Child Care Business Trainings
Our Business Specialist trainings are designed to help child care program owners and directors build the confidence, knowledge, and practical skills needed to successfully manage and grow their programs. Whether you operate a family child care program, child care center, or school-age program, these trainings provide valuable guidance on the business side of early childhood education. Training topics include financial management, staff recruitment and retention, marketing and enrollment strategies, regulatory compliance, recordkeeping, contracts and policies, budgeting, and overall business operations.
Balancing the Iron Triangle: A Guide to Financial Sustainability in ECE
This practical training introduces early childhood leaders to the Iron Triangle framework, developed by Louise Stoney, as a powerful “dashboard” for program financial health. Participants will explore the three interdependent sides of a sustainable childcare business: Full Enrollment, Full Fee Collection, and Revenue Covering Per-Child Cost. Through real-world examples and actionable strategies, this session helps programs move from surviving to thriving by stabilizing cash flow, reducing bad debt, and understanding their true break-even point. Attendees will learn how to track occupancy rates, enforce effective tuition collection practices, and calculate the real cost of care to ensure long-term sustainability. Participants will leave with a clear action plan to strengthen their financial foundation so they can focus on what matters most: delivering high-quality care to children and families.
Child Care Budgeting & Bookkeeping
Budgeting and bookkeeping are essential components of running a successful child care business. In this session, participants will explore different budgeting methods and learn how to maintain accurate financial records through effective bookkeeping practices. The training will also cover strategies for tracking profits and losses, maintaining an organized budget, and preparing financial records to simplify year-end tax filing.
Child Care Program Marketing
This training will help you understand the foundation of creating an effective marketing plan. We will explore how the seven P’s of marketing apply to your program, work on developing a clear marketing position statement, and create a strong value proposition statement to highlight the benefits of your program.
Facilities and Liability
Operating a child care business includes understanding and managing potential risks and liabilities. In this training, participants will identify common risks associated with operating a child care program and explore strategies for minimizing those risks while maintaining compliance with regulations. Providers will learn practical approaches to risk management and develop a basic Risk Management Plan that supports a safe and secure program environment.
Ongoing Financial Management
This training will use financial planning and management skills to sustain the program’s operation. Providers will learn basic accounting terms that are needed for child care finances, identify common revenues for child care programs, and implement a system for financial record-keeping procedures.
Serious Incident Reporting (SCR) and Mandated Reporter Training for Child Care Providers
The training is designed to equip childcare center directors, administrators, and staff members, including teachers, aides, and support personnel—with essential knowledge and skills related to child welfare and mandated reporting. Participants will gain an understanding of serious incidents and the associated reporting requirements, as well as familiarize themselves with the regulations set forth by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Additionally, the training will focus on recognizing signs of child abuse and neglect and provide guidance on how to appropriately file reports to ensure compliance with state laws.
Staff Recruitment, Management, and Retention
Recruiting and retaining qualified staff is essential for maintaining high-quality child care programs. This training will help participants understand strategies to minimize staff turnover and build long-term staff retention. Participants will learn methods for recruiting qualified candidates, develop effective interview and hiring processes, and create structured orientation procedures for new employees. The session will also explore how to build individualized professional development plans that support staff growth and strengthen overall program quality.
Early Childhood Development
Our Early Childhood Development services are designed to support early childhood professionals, programs, and families in understanding and responding to the developmental needs of young children from ages three to twelve years old. Trainings focus on building adults’ knowledge, confidence, and practical skills to promote healthy development, learning, relationships, and responsive caregiving. Topics may include child development and milestones, developmentally appropriate practices, learning environments, curriculum and play, social-emotional development, communication and language, transitions, relationships, and supporting individual children’s developmental needs.
Creating Safe, Structured, and Successful Learning Environments
Effective classroom management creates safe, structured, and supportive learning environments where students can thrive. This training equips participants with practical, evidence-based strategies to build positive relationships, establish clear expectations and routines, implement positive behavior supports, and respond effectively to challenging behaviors while maintaining strong student relationships.
Struggling with Lesson Planning? Let’s Make it Easier!
Join us for a training on lesson planning in early childhood where we break the process down step by step. Participants will learn how to write simple, measurable objectives, plan activities that support child development, and move beyond craft-based activities to intentional learning experiences. This session will provide practical strategies, interactive discussion, and real classroom examples that can be used immediately. Whether you are new to lesson planning or looking to strengthen your confidence, this training will help you plan with purpose and keep learning child-centered and meaningful.
The Importance of Child-Led Art
This training explores the difference between child-led art and teacher-directed crafts, highlighting the developmental benefits of process-focused creative expression. Participants will learn how open-ended materials foster problem-solving, fine motor development, independence, and intrinsic motivation. We’ll discuss best practices for setting up inviting art environments, responding to children’s creative choices without over-directing, and navigating common classroom challenges. The session reinforces that the value lies in the creative process — not the final product
Ensuring Effective Supervision in NYS Childcare Centers
This training provides an in-depth understanding of child supervision requirements in New York State childcare centers. Participants will learn about the regulations set by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), best practices for supervising children, strategies for managing risks, and how to be prepared for emergencies. The training includes interactive activities, case studies, and role-playing to help apply what you learn.
Cultivating Awareness in Early Childhood
This interactive two-hour training is designed for childcare providers, early childhood educators, and administrators who are committed to creating inclusive and equitable learning environments. Participants will explore the concept of perspectives and assumptions, and how cultural, behavioral, and special needs–related assumptions can impact children’s development and classroom experiences.
