The Children at Play Network has added a new training specialist to the CAPN team to expand professional development opportunities for early learning educators (State approved for ECE-TRIS), foster parents, and anyone with an interest in seeing that all children have opportunities for outdoor play.
Kim Tabler, the new CAPN trainer, has been facilitating professional development workshops for early childhood educators for more than 20 years.
“I recognize the value of true play, especially outdoors, and advocate for all children’s right to play,” she said. “I believe in children’s capacity to explore and discover their own learning when loving adults support them.”
CAPN offers training on free play for children, particularly in the outdoors, their need for healthy risk taking, as well as strategies for educators to incorporate loose parts into children’s play. A full description of the training programs may be found here. In person and virtual options are available.
“Demand for training in free play is growing as awareness of its importance for children’s healthy development is better recognized,” said CAPN Director Claude Stephens, who is a licensed trainer in Kentucky with a specialty in free play. “We are excited to meet that demand and see it as an extension of our work to fulfill CAPN’s mission to ensure that every child has a place in nature where they feel free, safe, healthy, empowered and joyful.
If you are interested in CAPN training for yourself, your school, your organization or your early learning center(ECE-TRIS State Approved), please contact Kim Tabler at Kim.Tabler.CAPN@bernheim.org