Participants in the non-credit certificate program, scheduled to begin Oct. 1, will learn how neurological development in children affects their learning. They will also gain an understanding of how children process information, develop oral language skills and have different learning styles. The program will emphasize the interconnectedness of reading, writing, listening and oral language. By giving child care providers training, we hope that children in their care will be better prepared to enter school and have rewarding educational experiences. To earn a certificate participants must complete six 16-hour courses for a total of 96 hours of instruction.
Participants can attend classes either on the weekend or on mornings during the week.
The program will take participants approximately 16 months to complete, said Pels, who noted that the center has received inquiries from parents who want to enroll their nannies as well as from agencies that provide day care. We're also conducting discussions with large organizations, such as Head Start, to see if we can help them train greater numbers of child care providers.