Explore the difference between co-regulation and self-regulation in early childhood. Learn how educators and caregivers can model and provide co-regulation, support children in developing self-regulation skills, and view behaviour as a form of communication. This session also shares practical, evidence-informed strategies to guide children through emotional challenges.  

Key points:

• • The role of co-regulation vs. self-regulation in early childhood

  • How behaviour communicates underlying needs

• Practical strategies to support emotional challenges

• Building skills for long-term self-regulation

• Delivery format:

  • In-person or online (3 hours)

  • Printed workbook

  • Certificate of completion

From an occupational therapy perspective, dysregulated behaviours are not “problems to fix” but messages to understand. This training explores the root causes of behaviours, such as sensory needs, unmet needs, or emotional triggers, and equips educators and caregivers with strategies to respond in ways that build safety and trust. By recognising behaviour as communication and building strong relationships, educators and caregivers can create environments that reduce challenges and promote emotional wellbeing.  

Key points:

• • • Understanding behaviour through an therapeutic lens

    • Identifying root causes: sensory, emotional, and unmet needs

    • Behaviour as a form of communication

    • Building trust and emotional safety to reduce challenges

• Delivery format:

  • • In-person or online (3 hours)

    • Printed workbook

    • Certificate of completion

This training introduces educators and caregivers to the occupational therapy perspective on sensory processing and its impact on children’s regulation, emotional wellbeing, and motor development. Participants will learn how to identify sensory differences in children and explore practical ways to create sensory-friendly learning environments and experiences in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings.  

Key points:

• • • • Understanding sensory processing and its role in child development

      • How sensory differences affect regulation and motor skills

      • Recognising sensory differences in children

      • Designing sensory-friendly learning environments in ECEC settings

• Delivery format:

  • • • In-person or online (3 hours)

      • Printed workbook

      • Certificate of completion

Play is a child’s primary occupation.  This training highlights the vital role of play in children’s development. Through an occupational therapy lens, participants will explore how child-led play fosters emotional, cognitive, and social growth. The session also covers how to follow a child’s lead, design intentional play experiences, and scaffold activities to meet individual differences and needs.  

Key points:

• • • • • Understanding stages of play development

        • The power of child-led play in learning and connection

        • Creating intentional play opportunities

        • Scaffolding play to support individual differences

• Delivery format:

  • • • • In-person or online (1.5 hours)

        • Printed workbook

        • Certificate of completion

Strong social connections are the foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing. This training unpacks the stages of social development in young children and provides practical strategies to nurture positive interactions. Educators and caregivers will explore ways to support turn-taking, sharing, and peer relationships, while also helping children navigate friendships and resolve conflict through play-based experiences.

Key points:

• • • • • • Understanding stages of social development in early childhood

          • Supporting turn-taking, sharing, and peer interactions

          • Guiding children in friendship skills and conflict resolution

          • Using play to build social-emotional learning

• Delivery format:

  • • • • • In-person or online (1.5 hours)

          • Printed workbook

          • Certificate of completion

Movement is at the heart of learning and independence. This training explores key milestones in motor development and highlights how fine and gross motor skills support school readiness, play, and everyday self-care. Educators and caregivers will gain practical strategies to embed motor-based learning into preschool routines and environments

Key points:

Understanding milestones in motor development

How motor skills influence school readiness, play, and self-care

Practical ways to embed motor-based learning in preschool settings

• Delivery format:

  • • • • • In-person or online (1.5 hours)

          • Printed workbook

          • Certificate of completion

Sleep plays a vital role in children’s development, behaviour, and learning. This training helps educators and caregivers understand the impact of healthy sleep routines and how to support children through nap transitions in early childhood settings. Practical strategies are shared for creating consistent, calming routines around naps and bedtime to promote regulation and wellbeing.

Key points:

• The impact of sleep on development, behaviour, and learning

• Supporting healthy nap transitions in early childhood

• Practical strategies for consistent nap and bedtime routines

• Delivery format:

  • • • • • In-person or online (1.5 hours)

          • Printed workbook

          • Certificate of completion

Toilet training is a significant milestone in a child’s development. This training equips educators and caregivers to recognise readiness signs in young children and support successful toilet training both in early childhood settings and at home. Practical strategies and resources are provided to help overcome common challenges with confidence and consistency.

Key points:

• • Recognising signs of toilet readiness in young children

  • Supporting successful toilet training in ECEC settings and at home

  • Practical strategies and resources to address common challenges

• Delivery format:

  • • • • • In-person or online (1.5 hours)

          • Printed workbook

          • Certificate of completion

Mealtimes are an important part of a child’s development, connection, and daily rhythm. This training explores how sensory processing and developmental factors can influence eating, including supporting children who show a preference for selective or “safe” foods. Educators and caregivers will learn practical strategies to create positive eating experiences in both group settings and at home, while encouraging healthy mealtime routines that reduce pressure and promote confidence.

Key points:

• • • Understanding mealtime development and sensory influences on eating

    • Supporting children with selective eating or preferences for “safe foods”

    • Practical strategies for positive mealtime experiences in group and home environments

    • Encouraging healthy routines without pressure

• Delivery format:

  • • • • • • In-person or online (1.5 hours)

            • Printed workbook

            • Certificate of completion

Starting school is a big milestone, and strong foundations make all the difference. This training explores the key skills children need for a successful transition, including independence in self-care and self-regulation. Educators and parents will gain practical, play-based strategies to support skill development and confidence as children prepare for the school environment.

