Learn Practical Skills At Home

Your comprehensive lessons are clear and well-organized; easy to follow, yet challenging and engaging at the same time. Each lesson begins with an introductory note from your instructor, plus a preview outlining the subject matter and study objectives.

Next comes the reading assignment from your beautifully illustrated text, lesson book or supplemental references. Practice exercises help you check and review the key concepts you've learned. Then, turn in your open-book exam for the lesson, whenever YOU are ready.

As a student in The Professional Child Care Career Skills Program, you’ll receive these accessories. Use them while you study, and after graduation. They’re included with your course, at no additional cost:

• ABC’s of Baby Care slide guide gives you quick access to the symptoms and treatment of 18 of the most common baby ailments.
• First Aid for Children slide guide helps you deal with many minor ailments and injuries, from burns to insect bites.
• 12” x 18” Marker Board and Marker. A great teaching tool that easily wipes clean.
• First Aid Kit includes first aid guidelines, ice pack, tapes, bandages, sterile gauze, antiseptic wipes, and vinyl gloves, all in a carrying case.

Meet Your Instructor

Deann Deloney is editor and chief instructor of the Professional Child Care Career Skills Program. She is also the director of a child development center accredited by The National Association for the Education of the Young Child, which maintains the highest standards in the field. With more than 15 years of experience in child care, she has hired, trained, and supervised staff; created and developed academic and enrichment programs; and managed marketing and fiscal matters.

She, along with our staff of caring, courteous career educators, will give you careful guidance through your studies. If you have questions or need help along the way, just write, call, fax, or E-mail us 24 hours a day. We'll give you prompt, personal assistance.

What You’ll Learn Lesson By Lesson in this Course

Lesson 1, Families & Child Care

Options and approaches to providing child care: the differences between custodial, developmental and comprehensive care; quality issues in child care.

Lesson 2, Your Role in Child Care

Rewards and drawbacks of a child day care career; qualities and training required for the child care professional; career possibilities; where the jobs are; getting your CDA credential.

Lesson 3, Basic Principles of Development

Why understanding child development is important; child development theories and principles; developmental stages; self-esteem; observing children.

Lesson 4, Understanding Infants & Toddlers

Physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development; promoting maturation and responsibility; how temperament affects personality; the two-year-old stage; impact of play on social development.

Lesson 5, Understanding Preschoolers & School-Agers

Recognizing signs of development; the role of accomplishment in developing a child's self-esteem; motor and perceptual skills; how competition, fear, stress, and rules affect a child.

Lesson 6, Operating an Early Childhood Program

Providing an appropriate environment; promoting cooperation, safety, and good health; setting schedules and routines; beneficial foods and nutrition.

Lesson 7, Providing and Appropriate Environment

Planning good environments for children; types of learning centers; selecting equipment, materials, and toys; evaluation.

Lesson 8, Keeping Children Safe & Healthy

Developing a safety policy; removing hazards; dealing with medical, fire, and weather emergencies; assembling an effective first aid kit; monitoring illnesses; health problems caused by weather, abuse, and emotion.

Lesson 9, Handling Schedules & Routines

Creating and assessing day care schedules; a sample schedule; common routines in the daily schedule and their importance to children; dependability.

Lesson 10, Food For Young Children

Components of good nutrition; nutrient requirements; planning balanced meals; food safety and sanitation practices; meal service guidelines; teaching nutrition concepts; nutrition education for parents.

Lesson 11, Developing Professional Skills

Important workplace skills; ethics for child care professionals; promoting communication, cooperation and teamwork; facing day-to-day challenges; managing your time and solving problems effectively.

Lesson 12, Guiding & Observing Children

Communicating with young children; punishment versus positive discipline; guiding a child's emotional, social, and moral development; guiding troubled children; observing and recording behavior.

Lesson 13, Teaching & Learning: Creating Art Activities

Qualities of a strong curriculum; how children learn; effective teaching techniques; stages of artistic development; guiding a child's art experiences; planning and leading art activities.

Lesson 14, Language & Dramatic Play

Language skill development; assessing books; reading stories; reading and writing exercises; language arts and dramatic play; how dramatic play encourages growth; using puppets.

Lesson 15, Social Studies & Music Activities

Planning a social studies curriculum; helping children become responsible citizens; learning about one's self, family, and community; adding an effective music program; planning music and creative movement activities; the teacher's role in music.

Lesson 16, Science, Math & Active Play

Goals of science and math curricula; the teacher's role; planning and leading science, math and active play activities; active play learning centers; safety during active play; creative resources.

Lesson 17, Caring For Infants & Toddlers

Helping infants and toddlers develop physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially; communicating effectively with parents; planning a safe and healthy environment; common challenges.

Lesson 18, Caring For School-Age & Special Needs Children

Developing schedules, routines, and activities; nurturing development; acceptance and respect; meeting special needs; needs of children with disabilities and gifted children.

Supplement: First Aide For Children

CPR For Children. Essential how to information on first-aid techniques and administering CPR (this knowledge is a must for meeting child development associate (CDA) learning objectives).

Supplement: Starting an At-Home Child Care Business

A guide to help give you a boost of confidence before starting your own at-home child care business.

Supplement: Career Development Bonus

Developing Your Career in Child Care, and Growing as a Professional. Finding career opportunities; writing a good letter of application; your résumé; presenting yourself well in an interview; tips to help you succeed in reaching your career goals; continuing education; balancing your work and your personal life.