August 26-28, 2026

Wilmington Convention Center - Wilmington, North Carolina

• The only international conference focused exclusively on child passenger safety (CPS)
• Access to manufacturers, latest product updates and CPS resources, research, best practices, and local, state, national and international programming
• Day 1 (Aug. 26) is dedicated to Extended Learning Sessions, in-depth learning, skill and knowledge building
• Day 2 and 3 (Aug. 27-28) are dedicated to workshops by and for everyone in the CPS family: public health, fire and EMS, law enforcement, volunteers, manufacturers, hospitals, researchers, engineers, advocates, local/state/national departments of transportation
• A unique mix of grassroots advocates presenting side-by-side with nationally-recognized leaders, inviting unlimited networking and professional relationship development
• Ample opportunities to earn Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) CEUs

At its sole discretion, KIDZ IN MOTION reserves the right to reject applications with or without cause. Additionally, individuals under the age of 18 are not permitted to attend the conference unless the KIDZ IN MOTION Planning Committee has granted prior written permission.

All exhibitors must align with KIDZ IN MOTION's mission, which is dedicated to supporting and strengthening Child Passenger Safety education. At its sole discretion, KIDZ IN MOTION reserves the right to accept or reject exhibitor applications with or without cause.

Extended Learning Sessions

Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026

 

 

 

 

Morning Sessions: 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. (Includes 15 minute break)

Afternoon Sessions: 1:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. (Includes 15 miute break)

Instructor Forum: How We Do the Things We Do, Now There’s Two!

The success of the CPST curriculum lies not only in its technical rigor but also in its community of dedicated instructors who sustain the program’s excellence through mentorship, collaboration, and innovation.

For more than two decades, the Child Passenger Safety Technician Certification Training has served as the foundation of child passenger safety education—its mission clear: to save lives and prevent injuries by promoting child passenger safety through education, mentorship, engagement, and innovation. This certification operates in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Safe Kids Worldwide to ensure technical accuracy and consistency in training. With the release of the National Safety Council’s Occupant Protection Specialist (OPS) Certification, the field stands at a pivotal moment—one that presents both opportunities and challenges for instructors and program administrators alike.

This session invites CPST instructors to come together to discuss how these certifications intersect with, and potentially reshape, the landscape of child passenger safety education.

This fourth annual Instructor Forum at Kidz in Motion continues its tradition of fostering open dialogue and peer learning among instructors. Participants will discuss the foundational strengths, curriculum integrity, instructor development model, and proven impact on public safety of both certifications. Through guided discussion, the group will examine how the certifications compare and contrast with, and potentially integrate with, existing training structures.

The session will feature instructor-led reflections on maintaining quality and consistency in courses while navigating the implications of training programs entering the field. Discussions will invite participants to share experiences, strategies, and concerns about maintaining high standards of instruction, supporting technician recertification, and ensuring that training complements rather than fragments the safety community’s mission.

By the end of the three-hour forum, participants will have explored how to protect the integrity of certification while embracing change, collaboration, and cross-training where beneficial. The session aims to empower instructors with a clearer understanding of both programs, practical strategies for adapting their teaching, and a renewed sense of community as leaders in education.

Presnters: Mandi Seethaler, Jim Savage

 

Morning Sessions: 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. (Includes 15 minute break)

Afternoon Sessions: 1:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. (Includes 15 miute break)

Along for the Ride: Prenatal Vehicle Safety

Pregnant and fetal vehicle occupants are often overlooked populations in vehicle safety and injury prevention. An unborn child is 20 times more likely to be killed in a motor vehicle crash than a child in a car seat. Despite major advances in child passenger safety the number of prenatal vehicle fatalities remains extremely high. By adapting the strategies that have successfully reduced the number of child fatalities we can save the lives of both pregnant and fetal vehicle occupants.

Presenter: Greg Colton

 

Morning Sessions: 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. (Includes 15 minute break)

Afternoon Sessions: 1:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. (Includes 15 miute break)

Escape Room CEU Development 

The UNC Highway Safety Research Center has developed a number of escape room style CEU sessions. These sessions have been a hit and across the United States. Join the UNC HSRC team to learn how to develop your own escape room style CEU session. Attendees will leave the extended learning session with a framework for a CEU session and tools for development.

Presenters: Bevan Kirley, Kristel Robinson

 

Morning Sessions: 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. (Includes 15 minute break)

Afternoon Sessions: 1:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. (Includes 15 miute break)

 Hot Topics: Exploring Controversial CPS Subject Matter

The Hot Topics workshop is a collaborative research, training, and resource-creating exercise.

Participants will work in small groups to explore 2 or 3 pre-selected subjects, identifying the controversial aspects of the issue and documenting all sides of the debate.

Participants will research their topics, citing evidence-based data and credible sources. Ideally, there are several subject matter experts in the room (engineers/researchers/medical professionals/etc) to provide guidance and answer technical questions.

Groups will present their research findings, and we will facilitate a discussion among the groups that explored the same issue, noting if their conclusions were consistent or not.

Ultimately, if the groups are successful in researching the controversial subjects without any of the bias that typically accompanies hot topics, their findings can be pooled and eventually made into shareable resource articles that will benefit the larger CPS community.

Presnters: Kecia Healy, Heather Watson

 

All DAY Sessions: 8:30 a.m. to 14:15 p.m. (Includes 15 minute breaks)

Got Emotions? Regulate to Elevate — Strategies to Strengthen Leadership and Trust in Our CPS Community

This session will offer a transformative, interactive, and evidence-informed experience. This hands-on and human-centered session explores how emotional regulation, leadership development, and community collaboration can strengthen the Child Passenger Safety (CPS) field. Participants will gain tools to enhance self-awareness, communication, and trust which are critical skills that sustain both personal well-being and professional excellence. These tools include reflective exercises that will empower participants to visualize their roles, emotions, and impact in the CPS ecosystem. Personal and professional narratives that illustrate how emotional regulation and empathy can transform interactions in law enforcement and public safety collaborations will be shared. A community engagement perspective offering practical tools for culturally responsive and emotionally intelligent communication will be shared. A radical self-care framework connecting emotional regulation to leadership sustainability and trauma-informed practice will be shared. The primary focus of the session will emphasize real examples and tools that show how unaddressed emotions impact workplace dynamics, communication, and family engagement in CPS work.
Emotionally safe environments begin with emotionally regulated leaders.
This extended session explores how emotional intelligence, storytelling, and self-awareness strengthen trust, collaboration, and positive outcomes in child passenger safety for technicians and the families that they serve. Participants will leave with practical tools for reflection, regulation, and renewal which will equip them to help themselves and others lead with empathy, resilience, and dignity.
Key takeaways include: Emotional regulation as a core leadership competency.
Human-centered, trauma-informed approaches in CPS. Practical tools to foster self-awareness, empathy, and resilience.
Storytelling, reflection, and hands-on practice to promote trust and collaboration.

Presenters: Ellen Walston, Noemi Duenas, Nita Huey-Smith, Michael Munson

 

Morning Sessions: 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. (Includes 15 minute break)

Afternoon Sessions: 1:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. (Includes 15 miute break)