• • Child Development Associate (CDA)
  • Child Care Orientation Training (CCOT)
• Caregiver Certificate Program
  • Health and Safety
  • Guidance and Behavior Management
  • Creative Activities
  • Pre-K Ella Early Literacy Learning in Arkansas (Pre-K Ella)
  • Integrated Math-Science for 3 to 5 Year Old Children

Child Development Associate (CDA)

The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is awarded to individuals who pass the CDA assessment by demonstrating their ability to meet the specific needs of children and work with parents and other adults to nurture children's physical, emotional, and intellectual growth in a child development framework. Earning the CDA credential lets others know that the caregiver meets national and state standards required to teach in an early childhood setting. Contact Shelli Henehan in the College of Education at 479-788-7917 for more information.

Child Care Orientation Training (CCOT)

20 hours of basic orientation training for child care workers who have had little or no previous child care training. This course is required prior to taking all other early childhood education programs. Topics covered are: Child Care as a Profession, Child Growth and Development, Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Children's Health, Handling Emergencies, Children's Safety, Guiding Children, Communication, Observation/Assessment/Accountability, and Human Diversity. A certificate of completion is awarded to all students who successfully complete the class. Contact Shelli Henehan in the College of Education at 479-788-7917 for more information.

Caregiver Certificate Program

In light of the need for increased child care training, a new level of training has been developed called the Caregiver Certificate program. These 16-hour classes offer professional development training for caregivers who have received the 20-hour Child Care Orientation Training (CCOT) Certificate. Three classes are currently offered, with three additional classes in the developmental stage.

Health and Safety

This course consists of eight units of instruction: Promoting Children's Health, Preventing Disease, Managing Illness, Child Maltreatment, Preventing Injuries, Nutrition, Food Safety, and The Health of the Caregiver. Contact Shelli Henehan in the College of Education at 479-788-7917 for more information.

Guidance and Behavior Management

This course provides child care professionals with skills and knowledge needed to promote positive behavior, set up an environment that prevents problem behaviors and use effective skills and techniques for dealing with all children. This course includes five units of instruction: Knowledge Base, Indirect Guidance, Direct Guidance, Misbehavior, and Problem Solving. Contact Shelli Henehan in the College of Education at 479-788-7917 for more information.

Creative Activities

This course provides training and education to assist caregivers as they organize and plan curriculum that promotes choice and creativity. Topic covered include: Creative Play, Language and Dramatic Play, Art, Music and Movement, and Math and Science. Contact Shelli Henehan in the College of Education at 479-788-7917 for more information.

Pre-K Ella Early Literacy Learning in Arkansas (Pre-K Ella)

Pre-K Ella is a 30-hour course designed to provide child care professionals with the knowledge and skills to implement developmentally appropriate experiences that promote emergent literacy skills for children ages 3 to 5 prior to their entry into kindergarten. Topics covered are: Social and Emotional Development Related to Literacy, Creative Learning Environments That Are Literacy Rich and Guide Behavior, Overview of Language Development-Language Arts, The Role of Play, Dramatic Play, Drama and Play Acting, Read Aloud, Storytelling, Poetry, Nursery Rhymes, Finger Plays and Songs, Learning About Letters, Sounds and Words, Environmental Print, Writing in the Pre-K Balanced Literacy Program, Assessment, Observation and Portfolio, Fostering Children's Emergent Literacy Development Through the Family. Contact Shelli Henehan in the College of Education at 479-788-7917 for more information.

Integrated Math-Science for 3 to 5 Year Old Children

Integrated Math-Science is a 48-hour course to provide child care professionals with the knowledge and skills to implement developmentally appropriate experiences that promote math and science skills for children ages 3 to 5 prior to kindergarten. Topics covered are: Concept Development in Mathematics and Science; Fundamental Math and Science Concepts and Skills (including counting, budgeting, comparing, early geometry and measurement); Applying Fundamental Math/Science Concepts, Attitudes and Skills, Symbols and Higher Level Activities; and Mathematical Concepts and Operations in the Pre-K Setting. Contact Shelli Henehan at 479-788-7917 in the College of Education for more information.