Child Growth and Development Training North Dakota - post

Families trust child care teachers to notice how children are growing and learning. In North Dakota, this matters in every setting—centers, family child care, and school-age programs. When you understand child growth and development, you can plan better activities, spot concerns early, and talk with families in a kind, helpful way.

Why is it important to understand child growth and development?

When you work with children, you are helping them grow in many ways—not just getting taller.

Knowing growth and development helps you:

• Plan activities that fit a child’s age

• Support children with different needs

• Understand behavior (because behavior is often a child’s way of communicating)

• Keep children safe with the right supervision

• Talk with families in a clear, kind way

In North Dakota, this knowledge also helps you meet child care rules that focus on safe care and age-appropriate learning.

What’s the difference between “growth” and “development”?

These words sound similar, but they are not the same.

Growth means body changes, like:

• Height and weight

• Muscle strength

• Teeth, bones, and body changes over time

Development means learning new skills, like:

• Talking and understanding words

• Moving (running, jumping, using hands)

• Thinking and problem-solving

• Managing feelings and making friends

Children grow and learn at different speeds. That is normal. Your job is to support each child and watch for patterns over time.

How does knowing milestones help you do your job better?

Milestones are skills many children learn around certain ages. You do not need to “test” children every day. But it helps to know what is typical, so you can notice when a child may need extra support.

Knowing milestones helps you:

• Set fair expectations (example: toddlers are still learning to share)

• Choose the right activities (example: preschoolers learn best through play)

• Prevent problems (example: offer movement breaks for children who struggle to sit still)

• Document what you see with simple notes for your program

If you want a full, step-by-step review of ages and stages, this course is a great fit: https://www.childcareed.com/courses-45-hour-growth-and-development-birth-age-12-online.html

How does growth and development connect to child behavior?

Sometimes adults think children are “being bad,” but many behaviors are really about development.

For example:

• A 2-year-old may bite because they do not have the words to explain big feelings yet.

• A 4-year-old may ignore directions when they are tired or overstimulated.

• A 7-year-old may argue because they are learning independence and fairness.

Try this simple habit:

• Ask: “What is this child trying to tell me?”

• Teach: what to do next (“Hands are for helping. Let’s take deep breaths.”)

• Practice: the skill again later (sharing, waiting, using words)

This is part of building strong social-emotional skills. #ChildDevelopment

What training is required in North Dakota, and why does it matter?

North Dakota requires child care providers and staff to complete specific training. These rules help keep children safe and help programs offer better care.

Here are key preservice training requirements from North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS):

• New Provider Orientation:

  • New owners/operators must complete it before license or self-declared approval

  • New directors/supervisors must complete it within 30 days of employment

• Getting Started (15-hour basic child care course):

  • All providers and staff must complete it within the first 3 months of becoming licensed or employed

• Mandated Reporter training:

  • Required every year for all providers and staff

• North Dakota Safe Sleep (for infant care):

  • Staff caring for infants must complete 1 hour of approved safe sleep training before caring for infants and annually after that

• Pediatric CPR/AED and Pediatric First Aid:

  • Staff who care for/teach children must be certified within 90 days of employment and before unsupervised access

  • Online training may be allowed, but a hands-on skills test is also required (and CPR/First Aid does not count toward annual training hours)

How many yearly training hours do you need in North Dakota?

North Dakota also requires ongoing training hours each licensing year, and the number depends on your role, license type, and sometimes how many hours you work.

Here are examples from the HHS training requirements page (these totals include safe sleep and mandated reporter hours):

• Self-Declaration Provider: 3 hours/year

• Family License: 9 hours/year

• Group License:

  • Supervisor/Director: 10 hours/year

  • Staff (depends on hours worked): 8 / 6 / 4 / 2 hours/year

• Center, Preschool, or School-Age License:

  • Supervisor/Director: 13 hours/year

  • Staff (depends on hours worked): 13 / 11 / 9 / 7 hours/year

Also important: North Dakota says training usually cannot be duplicated within a 3-year period, except for annual safe sleep and annual mandated reporter training. #NorthDakotaChildCare

Where do you track training in North Dakota?

North Dakota uses the ND Early Childhood Workforce Registry, also known as Growing Futures, and the ND Early Childhood Hub to support and track professional development.

If you ever feel unsure, ask your supervisor/director or licensing specialist which license type your program uses and what your yearly hour total should be.

How can ChildCareEd training help you meet North Dakota requirements?

Training helps you meet rules and become more confident with children and families.

These ChildCareEd courses connect directly to growth, development, and strong teaching:

• https://www.childcareed.com/courses-45-hour-growth-and-development-birth-age-12-online.html

• https://www.childcareed.com/courses-early-childhood-education.html

They can help you understand:

• What skills children learn at different ages

• How to guide behavior using developmentally appropriate strategies

• How to create routines that support learning and safety #EarlyLearning

What is one easy tool you can use to support healthy growth?

A simple growth chart can help you notice patterns over time and support family conversations (when your program policy allows it).

Use this ChildCareEd resource:
https://www.childcareed.com/r-00527-grow-up-healthy-growth-chart.html

Helpful tip: look for steady growth over time, not “perfect numbers.” If something seems off, follow your program’s process and talk with your director.

What else should you know about working in child care in North Dakota?

Requirements can depend on your role and setting. If you are new (or thinking about starting), this ChildCareEd article can help you understand the bigger picture:
https://www.childcareed.com/a/what-do-you-need-to-work-in-childcare-in-north-dakota.html

How can you stay connected and keep learning?

Want quick tips you can use right away? Follow ChildCareEd on Facebook for ideas, reminders, and training updates: https://www.facebook.com/childcareed/

When you understand growth and development, you can care for children with more confidence—and you can meet North Dakota training requirements with less stress.