2027 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 22-24, 2027 • Bellevue, WA
3/17/2026 | 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Play to Promote Resilience, Communication, and Strong Brains | St. Johns
Play to Promote Resilience, Communication, and Strong Brains
Play is how children learn, connect, and build their brains. For infants and toddlers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind, play provides essential opportunities to explore the world, develop communication, and form trusting relationships that support all areas of development. When caregivers and professionals intentionally create playful, responsive interactions, they lay the groundwork for neural growth, emotional co-regulation, and resilience.
This session will explore how play supports neural connections, problem-solving, and emotional co-regulation, emphasizing the crucial role of responsive, joyful interactions between children and their caregivers. When adults follow a child’s lead and tune into their cues, this supports the back-and-forth exchanges that are foundational for language learning and relationship building, core outcomes of early hearing detection and intervention.
Participants will examine how playful engagement contributes to positive mental health outcomes and builds the capacity for social interaction and emotional resilience. Practical strategies will be shared for creating developmentally appropriate, accessible play experiences that support each child’s sensory and communication needs. Examples will highlight ways professionals can coach and empower families to embed playful learning throughout daily routines, strengthening both skills and relationships.
By connecting neuroscience, early intervention principles, and family-centered practices, this presentation highlights that play is not an “extra” activity; it is a vital, evidence-based pathway for supporting brain development, resilience, and lifelong learning for all young children.
- Describe how play supports healthy brain development in infants and toddlers by promoting neural connections, problem-solving, and emotional co-regulation.
- Explain how responsive, playful interactions help build resilience and fosters positive mental health outcomes by strengthening social and communication skills in early childhood.
- Identify at least three strategies for creating rich, developmentally appropriate play experiences that lay the foundation for future learning and well-being.
Presentation:
This presentation has not yet been uploaded.
Handouts:
View Handout File 1
View Handout File 2
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Hillary Keys
(Primary Presenter), Texas Deafblind Project, keysh@tsbvi.edu;
Hillary Keys is the Early Childhood Deafblind Education Consultant for the Texas Deafblind Project. With over 30 years of experience in education, she has served as a classroom teacher, an itinerant TVI/TDB, and Deafblind Specialist at a regional and statewide level. A lifelong learner with a deep sense of curiosity, Hillary is especially focused on early childhood development, play, interaction strategies, and the Active Learning approach. She is passionate about creating opportunities for children with complex needs to connect, explore, and find moments of joy. Guided by the belief that every child can learn, Hillary is dedicated to helping families and educators discover meaningful ways for children to engage with and thrive in the world around them.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.