06/18/2026
Celebrating Play, Honouring Rights- All year long!
As we at ARCQE continue to engage and support educators in advancing children's rights throughout the year, we are pleased to recognize the International Day of Play, celebrated globally each June. This important occasion highlights play as a fundamental right of every child and as an essential foundation for thinking, learning, well-being, and development. In alignment with our ongoing focus on relationships, wonder, and belonging, we invite Early Childhood Educators to join us in reflecting on and strengthening their practice as we build momentum toward National Child Day.
Together, as a community of learners and advocates, we invite all of you to join with us in welcoming Heather Bernt-Santy, M.A. Ed., also known as That Early Childhood Nerd. With over 30 years of experience working alongside children, families, and caregivers, Heather brings a deep and joyful commitment to the field she has “very-nearly-almost” loved every minute of. She is a passionate believer in children’s right to play and in the science that affirms what we know in our bones: "play is a right." Through her consulting, webinars, and podcast That Early Childhood Nerd, Heather continues to inspire educators to think deeply and differently about childhood.
Together, we will reflect on what it means to act as play advocates in today’s early learning landscape—holding space for children’s joy, agency, well-being, identity, and belonging, while reimagining environments where curiosity, inquiry, and co-learning are genuinely honoured.
Drawing inspiration from Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood, this gathering calls us back to what matters most: children’s right to live fully, wonder deeply, and play freely.
Two options to choose from:
June 25 - 12:00 - 2:00
June 25 - 6:30 - 8:30
Investment: $30.00
https://events.arcqe.ca/professional-learning-events/
