Conference Highlights

Selected Presentations from the Past 20 Years…
(this list represents a small, diverse sampling of the hundreds of sessions Richard has done)


International Keynote Addresses

Ohio AEYC conference

Grown Ups’ Night Out

Central Texas AEYC Conference

The Spirit Of Play

Oregon Association of Child Care Directors

A Morning With Richard Cohen

North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children Conference

Nurturing The Needs of All Children (featured speaker)

Communication Is Key (featured speaker)

South Dakota State Association for the Education of Young Children Conference

Early Childhood Professionals: The Heroes Of Our Time

Nashville Association for the Education of Young Children Conference

What’s Love Got To Do With It?

The Spirit Of Play

Valley of the Sun Association for the Education of Young Children Conference (Phoenix, AZ)

Early Childhood Professionals: The Heroes Of Our Time

Cortland, NY Area Child Care Council Early Childhood Conference

The Spirit Of Play

San Bernardino, CA “Rainbows” Conference

Early Childhood Professionals: The Heroes Of Our Time

Massachusetts Child and Adult Care Food Program Sponsors Forum

Early Childhood Professionals: The Heroes Of Our Time

Francis Child Development Institute’s “Spirit Of Play” Conference – Kansas City

The Spirit Of Play

Chicago Metropolitan Easter Seals Society

Easter Seals Employees: The Heroes Of Our Time

Edinburgh Zoo/ IPA Consortium – Edinburgh, Scotland

Explore! A Child’s Nature: The Role of Children’s Play At Zoos

Syracuse, New York Head Start/ Early Head Start conference

The Spirit Of Play

Niles Family Services Parent Education Conference

Positive Parenting

MacLean County AEYC Early Childhood Professionals Recognition Dinner

Inspiring The Creative In Children

DeKalb 4-C Family Services Conference

Early Childhood Professionals: The Heroes Of Our Time

Resurrection Preschool Family Fun Conference

Introduction To Learning Theories

S.P.E.E.D. Paraprofessionals Conference

Instructional Aides: The Heroes Of Our Time

International Workshops

XIV International Play Association World Congress – Lisbon, Portugal

Explore! A Child’s Nature: Connecting Children With Nature

International Play Association USA Conference – Long Island, New York

Explore! A Child’s Nature, Partnering In Play: a Celebration

NAEYC Professional Development Institute, 2004 – Present 

Spirit of Play: The Changing Face of Children’s Play in Contemporary Society, Nurturing Reflective, Intentional Practitioners

National Association for the Education of Young Children Conferences, 1999 – Present
Fears, Facts & Fiction: Supporting The Needs of Children with Gay or Lesbian Parents 
Staff Development for Directors: Nurturing Reflective Practitioners
Room To Grow: Creating Environments For Children That Nurture Hearts and Stimulate Minds
Staff Development for Directors: Five Strategies for Supporting Teacher & Caregiver Reflective Practice

Erikson Institute Professional Development Series – Chicago

Staff Development for Directors, Tender Topics, Room To Grow: Early Childhood Environments

Erikson Institute Father’s Conference – Chicago

Play To Learn – Learn To Play, Positive Guidance Techniques

Delaware Valley (Philadelphia) AEYC conference

What Meets The Eye: Observation & Assessment of Preschoolers, Spirit of Play:  Play for Infants & Toddlers

United States Air Force Child Development Centers – Nevada

Room To Grow: Early Childhood Environments, Sharing Your Power

Chicago Metropolitan Association for the Education of Young Children Conferences
Team-Building for Directors, Staff Development for Directors, Room To Grow: Early Childhood Environments, Tender Topics: Talking With Children About Difficult Subjects, The Road To Anti-Bias: Bias And The Brain, The Last Anti-Bias Hurdle, Games For Kids, The Art of Storytelling, Exploring Nature With Children, Techniques & Strategies for Raising Self-Esteem in Kindergartners, Kindergarten Homework?, Working Together: Teamwork In Action, The Spirit of Play, Suite Talk: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Teachers and Caregivers & Friends,  What’s Love Got To Do With It?

National Louis University – Center for Early Childhood Leadership

Teacher-Administrator Communication

Oregon Association of Child Care Directors

Facilitating Children’s Growing Autonomy, Guiding Children’s Behaviors Effectively

Central Texas AEYC Conference

A Bunch Of Monkeys:  Guiding Young Children

Valley of the Sun Association for the Education of Young Children Conference – Phoenix

Sharing Your Power

Chicago Children’s Museum

Partnering In Play: Sharing Your Power

Massachusetts Child and Adult Care Food Program Sponsors Forum

The Spirit of Play

National Louis University – Baker Demonstration School

Understanding Bias

Chicago Accreditation Partnership

Understanding Bias

Parents as Teachers First

Sharing Your Power, Introduction To Learning & Development

Illinois Starnet, Regions V, VI

Room To Grow, Play All Day: Activity Planning

Crucial Early Years Conference – St. Louis

Barrel of Monkeys

Nashville Association for the Education of Young Children Conference

Sharing Your Power, Room To Grow

Pre-School Owners (PSO) Conferences

Art of Storytelling, Team-building for Directors, Staff Development for Directors, Games for Kids, Barrel of Monkeys, Explore! A Child’s Nature

Concordia University Early Childhood Educators Conferences

Team-building for Directors, Staff Development for Directors, Spirit of Play, Explore! A Child’s Nature

Illinois State Association for the Education of Young Children Conference

Team-Building Strategies for Directors, Room To Grow: Early Childhood Environments

Illinois School-Age Child Care Initiative Conference

Games For Kids

West Suburban Home Day Care Association

Play To Learn – Learn To Play, Bias And The Brain, Introduction to Learning Theories

Mexican Community Committee Agency

Play All Day, Development & The Learning Process, Observing & Describing Children’s Behaviors

Walt Disney Magnet School

Introduction to Emergent Curriculum & Multiple Intelligences Theory

Cook County Resource and Referral

Outdoor Play, Room To Grow, Tender Topics, Understanding Bias/Implementing Anti-Bias

Howard Area Early Childhood Program

Understanding Bias

St. Vincent DePaul Preschool

Art of Storytelling

Christopher House Association

The Neighborhood Walk, Room To Grow, Team-Building & Communication for Colleagues

Pilgrim Community Nursery School

Nurturing Self-Esteem in Young Children, Barrel of Monkeys, Partnering With Parents

Orland Park Head Start

Working Together: Teamwork In Action, Implementing Anti-Bias

Syracuse, New York Head Start/ Early Head Start Conference

Sharing Your Power

Evanston McGaw YMCA    

Parents as Partners, Teamwork In Action, Communication, Room To Grow

Resurrection Preschool Family Fun Conference

Room To Grow

South Dakota Association for the Education of Young Children Conference

Room To Grow

Illinois Christian Preschools Association

Positive Guidance Techniques

S.P.E.E.D. Paraprofessionals Conference

Positive Guidance Techniques

Children’s Home & Aid Society

Giving And Receiving Feedback, Working Together: Teamwork In Action

The Nanny Circle Association

Positive Guidance Techniques, De-escalating Aggressive Behaviors

Easter Seals Head Start

Working Together: Teamwork In Action, Sharing Your Power

Illinois College Child Care Connection

Management Issues for Directors, Play All Day: Activity Planning

Harkness House for Children

Sharing Your Power, Working Together, Room To Grow, Advanced Reflection On Adult-Child Interactions

Winnetka Community Nursery School

Working Together, Room To Grow, Power of Play

Whittier Early Childhood Center

Room To Grow

State of Illinois Child Care Center

Working Together, Barrel of Monkeys