back to calendar

Workshop Detail

Date: Friday, October 30 - Sunday, November 1, 2026
Time: 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Attendees: 

Targeted to educators and administrators of 3-9 year-olds and anyone interested in human flourishing and play! 

Workshop Leaders: Dr. Yukun Zhao, Ben Mardell & Caroline Essame

Limited seats available

Registration Deadline: Monday, August 31, 2026 

Sign up now

Hong Kong International School 

Repulse Bay Campus

23 South Bay Close

Overview

The HKIS Early Childhood Conference, Flourishing Through Play, brings together early childhood educators and thought leaders to consider how play builds meaning, agency, and human capability in a complex world, enabling them to live meaningful, fulfilling lives and contribute to a flourishing society and planet. 

Through thought-provoking research, hands-on workshops, and immersive classroom experiences, participants will explore how play sparks wellbeing, nurtures belonging, strengthens agency, and deepens learning. Set within our unique Hong Kong context, the conference invites educators to design meaningful environments that reconnect children to the natural world—and to what matters most. 

Conference Design 

Friday, October 30 | Pre-Conference: Choice Pathways 

  • Engage in focused learning tracks tailored to areas of interest 
  • Experience lab-sites that showcase authentic early childhood classrooms in action 
  • Participate in interactive breakout sessions designed for deep exploration and dialogue 
  • Build connections with facilitators and peers while examining practice in context 

Saturday, October 31 | Main Conference Day: Play in Action 

  • Experience play-based learning through immersive excursions on campus and throughout Hong Kong 
  • Engage with thought-provoking provocations that spark inquiry and reflection 
  • Join breakout sessions that extend and deepen key ideas from the day 
  • Learn alongside HKIS teachers who will facilitate excursions, offering a powerful blend of research and authentic classroom practice 

Sunday, November 1 | Closing Half-Day: Reflection & Synthesis 

  • Participate in closing breakout sessions that help consolidate learning 
  • Engage in final provocations that challenge thinking and inspire next steps 
  • Leave with clarity, inspiration, and actionable ideas to bring back to your own context 

For more information, please visit the Early Childhood Play Conference page

Sign up now

#HKISProfessionalLearning

back to calendar

Add event to your calendar