Accountability: Each unit ends with an assignment that is submitted and reviewed
by the course instructor. All six modules end with a 20 question exam. Students
must earn an 80% on the exam to unlock the next module. They have multiple
opportunities to take the exam.
Module 1: Introduction to Caring for Infants & Toddlers
This module meets CDA Competency Goal VI: To maintain a commitment to
professionalism.
Unit 1: Your Role in Caring for Infants & Toddlers
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Describe the importance of caregiver-child interactions.
• Identify five styles of interacting with young children that support their
development
• Describe strategies that will promote positive caregiver-child interactions
in childcare settings.
Unit 2: Attachment Relationships
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Describe the concept of attachment.
• Identify the qualities of infant characteristics that affect interaction.
• Understand the influence of adult characteristics on the developing infant.
• Understand patterns of attachment and why it's important for the
developing child.
• Describe the implications of attachment research on the practices in child
care settings.
Unit 3: Professionalism & Ethics
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Expand awareness of the image of child care, factors influencing it, and
how it might be improved.
• Review the concept of professional ethics and the core values that guide
professional conduct.
• Examine ways in which child care professionals can effectively represent
their profession through advocacy efforts and other community activities.
• Explore public relations and marketing strategies, which can assist in
promoting a positive image of child care programs.
• Identify ways in which child care providers can enhance their professional
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knowledge and skills.
Unit 4: Burnout & Stress Management
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Understand the burnout process: its causes, symptoms, and stages.
• Identify and apply strategies to prevent or minimize burnout.
• Gain knowledge and skills in managing stress.
Module 2: Part I: Development of Infants and Toddlers
This module meets CDA Competency Goal III: To support social and emotional
development and to provide positive guidance.
Unit 1: Brain Development in Infants & Toddlers
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Understand the structure of the brain
• Describe the research findings that provide evidence for how quality
interaction in young children affect their developing brain
• Discuss implications for early childhood practice
Unit 2: Social & Emotional Development of Infants & Toddlers
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Gain an understanding of social/emotional development and how adults
can support growth in these areas.
• Learn how to support social/emotional growth by being “In Tune” to
children’s needs.
Unit 3: Positive Behavior Guidance
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Introduce participants to the Pyramid Model for Supporting the Social and
Emotional Competence of Infants and Young Children.
• Gain a better understanding of specific techniques used in minimizing the
potential for inappropriate behavior.
• Gain a better understanding of the adult's role in supporting children
through behavior guidance.
• Understand the difference between mistaken behavior and misbehavior.
• Learn more about turning aggressive behavior into positive interactions.
Unit 4: Observing Children
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Learn the difference between objective and subjective observations.
• Describe different methods for observing children.
• Describe ways to meaningfully use observation information.
Unit 5: Supporting Self-Help Skills
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The objectives of this unit are to:
• Gain a better understanding of the adult's role as the facilitator in the
development of self-help skills.
• Learn about general stages of development and the specific activities that
can support children's growth in their self-help skills.
Module 3: Part II: Development of Infants and Toddlers
This module meets CDA Competency Goal II: To advance physical and
intellectual competence.
Unit 1: Cognitive Development
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Describe the characteristics of the infant at the six stages of cognitive
development.
• Describe the cognitive concepts learned by the developing infant and
toddler.
• Describe appropriate times to refer children for further assessment.
• Describe physical environments and play materials that promote cognitive
skills.
• Identify caregiving and play routines that promote cognitive skills.
• Describe developmentally appropriate play activities that promote
cognitive development.
Unit 2: Language Development
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Consider general concepts that help us understand the process of early
language development and some factors involved in individual variations
• Identify the phases of language development
• Enhance awareness of how to be a responsive language partner with
young children
• Expand understanding of how to support conversations with babies and
toddlers
Unit 3: Physical Development
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Understand the principles that undergird physical development in infancy
and toddlerhood
• Identify major milestones in large muscle and small muscle development
of infants and toddlers
• Recognize developmental alerts or "red flags" in children's development
• To examine features of the indoor setting that support motor development
• To identify equipment and toys that enhance motor development
• To identify some developmentally-appropriate physical activities
• To highlight features in the outdoor setting that support motor
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development
Unit 4: Supporting Creativity
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Understand what creativity means for infants and toddlers.
