Child Care Specialist

The Child Care Specialist course will prepare you to work with children of all ages in childcare centers, nursery schools, preschools, public schools, private households, family childcare homes, and before- and after-school programs. These workers play an important role in a child’s development by caring for the child when parents are at work or away for other reasons. Some parents enroll their children in nursery schools or childcare centers primarily to provide them with the opportunity to interact with other children.

In addition to attending to children’s basic needs, these workers organize activities that stimulate the children’s physical, emotional, intellectual, and social growth. They help children explore their interests, develop their talents and independence, build self-esteem, and learn how to behave with others.

This course meet the necessary education requirement for the nationally recognized Child Development Associate (CDA)

The Child Care Specialist Program will cover the following topics:
• Principles of child growth and development
• Planning a safe, healthy learning environment
• Promoting children’s physical and intellectual development
• Observing & recording children’s behavior
• Supporting children’s social and emotional development
• Establishing productive relationship with families
• Managing an effective program operation
• Maintaining a commitment to professionalism
• Preparing for final assessment as a Child Development Associate
• How to develop child care plans
• Operating a Child Care Program
• How to start your own Day Care Center
• CPR for child care workers

Places where you can work after you complete the course
Preschool or childcare facilities include private homes, schools, religious institutions, workplaces in which employers provide care for employees’ children, and private buildings. Individuals who provide care in their own homes generally are called family childcare providers.

Course Requirement
•Clean police record (no felony)
•High School Diploma, GED, TASC, and/or Entrance Test
•You must provide a letter of experience reflecting 480 hours working experience with children within 5 years