Event: ECDA's Start With Play Fall Conference 2026

Exp 16 PM: Outdoor Play, Better Indoor Days: Building Active Play Habits Outside to Support Calmer, More Regulated Indoor Environments & Speech-Language Pathology Basics for Early Educators

Morning Session: Summer offers a natural opportunity to bring more active play outdoors with ease. Without the added layers and winter gear routines, educators often have more flexibility to extend movement, exploration, and connection outside. This session explores how intentional outdoor active play can be used to build simple, sustainable habits that support year-round practice with a focus on how well-planned outdoor time often helps children return indoors more focused, calm, and ready to re-engage. 

Together, we will explore how to:

• Use simple routines, like outdoor snacks or transitions, to increase time outside
• Create meaningful movement opportunities without elaborate setup or equipment
• Sustain outdoor active play during rainy or unpredictable weather
• Adapt active play experiences when outdoor time is limited or not possible
• Build habits in the summer months that support year-round regulation and learning

Participants will leave with practical, flexible strategies to make outdoor active play an intentional and sustainable part of daily practice.

Afternoon Session: This introductory/refresher session is designed for educators who are new to our sessions—or those looking to revisit foundational speech-language pathology (SLP) knowledge and practice.

Participants will explore:

• Key early communication and speech milestones
• Signs that may indicate concern
• Practical strategies to promote early language development
• How to embed language-building strategies into daily routines and common activities within early learning centers

This session emphasizes collaborative discussion and group brainstorming rather than hands-on practice.

Date: November 5, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: PM: The Arts Hotel: Tivoli Cinema