Child care specialist supporting children's development, safety and early learning activities

Course Code: CCS

The Child Care Specialist program is designed for individuals who want to build a meaningful career caring for, guiding, and supporting children during their most important stages of growth and development. This program provides students with a strong foundation in child care principles, early learning practices, health and safety procedures, and professional caregiving responsibilities. It is an excellent opportunity for those who are passionate about helping children grow in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment.

Students enrolled in this program develop a broad understanding of how children learn, communicate, behave, and interact with the world around them. Through structured instruction, students explore the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social stages of child development while learning the practical skills needed to supervise, guide, and support children in a responsible and caring manner. The program emphasizes the importance of patience, observation, communication, professionalism, and creating environments that encourage learning through play and daily interaction.

This training also prepares students to respond to the real responsibilities of working in child care settings. Participants learn how to maintain healthy and secure environments, recognize developmental needs, promote positive behavior, support routines, and work effectively with families and colleagues. The program combines professional knowledge with practical child care techniques so students can feel confident in their ability to care for children in a safe, organized, and developmentally appropriate way.

What you will learn in this course:

Throughout this program, students receive comprehensive instruction in the essential areas of child care and early childhood support. Training is designed to help participants understand the responsibilities of a professional caregiver while building the confidence and practical knowledge needed to care for children in a safe, supportive, and educational environment.

Students will learn about the stages of child growth and development and how children progress physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually from early infancy through childhood. They will study health, safety, and nutrition for young children, including daily care practices, supervision standards, wellness awareness, and the importance of maintaining safe and clean environments. The course also focuses on creating age-appropriate learning environments that support curiosity, creativity, structure, and positive interaction.

Admission Requirements:

  • Clean police record (no felony)
  • High School Diploma, GED, TASC, and/or Entrance Test
  • Letter of experience reflecting 480 hours of work with children within the last 5 years
Calculate your program completion date:

Section : Morning
5 Weeks
Section : Afternoon
5 Weeks
Section : Evening
6 Weeks
Section : Weekend
19 Weeks
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-3:30 PMMonday-Friday 1:00 PM-7:30 PMMonday-Friday 5:00 PM-10:15 PMSaturday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-3:30 PMMonday-Friday 1:00 PM-7:30 PMMonday-Friday 5:00 PM-10:15 PMSaturday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-3:30 PMMonday-Friday 1:00 PM-7:30 PMMonday-Friday 5:00 PM-10:15 PMSaturday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-3:30 PMMonday-Friday 1:00 PM-7:30 PMMonday-Friday 5:00 PM-10:15 PMSaturday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-3:30 PMMonday-Friday 1:00 PM-7:30 PMMonday-Friday 5:00 PM-10:15 PMSaturday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-3:30 PMMonday-Friday 1:00 PM-7:30 PMMonday-Friday 5:00 PM-10:15 PMSaturday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-3:30 PMMonday-Friday 1:00 PM-7:30 PMMonday-Friday 5:00 PM-10:15 PMSaturday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-3:30 PMMonday-Friday 1:00 PM-7:30 PMMonday-Friday 5:00 PM-10:15 PMSaturday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-3:30 PMMonday-Friday 1:00 PM-7:30 PMMonday-Friday 5:00 PM-10:15 PMSaturday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-3:30 PMMonday-Friday 1:00 PM-7:30 PMMonday-Friday 5:00 PM-10:15 PMSaturday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-3:30 PMMonday-Friday 1:00 PM-7:30 PMMonday-Friday 5:00 PM-10:15 PMSaturday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-3:30 PMMonday-Friday 1:00 PM-7:30 PMMonday-Friday 5:00 PM-10:15 PMSaturday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
*Please call the school to see if the schedule is available

Child Care Specialist Program Overview

Build a practical foundation for supporting children's development, learning, wellness, daily routines, and positive interactions in organized child care environments. Course code: CCS.

What You Will Learn

Child Growth and Development

Study physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development; developmental stages; individual differences; observation; communication; and responsive support from infancy through childhood.

