BIO: Malgosia Tomanik, M.Ed., is a Family Consultant who specializes in supporting children from preschool to high school age.  Malgosia is experienced in addressing concerns associated with the daily challenges of caring for a child who requires support, including helping to make sense of difficult behaviour and supporting the big people for each child in finding a way through.  Malgosia also works as a Key Worker with the Fraser Valley Child Development Centre.  She provides support to caregivers raising children and youth who are living with FASD, from birth to 19 years of age.

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: This presentation is intended to emphasize the current information on recommended practices for working with families.  It includes a brief review of the parents' and ECE's role, review of recommended and promising Family Centered Practice, and applies the content to the role of ECE as not only an Educator but also a family support.  It also provides strategies on "how to " talk to parents in a friendly but informative, professional way that will enhance parent- teacher interaction and prompt parents participation in their child's early education and development.

BIO: For the past 19 years, Julia has developed early childhood programs and facilities for children 3 months to 5 years of age within the Sea to Sky Corridor in British Columbia.  She has worked as a classroom teacher, teacher mentor, capital projects coordinator in the construction of facilities, and Executive Director operating multiple sites and programs.  Julia is a member of faculty in the Early Childhood Care and Education Department at Capilano University and coordinates a Children First and Success by 6 community mobilization project for the Sea to Sky corridor.  Julia is also certified trainer for the HighScope Educational Research Foundation and works with the HighScope Teacher Education Centre for Western Canada providing mentoring and teacher training in all areas of the HighScope educational Approach.

BIO: Gyda Chud was the Dean at Vancouver Community College prior to her retirement.  She is an Early Childhood Educator and an Advocate.

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Join us to review, refresh, and renew positive approaches for guiding behaviour and promoting pro-social skills with young children.  This dimension of early childhood is ever challenging, yet remains a key factor in providing quality programs as we interact with children and their families.

TITLE: Yoga with Children in Your Classroom
DATE AND TIME: June 19, 2014 -  6:30 to 8:30 pm
PRESENTER: Renata Mihalickova

BIO: Renata is currently a yoga teacher at the Robert Lee YMCA and is a certified yoga teacher.

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Fostering cooperation and compassion-as a great gift to give our children through yoga.  Our children live in a hurry up world of busy parents, school pressures, incessant lessons, video games and competitive sports. We usually don't think of these influences as stressful for our kids, but often they are. I have found that yoga can help counter these pressures. When children learn techniques for self-health, relaxation, and inner fulfillment, they may process and navigate life's challenges a little easier. Yoga at an early age encourages self- esteem and body awareness with a physical activity that's noncompetitive.