9133 – Virginia Child Care Leadership Pathway: Preschool

Welcome to the Virginia Child Care Leadership Pathway – Preschool! This 25-hour professional development pathway is designed to help early childhood educators build the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to provide high-quality care and education for preschool children ages 3–5 years.

Throughout this pathway, you will explore best practices in preschool development, developmentally appropriate practices, school readiness, language and literacy, early math and science concepts, social-emotional development, health and safety, family partnerships, and creating engaging learning environments that foster curiosity, creativity, and independence.

Each course combines practical strategies with research-based information that can be immediately applied in your classroom or child care program. Interactive activities, knowledge checks, and real-world examples will help reinforce your learning and prepare you to provide developmentally appropriate experiences that support children’s success in preschool and beyond.

By the end of this pathway, you will be able to:

• Explain key milestones in preschool physical, cognitive, language, social, and emotional development.
• Apply developmentally appropriate practices that promote learning, creativity, and kindergarten readiness.
• Create safe, engaging, and inclusive learning environments that encourage exploration, problem-solving, and independence.
• Strengthen partnerships with families through effective communication and collaboration.
• Implement teaching strategies and health and safety practices that support positive learning outcomes for preschool children.

Upon successful completion of all required coursework and assessments, you will have completed the Virginia Child Care Leadership Pathway – Preschool (25 Hours) and be better prepared to foster the skills, confidence, and love of learning that prepare children for success in kindergarten and throughout their educational journey.

We are excited to be part of your professional journey and hope this pathway provides valuable tools, knowledge, and confidence that you can use every day in your work with preschool children.