Children with Special Health Care Needs
This training, developed by the North Carolina Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center, will include information about children with special health care needs, ADA inclusion requirements, care teams for children with special health care needs, the role of the CCHC, required documentation for children with special health care needs and for handling medical emergencies...
M.A.L.E.
Enhanced Focus: Professional Development Workshop - Empower fathers with essential workforce readiness skills through interactive resume building, interview preparation, and career pathway guidance. Participants will leave with professionally formatted resumes and actionable strategies for career advancement.
Influencing Policies
This program is to support parents of young children in Forsyth County by providing them with tools for success and a network for support. Parents and caregivers will gain confidence by building from their experiences to enhance the community. Free for families with children 0-5
Childcare Directors Forum
Join us for an important discusion on topics affecting our childcare community while: – Developing a Provider Cohort – Current State of Early Care & Education Updates – QRIS Pathways Discussion “We’re all in this together!” Refreshments will be provided. Register by July 28, 2025. To register, contact Tabitha McAllister at 336-252-8749 or [email protected]
Positive Interaction
In this training we will define Positive interactions. Discuss why they are important and how we can develop positive interactions in difficult situations.
Room Arrangement
Learn about the dos and don’ts of classroom arrangement, about ITERS and ECERS.
Active Supervision
Training participants will learn what Active Supervision is in the classroom and how to ensure state regulations in the early childhood environment are being met as they relate to Active Supervision. Participants will also learn strategies that will support everyday supervision practices while caring for children in the indoor and outdoor learning environments.
First Aid/CPR
Smart Start of Forsyth County is a proud provider of First Aid, CPR, and AED Training. Be sure to register early; spaces are limited. To receive the certificate, participants must attend the entire training session.
M.A.L.E.
Enhanced Focus: Achievement Celebration & Community Building - Honor the dedication and growth of MALE participants with a memorable end-of-year dinner celebration. Recognize individual achievements, share success stories, and strengthen the brotherhood bond that supports ongoing father engagement.
We’re Moving We’re Learning
Infusing classrooms with physical activity—or at least the option of some movement, at student discretion—isn’t just good for kids’ bodies. It’s also a powerful tool for improving learning, focus, and reducing classroom management issues. Physical activity that amplifies learning can have a powerful effect on retention and engagement—it’s also fun. Learn ways to integrate more...
Pathway to Improved Outcomes of Children and Families
This program is to support parents of young children in Forsyth County by providing them with tools for success and a network for support. Parents and caregivers will gain confidence by building from their experiences to enhance the community. Free for families with children 0-5
Observations and Assessments
This training highlights the essential role of observation and assessment in supporting early childhood development. It outlines key objectives such as understanding different observation methods, documenting and analyzing findings, and applying assessment data to guide instruction. The presentation covers formative and summative assessments, emphasizes ethical considerations like confidentiality and cultural sensitivity, and encourages reflective documentation.
ITERS 3
Learn what assessors are looking for in the classroom environment as well as the teacher-child interactions that impact infant and toddlers’ developmental milestones. Also, discuss practices that will help increase your scores.
ECERS 3
Learn what assessors are looking for in the classroom environment as well as the teacher-child interactions that impact infant and toddlers’ developmental milestones. Also, discuss practices that will help increase your scores.
M.A.L.E.
Enhanced Focus: School Partnership Launch & Family Welcome - Bridge home and school connections by introducing MALE cohort members to the educational community. Foster meaningful relationships between fathers and educators while enjoying "Coffee & Muffins 4 Mom/Donuts 4 Dads" in a welcoming atmosphere that encourages ongoing school involvement.
