage educators as they learn about new techniques that have been promoted by early childhood literacy experts

Workshop 7Saving Money

$umming it Up (1 credit)

  • Did you know that children in the preschool years are ready to learn about money? Yes, it’s true! The habits children have at a young age can actually predict their financial behaviors as adults!
  • This workshop will give educators support in developing curriculum for young children, finding books and working with parents to put together an event where both adults and children can learn together
  • The UW-Extension is working with Financial Information Services Center (FISC) to promote parent/child classes
  • Centers who select this option will be required to plan and hold a family event—the benefit? ALL children walk away with a free book and craft! FISC and UWEX will work with closely with you to provide parents this opportunity at your center at this   one-hour session

Workshop 8 Teacher

Self-care and Mindfulness and as an Educator

  • Working as an early childcare professional is fun and rewarding. It can also be stressful at times. You can’t pour from an empty cup—self-care and mindfulness is important as an educator to work at your best
  • At this session, learn techniques during periods of high stress, ways to ground yourself on tough days, and how to refresh yourself to be the best you
  • The Family Living Educator will help develop a program with the UW-Extension state specialist on mindfulness to give your center an “aha” moment day-to-day