Infancy Institute

Past Conferences

  • 2024: Boundless Beginnings: Liberation in Care for Infants and Toddlers

    Shared Power, Shared Healing: Attunement as Activism

    Keynotes:

    • Politicizing Care: Using Power Analysis to Deepen Attunement | Nat Nadha Vikitsreth

    Workshops:

  • 2023: Relationships that Heal: Choosing Connection over Control

    Relationships that Heal: Choosing Connection Over Control

    Keynote:

    Attending to Attachment in Early Care: The Circle of Security | Deidre Quinlan

    Featured Presentation:

    Letting Go of Control to Build Radical Communities of Care with Young Children | Soyoung Park

    Workshops:

    • Bibliotherapy with Infants and Toddlers with Margaret Blachly
    • Introducing Equity and Inclusion into Your Organization (even if you think you can’t) with G Capone
    • Supporting Families from Birth through Potty Training and Everything in Between with Melina Gac Levin
    • Supporting Inquiry with Infants and Toddlers with Light and Shadow Investigations with Sonia Yoshizawa and Beth VanMeeteren
    • Understanding Intergenerational Issues in Infant, Toddler, and Young Child Care with Lesley Koplow
    • Supporting Positive Behavior: Proactive Strategies to Set Children Up for Success with Lori-Ann Mangal
    • Telling the Story of Infant/Toddler Development with Stephanie Kelley
    • Culturally Responsive Practices in Early Childcare Settings: A Look at Two Cultures with Mila Costa
    • Creating Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers with Lisa Laflamme and Daniela Leguisamo
    • The Early Intervention Program in NYC with Raisa Abad and Jeanette Gong
    • Welcoming Spanish Speaking Children and Families in the Classroom with Gabriel Guyton and Marcela Cuadra
    • Loose Parts and Other Interesting Materials for Toddlers and Twos with Savera Rost
    • A Teacher’s Path to Feeling Safe and Secure with Laura Martin and Ella Reid
    • A Developmental Lens on Cultivating the Poetic Spirit in Infant and Toddler Classrooms with Stefanie Horton
    • A Developmental Approach to Music with Infants and Toddlers with Margie Brickley
    • Using Strength-based Observations to Rebuild Communities with Kristina Satchell
    • Supporting Young Children with Disabilities through Affect, Anticipation, and Joy: The Basics of DIR Floortime with Rae Leeper
    • Social Justice with Infants, Toddlers, and Families with Alex Martinez
    • Designing Environments for Living with Infants and Toddlers with Skylar Belt and Anja Mayr
    • Navigating Difficult Conversations with Families with Laura Araman
    • Art and Sensory Experiences for Infants and Toddlers with Carolyn E. Tebbetts
    • Conscious Discipline with Alex Martinez  and Shelby Ward
    • Emotional Literacy from Page to Practice with Lauren Angarano
    • Supporting Early Math Awareness in Infant and Toddler Environments with Victoria Goode Ozeir
    • Apoyando a la Salud Mental de Bebés, Niños Pequeños y sus Familias with Emily Rodriguez
    • Supporting Healing and Resilience in Children and Families with Noelle Dean
    • Sensory Profiles through a Cultural Lens with Yasmin Dorrian and Katherine Rodriguez
    • Emotionally Responsive Play in Infant, Toddler, and Twos rooms with Gabriel Guyton and Ashley Parks
  • 2022: Beyond the Behavior: Understanding the Behavior of Children, Adults, and Ourselves

    Beyond the Behavior: Understanding the Behavior of Children, Adults, and Ourselves

    Keynote | Mr. Chazz

    Featured Presentation | Susanne Walker Wilson

    In-Person Workshops:

