Top 10 Books for Early Childhood Educators: Child, Teacher, and Business Development
6 min read
Jul 31, 2026
Staff
For early childhood educators, directors, center owners, and advocates, conferences remain one of the highest-leverage ways to stay sharp in a field that never stands still. For those looking for live and interactive professional development, the following early childhood education conferences and events may be good options. But for many events, ticket prices increase by up to hundreds of dollars per person starting September 1st.
These gatherings deliver practical strategies for enrollment and staffing challenges, fresh curriculum and classroom approaches, leadership and business tools for running sustainable programs, peer networking that often leads to lasting collaborations, and timely insight into policy and funding shifts that directly affect your work with young children and families. This list covers the remaining 2026 events from September onwards, plus select 2027 event dates already announced by organizers. Check the websites listed for each event below for more details and booking options.
Looking to cut through the noise and improve your business performance? See what Playground can do for you by booking a free demo.
September 2026
ECE Pep Rally 2026
Dates: September 4–6, 2026
Location: The Westin Buckhead Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
Attendees/Description: 300+ childcare owners, executive directors, and industry leaders.
Website: https://themcknightmastery.com/homeecepeprally
Cost: Tickets starting at $497.
Child Care Innovation Expo presented by GCCA
Date: September 12, 2026
Location: Chattahoochee Technical College, Acworth, GA
Attendees/Description: Statewide event with an Innovation Expo Hall, exhibitors, demonstrations, two featured learning sessions, networking, and related activities for the early learning industry in Georgia. Attendees include child care owners, directors, teachers, advocates, policymakers, students, business leaders, and supporters of early learning.
Website: https://www.georgiachildcare.org/events/child-care-innovation-expo-presented-by-gcca
Cost: $29 for general admission access.
2026 Business Symposium with AELL
Dates: September 25–26, 2026
Location: Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort, Florida
Attendees/Description: Event associated with the Association for Early Learning Leaders focused on business and leadership topics for early care and education programs.
Website: https://www.earlylearningleaders.org/events-pages/businesssymposium/
Cost: Non-member tickets are $649.
October 2026
Iowa AEYC Fall Institute
Dates: October 2–3, 2026
Location: Prairie Meadows, Altoona, Iowa
Attendees/description: Professional development event with keynotes and breakout sessions for early childhood professionals across Iowa.
Website: https://iowaaeyc.org/events/fall-institute/
Cost: Depends on whether you’re an Iowa AEYC member, whether you are attending for one or two days, and whether you take advantage of early bird pricing (normal pricing takes effect September 8, 2026). One-day passes for members start at $99, compared to $171 for non-members. See the rest of the pricing structure at the link above.
Child Care Success Summit
Dates: October 7–10, 2026
Location: Loews Arlington Hotel, Arlington, TX
Attendees/description: Conference focused on the business aspects of child care, including enrollment, operations, staffing, leadership, and scaling. Designed for child care center owners, preschool directors, multi-site operators, and related leadership team members.
Website: https://childcaresuccesssummit.com/
Cost: $597 through September 7th; $1,297 thereafter.
Child Care Association of Louisiana Fall Conference
Dates: October 9–10, 2026
Location: DoubleTree by Hilton, Lafayette, LA
Attendees/description: State association education conference with keynotes, breakout sessions, exhibit hall, and networking for Louisiana early childhood professionals.
Website: https://childcarelouisiana.org/events
Cost: Both days, member: $200. Both days: non-member: $350. Tickets for single-day admission are also available for $125 and $200, respectively.
Educators Assemble 2026
Dates: October 15–17, 2026
Location: New Orleans, LA
Attendees/details: Conference for early childhood educators with sessions on wellness, career development, and related topics; includes a pre-conference track for directors, owners, administrators, coaches, and system leaders.
Website: https://www.careertraininggroup.com/educators-assemble/
Cost: $125 through August 31st; $155 after August 31st.
FLAEYC Annual Conference
Dates: October 16–18, 2026 (pre-conference sessions possible October 14–15)
Location: Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, Jacksonville, FL
Attendees/description: Florida Association for the Education of Young Children annual conference with professional development sessions (2026 theme: The Power of Play).
Website: https://www.flaeyc.org/conference
Cost: Varies depending on purchase date, membership status, and number of days to be attended. Two-day tickets for members purchased before August 31st are $260; $350 for members. The prices for each go up by $30 starting September 1st, with single-day tickets also available.
November 2026
SHIFT Childcare Leaders Conference
Dates: November 1–4, 2026
Location: Opal Sands + Opal Sol, Clearwater Beach, FL
Attendees/description: Conference limited in size, focused on business content for early education operators (leadership, enrollment, staffing, financial planning, and industry trends). No vendor hall. Attendees include private early education business owners (single- and multi-site), administrative staff, and industry stakeholders.
Website: https://www.shiftchildcareleaders.com
Cost: $1,395 – currently sold out, only waitlist available.