Everyday Actions + Protective Factors = Results (Actions Help Build Protective Factors)
This program is to support parents of young children in Forsyth County by providing them with tools for success and a network for support. Parents and caregivers will gain confidence by building from their experiences to enhance the community. Free for families with children 0-5
Stay Healthy, Stay Clean
Participants will receive handwashing, diapering, toileting, and sanitation procedures as they are performed multiple times a day. While an early educator may believe that they already know how to properly wash hands, diaper children, assist with toileting, and clean, this training can help improve or refine their behavior to keep themselves and children healthy. Reviewing proper technique is a good reminder that these processes are beyond cleanliness but can also prevent the spread of infectious disease.
Community Connection Carnival
Bring the whole family to this exciting celebration of everything our community has to offer. Explore local resources and discover amazing small businesses right in your neighborhood, all while enjoying classic carnival games, thrilling activities, and delicious food truck favorites. Whether you're looking to connect with local services, support neighborhood businesses, or simply have a great time with your loved ones, this event has something for everyone. Come hungry, come curious, and come ready to celebrate what makes Forsyth County special. It's more than just a carnival – it's your chance to strengthen the connections that make our community thrive!
Engineering in the Classroom
Engineering activities provide opportunities for children to grow and mature, and engineering design challenges promote social and emotional learning. In early childhood settings, educators and young children solve problems using available materials and an engineering design process. The process is not step-by-step because it looks different depending on the age of the children, the time available, and their engagement with adults, helping them reflect on their work and process. Learn what this looks like and how to incorporate this into your classroom.
Family Engagement Activity at a Childcare Site
This program is to support parents of young children in Forsyth County by providing them with tools for success and a network for support. Parents and caregivers will gain confidence by building from their experiences to enhance the community. Free for families with children 0-5
Self-Care
Self-care is all about caring for your health and ensuring you have everything you need to thrive as a teacher. Without caring for yourself, you won’t have the energy to help your students. Because teaching is such an intensive job, educators can greatly benefit from learning about and practicing self-care at work and at home and how to relieve stress even in the workplace.
M.A.L.E.
Enhanced Focus: Early Childhood Education Advocacy - Equip fathers with knowledge and tools to actively engage in Head Start programming and early childhood development initiatives. Strengthen father-child relationships through understanding developmental milestones and effective parenting strategies.
Cultural Competency and Inclusion in Early Childhood Education
This training emphasizes creating respectful, inclusive environments that celebrate cultural diversity and promote equity. It defines cultural competency as an ongoing process of self-awareness, learning, and action, and inclusion as ensuring participation and belonging for all children. The presentation outlines the benefits of these practices, such as stronger social-emotional development, academic success, and preparation for a diverse world, while offering practical teaching strategies and addressing common challenges like bias and limited resources.
Creating Exciting Outdoor Learning Environments
Outdoor play is vital in early childhood education, letting children express themselves and burn energy. Kids explore nature, take risks, and build confidence. Extending classroom centers outdoors develops skills like pretend play. When children invent games, they use imagination and resources to create new realities, enhancing socialization and language as they share ideas with peers. This gives them more control over learning. Join us to discover exciting outdoor learning opportunities for your center.
FLIP IT
Participants will learn the four supportive steps to help young children identify their feelings, learn healthy self-control, and reduce challenging behaviors.
Toddler CLASS Overview
During this training, you will be introduced to the indicators a CLASS assessor will evaluate. The trainer will clarify the criteria assessed for each indicator.
“Men in ECE” Smart Table Talk
Enhanced Focus: Father-Child Wellness & Bonding Experience - Create meaningful connections through structured activities that promote emotional wellness, communication skills, and healthy relationship building between fathers and children in a supportive peer environment.
Family Engagement Activity
This program is to support parents of young children in Forsyth County by providing them with tools for success and a network for support. Parents and caregivers will gain confidence by building from their experiences to enhance the community. Free for families with children 0-5
Pre-K CLASS Overview
During this training, you will be introduced to the indicators a CLASS assessor will evaluate. The trainer will clarify the criteria assessed for each indicator.
