What would you want to learn?

[kitykids3]

I took a class on becoming a trainer for early childhood educators and I am going to start being a trainer. I have a Bachelor's degree, been in the field over 12 years and am 5 stars. I feel I've got a bit of knowledge, however, everytime I try to think of topics I might want to train on, I feel it would be things teachers already know (and thus would be boring), so I am at a complete loss for ideas. :confused: I would appreciate any insight you can help with. I don't know what other daycare workers/preschool teachers want to learn. Personally I get bored at any continuing education classes I take because it is stuff I know already and I am sure it's that way with you. I don't want to be a boring trainer teaching the same stuff in the same old way. I like the idea of make and take classes.

So if you were going to look for continuing education classes, other than the required classes, what topics would you like to learn more on? Tell me please. I want to know what you want. :-) TIA!

[CalCare]

What seems to come up often on here, developing a backbone. What if you did something about how to create policies and stick to them? Not what policies they should have, necessarily, but how to do it. Make a parent handbook, or if they aren't a director, getting the info from the director and posting it in the classroom or getting parents to sign things, check parent boards, emails, how to stick to what you believe is right and when to be flexible (ex should a parent be able to say Johnny can't wear dresses at dressup corner, etc)...
Just my first thought since I see it here a lot.

[daycare]

I also like to see how others structure their day and see their schedule.
I like getting ideas on how to run a preschool program with mixed ages.

[Baby Beluga]

I also like to see how others structure their day and see their schedule.
I like getting ideas on how to run a preschool program with mixed ages.

I second this. I also think a class on room design and organization would be great.

[daycare]

I second this. I also think a class on room design and organization would be great.

big yes on that! I am soooooooo unorganized every year.

I have a set curriculum, but I can't seem to ever keep it organized..

[pandamom]

A big one at our center is dealing with special needs- how to best hell children within our program. And even how to discuss issues we may see with parents to get their child tested to see if there are any issues.

I just went to a conference and went to some great classes. One was how to bring nature into the classroom- getting away from bright primary colors to more earth colors. It was amazing to see what the instructors did to their preschool rooms. They said their kids seemed to be more calm after the room change.

The other class was different indoor/outdoor sensory activities. I actually had lots of fun with the materials

[DaveA]

All of the above would be really good. I would say classes on some stuff not directly "childcare" but for the provider: stress relief, balancing work and home, preventing your daycare space from taking over your home, etc.

[Josiegirl]

Love the stress relief idea, how to avoid burn-out, that type of thing.

And a big vote for classroom design and management. Everything from how and what to hang on your walls to storage to creating an environment that would help things run smoother. Handling transitions, different ages. You could work those topics into tons of trainings.

I'm always interested in what types of educational materials and toys would be appropriate, safe, and exciting for the dcks.

How to create a natural playscape in your backyard.

[Laurel]

All of the above but especially the Backbone Class. It comes up all the time here. Actual demonstrations would be nice. Do roleplays between pretend parents and providers.

I also like the classroom set up. Some classrooms are too colorful and 'busy'. How to make a more calming room.

I did childcare for 20 years and sometimes older providers aren't in the loop about new toys/products. We had one training in the community room in back of a baby store and I suggested a class on showing us new products/toys. You would think they would love that. The guy gave a class but it was showing us their new crib mattress and things relating to the crib. He went on and on about its construction. Boring with a capital B. I wanted something like those old fashioned toy parties. Show us some of your best selling toys or have a bookstore rep come and showcase some new books.

This may not be your area of expertise but my favorite class was one where a fireman took us out to the parking lot and set a controlled fire in a bucket of some sort and taught us how to actually use a fire extinguisher.

I think visual aids make a training more interesting as long as they aren't overdone. When the safe swim lady gave a workshop, I never forgot seeing the video of the dad filling the molded baby pool with water, turning away to just turn the water off, turning back around and the baby had gone under and luckily come back up without a sound and he was unaware but we saw it. Seeing it was way more powerful than just hearing 'Don't turn around for a second when a baby is in water.' Also a video on an actual house fire was powerful. I would have never dreamed that a room could go up in flames THAT fast.

I never had a problem with crafts but some providers say they aren't that creative and come to here for ideas. I had a training once on that topic and she brought some really creative crafts she had done with the children. Everyone seemed to like that training. Just be sure to include something toddlers can do and not all preschool ideas.

[daycarediva]

what is needed majorly in my area is developmentally appropriate programming.

Gross motor activities

Sensory bins/items

Fine motor skill activities

[daycare]

what is needed majorly in my area is developmentally appropriate programming.

Gross motor activities

Sensory bins/items

Fine motor skill activities

ways advertising your business, although that may not be something you would be teaching, just a thought.

I do like all of the ideas.

I think another is how to deal with parents
Dealing with difficult children

how to conduct evaluations/assessments

[Annalee]

All of the above would be really good. I would say classes on some stuff not directly "childcare" but for the provider: stress relief, balancing work and home, preventing your daycare space from taking over your home, etc.

I think burnout is the main issue where I am from and even for myself here lately. Even as a seasoned provider, I can/need a boost to get is all back together at times so I can enjoy what I do again! Like I have said in other post....in child care it was easy for me to climb the ladder and reach a certain plateau but maintaining that enthusiasm/love for what I do can become difficult throughout our careers due to stress levels, home responsibilities, etc. Maintaining a balance is critical.

[midaycare]

I took a good one on incorporating music and movement.

[Josiegirl]

Twice a year here they put on a training using a popular author and those are always booked solid. For example, they've done Eric Carle, Leo Leonni, and Jan Brett. We each pick a book from the bunch they've brought(lots of them were bought on ebay) and develop a curriculum from that to share with the rest of the group. Then we make a book bag to take home; it includes a book, maybe poems, cut-outs, activity ideas, etc., to share with moms and dads But you could modify the class, it's just a cool idea to work with.

Another great training I've gone to was all about play, it's worth and how we can become more playful in our own lives and daycare. One of the things this woman did was bring in a huge box filled with all kinds of non-related props and by groups we had to create a short skit. Usually I hate that kind of thing but we all had great fun. She also played spy music and we all had to pretend to be spies around the room. Everybody got silly, even a wall-flower like me.

[laundrymom]

One of the children in my care and our experience led Indiana to add epilepsy training to the calendar.

The backbone class

A food class. With real vegetables and ingredients that aren't packed full of crap. Not a "dumbed down, "kid" menu" but an honestly decent meal prep class.