Child Care and Development

This course introduces students to the child education and care profession. It is designed to increase understanding of the basic concepts of child development and the developmental characteristics of children from birth through age 8/9 years, including infant, toddler, and pre-school years. This course is the foundation for planning appropriate activities for children and establishing appropriate expectations of young children. This class also offers an opportunity to study the developmental domains (social, emotional, cognitive/language, and physical). The course includes observations of the young child in early childhood settings.

This course is a systematic study of child growth and development from conception through early childhood. Emphasis is on principles underlying physical, mental, emotional, and social development, methods of child study, and practical implications. Upon completion, students will be able to use knowledge of how young children differ in development and approaches to learning to provide opportunities that support physical, social, emotional, language, cognitive, and aesthetic development. This is a CORE course.

This course focuses on fostering creativity in preschool children and developing a creative attitude in teachers. Topics include selecting and developing creative experiences in language arts, music, art, science, math, and math and movement, with observation and participation with young children required. On completion, students will be able to select and implement creative and age-appropriate experiences for young children.

This course surveys appropriate literature and language arts activities designed to enhance young children’s speaking, listening, pre-reading and writing skills. Emphasis is placed on developmental appropriateness as related to language. Upon completion, students should be able to create, evaluate, and demonstrate activities that support a language-rich environment for young children.

This course introduces basic methods and materials used in teaching young children. Emphasis is placed on students compiling a professional resource file of activities used for teaching math, language arts, science, and social studies concepts. Upon completion, students will be able to demonstrate basic methods of creating learning experiences using developmentally appropriate techniques, materials, and realistic expectations, including infant, toddler, and preschool. The course includes observations of young children in a variety of childcare environments. Note: CGM must teach this as a 2-1-3 configuration of theory/lab hours. This is a CORE course.

This course provides students with the knowledge to develop programs for early child development. Specific content includes a review of child development concepts and program contents. Upon completion, students will be able to develop and evaluate effective programs for the education of young children.

This course introduces basic health, nutrition, and safety management practices for young children. Emphasis is placed on setting up and maintaining safe, healthy environments for young children, including specific procedures for infants and toddlers and procedures regarding childhood illnesses and communicable diseases.

This course includes appropriate administrative policies and procedures relevant to preschool programs. Topics include local, state, and federal regulations, budget planning, record keeping, personnel policies, and parent involvement. On completion, students should be able to identify elements of a sound business plan, familiarize themselves with basic record-keeping techniques, and identify elements of a developmentally appropriate program.

This course focuses on child development from infancy through thirty-five months of age, emphasizing planning programs using developmentally appropriate materials. Emphasis is placed on positive ways to support an infant or toddler’s social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development. Upon completion, the students should be able to plan an appropriate infant-toddler program and environment that supports the families and the children.

This course explores the many different types of exceptionalities found in young children. Topics include speech, language, hearing and visual impairments, gifted and talented children, mental retardation, emotional, behavioral, and neurological handicaps. Upon completion, students should be able to identify appropriate strategies for working with children.