Before the Words: Supporting Communication and Connection in the Preverbal Years

In the pre-verbal years, communication is already rich, complex, and deeply relational. This workshop explores how infants and toddlers express meaning through movement, emotion, gesture, sound, and behaviour long before fluent speech develops. Participants will deepen their understanding of early communication as a foundation for belonging, regulation, and identity formation.

Through practical examples and reflective discussion, educators will learn how to interpret children’s cues with greater clarity, respond in ways that strengthen connection, and intentionally design environments that support emerging language and literacy. This session bridges theory and practice, offering concrete strategies educators can apply immediately in infant and toddler settings to foster trust, emotional safety, and authentic communication.

Register here: https://www.wstcoast.org/workshops/words-supporting-communication-and-connection-preverbal-years-4810-8100