Programs
Igniting Connections Parent Series
Dates: The last Thursday of the month during the school year
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Description: Early Childhood Education Initiatives will host a monthly "lunch & learn" on a variety of topics. These conversations will be facilitated in partnership with NRV CARES.
Review the full list of upcoming topics and select which classes you'd like to register for at the link below.
VT Working Parent Meet-ups in the NRV
Date: Ongoing
Description: The Early Childhood Education Initiatives collaborated with Hokie Wellness to offer Parent Meet-ups for Virginia Tech working parents. The meet-ups were informal gatherings that brought Virginia Tech working parents together to meet, chat, and learn more about child care resources and information. Sign up to get information of upcoming parent meet-ups!
Parenting Strategies for Supporting Children with Chronic Illnesses
Date: October 8
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Description: Parenting a child with a chronic illness requires balancing medical care with emotional support for the child, yourself, and siblings/other family members. This webinar will discuss parenting strategies for supporting children with chronic illnesses, including using behavioral reinforcement to support procedural adherence, using age-appropriate cognitive and behavioral strategies to manage anxiety you and your child may have, giving your child age-appropriate control to reduce feelings of powerlessness, encouraging open and honest communication about their condition, and actively seeking community and other supports for your child and yourself. Speakers are Rosanna Breaux, Ph.D. and Lale Hanoz, M.A.
Supporting neural divergent students
Date: February 11
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Description: How do we work with children at home and the school team, and how do we avoid stigmatism as children age? Supporting neurodiverse students requires utilizing a strength-based, inclusive approach to parenting and teaching. Considerations include modifying the environment for sensory needs, structuring and scaffolding tasks to assist with executive functioning difficulties, and offering flexible communication (e.g., providing advance notice, providing options). Speakers are Dr. Rosanna Breaux and Lizee Nuñez Love, M.A.
Understanding Child and Family Therapy: When to Seek Help and What to Expect
Date: March 2
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Description: Wondering whether your child's behavior is part of typical development or a sign that extra support may be helpful? In this session, we'll explore how children communicate distress through their emotions, behaviors, and play, when family therapy may be beneficial, and what play therapy really looks like. We'll also discuss what to expect in a first therapy session across different developmental stages, how therapists work with children and families, and practical ways parents can support their child's emotional well-being at home. Speaker is Lale Hanoz.
Co-parenting and step families
Date: April 14
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Description: This session will provide information for strengthening family relationships, improving communication, and supporting children through family transitions such as separation divorce, and formation of blended families. Speaker is Dr. Caroline Sanner.
Planning for Baby
Description: Planning for Baby programs are for employees who are expecting the birth of a child, or for new parents of a child under three months of age. All expecting and new parents are welcome to attend including fathers, non-birth mothers and adoptive parents. Topics to be discussed include benefits, leave, and resources available to new parents.
Planning for Baby - Faculty
Date: TBD
Planning for Baby - Staff
Date: TBD
Creating the Best Narrative: Tips on College Essays & Short Answers
Date: September 2
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Description: This session is designed for parents of high school seniors who are preparing college applications and want to better support their student throughout the process. Participants will gain practical tips and strategies for helping their student craft authentic and compelling college essays and short-answer responses. Speaker is Jen Tkacz, Deputy Director at Virginia Tech Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
High Schoolers Getting Ready to Be Independent
Date: September 8
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Description: The Early Childhood Education Initiatives partnered with Samantha Buchanan, M.Ed., Associate Director in New Student and Family Programs here at Virginia Tech, to offer a session about the transition from high school student to higher education student. This session will explore the transition from high school to college, including the academic, social, and emotional adjustments that many first-year students experience. Whether your student is attending a university, community college, or technical school, this session will offer strategies and resources to help both you and your senior prepare for this exciting next chapter. Speaker is Samantha Buchanan, M.Ed., Associate Director of New Student and Family Programs at Virginia Tech.
Strategies for Children's Healthy Screen Use
Date: November 4
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Description: The session will cover information about the impact of screen media on the development of young children and specific strategies that can be implemented with children to support healthy screen use. Speaker is Dr. Koeun Choi.
How to prepare your senior and yourself to college
Date: February 3
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Description: The transition to adulthood begins long before college move-in day or into their own apartment. Join Samantha Buchanan, M.Ed., Associate Director in New Student and Family Programs at Virginia Tech, for a conversation about helping high school students build the confidence and life skills they need to thrive after graduation.
This session will explore practical ways families can foster greater independence during the junior and senior years, including decision-making, problem-solving, self-advocacy, time management, and daily life responsibilities. Whether your student plans to attend a university, community college, technical school, enter the workforce, or pursue another path, you'll leave with strategies to help them gradually take ownership of their next chapter. Speaker is Samantha Buchanan, M.Ed., Associate Director of New Student and Family Programs at Virginia Tech.
Parenting Strategies for Supporting Emotion Regulation Across Development
Date: April 8
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Description: Emotions provide children with invaluable information about themselves, their environment, and their relationship with others in their environment. Developing the ability to identify, understand, and integrate emotional information are critical aspects of emotion development, which when achieved are associated with positive social, academic, and mental health outcomes for children. This webinar will provide an overview of emotion development from toddlerhood through adolescence, along with strategies parents can use to support their child’s well-being and emotion regulation in each developmental period. Speakers are Dr. Rosanna Breaux and Stephanie Pham.
