Early Childhood Development

Early Childhood Development is designed to begin the process of teaching grades 11 and 12 students the skills required to work with young children.  Students study the growth and development of children from birth to age eight and have the opportunity to assist in a nationally accredited childcare facility, in the PITC/ACAP Collaborative Head Start classroom, Pine Street Elementary School, and/or local childcare centers in Head Start, Pre-K, and childcare classrooms for children ranging in age from infants through 4. Students become certified in Pediatric First Aid and CPR/AED and can earn their 10-hour OSHA certificate. This is a clinical-based program, which includes a laboratory experience for applying learning as well as time for observing, assessing, and interacting with children.  Students work directly with young children in designated classrooms assisting with arts and crafts, science, motor skills, dramatic play, table manners, reading, story time, music and movement activities and behavior management.  Students also assist with daily cleanup duties and classroom maintenance.  In addition, students have daily classroom instruction to learn how to enhance a child’s social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development. Classroom lessons help students gain the knowledge they need to provide children with positive guidance, to observe and assess a child’s development, and to plan and implement a variety of learning activities in a developmentally appropriate manner. Portfolios are used to record and assess the student’s work.