Welcome!

Welcome to the Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas e-learning site!  We are committed to providing high-quality professional development and technical assistance (coaching) to early educators in Kansas.  All of our courses are available statewide and offer KDHE approved in-service hours.  Our courses are instructor led, but allow for flexible schedules and participation within the course time frame.  We utilize discussion boards, videos, images, self-evaluation tools and action plans to help participants get the most out of the online learning experience.

    Available courses

    Director’s Toolbox: I’m a Center Director! Now What?

    I’m a Child Care Center Director! Now What?- 3 hr. course

    In this course, new child care center directors (or those who would like a refresher) will have the opportunity to explore foundational leadership components for building a strong, dynamic program.  Participants will learn about principles of shared leadership, explore their own leadership strengths and areas for growth, and create an action plan to help guide their work with staff and families. Dec. 3-10, 2025

    This course is approved for 3 KDHE in-service hours.


    Creating Trauma Sensitive Classrooms

    Creating Trauma-Sensitive Classrooms – 3 hr course

    Research has shown that trauma can undermine children’s abilities to learn, create healthy environments, form supportive relationships, and follow classroom expectations.  Participants will learn why it is imperative that early childhood settings be safe, trauma-sensitive spaces and how teachers can support children in creating positive self-identities even in challenging times. December 10-17, 2025

    This course is KDHE approved for 3 hours


    Work and Well-being

    Work and Well-being - 3 hr course

    While teachers are supporting the well-being of children, who is supporting them? This class covers strategies for establishing a culture where staff and volunteers feel valued and competent. Participants will complete a worksite audit (either home or center-based), develop well-being policies and explore resources for providing a supportive and productive work environment. January 14 – 21, 2026

    This course is approved for 3 KDHE in-service hours.


    Rhyme, Clap and Play

    Rhyme, Clap and Play - 3 hr course

    Enroll in this course to learn about ways to teach early literacy skills through playful games and rhythmic music activities. We will cover five early literacy skills: word awareness, syllables, compound words, phonemes and sentence segmentation and ways to use music, rhythm and play to teach these literacy skills. Feb. 11-18, 2026

    This course is approved for 3 KDHE in-service hours.

    Teaching Critical Thinking Skills Through Loose Materials

    Teaching Critical Thinking Skills Through Loose Materials- 3 hr. course 

    What do washers, buttons, sticks and stones have to do with school readiness? Learn how loose materials can be used to teach children higher order thinking when paired with Bloom's Taxonomy of question-asking strategies. March 5-12, 2026

    This course is approved for 3 KDHE in-service hours.


    Safe and Healthy Practices for Infants and Toddlers

    Safe and Healthy Practices for Infants and Toddlers - 4 hr course

    In this course we will review strategies for keeping infants and toddlers safe during their play and sleep activities. We’ll cover methods for preventing and responding to food allergies, how to prevent injuries during play activities, and ways to help infants and toddlers sleep in the safest environments. This class meets 4 of the 4 hours of the annual Health and Safety Topic Requirements. February 4-13, 2027

    This course is approved for 4 KDHE in-service hours, cost is $30.


    The Journey to Independence - Michelle

    The Journey to Independence: Applying Child Development in Daily Practice – 3 hr course

    Join us as we explore ways to apply child development knowledge into daily practice and lesson planning to support children’s growth and development in all domains. We will cover the progression from infancy through the preschool years as children develop in their communication, self-help, sharing and problem-solving skills. February 18-25, 2026

    This course is approved for 3 KDHE in-service hours.


    The Journey to Independence: Applying Child Development in Daily Practice

    The Journey to Independence: Applying Child Development in Daily Practice – 3 hr course

    Join us as we explore ways to apply child development knowledge into daily practice and lesson planning to support children’s growth and development in all domains. We will cover the progression from infancy through the preschool years as children develop in their communication, self-help, sharing and problem-solving skills. February 18-25, 2026

    This course is approved for 3 KDHE in-service hours.


    Director's Toolbox: Connecting Your Team to Curriculum Goals

    Director’s Toolbox: Connecting Your Team to Curriculum Goals – 3 hr. course

    Do the lesson plans in your classrooms reflect your program values? In this class we will discuss strategies that support and motivate staff in implementing curriculum and ways to connect their lesson planning back to the purpose and focus of your program’s values. March 11-18, 2026

    This course is approved for 3 KDHE in-service hours.


    Tune Into Music and Movement for Infants and Toddlers

    Tune into Music and Movement for Infants and Toddlers – 3 hr course

    Participants will explore many developmentally appropriate ways music and movement can be used to teach skills and make connections with very young children. March 18-25, 2026

    This course is approved for 3 KDHE in-service hours.


    Revive Your Drive

    Revive Your Drive  - 3 hour course

    Setting boundaries and priorities is essential to having a healthy work/life balance. Join us in this class to evaluate business policies, child guidance practices and stress management strategies to help avoid burnout and revive your workplace joy. April 1-8, 2026

    This course is approved for 3 KDHE in-service hours.


    Joyful Writing: Play-based Strategies to Promote Early Writing Development

    Joyful Writing: Exploring the Stages of Writing Development 3 hour course

    Everyone has stories to tell. It is vital that we encourage young children to tell theirs! Join us as we discuss the role of the phonetic, or "invented spelling" phase of early literacy.  By learning about the stages of writing development, participants will be able to offer a variety of fun, age-appropriate writing experiences that will ultimately help children learn to express themselves. May 6-13, 2026

    This course is approved for 3 KDHE in-service hours.


    Online Instructor Training - Archive

    This class is for CCAEKS staff.

    video test

    Revive Your Drive – 3 hr course

    Setting boundaries and priorities is essential to having a healthy work/life balance. Join us in this class to evaluate business policies, child guidance practices and stress management strategies to help avoid burnout and revive your workplace joy. January 17-24, 2024.

    KS/MO Core Content Area: VIII

    Professional Development & Leadership

    Displaying Professionalism in Practice

    Levels 1 c, 2 a and 3 a

    CDA Subject Area: 6 Professionalism