From Scattered to Strong Connections: Supporting Pragmatic Growth in Early Childhood
Presented by Sarah Van Auken M.S. CCC-SLP & Jessica Vario M.S. CCC-SLP
1 HOUR | SELF-PACED | NON-INTERACTIVE | RECORDED DECEMBER 2025
The roots of communication begin long before children can read or write. Early pragmatic skills, like joint attention, co-regulation, pretend play, turn-taking, asking and answering questions, sharing simple narratives, and recognizing emotions, lay the foundation for how children connect with others and later evolve into the narrative and discourse abilities that support future literacy skills. Due to emerging pragmatic language skills in the preschool and kindergarten years, children may struggle to tell clear stories, stay on topic, or sequence events. Pragmatics and academics grow together.
This session is for Early Childhood Teachers, Therapists, and Professionals who work with Young Children to learn the powerful role of pragmatics in early development and offers practical strategies, case studies, and real-world examples to help children move from scattered to connected communication, building confidence in relationships and preparing them for future academic success.
DISCLOSURES [Sarah Van Auken & Jessica Vario]
Financial Disclosures – Sarah Van Auken & Jessica Vario have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Nonfinancial Disclosures - Sarah Van Auken & Jessica Vario have no relevant nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
PURCHASE HERE ($19)Objectives
The participants will be able to…
1. Explain how early pragmatic skills spark connection, drive social growth, and lay the groundwork for storytelling, discourse, and literacy success.
2. Recognize powerful, practical strategies, grounded in case studies, to transform scattered interactions into clear, connected stories and meaningful connections.
3. Identify everyday opportunities in play, circle time, and family life to unlock the building blocks for future literacy and academic success.
Agenda
1. Welcome & Introductions
2. The Roots of Pragmatics in Early Childhood
3. Pragmatics and Academics: How Social Skills Support Literacy
4. Strategies, Case Studies, and Real-World Examples, Q&A
DURATION: 1 HOUR, 5 MINUTES
This Webinar Offers The Following CE Certificate/Credits
You will select your Certificate or Credit Type after you complete the evaluation form within the course page. At the end of the form, you’ll be prompted to choose the Certificate/Credit Type you wish to receive.
1.0 CTLE CONTACT HOURS
New York State Education Department, Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE)
Provider Code #23394
Approval Period: 3/29/22 - 3/29/2027
Young Child Learning is recognized by the New York State Education Department's Office of Teaching Initiatives as an approved sponsor of CTLE for Professional Classroom Teachers, School Leaders and Level III Teaching Assistants.
1.0 NYSED SW CONTACT HOURS
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work (NYSED SW)
Provider Code #0365
Approval Period: 8/31/25 - 8/31/28
Young Child Learning is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers. Young Child Learning maintains responsibility for the program. Social work professionals should contact their regulatory board to confirm course approval for continuing education credits.
1.0 ASWB CE CREDITS (BEGINNER LEVEL)
Association of Social Work Boards
(ASWB)
Provider Code #1366
Approval Period: 3/30/25-3/30/28
Young Child Learning, #1366, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 3/30/25-3/30/28. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 General continuing education credits.
1.0 NASP CE CREDITS
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
Provider Code #1111
Approval Period: 4/1/25 - 4/1/28
This workshop provides NASP CPD credit for school psychologists. Young Child Learning is approved by NASP (National Association of School Psychologists) to offer continuing education for school psychologists. Young Child Learning maintains responsibility for the program. Contact Young Child Learning with any questions or concerns at (212) 787-9700 ext. 3330 or via email at [email protected].
This program is offered for 0.1 ASHA CEUS (Introductory Level)
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
ASHA Certification Maintenance Standards require that all certificate holders (CCC-A and CCC-SLP) must accumulate 30 Certificate Maintenance Hours (CMHs) of professional development during each 3-year certification maintenance interval in order to maintain their ASHA Certificates of Clinical Competence (CCC).
How to obtain your certificate/credits:
-
You MUST watch all the video lessons. Afterwards, you will automatically be given access to the post-test and the evaluation form.
-
You MUST pass the post-test (75% passing grade). You are able to take the test multiple times until you pass.
-
You MUST answer and submit the evaluation form.
You will receive your certificate within 48 hours after fulfilling the above requirements via email.
