The Growing Brain Series: From Birth to 5 Years Old

The greatest rate of brain growth and development occurs during the first few years of life. This rapid development coincides with the time when a child is forming critical connections with the world around them. Because the brain is developing so quickly during these early years, experiences have a powerful influence on how the brain grows and functions.

Zero to Three’s The Growing Brain curriculum is designed to educate early childhood professionals about the critical stages of brain development from birth to five years of age. It explores brain structure, the connections within the brain, and the factors and experiences—particularly stress—that can negatively affect healthy brain development.

In this series, you can choose to explore the following topics with your certified Zero to Three Trainer:

  • Brain Basics
  • Factors Affecting Brain Growth and Development
  • Communication and Language Development
  • Cognitive and Executive Function
  • Social-Emotional Development
  • Understanding Behaviour
  • Everyday Play

Workshop Overview: 

In the Social-Emotional session, we will explore what social development is and how social-emotional development unfolds during the first five years of life.  Additionally, we will explore how relationships and attachment shape social-emotional development, the effects of stress on this development, and the process through which empathy emerges.

Key Objective:

By the end of this session, participants will:

  • Identify areas of the brain involved in social interactions and emotional reactions
  • Understand the role of relationships and attachment in social-emotional development
  • Understand the effects of stress on social-emotional development
  • Understand the development of empathy

Prerequisite: 

  • There are no prerequisites for this training. You may register for any session of the Series you find useful.

Dates and Times: 

  • Date: 
    • March 24, 2026
  • Time: 
    • 9:00 AM-12:00 PM (MST)
  • Registration Deadline:
    • March 20, 2026
    • Advance registration is required

Location:

  • Virtual via Zoom

Requirements for Participation:

  • For this interactive training, each attendee needs a computer with a camera, microphone, and stable internet connection
  • Participants will receive a certificate upon completion of the session

Cost:

  • AHVNA Members: $20
  • Non Members: $25

​*The cost of this opportunity is NOT an FRN funded training.

For more information or to contact AHVNA, follow this link: [Contact us]

Cancellation Policy: 

Registration costs are non-refundable.

We encourage you to send a substitute if you are unable to attend the workshop, as there is a NO SHOW charge for all absent registrants. Cancellations need to be made ONE WEEK prior to the scheduled workshop date.

Should a workshop not reach its minimum registration requirement, it will be cancelled approximately ONE WEEK prior to the workshop commencement date. Registrants will be informed by email or telephone, and registration costs will be refunded.

Key words: early brain development, birth to five years, brain growth, neural connections, brain plasticity, early experiences, caregiving influence, brain structure, brain connectivity, stress and brain development, healthy brain development, early childhood professionals, infant development, toddler development, communication development, language development, cognitive development, executive function, social-emotional development, behaviour understanding, play-based learning, everyday play, caregiver support, child development foundations

The Growing Brain Series: Social - Emotional Development -032426

Register Now

  • Tuesday Mar 24 2026, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Virtual
    Via Zoom
    Link will be sent via email 1 working day before training, Alberta
    Canada