9:00AM-10:00AM

Childhood. What’s the Rush? Developmentally Appropriate Practices in ECE 
(Opening Keynote)

Two Pushy Dames
1 Ohio Approved Hour
 

If our entire lifespan were measured on a ruler, childhood would take up only about an inch—so why are we in such a hurry to rush children through it? Increasing pressure for academic achievement and kindergarten readiness is pushing standards, assessments, and adult-directed instruction into younger classrooms, often crowding out the experiences children need most.
 

In this energetic, research-informed keynote, the Two Pushy Dames challenge educators to push back on the academic push-down and reconnect with what developmentally appropriate practice truly looks like. Participants will explore why play, creativity, movement, relationships, and hands-on discovery are not breaks from learning—they are how young children learn best. Educators will leave with renewed confidence, research-based support, and a stronger voice for protecting the joyful, meaningful childhood every child deserves.
 

Three Key Takeaways
 

1. Understand how academic push-down can conflict with children’s developmental needs and affect their learning experiences.
    

2. Explore why play, movement, creativity, relationships, and hands-on discovery are essential—not optional—to children’s development.
    

3. Gain research-based support and greater confidence to advocate for developmentally appropriate, play-based learning with families, colleagues, and decision-makers.

​

10:00AM-10:15AM: Break

 

 

10:15AM-11:15AM
Tiny Hands, Big Impact: When Challenging Behaviors Shake Educator Values

Dr. Beth Trammell
1 Ohio Approved Hour
 

Challenging behavior does more than disrupt classroom routines—it can shake educators’ confidence and make even the most caring professionals question themselves. In this honest and practical session, licensed psychologist Dr. Beth Trammell explores what happens when aggression, defiance, and dysregulation collide with deeply held values such as compassion, fairness, safety, and inclusion.

 

Participants will learn how to recognize their own stress responses, steady themselves before reacting, and reconnect with the values that brought them to this work. Using the VALUES Reset and C.A.R.E. framework, educators will leave with practical tools for navigating difficult moments, repairing relationships, and creating safer, more supportive environments.
 

Three Key Takeaways
 

1. Understand what is being activated. Recognize how challenging behavior can trigger stress, self-doubt, and conflict with your professional values.
    

2. Regulate before reacting. Use the VALUES Reset and brief body-based strategies to stay grounded and choose an intentional next step.
    

3. Focus your energy where it matters. Apply the C.A.R.E. framework to identify what you can control, influence, accept, or release—while protecting relationships and seeking support when needed.

11:15AM-11:30AM: Break


11:30AM-12:30PM
Team Building Through the Genius of Play

Two Pushy Dames
1 Ohio Approved Hour
 

Working with young children requires patience, flexibility, communication, and a strong team beside you. When educators feel connected, supported, and in sync, they are better prepared to handle the daily demands of the classroom—and far more likely to find joy in the work.
 

In this energetic, highly interactive session, the Two Pushy Dames turn the power of play toward the adults. Participants will move, laugh, collaborate, and experience playful activities designed to break down barriers, strengthen relationships, and build a happier, more connected workplace. Come ready to participate, reconnect with your colleagues, and remember that play is not only good for children—educators need it, too!
 

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. This is team building you will experience, not merely sit and hear about.
 

Three Key Takeaways
 

1. Experience how shared play can strengthen trust, communication, and connection among teaching teams.
    

2. Discover active, playful strategies that can bring energy, collaboration, and joy into staff development and team meetings.
    

3. Reconnect with colleagues while building a stronger sense of belonging, support, and shared purpose.

12:30PM-1:15PM Lunch (On Own or Purchase Boxed Lunch)

​
 

1:15PM-2:45PM
Embrace the Mess, Muck and Yuck! The Importance of Sensory Play

Two Pushy Dames
1.5 Ohio Approved Hours

​

Messy play is much more than children making a glorious disaster for adults to clean up. Pouring, squishing, mixing, molding, and exploring sensory materials can support children’s regulation, ease tension, encourage focus, and create meaningful opportunities for discovery.
 

In this energetic, hands-on session, the Two Pushy Dames invite educators to jump into the mess and experience the developmental power of sensory play. Participants will explore how sensory experiences can support children during challenging moments while naturally introducing concepts in math, science, chemistry, and physics. Educators will leave with playful, practical ideas for creating sensory experiences that promote curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, and joyful learning.
 

This is not a sit-back-and-watch session. Wear comfortable clothes—and leave the fancy-schmancy outfit at home.
 

Three Key Takeaways
 

1. Understand how sensory play can support children’s emotional regulation, engagement, and ability to manage stress.
    

2. Explore how hands-on sensory experiences naturally introduce early math and science concepts through experimentation and discovery.
    

3. Gain practical ideas for creating playful sensory experiences that encourage curiosity, creativity, and meaningful learning.

 

2:45PM-3:00PM: Break

​

​

3:00PM-4:00PM 
Wild and Free: The Value of Risk in Early Learning 

Lisa Wellbrock Dieso & Courtney Ryan

1 Ohio Approved Hour

​​

Children are naturally driven to climb higher, move faster, test limits, and explore what their bodies can do. Yet many early learning environments have become so focused on preventing every possible mishap that children are losing valuable opportunities to build confidence, judgment, resilience, and independence.
 

In this interactive, research-informed session, Lisa Wellbrock Dieso and Courtney Ryan will help educators distinguish healthy risk from genuine hazards and examine how overprotection can unintentionally limit children’s development. Participants will explore the benefits of risky play for physical literacy, problem-solving, emotional regulation, confidence, and social growth. Most importantly, educators will gain practical strategies for supporting exploration while maintaining thoughtful supervision, appropriate boundaries, and safe learning environments.
 

Come ready to reconsider what “safe” really means—and leave better prepared to say yes to play that may look a little daring but offers enormous developmental value.

Three Key Takeaways
 

1. Understand the difference between a healthy, developmentally valuable risk and a hazard that adults should remove or prevent.
    

2. Gain practical strategies for assessing environments and supporting children’s decision-making without hovering or eliminating meaningful challenges.
    

3. Learn how to explain the value of risky play to families and administrators while remaining aligned with licensing requirements, safety policies, and professional standards.