Event: 2025 Fall Conference: Rooted in Care

E02: Finding Your "Well": An Educator's Unexpected Path to Long-Term Well-Being & Letting Children Feel, Think, and Problem Solve

Morning Session: Finding Your ‘Well’: An Educator’s Unexpected Path to Long-Term Well-Being with Mary Hewitt This session examines the impacts of societal messaging and pressures (“the cultural backpack”) on the educator today and explores ways to “return to self”—following intuition instead of expectation—and approach life and work from a place of being ‘well’ (according to their own inner compass) , instead of being ‘good’ (according to other’s standards, needs, and expectations). This highly-liberating, heart-opening session is sure to empower educators to let go of what’s unhelpful and diminishing…allowing true nourishment and intentional living to emerge both professionally and personally. Afternoon Session: Letting Children Feel, Think, and Problem Solve with Ana Valle Rivera In this workshop, we explore practical strategies to foster critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving skills in young children within Early Childhood Education (ECE) settings. The goal of this workshop is for educators to embrace pedagogical practices that create conditions that support confident, resilient, and independent thinking in young children. In this workshop participants will: Explore the foundations that underpin critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving skills in early childhood. Discuss the role of play, exploration, and fostering growth mindset. Consider ways to foster emotional intelligence in young children. Reflect on pedagogical choices that promote self-awareness, empathy, self-regulation, and problem-solving skills.

Date: November 7, 2025
Time: 8:30 AM
Location: Morning Session: The Mack

Afternoon Session: Murphy\\'s Community Centre