IPA USA 2024 RIGHT2PLAY, RIGHT NOW: Full Schedule

Welcome to the IPA USA 2024 Conference, The Right to Play, RIGHT NOW! To ensure ease in registration, here are a few tricks.

Once you have purchased your ticket for the conference, you will be directed to a Registration Form. This form is not just a document; it’s a key part of our planning process, and your participation is highly valued. Please complete it to help us track attendees for each of the special events.

If you wish to enhance your conference experience by adding a T-shirt or the Saturday Evening Celebration, you can do so by visiting this page: https://ipausa2024right2playnow.sched.com/?iframe=no

To add the T-shirt or the Saturday Evening Celebration to your registration, click on the ’Reserve Tickets’ button and select the option/s you want to add on.

If you want to attend the Pre-Conference, please follow the link below to register.

PreConference Session – Wednesday, September 25 – 9:30-2:30 pm
Connecting Children with Nature: A Practical Workshop for Educators
Follow this link to register for the preconference——https://events.humanitix.com/connecting-children-workshop

Looking forward to seeing you in Greenville, SC

Deb, President, IPA USA

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9:30am EDT

Playful Learning in the University Classrooms

Thursday September 26, 2024 9:30am - 10:30am EDT

Children's Museum Rm Imagine It LOWER LEVEL

"Learning has to be meaningful in order to be memorable." That was my "take-away" from years of conducting memory development research. Through years of university teaching of students from many different countries with different cultural backgrounds, from teaching while on a Fulbright in South Africa, and from teaching while on a Fulbright in South Africa, I learned that play and the creative arts bring people together and help them to process the meaning of what you want them to learn. Examples will be provided.

Presenters

Darlene DeMarie

Retired Professor, College of Education & Fulbright Faculty Advisor, University of South Florida

Darlene DeMarie, Ph.D., is the Fulbright Faculty Advisor & Fulbright Campus Liaison for the University of South Florida (USF World). She semi-retired as Professor of Educational Psychology in the College of Education at USF. Her research with children shows the value of play in schools... Read More →

Thursday September 26, 2024 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
Children's Museum Rm Imagine It LOWER LEVEL

Session

10:45am EDT

Empowering Childcare Staff to Embrace Outdoor Play: A Pilot Project

Thursday September 26, 2024 10:45am - 11:45am EDT

Children's Museum Rm Imagine It LOWER LEVEL

Early childhood education often emphasizes indoor, teacher-led activities, neglecting essential elements like daily movement, deep play, and nature exploration crucial for children's optimal development. Additionally, many educators lack access to training and resources to prioritize outdoor play in our field. Through photos and stories, outdoor play consultants Elizabeth and Susan will share their Outdoor Learning Environments (OLE) Pilot Project that provided free OLE concept designs and comprehensive staff training to 6 licensed childcare centers in Pennsylvania. They will also share the implementation tools used to more fully address the project goals unique to each site.

Presenters

Elizabeth Marcello

ECE Technical Assistance/Play & Nature Based Coach, Community Connections for Children

Elizabeth has been a Coach for Keystone STARS, Pennsylvania’s quality rating system for childcares, preschools, and before and after school programs, since 2016. She holds a BS in Child and Family Studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and an MS in Applied Developmental... Read More →

Susan Chlebowski

Susan Chlebowski is a Montessori teacher, forest school leader and PARS Playwork Trainer who studies and teaches research-based models of living and learning that honor a child’s right to play and experience nature as part of a healthy, happy childhood. Her focus work is outreach... Read More →

Thursday September 26, 2024 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Children's Museum Rm Imagine It LOWER LEVEL

Session

1:15pm EDT

More Than Mud

Thursday September 26, 2024 1:15pm - 2:15pm EDT

Children's Museum Rm Imagine It LOWER LEVEL

"In this session, we will discuss the common arguments revolving around muddy play and how we can approach each activity from start to clean-up & each family’s comfort level through all the age groups. We will discuss the negative stigma mud play has with teachers & parents & how we can make it a norm. We will dive into mud to create art and investigate your own relationship with mud play. There is a deep thrill to getting dirty & messy play is extremely important for a child’s development. Messy play provides children with an exciting tactile & sensory experience that inspires their curiosity. Mud can decrease behaviors, regulate emotions, and nurture cognitive development within every age. We will explore how as adults we can foster and create opportunities for children to foster their development. It allows them to explore the world around them & enhances learning by creating intentional play. You will learn how to set up a mud kitchen from upcycling materials and the benefits of providing natural materials.

"

Presenters

Darcia Witherspoon

My name is Darcia Witherspoon, and I work with the Vanderbilt, Child and Family Center in Nashville, Tn. I have been a Teacher of the Acorn School since 2018. I am currently working with 3-year-olds that I have transitioned with as a three-year study to determine the benefits of continuity... Read More →

Jennifer Strange

My name is Jennifer Strange. I have a bachelor’s in special education from East Tennessee State University (1999). My master’s is in Elementary Education from Trevecca University (2006). I have been an Early Childhood Teacher at Vanderbilt University since 2005. The last five... Read More →

Thursday September 26, 2024 1:15pm - 2:15pm EDT
Children's Museum Rm Imagine It LOWER LEVEL

Session

2:30pm EDT

All Children Deserve Play

Thursday September 26, 2024 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

Children's Museum Rm Imagine It LOWER LEVEL

"My session would support the theme of this conference, “The Child’s Right to Play,” because I will be focusing on
how, no matter a child’s situation (financially, culturally, physically, or developmentally) they can all be given the same rights and resources to play as equals. While focusing on nature-based play and other forms of therapy play for young children, this
topic really leans more towards the resources, rights, networking, and advocacy that is necessary for play to be an equitable opportunity for all children. Working directly with children who have endured emotional and physical trauma, who are houseless, hungry,
non-English speaking, refugees, in the ASD community, foster-care, and in unhealthy situations, I have come to find a deep passion and need for making sure children always have play in their daily lives. This session will talk about how this can be achieved
for children who may not have the “normal” life of their peers, and the importance of creating community within this play.

"

Presenters

Mattie Hallett

Director, Family Center of Washington County

Mattie is an early childhood program director with a M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education teaching and adminstration. With a bachelors in art history and one in creative writing. She grew up in northern Vermont and now resides and works in central Vermont. She is extremely passionate... Read More →

Thursday September 26, 2024 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
Children's Museum Rm Imagine It LOWER LEVEL

Session

3:45pm EDT

Storyacting: Taking stroytelling beyond the spoken word

Thursday September 26, 2024 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT

Children's Museum Rm Imagine It LOWER LEVEL

This interactive presentation focuses on the power of storytelling and storyacting. Inspired by the work of Vivian Paley, participants will engage in a session that combines personal storytelling, collaborative storyacting, and theoretical insights. They will explore the benefits and practical implementation of storytelling and storyacting, enhancing their abilities to create meaningful learning experiences. Through reflective discussions and experiential activities, this training aims to empower educators with storytelling tools to inspire and engage the children in their lives.

Presenters

Laura Shea

Little Stories That Stick

Laura is a former public school teacher turner entrepreneur, passionate about play-based learning and storytelling. As the founder of Little Stories That Stick and host of the Stories That Stick podcast, she brings a wealth of experience to her work. When she’s not immerses in website... Read More →

Thursday September 26, 2024 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT
Children's Museum Rm Imagine It LOWER LEVEL

Session

IPA USA 2024 RIGHT2PLAY, RIGHT NOW

From $20.00