CMA Live
Dates: November 12–15, 2026
Location: The Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria, Houston, TX
Attendees/description: Multi-day event for childcare business owners, directors, and leaders covering strategy, systems, enrollment, leadership, and operations.
Website: https://childcareevents.com
Cost: $299 through August 31st; $699 afterwards.
UPCCA
Dates: November 13–14, 2026
Location: Sheraton, Park City, UT
Attendees/description: Fall conference/retreat for Utah licensed child care center owners and operators.
Website: https://upcca.info/
Cost: $350.
2026 AELC Conference
Dates: November 17–20, 2026
Location: Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace – Disney Springs Area, Orlando, FL
Attendees/description: Conference for Early Learning Coalition (ELC) employees (theme: Under the Sea – A Deep Dive Into Early Learning). Restricted to ELC staff.
Website: https://aelcfl.org/annual-conference
Cost: Free to attend.
December 2026
NAEYC Annual Conference
Dates: December 5–8, 2026
Location: Washington, DC
Attendees/description: National Association for the Education of Young Children annual conference covering research, practice, policy, curriculum, assessment, and related topics, with an exhibit hall.Open to early childhood professionals including educators, administrators, researchers, and advocates.
Website: https://www.naeyc.org/events/future-dates
Cost: Early bird pricing for two days for members starts at $410 through September 11th, with variations depending on membership status, number of days to be attended, and date purchased.
Select 2027 ECE Conference Dates
For many annual conferences, you will have to check back on 2027 dates. But a select few have already posted some details for the upcoming year:
NAFCC Annual Conference
Dates: July 15–17, 2027
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Attendees/description: National Association for Family Child Care conference dedicated to family (home-based) child care, with professional development, workshops, and networking.
Website: https://nafcc.org (check conference section for 2027 updates)
Frog Street Splash
Dates: July 15–17, 2027
Location: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, FL
Attendees/description: Professional development conference for early childhood educators focused on curriculum, teaching strategies, and classroom resources.
Website: https://www.frogstreet.com/splash/
NAEYC Annual Conference
Dates: December 4–7, 2027
Location: Chicago, IL
Attendees/description: Same national conference format as the 2026 event.
Website: https://www.naeyc.org/events/future-dates
For events whose 2026 editions have concluded and lack announced 2027 dates, check the organizers’ websites periodically for updates. Keep in mind, you'll want to investigate whether your state will count a specific event toward your professional development hours ahead of time.
For early childhood educators, directors, center owners, and advocates, conferences remain one of the highest-leverage ways to stay sharp in a field that never stands still. For those looking for live and interactive professional development, the following early childhood education conferences and events may be good options. But for many events, ticket prices increase by up to hundreds of dollars per person starting September 1st.
These gatherings deliver practical strategies for enrollment and staffing challenges, fresh curriculum and classroom approaches, leadership and business tools for running sustainable programs, peer networking that often leads to lasting collaborations, and timely insight into policy and funding shifts that directly affect your work with young children and families. This list covers the remaining 2026 events from September onwards, plus select 2027 event dates already announced by organizers. Check the websites listed for each event below for more details and booking options.
Looking to cut through the noise and improve your business performance? See what Playground can do for you by booking a free demo.
September 2026
ECE Pep Rally 2026
Dates: September 4–6, 2026
Location: The Westin Buckhead Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
Attendees/Description: 300+ childcare owners, executive directors, and industry leaders.
Website: https://themcknightmastery.com/homeecepeprally
Cost: Tickets starting at $497.
Child Care Innovation Expo presented by GCCA
Date: September 12, 2026
Location: Chattahoochee Technical College, Acworth, GA
Attendees/Description: Statewide event with an Innovation Expo Hall, exhibitors, demonstrations, two featured learning sessions, networking, and related activities for the early learning industry in Georgia. Attendees include child care owners, directors, teachers, advocates, policymakers, students, business leaders, and supporters of early learning.
Website: https://www.georgiachildcare.org/events/child-care-innovation-expo-presented-by-gcca
Cost: $29 for general admission access.
2026 Business Symposium with AELL
Dates: September 25–26, 2026
Location: Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort, Florida
Attendees/Description: Event associated with the Association for Early Learning Leaders focused on business and leadership topics for early care and education programs.
Website: https://www.earlylearningleaders.org/events-pages/businesssymposium/
Cost: Non-member tickets are $649.
October 2026
Iowa AEYC Fall Institute
Dates: October 2–3, 2026
Location: Prairie Meadows, Altoona, Iowa
Attendees/description: Professional development event with keynotes and breakout sessions for early childhood professionals across Iowa.
Website: https://iowaaeyc.org/events/fall-institute/
Cost: Depends on whether you’re an Iowa AEYC member, whether you are attending for one or two days, and whether you take advantage of early bird pricing (normal pricing takes effect September 8, 2026). One-day passes for members start at $99, compared to $171 for non-members. See the rest of the pricing structure at the link above.
Child Care Success Summit
Dates: October 7–10, 2026
Location: Loews Arlington Hotel, Arlington, TX
Attendees/description: Conference focused on the business aspects of child care, including enrollment, operations, staffing, leadership, and scaling. Designed for child care center owners, preschool directors, multi-site operators, and related leadership team members.
