Child Care Resources will hold its sixth Early Childhood Conference, "Leave No Child Indoors: Nature in the Lives of Young Children," in the Student Life Center of Brookdale Community College, Route 520, Lincroft, on Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The Student Life Center is near parking lots 6 and 7. There is an admission fee of $20 per person, which includes the featured presentation, roundtable discussion, breakfast and lunch. Program attendance is on a first-come, first-served basis and is open to parents of young children, early childhood professionals, students, and other interested community members.

For more information about the conference, or to register for the event, contact Jeremy Makely, 732-918-9901 ext. 133, or jmakely@ccrnj.org.

The keynote speaker is author Ken Finch. He is the founder and president of Green Hearts Institute for Nature in Childhood, a nonprofit organization focused entirely on restoring children's play in natural settings. Finch holds a master's degree in environmental education, a field he has dedicated his time to for 35 years.

According to a press release, unstructured play in natural environments was the norm for generations of Americans. Such play promoted curiosity, discovery and interaction with the environment. A marked change has occurred over the past three decades, with little or no time devoted to free play outdoors.

Finch will demonstrate how the lack of nature play leads to isolation from nature, or "nature deficit disorder," a non-medical term first used by Richard Louv, bestselling author of "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder." According to the press release, research shows that the lack of nature play is linked to problems in children's development, as well as their overall health and well-being. Finch will identify and discuss solutions to this national dilemma.

"Leave No Child Indoors" is being presented by Child Care Resources of Monmouth County. Theresa Hayes, director of Child Care Resources, said, "We want to raise awareness in the community about the importance of nature in the lives of children and to come together to make more nature play happen for the children in Monmouth County."

Child Care Resources is a not-forprofit organization operating with the belief that high quality childcare is a community resource that supports families, contributes to economic productivity, and nurtures children's growth, according to the press release. The organization provides resources for parents, child-care professionals, and the community. For more information about programs and services, call 732-918-9901 or visit www.ccrnj.org.