Early Learning and Child Care Diploma

Early learning and child care professionals play an important role in a critical development stage for children. In the Early Learning and Child Care Diploma program, students will learn to work with children from birth to eight years of age with some related preparation for working with children from eight to twelve years of age. This program is designed to provide learners with the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in areas including child development, interpersonal relations, curriculum content, family studies, exceptional children and program management.

This program can be taken in several different ways. Attend full- or part-time on Red Deer Polytechnic Main campus or blend on-campus and online courses. The blended online/on campus program is offered through a combination of online independent study, on-campus learning, and computer-facilitated support.

The Early Learning and Child Care Diploma courses may be completed part-time over a two-year period or less through online, distance or blended distance delivery. This multi-delivery approach is especially useful for mature students who are balancing work and home commitments with their education goals.

Experiential learning is important in this field. Over the course of the program, students will complete four practicums in early learning and child care settings that will help them connect the program theory to real-world situations.

What You’ll Learn

• Foundations of early learning and childcare.
• Introduction to special needs.
• Child development.
• Play and documentation.
• Interpersonal relations.
• Literacies and dramatic play.
• Guiding behaviour.
• Responsive experiences.