What is Professional Development?

First, let's start with a few definitions.

A professional:

is someone who engages in work that needs special training or education

An early childhood professional:

may be referred to as a caregiver, child care provider, teacher, administrator, or day care provider

Professional development:

is a continuum of learning and support opportunities designed to prepare individuals with the knowledge, skills, practices, and dispositions needed in a specific profession

Professional development for early childhood educators includes:

both professional preparation and ongoing professional development;
training, education, and technical assistance;
university/college credit-bearing coursework, and preservice and in-service training sessions;
observation with feedback from a colleague or peer learning communities;
mentoring, coaching, and other forms of job-related technical assistance

Do you consider yourself a professional? You are!

Have you ever thought of your training and education as a way that you continue to develop as a professional? It is!

Why are these definitions important?

As with many professions, early care and education continue to evolve. Because new research and recommendations are regularly introduced to the profession, it is important to continue to expand your knowledge and skills so that you are prepared to provide high-quality care and support to young children and their families.

The quality of experiences you provide to young children contributes positively to their development and has a lifelong impact. Therefore, it is important that you, an early childhood professional, strive for the best in yourself both personally and professionally by seeking out quality professional development.

How do I choose professional development?

Some common terms used interchangeably for professional development may include in-service, annual training, conferences, workshops, college courses, or seminars. Additionally, professional development support provided to early childhood professionals may be referred to as coaching, mentoring, and technical assistance. No matter the term, effective professional development should be thoughtful, reflective, and guided by established goals.

Kansas has specific topic and hour requirements for both new and established professionals. While licensing standards and regulations provide the foundation for minimizing risk concerning the health and safety of children, meeting these regulations should not be the only focus of your professional development. Seeking professional development that expands on these topics can increase the quality of young children's experiences in early care settings.

Continued growth in knowledge and skills is essential to improving quality. All early childhood professionals who work with young children should have a strong understanding of child development, current research, and evidence-based best practices. Continued professional development positively correlates with the quality of the experiences of young children in early care and education programs.

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