Catalog

Catalogs

Title	Duration (hours)	Description
Coping with Food Allergies in Child Care Spaces (CDA 1)	2.00	A food allergy is a reaction within the body's immune system. It can be anywhere from mild to severe, and in some cases, it may be life-threatening. We must understand the symptoms and triggers of food allergies, the ways to prevent accidental exposure to prohibited foods, how to care for a child experiencing symptoms. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers CDA Subject Area 1: Planning a Safe, Healthy Environment to Invite Learning. This course can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event, or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
21st Century Skills in Early Childhood (CDA 2, 3, and 8)	2.00	In this course, you will identify skills considered to be essential for success in the 21st century and examine the critical connection between these skills and academic learning. You will also explore how two Key Learning Areas from Learning Standards for Early Childhood - Social and Emotional Development and Approaches to Learning through Play - can help you promote the development of 21st Century Skills in the children with whom you work. This course is also designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers Subject Area 2: Advancing Children’s Physical and Intellectual Development, Subject Area 3: Supporting Children’s Social and Emotional Development and Subject Area 8: Understanding Principles of Child Development and Learning.
Creating a Supportive Classroom Community (CDA 3)	2.00	Learn ways to bring out nurturing, caring behaviors in children and youth to create a classroom community where children and youth support each other. Learn how to use non-competitive games to foster acceptance of all children and youth. Identify the strengths and weaknesses for both you and the children and youth in your program, and how to put the strengths to good use creating a sense of acceptance and community. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers CDA Subject Area 3: Supporting Children's Social and Emotional Development and may also be taken as a stand-alone learning event or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
Fundamental Tools to Monitor Child Development (CDA 7)	2.00	This course immerses early care and education professionals in the powerful trio of observation, documentation, and assessment. Discover how these tools allow you to closely monitor each child's progress, identify individual needs and interests, and tailor support accordingly. Dive deeper into using assessment activities to refine and elevate the quality of preschool care, ensuring every child reaches their full potential.
Food Allergy Basics in Early Childhood (CDA 1 and 5)	3.00	Welcome to Food Allergy Basics in Early Childhood. This course is focused on ways to prevent accidental exposure to foods that can cause an allergic reaction. You will be able to describe ways to prevent accidental exposure to foods that cause an allergic reaction. You will also be able to demonstrate how to read a food label to reduce the risk of accidental exposure to foods that can cause an allergic reaction. In addition, you will learn how to use a Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan to care for a child with a food allergy and identify the symptoms and triggers of food allergies. This course is also designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers Subject Area 1: Planning a Safe, Healthy Environment to Invite Learning and Subject Area 5: Managing an Effective Program Operation.
The Importance of Sensory-Rich Play (CDA 2)	2.00	This course explores the research-backed benefits of this exciting form of play, from fostering essential developmental skills to sparking joy and curiosity. However, navigating regulations and concerns in early care settings can be tricky. Dive into practical strategies to empower young children in making choices and assessing risks amidst sensory-rich, highly physical activities, nurturing confident explorers with a deep love for learning.
Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) (CDA 2)	2.00	This course tackles the sobering reality that 25% of children lack enough moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in their daily lives. It explores the crucial role MVPA plays in fostering healthy habits, happiness, and overall well-being. Discover evidence-based strategies to ignite movement in children, empowering them to develop strength, maintain a healthy weight, and cultivate lifelong vitality.
Serving Nutritious Meals and Snacks Using CACFP Meal Patterns (CDA 1)	2.00	This course covers recently revised CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) meal pattern changes. Participants will learn how to identify whole grain-rich products and low-sugar yogurts through label reading, practice planning infant meals and snacks utilizing the new meal pattern requirements and brainstorm nutritious substitutions for grain-based desserts as part of a CACFP reimbursable breakfast or snack. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers CDA Subject Area 1: Planning a Safe, Healthy Environment to Invite Learning. This course can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event, or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
Prompting Executive Function Skills (CDA 2)	2.00	Executive function, a powerhouse of cognitive skills like planning, decision-making, and self-control, plays a critical role in learning and future academic success. Research highlights the vital role of early childhood teachers in nurturing these skills. The key? Intentional, complex play. Think dramatic play, collaborative games, and open-ended activities – these become the stage for practicing and mastering these essential skills, setting children on a path to lifelong learning success.
Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) (CDA 3)	2.00	Children who are exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) face an increased risk for social-emotional, physical, and mental health issues. ACEs include abuse, neglect, parental separation or divorce, and other traumatic experiences before the age of eighteen. This course explores the awareness of trauma in young children and families and discusses the role of the early care and education professional in nurturing resilience. This course will help you to better understand ACEs and trauma.
ADHD (CDA 8)	2.00	In a 2015 survey, one half of children in preschool were on medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). People with ADHD tend to be visionaries, dreamers, explorers, inventors, and trend setters. In this course, we will explore ADHD as a disorder that can negatively affect a child’s life, and as a trait that may be beneficial in helping a child grow into a successful adult. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum and covers CDA Subject Area 8, Understanding Principles of Child Development and Learning. This course can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
The Relevance of the Child-Caregiver Attachment (CDA 7)	2.00	Numerous attachment theorists identify the importance of children’s early, secure attachment bonds. Children’s relationships with their significant caregivers are the primary means for fostering healthy social and emotional development. This course introduces research and information focused on the attachment relationship, with special emphasis on observing and documenting teacher-child relationship quality to support positive outcomes for children. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum, and covers CDA subject area 7: Observation and Assessment. It can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
Safe Infant Sleep in Early Childhood (CDA 1 and 4)	2.00	This course is focused on the American Academy of Pediatrics’ best practice recommendations for reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) and for promoting safe sleep in infant care settings as well as safe infant sleep policies, and how to communicate best practice for safe sleep with the families of infants in your care. This course is also designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers Subject Area 1: Planning a Safe, Healthy Environment to Invite Learning and Subject Area 4: Building Productive Relationships with Families.