For ASHA, your CE Credits will be reflected on your CE Registry account within 45 days after you fulfill the above requirements, and after we send your registration info to their team.
Speaker's Biography
Sarah Van Auken is a speech-language pathologist with a rich background spanning a wide range of clinical settings, ages, and diagnoses. She has many years of experience evaluating and treating adult and pediatric populations. At her practice, Speak to Connect, she works with clients through the lifespan to target: voice and motor speech disorders, accent modification, public speaking, fluency, orofacial myofunctional challenges, phonological and articulation disorders, language delays and disorders, dysphagia and swallowing safety and function, as well as pragmatics and social skills. Sarah's specialty lies in helping performers and other professionals, as well as children, heal their voices and refine their vocal prowess. She earned her Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Teachers College, Columbia University. In 2011, she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting at the University of the Arts, and worked professionally as an actor and playwright for several years. Her eclectic background and love for the human experience imbue her work as an SLP with compassion, openness, understanding, connection, and creativity.
Speaker's Biography
Jessica Vario is a bilingual speech-language pathologist providing services in English and Spanish, with over a decade of experience. She specializes in evaluating and treating multilingual and culturally diverse children, adolescents, and adults, with expertise in distinguishing a true communication disorder from differences related to language exposure or cultural upbringing. Through her practice, Speak to Connect, she helps clients of all ages develop the skills they need to communicate with confidence. Her clinical expertise spans accent modification, articulation and orofacial myology, expressive and receptive language delays, auditory processing treatment, bilingual language development, underpinned by a particular passion for pragmatic language, helping clients strengthen the social communication skills essential for strong relationships, active participation in learning or work settings, and oral/written expression. Growing up in TV and film, Jessica gained a deep appreciation for perspective-taking, interpreting non-verbal cues, and adapting communication to different audiences, skills she now teaches her clients. She earned her M.S. from Teachers College, Columbia University, and her B.S. from Long Island University, CW Post.
Host's Biography
Dr. Scott Mesh is the Director of Young Child Learning and the CEO and Co-Founder of Los Niños Services which serves 2,000 young children with special needs each year through homecare and center services. He is a Clinical Psychologist with over 25 years of experience working with young children and their families and is an expert on assessing young children for developmental disabilities and autism. He has helped thousands of parents over the years make the transition to gaining help for their children through early childhood special education services. He is a leader in early childhood development and working effectively with parents.
Cancellation Policy
All purchases of recorded courses are final and non-refundable. Should you have any questions about your registration, access, or technical questions please contact our Administrator, Cari Laroza, at this email [email protected]. Thank you!
System Requirements
You can access this webinar from various devices and platforms, on both PC and Mac desktops/laptops, as well as Android and iOS mobile devices. Our system requirements for these follow below.
Minimum system requirements
- Browser: The latest Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, or Opera for desktop/laptop
- A broadband connection with a minimum speed of 5 Mbps
PC specific requirements
- Platform: Windows 8.1 or higher with the latest updates installed
- RAM: 4GB or more
- Video: Graphics output capability
- Sound: Sound output capability
Mac specific requirement
- Platform: Mac OS X 10.12 or higher with the latest updates installed
- RAM: 4GB or more
- Video: Graphics output capability
- Sound: Sound output capability
Mobile specific requirements
- iOS 15.0 and above
- Android 7.0 and above
Grievance Policy & Procedure
Young Child Learning will comply with all legal and ethical responsibilities to be non-discriminatory in promotional activities, program content and in the treatment of program participants.
The monitoring and assessment of compliance with these standards will be the responsibility of Young Child Learning. All grievances must be submitted in writing (via e-mail or mail) within 7 days after purchase of the webinar. Any supporting documents must be included with the submitted complaint.
For all grievances, contact information (name, phone number, and email) must be provided in the case that the Young Child Learning team may need clarification.
Submit complaints in writing to Young Child Learning, 505 8th Avenue, Floor 12A Room 02, New York, NY 10018 or via email at [email protected].
Special Accommodations or Requests
Individuals in need of special accommodations should contact the Admin, Cari Laroza at (212) 787-9700 ext. 3330 to make a request. Include name, contact info, webinar details, and accommodation needs. Our team will review requests and respond within 7-12 business days. Confidentiality is maintained. Compliance with ADA is assured.
Requests for special accommodations must be made prior to purchasing the webinar.
