Workshops, Conferences, Keynotes and Retreats

Join Gigi Schweikert, early childhood expert, working mother of four, and author of over twelve published books on child development and parenting, as she takes you down the sometimes frustrating, yet always rewarding road of education. Gigi’s practical ideas and realistic perspective on working with young children and supervising adults will have you laughing and learning. Invite her to speak at your conference or workshop. You may contact Gigi at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 908.638.4362.

A Special Note from Gigi for the Art Seminar Participants at the Center for Family Resources

What I learned... that all people, children and adults, are creative in some way, even if they think they aren’t.

What I felt... a willingness from teachers to get out of their comfort zone and to try new things.

What I challenge you to do... let DAP art happen all the time in all areas of your room. You provide the stuff and the inspiration if necessary, then step back and watch the children create!

Your luncheon of foods from all cultures was amazing!
Gigi

A Special Note from Gigi for the Staff at GanAviv

What I learned... learning is more than new information and ideas. As one teacher said, “Learning is valuable.”

What I felt... the staff enjoyed parent teacher conferences because they got to know the parents one-on-one and work together to care for and educate the child. That’s a partnership. (Also, I felt my tongue and lips on fire from that good hot sauce!)

What I challenge you to do... create a prop box for your next staff meeting.

It was good to see you all again,
Gigi

Classroom Management
8 Simple Steps for Redirecting Children’s Inappropriate Behavior
15 Don’ts When Disciplining Children
Proven Methods for Helping Children Behave
Restless Children: What to Try
10 Essentials to Making Caring Routines Prime Times
“It Takes Two” Developing a Positive Relationship between Teacher and Child
Tips for Speaking Positively to Children
Helping the Child who is Struggling
What to Expect: Realistic Expectations regarding Children’s Behavior

Curriculum
7 Myths about Academic Success and Young Children
Ages and Stages: The Wonderful Things Children Can Do!
Developmentally Appropriate Themes, Really?
How to Make Kids Smarter and Parents Happier the DAP Way
The Ultimate in Classroom Fun
Helping Children Become Good Readers: 36 Tips
How is this Child Smart? Getting Every Child Involved
75 Simple Activities You can Prepare in a Minute
Child Assessment and Portfolio Building
Everyday Music: Even If You Can’t Sing or Play an Instrument
Maximizing Learning Experiences for Young Children
Helping Young Children Cope with Change: Divorce, Death, and Other Topics

Professionalism
Give Up the Gossip: How Gossip Hurts
Customer Service Excellence: Beyond Polite and Professional
Getting the Most out of Trainings and Meetings: How to be an Effective Participant
“Good Enough Never Is”: The Benefits and Challenge of Change
Professional Don’ts: Eliminating Inappropriate Behavior on the Job
Teacher Survival Guide: What Every Staff Member Needs to Know
Become an All-Star Teacher
Characteristics of a Successful Early Childhood Professional
Effective Communication at Every Level
16 Ways to Fight Burnout

Learning Environment
Do You Have a Child-Centered Learning Environment? A Quick Checklist
Setting Up Your Environment for Optimal Learning and Individualized Attention
Beyond the Conventional Learning Center: Fun for the Hard to Please Child
The Learning Environment: Do you have What it takes to Engage Young Children?
Better than Electronics and SpongeBob: Creating a Fun and Educational Classroom

Infants and Toddlers
127 Ways to Care for and Educate Infants and Toddlers
Toddlers in Motion! Put on your Comfortable Shoes
Prime Times for Infants and Toddlers: Giving Children Individual Attention
Putting Toddlers on the Right Path to Academic Success: The Value of Toddler’s Play
Do I Maximize Learning Experiences for Infants and Toddlers?
Supporting Infant and Toddler Exploration on Play
“Why Do They Push the Chairs?”  Understanding the Toddler Mind
20 Ways to Encourage Children’s Language Development
“Baby Talk” How to have Real Conversations with Infants
Separation: How to Help the Child and Parent Both Stop Crying
Proven Ways to Redirect the Attention of Children who are Upset

