Empowering Educators, Parents, and Communities Through Trainings and Professional Development
Keynote Presentations
Dr. Aimee Ketchum delivers dynamic keynotes that blend research, real-world experience, and inspiring stories to support and motivate early childhood educators, therapists and anyone who loves to learn and cultivate new skills. Her presentations equip audiences with practical strategies and renewed motivation to create environments where children, families, and communities thrive.
Keynote Topics:
From Burnout to Balance: Practical Strategies for Thriving in Work and Life
This keynote offers evidence-based tools to recognize early signs of burnout, set healthy boundaries, and restore energy and purpose. Drawing on real-world stories and practical strategies, it empowers professionals in any field to cultivate resilience, well-being, and sustainable success.
The Power of Play: Unlocking Creativity, Collaboration, and Innovation at Work
This keynote highlights how principles of play such as curiosity, experimentation, and connection fuel problem-solving and innovation in any workplace. Audiences discover how playful mindsets reduce stress, build stronger teams, and spark fresh ideas that drive organizational growth.
Dr. Aimee Ketchum has delivered keynote addresses for graduations and national organizations, including Head Start, inspiring audiences with her expertise and energy. She welcomes custom subject requests and can tailor presentations to meet the unique needs of your event
Dr. Aimee Ketchum offers trainings, presentations and workshops for everyone!
For Parents:
Parenting is hard! Parents are often the missing link when it comes to early childhood education, but parents are children’s first teachers! It is more important than ever that parents are educated and supported. Dr. Ketchum offers engaging workshops that bring the data to life an empower and support parents from pregnancy through adolescence!
Trainings:
Integrating STEM into Early Learning: Building Curiosity in Babies and Toddlers
Explores simple, practical ways to weave early STEM concepts into everyday routines with babies and toddlers. Participants will learn how early play, exploration, and problem-solving spark curiosity and lay the foundation for future learning.
Structured Literacy from the Start: Foundations for Strong Readers
This training introduces the principles of structured literacy and shows how early, intentional instruction builds a strong foundation for reading success. Participants will learn practical strategies to support language, phonological awareness, and comprehension from the very start.
Baby Massage and the Power of Touch
This training highlights the science and practice of infant massage, demonstrating how intentional touch supports bonding, regulation, and healthy development. Participants will learn simple, evidence-based techniques to empower parents and caregivers in nurturing their babies through touch.
Building Kindergarten Readiness, Beginning at Birth
This training explores how the foundations of kindergarten readiness begin long before preschool. Participants will discover simple, everyday strategies to foster the social, emotional, and cognitive skills that prepare children for lifelong learning; starting from birth.
Supporting Your Child Through the Challenges of Substance Exposure
This workshop guides parents and caregivers in understanding how substance exposure can affect their baby or young child’s development. Families will gain practical strategies, resources, and hope to support their child’s growth and build strong, nurturing relationships.
Early Signs and Support for Children with Autism
This training helps parents recognize the early signs of autism and understand the importance of early support. Families will gain practical strategies and resources to nurture their child’s strengths and access the help they need.
For Childcare, Teachers and Administrators:
With her certification in Early Education Leadership from Harvard and practical experience, Dr. Aimee Ketchum turns the latest research in early into practical strategies educators can use right away in the classroom. Sessions inspire, engage, and empower school teams to make lasting change for students. **CEUs and Act 48 hours available.
Trainings:
Ages and Stages Made Simple: Using the ASQ to Support Children and Partner with Families
This training demystifies the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), giving educators the tools to confidently track developmental milestones. Participants will learn how to use the ASQ to support children’s growth and partner effectively with families in early intervention and goal-setting.
Everyday Ethics in Early Childhood Education: Doing What’s Right for Young Children.
This training unpacks the everyday ethical dilemmas early childhood professionals face and offers practical guidance for navigating them with confidence. Participants will explore real-world scenarios and learn how to make decisions that prioritize the well-being and rights of young children.
