Young children are just beginning to make friends, learning to play and work together. They're developing a sense of independence and a sense of themselves while examining their connections to others. In this conference we'll share multiple creative ways to help children express and explore their experiences using the arts and to begin to understand their similarities and differences.

We will pay particular attention to ways that each child, each group of friends and each family is unique and special. Helping children to appreciate all kinds of diversity is a critical building block for developing a solid sense of self and for forming strong friendships.

We'll do movement activities and play singing games that are engaging, joyful and focused on building independence and also on learning social skills for working well with others. We'll make puppet families that offer a great opportunity for creative expression. We'll sing songs about ourselves and those we love and work together on a common art activity. Participants will experience an array of hands-on activities that can be readily adapted for immediate use in the early childhood classroom, day-care center, library or home.

We'll also focus on early literacy, displaying and discussing a variety of books on self, friends and family as well as diversity. We'll talk about introducing children to the different learning and living needs of those with disabilities and differences - including their peers, family and community members.