Art and Sensory Experiences that Foster Creativity (CDA 5)	2.00	This session equips you with the knowledge and tools to differentiate art projects from crafts in your early childhood setting. Learn how to cultivate the "doing" over the "having," crafting captivating experiences that engage multiple senses. Discover expert strategies for sparking imagination, nurturing creativity, and providing your young learners with endless opportunities for artistic expression.
Multi-Age Learning and Interaction (CDA 1 & 5)	2.00	This course explores the dynamic world of mixed-age childcare groupings. Discover how these environments expand learning opportunities for children of all stages, fostering social, emotional, and cognitive development. Delve into the benefits for both children and adults, including a deeper understanding of individual learners and intentional support facilitated through multi-age interactions. Navigate the advantages, challenges, and unique considerations of working with mixed-age groups, equipping yourself to create a thriving learning space for all.
A Critical Look at Family Child Care Spaces (CDA 1)	2.00	When play problems occur over and over, child care practitioners need to be able to step back and look critically at their space arrangement to see if that is the source of the problem. Explore some key elements to consider in child care space arrangement that include types of spaces and their uses, and arranging activity areas in a room to meet the goals of your program. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers CDA Subject Area 1: Planning a Safe, Healthy Environment to Invite Learning. This course can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event, or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
Strengthening Relationships for Families with the Community (CDA 4)	2.00	This course empowers early care and education (ECE) professionals to become champions of community resources for families and children. Discover how connecting families with vital services, from healthcare to educational opportunities, becomes possible through knowledge of your community's offerings. Learn to build strong relationships with families, fostering effective communication and collaboration that unlocks doors to essential information and support.
Benefits of Connecting Seniors and Young Children (CDA 3)	2.00	This course equips you with the knowledge and tools to integrate senior adults into childcare and education programs. Discover how this approach benefits children, seniors, your program, and you, enriching lives across generations.
Understanding the CDA Credential and Process (CDA 6)	2.00	This course introduces the CDA Credential™, a nationally recognized pathway for early childhood professionals to bolster their knowledge, hone their skills, and advance their careers. Explore the CDA process, its diverse pathways, and its potential alignment with your professional development goals. Discover how well-equipped caregivers, empowered by the CDA, contribute to nurturing environments that foster optimal learning and development for young children.
Observation and Assessment of the Learning Environment (CDA 7)	2.00	Research finds that the quality of a child’s early learning environment has a significant impact on his well-being and ability to learn. This course focuses on two significant aspects of environmental quality: the relationships and rich interactions that happen in the classroom, and the physical setting and learning materials. Special emphasis is placed on observation and assessment of the learning environment to make improvements and support positive outcomes for children. The course covers how professionals who work with young children can use observation and assessment as a way to support children’s development (social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and approaches to learning), inform teaching practices, enhance interactions with children, and plan activities for young children. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum, and covers CDA subject area 7: Observation and Assessment. It can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
Sleep is Essential to Good Health (CDA 1)	2.00	This course delves into the science behind sleep, revealing its essential role alongside nutrition and physical activity. Explore recent research highlighting the impact of sleep on hormone regulation, obesity risk, brain development, cognitive function, and behavior. Discover age-specific sleep requirements and gain practical tips and recommendations to nurture healthy sleep habits in children, setting them on the path to well-being and success.
Coping with Crying (CDA 1 & 3)	2.00	Babies cry to communicate. In fact, sometimes it's the only way babies can communicate. Coping with crying can be a challenge, especially for people who have little or no experience care for infants. Learning to cope with crying is critical, as infant crying is the number one trigger for shaking a baby. In this course, we will learn about Shaken Baby Syndrome, and about ways to cope with a crying infant. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers CDA Subject Area 1, Planning a Safe and Healthy Environment and CDA Subject Area 3: Supporting Children's Social and Emotional Development. This course can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event, or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
SIDS and Safe Sleep (CDA 1)	2.00	Based on national standards representing the best evidence, expertise, and experience on health and safety policies and practices, and, focused on the American Academy of Pediatrics’ best practice recommendations, this course provides information on reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) and for promoting safe sleep in infant care settings. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers CDA Subject Area 1: Planning a Safe, Healthy Environment to Invite Learning. This course can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event, or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
Planning for and Implementing Transitions (CDA 5)	2.00	Most early childhood professionals say transitions are especially difficult times for young children. This course focuses on helping children as they move from one activity to another throughout the day. In this course, participants will: Analyze transition times during the day to determine where improvements need to be made; and Identify four tools to use to improve daily transition times with children. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers CDA Subject Area 5: Strategies to Manage Effective Program Operation and may also be taken as a stand-alone learning event, or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
Family-Teacher Relationships (CDA 4)	2.00	How do you view the families of the children in your classroom? If you were to generate a list of words to describe families, what kinds of positive and negative feelings would they convey? When we see ourselves as partners with the families we serve, the quality of care and nurturing children receive is greatly enhanced. Establishing such partnerships and building relationships is our responsibility. Communication strategies, such as practicing active listening, are key to this process. In this course, participants will describe the importance and benefits of establishing meaningful relationships with families and identify strategies for establishing meaningful relationships. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers CDA Subject Area 4: Strategies to Establish Productive Relationships with Families. This course can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event, or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.