In this training, Creating Your Family Child Care Routines and Schedules, participants will learn to describe the importance of routines and schedules in a family child care program, identify essential components of effective routines and schedules, and create sample routines and schedules that will support healthy development, learning, and well-being in a family child care program. **Taking this training will not earn you a Family Child Care Credential. That process involves working with a Credentials Counselor.**

Topics include:

• Importance of Routines and Schedules
• Balancing Needs
• Developing Effective Schedules
• Daily Routines
• Transitions

This training will help you understand what competencies are and how they are integrated into the Illinois professional development system. You will explore resources, tools, and steps involved in the competency alignment process and will have the option of aligning a new or existing training of your own. Paths for submitting a training for competency approval will also be discussed along with relevant documents you may need. 

Contact Hours: 1.5 Hours        Gateways Content Areas: PPD (1.5 Hours)    CDA:  PRO (1.5 Hours)

In this training, Culturally Responsive Family Child Care Environments, participants will be able to describe the the foundations of culturally responsive practice, identify the importance of cultural responsiveness within family child care environments, and identify strategies that support positive, multi-aged relationships. **Taking this training will not earn you a Family Child Care Credential. That process involves working with a Credentials Counselor.**

Topics include:

• Identifying Cultural Responsiveness
• Building Meaningful Connections
• Culturally Responsive Communication
• Promoting Positive Peer Relationships

Contact Hours: 2 hours          Gateways Content Area: IRE (2 hours)          CDA Content Area: Program Management (2 hours)  

In this training, Developmentally Appropriate Technology Use in Your Family Child Care Home, participants will review guidelines and research about developmentally appropriate technology use, identify strategies for incorporating technology into their family child care home, and explore technology resources for their program. **Taking this training will not earn you a Family Child Care Credential. That process involves working with a Credentials Counselor.**

Topics include:

• Child-Centered Approach to Technology Use
• Enhancing Exploration
• Integrating Technology Into Your Program
• Using Assistive Technology
• Using Appropriate Apps

Module 1 - Child Development Overview: Understanding How Young Children Grow and Develop

In this module, you will receive an overview of child development for children birth through early school age.  Emphasis will be on understanding basic milestones in development as well as on strategies used to promote the healthy development of children.

Esta capacitación está disponible en español aquí.

Module 2a - Health Issues for Group Care

Ensuring a child's health and well-being requires more than basic first aid and emergency contacts.  In this module, you will learn how to help the growth of healthy children -- from the basics like hand washing to a more in-depth look at various practices surrounding health care.

Esta capacitación está disponible en español aquí.

Module 2b - Nutrition Issues for Group Care

Whether you're responsible for providing a quick snack or a well-balanced meal, understanding children's dietary needs creates healthier and happier kids.  Learn the basics of good nutrition, food safety and various practices surrounding nutrition through this module.

Esta capacitación está disponible en español aquí.

Module 2c - Safety Issues for Group Care

A child's safety is the number one concern for parents and child care providers alike.  In this module, you will identify tips for creating a safer group care environment, confront the issue of abuse and neglect and learn more about emergency preparedness and first aid.

Esta capacitación está disponible en español aquí.

Module 3 - Observation and Guidance

It is important to know how to best help children in your care by observing them and identifying their specific needs. This module will define the different kinds of observation you can use when caring for children and how to offer more effective guidance and discipline.

Esta capacitación está disponible en español aquí.

Module 4 - Learning Happens in Relationships

Our kids are constantly responding to family members, teachers, and social relationships that help to shape their understanding of the world around them.  This module explores how relationships between families, children and teachers can help learning, and how crafting the environment around them can help children learn.

Esta capacitación está disponible en español aquí.

Module 5 - Family and Community Relationships

As our partners in child development, families, and especially parents, directly affect a child's learning. In this module you will learn the new ways of working with parents to help their children enjoy learning. You also will explore the social world of a family to be sure that the learning that takes place in your care is consistent with the learning done at home.

Esta capacitación está disponible en español aquí.

Module 6 - Personal and Professional Development

What does it mean to be a child care professional? How can you be sure you are getting the support and supplies you need? How can you set effective limits with parents and children alike? In this module, you will learn about your own professional development and how to care for yourself so you can continue to care for others.

Esta capacitación está disponible en español aquí.

Module 7a - Child Development: Ages Birth to 8 Months

Newborns and young babies are developing at an incredible rate, causing them to have special needs unlike older children. In this module, you will understand how children from birth to 8 months learn and grow, and how to individualize their care accordingly.

Esta capacitación está disponible en español aquí.

Module 7b - Child Development: Ages 8 to 18 Months

In this continuation of the first child development module, you will explore development among children ages 8-18 months.  You'll identify how this age group differs in growth and their approach to learning, and you'll discover toys, games and songs that are helpful and just right for their development.

Esta capacitación está disponible en español aquí.

Module 7c - Child Development: Ages 18 to 36 Months

Toddlers are an energetic bunch who require plenty of stimulation and education.  In this final section of child development training, you'll explore how children age 18 to 36 months learn language, learn to think, learn to move, and learn feelings, so you can better nurture this often curious age group.

Esta capacitación está disponible en español aquí.

Module 8a - The Preschool-Age Child: Social and Emotional Development

As children approach preschool age, their needs begin to change. This is the first of four modules designed to better understand children as they approach school age. You will identify characteristics of social and emotional development and learn techniques for promoting appropriate and effective discipline for preschool children.

Esta capacitación está disponible en español aquí.

As children mature, their minds aren't the only things growing at an incredible rate. In this module, you will explore the special areas of physical development in preschool-aged children. You also will learn about fine motor activities that will help preschoolers grow into their bodies while developing proper coordination and movement.

Esta capacitación está disponible en español aquí.

Module 8c - The Preschool-Age Child: Language Development

Appropriate speech patterns and language skills are crucial to nurturing effective communications by preschoolers. In this module, you will explore how to use pictures and storybooks to lay the foundation for good reading and proper language use.

Esta capacitación está disponible en español aquí.

Module 8d - The Preschool-Age Child: Cognitive Development

In this module on preschool development, you will dive deeper into how preschoolers learn and identify tips for making learning fun.  With suggestions for activities that encourage your preschoolers to explore numbers, shapes, colors and science, this module gives all the information you need to grow and stretch the ability of children to think and understand.

Esta capacitación está disponible en español aquí.

Module 9 - School-Age Development

This module on child development looks at school-age children to uncover how their learning and growth differs. With tips on how to better care for school-aged youth, this module offers you guidance on how to set rules and limits and to get your school-aged kids to appreciate safety and respect.

Esta capacitación está disponible en español aquí.