Educator Online Professional Development 2026 - Use your SRF or Kindy Uplift Online Coaching Funding
6-Month Online Professional Development for Early Childhood Educators
Transforming understanding of children's development and play behaviours
Do These Sound Familiar?
- "I have children who literally cannot sit still for 2 minutes"
- "They're dumping, throwing, and destroying everything"
- "Some children just wander around - they don't know how to play"
- "The whole room's energy feels chaotic and I'm exhausted"
- "Behaviour strategies that used to work just don't anymore"
- "I'm seeing more sensory-seeking and regulation issues than ever"
The 6-Month Program
Join in our engaging online PD sessions with Robyn Papworth on the topics that matter most in 2026.
Reflexes & Core Strength: Why Children Can't Sit Still
- Identifying unintegrated reflexes (ATNR, Moro, STNR) in your room
- The core strength crisis: What's missing in modern childhood
- Why "sit still and focus" is physically impossible for some children
- 5-minute reflex integration activities for everyday routines
- Building core strength through play (not exercises!)
- What to look for and how to support without diagnosing
The Screen Time Generation: Vestibular & Proprioception Seeking
- Why today's children crave spinning, crashing, and heavy work
- Understanding vestibular (movement) and proprioceptive (body awareness) systems
- The sensory diet children are missing due to screen time
- "Invisible dosing" - strategic sensory input throughout your day
- Activities that satisfy these powerful needs
- Talking to families about screen time and movement
"They Keep Dumping Everything!" - Understanding Play Schemas
- The 8 play schemas: Transporting, trajectory, rotation, enveloping, and more
- Why children dump, throw, climb, and repeat the same actions
- Brain development happening in "destructive" play
- Creating schema-rich environments that reduce behaviour issues
- Less time managing mess, more time seeing the learning
- Supporting schemas indoors and outdoors
The Vagus Nerve: Calming Children, Families & Yourself
- Understanding the vagus nerve - your body's calm button
- Why your regulation directly affects children's behaviour
- Co-regulation strategies that actually work
- Vagus nerve activities for children (disguised as play!)
- Supporting families to understand regulation at home
- Preventing educator burnout through vagal tone
Children Who Don't Know How to Play
- Why some children wander, disrupt, or disengage
- The lost art of play in the digital age
- Scaffolding play skills without taking over
- From parallel play to collaborative play
- Building play stamina and imagination
- When to step in and when to step back
Building Resilience & Theory of Mind Through Play
- What is theory of mind and why does it matter?
- The connection between understanding others and resilience
- Why children need to lose at games (and fail safely)
- Play activities that build perspective-taking
- Developing empathy through intentional play
- Growth mindset language that actually works
- Supporting families to embrace healthy struggle
Why This Program is Different
Focused & Deep
Six comprehensive topics instead of surface-level coverage. Time to implement between sessions.
Brain Science Made Simple
Understanding the "why" behind behaviours without overwhelming jargon.
Ready Tomorrow
Every session includes strategies you can use the next day in your room.
Whole Team Learning
Up to 15 educators means shared language and consistent approaches.
Real Constraints
Designed for real rooms with limited time, space, and resources.
Beyond Behaviour Charts
Address root causes, not symptoms. Sustainable, respectful strategies.
What You Receive Each Month
Who Should Join?
- Early childhood teachers and educators working with 3-5 year olds
- Room leaders wanting practical strategies for complex behaviours
- Services noticing more sensory-seeking and regulation challenges
- Educators feeling overwhelmed by children who can't focus or engage
- Teams wanting to move beyond traditional behaviour management
- Anyone ready to understand what's really happening with today's children
Investment in Your Team
Six months of transformative professional development
Early Bird
Until December 31, 2025
- Up to 15 educators
- 6 monthly sessions
- All recordings & resources
- Save $600!
Standard Rate
After December 31, 2025
- Up to 15 educators
- 6 monthly sessions
- All recordings & resources
- Payment plans available
Add-Ons Available:
Additional educators beyond 15: $279 per person
Extended recording access (12 months): $290
About Your Facilitator: Robyn Papworth
Robyn is a Masters-qualified Developmental Educator with over 10 years experience supporting early childhood educators and children with complex needs. Her approach combines evidence-based neuroscience with practical, realistic strategies that work in real preschool rooms.
Robyn's passion is helping educators understand the "why" behind children's behaviours so they can respond with confidence rather than frustration. She believes that when we understand what's really happening in children's brains and bodies, behaviour support becomes natural rather than forced.
Common Questions
What if I can't attend a live session?
All sessions are recorded and available within 24 hours. You'll also receive all resources and can submit questions via the community platform.
Can we substitute team members throughout the program?
Yes! Your registration covers up to 15 educators, and you can change who attends each session based on your team's needs.
Is this suitable for educators with no prior knowledge of reflexes or sensory processing?
Absolutely! Everything is explained in plain language with no jargon. You don't need any prior knowledge - just curiosity and a willingness to try new approaches.
Will this work for family day care educators?
Yes! While the program is designed for centre-based educators, all strategies are adaptable for family day care settings. The principles are the same regardless of your setting.
Can we get professional development certificates?
Yes! You'll receive a certificate for 9 hours of professional development (1.5 hours per session x 6 sessions).
What if we need to cancel our registration?
Full refunds available if cancelled 7+ days before the first session. After the program begins, you'll have access to all recordings and resources for the remainder of the program.
Ready to Understand What's Really Happening?
Join educators across Australia who are moving beyond behaviour charts to address the real needs of today's children.
Limited spaces available. Early bird pricing ends December 31, 2025.
Register Your Team NowQuestions? Email robyn@playmoveimprove.com.au