AgriLife offering early childhood educators virtual trainings

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present two online sessions related to early childhood development during May.

These AgriLife Extension Early Childhood Educator Training Program sessions are part of the agency’s first-ever statewide mini-conference series. Program sessions will be broadcast monthly in real time via Microsoft Teams. Attendees must register to participate in each training session they choose to attend.

“These sessions have been developed for childcare professionals and are designed to provide them with the information they need to succeed as early childhood educators,” said Jodi Nerren, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension specialist – early childhood health and safety, Bryan-College Station. “And while these sessions are targeted at early childhood professionals, they are open to anyone interested in early childhood education.”

Each session will focus on a different aspect of early care and education aligned with the minimum standards from the Texas Health and Human Services Child Care Regulation program. Speakers will include subject matter experts from across the state, including AgriLife Extension specialists and agents, and community partners.

Both May programs will be from 9 a.m. to noon and provide three hours of annual training aligned with Texas’ minimum standards for childcare. 

To register for one or both, go to https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/Childhood.

The first session, “Connecting with Children, Families and Nature,” hosted by AgriLife Extension’s District 4 – North, will be May 15.   

“This conference will include sessions addressing strategies to increase family engagement, benefits of incorporating nature-based play for young children, and ideas for helping caregivers reduce stress and manage their own emotional health,” Nerren said.

The cost of this session is $25, and payment must be received prior to obtaining instructions to access the program.

Upon completing registration and payment, participants will receive an email containing two attachments — a receipt and a registration confirmation. Instructions on how to access the online program will be provided in the confirmation.

The second session, “Obesity Prevention Standards and Strategies,” on May 22 will be a special presentation. This program is free, but registration is still required. 

“This program will address the new minimum standards related to obesity prevention that have recently been adopted, as well as strategies to meet and exceed those standards in your approach to physical activity and nutrition,” Nerren said.

In addition to these instructor-led trainings, the agency’s Child Care Online Training website offers a wide variety of self-instructional online childcare training courses to support continuing education and early childhood professional development needs.