Online "Outdoor Learning" Child Care Training Course Improves Early Childhood Development

DULUTH, Ga., Dec. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI), an IACET approved, nationally accredited, distance training institution dedicated exclusively to the child care and early education workforce, is proud to announce the addition of CUR103: Outdoor Learning to the online child care training course catalog.

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Outdoor experiences are essential in early childhood. Nothing engages the five senses and a child's natural curiosity like a walk in the woods or a tour through the garden. In addition to promoting learning across all developmental domains and core academic subjects, outdoor play and exploration can help ensure overall health, fitness, environmental awareness, positive social relationships, and emotional wellbeing. This three-hour course provides recommended strategies for planning and incorporating outdoor learning in the curriculum, with a focus on nature walks, gardening, and designing and maintaining outdoor learning space.

"Outdoor learning is good for the mind and body, providing exercise along with intellectual and sensory stimulation," says Maria C. Taylor, President and CEO of CCEI. "CCEI's new course was created to show the benefits and possibilities of moving the classroom outdoors."

Outdoor Learning is an intermediate level course and students will receive 0.3 CEUs and the ability to print or save their course certificate immediately upon course completion. Outdoor Learning is available at no cost to students with an active, annual subscription. Without a subscription, this course may be purchased individually through online enrollment at www.cceionline.edu.

About CCEI

ChildCare Education Institute is an online child care training institution with quality professional development programs for continuing education. Over 100 English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet annual licensing or Head Start requirements, in addition to online certificate programs, such as the Online Child Development Associate (CDA), Online Director Credential options, and several others. CCEI is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council, approved by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training to award IACET Continuing Education Units (CEUs), and authorized under the Nonpublic Postsecondary Educational Institutions Act of 1990, license number 837.

For more information on CCEI, visit www.cceionline.edu or call 1.800.499.9907.

SOURCE ChildCare Education Institute