LCA Childcare/Community Care study plan
LCA Childcare/Community Care · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Child Development and Learning
Map the major developmental domains (physical, cognitive, language, social-emotional) and write a one-page summary of how each progresses from infancy through age eight.
Explain three classic and three contemporary theories of child development and match each to a classroom practice it supports.
Identify typical milestones for at least four age bands and flag two red-flag indicators that warrant referral.
Build a personal glossary of 20 key development terms with plain-language definitions.
Your checkpoint
A one-page developmental milestone chart covering four age bands with red flags noted.
Child Development and Learning & Developmentally Appropriate Practice and Curriculum
Connect each developmental domain to a concrete activity that scaffolds the next skill level.
Distinguish developmentally appropriate practice from age-inappropriate or academically pushed practice using five comparison examples.
Design three play-based learning experiences that name the targeted domain and the intended outcome.
Evaluate a sample weekly schedule for balance across child-initiated and adult-guided time.
Your checkpoint
Three written activity plans, each linking a domain, a theory, and a measurable learning outcome.
Health, Safety, and Nutrition
Outline daily health and hygiene routines, including handwashing, toileting, and illness exclusion criteria.
Describe injury-prevention practices for indoor, outdoor, and sleep settings, and list five common hazards to inspect daily.
Summarize safe sleep, allergy management, and medication-administration procedures.
Explain the components of a balanced daily nutrition plan for young children and identify choking hazards.
Your checkpoint
A completed daily safety inspection checklist and a one-week sample menu meeting nutrition guidelines.
Observation, Assessment, and Documentation
Compare running records, anecdotal notes, checklists, and portfolios, and select the best method for three given scenarios.
Practice writing three objective, bias-free observation notes that separate fact from interpretation.
Explain how observation data informs individualized planning and family communication.
Describe confidentiality and record-keeping requirements for child assessment data.
Your checkpoint
Three objective observation notes with a follow-up planning paragraph for each child.
Developmentally Appropriate Practice and Curriculum & Observation, Assessment, and Documentation
Design a two-week thematic curriculum unit aligned to developmental domains and learning standards.
Differentiate three activities for varying skill levels within one mixed-ability group.
Build a simple assessment rubric tied to the unit's learning outcomes.
Adapt one activity for a child with a developmental delay using universal design principles.
Your checkpoint
A complete two-week curriculum unit with a matching assessment rubric and one differentiated adaptation.
Family and Community Engagement
Describe culturally responsive communication strategies for families with diverse backgrounds and languages.
Outline a family-conference structure that builds partnership and addresses concerns constructively.
Identify community resources and referral pathways that support families facing stress or hardship.
Explain strategies for engaging hard-to-reach families and respecting family choice and confidentiality.
Your checkpoint
A family-conference agenda and a one-page community resource referral guide.
Professionalism, Ethics, and Legal Responsibilities
Summarize the core ethical responsibilities of early childhood professionals, including confidentiality, dual relationships, and mandated reporting.
Explain the difference between ethical, legal, and licensing obligations with three concrete examples.
Describe professional boundaries, documentation practices, and supervision responsibilities.
Outline a personal self-care and professional-development plan for sustaining ethical practice.
Your checkpoint
A written ethics case analysis of two scenarios applying a decision-making framework.
Community Care and Inclusive Support & Professionalism, Ethics, and Legal Responsibilities
Explain inclusion principles and universal design for learning as applied to community care settings.
Describe accommodations and supports for children with disabilities, delays, or complex health needs.
Identify legal protections and family rights relevant to inclusive community care.
Synthesize all seven domains into a personal practice philosophy and a timed practice test review.
Your checkpoint
A one-page inclusive practice statement plus a completed timed practice test with a written error review.
Milestones
Week 2: Can explain developmental milestones and developmentally appropriate practice without notes and has completed three linked activity plans.
Week 4: Scores at least 80% on a self-made quiz covering Domains 1, 2, 3, and 4 and has produced objective observation notes.
Week 6: Can describe family engagement and ethical/legal responsibilities accurately and has completed the curriculum unit and family resource guide.
Week 8: Completes a full timed practice test across all seven domains and writes a remediation plan for any domain below 75%.