Category Education

Teaching comes with many challenges. Each grade level requires different competencies and, therefore, requires different and specific skills and knowledge from teachers. Early childhood education, for example, is one of the most sensitive and formative stepping stones of a child’s life because they are still in their most absorbent stage during that time. If you are considering a career in Early Childhood Education, you have probably heard of the 12 core units required to get started. These units are often the minimum academic foundation for working in licensed child care centers like Head Start programs, Preschools, and other early education centers in California and other states that follow the same standards. These are required to ensure that teachers have a strong understanding of child development, curriculum planning, and health and safety. But what are these 12 early childhood education units?

What Are the 12 Core Early Childhood Education Units?

Perhaps surprisingly, the twelve core early childhood education units do not refer to twelve individual principles that educators must complete for their teaching credentials. Rather, the units refer to course units that must be completed as part of a teacher’s education. Educational courses are typically 3-5 units—ECE units, in particular, are generally three each—so aspiring educators will complete approximately four courses to satisfy this requirement. The courses taken to satisfy ECE requirements are typically as follows.

Child Growth and Development (3 units)

This is the course that teaches how children grow physically, emotionally, and cognitively from the time they are born until around 8 years old. Developmental milestones, exploration of the theories of development by Piaget and Erikson, and the role of genetics and environment are included in the topics.

The topics covered help educators develop age-appropriate learning experiences and recognize delays early on.

Child, Family, Community (3 units)

The focus of this course is the relationships between young children, their families, and their communities. Future educators get to examine cultural diversity, family structures, and societal influences on child development.

It is important to build strong relationships with children in order to give them the best possible education. This also requires building relationships with their families and understanding their backgrounds so teachers can best support a child’s learning and overall well-being.

Introduction to Curriculum or Principles and Practices of Teaching Young Children (3 units)

In this class, future educators get to explore developmentally appropriate practices in early childhood education. They learn about topics on curriculum planning, learning environments, play-based learning, and the role of observation and assessment.

This course is intended to help educators design lessons and activities that promote learning while at the same time taking into consideration the unique needs of individual children.

Health, Safety, and Nutrition (3 units)

This course is where the students learn about promoting the physical health and safety of children in early learning setups. It covers various topics such as child abuse prevention, emergency preparedness, nutritional guidelines, and disease prevention.

This course ensures that the staff at early education centers are equipped to mentally and physically care for children in their centers and handle the pressure of caring for so many children at once in a closed environment. Ensuring a safe and healthy environment is a top priority and responsibility of any early childhood education center and provider.

Potential Variations

Most schools require that students take twelve units each semester. However, they may be packaged differently depending on how the program is designed. For example, in some schools, the health and safety course may be combined or counted slightly differently. Be that as it may, the essential content areas remain the same.

In addition, there are times when employers require more than just 12 units. For example:

• 16 units may be required for lead teaching positions
• Specialization units in infant toddler care/special education, or administration, may be required depending on the career path you plan to take.

Logistics

You can complete these 12 core units at 

• Community colleges
• Four-year universities
• Accredited online programs
• Vocational schools

After completion of the 12 units, you will then be qualified for entry-level positions such as:

• Teacher Assistant or Teaching Aide
• Associate Teacher (with experience)
• Substitute Teacher in a preschool
• Childcare worker in licensed centers

Completion also opens the door to further study in:

• Associate degrees in Early Childhood Education
• Bachelor’s degree in Childhood Development or related field
• State certification or permits

More than just job eligibility and completing qualification requirements, these units can help you build confidence and provide you with a deeper understanding of how young children accumulate learning and how they grow. Many students also discover their passion for teaching while undergoing these courses of study, and the courses become launchpads for lifelong careers in education, child psychology, or child advocacy.

The Highest Standard of Care at Towne and Country Early Education Center

At Towne and Country Early Education Center, we believe in the power of well-prepared, well-qualified educators. So, if you are looking for a learning center where educators and assistant teachers are passionate and well-equipped to help in the education and development of preschool children, reach out to us today so you can discover how we can be your partner in supporting your little one.

