Workshop facilitator Dr Betsy Diamant-Cohen is an award-winning children’s librarian and will be travelling from the USA to inspire librarians and early childhood and primary teachers to create high-quality early literacy programmes for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

This hands-on workshop looks seriously at play, "the work of childhood," by introducing research about play and highlighting the important roles of parents, caregivers, librarians, and early childhood and primary teachers. You will increase your understanding of play in the context of Every Child Ready to Read and Mind in the Making and have the opportunity to examine play, toys, and technology.

You will participate in playful activities that ignite imagination and build skills and discuss with other participants ways to add play into circle times. This workshop will showcase new ways to use developmental tips and family programming to foster positive play between parents and children.

Hands-on activities and video will provide a playful, meaningful day with practical suggestions that can be put immediately into action to help children build literacy, STEM, social and emotional skills.

• Register for the workshop: Play your Way to Literacy

Registration cost includes morning and afternoon teas, a light lunch, and workshop materials. A discount rate of $150 is available for VUW students using the code: ECHSTU

About Dr Betsy Diamant-Cohen

Dr Betsy Diamant-Cohen is the creator of the Mother Goose on the Loose early literacy programme, and is known throughout the USA for her charismatic and inspiring presentations.

Based on her experiences working as a children’s librarian in public libraries and children’s museums for more than 25 years, she believes that the best way to learn is through play. She is recognised as a prolific author, inspiring mentor and presenter, knowledgeable consultant and teacher.

Betsy has worked with hundreds of librarians and teachers to help them to create programmes that reflect their interests and personalities, strengthen connections between parents and their children, allow them to be facilitators rather than performers and educates about child development and best practices for literacy.

In 2013, Betsy was the recipient of an award from a division of the American Library Association, the ASCLA’s Leadership and Professional Achievement Award which stated that Mother Goose on the Loose "has revolutionized the way story times are presented to young children at libraries and has empowered librarians to work confidently with this young population of readers".

In 2018 she was selected as the winner of the 2018 Alexandre Vattermare Award for Creativity in Libraries, and is a regular presenter at the American Library Association Conferences.