The 6 C’s of Early Child Development: Essential Skills Every Child Needs to Thrive
This training introduces the 6 Cs of early childhood development—collaboration, communication, content, critical thinking, creativity, and confidence. Participants will discover how to nurture these essential skills through play, relationships, and everyday learning experiences.
Planting Seeds of Equity: Nurturing Racial Identity in Early Childhood
This training explores how young children begin to form a sense of racial identity and how educators can foster equity from the earliest years. Participants will learn developmentally appropriate strategies to create inclusive environments that honor every child’s identity and nurture respect for diversity.
Integrating STEM into Early Learning Curriculum
This training helps teachers weave STEM concepts into everyday classroom activities in developmentally appropriate ways. Participants will learn hands-on strategies to spark curiosity, build problem-solving skills, and create engaging learning experiences for young children.
Preventing Burnout: Building Resilience and Practicing Self-Care
This training helps professionals recognize the early signs of burnout and provides practical, evidence-based strategies for prevention. Participants will learn self-care techniques, boundary-setting skills, and resilience practices that support both personal well-being and long-term professional success.
Early Childhood and Substance Use: How to Support Children and Families
This training helps educators recognize the developmental and behavioral impacts of substance exposure on young children. Participants will learn trauma-informed strategies to create safe, nurturing classrooms and to collaborate effectively with families and support systems.
Caring for the Child with Autism
This training equips educators with the knowledge to recognize early signs of autism in young children and respond with appropriate classroom supports. Participants will learn practical strategies to foster inclusion, strengthen communication with families, and create learning environments where every child can thrive.
Additional trainings and workshops available upon request. Please email aimee@STEMStartsnow.com with special requests
For Therapists and Other Professionals:
With almost three decades experience in early childhood, Dr. Aimee Ketchum’s trainings translate the latest evidence in child development into real-world interventions that can be used immediately. Each workshop empowers practitioners to sharpen their clinical skills, reduce burnout, and deliver high-quality, family-centered care.
Trainings:
The Development of Fine Motor Skills from Newborn to Kindergarten
This training traces the development of fine motor skills from infancy through kindergarten, highlighting key milestones and red flags. Participants will gain practical strategies to support children’s hand skills, coordination, and school readiness through play and everyday activities.
Guide to Play-Based, Developmentally Appropriate Activities
This training equips professionals working with families with tools to design and adapt interactive activities that align with developmental stages. Participants will explore play-based strategies that foster skill-building, engagement, and meaningful progress across settings.
Planting Seeds of Equity: Nurturing Racial Identity in Early Childhood
This training explores how young children begin to form a sense of racial identity and how educators can foster equity from the earliest years. Participants will learn developmentally appropriate strategies to create inclusive environments that honor every child’s identity and nurture respect for diversity.
Teaching and Supervising the Gen Z Student: Strategies for Success for Everyone
This training explores the unique strengths, challenges, and learning styles of Generation Z students. Participants will gain strategies to foster engagement, build strong relationships, and create supportive environments that set both students and supervisors up for success.
Pediatric Upper Extremity Therapy: Developmentally Appropriate Approaches for Common Conditions
This training equips therapists with practical, evidence-based strategies for treating common pediatric upper extremity conditions. Participants will learn developmentally appropriate interventions that support function, promote participation, and enhance outcomes in everyday activities
Preventing Burnout: Building Resilience and Practicing Self-Care
This training helps professionals recognize the early signs of burnout and provides practical, evidence-based strategies for prevention. Participants will learn self-care techniques, boundary-setting skills, and resilience practices that support both personal well-being and long-term professional success.
Intervening Early: Therapeutic Strategies for Children Impacted by Substance Use
This training equips therapists and nurses with the knowledge to assess and address the unique developmental challenges faced by children impacted by substance use. Participants will explore evidence-based interventions, family-centered approaches, and strategies for interdisciplinary collaboration to promote resilience and healthy development.
Supporting Families Through Early Autism Identification and Intervention
This training provides therapists and allied professionals with tools to identify early signs of autism and implement evidence-based supports. Participants will learn strategies for guiding families, collaborating across disciplines, and promoting developmental progress in natural environments.