What a Week at NAFCC!
It’s hard to believe this conference week is almost over!
It all started Wednesday morning with a delayed flight out of Little Rock. After a few extra hours of waiting, I finally landed in Chicago around 5:00 p.m. There wasn’t much time to waste—I checked into the hotel, headed straight to the exhibit hall, and spent the evening setting up the Back Porch Play Co. booth. Seeing everything come together made all the travel stress worth it!
Thursday was a whirlwind from the moment the exhibit hall opened. I spent the morning visiting with early childhood educators from across the United States, sharing ideas, demonstrating products, and hearing so many inspiring stories from classrooms just like mine.
That afternoon, I had the privilege of presenting, and it was everything I hoped it would be. We had a full house, enthusiastic participants, lots of laughter, and meaningful conversations about helping children build communication skills through everyday routines. Thank you to everyone who attended—you made it such a memorable experience!
After the conference, we explored a little of Chicago and had dinner at Fat Rosie’s. The food was fantastic, but the churros? Absolutely worth the hype!
Friday started the way every good day should—with coffee! Then it was back to the booth for another morning of meeting educators, answering questions, and connecting with providers from all over the country. I finally slipped away that afternoon to attend a conference session myself. It was refreshing to be the learner for a little while and gather new ideas to bring back home.
Friday evening ended with the Toast to Quality Reception, celebrating nationally accredited family child care providers. It was a wonderful evening filled with great food, music, and recognition of the incredible commitment these providers make to children and families every day. As a nationally accredited provider myself, it was especially meaningful to celebrate alongside so many dedicated professionals. And currently enjoying Starbucks vanilla latte at 10 pm and planning for tomorrow.🫣☕️
Tomorrow is the final day! I’ll be back at the booth bright and early at 7:00 a.m. for one last morning in the exhibit hall before wrapping up the conference with something I’ve always wanted to do—an afternoon at a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field!
This week has been full of encouragement, inspiration, and new friendships. I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who stopped by the booth, attended my presentation, or simply took a moment to visit. My first NAFCC exhibit hall experience has exceeded every expectation, and I can’t wait to bring all of this excitement, learning, and inspiration back home to my classroom.
And can’t forget my favorite traveling buddy-Chris! We first became friends while working through the National Accreditation process together, and we’ve been making the trip to the NAFCC Conference ever since. From booth setup and conference sessions to exploring new cities and sharing lots of laughs along the way, I’m so grateful for the friendship, encouragement, and memories we’ve made together. Here’s to many more conference adventures!