• Learn what types of materials and activities best support the development
of children's creativity.
• Understand the adult's role in facilitating the development of children's
creativity.
Unit 5: Supporting Children with Special Needs
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Examine individual attitudes related to the care of children with disabilities
• Become familiar with rationales for inclusion of children with disabilities in
early care and education programs, and principles for successful
inclusion.
• Identify challenges to inclusion of children with disabilities in early care
and education programs.
• Identify ways in which the environment might be adapted to meet the
needs of infants and toddles with disabilities.
• Describe early intervention services for young children with disabilities
Module 4: Program Quality & Evaluation
This module meets CDA Competency Goal V: To ensure a well-run, purposeful
program responsive to participant needs
Unit 1: Defining High Quality
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Describe high-quality programs for infants and toddlers
• Understand the role of state licensing requirements
Unit 2: Program Evaluation
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Describe the purpose of program evaluation.
• Identify the various resources available for evaluating program quality
• Identify the process for developing a plan for program improvement.
Unit 3: Understanding Accreditation
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Describe accreditation
• Understand the accreditation criteria & process
• Explore the cost of accreditation
Module 5: Relationships with Families
This module meets CDA Competency Goal IV: To establish positive and
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productive relationships with families
Unit 1: Stages of Parenthood
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Identify the stages of parenthood and explore those that affect the
relationship between parents and child care providers.
• Examine ways in which the parent/child relationship impacts on the
parent/caregiver and caregiver/child relationships.
• Address the role of the caregiver in relating to parents and supporting the
parent/child relationship.
Unit 2: Partnerships with Parents
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Become familiar with the characteristics of a partnership.
• Identify ways to involve parents as partners in the child care program.
• Identify ways in which the parent/provider partnership can assist parents
in times of stress.
Unit 3: Communication with Parents
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Describe family-centered practices.
• Expand understanding of basic communication skills.
• Identify strategies to promote communication with families.
• Identify strategies to promote parent participation in child care programs.
Unit 4: Cultural Diversity of Families
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Learn specific techniques that will assist providers in increasing cultural
sensitivity.
• Identify methods of implementing cultural awareness through the
environment and routine care.
Module 6: Keeping Infants and Toddlers Safe and Healthy
This module meets CDA Competency Goal I: To establish and maintain a safe,
healthy learning environment.
Unit 1: Emergency Procedures
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Learn techniques to assist in being prepared for emergencies.
• Gain an understanding of basic action steps to take in an emergency.
• Identify common emergency situations and appropriate action steps to
take in each case.
Unit 2: Safe Environments
The objectives of this unit are to:
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• Learn specific safety techniques that will assist child care providers in
minimizing the possibility of injury.
• Gain an understanding of some basic action steps to take to ensure the
children’s safety on a daily basis.
Unit 3: Promoting Healthy Care
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Increase awareness of the importance of appropriate health practices in
infant and toddler care settings.
• Become familiar with basic health information related to infant and toddler
care.
• Gain an understanding of rationale for exclusion related to health issues.
• Become familiar with signs of illness among infants and toddlers, and the
caregiver's responsibility.
• Gain information about basic hygiene and sanitation practices in infant
and toddler care settings.
• Learn about factors to consider when developing health-related policies
and procedures.
Unit 4: Nutrition & Feeding Practices
The objectives of this unit are to:
• Increase awareness of the nutrition needs of infants and toddlers.
• Become familiar with appropriate foods and feeding practices for infants &
toddlers.
• Increase understanding of the importance of feeding practices on
developing attitudes toward food.
• Review common problems and potential solutions related to infant and
toddler nutrition
• Gain information about food safety practices related to infant and toddler
care.
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