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 12 2026, 9am - 2:15pm th
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
Education and Coaching Services
Parenting
Playschool
Ed Center
Briana Moore, MSW
Karla Chien
Laura Larios
Kim Adams
Silvia Anderson
Samantha Thompson Lisa Wilson
Ahbedelight
Village Well
Empathy for Autism California
Barron Park Playschool nHERvous
SESSION PRESENTATIONS
SESSION 1A | 9:30 - 10:45 AM
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
Laura Larios Silvia Anderson
Practical Nervous System Strategies for Challenging Behaviors in Early Childhood
Pause, Notice, Connect: Intentional Teaching Through Play and Nature
Karla Chinen
Mirando Más Allá Del Comportamiento: Cómo Las Creencias, Los Prejuicios Y Las Historias
Moldean Nuestra Comprensión De Los Niños
Samantha Thompson and Lisa Wilson
Language as IdentitySupporting Early Literacy through Black English and Black Languages
SESSION 1B | 11:00 - 12:15 PM
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
Laura Larios Silvia Anderson
Practical Nervous System Strategies for Challenging Behaviors in Early Childhood
Pausa, Observa Y Conecta: Enseñanza Intencional A Través Del Juego Y La Naturaleza
Karla Chinen
Looking Beyond the Behavior: How Beliefs, Biases, and Hidden Stories Shape Our Understanding Children
Samantha Thompson and Lisa Wilson
Language as IdentitySupporting Early Literacy through Black English and Black Languages
Kim Adams
Play It Forward: The Urgency of Play in Early Learning
View training descriptions by scanning the QR code or selecting this link
Kim Adams
Play It Forward: The Urgency of Play in Early Learning
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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
Ed Center
Village Well Parenting
Karla Chinen
Empathy for Autism California
Kim Adams
Barron Park Playschool
Laura Larios
nHERvous System LLC
Silvia Anderson
Nature Labs Playschool
Samantha Thompson and Lisa Wilson
BlackECE
