FREE for Washington State Early Learning Providers

Live Training: Ready, Set, Focus: Helping Young Children Build Executive Function Skills

Young children are learning how to manage big emotions, follow directions, and think before they act.  This training will dive into how executive function skills develop, why they can be tricky to master, and what educators can do to help kids practice these skills within infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms.

Registration deadline: May 27, 2025

This live training is available for FREE only to Washington State early learning providers thanks to grant funding. Please click 'Apply to enroll' if you are a Washington State provider.
  • Date

    June 3, 2025
  • Time

    12:00 - 1:00pm
Art & Creativity in the Inclusive Classroom

What's Included?

  • 1 STARS credit
  • Course certificate
  • Access through 2025

Little brains are so busy! Young children are learning how to manage big emotions, follow directions, and think before they act.  This training will dive into how executive function skills develop, why they can be tricky to master, and what educators can do to help kids practice these skills within infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms. We’ll consider real-life classroom scenarios and share ideas for helping kids build these essential skills through routines, play, and relationship-based teaching. Whether you’re navigating frequent meltdowns, helping children stay on task, or searching for smoother transitions, this training will equip you with tools to help your students thrive.

Meet Your presenter

Kristen McLeskey, MS, IMH-E®

Kristen has supported children and families for over 15 years with professional experience in mental health, early intervention/early supports, and early learning. She holds a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology and an Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement. As an Inclusion Specialist with IMPACT, Kristen has followed her passion for empowering early childhood professionals with insights and innovative strategies to support children with challenging behavior, disabilities, and complex needs. She is an advocate for inclusive early learning, and her special interests include sensory processing, trauma-informed practices, and play-based behavior supports.

Technology Requirements:

This live training is held virtually using the Zoom platform that is integrated with our online school. You will need a desktop or laptop computer, or a tablet, with speakers, microphone, a webcam, and high-speed internet access. To ensure the best possible experience, please take a moment before the live training to ensure your device and technology will work successfully. 

  • Review the system requirements for the Zoom online meeting platform
  • Try out a test meeting
  • Test your audio and video in the meeting
  • Review our handout for how to join a live zoom training and navigating the course page
  • Log in at least 10 minutes before the training to ensure your technology is working


FAQ

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Technical Support
If you need help accessing the live training or any other technical support, please email:  impacttechsupport@nwcenter.org

How do I access the live training?

To access the live training, select "continue" on the training page. This will open up the training player window. In the navigation pane on the left of your screen, select the "Live Zoom Session" option. When the webinar has started you will see a button that says, "Join live session". Select this to join the live training. Please note that this "Join live session" button will not be available until the session has begun. 

Do you have a tutorial on how to navigate the live training?

We will give a brief tutorial on using Zoom webinar and its relevant features at the beginning of the live training. We have also included a handout within the course player for you that offers screenshots to help you be prepared to navigate the live training session. 

What device(s) do you recommend joining the live training on? 

Larger screens work best to be able to view the presentation, presenters, chat box, and other helpful Zoom features. With that in mind, it's recommended to join from a laptop or computer monitor. 

What browser do you recommend for live trainings? 

Google Chrome.

In the Zoom webinar, I see the option to “Join through your Zoom client". Should I select this?

This option is available for troubleshooting any challenges you may be experiencing within the website integration of Zoom. If you would like to view the live training through your Zoom client window, select this option, and be sure to close out of the browser version in order to prevent echoing, or other technical issues.

Should you be disconnected from the training in your Zoom client window, you can reconnect through the training page again, and select "Join through your Zoom client" again. 

What if I've registered for the live training but can't attend the day of? Can I get a recording?

Anyone who is registered for our DCYF live virtual trainings but does not attend will be automatically enrolled in a separate course with recording of the training. Once you watch the recording in its entirety, you will be able to access a certificate and receive STARS credit.

I am having trouble accessing the training. What should I do?

  • Be sure you are logged in with the account and email address you used to purchase or enroll in the live training
  • Try logging out and back in again and look for the “Continue” button on the training or course page
  • Double check the email address associated with your account for an email with your receipt and/or link to the training to ensure you fully enrolled in the correct course for live training and with the right email address
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Live Trainings

I'm a director and I want to register all of my staff for a course. Do they all need to register individually or do you offer bulk registration?

We make it easy to purchase on-demand courses and live trainings for multiple staff to attend without each teacher having to register and pay individually.  Just submit the Bulk Course Request Form and someone will get back to you to learn more about your needs.  We will assist you with making only one payment in order to enroll your staff into the course(s)/training(s) you want them to take. After you submit the form, you can expect to hear back from us within 3 business days.

If you are in Washington State and interested in enrolling your staff in the free DCYF courses and trainings, you may use this DCYF Bulk Enrollment Form.  
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Training Credit

Can my friend and I do the live training together in the same login and both get STARS credit?

No. STARS credit will only be issued to paid registered individuals. Certificates of Completion will only be issued to those who registered for the live training. 

What if I am late or have to leave the training early?

We offer a 15 minute grace period and require all attendees to be present for 90% of the live training duration to receive credit. Please make sure you are able to attend the entire live session before registering. Again, if you are unable to attend the full live training, we will offer the option of viewing a recording of the live training after.  

Will I receive a certificate after the training?

Yes. Upon registering and attending 90% or more of the live training session, viewing the handouts, and completing the course survey, you will be issued a Certificate of Completion that you can download.

Washington State: Can I get STARS credit for taking the same course/training twice?

You can take the same course or training again for STARS credit if it's a new calendar year.  However, STARS hours are not given for duplicate courses and trainings completed within the same calendar year.  Credit is only issued once per purchased course/training.  If you would like STARS credit for a course or training you have previously taken, you would need to purchase it again. 

Washington State: When can I expect to see my STARS hours in my MERIT account?

At the end of each month, we run reports for each of our trainings on who completed them and then enter credits into the Merit registry. So STARS hours will be entered by the middle of the following month.  For example, for February’s courses we would have STARS hours entered by March 15th. 
Washington state providers:

Interested in more free services?

IMPACT is thrilled to offer free access to 4 live trainings and 2 on-demand courses in partnership with DCYF
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IMPACT™ content is developed by a multidisciplinary team and makes every effort to ensure that information provided reflect evidence-based, early childhood best practices. Providers should always follow local jurisdictions and other governing bodies rules and regulations when implementing any strategy or suggestion. Any actions, or lack of actions, are not the responsibility or liability of Northwest Center Kids – IMPACT™.

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