Child Care Connection - NJ

🎉 Registration is OPEN! 🎉

Join us this October for Thriving, Not Just Surviving, in ECE, our 2026 Virtual Conference for early childhood professionals.

⭐ Early Bird Tickets: $25 through June 30

🎁 First 5 registrants receive a FREE VIP Wellness Bag!

Register today:
https://childcareconnection-nj.org/professional-development/programs-initiatives/annual-conference/registration/

We can't wait to learn, connect, and thrive with you! 💙

3 days until EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION OPENS for our October Virtual Conference!

🎟️ Early Bird tickets will be available for $25 for a limited time.

✨ BONUS: The first 5 registrants will receive a complimentary wellness bag filled with special cozy items to help make your virtual conference experience extra relaxing and enjoyable.

Professional development + self-care? Yes please! 💻☕🧘

REGISTRATION OPENS June 1!

On Saturday, May 16, Child Care Connection held an event in honor of National Provider Appreciation Day. Twelve local family child care providers and four of their staff attended the event, which was held at Chambers Walk Cafe and included lunch, gifts, and parent testimonials about the important role these child care providers play in their family. As child care is one of the most underpaid - and undervalued - professions, Provider Appreciation Day was launched in 1996 by a group of volunteers from New Jersey as a way to recognize the tireless contributions of providers who care for the children of working parents and their contributions to the quality of family life. Thank you to all who attended and to our Resource Development team for another fabulous event! 💙

⏳ Only 5 days until Early Bird Registration opens for our October Virtual Conference!

🎟️ Early Bird tickets will be available for $25 for a limited time.

✨ BONUS: The first 5 registrants will receive a complimentary wellness bag filled with special cozy items to help make your virtual conference experience extra relaxing and enjoyable.

Professional development + self-care? Yes please! 💻☕🧘

Registration opens June 1!

This Memorial Day, we remember the brave Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our nation and defend our fundamental freedoms. On behalf of a grateful nation, we salute their service and honor their memories. 🇺🇸

Memorial Day is a time to honor, reflect, and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. As we honor America's fallen heroes, the office will be closed on Monday, May 25. We at Child Care Connection wish you a meaningful Memorial Day weekend. 🇺🇸

📢 We’re excited to officially announce our 2026 Virtual Conference Keynote Speaker: ✨

Many of you may remember as the keynote speaker from our 2025 in-person conference, where her message deeply resonated with attendees. Educators left feeling seen, validated, inspired, and more connected to both themselves and the important work they do every day. We’re so excited to welcome her back as the keynote speaker for our 2026 Virtual Conference! ✨

🎤 Keynote Presentation:
The Annoying Things That Kids Do, How They Impact Us, and Why It’s All Ok!

As early childhood professionals, we wear so many hats every day: lesson-planner, play-maker, conflict preventer, potty-trainer, regulation-follower… and everything in between. In this keynote, Jillian invites us to pause and reflect on our own well-being in the workplace while exploring the realities of child behavior, classroom expectations, and the ways our nervous systems impact our practice.

This session promises to be honest, relatable, research-based, and deeply affirming for educators everywhere. 💛

Stay tuned for registration details and more exciting conference announcements coming soon!

On May 15, Child Care Connection Executive Director Cindy Jackson attended the 31st Annual Aletha R. Wright Award for Excellence in Education Symposium in Princeton Junction. Presented annually, the award honors the late Aletha Wright, a tireless advocate for children who passed away suddenly in 1994. Pictured with Cindy is the event’s keynote speaker, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (left) of New Jersey’s 15th Legislative District, who spoke about the important work of strengthening the interconnected systems that support children, families, and communities.

The recipient of this year’s award was Kim Perrelli, executive director of Child Care Resources of Monmouth County. Congratulations, Kim!

We’re excited to officially announce Child Care Connection’s 2026 Virtual Conference:

✨ Thriving, Not Just Surviving, in ECE

This year’s conference is focused on the emotional and mental well-being of early care and education professionals.

Because while this work is incredibly meaningful, we also know it can be emotionally demanding, exhausting, and overwhelming at times. You spend so much of your energy caring for others and you deserve support, too.

We’ve carefully curated an experience designed with YOU in mind, including:

🤝 Networking opportunities
📚 3 professional development hours on NJCCIS
🎤 An inspiring keynote speaker (announcement coming later this week!)
🧘 A live complimentary guided meditation session facilitated by a trained professional
🎁 Self-care focused raffle prizes
💛 Wellness-centered breakout sessions designed to support ECE professionals
💰 A discount for the 2027 in-person professional development conference!

Stay tuned for more details and registration information coming soon!