News

Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) is offering early childhood professionals a professional development opportunity to learn about brain growth in children from birth to five years of age.

Aptly named, “The Growing Brain: From Birth to 5 Years Old,” this virtual series details child brain development and shares ways to encourage healthy growth in young children.

About “The Growing Brain”

Decades of research indicate that the early years of life are a period of exponential brain development, characterized by great opportunity and vulnerability dependent on child relationships and environment.

In this series, participants will develop skills and strategies to:

• understand the architecture and neurobiology of brain development
• support language, cognition, prosocial behavior, and social-emotional development
• and reduce toxic stress that can negatively influence brain development in very young children

Session Details

“The Growing Brain” is offered in several, progressive sessions. Each session is offered twice, and interested individuals can register and attend as many or as few sessions as they like. One PQAS credit is available for each session. Sessions include:

Factors Affecting Brain Growth & Development

In this session, participants will identify factors that negatively impact brain development, understand the impact of stress on the developing brain, and learn about strategies for supporting healthy brain growth and development.

Offered:

• Thursday April 27 | 12 – 1 p.m.
• Friday April 28 | 8 – 9 a.m.

Communication & Language Development

In this session, participants will understand communication milestones, learn strategies for supporting early communication skills, and understand multi-language learning.

Offered:

• Thursday May 4 | 12 – 1 p.m.
• Friday, May 5 | 8 – 9 a.m.

Cognition & Executive Function

In this session, participants will review and summarize key cognitive milestones in brain development, as well as explore the layers of executive function and its importance in child development.

Offered:

• Thursday, May 18 | 12 – 1 p.m.
• Friday, May 19 | 8 – 9 a.m.

Social-Emotional Development

In this session, participants will review key social emotional development milestones in children, as well as connect which areas of the brain are involved in social interactions and examine the role that relationships and attachment play in social-emotional development.

Offered:

• Thursday, May 25 | 12 – 1 p.m.
• Friday, May 26 | 8 – 9 a.m.

Understanding Behavior

In this module, session leaders will discuss approaches for identifying the root cause of young children’s behavior and demonstrate effective strategies to address challenging behaviors in very young children.

Offered:

• Thursday, June 1 | 12 – 1 p.m.
• Friday, June 2 | 8 – 9 a.m.

Everyday Play

In this session, participants will learn to understand the stages and types of play that unfold in early childhood, the role of the brain in this process, and how to maximize children’s learning through play.

Offered:

• Thursday, June 8 | 12 – 1 p.m.
• Friday, June 9 | 8 – 9 a.m.

Register for any or all sessions on the PD Registry.

Learn More

This series is presented by EITA Consultants certified in “The Growing Brain” curriculum, which was developed by Zero to Three Professional Development and Workforce Innovations (PDWI). PDWI aims to elevate the knowledge skills and abilities of early childhood professionals.

For additional information on this offering, view the flyer. For additional information on “The Growing Brain,” visit www.zerotothree.org/growingbrain or the PD Registry.