Health, Safety and Nutrition

Learn supervision, safe and clean environments, daily care, wellness awareness, nutrition, routines, hazard prevention, emergency awareness, documentation, and responsible caregiving practices.

Early Learning and Positive Guidance

Explore developmentally appropriate play, activities, environments, creativity, curiosity, structure, behavior guidance, transitions, routines, inclusion, and positive interaction.

Families, Teams and Professional Practice

Develop respectful family communication, teamwork, confidentiality, observation notes, professionalism, ethics, patience, reliability, boundaries, and organized caregiver responsibilities.

Program Schedule

The preserved schedule table displays weekday morning, afternoon, and evening sections plus a Saturday option. Because the schedule and payment-plan duration labels are not fully consistent and start-date cells are blank, verify the exact calendar and availability directly with IDI.

Admission Requirements

The original page lists a police-record requirement, education or entrance-test requirement, and documentation of 480 hours of recent work with children. Ask IDI what documents are accepted and how each requirement is evaluated.

Tuition and Included Resources

The preserved payment accordion displays a total cost of $3,500 and says training, a CPR class, books, and training supplies are included. Confirm every inclusion, payment deadline, additional fee, cancellation term, and refund policy before enrollment.

Credential and Employment Notice

This page describes an IDI training program. It does not establish automatic eligibility for every child care role, a facility license, background clearance, employment, or the national CDA credential. Requirements vary by position and setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Child Care Specialist program?

It is career-focused training in child development, early learning, health, safety, nutrition, supervision, positive guidance, communication, routines, professionalism, and responsible caregiving.

What is the program code?

The course code shown on the page is CCS.

What child-development topics are included?

The program addresses physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development from infancy through childhood, along with observation and developmentally appropriate support.

Does the program cover health, safety, and nutrition?

Yes. The page lists health, safety, nutrition, wellness awareness, supervision, daily care, and maintaining clean and secure environments.

Will I learn how to create age-appropriate activities?

Yes. The program covers learning environments and experiences that support play, curiosity, creativity, structure, interaction, and children's developmental needs.

Does the program teach positive behavior guidance?

Yes. Students learn supportive guidance, routines, communication, observation, and professional caregiving practices intended to promote safe and positive interactions.

What are the admission requirements?

The page lists a clean police record with no felony, a high school diploma or equivalency credential or entrance test, and a letter documenting 480 hours of work with children during the previous five years. Confirm how IDI evaluates each requirement.

How long does the program take?

The schedule currently displays five-week morning and afternoon sections, a six-week evening section, and a nineteen-week weekend section. The payment accordion contains some different duration labels, so confirm the exact section and calendar with IDI.

What class times are shown?

The page displays Monday through Friday morning, afternoon, and evening schedules, plus a Saturday schedule. Start dates and availability are not populated, so contact IDI before making plans.

How much does the program cost?

The payment accordion currently displays a total cost of $3,500 and states that complete training, a CPR class, books, and training supplies are included. Confirm current tuition, inclusions, added fees, payment dates, and refund terms in writing.

Is CPR training included?

The payment section states that a CPR class is included. Ask IDI which CPR course or credential is provided, the issuing organization, validity period, attendance requirements, and whether a separate assessment or fee applies.

Does completion qualify me for every New York child care job?

No. Child care roles and facilities may have separate education, experience, background-check, health, training, credential, and employer requirements. Verify the requirements for the exact role and setting before enrolling or applying.

Does this program award the Child Development Associate credential?

The supplied page does not establish that IDI awards the national CDA credential or includes its application, portfolio, observation, or assessment fees. Ask IDI what school credential is issued and whether CDA preparation is included.

Does program completion guarantee employment?

No. Completion does not guarantee employment, placement, salary, a license, background clearance, employer acceptance, or eligibility for a particular child care role.

How should I verify the current program details?

Contact IDI to confirm admissions documentation, schedule, instructional hours, delivery format, tuition, payment plan, included materials, CPR details, school credential, attendance rules, and current seat availability.