AEC-0002 - Early Sprouts Institute

Active Play Every Day - an online course you can take at your convenience.

Physical activity plays a vital role in all areas of development, but most young children do not meet recommendations for moderate to vigorous physical activity. Preschool-aged children need to be offered numerous opportunities for active play throughout the day so that they can learn and practice skills that set the stage for a lifetime of physical activity and benefit from the positive impact physical activity has on health and learning. Active Play Every Day is an online training that supports child care professionals in creating an early learning environment that incorporates a deliberate and effective approach to physical activity.

Through this training, early childhood educators will learn about their role in children’s activity levels and large motor development, and explore strategies and practices that foster active play while enhancing learning and wellness throughout the child care day.

Early Sprouts Online Training - an online course you can take at your convenience.

Eating a healthy diet can be a challenge for anyone. Early childhood educators can foster healthy habits with young children by applying the process of discovery to nutrition education. With the Early Sprouts approach, discovery starts in the vegetable garden, extends to the table, and draws on a unique blending of research-based approaches from two disciplines: early childhood education and nutrition science.

The Early Sprouts Online Training provides early childhood educators with teaching methods and tools to implement the Early Sprouts approach, including the discovery of and appreciation for healthy foods, as well as strategies for meaningful parent involvement.

Growing Healthy Eaters - an online course you can take at your convenience.

Good nutrition is critical for children’s brain development and learning, but feeding young children can be challenging, especially in child care settings. Growing Healthy Eaters provides early childhood educators with knowledge and skills to create a nutritionally purposeful child care environment—one that is deliberate in its approach to nutrition and supports preschool-aged children, their families, and care providers in the development of lifelong healthy eating behaviors.

Through this training, early care professionals will learn about the important role they play in children’s nutrition, and will be provided with resources, tools, and knowledge that will help them implement nutrition policies and practices that support children’s health.