    • Becoming Fully Human: Reimagining Child Development, with Stefanie Horton
    • Designing Environments and Activities for Toddlers and 2s, with Sydnie Henkin
    • Learning to Learn while Learning to Move, with Sarah Barnaby
    • Supporting Gender Identity Development in Toddlers, with Alexandra Martinez
    • Achieving a Secure Start: Using the Circle of Security Parenting Intervention as a Roadmap to Secure Attachment, with Barbara M Stern
    • Building Blocks of Toddler Cognitive Development: Learning Activities Through Play, with Simone Taylor
    • Creating Global Citizens, with Robin Hancock
    • What do parents of very young children worry about? with Melina Gac Levin
    • Empowering and Supporting Families through a Culturally-Sustaining Lens, with Allison Tom-Yunger, Annlady Jorge and Scharisse Sierra
    • Exploring Sensory Activities with Toddlers, with Debbie Silver
    • “Love is an Action”: Teaching Towards Equity and Change, with Stephanie Roer and Ari Puleo
    • Parent Support Groups: Why Investing in Parent Support is Critical to Whole Child Care, with Gabrielle Felman and Sarah Piel
    • Supporting Social/Emotional Development In the Wake of the Pandemic, with Lesley Koplow
    • Biting and Hitting and Dumping Oh My: Exploring the Challenging Behaviors of Toddlers, with Debbie Silver
    • Exploring Their Worlds: Seasonal Exploratory Activities for Infants and Toddlers, with Brittany Wallace and Stephanie McGillen
    • Choosing Relationship Over Control: Towards a Liberatory, Anti-Behaviorist Approach to Supporting Young Children, with Soyoung Park

    Virtual Workshops:

    • Sensory Development: Implications for Classroom and Clinic, with Gil Foley
    • Creating Engaging Environments, with Michelle Barnea
    • ERP 101 En Español: Una Introducción A los Conceptos y las Prácticas Emocionalmente Responsivas (ERP) with Margaret Blachly
    • Falling in Love with Children & Families, with Stephanie Kelley
    • Writing For Toddlers, with Carol Zeavin
    • Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (this workshop will be in Spanish), with Emily Rodriguez
    • Secure Attachment as a Protective Factor –An Introduction to Circle of Security Parenting and Classroom Approaches, with Susanne Walker Wilson
    • Emotionally Responsive Practice: A Path to Infant Toddler Mental Health Description, with Gabriel Guyton and Laura Martin
    • Supporting Parents When Children Need Early Intervention, with Laura Araman
    • Using the FAN – a Tool for Building Relationships and Connection, with Tori Graham
    • The Genesis of Inquiry, with Beth VanMeeteren, Sherri Peterson, and Sonia Yoshizawa
    • Supporting Families and Children with Developmental Variations, with Tanya N. Miller
    • Supporting Positive Behavior: Proactive Strategies to Set Children up for Success, with Lori-Ann Mangal
  • 2021: Racial Consciousness and Social Justice

    Racial Consciousness and Social Justice

    Keynote:

    • “Baby Loves Themself Sooo Much!” Supporting Infants’ and Toddlers’ Positive Racial Identity Development | Ijumaa Jordan

    Featured Presentation:

    “Reflections for a Better Tomorrow: Engaging in Equity and Social Justice” | José Velilla

    Workshop Highlights:

