Certified Child Care Worker

This course, offered by our accredited school partners, provides an introduction to the historical, theoretical, and developmental foundations for educating young children, with an emphasis on creating inclusive environments and curricula that are responsive to the needs of diverse children and their families. Topics include historical influences, program types, guidance strategies, professionalism, current trends and issues, and advocacy.

Child Care Workers are responsible to care for children, in various settings when parents or other family members are unavailable. Certified Child Care Workers (CCCW) are responsible for making sure that children’s basic needs are being met, supervise and monitor the safety of children, assist with homework, and even be able to recognize signs of emotional distress or developmental issues.

Child Care Worker

Module 1: Historical Influence on Early Care and Education
• Learning from the Past
• Public Schooling in America
• The Kindergarten Movement
• Nursery School Movements
• Early Twentieth Century Schooling
• Brown vs. Board of Education
• Mid-Twentieth Century Schooling
• Establishment of Head Start
• Universal Pre-K

Module 2: Quality Standards for Early Childhood Programs
• Dual Approach to Setting Standards
• National and State Standards
• Standards and Accountability
• Developmentally Appropriate Practice
• Early Learning Standards
• State Funded Programs
• Methods of Assessment
• Evaluation for Educators
• Measure Outcomes with Observation

Module 3: Understanding the Development of Young Children
• The Study of Child Development
• Developmental Domains
• The Physical Domain
• Gross Motor Development
• The Cognitive Domain
• Three Types of Knowledge
• The Affective Domain
• Emotional Development
• Social Development
• Moral Development

Module 4: Contemporary Curriculum Approaches
• Curriculum Development
• Curriculum Models for Developmentally Appropriate Practices
• Learning Environments and Pedagogy
• Montessori Method
• Reggio Emilia Approach
• Direct Instruction
• High/Scope Approach
• Creative Curriculum
• Project Approach

Module 5: Supporting Play and Learning during Early Childhood
• The Importance of Play
• Characteristics of Play
• Classical Theories of Play
• Contemporary Theories of Play
• Symbolic Play
• Constructive Play
• Games with Rules
• Teacher’s Role in Supporting Play

Module 6: Exploring Learning Theories and Teaching Strategies
• Intentional Teaching
• Constructivist Theory
• Socio-Cultural Theory
• Behaviorist Theory
• Multiple Intelligences Theory
• Learning Styles Theory
• Information Processing Theory
• Teacher Centered Teaching Strategies
• Learner Centered Teaching Strategies

Module 7: Effective Learning Environments for Young Children
• Thinking Expansively About Environments
• Quality Learning Environments
• Physical Learning Environment
• Temporal Learning Environment
• Interpersonal Learning Environment
• National and State Regulations and Standards
• State Quality Rating
• Accreditation Standards
• Environmental Rating Scales

Module 8: Connecting with Families and Communities
• The Adults in Children’s Lives
• Bioecological Theory of Human Development
• Parents as Partners
• Home-School Partnerships
• Tips, Strategies and Plans for Caregivers and Teachers
• Teachers, Caregivers and the Community
• Community Within School or Center
• Collaboration and Communication

Module 9: Issues and Advocacy in Early Childhood Education
• Social Issues in the ECE Realm
• Advocating for Young Children
• Technology and Young Children
• Pros and Cons of Technology Use in Classroom
• The Obesity Epidemic
• Nutrition and Exercise
• Poverty and Young Children
• Cultural Diversity

Module 10: Discovering Careers in Early Childhood Education
• Why Teach Young Children?
• Early Care and Education as a Profession
• Professionalism
• Career Options
• Unusual Career Choices
• Dispositions and Their Importance
• Men as Teachers of Young Children
• Why Men Are Needed in the Classroom

Start Your Own Day Care Business

Module 1: Determining Where to Start
• The Benefits of Family Child Care
• Outfitting a Family Child Care Center on a Budget
• Licensing and/or Registration
• Planning to Make a Profit
• It’s Really Not as Hard as It Sounds
Module 2: Policies, Procedures, and Your Daily Schedule
• Enrollment Records and Policies
• Hours of Operation
• Policies You May Wish to Consider
• Your Background and Training
• Devising a Daily Schedule
Module 3: Activities, Guidance Tools and Solving Common Problems
• Curriculum and Fun Activities
• Discipline and Guidance Techniques
• Fostering Good Social Skills
• Problems with Multiage Mix of Children
• Problems with Parents and Your Family
Module 4: Running Your Business
• Generating Enrollment
• Screening Families
• Setting Up Your Office
• Small Versus Large License
• Planning for Accreditation

All required reference materials are provided with this program. Technical requirements:

Internet Connection
• Broadband or High-Speed (DSL, Cable, Wireless)
Hardware Requirements
• Processor - 2GHz Processor or Higher
• Memory - 1 GB RAM Minimum Recommended

Software Requirements
• Operating Systems - Windows 7, 8 or 10; Mac OS x 10 or higher
• Microsoft Office 2007, 2010 or 2013 or a Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx)
• Internet Browsers - Google Chrome is highly recommended
• Cookies MUST be enabled
• Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled)
• Adobe PDF Reader

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be prepared to sit for the NCCB’s Certified Child Care Worker (CCCW) exam. The Certified Child Care Worker (CCCW) exam prepares individuals for a career as a Child Care Worker. The certification displays mastery of the latest information and skill practice necessary to be a successful Certified Child Care Worker (CCCW) in a variety of settings.
Certified Child Care Workers (CCCW) are employed in childcare centers, preschools, public schools, and private homes.
Each state may have additional licensing requirements, be sure to research your states requirements for employment by visiting your states occupation board.

This class is an independent-study course. Students will have all the resources needed to successfully complete the course within the online material. A student helpdesk is available for technical support during the course enrollment.