AELL 42nd Annual National Conference – Pre-Conference Events

✨ Early Learning Center Tours ✨

April 14, 2026  | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

One of our most popular conference excursions, the Early Learning Center Tours offer a unique opportunity to step inside high-quality child care programs in the local community. Participants will enjoy guided visits to two early learning centers that reflect excellence and innovation in early care and education.

These tours are designed to expand horizons, spark fresh ideas, and provide practical inspiration you can bring back to your own program. Whether you are looking for new approaches to programming, environment design, or operational practices, this experience offers valuable perspectives to support exceptional early learning outcomes.

This event consistently fills quickly and is a favorite among conference attendees seeking meaningful, real-world learning beyond the conference!

• Member Rate  |  $119 per person
• Non-Member Rate  | $139 per person

✨ Pre-Conference Training Session: “Resilient from the Start: Building Trauma-Informed Classrooms & Teams” ✨

April 14, 2026  | 1:00 – 4:00 PM

This foundational training introduces early childhood professionals to the essential concepts of stress, trauma, and resilience—and how they shape the experiences of both children and adults in early learning environments. Participants will explore how stress and trauma influence behavior, development, and relationships, while also examining the critical role of self-awareness, emotional regulation, and staff well-being in building responsive, resilient program cultures. Through practical, research-informed strategies, Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor, Tymothy Smith, will guide attendees in making simple yet powerful shifts in perception, connection, and practice to better support both the children they serve and the adults who care for them.

• Member Rate  |  $149 per person
• Non-Member Rate  | $199 per person

CANCELLATION POLICY
Pre-Conference Sessions & Early Learning Center Tour cancellations must be made in writing and sent to [email protected]. Cancellations received before February 10, 2026, are refundable. No-shows and cancellations received on or after February 10, 2026, will not be eligible for a refund but funds can be held as a credit and must be applied to another AELL training event within 12 months.