|
|
NEIGHBORHOOD and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Early Childhood Professional Learning
|
|
April 2025 Professional Learning
Below is information on upcoming virtual and in-person professional development opportunities. Detailed descriptions and registration information can be found at: fairfaxcounty.gov/EarlyChildhood. Monthly emails, including registration links, will be sent when registration opens.
To receive a certificate for in-person or webinar courses, please be sure to review the following requirements:
- To receive credit for a series with two meetings, you must attend both sessions.
- For series requiring three or four meetings, you must attend all sessions to receive credit.
- A 15-minute grace period is allowed; however, certificates will not be issued if you miss more than 15 minutes of the session.
- Certificates will be issued within 2-4 business days.
- If you can no longer attend a training you have registered for, please email NCSchildcareclasses@fairfaxcounty.gov before the scheduled date and time.
You can find references to the CDA Subject Area, Virginia Early Learning Development Standards (VELDS), and CLASS under each Professional Learning course. Additionally, a reference to the CDA Subject Area is included at the bottom of this email.
|
|
This presentation will explore the complexities of autism spectrum disorder in children. We’ll discuss its physical and cognitive characteristics, challenges in different environments, support strategies, and inclusion in programs. A panel discussion will feature a parent sharing their experiences, challenges, and successes in raising a child with autism, offering valuable insights on fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment.
CDA Areas: 3
VELDS: Social and emotional
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Infant: Responsive Caregiving
Toddler: Engaged Support for Learning
PreK: Instructional Support
Dimension(s):
Infant: Facilitated Learning
Toddler: Facilitated Learning
PreK: Concept Development
Instructor: Bronwyn Dean
Date: Wednesdays, 4/2, 4/9 & 4/16
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 pm
|
|
This professional development course is designed to introduce early childhood educators to the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. The course will be divided into two specialized tracks: one focused on infants and toddlers and the other on preschool-aged children. Each track will explore age-appropriate STEM concepts and strategies for fostering young children’s curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills. . Educators will learn how to incorporate STEM activities into everyday routines and classroom settings, emphasizing play-based learning. By the end of the course, participants will be able to confidently guide children through basic STEM exploration tailored to their developmental stage.
CDA Areas: 1, 2, 7 & 8
VELDS: Cognitive Development
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Infant: Responsive Caregiving
Toddler: Engaged Support for Learning
PreK: Instructional Support
Dimension(s):
Infant: Facilitated Exploration
Toddler: Facilitation of Learning and Development
PreK: Concept Development
Instructor: Leah Pagala
Date: Monday, 4/7 and Tuesday, 4/15
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
|
|
Listening to stories is a foundational component of early childhood, but allowing children to be the storytellers themselves has endless benefits. Not only is it fun, but encouraging children to create their own stories promotes many areas of development. This session, will explore how storytelling can support different developmental domains and discuss how to facilitate story creation in your classrooms. Finally, using the story “Introducing Dot” by Theresa Stephens, we will consider how to embed storytelling opportunities into everyday moments, including our art and creative experiences with children.
CDA Areas: 2 & 3
VELDS: Communication, Language, and Literacy Development & Cognitive Development
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Toddler: Engaged Support for Learning
PreK: Instructional Support
Dimension(s):
Toddler: Facilitated Learning & Development; Language Modeling
PreK: Concept Development & Language Modeling
Instructor: Melody Passemante Powell
Date: Thursday, 4/10
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
|
|
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and those of us who work with young children must be vigilant throughout the year to prevent child sexual abuse. In the United States alone, child sexual abuse affects at least one-fourth of girls and one-sixth of boys by the time they are 18 years old. This course, will examine risk factors that make children vulnerable to sexual abuse and discuss how to identify signs of child sexual abuse. We will discuss strategies to keep children safe and explore how to teach children about consent, boundaries, and other concepts that protect children from harm.
CDA Areas: 3
VELDS: Social and Emotional Development
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Toddler: Emotional and Behavioral Support
PreK: Emotional Support
Dimension(s):
Toddler: Regard for Child Perspectives
PreK: Regard for Child Perspectives
Instructor: Stephanie Barker
Date: Tuesday, 4/15
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
|
|
|
This training explores practical strategies for integrating natural elements into early childhood education environments and activities. Participants will learn to design nature-rich learning experiences that foster curiosity, exploration, and a deeper connection with the environment. By embracing nature, children experience enhanced sensory development, improved cognitive skills, and a stronger sense of well-being.
