Agrilife Extension Resources

Infants’ experiences early in life literally influence the physical structures of the brain, opening the way for patterns of thought and behavior for the rest of a child’s life. This 1-hour course addresses critical topics related to caring for the youngest and most vulnerable population of children, infants and toddlers.

Providing a broad overview of 4 main areas of child growth and development, this course offers practical tips on supporting children’s development. Key findings from brain research and its relevance to the care of young children is briefly explored, as well as the principles of Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP).

One of the most challenging aspects of child care is deciding upon a style of discipline that is appropriate, effective, and in the best interest of each child. Students will learn about the strengths and weaknesses of various disciplinary styles and explore strategies for setting and enforcing healthy limits.

In this course, Early Childhood Educators (ECE) will be provided an overview of social emotional learning in preschoolers with special emphasis on teaching children to learn, regulate emotions and be resilient.

Child care providers have a great influence on what infants and toddlers see, hear, touch, taste, feel, and smell while children are in their care. This course examines several aspects of appropriate environments for infants and toddlers, such as health and safety, space and furnishings, learning areas, and more.

“Getting the wiggles out” is not the sole purpose of outdoor play. This course helps teachers understand the importance of outdoor play and how to make it a priority. Safety aspects such as playground standards

This course examines the role of play in contributing to the healthy development of preschool children. Students who enroll in this course will learn why play should be an important component of every child care program, how to organize indoor and outdoor play spaces, and how to involve children in fun play activities.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the leading cause of death among babies between 1 and 12 months old. This course will help you learn how to create a safe sleep environment for infants, thus reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, also called SIDS, and other sleep-related causes of death that affect infants.

Dealing with conflict between children can be extremely frustrating. However, peer conflict is an entirely normal part of growing up. This course will teach you about positive and negative aspects of children’s conflict, why children engage in conflict with their peers, and how to effectively manage children’s conflicts.