The Play Lab Family Centered Early Intervention

03/12/2026

03/06/2026

Calling all advocates!

Let’s make our voices heard for Illinois’ youngest learners! Join us in Springfield on Wednesday, May 13 for Early Childhood Advocacy Day and shape the future of early childhood education and care.

Learn more and register today: https://bit.ly/49N9qrq

03/06/2026

Decisions about child care funding and oversight must prioritize the stability that children need to thrive.

03/06/2026

03/05/2026

02/27/2026

IPA Members check your email inboxes as the latest edition of PlayRights Magazine is arriving tomorrow!

Not a member? It is not too late to join! www.ipaworld.org

02/20/2026

We are so excited to officially share our keynote speaker!

Join us at the Growing Futures Conference, hosted by the Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children (ILAEYC), for an inspiring and energizing keynote you won’t want to miss.

Get your ticket today while it’s still the early bird price! I’ll drop the link to grab your tickets below.
https://www.eventbee.com/v/illinois-aeyc-growing-futures-conference-2026/event?eid=227321231
Take a look at the flyer for all the details and tag a colleague who needs to be there with you! 👇💙

02/20/2026

SAVE THE DATE
ILAEYC Growing Futures Conference 2026
October 15-17, 2026
Springfield, IL @ the Crowne Plaza
Early bird tickets go on sale February 2nd!

02/20/2026

Illinois AEYC Conference October 15-17, 2026 Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children (Illinois AEYC) is requesting presentation proposals for the Growing Futures conference to be held October 15-17, 2026, in Springfield, IL. Workshops will be...

12/07/2025

Check out my article, “Play 101: The Basics,” a reproducible handout for newbies, in the latest issue of Exchange magazine, out now. Up next: presenting at Exchange’s 12/5 Protecting Play online conference. See you there!

11/10/2025

REPOST:

On Wednesday, November 5th, federal agents entered the licensed early learning center Rayito de Sol and detained Diana, an early childhood educator. This harmful act has caused fear and confusion among the children and families of Rayito de Sol, as well as the broader early childhood community. The aggressive incident undermines the sense of safety and stability that is essential to the well-being of the children our early learning system is designed to support.

Please join the parents of Rayito de Sol to pack the court in support of Diana on Thursday, November 13th at 9:30am, at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse (219 S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60604).

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El miércoles 5 de noviembre, agentes federales ingresaron al centro de educación infantil Rayito de Sol, que cuenta con licencia, y detuvieron Diana, a una educadora. Este acto perjudicial ha generado temor y confusión entre los niños y las familias de Rayito de Sol, así como en toda la comunidad de la primera infancia. Este incidente violento socava la sensación de seguridad y estabilidad, esencial para el bienestar de los niños a quienes nuestro sistema de educación infantil está diseñado para apoyar.

Únase a los padres de Rayito de Sol para llenar la corte en apoyo de Diana el jueves 13 de noviembre a las 9:30am, en el Tribunal Federal Dirksen (219 S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60604).