Adult Education

Introductory Child Care Training

Child care personnel must begin training by commencing coursework, obtaining an educational exemption or by completing a competency exam within the first 90 days of employment in the child care industry. All training must be completed one (1) year after the date on which training began. The Introductory Child Care Training is divided into two parts for a total of 40 hours, plus an additional 5 hours:

Part 1

All child care personnel are required to complete the following 30-clock-hours which are divided into six training courses:

  1. Child Care Facility Rules and Regulations (6 hours instructor led or online) or, This course is designed to give child care providers an overview of the state and local rules and regulations that govern the child care industry.
  2. Family Child Care Home Rules and Regulations (6 hours instructor led or online) This course is designed to give child care providers an overview of the state and local rules and regulations that govern the child care industry.
  3. Health, Safety and Nutrition (8 hours instructor led or online) This course is designed to assist child care professionals identify the key principles of a healthy and safe child care environment as well as provide a basic understanding of child nutrition.
  4. Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (4 hours instructor led or online) This course provides child care providers with an overview of the various types of abuse and neglect, the legal responsibility of mandatory reports, and the proper procedure for reporting abuse and neglect.
  5. Child Growth and Development (6 hours instructor led or online) This course is intended to provide child care professionals with a basic understanding of the theories and principles of child growth and development, including the influences on child development, developmental characteristics, and the role of play in learning.
  6. Behavioral Observation and Screening (6 hours instructor led or online) The Florida Legislature recognized the importance for child care providers to complete formal training on how to observe and screen children for possible development delays. This course will introduce care givers to the principles and techniques used to identify children who may benefit from early interventions

 

Part 2

All child care personnel are required to complete 10-clock-hours of training from the following courses:

  1. Infant and Toddler Appropriate Practices (10 hours instructor led) This course is designed for child care providers responsible for the care of children birth through 36 months. The course provides an overview of the need for quality care, stages of development, appropriate interactions, learning environments and experiences, health and safety practices, positive guidance strategies, observation and assessment, relationships with families, and quality caregivers.
  2. Preschool Appropriate Practices (10 hours instructor led) This course is designed for child care providers responsible for the care of children 3 to 5 years old. The course provides an overview of the need for quality care, stages of development, learning environments, health and safety practices, enhance development and learning, creating a positive, caring community of learners, positive guidance strategies, observation and assessment, relationships with families, and quality caregivers.
  3. School-Age Appropriate Practices (10 hours instructor led) This course is designed for child care providers responsible for the care of children 5 to 12 years old. The course provides an overview of the need for quality care, stages of development, learning environments and experiences, methods for creating a positive, caring community of learners, positive guidance strategies, observation and assessment, relationships with families, and quality caregivers.
  4. Special Needs Appropriate Practices (10 hours instructor led or online) This course is intended to help child care professionals provide care to children who have disabilities, developmental delays, or intellectual gifts. The course includes an overview of the knowledge and skills that will help providers work with children, information about support network services available, and assists providers learn how to comply with federal and state laws.
  5. Early Literacy for Children Birth to Three (5 hours online) This overview course on early literacy course for children age birth to three concentrates on infant and toddler literacy and language development. The course contains four training modules: Introduction to Early Literacy, Language Development in Infants and Toddlers, Relationships and Environments Supporting Language Development, and Literacy Resources.
  6. Basic Guidance and Discipline (5 hours online) This overview course on basic guidance and discipline provides caregivers with the fundamental basics of setting up an early childhood environment to support the positive guidance and discipline of children, rather than punishment. The course contains six training modules: Guidance vs. Punishment, Self-control and Composure, Developmental Milestones, Setting up Proper Environments, and the Discipline Toolbox. The Discipline Toolbox is a tool which introduces the caregiver to 20 of the most challenging yet common behaviors and provides suggestions on how to help guide children through these behaviors.
  7. Basic Computer Technology for Child Care Professionals (5 hours online) This course is designed to teach child care professionals basic ways of using a computer for classroom activities and professional development. It will provide hands on experience in using computer programs for word processing tasks as well as using email and accessing the Internet for information about topics related to child care. The course contains five training modules: Benefits of Using Computers in Child Care Settings, Basic Computer Terminology, Word Processing, the Internet, and Email.
  8. Emergent Literacy for VPK Instructors (5 hours online) This course is designed to provide Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten instructors, as well as all child care providers, the specific strategies and tools for preparing all children to experience early success in learning to read and write. This training is designed to ensure that Florida's VPK Program can help children develop essential skills in language, communication and emergent literacy.
  9. Early Childhood Computer Learning Centers (5 hours online) This course is designed to provide child care professionals with information regarding computer learning centers. This course includes an overview of the benefits of computer learning centers, creating computer learning centers, software selection, integrating computers into teaching strategies and best practice suggestions.
Early Learning Literacy

The legislature also mandated that child care personnel in facilities, large family child care homes and family day care homes to complete 5 hours or 0.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) of approved training in early literacy and language development of children from birth to 5 years of aged. This is a one time requirement. The primary focus of "Early Literacy for Children Age Birth to Three" is to demonstrate how child care professionals can use everyday activities to provide experiences that will prepare this age group to read and write in the future. This course is offered on line