Professional Certificate in Childcare

Module 1: Child Psychology

1. Introduction to Child Psychology
2. The Newborn Infant
3. States and Senses of the Infant
4. Learning
5. Emotions and Socialisation
6. Cognitive Development
7. Language Development
8. Intelligence
9. Socialisation - Part A
10. Morality
11. Sexuality
12. Socialisation - Part B

This module aims to help you learn how to think critically, make observations of behaviour and better understand how genetic and environmental factors can influence a child’s development. You will explore the different personalities of children and learn how best to adapt the way you interact and teach based on them. Discover if intelligence is genetically determined and how socialisation impacts a child. 

The module also aims to teach you how Freud’s, Harlow’s and Bowlby’s explanations of the formation of mother-child attachments differ, and how a child’s upbringing will impact their growth and development.

Module 2: Play Leadership

1. Understanding Play
2. Leadership Skills
3. Planning Play Programs
4. Child Development Through Play
5. Play Safety
6. Physical Play
7. Social Play
8. Adventure Play
9. Play Apparatus
10. Play Activities
11. Special Project - Planning an After-School Play Program

It is well researched that uninterrupted play is important for a child’s social, physical and mental development. This module will explore how play encourages brain development, stimulates creativity, increases a child’s academic ability and enhances quality of life through to adulthood. Discover the difference between physical play, independent play and social play.

You will develop an ability to evaluate a range of different play apparatuses, including playground structures, toys and sports equipment, commenting on quality, safety features, appropriate applications and cost-benefit. Learn the practical skills required to carry out a play leadership role in different situations and how to plan a supervised children’s play program.

Module 3: Children’s Nutrition

1. Introduction to Child Nutrition
2. Nutrition for Pre-Pregnancy
3. Nutrition in Pregnancy
4. Nutrition in Infants
5. Nutrition in Childhood
6. Nutritional Concerns
7. Healthy Eating Behaviours
8. Issues in Child Nutrition
9. Childhood Obesity
10. Diet Plans

This module provides a holistic approach to children’s nutrition, that explores not only what to feed children, but also pre-pregnancy and pregnancy nutritional requirements, how to manage food sensitivities and how to create healthy eating behaviours. You will learn practical skills so you can develop special diet plans (accommodating special dietary needs). Explore the most common concerns for children when it comes to diet and nutrition, how to minimise the risk of obesity and how to encourage healthy eating throughout childhood.

Module 4: Child and Adolescent Mental Health

1. Nature and Scope of Mental Health
2. Childhood Depression
3. Anxiety Disorders
4. Tic Disorders
5. Brain Disorders (Injury and Disease)
6. Other Disorders
7. Environmental Problems
8. Problems of Adolescence
9. Holistic and Alternative Approaches to Treatment
10. Special Project

In this module, you will learn about mental health problems in childhood, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, tic disorders and problems associated with brain disease or injury, environmental factors, abuse and neglect. As an introductory module, it provides a solid foundation for the scope of common child and adolescent mental health disorders and how to identify them.

Module 5 Development, Learning, Behaviour Conditions

1. Nature and Scope of Developmental Disorders
2. Autism
3. Asperger's Disorder
4. Other Pervasive Developmental Disorders
5. Attention-Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders
6. Conduct Disorders
7. Learning Disorders
8. Communications Disorders and Motor Skills Disorder
9. Special Project

In this foundation introductory module, you will learn about developmental disorders, including pervasive developmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (which now includes Asperger’s syndrome), as well as Rett’s disorder and childhood disintegrative disorder. The module aims to help you identify the different signs and symptoms, treatments and possible causes of each, the implications of a developmental disorder later in life and how important it is to respond to the signs and symptoms as early as possible.

You will also learn about behavioural disorders, such as different types of attention and hyperactivity disorders, along with conduct disorders like oppositional defiant disorder. The module also explores learning disorders, which are specific developmental disorders, such as reading disorders.