CDA Areas: 3
VELDS: Social Emotional
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Infant: Responsive Caregiving
Toddler: Engaged Support for Learning
PreK: Instructional Support
Dimension(s):
Infant: Facilitated Exploration
Toddler: Facilitation of Learning and Development
PreK: Concept Development
Instructor: Bronwyn Dean
Date: Mondays, 4/21 & 4/28
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 pm
|
|
Many children will go through a period of picky eating, and it can be frustrating for parents and caregivers to navigate. Adults often worry that children will not thrive with a restricted diet. In this course, we will discuss typical development regarding eating habits in young children. We will explore various solutions to help educators navigate picky eating and support young children amid picky eating phases. Lastly, we will discuss when picky eating may be part of a concerning behavior and how to address these concerns.
CDA Areas: 1,3 & 7
VELDS: Social and Emotional Development, Health and Physical Development
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Infants: Responsive Caregiving
Toddlers: Emotional Behavioral Support
PreK: Classroom Organization
Dimension(s):
Infants: Relational Climate, Facilitated Exploration
Toddlers: Regard for Child Perspectives
PreK: Regard for Child Perspectives
Instructor: Stephanie Barker
Date: Tuesday, 4/22
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
|
|
Movement is one of the first ways children interact with the world, such as when a baby turns their head to look at something. We will review typical gross motor development and how to support motor skills development in all children. We will talk about the many benefits of big body movement in early childhood settings and how movement can be integrated into all parts of an early childhood curriculum.
CDA Areas: 2 & 8
VELDS: Health and Physical Development
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Infant: Responsive Caregiving
Toddler: Engaged Support for Learning
PreK: Classroom Organization
Dimension(s):
Infant: Facilitated Exploration
Toddler: Facilitation of Learning and Development
PreK: Instructional Learning Formats
Instructor: Stephanie Barker
Date: Tuesday, 4/29
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
|
|
Step into the colorful world of children's literature in this engaging session for early childhood educators. We will introduce a curated selection of new and diverse children's books that inspire curiosity, imagination, and a love for reading. Discover books that reflect various cultures, experiences, and themes, offering rich opportunities for social-emotional learning, language development, and creative expression. Let's turn the page to a new chapter in early childhood education—one filled with vibrant books that captivate and inspire!
CDA Areas: 2,3 & 8
VELDS: Communication, Language, and Literacy Development
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Infant: Responsive Caregiving
Toddler: Emotional Behavior Support
PreK: Emotional Support
Dimension(s):
Infant: Early Language Support
Toddler: Regard for Child Perspectives
PreK: Regard for Student Perspectives
Instructor: Leah Pagala
Date: Tuesday, 4/29
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Culmore Community Library, 6101 Knollwood Dr, Falls Church, VA 22041
|
|
Children's books offer many opportunities for young children to move and sing. During this session, we will go beyond just reading a story; we will make them come alive with activities that are easy to put together and make for a memorable Storytime. A comprehensive list of books will be included, making choosing books easier.
CDA Areas: 3
VELDS: Social and Emotional
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Infant: Responsive Caregiving
Toddler: Engaged Support for Learning
PreK: Classroom Organization
Dimension(s):
Infant: Facilitated Exploration
Toddler: Facilitation of Learning and Development
PreK: Instructional Learning Formants
Instructor: Bronwyn Dean
Date: Wednesday 4/30
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Chantilly Regional Library 4000 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151
|
|
Esta serie de capacitación de dos partes está diseñada para mejorar la competencia cultural de los educadores de la primera infancia, centrándose en el papel que desempeñan los alimentos y la hora de comer en el desarrollo de los niños. La capacitación tiene como objetivo destacar cómo las prácticas alimentarias reflejan las identidades culturales y fomentan la inclusión en un entorno diverso. Los educadores adquirirán conocimientos y estrategias prácticas para abordar las diferencias culturales en las preferencias alimentarias, las restricciones dietéticas y los comportamientos a la hora de comer, asegurándose de crear un ambiente respetuoso y de apoyo para todos los niños.
