Child Day Conference 2026
Welcome to ARCQE’s 17th Annual Child Day Conference!
Learning Begins at Birth
Honouring Every Child’s Right to Education From the Early Years Forward
Join ARCQE for three days of virtual learning, reflection, conversation, and connection as we come together to celebrate Child Day and explore what it means to honour every child’s right to education from the very beginning.
This year’s conference is grounded in UNCRC Articles 28 & 29 — the Right to Education and the Aims of Education, inviting us to consider education not simply as preparation for the future, but as a right that belongs to every child from birth.
Through keynote presentations, breakout sessions, panel conversations, and opportunities for reflection, we will explore how children’s rights intersect with early learning, care, education, policy, participation, citizenship, relationships, and community.
Whether you are an Early Childhood Educator, leader, advocate, researcher, student, or someone committed to the rights of children, we invite you to join this important conversation.
Three Days. Three Perspectives. One Shared Commitment.
Each day of the conference offers a unique focus while connecting back to our overarching theme of “Learning Begins at Birth.”
Day 1 — November 19
Early Learning as a Continuum of Education — Spaces Between that Matter Most
Our opening day invites us to think beyond traditional boundaries between care and education.
Together, we will explore the connections between early learning, families, communities, schools, and the experiences that shape children’s learning from the earliest years. We will consider the spaces “in between” and how relationships, environments, play, transitions, and everyday experiences contribute to children’s learning and development.
Day 2 — November 20
Care Is a Right — Challenging the Policies That Leave Children Behind
What happens when systems and policies create barriers to realizing children’s rights?
Day 2 turns our attention toward policy, systems, advocacy, and access, examining the ways decisions at a broader level influence children’s and families’ experiences of care and education.
Together, we will learn about these processes, share in discussions and work together to consider what it means to advocate for policies and systems that recognize care and education as fundamental rights.
Day 3 — November 21
Mighty Learners, Mighty Citizens — How Rights of Children are Shaped, Shared, and Sustained
Our final day celebrates children as capable learners and citizens today.
We will explore children’s voice, agency, identity, participation, belonging, and citizenship, while considering how educators, families, communities, and systems can create conditions where children’s rights are not only recognized, but actively lived.
A Fully Virtual Conference Experience
This year’s Child Day Conference is designed to bring our community together wherever you are.
Our virtual format allows you to participate from your home, workplace, classroom, or wherever you connect best.
Your conference experience will include:
- Three full days of programming
- Inspiring keynotes from featured speakers
- Interactive 90-minute breakout sessions
- Daily panel conversations
- Opportunities for reflection and engagement
- Digital conference resources
- Opportunities to connect with other professionals in the global early learning community
- A diverse range of perspectives from leaders, educators, researchers, advocates, and community members
Whether you join for one day or participate throughout the full three-day experience, we hope you leave with new questions, new connections, and new possibilities for practice.
Pause. Reflect. Reimagine.
This year’s conference is not simply about listening.
Throughout the three days, we invite you to pause, wonder, question, reflect, and imagine.
What are children telling us?
Where do children’s rights show up in our everyday practice?
What might we see differently if we truly believed that learning begins at birth?
And what possibilities emerge when children are recognized as mighty learners and citizens?
Use the conference as an opportunity to connect ideas to your own practice and consider what you might carry forward beyond Child Day.
Child Day Capsule Collection
Wear Their Words. Amplify Their Voices. Support Their Rights.
ARCQE is excited to release our 2026 limited-edition Child Day Capsule Collection this fall.
This year’s collection is inspired by “Learning Begins at Birth” and will be designed alongside children, incorporating their real words, sentences, ideas, and imagery.
The collection celebrates children’s voices and their right to learn, participate, be heard, and have their perspectives valued.
All proceeds above the cost of production will be donated to support children’s rights work.
Shop the 2026 Capsule Collection
Student Registration
We believe students have an important voice in shaping the future of early learning and care.
Student registration provides an accessible opportunity for those currently studying in an early learning-related program to participate in conversations with educators, leaders, researchers, and advocates from across the field.
Come ready to learn, question, connect, and imagine what is possible.
Proof of current student status may be required.
Join Us This Child Day
Child Day is an opportunity to pause and recognize something fundamental:
Children have rights.
Children have voices.
Children are learners.
Children are citizens.
This year’s conference invites us to consider what it means to honour those rights from the very beginning.
Register Today and Join the Conversation.
“Learning Begins at Birth”
Honouring Every Child’s Right to Education From the Early Years Forward
November 19–21, 2026 | Virtual
