Building Strong Foundations: Curriculum Basics and Developmentally Appropriate Practices in Family Child Care

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If you have questions or comments, you can communicate with your instructor by email at professionaldevelopment@clarendonees.org.

Course requirements:

1. Complete all lessons and activities.
2. Share your thoughts on the Course Discussion Board when required in the lessons by responding to the instructor’s questions. Feel free to offer positive comments to other participants! You must engage with the Discussion Board to pass the course.
3. Complete the Knowledge Check.
4. Complete the Course Evaluation.

Course Description:

Course Description:

This training is designed to equip family child care educators with the foundational knowledge and practical tools needed to plan and implement a high-quality curriculum that supports the holistic development of young children. Participants will explore the definition and components of curriculum within a home-based child care setting and learn how to align daily activities with developmentally appropriate practices (DAP).

Using real-life scenarios, group discussions, and hands-on planning tools, educators will gain a deeper understanding of how to create meaningful, engaging, and flexible learning experiences based on children’s individual needs, interests, and developmental stages. The training also emphasizes the importance of cultural responsiveness, intentional teaching, and the power of play as a primary vehicle for learning.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Define what curriculum means in the context of family child care.
2. Identify the key components of a high-quality curriculum.
3. Describe the core principles of developmentally appropriate practices (DAP).
4. Apply DAP to daily routines, learning activities, and environments.
5. Develop a simple curriculum plan aligned with child development principles.