The Early Childhood Environment: Learning Centers
Training to help you create an exciting child’s world!
Course Overview
This course applies to toddlers and preschoolers.
Bound to get your creative energy flowing, this course will help you create an exciting world for children that supports their development and learning. Learn how to design a pleasant and functional learning environment, explore the benefits of designated learning centers, how to work with the resources available to you, and specific benefits of different learning centers in relation to children’s stages and domains of development. Learn how to incorporate hands-on learning experiences such as home-made play dough, art activities, cooking activities, and more!
See the learning outcomes and topics below for more information on what is covered in this course. Please note, much of the information in this course also appears in our 20-clock-hour course, Making Learning Fun.
Choose a course format (online or coursebook) to get started:
Course formats
This course is offered in both our coursebook (with required online component/testing) and our fully online format. The online format of this course includes audio narration in most course sections. Click here to learn more about Care Courses' training formats.
Acceptance information
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This course is accepted in:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, DC
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
For state-specific information, see our State Training pages.
Learning outcomes
After completing this course you will be able to:
- Discuss why functional learning centers are important in early childhood programs
- Identify strategies for setting up art, literacy, block play, and cooking learning centers and using them to engage children in activities that promote development and learning
- Identify strategies for setting up pretend play, music, and outdoor play learning centers to engage children in activities that promote development and learning
Topics covered
- The conditions that must be present for learning to take place
- The function and benefits of learning centers in early childhood facilities
- What a functional learning center does
- How to help children understand the use of learning centers
- How to interpret a program built around learning centers to parents
- Ways to match learning centers to young children's developmental needs
- Ways to set up functional learning centers
- How to create goal-directed lesson plans
- Ways to develop lesson plans around themes
- Ways to build lesson plans around books
- What primary learning centers every early childhood facility should have
- What primary learning centers should contain
- How to include some secondary learning centers even in a small facility
- How to manage the use of learning centers
- The importance of hands-on learning for young children
- Ways to use water play, science activities, unit blocks, and large blocks in early childhood facilities
What our students say about The Early Childhood Environment: Learning Centers
“I’ve taken several courses through your website, and each one was both informative and well presented. Your tech support team was also very helpful when I needed their assistance. Thanks for this great resource!”
“I was able to complete my courses [Music and Movement and Early Childhood Environments: Learning Centers] and I did not have any issues. I liked the way the information was presented. I took away good ideas to implement in my classroom and others to share with my school director for future projects to enhance our playground. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly my course books arrived! Thank you for reaching out.”
“I just wanted to tell you how wonderful your courses are and how much I enjoyed doing them. As a CDA candidate I need 120 clock hours. For five hours of credit I once had to take a day off work and drive two hours there and back—and my car broke down, leaving me stranded for three days. I was discouraged. The day after, my boss handed me your brochure—what timing! At the rate I was going, it would have taken another year to file for my CDA. By doing your courses, I can now file in four weeks. Not only did your coursework help me finish sooner, I thoroughly enjoyed it. They were interesting and taught me much more than I usually learn at classes. Plus, I have the workbooks to use as references. Thank you so much!”
How Care Courses® Training Works: Details & Support
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Course Details & Support
Prerequisites
- Language: Fluent reading and writing in the language of instruction (English or Spanish).
- Technology: Internet access and a web-enabled device (computer, smartphone, or tablet).
Access & Completion Deadline
- This training expires 12 months from the date of purchase.
- To receive a certificate of completion, you must successfully finish the course before the expiration date.
Learning Methods
- Read instructor-written material
- Watch videos
- Listen to audio segments
Assessments
- Multiple-choice quizzes
- Written assignments
Requirements for CEUs and Clock Hours
To earn CEUs and Clock Hours for a course, you must:
- Agree to and acknowledge our Honor Code & Policy
- Follow all instructions for written assignments
- Demonstrate comprehension of the course content
- Achieve the passing score specified in your course.
Quizzes and Assessments
- If your score falls below the passing mark, a trainer will review your work. If needed, you may be asked to speak with a trainer.
- You will have a second chance to retake any quiz or assessment.
- If you do not pass on your second attempt, contact us at info@carecourses.com. We will review your course and follow up directly.
- All quizzes are open book; all answers are found in the course material.
Certificates
- Official Care Courses certificates of completion record your clock hours and CEUs.
- Certificates are available in the My Courses area of your account.
- Please note: All course and certificate dates and times are on Eastern Time.
Getting Started
- See how our training works on the training process page.
- Watch our course navigation video for a quick tour of the online portal.
- Free Unlimited Assistance
- We’re here to help with training, billing, and technical support questions.
- Phone: 1-800-685-7610 (Mon–Fri, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Eastern)
- Email: info@CareCourses.com or techsupport@CareCourses.com (days, evenings, and weekends)
About Care Courses
- Care Courses offers over 50 professional development courses and one non-credit training tutorial on the CDA process.
- All professional development courses include clock hours, CEUs, and an official online certificate of completion.
- (The free CDA tutorial does not offer clock hours or a certificate.)
Tuition & Bundles
- Course tuition entitles one person to receive the clock hours and CEUs granted upon successful completion.
- Bundle pricing covers tuition for all courses included in the bundle.
Policies & Requirements
