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Practical Ways to Help Kids Focus in the Early Childhood Classroom

Wednesday, December 13, 2023 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST

Practical Ways to Help Kids Focus in the Early Childhood Classroom

Presented by Keriann Wilmot, Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Toy Expert, and Author
Moderated by Dr. Laura Wilhelm, Vice President for Professional Learning, Kaplan Early Learning Company

Sponsored by Kaplan Early Learning Company

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The early childhood classroom is an amazing place for learning. For kids in that three- to five-year-old age range, it can be difficult for them to transition between so many activities while staying focused and on task to get through the day. The goal of this edWebinar is to help early childhood teachers learn practical ways to engage kids in the early childhood classroom that will ultimately help them self-regulate so they can focus on learning while having fun.

Viewers learn to incorporate sensory self-regulation strategies by designing solid classroom routines, adding movement opportunities like brain breaks as well as using flexible seating and other manipulatives like fidgets to help kids participate to the best of their abilities.

This recorded edWebinar is of interest to early childhood teachers, librarians, and school leaders.

Keriann Wilmot

About the Presenter

Keri Wilmot is a pediatric occupational therapist, author, and toy expert with 23+ years of experience working with children with sensory processing challenges and learning and thinking differences. One of Keri’s primary responsibilities when working in the public school system was to evaluate children who were “failing” in their private preschool or daycare placements. Keri published Wired Differently: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding Sensory Processing Challenges to help teachers learn strategies to create a more positive, successful early childhood experience. Keri is an expert consultant to Understood.org where she leads a sensory and movement challenges group in the Wunder app. In 2009, Keri began sharing toy recommendations and play tips on her website, ToyQueen.com. Her expertise has been sought after by all major toy companies, and she is a current judge for the Spielwarenmesse ToyAward, a prestigious honor awarded to toys and games internationally.

Laura Wilhelm

About the Moderator

As the Vice President for Professional Learning at Kaplan, Laura Wilhelm, Ed.D. draws on decades of experience teaching young children and early childhood professionals, starting with toddlers in the 1980s, followed by PreK-third grade in urban and suburban schools, and as a university lab school director. Since earning her doctorate in ECE curriculum and instruction in 1999, she has served as a program director, full professor, national validator for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and a site visitor for the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Programs (CAEP). She enjoys planning professional development, speaking at conferences, leading study tours, visiting early education programs around the world, and returning home to her family. She is the author of The Neglected Child: How to Recognize, Respond, and Prevent (2013); Treasure Baskets: Heuristic Learning for Infants and Toddlers (2017); Enticing Environments for People Under Three (2021); and Living Loose Parts: Creatures of Curiosity (coming in 2024), all from Gryphon House.

Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.

Join the Classroom Management for Early Learning community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.


Kaplan Early Learning CompanyFor more than 50 years, Kaplan Early Learning Company has been a champion for play. From our research-based curricula to enriching classroom environments and innovative technology solutions, Kaplan’s products and services inspire a lifelong love of learning in children and educators. We are architects of learning good and defenders of the imagination. We live for inseparable bonds and open minds. We encourage the eager and inspire the inspirers. We transform lives through play.


Sensory processing support kit

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