🎟️ This pre-conference session requires an additional fee and pre-registration.

Join us for an enchanting introduction to Cabinet of Wonder, a gift of music and poetry designed to spark joy and curiosity in young children. Originally developed by singer/songwriter Natalie Merchant for Head Start students in Troy, New York, this free online resource offers families a treasure trove of engaging activities that blend nursery rhymes, symphonic music, dancing, and storytelling.

In this hands-on session, Head Start parents will explore how to bring the magic of Cabinet of Wonder into their homes. Through interactive activities and shared discussion, you’ll learn practical ways to use music and movement to encourage your child’s natural love of learning and discovery.

What You’ll Learn:

• Discover engaging ways to introduce music, poetry, and cultural traditions to children at home using free Cabinet of Wonder resources
• Implement simple techniques that nurture children’s natural curiosity and encourage questioning through everyday activities and conversations
• Connect Cabinet of Wonder activities (such as circle games, dancing, and nursery rhymes) to family routines and playtime to enhance learning through the arts
• Create a home learning space that celebrates wonder and exploration using printable materials and multisensory experiences that support children’s development

Leave with free printable posters, fun and easy activities, and the confidence to create meaningful learning moments with your child every day. No musical experience required—just bring your curiosity and willingness to play!

Presenters: Natalie Merchant, Rachel Hutchison

🎟️ This pre-conference session requires an additional fee and pre-registration.

Date: Monday, December 8, 2025

This interactive pre-conference will introduce the many responsibilities of a family services staff member, as well as the tools that are needed to successfully execute those responsibilities. The activities in this session can serve as the foundation for developing the Family Service Certification portfolio.

Topics include:

• Family Service Advocates and the PFCE Framework
• Head Start Program Performance Standards and Family Services
• How Family Advocates Engage With Families
• Helping Families Reach Their Goals
• Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance
• Health and Family Services
• Family Services: Business as Usual
• Avoiding Burnout

Presenter: Dr. Kisha McCray

🎟️ This pre-conference session requires an additional fee and pre-registration.

Date: Monday, December 8, 2025

This session moves beyond traditional engagement to explore a data-driven approach to fatherhood initiatives. We’ll dive into the Head Start Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (PFCE) Framework to discover how to not only involve fathers but also leverage their participation and feedback as valuable data. This workshop provides practical, actionable strategies for using this data to inform program planning, demonstrate impact, and ultimately drive positive and measurable outcomes for children and families. This session is ideal for Head Start directors, family service staff, and anyone committed to strengthening family engagement.

Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Identify the critical link between systematic father engagement, data collection, and achieving positive child outcomes within the Head Start PFCE Framework.
• Develop practical strategies for collecting meaningful qualitative and quantitative data directly from and about fathers to assess engagement and family needs.
• Analyze father engagement data to identify trends, strengths, and areas for program improvement in alignment with PFCE program goals.
• Create an action plan to integrate data-driven father engagement practices into their program’s existing PFCE strategies to enhance school readiness.

Presenter: J. Michael Hall, M.Ed., President and Founder, Strong Fathers-Strong Families, LLC

🎟️ This is a pre-registered event with an additional fee. 

Hosted by NHSA’s Board Parent Members, the dinner will offer a unique theme and a memorable evening. Make sure to join us Wednesday, December 10, from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. for this exciting event to celebrate the parents and policy council members in your program with food, drink, celebration, and a special pinning ceremony. Tickets are only available for conference attendees. Attendees must be seated by 6:15 p.m. to receive their plated dinners.

🎟️ This is a pre-registered event with an additional fee. 

This spectacular, plated lunch event will recognize amazing Head Start alumni and their impact on our national community.

Attendees must be seated by 12:30 p.m. to receive their plated lunches.

The conference will be held in Orlando, Florida, from December 8 – 11, 2025. Participants will receive a link to book hotel rooms at a special discounted rate after registering. Details will be shared in your confirmation email. When making your travel plans, make sure to arrive Monday afternoon, December 8, in time for the Welcome Reception at 5:00 p.m. and depart Thursday afternoon, December 11 after our closing plenary, which ends at 12:00 p.m.

Registration will open soon. Discounted rates are for NHSA members only. If you are unsure of your membership status, please contact NHSA Membership department at membership@nhsa.org before registering.

Orlando International Airport (MCO)

No shuttles will be provided.

You will receive a link to the hotel registration page with the discounted rate in your confirmation email after registering for the conference.

Yes. Email events@nhsa.org to book your device in advance.

If your products and services support the healthy development of young children or help Head Start and Early Head Start programs operate more efficiently and effectively, take a look at the many partnership opportunities we offer.

All requests for conference cancellations must be submitted in writing prior to the start of the conference. Cancellation notifications must be emailed to cancellation@nhsa.org. Please include the name of the registrant and the name of the conference. Each canceled registration will be assessed a $75 cancellation fee.

For more information about NHSA’s Cancellation and Refund Policy, visit: nhsa.org/conferences/cancellation-policy

By registering for an NHSA event, all registrants understand and agree that the National Head Start Association (“NHSA”) and its employees and agents have the right and permission to copyright and/or use, reuse and/or publish, and republish photographic pictures or portraits of them, recorded images of them, including recordings of their voice, in any medium, including motion picture and video images and reproductions thereof in color or black and white, made through any media by or on behalf of NHSA, for any purpose whatsoever, including the use of any printed matter in conjunction therewith. Registrants further waive any right to inspect or approve the finished photograph, motion picture, videotape, advertising copy, or printed matter that may be used in conjunction therewith or to the eventual use that it might be applied.

Registrants further release, discharge, and agree to save harmless NHSA, its employees and agents, and any firm publishing and/or distributing the finished product, in whole or in part, from and against any liability as a result of any distortion, blurring, or alteration, optical illusion, or use in composite form, either intentionally or otherwise, that may occur or be produced in the taking, recording, processing, editing, or reproduction of the finished product, its publication or distribution of the same, even should the same subject them, the designated property, to ridicule, scandal, reproach, scorn, or indignity.

Registrants further warrant that they are over eighteen years of age, or if they are not, their parent or guardian consents to their agreement, upon registration, to this release.

If you have any questions, please email: marcomm@nhsa.org