Family Child Care at Its Best
The Center for Excellence in Child Development recognizes that family childcare providers and informal caregivers are a major source of support for working families. Funded by the Child Development Division of the California Department of Education, the Family Child Care at Its Best program delivers university-based continuing education to licensed and license-exempt providers. Offered statewide, this series of classes helps providers improve their knowledge, skills and quality of care. Options for both academic credit and continuing education units are available.
The Family Child Care at Its Best program includes the following series of courses:
Options for Delivery
Family Child Care at Its Best courses take place at locations throughout California. Training sessions are scheduled mainly during evenings and weekends. The courses are free of charge to licensed and license-exempt family care providers.
Delivery of these courses for licensed providers is coordinated through local host agencies. Providers who wish to attend the next series in their area should contact the local resource and referral agency, family child care association, county office of education or First Five Comission.
Offered in multiple languages
Currently, Family Child Care at Its Best is taught in English, Spanish, Cantonese and Russian. Simultaneous translation in other languages can be arranged.
Academic credit available
Courses in the Family Child Care at Its Best program can be offered for noncredit or academic (ECE) credit. Students enrolled in academic credit courses are evaluated by formal means, based on attendance, participation and assignments. Students receive a "pass" or "no pass" grade. Upon receiving a passing grade, students earn .1 quarter unit for each hour of class attended (e.g., a 10-hour class is equivalent to 1 quarter unit of academic credit). One quarter unit is equivalent to two thirds of a semester unit.
Infant-Toddler Series
Learning through Relationships with Infants and Toddlers (10 hours)
This course addresses the emotional, social, intellectual and physical development of infants and toddlers and the supportive role of the caregiver. Participants will gain an increased understanding of the role of relationships and emotional development in learning. Topics include trust building with infants and toddlers, temperament of children and adults, helping children become confident learners, and talking with parents about developmental processes.
Sample Curriculum
Culture and the Care of Young Children (10 hours)
This course focuses on the impact of culture in the lives of children, families and child care providers. This course emphasizes the role of child care providers in establishing daily routines and practices that support healthy development and help each child form a healthy cultural identity. Participants will gain increased competency in providing care that is consistent with a child's home culture and in communicating with parents about cultural matters. Other topics include developing awareness of personal cultural values and practices, ways to help children with the routine of sleeping and eating, and working together with parents on toilet learning.
Sample Curriculum
Guiding Young Children (10 hours)
This course addresses children's challenging behaviors, and ways to work effectively with children and parents. Practical suggestions for managing conflict while supporting children's optimal development are offered. Topics include using observation to understand behavior, effective communication skills, and parenting styles and cultural practices.
Sample Curriculum
Back to top
School Readiness Series
Nationwide, there is increasing attention on how children become successful learners. To ensure that your organization prepares young children and their families to arrive at school primed for success, the Center for Excellence in Child Development has developed an educational series on school readiness, with a primary focus on the preschool years.
NEW! Introducing Language Through Play (5 hours)
Using a child-centered approach, this course focuses on the development of language and literacy skills needed for the transition to kindergarten. Participants will gain increased understanding and competence in methods for supporting emerging language and literacy capbilities, as well as guidelines concerning the creation of a print-rich environment.
Topics include:
- language development in the early years
- infusing play with language
- promoting circles of communication
- supporting language development in the home
NEW! Supporting Emergent Readers and Writers (5 hours)
Using a child-centered approach, this course focuses on the development of literacy skills needed for the transition to kindergarten. Participants will learn more about the components needed for children to learn to read and write. Recommendations for the creation of a print-rich environment and appropriate literacy activities are examined.
Topics include:
- alphabetic understanding
- promoting phonological awareness
- choosing developmentally appropriate materials and activities
- supporting home literacy
Child Observation (5 hours)
This course addresses the continuum of formal and informal observation. Participants will learn to critically analyze assessment tools, as well as the appropriate use of documentation. Issues of bias will be addressed in relation to the role of the observer. Observation will be considered as part of a responsive process as well as a quality improvement tool.
Topics include:
- observation techniques
- developmentally appropriate standards and observation: how do they fit?
