Overview

The GNWT offers this free online training to early childhood educators working in licensed early learning and child care programs who want to expand their knowledge in early childhood development, which they can do at their own pace.

Early Childhood Essentials is a non-credit course that reviews aspects of early childhood and the role of the caregiver. It consists of 17 sessions covering topics such as: 

• The importance of child development professionals
• Respecting cultural diversity
• Communicating effectively
• Intentionally observing children
• Physical development
• Cognitive development
• Language development
• Social-emotional development
• Creative development
• Developing through play
• Providing for play
• Healthy eating environments and nurturing through daily routines
• Guiding children's behaviour
• Health, safety and supervision
• Together with families
• Child abuse and family violence
• Becoming a child development professional

Each session will take approximately 3 hours to complete, including reading, watching videos and completing exercises and tests. You will have access to an instructor that will provide feedback on your progress and who is available to assist you as needed.

Sessions can be completed in multiple sittings. Participants can access the online course and the exams 24 hours a day, 7 days week from any computer with internet access. You have 180 days (25 weeks) to complete the course from the time you are granted access into the course.

When you have successfully completed all 17 sections you will be awarded a certificate of completion.

Eligibility

This course is for early childhood educators working in licensed programs, both centre-based and home-based programs.

How to register

Sign up for the course now!