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Early Childhood Development Aide

Overview

The Certificate in Early Childhood Development Aide is designed to provide entry level qualification to persons who currently work in the early childhood sector and persons who wish to train for entry level positions in the sector. The programme comprises of courses in Child Development and Care; Procedures and Regulations of the Early Childhood Sector; and Nutrition in the Early Childhood Years. The programme adheres to the philosophy of Competency-based Education and Training. The CVQ competency standards for Early Childhood Development will be the focus of the teaching learning experiences. Competency standards are industry-determined specifications of performance, which describe the skills, knowledge and attitudes required by a worker in the performance of a particular role in the workplace. The teaching, learning and assessment experiences are therefore designed to ensure the active involvement of learners in class and workplace settings.

Objectives

Competences

Programme Summary

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Foundations of Child Development

This module introduces learners to the foundational concepts in the field of child development. Topics will include ages and stages of development from conception to age eight years, domains of development, and relevant theorists. Learners will be expected to differentiate between physical, cognitive, and social/emotional development, and to identify characteristics of children at various stages of development.

Learning Outcomes:
  • Differentiate between growth and development
  • Use terms related to children’s growth and development correctly
  • List the stages and sensitive periods (Hinde’s theory) of pre-natal development
  • Identify the stages of psychomotor development in children.
  • Identify the stages of social, emotional development.
  • Identify the stages of cognitive development.
  • Examine the role genetics plays in determining the sex of children, and multiple births.
  • Recognize genetic abnormalities in children.
  • Examine the impact of the prenatal environment on children’s growth and development.
  • Articulate the importance of prenatal health care on children’s growth and development.
  • Identify the stages of childbirth correctly.
  • Describe the effect of birth complications on children’s growth and development.
  • Describe the effects of postpartum depression on children’s growth and development.
  • Discuss the agents of socialization.
  • Discuss how socialization factors influence the development of children’s personality and self-concept.
  • Differentiate between self-concept and self-esteem.
  • State the importance of self-concept and self-esteem in personality development.
  • Apply correct methods for building positive self-concept and self-esteem in children.
  • Detail factors that support or hinder the cognitive development of St. Lucian children.
  • Scrutinize the factors that support or hinder the social, emotional, and moral development and personality formation of St. Lucian children.
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Observing Children and Documenting Findings

This unit provides for the acquisition of skills, knowledge, and attitude to carry out objective observations, documentation and reporting of information about all children. Learners will be expected to observe children in naturalistic settings, implement a variety of documentation methods including narrative records, time and behaviour sampling, and developmental checklists, and report information related to the development of all children.

Learning Outcomes:
  • Demonstrate the ability to accurately observe and record essential information about young children’s growth and development, actions, and behaviours.
  • Understand the context and purpose of observation as a means of gathering information about a child.
  • Select and appropriately use a variety of informal observation and documentation strategies (narrative records, portfolios, photographs, videos, event and time samples, checklists, screening tools).
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the necessity of routine and on-going observations of a child in a natural setting in order to understand the development of that child.
  • Demonstrate objectivity in documentation of observed events/behaviours/activities.
  • Report developmental information based on observations that are free from bias and stereotyping of children.
  • Report observations carefully and accurately and according to Competences.
  • Develop methods of involving families in observing and planning for their children.
  • Devise methods for young children to document their learning and use the documentation to raise new questions, plan new learning experiences, and demonstrate their learning progress to teachers, parents, and other children and adults.
  • Evaluate the role of cultural context and interpretation in the observation process. Apply child development theory in the observation process.
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Child Abuse

The unit outlines the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect suffered by children and their family members in the Saint Lucia context. The course content includes safety of the child, legal responsibilities and the process used when a suspected case has been reported.

Learning Outcomes:
  • Sensitively discuss cultural considerations in the context of child abuse and family violence.
  • Distinguish between discipline, punishment and child abuse.
  • Identify high risk caregivers and their behaviours.
  • Explore the range of personal reactions to child abuse and family violence.
  • Utilize a list of indicators to detect and report suspicions of child abuse and family violence.
  • Respond effectively to the disclosure of child abuse and family violence.
  • Relay the steps involved in reporting suspicions of child abuse and family violence.
  • Develop strategies and interventions for helping abused children and their families.
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Maintaining a Child-Oriented Environment

This module will provide learners with a foundation in establishing environments and learning centers that enhance children’s development and facilitate active exploration by providing developmentally and appropriate resources and materials. Learners will learn strategies to adapt the environment to meet the individual needs of children. Learners will also develop the knowledge and skills to provide a safe and stimulating physical environment for young children that maintains occupational health and safety standards.