For more information or questions about upcoming programs, reach out to Kim Thomason, Program Manager for Early Childhood Education Initiatives
Past Programs
The Early Childhood Education Initiatives partnered with Samantha Buchanan, M.Ed., Associate Director in New Student and Family Programs here at Virginia Tech, to offer a session about the transition from high school student to higher education student.
ECE Initiatives in collaboration with Wolf Trap teaching artist Maria Tripodi presented a Zoom based interactive family event that guided children and families through movement experiences to engage with children’s literature and the work around them.
With Cynthia Hutchinson, Ed.S, program director of the Excellence in Children’s Early Language and Literacy (ExCELL), we offered a session where Cynthia addressed how parents can promote language and critical thinking skills relevant to kindergarten readiness.
The Early Childhood Education Initiatives at Virginia Tech partnered with the Child Study Center at Virginia Tech to offer the 2024 version of the Lunch & Learn - What You Need to Know About Raising a Child with a Disability series. This year, the topics were:
- Organization, Time Management, and Planning Strategies to Get Your Child's Homework on Track
- Child Emotional Development and Strategies to Help Kids Manage Emotions
- Moving from Power and Control to Collaboration and Problem-Solving
ECE Initiatives partnered with Heidi Hawkins, M.S., Ed.S. Licensed and Nationally Certified School Psychologist, to offer a view on parenting children and adolescents diagnosed with a disability.
In partnership with Hokie Wellness.
On 2024, the Early Childhood Education Initiatives hosted a session led by Jarrid Dulaney, Transfer Coordinator and Interim Associate Director, where he shared with VT working parent strategies to help their high school seniors write compelling essays and short answers for college applications. This year, a second version of this program was led by Jen Tkacz, Deputy Director of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Virginia Tech recognizes the ongoing concern among faculty, staff and students regarding the availability of affordable quality early care and education. Therefore, Early Childhood Education Initiatives hosted a virtual roundtable with Hokie Wellness, Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, Human Resources, and faculty and staff representatives, who shared information and answered questions about resources for parents working and studying at Virgina Tech.
The Early Childhood Education Initiatives team is partnering with Hokie Wellness to offer a lunch and learn workshop for parents and caregivers of children about the Community Resilience Model (CRM). The workshop focused on the six wellness skills of the Community Resilience Model (CRM), designed to help adults and children learn to track their own nervous systems in order to bring the body, mind, and spirit back into greater balance, and to encourage people to pass the skills along to others.
The Early Childhood Education Initiatives at Virginia Tech partnered with the Child Study Center at Virginia Tech to offer a Lunch & Learn series of workshops on parenting strategies to support children's social-emotional and academic well-being during the 2024-2025 academic year. You can view the recordings here.
Dr. Koeun Choi, director of the Cognitive Developmental Science (CoDeS) Lab at Virginia Tech and an assistant professor in Virginia Tech’s Department of Human Development and Family Science, shared information about the impact of screen media on the development of young children and specific strategies that parents can implement with children to support healthy screen use.
Rosanna Breaux, Ph.D., and Charity Majusiak, MPS, from the Child Study Center at Virginia Tech, led this session, which discussed parenting strategies to help foster autonomy and independence, and help your middle schooler develop soft and life skills (e.g., problem-solving, self-care) to set them up for success. You can view the recording here.
Megan Schumeyer, Assistant Director of Client Services in Virginia Tech’s Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, offered an overview of financial aid and scholarships processes, including practical FAFSA tips and key cost concepts, for parents of soon-to-be higher education student.
Kim Thomason, program manager for Early Childhood Education Initiatives, and David Andrews, Associate Director of Employee Wellness for Hokie Wellness, hosted this session, which provided an overview of school-age programs commonly offered through child care providers, Care.com listings, and summer camps. Participants gained information on when and how to plan camp enrollment and reviewed resources available for parents of school-agers on the Caregiving.vt.edu website.
The Early Childhood Education Initiatives team partnered with the Child Study Center to offer a session led by Rosanna Breaux, Ph.D., director of the Child Study Center at Virginia Tech. Rosanna shared why parents are critical to children's learning and growth shaping children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development, so that they can succeed in school and beyond. This webinar discussed strategies you can use at home across elementary through high school to promote learning, reduce learning loss during breaks, and reinforce the important family-school partnership in your child's education.
The Early Childhood Education Initiatives and the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech hosted a "Make and Take" in-person activity. Participants took a children’s book and created an interactive version that facilitates deeper engagement for children, promoting better learning outcomes in areas like literacy and emotional development. This hands-on activity aimed to encourage creativity, literacy, and playful learning.
The ECEI team partnered with the Child Study Center to offer a session led by Kacey Gilbert, PhD, NCSP, Licensed Psychologist, from the Child Study Center at Virginia Tech to share how the Individualized Education Programs (IEP) and 504 Plans are designed to support the unique learning needs of students with disabilities. This webinar helped caregivers gain practical strategies for collaborating with schools to ensure their child receives the appropriate services by discussing the differences between IEP and 504 Plans, outline steps for eligibility, and explain caregivers’ legal rights.
Kim Thomason, Program Manager for Early Childhood Education Initiatives, hosted a series of discussion-based seminars to support parents in choosing high quality early care and education that is a good fit for their family.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Kim Thomason at 540-320-3226 or kimbe74@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.