Brain-Based Strategies for Early Language Development
Date:
March 13, 2026 All day
Price:
Topics:
- Early Childhood Education
Instructor(s):
Danielle Kent, M.S., CCC-SLP
Event Type:
Virtual
Graduate Credits:
1
Intended Audience:
Early childhood educators, special educators, and other professionals working with children from birth through kindergarten.
Participants must attend all events:
- March 13, 2026
- April 2, 2026
This course (which includes a 2 day workshop series) is designed to deepen participants’ understanding of early brain development and its critical connection to language acquisition from birth through kindergarten. Participants will study how young children’s brains grow and how this growth supports language development across infancy, toddlerhood, and the preschool years. Participants will then examine key developmental milestones, learn how language is co-constructed through responsive interactions, and practice strategies that promote strong communication skills in young children. Lastly, participants will shift the focus from knowledge of these milestones to adult action steps, helping participants bridge the gap between understanding and consistent practice. Through guided reflection and collaborative problem-solving, attendees will identify practical solutions to common implementation obstacles and tailor strategies to fit their unique environments.
Participants will:
- Describe how early childhood brain development underpins language growth, including expected receptive and expressive milestones during infancy, toddlerhood, and preschool.
- Understand responsive caregiver strategies, including serve and return, co-regulation and expansion, and therapeutic interventions such as Toy Talk.
- Apply learned strategies to real‑world caregiver–child interactions, troubleshoot common barriers (e.g., limited time, distractions, inconsistent routines), and practice scaffolding and responsive techniques in realistic scenarios.
With a focus on the critical connection between early brain development and language growth, participants will explore how language emerges through meaningful interactions and relationships. Emphasizing a co-constructed approach—where language develops within social and communicative contexts—this course provides practical strategies to support young children’s language development across diverse settings. Through reflective practice, discussion, and application of research-based concepts, participants will deepen their understanding of how to intentionally nurture early communication and language skills.
To attend the workshops series only, not for graduate credit, please register here.