    • Conversaciones y interacciones con estudiantes de doble idioma durante el día with Alexandra Figueras-Daniel (Workshop facilitated in Spanish)
    • Engaging Families in Difficult Conversations with Soyoung Park and Laura Araman
    • Equitable Compensation for the Early Childhood Workforce: Within Reach and Worth the Investment with Brandy Lawrence
    • Math and Toddlers: Developing Math Understanding in Early Childhood with Robin Hummel and Alex Salomon
    • So Much More than Lullabies: Exploring the World of Sound and Music in Infants and Toddlers with Sonia A. Yoshizawa
    • Using the FAN with our Families and Colleagues with Tori Graham
    • Collaboration and Partnerships with Families Receiving Early Intervention Services with Tanya Nicholson Miller
    • Coming Back to the Classroom During and After COVID with Lesley Koplow
    • Creating Environments that Support Social Emotional Development with Michelle Barnea
    • Emergent Curriculum with Infants and Toddlers: Engaging in Dialogue with our Youngest Children with Jacqueline Marks, Scharisse Sierra, Aika Martin, & Jessica Bieber
    • Leveraging participatory approaches during the COVID pandemic – lessons from the field with Steven A. Toledo and Adeline Medeiros
    • Profundizando las conexiones familiares a través de cuidadosa observaciones with Carmen L. Colón (Workshop facilitated in Spanish)
    • We are Family! Invite joy and learn practical strategies that serve to cultivate authentic family engagement through a strengths based and culturally responsive lens with Sarah Willis and Pilar Anglero-Aviles
    • Authentic Engagement in Early Intervention: A Conversation with Ashley Cattaneo
    • Culturally Sustaining Practice in Family Childcare and Center Based Care with Dr. Robin Hancock
    • Exploring Their World: Seasonal Exploratory Activities for Infants and Toddlers with Brittany Wallace and Stephanie McGillen
    • Finding Joy in Early Childhood Settings with Gabriel Guyton and Stephanie Kelly
    • Lectura en comunidad: Leyendo libros infantiles en español with Carla España (Workshop facilitated in Spanish)
    • Supporting and Understanding Differing Sensory Profiles with Yasmin Dorrian
    • Anti-Bias and You: A Reflection and Deepening of Anti-Bias Education and its Role in Early Childhood Classrooms with Alexandra Martinez and Jennifer T. Ruiz
    • Me an advocate? Yes! (a workshop) with Mark Nagasawa
    • Reflective Supervision: A Best Practice Essential for Child Care with Gilbert M. Foley
    • Salud Mental Infantil with Emily Rodriguez (Workshop facilitated in Spanish)
    • Supporting Parents of Toddlers with Melina Gac Levin
    • Was Rosa just tired? Reframing stories of Black resistance in Early Childhood settings with Maimuna Mohammed and Zipporiah Mills
  • 2020: Caring for Families and Ourselves

    Caring for Families and Ourselves

    Keynote:

    • How We Partner with Each and Every Family: Evolving Practices, Beliefs, and Values | By Dr. Bonnie Keilty

    Featured Presentation:

    • Power to the Profession! Politics, Policy, and Collective Action as Caring for Families and Ourselves | Dr. Mark Nagasawa

    Workshop Highlights:

    • Building Global Citizenship With Young Children | Facilitator: Dr. Robin Hancock
    • Dual Language Development: Honoring our Families (In Spanish!) | Facilitator: Carmen Colón
    • Early Childhood Coaching: The Ultimate Mashup | Facilitator: Rebecca Newman
    • I Love Bears! Opportunities for Emotionally Responsive Curriculum in Baby, Toddlers, and Twos Rooms | Facilitators:
      Gabriel Guyton and Turkessa Baten
    • The Power of Relationships in Supporting Infants and Toddlers with Processing Traumatic Experiences | Facilitator: Allison Tom-Yunger
    • Challenging Behavior with Toddlers, Twos and Threes | Facilitator: Yasmin Dorrian
    • Sensory Experiences for Infants and Toddlers | Facilitator: Alexandra Martinez
    • Emergent Curriculum with Toddlers Using Emotionally Responsive Practice | Facilitators: Ashley Parks and Anna Peterson
    • Emotional Development of Infants, Toddlers and 2s | Facilitator: Lesley Koplow
    • Outdoor Learning with Toddlers | Facilitators: Melina Gac Levin and Nido Forest
    • Supporting Sensory Differences and Regulation in the Classroom | Facilitator: Gilbert M. Foley
    • The Shape of Things to Come | Facilitators: Alexandra Salomon and Robin Hummel
    • Caring for the Caregivers: Taking Care of Your Own Mental Health | Facilitator: Margie Brickley
    • Brain Development | Facilitator: Michelle Barnea
    • Schedules, Rituals and Routines: How do you turn your day into opportunities to connect? | Facilitator: Mary Lou Allen
    • Engaging Families in Difficult Conversations | Facilitators: Soyoung Park and Laura Araman
    • Moments of Calm in Unsettled Times: Yoga as a Coping for Adults and Children | Facilitator: Maureen Burke
  • 2019: Our Bravest Selves

