ELC 26 booklet (7)

2026

COCOKIDS ANNUAL EARLY LEARNING CONFERENCE LOOKING IN, LOOKING OUT: HOW OUR BELIEFS SHAPE TEACHING, RELATIONSHIPS, AND LEARNING

About This Year's Conference Looking In, Looking Out: How Our Beliefs Shape Teaching, Relationships, and Learning Join us on Saturday September 12, 2026 for CocoKids 32nd Annual Early Learning Conference at Los Medanos College. This exciting in-person event brings together educators, parents, and professionals in the early learning field.

This year's conference theme centers on the powerful and reflective concept of the "Image of the Child." This idea, introduced by educator and philosopher Loris Malaguzzi, invites us to consider how our deeply held beliefs about children shape our interactions, expectations, and teaching practices.

We look forward to an engaging and transformative experience together.

Where: Los Medanos College, Pittsburg, CA When: Saturday September 12th 2026, 9am - 2:15pm

TICKETS

Early Bird Ticket available for $40 until August 18th Early Bird Tickets

Regular Tickets

Day of Tickets

Available until August 18th

Available September 4th

Available September 12th

$40

$60

$70

Ticket prices will increase to $60 starting August 19th

Water will be available throughout the day, help us Go Green by bringing your resuable water bottle.

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

8:00 - 9:00 AM

Registration / Check In / Breakfast

9:00 - 9:30 AM

Welcome Message from CocoKids

9:30 - 10:45 AM

Session 1A

10:45 - 11:00 AM

Break

11:00 - 12:15 PM

Session 1B

12:15 - 1:30 PM

Lunch / Resource Tables

1:30 - 2:15 PM

Panel Discussion

THIS YEAR’S PRESENTERS

Briana Moore, MSW

Ed Center

Karla Chien

Kim Adams

Ahbedelight Education and Coaching Services

Village Well Parenting

Empathy for Autism California

Barron Park Playschool

Laura Larios

Silvia Anderson

Samantha Thompson

Lisa Wilson

nHERvous System LLC

Nature Labs Playschool

BlackECE

BlackECE

SESSION PRESENTATIONS SESSION 1A | 9:30 - 10:45 AM Briana Moore, MSW

Ed Center

Karla Chinen

Kim Adams

The Capable Child: Trauma-Informed, Culturally Responsive Perspectives for Early Educators

Big Feelings, Big Behaviors: Practical Tools for Early Childhood Classrooms

Mirando Más Allá Del Comportamiento: Cómo Las Creencias, Los Prejuicios Y Las Historias Moldean Nuestra Comprensión De Los Niños

Play It Forward: The Urgency of Play in Early Learning

Laura Larios

Silvia Anderson

Practical Nervous System Strategies for Challenging Behaviors in Early Childhood

Pause, Notice, Connect: Intentional Teaching Through Play and Nature

Samantha Thompson and Lisa Wilson

Language as Identity Supporting Early Literacy through Black English and Black Languages

View training descriptions by scanning the QR code or selecting this link

SESSION 1B | 11:00 - 12:15 PM Karla Chinen

Briana Moore, MSW

Ed Center

The Capable Child: Trauma-Informed, Culturally Responsive Perspectives for Early Educators

Big Feelings, Big Behaviors: Practical Tools for Early Childhood Classrooms

Looking Beyond the Behavior: How Beliefs, Biases, and Hidden Stories Shape Our Understanding Children

Laura Larios

Silvia Anderson

Practical Nervous System Strategies for Challenging Behaviors in Early Childhood

Samantha Thompson and Lisa Wilson

Pausa, Observa Y Conecta: Enseñanza Intencional A Través Del Juego Y La Naturaleza

Language as Identity Supporting Early Literacy through Black English and Black Languages

Kim Adams Play It Forward: The Urgency of Play in Early Learning

Scan QR code or select this link to buy conference tickets

Afternoon Schedule Lunch / Resource Tables | 12:15 - 1:30 PM Take time to nourish both body and mind. As you enjoy lunch, we invite you to connect with colleagues, continue the day’s conversations, and explore our resource tables.

Panel Discussion | 1:30 - 2:15 PM End the day with conversation, connection and reflection. Our closing panel, facilitated by a local public official, brings together featured presenters to revisit the conference theme Looking in, Looking Out: How Our Beliefs Shape Teaching, Relationships, and Learning and explore how we can carry these insights into our practice.

How Our Beliefs Shape Teaching, Relationships, and Learning Panelists Briana Moore, MSW Ahbedelight Education and Coaching Services

Laura Larios nHERvous System LLC

Ed Center Village Well Parenting

Silvia Anderson Nature Labs Playschool

Karla Chinen Empathy for Autism California

Samantha Thompson and Lisa Wilson BlackECE

Kim Adams Barron Park Playschool

Our Mission: To champion and advance quality child care and early education

Visit Us at www.CocoKids.org