The Teaching & Learning Nest
Our Teaching and Learning Nest offers a diverse and growing range of professional development opportunities that are designed to inspire, connect, and empower growth within the early years sector, elementary education, and family-based educational programs.
Explore our workshop menu to easily browse and book a session for your team, or request a fully customized session tailored to your group's specific needs. Each workshop is intentionally crafted to spark meaningful discussion, encourage hands-on engagement, and create lasting memories that foster growth, connection, and shared aspirations. Empower your team with professional learning experiences that make a difference!
Browse from Our Curated Selection of Professional Learning Sessions
Let’s Make A Sensory Garden! Put your hands in the dirt and discover the potential of sensory in early childhood education! In this hands on workshop, we will explore how sensory-enriched experiences foster healthy child development while creating inclusive and enriching early learning environments ourselves. As participants design and plant their own custom sensory garden pot, we will discuss meaningful ways to integrate it into early learning programs, and how they will partner with their new sensory garden to support children’s regulation, curiosity, and connection. All participants walk away with fresh ideas, and a growing project, to bring sensory learning to life!
Get to Know Sensory Development is a collaborative, relationship‑centred session where we unpack how all eight senses influence children’s behaviour, regulation, and connections. Together, we’ll decode the subtle sensory signals children send, explore how balanced input fuels learning and emotional wellbeing, and brainstorm ways to shape environments that feel welcoming for every child. Along the way, we’ll swap real‑world stories, co‑create practical strategies like movement pathways and texture‑rich zones, and gather ready‑to‑use tools that help educators respond with confidence and care. Participants leave energized, equipped, and ready to strengthen the relationships that make sensory‑smart teaching come alive.
Taking Risks in Exploration & Play is an experiential session designed to promote critical reflection and insight into the connection between children's learning, the benefits of taking risks and participants programs. Participants will explore how they can adapt their approaches to interactions with children to support risky play, while also examining how children’s opportunities for risky play may be hindered within the program. During this session, participants will develop their knowledge of risky play in childhood, gain valuable tools for assessing risks and leave with the confidence to put it all into practice!
Finding Rhythm in Routine is an interactive workshop exploring how play-based and care-centred strategies can transform daily routines into meaningful learning experiences. This session invites educators to observe, examine, reflect and ideate on their experiences and the experiences of children during transitions, uncovering key challenges and opportunities for responsive learning and care. By exploring the possibilities of warm, responsive and playful approaches during transitions, educators will discover new ways of tailoring their approach to support children’s well-being and independence. (A session inspired by our presentation for the 2024 Brightstarts International Conference)
Mountains & Molehills Team Building Art Night offers participants a guided session to get creative and make connections! In this session, groups enjoy a guided art session for a personal rendition of ‘Mountains and Molehills,’ as it relates to their growth and resilience as educational professionals. By the end, participants will have created a visual reminder of their journey and joyful moments acquired along the way, fostering a deeper bond, motivation and sense of accomplishment within their professional practice and within the team.
Family-Centred Early Childhood Education & Care is a session designed for early learning professionals to explore the elements of quality early learning programs through the lens of placing families at the centre of their practice. Together, we explore possibilities for establishing reciprocal relationships with families, designing engaging environments and co-learning alongside families to create inclusive and supportive learning experiences for young children. Participants will leave this session with intentional strategies to strengthen family partnerships and enhance children's learning!
The Adult Learning Brain is a three session bundle designed for leaders, trainers, and educators who support adult learners in early childhood education and beyond. The sessions blend research and theory on how adults learn best, motivating individuals and teams, and practical approaches for sustaining quality workplace training and mentoring. Participants develop their skills in fostering professional growth, inspiring motivation, and leading with confidence.
Customized Workshops are also available, providing a hand-crafted session on your chosen topic, for your chosen audience, in your chosen setting!
All booking inquiries will be directed to admin@childhoodconnect.ca. Pricing begins at $500.00 and will be determined upon consultation.
Public Speaking for Professionals in Education
Connection and Care in Our Teams as The Heart of Learning
In this heartfelt session, Angie and Cara will highlight the impact that connection and care have in shaping the heart of early learning. They’ll share how nurturing strong relationships within our teams creates a foundation of trust, belonging, and resilience - essential for both personal growth and collective success. This session will inspire you to lead with empathy, embrace the power of connection, and discover the transformative strength that comes when we truly care for each other in the work we do. (This 45-minute speaking session is currently being booked for groups of 200-600 educational professionals)
Meet Cara Caudle MEd, BASc, RECE, FNP- Our Director - See “Our Story & Team for Cara’s full bio
Meet Angie-Lee Coture RECE, FNP- Our Collaborative Partner
As a proud Métis educator Angie Coture (RECE, FNP) offers professional learning services that enhance and enrich cultural understanding in early years and elementary education. With a deep commitment to integrating Métis knowledge and perspectives, Angie creates meaningful learning experiences that foster inclusivity, respect for diversity, and cultural awareness for educational professionals across Ontario’s educational landscape. Angie’s aim is to empower educators with tools and insights to incorporate culturally responsive practices, supporting the holistic development of children, their communities and especially Métis families. Currently, Angie offers adult and youth workshops on Métis education and early learning with her business Métis Legacy Learning.
All booking inquiries can be directed to admin@childhoodconnect.ca. Pricing is determined upon consultation.
Coming Soon •
Coming Soon •
Professional Learning Collective
Welcome to Professional Learning Collective! This online space is designed just for education-based teams and organizations looking for engaging professional learning experiences to integrate with staff meetings and team gatherings. With your membership you’ll have access to a variety of engaging professional learning workshops that cover a variety of important focuses from designing engaging environments to leading classroom culture to relationship-centered approaches to engagement and more!
Every session is packed with relevant information, practical strategies, and team exercises to help you learning and grow together. All sessions come with invaluable exclusive extras including discussion prompts for leaders to spark discussion and follow up, tips and takeaway flyers for teams, and posters to enrich your team spaces and engage in further connections and reflections.
With the Professional Learning Collective, you can enjoy 24/7 access to quality professional learning resources that are sure to help your team thrive!