The Early Childhood Environment: Learning Centers

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 course Making Learning Fun.

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

This course is accepted for child care professional development training requirements in most states and for the CDA credential and for CDA renewal training requirements.

Learning outcomes

After completing The Early Childhood Environment: Learning Centers 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; and 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!" - Brooklyn, New York

"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 did take away some good ideas that I can implement in my classroom as well as some ideas I plan to present to my school director for future projects to enhance our playground. I was pleasantly surprised at the speed with which my course books arrived! Thank you for reaching out. Have a wonderful fall!" - St. Leonard, Maryland

"I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how wonderful your courses are and how much I enjoyed doing them. As a CDA candidate I am required to have 120 clock hours. For five hours of credit I had to take a day off of work, drive two hours there and two hours back. The last one I took my car broke down and was stuck two hours away for three days. I was so discouraged. The day after the car incident my boss handed me one of your brochures that had just come in the mail. What timing! At the rate I was going (with courses scheduled about once a month that I could attend) it would be at least another year before I could file for my CDA. This all happened the end of April. By doing your courses I can now file for my CDA in four weeks. (Unfortunately, your courses do not include multimedia First Aid that I am due to renew!) But not only did your coursework enable me to get my CDA much sooner - I thoroughly enjoyed doing it. They were interesting and taught me so m much more than I usually learn at classes. Plus, I have the workbooks to use for references. Thank you so much! - Barnegat, New Jersey

"This course was very interesting. I have learned a lot about the different centers. I will be adding more to my block center. My children really like to build with blocks, but I never knew it was such a important area. thanks for all the great ideas." - Glencoe, Minnesota