Website: https://childcaresuccesssummit.com/
Cost: $597 through September 7th; $1,297 thereafter.
Child Care Association of Louisiana Fall Conference
Dates: October 9–10, 2026
Location: DoubleTree by Hilton, Lafayette, LA
Attendees/description: State association education conference with keynotes, breakout sessions, exhibit hall, and networking for Louisiana early childhood professionals.
Website: https://childcarelouisiana.org/events
Cost: Both days, member: $200. Both days: non-member: $350. Tickets for single-day admission are also available for $125 and $200, respectively.
Educators Assemble 2026
Dates: October 15–17, 2026
Location: New Orleans, LA
Attendees/details: Conference for early childhood educators with sessions on wellness, career development, and related topics; includes a pre-conference track for directors, owners, administrators, coaches, and system leaders.
Website: https://www.careertraininggroup.com/educators-assemble/
Cost: $125 through August 31st; $155 after August 31st.
FLAEYC Annual Conference
Dates: October 16–18, 2026 (pre-conference sessions possible October 14–15)
Location: Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, Jacksonville, FL
Attendees/description: Florida Association for the Education of Young Children annual conference with professional development sessions (2026 theme: The Power of Play).
Website: https://www.flaeyc.org/conference
Cost: Varies depending on purchase date, membership status, and number of days to be attended. Two-day tickets for members purchased before August 31st are $260; $350 for members. The prices for each go up by $30 starting September 1st, with single-day tickets also available.
November 2026
SHIFT Childcare Leaders Conference
Dates: November 1–4, 2026
Location: Opal Sands + Opal Sol, Clearwater Beach, FL
Attendees/description: Conference limited in size, focused on business content for early education operators (leadership, enrollment, staffing, financial planning, and industry trends). No vendor hall. Attendees include private early education business owners (single- and multi-site), administrative staff, and industry stakeholders.
Website: https://www.shiftchildcareleaders.com
Cost: $1,395 – currently sold out, only waitlist available.
CMA Live
Dates: November 12–15, 2026
Location: The Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria, Houston, TX
Attendees/description: Multi-day event for childcare business owners, directors, and leaders covering strategy, systems, enrollment, leadership, and operations.
Website: https://childcareevents.com
Cost: $299 through August 31st; $699 afterwards.
UPCCA
Dates: November 13–14, 2026
Location: Sheraton, Park City, UT
Attendees/description: Fall conference/retreat for Utah licensed child care center owners and operators.
Website: https://upcca.info/
Cost: $350.
2026 AELC Conference
Dates: November 17–20, 2026
Location: Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace – Disney Springs Area, Orlando, FL
Attendees/description: Conference for Early Learning Coalition (ELC) employees (theme: Under the Sea – A Deep Dive Into Early Learning). Restricted to ELC staff.
Website: https://aelcfl.org/annual-conference
Cost: Free to attend.
December 2026
NAEYC Annual Conference
Dates: December 5–8, 2026
Location: Washington, DC
Attendees/description: National Association for the Education of Young Children annual conference covering research, practice, policy, curriculum, assessment, and related topics, with an exhibit hall.Open to early childhood professionals including educators, administrators, researchers, and advocates.
Website: https://www.naeyc.org/events/future-dates
Cost: Early bird pricing for two days for members starts at $410 through September 11th, with variations depending on membership status, number of days to be attended, and date purchased.
Select 2027 ECE Conference Dates
For many annual conferences, you will have to check back on 2027 dates. But a select few have already posted some details for the upcoming year:
NAFCC Annual Conference
Dates: July 15–17, 2027
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Attendees/description: National Association for Family Child Care conference dedicated to family (home-based) child care, with professional development, workshops, and networking.
Website: https://nafcc.org (check conference section for 2027 updates)
Frog Street Splash
Dates: July 15–17, 2027
Location: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, FL
Attendees/description: Professional development conference for early childhood educators focused on curriculum, teaching strategies, and classroom resources.
Website: https://www.frogstreet.com/splash/
NAEYC Annual Conference
Dates: December 4–7, 2027
Location: Chicago, IL
Attendees/description: Same national conference format as the 2026 event.
Website: https://www.naeyc.org/events/future-dates
For events whose 2026 editions have concluded and lack announced 2027 dates, check the organizers’ websites periodically for updates. Keep in mind, you'll want to investigate whether your state will count a specific event toward your professional development hours ahead of time.
Jaclyn DeJohn, CFP®
Director of Content
Jaclyn is a data journalist and CFP™ who evaluates trends in the childcare industry and wider economy. She has previously worked for publications including CNET, SmartAsset, Bizfluent, AZCentral and Chron, and as a research consultant for NAPCO Media. Her insights are often cited by publications including Bloomberg, CNBC, Business Insider, Fox News, USA Today, The Hill and more. She has a bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics from The College of New Jersey.
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The Weston School
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