Leadership
Are You a Super Supervisor? Test your Leadership Quotient
Supervisors: “Learn to Let Go of Control, not Accountability”
What you Should Know that Your Staff Doesn’t Tell You: Feedback on Your Performance
Are You a Control Freak? Learning to Ease-up, so Staff can do their Job
Delivering Difficult Messages: 15 Essential Steps
The Most Effective Ways to Gain Respect in the Workplace
Supervise with Confidence: Using your Teacher Skills to Guide Adults
From Teacher to Supervisor: Making a Successful Transition
Are You Utilizing People or Using Them?
Delegate to Motivate
Who Made Me Boss? Supervision Made Simple
A Quick Guide to Leadership and Supervision
Creating a Culture Where Employees Feel Safe to Share their Ideas and Input
Affirming Employees’ Efforts: The Importance of Supervisory Praise

Coaching
Staff Performance: From Marginal to Marvelous in 30 Days
Strategies for Giving Specific Verbal and Written Feedback to Those you Supervise
6 Reasons Employees are Resistant to Direction and Delegation
“You can Change Diapers, but You can’t Change People”: Tips for Helping Adults Succeed
The Influence and Power of a Positive Supervisor
Building on Success: Helping Adults to Find their Skills and Talents
30 Ways to Encourage an Adult

Teambuilding
10 “No Cost” Ways to Reward Staff and Boost Morale
Co-workers Driving You Crazy? Little Changes that make a Big Difference
The Truth about Bad Attitudes
10 Steps to a Winning Team

Recruiting Staff and Business Building
10 Unusual Places to Find New Teachers
Be the Best Show in Town: How to Recruit and Retain Staff
A Good Place to Work: Identifying and Promoting your Program’s Hidden Employee Benefits
How Parents can Help You build your Enrollment
Using your Current Resources to Market your Program

Environment
2 days and $200 to a Lobby Makeover that Says “Wow”
Classroom Clutterbusters
10 Ways to make your Center Feel more Like Home
Curb Appeal: What does the Outside of your Center Say?
The De-Clutter Diet: Proven Ways to Get Organized
Classroom Makeover on a Budget
Go Green with Roadside Treasures

Parents
10 Big Mistakes We Make with Parents
Connecting to Parents: What is a Partnership?
Creating Great Places for Families
Getting Parents to Cooperate: The Ultimate Parent Partnerships
What Today’s Parent Needs to Succeed
Preparing Staff for the Over-demanding, Questioning Parent

Seminars for Parents
Diary of a Preschool Burnout: Are you expecting too much of your child?
Take Control of Bedtime: Getting your Children to Go to Bed and Stay There
What Today’s Parent Needs to Succeed
“Help, My Child isn’t Listening” Positive Discipline that Works!
Potty Time: Is your child ready for toilet training?
How to Balance & Survive the Stress of Being a Working Parent and the Effects on Young Children
10 Tips for Parents Transitioning from Work to Home
Getting your Children to do Daily Routines without Bribing Them
"Am I A Good Role Model for My Child?" Practicing What We Preach
Setting Boundaries for Your Child
How to Give your Child an Academic Edge: The Benefits of Quality Early Childhood Education
Helping Children Become Good Readers: 36 Tips
I’m a Good Parent for the Not-So-Perfect Parent in Us All
Finding the Perfect Little Angel in Your Child
Angel Zappers: 5 Ways We Unintentionally Set our Children Up to Fail
Laying the Foundation for Academic Success in Our Children
Expecting Excellence, not Perfection from Our Children
Ready, Set, Go! How to Beat the Morning Rush
Beyond Cupcakes and Goodie Bags: Celebrating Your Child’s Birthday at School
Strategies and Consequences for Inappropriate Behavior
Tips about Separation: What to Expect from Our Children and How to Help
“I want that…and that… and that…” How to Curb the Gimmies
Dealing with Sibling Squabbles
Preparing for the Arrival of a New Baby
Dealing with Job Loss
Dealing with Divorce
Taming the Temper Tantrum
Fun and Educational Ideas for Parents with Preschoolers

A Special Note from Gigi for the Group of Staff I met with at Kangaroo Kids

What I learned... that 74 years and 2 weeks of collective experience makes for one group of very wise teachers.

What I felt... the eagerness of the staff to learn more when they are already an excellent program.

What I challenge you to do... decide what “Really Matters,” and speak to others with courage and respect.

Thank you for inviting me back,
Gigi

A Special Note from Gigi for the Staff at the Giving Nest

What I learned... macaroni and cheese is not always bright orange.
What I felt... that the teachers were more like family than coworkers.
What I challenge you to do... say one positive thing to each child every day and discover ways you can be more flexible when guiding children.

Thank you for letting me spend time with you!
Gigi