Stress Management and Burnout
Learn how Employee burnout in early education has become a big concern. Burnout lowers productivity, leads to poor morale, and ultimately, staff turnover. It can also cause problems in the classroom if not adequately addressed. Therefore, stress management for early childhood educators is crucial. This training will provide ways to identify and assist in this...
Family Engagement Activity
This program is to support parents of young children in Forsyth County by providing them with tools for success and a network for support. Parents and caregivers will gain confidence by building from their experiences to enhance the community. Free for families with children 0-5
Safe Handling for Child and Early Educator Well-being
This training covers the safe handling of children in childcare to promote child and educator well-being. Participants will learn about safe handling and classroom management strategies that can help reduce the risk of child-handling injuries. They will also be able to recognize and prevent common injuries in children and adults in childcare settings. Register Here!
Literacy in the Classroom
The literacy standards specified within the Foundation Blocks for Early Learning include oral expression, vocabulary, phonemic awareness, early knowledge, word recognition, print and book awareness, and written expression. These skills should be introduced at all ages. Teachers should provide literacy experiences for children during every part of the day. Join us and learn how to...
Music in the Classroom
The most important reason to provide high-quality musical environments for young children is that this is a critical period for growth in their musical skills and understanding, as it is for other aspects of learning, and children should have the opportunity to develop all their potential skills and talents. Join us and learn about ways...
M.A.L.E.
Enhanced Focus: Leadership Development & Program Ownership - Establish and train a dynamic Parent Committee/Policy Council that gives fathers meaningful voice and decision-making power in program direction, policies, and community impact initiatives.
How to Deal with Child Traumatic Stress
Early childhood trauma affects children ages 0-6. Despite assumptions that young age protects from trauma, research shows infants and toddlers are deeply affected by threatening events, even if they can’t verbalize reactions. Trauma sources include intentional violence (abuse, domestic violence), natural disasters, accidents, war, painful medical procedures, or sudden caregiver loss (including separation, not just...
Art in the Classroom
Learn about the difference between teacher-generated and child-generated art, how to incorporate 3D Art with all age groups in your classroom, and how to improve creativity in the learning environment. Register Here!
Dental
Poor Oral Health can have a detrimental effect on children’s quality of life, their performance at school, and their success later in life. Help Toddlers learn healthy habits for life with the recommendations and general guidelines through this interactive training. Register here!
Autism in Early Childhood
In this training, participants will increase their knowledge of the early signs and detection of autism in young children, be able to name supportive ways to share concerns with caregivers, identify resources that support and can assist young children with autism in the ECE setting, and explore developmentally appropriate activities and inclusion practices for young...
M.A.L.E.
Enhanced Focus: Educational Partnership & Child Development Advocacy - Partner with Winston-Salem State University to deepen fathers' understanding of early childhood education's critical importance. Provide tools and resources to become effective advocates for quality childcare and educational opportunities.
Playground Safety
This training addresses playground safety hazards, playground supervision, maintenance and general upkeep of the outdoor learning environment, and age and developmentally appropriate playground materials and equipment. Register Here!
Stay Healthy, Stay Clean
Participants will receive handwashing, diapering, toileting, and sanitation procedures as they are performed multiple times daily. While an early educator may believe they already know how to wash hands properly, diaper children, assist with toileting, and clean, this training can help improve or refine their behavior to keep themselves and children healthy. Reviewing proper techniques...
ITS SIDS – with Rashida Mitchell
Adults providing care for infants, 12 months or younger, are required to be trained in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Risk Reduction Practices. The Infant/Toddler Safe Sleep and SIDS Risk Reduction in Child Care (ITS-SIDS) is an approved training that provides an understanding of how to implement safe sleep practices. Register Here!
Nutrition
Nutrition can be tied into all aspects of the curriculum. Active, hands-on lessons promote healthy habits and improve attention spans, engage children in learning, and increase understanding of key concepts. In this training, we will discuss strategies to minimize struggles with trying new foods and offer suggestions for fun and engaging activities that promote healthy...