    Our Bravest Selves

    Featured Presentation:

    • World Class Trip: Teaching Towards the Global Community | Dr. Robin Hancock

    Workshop Highlights:

    • Being There: Building Relationships With Early Childhood Educators | Facilitator: Rebecca Newman
    • Engaging Toddlers and Twos Using Emergent Curriculum | Facilitator: Jelena Starcevic
    • Exploring Race & Equity for Infants and Toddlers: A Focus on the Adults who Work With Them | Facilitator: Takiema Bunche Smith
    • Promoting Empathy and Resiliency: Creating an Emotionally Responsive Infant, Toddler, and Twos Room | Facilitator: Gabriel Guyton
    • Actividades Emocionalmente Responsivas para Hacer con Familias//Emotionally Responsive Practice Activities That You Can Do With Families | Facilitator: Margaret Blachly
    • The Intersection of Infant Mental Health and Sensory Processing Disorders | Facilitator: Gilbert M. Foley
    • The Power of Teacher Intentionality: Developing Young Children’s Cognitive Skills | Facilitator: Michael Amaral
    • Taking Care of Others Means Taking Care of Yourself | Facilitator: Sue Carbary
    • Creative Art for Toddlers | Facilitator: Molly Vozick-Levinson
    • Math for Infants and Toddlers | Facilitators: Robin Hummel & Alexandra Salomon
    • STEM or Music? Creating a “Sound” Environment for Infants and Toddlers | Facilitator: Sonia A. Yoshizawa
    • The Brain Architecture Game | Facilitator: Michelle Barnea
    • Challenging Behaviors: What’s My Piece in the Puzzle? | Facilitator: Lorri Sullivan
    • What is Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers? | Facilitator: Katherine Baldwin
    • Center Visits: Bank Street Family Center, Barnard’s Center for Toddler Development, Basic Trust Infant/Toddler Center, Rita Gold Early Childhood Center at Teachers College
  • 2018: Music and Mindfulness

    Music and Mindfulness

    Keynote:

    • Keys to Musical Interaction with Young Children—Vibrant, Relational, and Developmental | Kaja Weeks

    Featured Presentation:

    • Trauma, Empathy and Learning | Tonia M. Spence

    Workshop Highlights:

    • Block Building with Toddlers | Facilitator: Judi Gentry
    • Engaging with Families Through Thick and Thin | Facilitator: Chris Tucker
    • Including Families in the Curriculum in Toddler Classrooms | Facilitator: Carolyn E. Tebbetts
    • The Developmental-Interaction Approach in an Infant/Toddler Classroom | Facilitators: Michael Amaral and Cristina Mendonca
    • The Discipline Dilemma: Setting Limits with Toddlers and Twos | Facilitator: Yasmin Dorrian
    • Play as Regulation | Facilitator: Gilbert M. Foley
    • Math with Infants and Toddlers | Facilitators: Robin Hummel and Alexandra Salomon
    • Powerful Interactions: Supporting a Strength-Based Work Environment for All | Facilitator: Kristina Satchell
    • Adult and Child: Still Mind, Calm Mind, Learning Mind | Facilitators: Wendi S. Williams and Quiana Jackson
    • Teaching from the Right Side of the Brain: Yoga-Based Strategies for Supporting Infant Mental Health | Facilitator: Laura Grant
    • The Power of Documentation | Facilitator: Rachel Warren
    • Center Visits: Adaptive Design, Bank Street Family Center, Basic Trust Infant/Toddler Center, Rita Gold Early Childhood Center at Teachers College, Rockefeller University Child and Family Center, Roosevelt Island Day Nursery