Sending children to kindergarten is a big milestone, not just for the child but also for the parents. It is an exciting time, but it is also a time that can cause parents to be anxious, uncertain, and have a lot of questions. After all, aside from being the start of their formal education, this is also the time when children start to spend extended periods away from home. The good news is, with some thoughtful preparation, you can help your child feel confident in facing this new chapter in their life. So, after choosing the best early education center for your child, how do you prepare a kid for kindergarten? Here are some practical things you can do to make sure you and your child are prepared for this milestone.

How Do You Prepare a Kid for Kindergarten?

Build a Routine Early On

Your child needs to have a routine. Remember to start building a routine for your child weeks before the start of the school year. Schedule a regular time for waking up, getting dressed, eating meals, brushing one’s teeth, and going to bed. Children feel safe and in control when they can predict what is going to happen next. This will make it easier for them to transition to the school schedule.

A “morning routine dry run” where your child goes through the whole routine of waking up, brushing teeth, eating breakfast, and putting on their backpack will give them an idea of what to expect on the first day of school. This will help reduce stress during the first few days of school.

Strengthen Social Skills

Kindergarten students need to interact, cooperate, and share with others. A well-socialized child will be able to adjust more easily in class, so look for ways to expose your child to social situations long before the school year starts. Arrange playdates, attend storytimes, or visit playgrounds where they can play and interact with other children their own age. Make sure that they know how to take turns, use polite words, and express themselves through words and not actions. Teach them how to introduce themselves properly, how to ask for help, and how to listen when someone is talking.

Give your child simple directions to follow at home. Following directions and listening skills are two very essential skills to learn even before your child enters school. A game of “Simon Says” or “Red Light, Green Light” can help develop these skills.

Encourage Independence

Remember that the Kindergarten teacher will handle a group of very young children, and having them ask the teacher to do things for them all at the same time causes unnecessary stress that can otherwise be avoided if children are better prepared. Your child should know how to do simple things like:

• Using the bathroom and washing their hands without help
• Opening their lunchbox and eating on their own
• Putting on or taking off their jacket or shoes
• Putting toys in the right bins or throwing their trash away

Practice these and other simple things weeks before classes start. Allow your child to make simple decisions like choosing which shirt to wear or choosing between two snacks. This will help build their confidence and independence.

Introduce Basic Academic Skills

Basic academic skills can give your child a boost of confidence and a head start. Integrate these academic skills in everyday activities to help your child develop these skills even before entering the classroom for the first time.

• Reading: Have a habit of reading to your child. Ask about the story. Point out the letters and words as you say them. Talk about the pictures.
• Numbers: Count everyday items like oranges, buttons, stairs, and marshmallows. Incorporate number skills through play. Let them count their stems as they walk. Make it fun
• Colors and Shapes: Play games that involve identifying shapes and colors. Go to the park or the grocery store and let your child identify the colors and shapes of grocery items or fresh produce like eggs, fruits, and vegetables.
• Name Recognition: Teach your child how to write their name. Use playdough, crayons, and markers to help your child learn to read and write their name.

Visit the School Together

Go to the school and take a tour with your child. This will help them familiarize themselves with the learning environment and will also make them feel more excited about attending classes there.

Talk with Your Child

Tell your child that this is an important time in their life and that you are excited and happy for them. Say that it is normal to feel a little nervous at first, but that all the bad feelings will slowly go away once they get to know their teacher and classmates, and once they start learning new things and doing fun things. Do not forget to remind your child that you are always there to support the,m no matter what. If necessary, you can talk about a fun thing you remember doing in kindergarten or how much fun a cousin or older sibling is having in school. 

Give Your Child the Best Head Start

Preparing your child for kindergarten is a process that involves patience, creativity, practice, and a lot of encouragement. Helping children develop routines, social skills, independence, and basic academic foundations can make this transition smoother and more fun for them. In addition, it is going to make them feel more confident and ready to go to school. 

Your patience, support, and understanding will go a long way in helping your child build confidence, awaken their curiosity, and develop in them a love for learning. And if you really want your child to have a good head start, consider registering them for a pre-k program.

