Invite, Engage, and Teach: Responsive Caregiving Strategies to Support Child Participation and Learning. Presented by Dr Sarah Sexton.

Parents and caregivers of children with disability and at risk for developing disabilities are the consistent and pervasive source of support and learning for their children. When parents and caregivers use responsive caregiving strategies that invite children to participate with them in an everyday routine, engage the child in the routine using their strengths and interests, and teach the child to participate in new ways, child participation and learning are maximised. This session focuses on how providers can support parents and caregivers to invite, engage, and teach throughout their day.

Sarah Sexton, Ed.D. is the Director at the Family, Infant and Preschool Program (FIPP) in Morganton, North Carolina. Dr. Sexton has served in the field of early childhood education for almost 30 years as an early childhood teacher, preschool director, an Early Head Start director, and an early intervention administrator. Dr. Sexton teaches child development at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC and early childhood coaching at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ. Her expertise lies in professional development coaching, personnel induction, and developing implementation and fidelity tools and measures.  Dr. Sexton coordinates research and dissemination activities at FIPP and has published numerous articles on strategies and products for helping practitioners reach fidelity to evidence-based practices. She serves on the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) Personnel Preparation Committee and consults with programs and states here and abroad on capacity-building family support practice, and evidence-based professional development coaching. Sarah is on the international expert advisory committee for the Review of Best Practice in Early Childhood Intervention Project underway in Australia.