A1-204 Webinar

Making Sense of Toddlers

Creating an effective early years learning environment that supports toddler urges with Kimberley Crisp and Anja Geelen.
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$39 per person *Included in Educator Club
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when you can from any device 

Toddlers are not small preschoolers. They are their own extraordinary, bewildering, wonderful kind of human — and working with them well means preparing yourself fully: head, heart, and hands.

In this webinar, we explore what's really driving toddler behaviour and impulses — from the compelling urge to throw, knock down, fill, and run, to the fierce emotional storms that can catch us off guard.

We'll look at why two-year-olds are genuinely different from older children, and how understanding those differences shapes everything: the way we set up our spaces, the way we plan our teaching, and the way we show up each day.

Presented By

Kimberley Crisp and Anja Geelen - The Heart School

Webinar Duration

Approximately 45 minutes
Live at Wednesday 5th August 2026 7:30pm AEST

Skill Level

Suitable for beginner to experienced educators

What will you learn?

What we'll explore together:
  • Making sense of toddler behaviour and impulses — what's really going on beneath the surface.
  • Preparing yourself — head, heart, and hands — for the unique demands of toddler work
  • The unique needs of two-year-olds versus older children — and why that difference matters
  • Why less is more — and how to slow down to keep up with toddlers
  • The teacher and team's role in fostering safety, connection, and joy
  • Practising "connect before correct" as the foundation for behaviour guidance

Practical strategies you'll take away:

1. Environment design
Set up spaces that channel urges safely — for throwing, climbing, filling, dumping, and more

2. Intentional teaching
Plan with urges in mind — meaningful provocations, open-ended materials, and following the child's lead

3. Routines and transitions
Build predictability and calm into the day so toddlers feel safe enough to explore

4. In-the-moment responses
Language, tone, and presence — practical tools for connecting and guiding without shutting down
Certificate of completion provided for your professional learning records
About the presenter

Anja and Kimberley

We are two early childhood teachers based in New Zealand and the founders of The Heart School. 

We have decades of experience as teachers on the floor and owners/managers of our own early childhood settings. 

We practice from, with and for the heart. Join us on the heart path. Draw from our experience and dive into our resources!

What others said about this webinar:

This was great. I loved the examples and points on how we see children as capable but then we take away their decision making with something as simple as coat wearing.
— AMY
What an awesome webinar, made you think whether who we are doing it for and reflecting on our practice.
— MEMUN
It was awesome so easy to listen to and very practical thanks
— KAREN

Want to learn more from The Heart School? 

Subscription Options: 

This webinar is included in the Educator Club subscription - Pay once and have full access to the Educator Club webinars, courses and resources. 
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