Intended Audience: Early childhood and elementary educators, paraeducators & instructional assistants, related service providers (SLP, OT, SPED, LSW), and personal care assistants.

Social communication, or the exchange of information between individuals, is an imperative part of social emotional well-being. Through play we can create opportunities for children's developing minds, language, and the capacity for negotiating social exchanges. This workshop series focuses on the development of pivotal life, educational, and social skills for all learners, which are nurtured most effectively within the context of play.

This first workshop focuses on balancing structured and unstructured play. Play is an integral part of learning, communication, social well-being, and self-regulation. Practitioners will actively participate in the development of strategies, supports, and specific practices for creating a facilitative play context for all learners.

Participants will:
· Define play, as well as explore neurodivergent preferences and approaches to play.
· Engage in developmentally appropriate simulations that emphasize neurodivergence.
· Outline the stages and types of play, including understanding historical perspectives on play as well as the current approaches that nurture the role of play in social emotional development and learning.
· Develop and simulate play plans that balance play types and create a facilitative context for the development of language, social relatedness, and communication.

You will receive the Zoom link in a confirmation email a few days before the workshop. We must receive a payment or a purchase order from you prior to the event in order to give you access.