Nancy Carlsson-Paige, professor of education and special education at Lesley College Graduate School in Massachusetts, will present the keynote address from noon to 1:30 p.m., discussing the many forms of violence, its sources and its effects on the everyday lives of children in the United States, with special focus on the violence marketed to children through media and toys.
An estimated 350 to 400 child care professionals from throughout South Texas are expected to attend the 28 concurrent sessions about issues that impact children and providers. Participants from Laredo, the Rio Grande Valley, Falfurrias, and Corpus Christi are expected for the training sessions said Lecturer Lisa Turcotte with the A&M-Kingsville Nursery.
The annual conference is hosted by A&M-Kingsville, Bee County College, Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services and the Region 2 Educational Service Center.
During the 1:45 to 2:24 p.m. concurrent session in Ballroom B, Carlsson-Paige will discuss Power Ranger, Ninja Turtles, and violence in the classroom, as well as methods for teachers in handling war play and toy weapons.
Beginning her research in 1985 with observations and interviews of children about the effects of violent media, toys and play, more recent research by the early childhood educator includes the impact of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers television cartoon on children, the effects of the War in the Persian Gulf on children in the United States, and the impact of media cross feeding of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on early childhood classrooms.
Other training sessions will address working with families, storytelling, puppetry, activities for infants and toddlers, music, art, science and mathematics activities, protecting the child care provider's liability, and resolving problems with children.
All child care professionals will receive continuing education training hours toward the annual requirement of 25 hours per year, which is required by the Child Care Licensing Standards of the Texas Department of Human Services.
The child care conference will be held in the A&M-Kingsville Student Union Building and is open to parents, child care professionals, teachers, and child protective services case workers. Final day for registration is April 9, with no on-site registration offered the day of the conference.
For more information and registration, call Lillianne Goeders at the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, (512) 595-8566.
-TAMUK-
-Mary Daniel