Learning Outcomes:
  • Organize space, furniture and equipment in a manner that provides opportunities for a variety of activities that facilitate desired outcomes and maintain the safety and well-being of children.
  • Arrange entrances and exits to ensure that they are free from obstruction and are correctly labeled according to ECD standards.
  • Create opportunities for children to assume a variety of responsibilities for the environment.
  • Identify potential barriers in the environment for children with different mobility needs and modify the environment accordingly to enable the participation of all children.
  • Use the outside area to maximize children’s exploration of the natural environment.
  • Adapt the learning environment in a safe, non-threatening manner and provide materials to stimulate the interests of children and reflect emerging needs.
  • Schedule regular checks of equipment and supplies to ensure they are in good working order, in adequate supply, safe and labeled for easy identification.
  • Organize display space to maintain interest of children and families by providing content that is developmentally and contextually appropriate, promotes discussion and learning and avoids overstimulation and clutter.
  • Recognize the importance of parent and children’s involvement in the selection and maintenance of materials for display and in the learning environment.
  • Design a display space and ensure classroom materials that actively promote positive images of people of different races, genders, cultures, religions and abilities.
  • Prepare a visual display that includes children’s own work in ways that value their efforts in an attractive manner and is easily accessible by children.
  • Establish a variety of learning centres that are easily accessible and safe that includes a variety of appropriate materials and equipment to provoke children’s interests and using each learning centre.
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Facilitate Play and Leisure

In this module learners will be provided with strategies to guide individual children’s play and leisure, giving due regard to children’s ages, abilities, interests, cultures and languages. Students will learn to create environments that foster play and leisure by providing contextually appropriate play materials.

Learning Outcomes:
  • Create indoor and outdoor areas for different types of play with a variety of resources and materials that are regularly changed that promote the holistic growth and learning of children.
  • Give children sufficient time for play that facilitates learning, in both individual and group settings.
  • Identify children’s individual interests, needs, cultural diversity, gender and differing abilities when planning activities.
  • Recognize, acknowledge and praise children’s efforts.
  • Use a range of flexible materials and resources to promote extensions of play.
  • Follow children’s lead when participating in play activities.
  • Evaluate and monitor children’s reactions to the play environment for the purpose of creating play activities.
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Support the Appropriate Management of Children's Behaviour

This module covers knowledge and skills required to support appropriate management of children’s behaviour, including direct guidance strategies as well as indirect strategies such as the modification of programme plans and environments.

Learning Outcomes:
  • Identify caregiving styles.
  • Describe positive guidance strategies.
  • Apply developmentally appropriate positive guidance strategies.
  • Create developmentally appropriate environments that foster positive behaviours.
  • Identify appropriate resources in the centre or community for persistent behaviour challenges.
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Contribute to Children's Personal Hygiene and Maintain a Hygienic Environment

This module will outline how to maintain a hygienic environment and meet children’s personal hygiene needs. The focus of this module is on the toileting needs of children while in care.

Learning Outcomes:
  • Recognize the importance of following parents’/guardians’ personal hygiene routines and making adaptations as required including provisions for skin and hair care.
  • Explain the importance of a child’s right to have exclusive use to their own personal hygiene items and ensure that items are readily accessible and developmentally appropriate.
  • Apply strategies to teach children about the importance of personal hygiene and health practices.
  • Support children in developing self-help skills through developmentally appropriate routines and practices in a way that does not undermine the child’s self-esteem and privacy.
  • Select appropriate and safe methods of disposing of waste products and soiled items
  • Describe cleaning and disinfecting procedures as required in public health regulations including toileting areas.
  • Comply with the public health regulations in regard to ventilation, heating and cooling.
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Respond to Illness in a Child and Preventing Illness

This module will introduce common childhood illnesses. The strategies to support and comfort children and families in times of illness will be discussed. Students will learn how to properly administer medication and complete necessary records. Illness prevention strategies will also be discussed.

