Child Care Chronicles

California Edition

🌎 Plant Seeds of Kindness:

Welcome to This Week’s California Newsletter

This Earth Day, we’re celebrating California child care professionals who nurture children’s curiosity and encourage them to care for the world around them. Every small act of learning, kindness, and discovery helps young minds blossom.

🌱🌞

🌿 Grow Good Things

Why Directors Should Care About Group Admin

Keep staff training in one place 📂
Track completions and certificates quickly ✅
Support onboarding with easier course assignment 👩‍🏫
Build training plans that fit different staff roles 🛠️
Save time and reduce paperwork stress ⏳

Explore More

🌱 Rooted in Growth: Develop Your Education with Rasmussen University

If you are ready to grow your skills and develop your education, ChildCareEd’s Alliance with Rasmussen University may help you take the next step. 🎓

Eligible students may receive 35% tuition savings on the Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s degree and 20% tuition savings on most other eligible programs. Learners with a completed CDA may also receive up to 12 credits at Rasmussen University. 🌟

Rasmussen University?

The webinar also shares helpful information about education pathways and a possible tuition grant for ChildCareEd members. 💻

🌠 Learn More and Grow

💰 TEACHER APPRECIATION GIVEAWAY! 🍎

To our incredible educators, child care, and early childhood heroes —this one is for YOU! You pour so much into others, so we’re pouring a little back into your pockets (and your professional development).

Prizes: We are giving away a $50 Visa Gift Card to TWO lucky winners + A FREE course to all applicants🏆

📝 How to Enter (2 Easy Steps!)

1. Follow Us: Follow ChildCareEd on at least one of our social media channels.

2. Claim Your Course: Sign up for one of our free courses in the entry form! Just add it to your cart and checkout—no credit card required.

⏳ Giveaway Period: Now through May 27, 2026.

Two winners will be chosen via raffle and announced on our social channels on May 28, 2026. Gift cards will be emailed to the winners. *Conditions apply. Open to all US educators and providers.

🌻 Plant the Future: Training Spotlight

🍃 Career Programs: Rooted in Learning, Designed for Savings

Plant the seeds for professional growth with ChildCareEd’s Career Programs. 🌱 These state-specific training bundles help early childhood professionals meet licensing requirements, follow clear career pathways, and save more than buying courses separately. 🌿✨

🌷 Bloom Where You’re Planted: New Class Alert

Family Voices Matter: Tools for Meaningful Collaboration

This course is a wonderful option for providers who want tools for Meaningful Collaboration, and to discover meaningful ways to connect with families, build trust, and support every child with care. 💛

✅ Enroll here:

🌞 Pick Up Litter, Pick Up Savings: Coupon Corner

🤪🎭April Fool’s Day — No Joke! $5 OFF 3-Hour Courses🤪🎭 April Fool’s Day is all about surprises—but this deal is the real thing! 😄Expires 4/18/26

🌎🌱 Earth Day Special✨ Celebrate Earth Day with training that helps you bring sustainability into your childcare setting through simple routines, nature-based learning, and kid-friendly environmental lessons. ♻️🍃

💙🧩 Autism Awareness Month Special This month, we’re celebrating inclusion and supporting educators with tools that matter. 🌟

✨NY AEYC Conference Deal = Big Win! 🎉 NY AEYC Deal = Big Win! 🎉—perfect for providers who want a boost toward their CDA with confidence. 💪📚✨

More Discounts

🌍 Care for Our Earth, Care for Our Classrooms: What Fun Earth Day-Themed Classroom Ideas Can We Explore This Week?

Earth Day is a wonderful time to help children explore nature, practice caring habits, and discover how even small helpers can make a big difference. 🌎

Bring Earth Day into your classroom with simple, playful ideas children can enjoy: 🌞

Make a nature collage with leaves, grass, or flower petals 🍃
Go on a color hunt outside and find green, blue, and brown items 🔎
Start a small seed cup garden and watch it grow 🌱
Read books about caring for the Earth 📚
Practice sorting recyclable items in a pretend recycling station ♻️
Sing songs about trees, gardens, and helping our planet 🎶
Create “kindness for the Earth” promises with children 💚

More April FUN Resources:

Earth Day Activities

Emotions Playdough Activity

Outdoor Earth Day Activities

🤝 Grow Together: Request Onsite or Virtual Training

Looking for a simple way to bring learning to your whole team?