- making good use of observation results
- culturally and linguistically appropriate assessments
Sample Curriculum
Social-Emotional Development and Classroom Management (5 hours)
Participants will explore developmental theory in relation to both individual and group care. They will be encouraged to consider the origins of children's behavior; including how biological factors, early childhood settings, family dynamics and the greater community influence child development. Participants will learn to incorporate methods of guidance and discipline that facilitate pro-social behavior, problem-solving, self-regulation, positive self-concept and self-esteem.
Topics include:
- challenging behavior: prevention and intervention
- Bronfenbrenner's ecological model
- working with parents
- promoting conflict resolution
Sample Curriculum
Supporting Young Bilinguals (5 hours)
Through group discussions, short lectures and personal stories, participants in this course will examine their own experiences related to language and become aware of cultural aspects that influence their beliefs and actions. Participants will also explore the concept of the whole child to understand language development in a socio-cultural context.
Additionally, participants will learn about the different ways children become bilingual, the advantages of being bilingual, and the myths and truths related to this topic. They will examine strategies to facilitate second language acquisition and develop a foundation for understanding the diverse experiences of the children and families in their programs. They will also explore the process of building respectful partnerships between teachers and families with home languages other than English.
Topics include:
- process of bilingualism
- strategies to facilitate second language acquisition
- fostering culturally and linguistically rich environments at school and at home
- incorporating families' cultures into early childhood settings
Sample Curriculum
NEW! Scientific Inquiry for Young Children (5 hours)
This course encourages participants to examine ways to provide a rich science environment for children. Participants explore everyday science and practice principles of inquiry and documentation to enhance discovery and scientific learning.
Topics include:
- environments and activities that encourage scientific development
- introducing and documenting scientific inquiry
- the outdoor classroom
NEW! Building Numeracy Skills and Beyond (5 hours)
This course encourages participants to examine ways to provide a rich math environment for children. Participants learn strategies and activities that build developmentally appropriate math knowledge and skills in the preschool years.
Topics include:
- important math concepts for preschoolers
- environments and activities that encourage math development
- supporting parents as teachers of math
NEW! Setting the Stage for Social Competence (5 hours)
In this course participants take a preventative approach to challenging behavior and plan activities that promote pro-social skills. Participants learn specific strategies, using the environment and adult-child interaction, to facilitate friendship and build community.
Topics include:
- social-emotional guidance
- the use of social stories
- California's Preschool Learning Foundations
- building a sense of self
Important note: Beginning in September 2008, the new classes listed above will be offered only in English and for continuing education units (CEUs). Beginning in January 2009, these classes will also be offered in Spanish and will be available for academic credit as well as CEUs. The classes will also be offered in Cantonese and Russian, but written translations will not be available in these languages in the 2008-2009 Fiscal Year.
Back to top
Special Topics
Serving Children with Special Needs and Their Families
All children deserve the opportunity to participate in family child care. Yet providers are faced with special considerations and challenges, depending upon the needs of each child. This course provides an introduction to working effectively with children with special needs and their families.
Topics include
- early warning signs of developmental risks
- helping families link to appropriate services
- how families deal with grief
Sample Curriculum
Partnering with Parents
Working effectively with parents is at the heart of quality care. A variety of issues-from feeding to finances-have the potential for conflict between provider and parent. This workshop highlights ways to work in partnership with parents and "stay on the same side."
Topics include
- establishing an atmosphere of trust and cooperation
- communicating effectively
- addressing child-rearing values and beliefs
- developing clear policies and practices
Sample Curriculum
The Business of Family Child Care
Sound business practices are key to successful family child care programs. This workshop highlights the necessary ingredients for effectively operating a child care business in the home.
Topics include
- recordkeeping
- marketing your business
- developing contracts and program policies
Sample Curriculum
Loss, Trauma and Young Children
This workshop addresses the emotional impact of loss and trauma on young children. In addition to concrete information for increasing the physical safety of children in family child care, the course explores the provider's role in helping children cope with stressful events, such as divorce, separation and changing caregivers.
Topics include
- behavioral indicators of trauma
- strategies to help children cope with loss
- prevention of onsite injuries
Sample Curriculum
Back to top
|
