This course is targeted toward individuals wishing to operate a family day care center, and it covers topics including the fundamentals of early childhood development; the importance of play and Developmentally Appropriate Practice; and the significance of building strong family-educator relationships and how to achieve them.



Introduction to Early Childhood
This course is part of Home-Based Child Care Specialization

Instructor: JoLynn Fiorentino
Access provided by Yale
17,015 already enrolled
(121 reviews)
Recommended experience
What you'll learn
You'll learn the fundamentals of early childhood development, the importance of play, and the significance of family in early education programs.
Skills you'll gain
- Communication
- Teaching
- Rapport Building
- Creativity
- Behavior Management
- Positive Behavior Support
- Working With Children
- Data Collection
- Childhood Education and Development
- Classroom Management
- Child Development
- Diversity Awareness
- Curriculum Development
- Parent Communication
- Cultural Diversity
- Family Support
- Policy Development
Details to know

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There are 6 modules in this course
The intention of this module is to introduce you to the Home-Based Child Care Final Project, including the rubric which will be used to score your final project submission.
What's included
2 readings
In this module, we define Developmentally Appropriate Practice and discuss the importance of play in early childhood. We also outline the domains of children's learning.
What's included
1 video2 readings1 discussion prompt
In this module, we discuss teacher/family relationships, including ways to communicate and involve families in early childhood programs.
What's included
1 video2 readings1 discussion prompt
In this module, we will explore the use of observations in early childhood settings along with the varied assessments utilized and their purpose. In addition, we will look at developmentally-appropriate assessment strategies.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 discussion prompt
We will explore factors that influence behavior in this module. We will also discuss the importance of regular, predictable, and positive learning environments along with various guidance techniques for young children.
What's included
1 video2 readings1 discussion prompt
This module is geared toward understanding strategies for teaching in an inclusive setting, recognizing culturally-diverse classrooms and establishing anti-bias curriculum.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 peer review1 discussion prompt
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Reviewed on Jan 4, 2023
I enjoyed the course. I received a 100%, and I also liked the project at the end. It required me to think of things that I had not considered before.
Reviewed on Jun 3, 2023
for learning through play approach develop by early childhood education
Reviewed on Oct 6, 2025
IT HAS BEING AN AWESOME TIME WITH COURSERA. AM SAYING THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY HERE.
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