Supporting Children with Challenging Behaviors in ECE
This course is designed to equip early childhood educators and caregivers with the knowledge and tools to effectively support children with challenging behaviors effectively. Participants will learn to identify underlying causes behind these behaviors, implement positive behavior strategies to guide children, collaborate with families and specialists, and manage stress as professionals.
Summer School-Age Programming: Creating Engaging, Safe, and Developmentally Appropriate Summer Experiences
This training is designed for school-age child care providers, directors, and staff working with children during summer programming. Participants will explore the importance of intentional summer programming, understand New York State regulations related to school-age care, and learn practical strategies for creating engaging activities that promote learning, social-emotional development, physical health, and positive behavior. Providers will leave with tools to develop structured yet flexible summer schedules that keep children active, engaged, and safe throughout the summer months.
Safety, Supervision and Security
Your number one priority is the safety of children in your care. In this workshop, participants will review the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) safety standards in child care regulations and review child care providers’ responsibilities related to the program’s health care plan. The training will include the performance of daily health checks, health and infection control, supervision of children, medication administration, CPR and First Aid, emergency procedures, accident reporting procedures, and tips for effective communication and behavior management.
Infant & Toddler
Our Infant-Toddler Specialist trainings are designed to support early childhood professionals in building the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills needed to provide high-quality, responsive care for infants and toddlers. These trainings focus on the unique developmental needs of children from birth to age 3, with topics including child development, responsive caregiving, social-emotional development, behavior and guidance, infant mental health, family engagement, environments, routines, and relationship-building.
Behavior Tracking: Using Functional Observation to Guide Support
This training introduces participants to the use of Infant-Toddler Support Plans, a reflective approach to understanding children’s behaviors through observation, documentation, and responsive caregiving. Participants will learn how to use an ABC (Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence) framework to identify patterns, recognize developmental and environmental influences, and consider how adult responses impact children’s experiences.
Bite Size Solutions
Biting is a common and developmentally typical behavior in group care settings — and one that can create stress for providers and families alike. This practical, judgment-free training helps educators understand the root causes of biting, including teething, sensory needs, frustration, and limited language. Participants will explore preventive strategies such as environmental adjustments, sensory supports, and communication-building routines, as well as calm, neutral response techniques that prioritize safety and co-regulation. We’ll examine how to support both the child who bit and the child who was bitten, and how to communicate with families using non-blaming, strengths-based language. Through real-life scenarios and toolkit-building activities, providers will leave with clear, actionable strategies to reduce incidents and strengthen classroom climate.
Chew n’ Chat: Mealtime Moments
This training supports providers in developing an effective and sustainable marketing plan rooted in the Seven P’s of marketing. Participants will explore how positioning, branding, and messaging directly impact enrollment and family engagement. We’ll work through creating a strong marketing position statement and value proposition that clearly communicates the unique benefits of your program. The session emphasizes aligning marketing efforts with program quality, community needs, and long-term growth goals so providers can confidently promote their services and stand out in a competitive child care landscape.
Circle Time: Curriculum or Containment?
Circle time has become a staple in many early childhood classrooms, but is it truly meeting the developmental needs of toddlers? This training challenges participants to examine the purpose of traditional circle time through the lens of child development, current research, and developmentally appropriate practice. We’ll explore why expecting toddlers to sit, attend, and participate in lengthy teacher-directed activities often conflicts with what we know about how young children learn, and discover how to redefine our expections of how children learn by creating short, flexible, responsive interactions that honor toddlers’ need for movement, exploration, choice, and relationships.
Closing the Gaps: Preventing Health & Safety Violations
This interactive training provides an in-depth overview of common health and safety violations observed in early childhood programs. Participants will review OCFS regulations related to supervision, sanitation, safe sleep, and infection control. Practical prevention strategies will be shared to help programs reduce risk, maintain compliance, and create safe, healthy environments for infants and toddlers. The session emphasizes proactive systems rather than reactive correction.
Communicating with Families: Developmental Assessmens
This session empowers educators to navigate conversations about developmental milestones, delays, and referrals with clarity and compassion. Participants will learn how to introduce assessments like ASQ, or observational checklists in approachable language, frame results as support AND not labels – and collaborate with families on next steps. We’ll practice responses for common reactions (denial, fear, guilt, disengagement) and explore strategies for maintaining trust while advocating for early intervention when needed. Guidance will include documentation practices, warm handoffs to EI/CPSE, and culturally sensitive dialogue that honors each family’s values and pace.
Communicating with Families: Addressing Behaviors
This training will explore effective, respectful ways to discuss behavior patterns and developmental screenings with families. Participants will practice reframing behavior as communication, sharing observations without judgment, and inviting family voice and choice into planning. We’ll also review tools, incident forms, and individualized behavior support plans to promote consistency between home and school.
Infant, Toddler & Early Childhood Mental Health
Our Infant, Toddler & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation services are designed to support early childhood professionals, programs, and families in understanding and responding to the social-emotional needs of young children. Consultation focuses on building adults’ knowledge, confidence, and practical skills to promote healthy relationships, emotional development, responsive caregiving, and positive classroom and family experiences. Topics may include social-emotional development, challenging behaviors, co-regulation, relationships, transitions, family engagement, classroom environments, and supporting children experiencing stress or other challenges.
Child Care Budgeting & Bookkeeping
Budgeting and bookkeeping are essential components of running a successful child care business. In this session, participants will explore different budgeting methods and learn how to maintain accurate financial records through effective bookkeeping practices. The training will also cover strategies for tracking profits and losses, maintaining an organized budget, and preparing financial records to simplify year-end tax filing.
