Schedule a Call

Speaking, Training, and Conferences

Selecting a speaker for an event is a big deal...

... Selecting a speaker for an event that affects children and families can change lives.

Hi! I'm Amanda.

I help early childhood program directors engage, inspire, and prepare their teams with accessible, research-based professional development so that they can better serve the children and families who rely on them.


I love working with people who care as much as I do about children, education, and healthy whole-child development.


If you’re looking for a dynamic training, conference, or speaking engagement, I would love to work with you!

“Amanda Morgan is a high-quality, dynamic presenter in the early childhood education space. Her dedication to excellence is evident in her content, in her presentation style, in her preparedness, and in her flexibility in the moment. She has a passion for ensuring children learn in appropriate environments with people who know how to engage them. She is knowledgeable, very relatable and connects with audiences of all sizes (from 25 - 900+ in my experience). She runs her business in a professional manner and is an absolute delight to work with from start to finish.”

Monica Healer, Executive Director (Early Childhood Christian Network)

There are many ways I can work with your group:

Online Resources

Transform your team with immediate access to online professional development resources, starting with the Playful Learning Foundations course, inside the Not Just Cute Early Childhood Foundations Library. Jumpstart important conversations in your education community with the Why We Play letters.

Early Childhood Team Workshops

Dive into a professional development workshop designed for your team. These sessions provide research-based training on the best practices and strategies using dynamic, collaborative activities that foster teamwork and enhance learning environments. Align your team’s vision with inspiration and professional growth.

Conferences, Keynotes, and Breakouts

Energize your event with a dynamic, experienced keynote and breakout session presenter. Engage your audience with meaningful insights into child development science and research, brought to life through visuals and compelling stories. Spark you audience’s confidence, deepen their understanding, and enrich their practice.

From 1-2 hour presentations, to full-day training workshops, or an observation/consultation/training package, I would love to tailor an event to meet your needs.

handshake-heart

Whether speaking to an auditorium of 1000 or a room of 12, I feel strongly about making it personal, meaningful, and creating hands-on opportunities for participants to learn.

When booking an event, I will talk with you personally to discuss how to get the most out of your presentation and ensure it meets your objectives.

“Working with Amanda was everything I had hoped for. I knew the importance of play and was aware of some of the research but Amanda's depth of knowledge blows me away each time I hear her speak. Working with her positive, sunny attitude was so fun and refreshing!”

Tammie Benham, Youth Services Consultant (Southeast Kansas Library System)

“It was a pleasure working with Amanda from beginning to end. She is an absolute stand out in the early childhood field!”

Monica Cheslak, Director of Programs and Outreach (Childcare Resources of Indian River)

“After almost 20 years in the field, it is rare that I encounter a training I can't also present. Even my teacher who has been with us for 26 years walked away feeling like he had learned something new and was better equipped to talk to parents about what we do. That NEVER happens. It was so refreshing to feel like our time was well spent.”

Mindy Samples, Director of Early Education Center (FPC, Fort Worth)

“Amanda is incredible at what she does and what she has to offer the field of ECE. I cannot say enough how much I have enjoyed my interactions with her. From preparation to the delivery of content, Amanda is professional, kind, and knowledgeable about her content and this field. I would recommend working with her to anyone!”

Danielle Hunter, Director of Education (The Nest Schools)

Just a Few of the Amazing Groups I’ve Partnered With…

Presentations in my repertoire include:

Not Just Cute: Teaching with Intention

It’s not just what you teach or how you teach, but it’s also knowing why you teach it. I’ll talk about how to go from a Pinterest-fueled information overload to a laser-focused pattern of intentional teaching. You’ll learn why intentional teaching is more effective, more responsive, and more enjoyable!


Developmentally Appropriate Practice and Why We Don't Push Kids Down the Stairs

Based on my popular series on Developmentally Appropriate Practice that began with a post with the same title. This covers what the term DAP means and why it’s important. We’d take a look at why society is in such a rush, and why kids benefit from protected childhoods. Particularly useful for families and teachers who are feeling pressure to meet more academic benchmarks with young children.


Tools for Better Behavior: Positive Guidance in the Classroom / Parenting with Positive Guidance: The Basics

Real discipline isn’t about gimmicks or short-term ploys.  It’s about building relationships and internal controls, and having tools that work.  I’ve worked extensively with both teacher groups and parent groups on the topic of positive guidance.  I also have an ecourse and two ebooks (here and here) on the topic of positive guidance, which we can incorporate as part of your event’s resources.  This can be a one night event or an on-going, in-depth training.


Powerful Play

Einstein once said that, “Play is the highest form of research”.  This presentation will show you why that’s true!  We’ll talk about how to encourage powerful play by preparing the environment, engaging in meaningful interactions, and recognizing developmental processes.  This is awesome as a full day workshop!  A recommended topic for both parents and teachers!


Joyful Literacy

Children learn best from meaningful literacy experiences that align with current research. We’ll take a look at the basic principles behind emergent literacy and how to encourage it in a playful, joyful way to build a solid foundation for real literacy. Perfect for both teachers and parents of preschoolers!


Science in the Early Childhood Classroom

Have you ever felt like it’s hard to get real science experiences into your classroom? I’ll show you how science is at the heart of everything that goes on in a preschool or early childhood classroom and how you can easily weave it into every part of your day.


The Key Ingredient: Intentional Interactions

Research consistently tells us that the key factor separating high-quality early education from the rest is the type of interactions in the classroom. With stories, data, and object lessons, we’ll discuss why this is true and outline the simple tools for unlocking powerful interactions in the early childhood classroom. The most valuable component in any classroom is its people. That’s because human development happens within the context of human relationships. This presentation gives an important foundation for all other elements to build on.


The Math Bag: Beyond Counting!

Learn how to support number sense in your classroom in a meaningful, hands-on way. This training is hands-on, sharing one of my favorite year-long activities that will take your students beyond rote counting and recitation of facts to incorporating a real awareness of numbers and foundational math concepts.


Observation/Consultation/

Presentation

This is a very targeted professional development program where I spend the first day (or first half of the day) in the classrooms observing and interacting, followed by individual consultations to discuss what went on, as well as additional teacher concerns. Cap it off with a group presentation that incorporates topics and concerns most relevant to your own group.

I’m also happy to create a unique presentation to meet the special needs of your group!

Let’s talk! Book a free consultation call.

I'm Amanda Morgan. Here's what I'm about...

In early education, there is too much distance between what we know and what we do. I bridge the gaps that exist between academia, decision-makers, educators, and parents so that together, we can improve the quality of early education while also respecting and protecting the childhood experience.

Get Our Newsletter & Developmental Guide