Emergency Preparedness & Response
Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) rules are designed to assist licensed childcare programs in adequately responding to the needs of children and others during disasters and emergencies. The EPR Plan addresses how a childcare center or a family childcare home will respond to natural and man-made disasters to ensure the safety and protection of the...
M.A.L.E.
Enhanced Focus: Casual Connection & Peer Support - Foster authentic relationships and peer mentorship in a relaxed setting where fathers and children can enjoy quality time while building lasting friendships and support networks within the MALE community.
Accessible and Inclusive Environments
Participants will learn about making the child care environment more inclusive for individuals with access, functional, and special health care needs, focusing on infants and toddlers and those who care for them. Register Here!
ECERS 3
Learn what assessors are looking for in the classroom environment as well as the teacher-child interactions that impact infant and toddlers’ developmental milestones. Also, discuss practices that will help increase your scores. Register Here!
M.A.L.E. – Top Golf Experience
Enhanced Focus: Recreation & Life Skills Through Play - Build confidence, patience, and healthy competition skills while strengthening father-child bonds through engaging recreational activities that promote teamwork and communication.
Trauma Resilience
During the training, we will discuss the Trauma Resilience Model and the seven commitments, ACES, the science of Trauma, Organizational Chronic Stress, and Professional Quality of Life. Register Here!
ITERS 3
Learn what assessors are looking for in the classroom environment as well as the teacher-child interactions that impact infant and toddlers’ developmental milestones. Also, discuss practices that will help increase your scores. Register Here!
Toddler CLASS Overview
During this training, you will be introduced to the indicators a CLASS assessor will evaluate. The trainer will clarify the criteria assessed for each indicator. Register Here!
Pre-K CLASS Overview
During this training, you will be introduced to the indicators a CLASS assessor will evaluate. The trainer will clarify the criteria assessed for each indicator. Register Here!
First Aid/CPR
Smart Start of Forsyth County is a proud provider of First Aid, CPR, and AED Training. Be sure to register early; spaces are limited. To receive the certificate, participants must attend the entire training session. To register, purchase tickets here.
ITS SIDS
Adults providing care for infants, 12 months or younger, are required to be trained in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Risk Reduction Practices. The Infant/Toddler Safe Sleep and SIDS Risk Reduction in Child Care (ITS-SIDS) is an approved training that provides an understanding of how to implement safe sleep practices. To register, purchase tickets...
Infant CLASS Overview
During this training, you will be introduced to the indicators a CLASS assessor will evaluate. The trainer will clarify the criteria assessed for each indicator. Register Here!
Stay Healthy, Stay Clean
Participants will receive handwashing, diapering, toileting, and sanitation procedures as they are performed multiple times daily. While an early educator may believe they already know how to wash hands properly, diaper children, assist with toileting, and clean, this training can help improve or refine their behavior to keep themselves and children healthy. Reviewing proper techniques...
We’re Moving We’re Learning
Infusing classrooms with physical activity—or at least the option of some movement, at student discretion—isn’t just good for kids’ bodies, it’s also a powerful tool for improving learning and focus and reducing classroom management issues. Physical activity that amplifies learning can have a powerful effect on retention and engagement—it’s also fun. Learn ways to integrate...
Observations and Assessments
This training highlights the essential role of observation and assessment in supporting early childhood development. It outlines key objectives such as understanding different observation methods, documenting and analyzing findings, and applying assessment data to guide instruction. The presentation covers formative and summative assessments, emphasizes ethical considerations like confidentiality and cultural sensitivity, and encourages reflective documentation....
How to Deal with Child Traumatic Stress
Early childhood trauma refers to traumatic events occurring between birth and age six. Since young children may not verbalize their experiences and react differently from older children, people often assume they’re unaffected. However, research shows young children can be deeply impacted by threats to their safety or that of caregivers. Symptoms are well documented, and...
