Child Day Care Management

Here's how it works: Your first Instruction Set will be sent to you as soon as your enrollment has been accepted. Other Instruction Sets will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have training materials to work with. You can earn your Career Diploma in as little as six months. Here is an overview of what you'll learn and the order in which you'll receive your learning materials:

• Instruction Set 1
  • Learning Strategies
    • The advantages of learning at home; types of study materials; types of examinations; accessing and using the features of our website; determining what kind of learner you are; establishing a study schedule; using study tips; preparing for and taking examinations.
  • Contemporary Child Care
    • The increasing demand for child care; benefits of quality child care; types of child care, including in-home care, family day care, and center-based care; meeting licensing requirements - providing a safe and healthy environment; managing staff.
  
  
• Instruction Set 2
  • Child Development, Part 1
    • An overview broken down into birth-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months, 18-36 months, 3-5 years; details on social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development.
  • Child Development, Part 2
    • The stages of growth and tips on developing a learning environment for children in kindergarten, ages 6-8, and ages 9-12.
  • Practical Exercise: Reflection and Observation
  • Supplement: Student Observation Guide
  • Learning Aid: Ages and Stages Chart
  
  
• Instruction Set 3
  • How to Start Your Child Care Facility: Basic Steps
    • Assessing community needs; licensing requirements, making a business plan; insurance; planning space (indoor and outdoor).
  • Licensing, Accreditation, Certification
    • General licensing procedures and agencies; areas of regulation; director's responsibilities; steps in the licensing process; accreditation of child care programs and facilities; certification of child caregivers.
  • Practical Exercise: Local Standards and Regulations
  • Supplement: State Licensing, Accreditation and Certification Agencies for Child Day Care Providers
    
  
  
• Instruction Set 4
  • The Facility
    • Government regulations - zoning and safety; analyzing space requirements for in-home and center-based care.
  • Staff
    • Roles and qualifications of personnel; hiring personnel; physical exam and fingerprinting; work schedule and responsibilities; vacations, holidays, and sick leave; staff meetings; trial employment period; termination procedures.
  • Computers in Day Care
    • Introducing children to the world of computers; educational and fun activities that can be done using the computer.
  • Practical Exercise: Facilities and Staff
  
  
• Instruction Set 5
  • Program Planning
    • The purpose of program planning. Curriculum planning and content planning.
  • Planning and Implementing for the Environment
    • Preparing environments that promote program goals; grouping children; selecting and purchasing equipment.
  • Guidance
    • The relationship between guidance and discipline; applying your knowledge of child behavior and development; styles of adult-child interaction.
  • Diversity
    • Inclusive education; principles of inclusion; building tolerance and acceptance; children with special needs; assessing and adapting the environment to create one that promotes respect.
  • Practical Exercise Program, Environment, and Guidance
  • Supplement: Activities for Infants and Toddlers
  • Learning Aid: Creating Environments for Learning & Play
    
• Instruction Set 6
  • Caring for School Age Children
    • Caring for school-age children; outdoor and indoor games; visual arts; music and movement; drama; science in after-school care; math.
  • Working with Parents
    • Parents' legal rights; communication with parents including orientation; visits to facility, and oral and written communications; parent participation; parent education.
  • Financing and Budget
    • Estimating costs including general and specific cost factors; estimating income; balancing the budget; other financial responsibilities.
  • Practical Exercise: Parents, Finances, and School-Age Children
  • Supplement: Master Forms for Day Care Facility
  • Textbook: Caring for School-Age Children
    
    
• Instruction Set 7
  • Health, Safety, and Nutrition for the Young Child
    • Promoting good health; health appraisals; health assessment tools; conditions affecting children's health; creating a safe environment; safety management; management of accidents and injuries
  • Practical Exercise: Health, Safety, and Nutrition
  • Textbooks:
    • Health, Safety, and Nutrition for the Young Child
  • Learning Aids:
    • Accident Hazard Checklist
    • Poison Antidote Slide Guide
    • Children's First Aid Slide Guide
      

Because state licensing regulations vary for child day care providers, we recommend that you check with the licensing agency in your state to find out what requirements you'll need to fulfill to obtain your license.

We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.