Baby Gator hosts conference for parents of young children

April 18, 2012

April 24, 2012 UPDATE: THE CONFERENCE HAS BEEN CANCELED.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida’s Baby Gator Child Development and Research Center will host the third annual Guiding and Teaching Our Remarkable, or G.A.T.O.R., Children Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 28 at the Harn Museum of Art.

The conference is open to all parents and early childhood providers in the community for a nominal fee. It’s being offered in partnership with the Harn and the Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies.

The conference sessions will provide answers to the questions parents of young children frequently ask: Do you want to know when to take your toddler to the dentist? Are you curious about the developmental milestones that your baby should be reaching? Are you concerned about the effect of food additives on your child’s health?

Parents will be able to choose from 20 one-hour sessions across the day, said Pamela Pallas, director of Baby Gator.

Other presenters will discuss stress in early childhood, how to use American Sign Language to communicate with young children, solutions to challenging behaviors and reading with your child.

Parents can also attend a session at the adjacent Florida Museum of Natural History to learn how they can best utilize the Discovery Room with their children.

“There is something for everyone,” Pallas said.

Parents can learn more about the conference and print a registration form at www.babygator.ufl.edu. Registration forms and a $20 early registration fee must be mailed or delivered to one of the Baby Gator Centers or the Harn Museum. The early registration fee includes a full lunch. Participants can also register at the door for $25; this fee does not include lunch.

For more information, contact Pallas at 352-273-2264, ppallas@ufl.edu.