Join keynote presenter Ruben Perez for a deeper dive! Working with students requires both science and art. Science is about what we do and why we need to do it. Art addresses how we do it. We will discuss how to best work with the students served by your organization.

Feeding therapy is most effective when families feel supported, understood, and empowered. This session explores practical, family-centered approaches to addressing feeding challenges in early childhood, emphasizing trust, collaboration, and sustainable progress. Participants will learn how to foster positive mealtime experiences, integrate family routines, and address common caregiver concerns with empathy and evidence-based strategies. Whether working with selective eaters, children with developmental differences, or families struggling with mealtime stress, this session will provide actionable tools to create meaningful, lasting change.

The Washington State Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) Intake and Enrollment (I&E) team will provide an overview of the application process for infants, toddlers, and early learners. We will discuss recent rule changes that have already reduced barriers to enrollment for many individuals, and will provide attendees with resources to take home or provide to clients.

Children should not be healthy one day and in need of psychiatric care the next. 1 in 200 children are affected by these post-infectious disorders known as PANDAS/PANS. An abrupt onset of obsessive compulsive disorder and/or eating restrictions and/or tics could indicate that neuroinflammation is to blame. It is vital that anyone working with children and youth learn about these disorders so we can avoid these kids being misdiagnosed and overlooked. Early diagnosis and medical treatment is necessary and leads to better outcomes.

In this engaging and practical session, participants will explore 10 essential social-emotional skills that empower preschoolers to build friendships, regulate emotions, and thrive in group settings. Through real-life examples, including the transformation of a child named Zane, attendees will learn play-based strategies to teach skills like turn-taking, sharing, using timers, and conflict resolution. Participants will leave with ready-to-implement tools such as play scripts, visual prompts, and collaborative play ideas. This session aligns with ECERS-3 standards, focusing on high-quality adult-child interactions that promote social development and emotional growth. Whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or SEL specialist, this session will equip you to create a classroom environment where play fosters meaningful connections and children grow into confident, independent learners. Join us to reignite your passion for teaching and walk away with strategies that will transform your classroom culture from day one!

Supporting children starts with empowering their caregivers. This session focuses on evidence-based coaching strategies that engage, guide, and build confidence in parents and caregivers. Participants will explore effective communication techniques, trust-building strategies, and ways to tailor coaching approaches to meet the needs of diverse families. With an emphasis on collaboration, attendees will gain practical tools to enhance family engagement, ensure the carryover of strategies, and strengthen their role as trusted guides in a child’s development.

Early Relational Health builds the foundation for lifelong health and wellbeing. In this presentation, we hope to describe early relational health and trends in pediatrics, identify state-of-the-art, evidence-based practices that promote early relational health, illustrate team-based approaches that effectively collaborate between Peds, families, and communities, and demonstrate approaches of engaging families to advance equity in child health practice transformation

Esta sesión abordará enfoques informados en trauma en la educación infantil desde una perspectiva culturalmente receptiva. Los participantes aprenderán sobre los efectos del trauma en el desarrollo infantil y cómo crear entornos de aprendizaje seguros, de apoyo e inclusivos. La sesión resaltará estrategias culturalmente relevantes que respetan la identidad, el contexto familiar y las experiencias comunitarias de los niños. A través del análisis de casos y discusiones reflexivas, los participantes adquirirán herramientas prácticas para fomentar la resiliencia y el bienestar en la primera infancia.

This is an Autistic-led presentation teaching the basics about Autism. This presentation will cover the sensory experience, social differences, executive functioning, masking, Autistic burnout, and the intersecting experiences of Queer and BIPOC Autistic people.