Learning Outcomes:
  • Identify and document signs and symptoms, which might indicate illness/emerging chronic conditions, and the process of reporting to appropriate persons.
  • Implement strategies to reassure ill children.
  • Understand the importance of isolating ill children, including exclusion policy, in accordance with public health regulations.
  • Monitor children’s illness and identify when to seek medical attention.
  • Inform parents/guardians in a calm and reassuring manner of the child’s condition or illness
  • Demonstrate appropriate practices in administering medication to children.
  • Prepare accurate, legible and up-to-date records of a child’s health in accordance to public health regulations.
  • Apply strategies to adapt routines and activities as necessary to accommodate the needs of the sick child while reducing the risk of cross-infection.
  • Recognize the importance of communicating with parents/guardians when children are exposed to communicable diseases. Recognize the importance of communicating with parents/guardians when children are exposed to communicable diseases.
  • Apply universal precautions and infection control guidelines, including hygiene principles.
  • Explain the importance of documenting all medications in accordance with public health regulations.
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Provide Opportunities For Children To Rest or Sleep

In this module, learners will be introduced to creating an environment that is soothing and comfortable for children to rest throughout the day while in care. The importance of sleep and rest period will be discussed while keeping children’s and family needs in mind.

Learning Outcomes:
  • Explain the importance of adequate rest/sleep within the daily routine.
  • Review public health and safety Competences in terms of rest and sleep areas.
  • Create a sleep/rest environment with developmentally appropriate furniture, equipment and bedding for individual children.
  • Understand the importance of providing children with comfort objects during rest and sleep routines.
  • Apply techniques to reassure and comfort children during rest/sleep routines.
  • Create a quiet area for children who are not resting, preventing them from disrupting others.
  • Recognize the importance of waking children in a caring and unhurried manner.
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Supervise The Safety of Children and Respond to Threats and Situations of Danger

In this module, the learners will develop the knowledge and skills to respond effectively to emergencies that are common in the early childhood field. They will learn to identify potential threats to children’s health and safety and follow appropriate protocol. Strategies to reduce risk will be discussed.

Learning Outcomes:
  • Apply practices that ensure the safety of self and others.
  • Provide immediate First Aid as required.
  • Practice appropriate strategies to calm, reassure and comfort children.
  • Record details of emergencies and report emergencies accurately.
  • Respond to emergencies and accidents according to the standard of Operation, Management and Administration of Early Childhood Institutions
  • Identify and assess threats or potential threats and follow emergency protocols.
  • Describe the legal requirement for supervising children.
  • Explain and implement rules for safe play.
  • Recognize how to alter potential risks to minimize or reduce risk.
  • Explain potential risks, and emergency and evacuation procedures to children while supervising.
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Provision of Food and Drink

Learners will develop the knowledge and skills that will enable them to meet the nutritional needs of children based on current Standards. Learners will examine how to prepare age appropriate, attractive and appetizing meals and snacks while taking children’s health, religious and cultural Competences into consideration.

Learning Outcomes:
  • Plan nutritional meals for children based on established local standards of the industry.
  • Create accommodations for children’s health, cultural and religious Competences and preferences in menu planning as long as it is not detrimental to good health.
  • Select and prepare meals that are age appropriate.
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Food Safety

In this module, learners will be introduced to the appropriate food handling practices under the current Saint Lucian guidelines. Learners will also develop the competencies that would enable them to report inconsistencies in these practices.

Learning Outcomes:
  • Handle food in a manner that is consistent with established local guidelines for food safety.
  • Identify processes or practices, which are not consistent with the guidelines, and report the inconsistencies to appropriate personnel for remedial action.
  • Maintain a clean and tidy food service area according to public health regulations.
  • Determine health conditions and/or illnesses that may be detrimental to food safety and identify and report these immediately to relevant authorities for action.
  • Select and wear appropriate clothing for food handling activities.
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Maintain Nutrition Data and information System

This module is designed to enable learners to accurately document children’s eating habits including being able to identify concerns in children’s habits.

Learning Outcomes:
  • Record information on children’s eating habits and update as required.
  • Identify concerns with children’s eating habits and strategies for discussing concerns with appropriate persons.