It’s Cool to Be Kind: Music and Stories to Teach Inclusion, Community-Building, & Empathy

Presented by Joanie Calem | March 11, 2026 7PM EST

1 HOUR | LIVE ONLINE via ZOOM | INTERACTIVE

Camera and Audio REQUIRED
There is no free access option ($19 to join)

This online workshop explores how kindness and compassion can be intentionally taught and practiced in early childhood learning. Using songs, games, and dramatized musical stories, participants will actively explore ways to help children understand the beauty—and challenge—of building kind, inclusive communities. Grounded in social-emotional learning (SEL) research, the session highlights how kindness improves learning, strengthens classroom culture, and supports inclusion while reducing bullying. Participants will examine the important distinction between kindness and “always being nice,” emphasizing healthy boundaries, justice, and respect for individuality. Practical examples and classroom-ready ideas will demonstrate how kindness-focused lessons can be embedded into daily routines, helping children learn that their classroom is a safe, collaborative space where differences are valued and everyone’s contribution matters.

Teachers, therapists, social workers, and other early childhood professionals working with young children will benefit from this webinar.

Objectives

1. Explain how SEL and kindness-based instruction support learning and inclusion

2. Recognize the difference between kindness, niceness, and healthy boundaries

3. Identify practical strategies to embed kindness into daily classroom routines

4. Recognize how valuing differences helps prevent bullying and exclusion

How to Obtain Your CE Certificate/Credits:

You MUST attend the workshop from start to finish
You MUST submit the evaluation form after the workshop (will be sent via email.

You will receive your certificate/credits within 48 hours after fulfilling the above requirements via email.

This Workshop Offers The Following CE Certificate/Credits

You will select your Certificate or Credit Type after you pay the registration fee. After that, you'll be redirected to a form where 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: 3/30/22-3/30/25. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 General continuing education credits.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel within 30 days before the event, the registration fee is not refundable. However, you will receive a credit for the registration fee which can be applied to another Young Child Learning event within the following 12 months. The processing fee is non-refundable.

Speaker's Biography

Joanie Calem is a music educator, an autism parent, a singer/songwriter, a storyteller and an inclusion advocate. In Joanie’s ongoing music classroom work, she focuses on creating welcoming spaces that raise awareness of the beauty of individual uniqueness of all students. She believes that bullying disappears when difference is valued and appreciated. As an inclusion advocate, Joanie presents professional development workshops for educators and administrators on understanding and supporting individuals with Sensory Processing Disorder, ACES and other “non-apparent disabilities”.

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.

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.

Individuals will be informed if the request can be accommodated. Once the individual confirms, the special accommodations will be secured. If the individual finds that they no longer need of the accommodations, they must inform the Admin.