Parents of both typically
developing children and children with special needs are invited to attend the
8th Annual Young Child Expo and Conference, taking place April 7-8 at the Hotel
Pennsylvania. Co-presented by the Fordham University Graduate School of
Education and Los Niños Services, this all-encompassing conference brings
together educators, authors, researchers and experts in early childhood
development to share their ideas with concerned parents, teachers and other
childhood professionals for two days of immersion in the world of early child
care. Unlike other conferences, this event offers attendees the opportunity to learn
about services, resources and products to help all children reach their full
potential whether typically developing, special needs, gifted, talented or
bilingual.
“The mission of the conference is
bringing together professionals, parents and people interested in special needs
in order to help young children learn and grow well, and help them reach their
potential,” says Scott Mesh, an early childhood psychologist and executive
director of Los Niños Services, which works to meet the developmental needs of
young children through evaluations, parent/child groups, service coordination
and training. “Most conferences are professional gatherings of colleagues; this
is a practical, hands-on conference.”
The expo aims to create a dialogue
between doctors and educators working in the field of early child development.
This year’s keynote speakers include Dr. Ami Klin, director of the Autism
Program at Emory University; Dennis M. Walcott, former deputy
mayor for education and community development; Ellen Birnbaum and Nancy
Schulman, directors of the 92nd Street Y Nursery School; and Dr. Mark Brackett, deputy director of Yale University’s Health, Emotion, and
Behavior Laboratory.
The conference will feature 25
sessions, full and half-day workshops and an exhibition hall where parents can
gather information on early childhood resources, services and products. For more info, visit youngchildexpo.com.
— Tiffanie Green and Lanchi Venator
