Infant & Toddler Studies (SC)
Program Overview:
Get Specialized Insight into Young Children
You’re fascinated by babies and the quick-shifting moods of toddlers as they explore the world around them. Babies and toddlers rapidly develop from day to day, week to week and month to month and a firm grasp of how and why they do the things they do is what you’ll learn by completing the Infant & Toddler Studies Skills Certificate. This 15-unit certificate is entirely focused on young children.
With an Infant & Toddler Studies Skills Certificate you’ll be knowledgeable on infant and toddler behavior as well as how to observe and record behavior in small children. This valuable insight will assist you in possible careers at childcare centers and in the classroom as a preschool teacher.
Careers in Infant & Toddler Studies
If you’re choosing this career path, you want to work with one of society’s most vulnerable populations. Working with infants and toddlers requires patience, understanding, being observant, and the ability to focus in the midst of chaos.
Here are some possible occupations you could have by receiving an Infant & Toddler Studies Skill Certificate:
Career information below taken from bls.gov December 2019. Go to bls.gov for most current career information.
Attend to the basic needs of children, such as dressing, bathing, feeding, and overseeing play.
Data for Los Angeles/Long Beach/Anaheim
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | $27,880/year | $13.41/hour |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| None needed | 5% increase (as fast as average) | 22,250 |
Educate and care for children younger than age 5 who have not yet entered kindergarten.
Data for Los Angeles/Long Beach/Anaheim
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | $38,190/year | $18.36/hour |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| None needed | 5% increase (as fast as average) | 17,040 |
Work with a licensed teacher to give students additional attention and instruction.
Data for Los Angeles/Long Beach/Anaheim
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Some college | $36,460/year | N/A |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| None needed | 5% increase (as fast as average) | 52,700 |
Supervise and lead their staffs, design program plans, oversee daily activities, and prepare budgets.
Data for Los Angeles/Long Beach/Anaheim
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | $53,990/year | $25.96/hour |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| >Less than 5 years needed | 7% increase (faster than average) | 2,350 |
What You’ll Learn at LASC in Infant & Toddler Studies
With your Skills Certificate in Infant & Toddler Studies you’ll be equipped to care for children under 5. You may want to apply the skills you’ve learned to a career as a preschool teacher, serve as a nanny or continue your education to obtain a full teaching credential:
- Advance your knowledge of a child’s growth and development so you will understand where a child should be within their development so you know if a child is where they should be developmentally, or if a child needs extra assistance in moving to the next developmental step.
- Gain important insights on ways of observing and recording children at this age, and incorporate new techniques and strategies towards assisting them through different developmental processes and with any issues that may arise.
- Want a bachelor’s degree? LASC offers Child Development associate degrees so you can save money on your first two years of college learning from creative, dedicated faculty before transferring to a four-year college or university. We also have an Associate in Science in Early Childhood Education for Transfer degree where you can have guaranteed admission into a CSU and some UCs! Talk with your counselor to find out more.
Degrees & Courses You Will Take
Review LASC’s Skill Certificate in Infant & Toddler Studies, and our suggested course of study for this program. Go to LASC’s current Course Catalog for specific course information:
Major Code: 1305.14
Total Units Required: 15
Upon completion of this program, you should be able to:
- Integrate understanding of the needs, the characteristics and multiple influences on the development of children from birth to age eight as it relates to optimum growth and development.
- Create developmentally appropriate strategies, techniques, and curriculum incorporating domains of learning, health, safety, nutrition, as well as anti-bias and adaptation principles for working with typical and atypical developing children.
- Implement various early childhood environmental rating scales and assessment tools.
- Compare and contrast the basic theories in child development, family studies, as well as historical perspectives of ECE programs.
- Demonstrate strategies and techniques for building sensitive and respectful family and community relationships.
- Develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills for learning and promoting learning in young children.
| Required Courses: | Units |
|---|---|
| CH DEV 1 Child Growth and Development | 3 |
| CH DEV 11 Child, Family and Community | 3 |
| CH DEV 30 Infant and Toddler Studies I | 3 |
| CH DEV 31 Infant and Toddler Studies II | 3 |
| CH DEV 34 Observing and Recording Children’s Behavior | 3 |
|
Select one of the two Growing Brain courses: |
|
| CH Dev 16 The Growing Brain I: From Birth to Five Years Old | 2 |
| CH Dev 17 The Growing Brain II: From Birth to Five Years Old | 2 |
| TOTAL UNITS | 17 |
Get Ready Before You Start
Are you hoping for a career working with infants and toddlers? Before your first class starts at LASC, you can start preparing for your career:
- Make an appointment with your LASC academic counselor to review LASC’s program, develop a Student Education Plan (SEP), and discuss your career goals to see if getting an associate or even transferring to a four-year college or university may be beneficial for you goals for your future.
- Still in high school? If you feel confident in your skills with children, babysitting is a great way to interact with babies and toddlers for a few hours at a time. You can also contact local preschools, and daycare and child development centers to find out if you could observe for an afternoon to watch teachers in action. You can also talk with your high school counselor to explore any other local opportunities that you could be a part of.
- Once you’re at LASC, make sure to get involved with on- and off-campus clubs and organizations, such as the Urban Teacher Fellowship, Making a Difference in Education (MADE), and Toastmasters, or become a student ambassador, or run for student body government. These create new relationships and show educators and potential employers your commitment to learning, building your critical-thinking and leadership skills, and getting to know your community.
Grants
Make the most with your time at LASC, and gain career experience while meeting and working with others who want to further their knowledge and experience for a flourishing career in child development:
Child Development Teacher Grant – get money to help pay for your child development education so you can enter the field of childcare and development in a licensed children’s center.
Program Learning Outcomes
When you successfully complete this certificate program, you should be able to:
- Integrate understanding of the needs, the characteristics and multiple influences on the development of children from birth to age eight as it relates to optimum growth and development.
- Create developmentally appropriate strategies, techniques, and curriculum incorporating domains of learning, health, safety, nutrition, as well as anti-bias and adaptation principles for working with typical and atypical developing children.
- Implement various early childhood environmental rating scales and assessment tools.
- Compare and contrast the basic theories in child development, family studies, as well as historical perspectives of ECE programs.
- Demonstrate strategies and techniques for building sensitive and respectful family and community relationships.
- Develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills for learning and promoting learning in young children