Certificate in Childcare

Module 1: Child Psychology

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

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 apparatus, including playground structures, toys, 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

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.