CDA Areas:1,2,4 & 5
VELDS: Desarrollo Social y Emocional
Apoyo de CLASS
Dominio(s):
Bebe: Cuidado Sensible
Niño pequeño: Apoyo Emocional y Conductual
PreK: Apoyo Emocional
Dimension(es):
Bebe: Sensibilidad del maestro/a
Niño pequeño: Consideración hacia las perspectivas del niño
PreK: Consideración hacia las perspectivas de los alumnos
Instructora: Lisseth Palacios
Fecha: martes 1 y 8 de abril
Hora: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30pm
|
|
Los educadores apoyan el desarrollo físico de los niños pequeños a través de rutinas diarias e interacciones sociales positivas. Esta serie les brindará a los educadores formas de aprovechar las experiencias de movimiento que se les brindan a los niños pequeños en sus programas. También exploraremos formas de hacer adaptaciones para niños con necesidades especiales, de modo que todos los niños se beneficien del aprendizaje a través del movimiento.
CDA Areas: 2,3 & 8
VELDS: Salud y Desarrollo Físico
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Bebe: Cuidado Sensible
Niño pequeño: Apoyo Activo para el Aprendizaje
PreK: Organización del Aula
Dimension(es): Bebe: Exploración facilitada
Niño pequeño: Consideración hacia las perspectivas del niño, Guía de la Conducta
PreK: Formatos didácticos para el aprendizaje
Instructora: Lisseth Palacios
Fecha: martes 22 y 29 de abril
Hora: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30pm
Business insurance protects you from the unexpected costs of running a business. Accidents, natural disasters, and lawsuits could threaten the business if you’re not protected with the right insurance. We’ll talk about picking insurance and types of insurance! Bring your knowledge and experience on the topic, as others will want to hear about your experience with insurance providers!
CDA Areas: 5 Instructors: Cindy Butler and Kathryn Walker
Date: Wednesday, 4/2
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Invite will be sent via email
|
|
Within the first year of life, babies will develop critical motor skills that help them make small movements, hold up their head, sit upright, crawl, and eventually walk. You can do many things to encourage the development of bones and muscles to help them reach these milestones. This webinar will summarize motor development, focusing on gross and fine motor and play skills. The webinar will focus on the key milestones of how infants move to support participants in identifying typical, atypical, and delayed development. Information regarding referral and eligibility for the Infant-Toddler Connection program will also be provided.
CDA Areas: 2
Instructors: Leah Kania and Sarah Kim
Date: Thursday, 4/3
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
|
|
In this webinar, Understanding and Managing Food Allergies, you will learn all about food allergies: the causes and symptoms, major food allergens; understand the differences between food allergies and intolerances, and how to manage day-to-day challenges to keep children safe from food allergy reactions.
CDA Areas: 5
Instructors: Kamini Jassal
Date: Thursday, 4/10
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
|
|
Introduction to Family Child Care, new providers will hear information on Safety and Health, Nutrition, Programming, and Professionalism. The webinar will use the Introduction to Family Child Care Handbook to guide the course material. Providers must attend both sessions to receive training credit.
CDA Areas: 1, 3, 5 and 6
Instructors: Gene Anderson and Tracey Medley Brown
Date: Saturday, 4/26
Time: 9:00a.m. – 1:00p.m.
Invite will be sent via email
|
|
Durante el primer año de vida, los bebés desarrollan habilidades motoras fundamentales que les ayudan a realizar pequeños movimientos, mantener la cabeza erguida, sentarse erguidos, gatear y, finalmente, caminar. Hay muchas cosas que los profesionales de la primera infancia pueden hacer para fomentar el desarrollo de huesos y músculos para ayudarlos a alcanzar estos hitos. Este seminario web resumirá el desarrollo motor centrándose en las habilidades de motor grueso, motor fino y el juego. El seminario web prestará atención específica a los hitos clave de cómo se mueven los bebés para ayudar a los participantes a identificar el desarrollo típico, atípico y retrasado. También se proporcionará información sobre como referir y determinar elegibilidad para el programa Infant-Toddler Connection
Área de CDA: 2
Instructora: Jen Saddington
Fecha: Martes, 22 de febrero
Hora: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
|
|
|
|
|
