As an educator, you’ve seen how big feelings show up in young children—during transitions, peer conflicts, and moments of frustration or excitement. Because children don’t fully understand their emotions, they need caring adults to guide them—and that’s not always easy, especially in a new role or setting.

How can we support emotional regulation when there are so many emotions happening at once? The answer lies in understanding emotional development, attachment, and our own self-awareness.

Join Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant Molly Pope for four, 1-hour virtual conversations across the school year. This small group series is rooted in deepening your self-awareness, which will support how you show up with children, families and colleagues. Molly will offer trauma-sensitive strategies, space to reflect, and support for navigating the emotional ups and downs of classroom life. 

Session 3: Connecting with Families: When It’s Easy… and When It’s Not

Children bring their whole world with them into the classroom—including their families. Building strong, trusting relationships with families is foundational to early childhood work, and yet it can sometimes be challenging. In this session, we’ll reflect on both the ease and complexity of family partnerships. Together, we’ll name what activates us in difficult conversations and explore tools for maintaining boundaries, holding empathy, and navigating discomfort. The goal isn’t to “fix” every dynamic, but to stay grounded and compassionate in our role as a partner in each child’s life.

Registration for this professional development is open to educators in all Alliance-member schools. Please sign up using the link in your 2026-2027 Member School Educator Program Guide. Contact us if you need a Program Guide or have questions about individual or school Alliance memberships.