Ask about onsite or virtual training options for your program and help your staff grow together. ?

Whether you are looking for professional development on SEL, inclusive practices, positive guidance, learning through play, or other important early childhood topics, we are here to help.

Submit an On-site Request

☀️ Spanish Language Support for Select Group Trainings

If your team includes Spanish-speaking staff, ChildCareEd offers Spanish language support for select onsite and Zoom instructor-led group trainings.

If you are interested in scheduling a training, contact us to learn more about available topics and support options.

View full details

support@childcareed.com

🌎 Grow Ideas That Matter: Article of the Week

👧 What Training Is Required to Be a Childcare Director in California?

Becoming a childcare director in California is a big responsibility. Directors help keep children safe, support teachers, and make sure their program follows state rules. California has clear training expectations for childcare directors, and knowing these rules can help you feel ready and confident in your role.

Resources Available:

How to Create a Classroom Schedule (Teacher Planning Tips)

Create Your Classroom Schedule: Staff Planning Tool

How Does Classroom Design Impact Behavior and Learning?

Mixed-Age Group Activities

🌎 Follow the Green Path: Social Media Corner

🌱 🌻 Grow-grow-grow song for a greener Earth 🌎 A musical spring × Earth Day activity.

Every Day is Earth Day 🌎 Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle ♻️ 💙 Make this beautiful diffusion art and tag us in your versions. We'll post it to our story!

🌎 Show the kids how pollution makes the earth dirty with this STEM activity!

Sprouting ch-ch-chia Earth Day activity, watch the seeds sprout by day 7!

Follow ChildCareEd on social media 📲💚

🌱 Share your favorite Earth Day classroom activity

🌿 Explore new resources connected to featured trainings 📚

🌻 Tag a fellow provider who helps children grow, learn, and shine 💛

Follow ChildCareEd and visit www.ChildCareEd.com for fresh ideas, helpful resources, and child care trainings all year long! 🌍✨

🌦️ Take Care, Little Sprout: Big Feelings Corner

Just like plants need care to grow, children need support when feelings feel big. Simple calming routines can help children feel safe, steady, and ready to learn. 🌼

Earth Day can also inspire gentle ways to help children manage big feelings. 💛

Try these Earth-themed calming ideas this week:

Breathe Like a Breeze 🍃
Take slow deep breaths and pretend the wind is moving through the trees.
Ground Like a Tree 🌳
Stand tall, stretch arms like branches, and plant feet firmly on the floor.
Listen to Nature 🐦
Pause and notice quiet sounds inside or outside.
Water the Flower 🌸
Pretend to water an imaginary flower while counting slowly to five.
Pebble Pause 🪨
Let children hold a smooth stone or small classroom item while calming down.

🪴 Nurture New Growth: CDA Tip of the Week

This week’s CDA encouragement:

Pick one classroom routine this week and look at it with fresh eyes. 👀 Think about how that routine helps children feel safe, included, and ready to learn.

Write a few notes about:

What the routine was ✍️
How children responded 😊
What worked well 👍
What you might adjust next time 🔄

These quick reflections can help you:

Notice your everyday teaching strengths 🌟
Build thoughtful CDA portfolio ideas 📘
Show how you support children through consistent care 🤗
Strengthen your professional growth one small step at a time 🌱

Every routine in your day helps shape the learning environment you create. 🍎

📚 Grow All Season Long: Join Our Subscriptions

🎉 Train More. Stress Less. Subscribe & Save!

Looking for an easy, flexible way to complete your child care training? ChildCareEd’s Subscription Packages give you unlimited learning power—designed for teachers, assistants, directors, and family child care providers alike!

👉 Learn more about subscriptions & Group Admin here:

https://www.childcareed.com/a/group-admin-subscriptions.html

🎁 One subscription. Endless learning. Real savings.

Train on your schedule and finish strong—no stress, no rushing.

🌼 Let’s Keep Growing: Closing

This Earth Day week, let’s celebrate every small step that helps children, classrooms, and educators grow stronger. 🌱 Thank you for the care you give each day and for the difference you make in the lives of children and families. 💚