Introduction to Child Development

Introduction to Early Childhood Development is the initial bridge course in a series of three courses that prepare adults for the early childhood education field. This course will provide an introduction to the core competencies of child development. Students engage in hands-on activities, learn principles of early child development, complete homework assignments, explore child development education as a career, self-evaluate their teamwork, organization and soft skills, and volunteer at an early child development Head Start Center. Students will learn about the different early childhood settings: schools, family, and centers. They will learn about child development, guidance, nutrition, health, and safety. Specific topics covered include: fine motor skills, art, math and recycling, music and movement, playground (large motor skills), science, games, dramatic play, library, blocks, nutrition, and safety and emergencies. This 12-week course is part of a three-course series developed and offered by Saint Paul ABE-Hubbs Center. The series was developed to allow adult basic education (ABE) students at various levels of language/reading ability to enter a child development pathway that eventually can lead to a FastTRAC college-level Childhood Development Careers Certificate. The courses are standalone and placement is on the basis of language/reading ability.

Additional stages of the three-course bridge series are included in the ACP Resource Center. These additional stages include Introduction to Child Development 2 and Child Development 3.