Explore a child-friendly guide to native Texas plants for outdoor learning environments, schoolyard classrooms, and early childhood programs. This resource highlights plants approved for childcare ... Read more
Learn about the eight CDA® subject areas for Preschool, Infant-Toddler, Family Child Care, and Home Visitor settings. This resource gives candidates a helpful overview of the professional knowledg... Read more
A helpful resource for families and child care providers who want to support healthy sleep habits for young children. This resource shares guidance on creating consistent sleep routines, promoting ... Read more
A useful resource for helping children and families navigate changes in early learning and care settings. This PDF offers guidance for supporting smoother transitions, strengthening family communic... Read more
A valuable resource for teachers and providers who want to build stronger connections with families. This PDF helps early childhood professionals better understand how to support family partnership... Read more
A helpful resource for child care providers who need organized forms and information for enrolling children in care. This packet can support smoother communication with families, help collect impor... Read more
The Sample Child Care Emergency Action Plan is a practical resource for child care programs that want to strengthen emergency preparedness. This PDF helps providers plan for emergencies, organize r... Read more
The CCDF Health and Safety Training Fact Sheet gives child care providers a clear overview of important health and safety training topics. It is a useful resource for learning about training expect... Read more
A helpful guide for understanding important training topics in early childhood education. This resource covers key areas like safe sleep, emergency preparedness, medication administration, infectio... Read more
A helpful application packet for anyone applying to open a Family Child Care Home in California. Includes step-by-step instructions and key information to complete the licensing paperwork accuratel... Read more
The Georgia In-Home Daycare: Family Child Care Learning Home Applicant Guide is the official DECAL resource that explains how to apply to operate a licensed family child care learning home in Georg... Read more
A practical startup guide for anyone opening a child care program. Covers planning basics, policies, staffing, budgeting, and key steps to move from idea to operating—helpful for both center-base... Read more
This quick-reference chart breaks down Maryland child care center staffing requirements in an easy-to-scan format. It’s especially helpful for directors and hiring teams because it summarizes com... Read more
A practical guide that helps teachers and child care staff plan safer field trips for children with food allergies. It includes easy planning steps like checking the destination, communicating with... Read more
A practical, easy-to-follow tip sheet for early educators introducing solid foods safely in child care settings. In early care and education settings, introduce solid foods when infants show develo... Read more
Talking with babies and toddlers is a brain building activity! Every time you talk to a baby and have a high-quality back-and-forth interaction, new connections in that baby’s brain are made. The... Read more
Talking, reading, and singing with young children every day helps build their language skills and supports early brain development. These simple shared activities also strengthen caregiver-child bo... Read more
Week of the Young Child activities celebrate young children's learning and development through play-based, hands-on experiences that spark curiosity and creativity. Popular activities include art p... Read more
If you have no childcare experience, emphasize transferable skills like patience, communication, reliability, and any informal experience (babysitting, tutoring, volunteering) when applying for ent... Read more
Creating the CDA Professional Portfolio involves collecting evidence that demonstrates your knowledge, skills, and competency in early childhood care and education. It typically includes your profe... Read more
Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter in children’s developing brains that helps regulate reward, motivation, attention, and motor control. Proper dopamine signaling supports learning, goal-directed... Read more
The child care workforce requires clearly defined qualifications such as minimum education levels, background checks, CPR/first aid and early childhood credentials or state licensing to ensure care... Read more
Around the World classroom activities let students "visit" different countries through themed stations, presentations, or virtual tours to explore customs, languages, and landmarks. These activitie... Read more
Daycares can support children with special needs by creating inclusive communication environments that use predictable routines, visual supports, and clear, simplified language. Implementing augmen... Read more