Key points:

• • • • Key foundational skills for a smooth transition to school

      • Building self-care independence and self-regulation

      • Play-based strategies to support skill development at home and in preschool

• Delivery format:

  • • • • • • • In-person or online (3 hours)

              • Printed workbook

              • Certificate of completion

Every child experiences and engages with the world in their own way. This training introduces the concept of neurodiversity and highlights why neurodiversity affirming approaches matter in early childhood settings. Participants will learn how to recognise and celebrate individual strengths and preferences, and explore practical strategies for creating inclusive, strengths-based environments where every child can thrive.

Key points:

• • • • • Understanding neurodiversity and the importance of neurodiversity affirming practice

        • Recognising and supporting individual strengths and preferences

        • Practical strategies for inclusive, strengths-based preschool environments

• Delivery format:

  • • • • • • • In-person or online (3 hours)

              • Printed workbook

              • Certificate of completion

The spaces children learn and play in have a powerful impact on their growth and regulation. This training introduces the Person–Environment–Occupation (PEO) model, helping educators understand how to design sensory-friendly, regulation-supportive environments. Participants will also explore how to adapt and grade tasks to foster independence, building children’s autonomy in daily routines without removing valuable challenges.

Key points:

• • • • • • How environmental factors shape learning and regulation

          • Using the PEO model to create supportive, sensory-friendly spaces

          • Adapting and grading tasks to encourage independence

          • Strategies to support autonomy while keeping meaningful challenges

• Delivery format:

  • • • • • • • • In-person or online (3 hours)

                • Printed workbook

                • Certificate of completion

Strong leadership is key to embedding lasting change. This tailored training provides support for Directors and Assistant Directors to integrate principles from professional development into everyday practice. Together, we consider cultural practices, inclusivity, and the unique needs of each ECEC community to create meaningful, sustainable outcomes.

Key points:

• • • • • • • Supporting leadership teams to embed training into daily practice

            • Tailoring approaches to reflect cultural practices and community needs

            • Building capacity for inclusive and sustainable change

• Delivery format:

  • • • • • • • • • In-person or online (hourly support)

                  • Printed resources where relevant

                  • Certificate of completion available

This practical training brings professional learning directly into the classroom. Through real-time coaching and strategy implementation, educators are supported to embed sensory, motor, and regulation approaches into daily routines. The focus is on building confidence and capability so that strategies become a natural part of the learning environment.

Key points:

• • • • • • • • Translating professional training into everyday practice

              • Real-time coaching and mentoring in preschool environments

              • Embedding sensory, motor, and regulation strategies into routines

              • Building educator confidence and capacity

• Delivery format:

  • • • • • • • • • • In-person (customised duration)

                    • Printed resources where relevant

                    • Certificate of completion available

• The design of a space can either overwhelm or empower children’s ability to learn and regulate. This consultation provides tailored recommendations, drawing on research and evidence-based design principles to create environments that calm and engage the nervous system. Guidance is also provided on resources that offer both up-regulating and down-regulating input, along with a poster pack of visual cues to support continuity and make strategies part of everyday routines.

  Key points:

  • • • • • • • • • Research-informed recommendations for calming, engaging environments

                  • Resource suggestions to provide flexible sensory input

                  • Poster pack with visual cues to embed strategies into daily practice

   

  • Delivery format:

    • • • • • • • • • • • In-person or online consultation (customised duration)

                        • Printed resource recommendations and poster pack

                        • Certificate of completion available

• This term-based small group program, with the option to extend across a full year, is co-facilitated by an occupational therapist and an educator, ensuring developmental strategies are woven seamlessly into classroom routines. Designed for up to eight children, the therapeutic, play-based sessions focus on building school readiness and self-regulation. Children engage in activities that strengthen emotional regulation, social skills, attention, transitions, and both fine and gross motor development. Parents also receive handouts to reinforce learning at home and support ongoing skill development.

  Key points:

  • • • • • • • • • • Term-based program, with the option to extend across a year

                    • Co-facilitated by an OT and educator

                    • Play-based program for up to 8 children

                    • Focus on school readiness, regulation, social and motor development

                    • Parent handouts with strategies for home

   

  • Delivery format:

    • • • • • • • • • • • • In-person small group program

                          • Printed parent handouts

                          • Certificate of participation available

• Co-facilitated by an occupational therapist and an educator, these groups are run within the classroom environment and support up to sixteen children. The program focuses on foundational sensory-motor skills that are essential for self-regulation, movement, and active engagement in early learning. Parents receive take-home handouts with developmental insights and practical activity ideas to extend learning beyond the classroom.

  Key points:

  • • • • • • • • • • • Co-facilitated by an OT and educator within the classroom environment

                      • Group size: up to 16 children

                      • Focus on sensory-motor skills for regulation, movement, and learning engagement

                      • Parent handouts with strategies and activities for home

   

  • Delivery format:

    • • • • • • • • • • • • • In-person classroom-based group

                            • Printed parent handouts

                            • Certificate of participation available

• Early identification is key to supporting children’s developmental needs. This targeted screening program is designed for small groups of up to four children, combining simple educator and home screening tools (including the Ages and Stages Questionnaire) with OT observations. The process highlights children who may benefit from structured small group experiences and ensures timely interventions can be put in place. Each child receives a summary of the screening outcomes along with tailored recommendations.

  Key points:

  • • • • • • • • • • • • Targeted screening for up to 4 children per group session

                        • Uses educator and home tools (Ages and Stages Questionnaire) with OT observations

                        • Facilitates early identification of developmental needs

                        • Includes summary report and recommendations for each child

   

  • Delivery format:

    • • • • • • • • • • • • • • In-person small group screening

                              • Printed educator and home screening tools

                              • Written summary report with recommendations