Towne and Country Early Education Center

Schedule a consultation with us so we can discuss with you how our program will help your child grow.

When people hear the term summer camp, they usually think about fun-filled outdoor adventures like sports and social activities. However, beyond this traditional image, summer camps can also be powerful tools for education. These non-traditional camps are designed to supplement formal education. Parents who want to ensure their children are well-prepared for school can lean on professionals to introduce topics that will be invaluable during the school year. Many early education centers also offer summer camp programs to young kids. We discuss these programs below.

What Is Summer Camp?

A summer camp is an organization that is aimed at providing adult-supervised fun developmental activities for children in the summer. There are different types of summer camps, and although sports and recreational camps are the ones that most people are familiar with, there are also STEM camps, academic camps, technology camps, and performing arts camps. These are meant not only to give children something to do when school is over, but also are designed to supplement education. They provide the children with opportunities to enhance their knowledge, develop their critical thinking skills, and explore new areas of interest in an engaging and dynamic environment.

The Purpose of Educational Summer Camps

Educational summer camps are designed to bridge the gap between academic years. The goal is to prevent children from forgetting the things they learned in school during the previous year. Additionally, the camps allow the children to engage in the subjects they have a passion for, explore topics that they do not usually get to study in traditional classrooms, and gain hands-on experience, which leads to a more solid understanding of the subjects.

When compared to the traditional school setup, summer camps provide a more relaxing environment for the children. A more relaxed study space helps children to learn and absorb knowledge without the pressure of exams and making good grades. Their immersion in this program develops their curiosity, creativity, and a love for lifelong learning.

Types of Education Summer Camps 

Educational camps come in various forms and target different age groups, interests, and academic needs.

STEM CAMPS (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics)

STEM camps are great for children who want to be exposed to real-world applications of math and science, often through hands-on experiments, coding workshops, engineering challenges, and robotic competitions. For instance, children may build and program their own robots, conduct chemistry experiments, or learn to develop mobile phone applications. These activities develop the children’s analytical and problem-solving skills and help them learn to work in a team.

Language and Literature Camps

These camps are for students who are interested in improving their language and communication skills. Language and literature camps give children a structured yet fun learning environment where they can learn new languages, enhance their reading comprehension, and learn to write creatively. Some of these camps focus on storytelling or journalism, while others focus on offering foreign language learning.

Arts and Creativity Camps

These camps are usually categorized as enrichment programs, but they play an important educational role in teaching children about history, culture, and self-expression. Specifically, they advance these lessons via different artistic mediums like theater, painting, music, and dance. Through these activities, children learn to appreciate the arts and develop discipline and confidence, two very important values that can help them build a successful future.

Leadership and Entrepreneurship Camps

Leadership and entrepreneurship camps are designed to develop leadership skills, business acumen, and financial literacy for the children. Activities such as mock business projects, public speaking workshops, and debate competitions allow children to develop essential life skills like decision-making skills, teamwork, and strategic thinking, all of which are important for future academic and professional challenges.

Environmental and Outdoor Education Camps

In these camps, children learn about sustainability, conservation, and biology. This is typically achieved through hands-on activities like gardening, wildlife observation, and eco-friendly projects. Field trips to nature reserves, ecological research centers, and science labs are also often incorporated to develop an appreciation for the environment and instill responsible stewardship of natural resources.

Benefits of Educational Camps

• Improved academic performance
• Increased confidence
• Enhanced independence
• Better social skills
• Exposure to more career opportunities
• Develop life skills and good habits
• Appreciation for continuous learning

Choose the Right Summer Camp

Educational summer camps provide engaging and fun activities for your children. They are a great investment that will bring many immeasurable benefits to your children. If you have decided to enroll your children in an educational summer camp, consider the curriculum, instructor qualifications, and the balance between educational and recreational activities. Class size should also be considered. The younger the children are, the smaller the class size should be.

Towne and Country Early Education Center

If you are looking for an educational summer camp program for your young children, call today to discuss our programs.