Where Can I Find Free Online Child Development Courses?

Want to learn more about the psychology of child development? Maybe you're a teacher looking to expand your knowledge base or a parent hoping to learn more about your child's growth.

Whatever the reason, if you're looking for free online child development courses, you've come to the right place.

In this article, we'll explore some of the top courses available online and answer some questions you may have about child development.

Top 10 Sources for Free Online Child Development Courses

Several schools offer free online child development courses. Other organizations offer these courses as well. Let's take a look at the top ten places you can find child development courses online.

1. University of California, San Diego

The University of California in San Diego offers a free course through edX titled The Science of Parenting.

This self-paced course presents scientific facts and findings. Learn the best parenting methods to help your child grow and develop naturally.

Though the course is free, paid upgrades are available. You can complete the course in about five weeks if you study three to five hours per week.

2. State University of New York

The State University of New York offers a variety of child development courses through Coursera.

Among the courses available are Health and Safety of a Home-Based Childcare Center and Introduction to Early Childhood. Both courses cover child development relating to those who operate daycare facilities or services.

Both courses are completely free and online, and they each take about 10 hours of study time to complete.

3. University of California, Santa Cruz

The University of California Santa Cruz offers a course called Children Acquiring Literacy Naturally. This course is available through Coursera.

This short course explores how children develop reading and writing skills, suggesting that they do so in much the same way as they learn to speak. The course focuses on child development throughout the first few years of life.

The course takes about eight hours of study to complete. It is self-paced, however, so you can study whenever it's convenient for you.

4. University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota offers a few courses through Coursera. One that specifically relates to childhood development is Resilience in Children Exposed to Trauma, Disaster, and War: Global Perspectives.

This course discusses how trauma affects child development and how to help children learn coping methods to encourage resilience.

This free online course is self-paced and can be completed in about 20 hours of study time.

5. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a course through Coursera titled Assessment in Learning.

While this course doesn't specifically discuss child development, it provides an in-depth look at educational assessment tests which measure and quantify child development.

It is an excellent resource for teachers hoping to better learn how to assess their students' progress.

The course can be completed in about 14 hours of self-paced study.

6. University of Colorado

The University of Colorado system offers several different child development-related courses.

Examples include SEL for Students: A Guide to Social Emotional Well-Being (offered through the System's Boulder campus) and Providing Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Special Education Services in School.

These courses explore how social and emotional learning positively affect childrens' growth and development. The self-paced courses can be completed in approximately 11 to 13 hours.

7. University of Florida

The University of Florida offers a unique childhood development course called The Science of Training Young Athletes.

Available through Coursera, this course talks about why 70% of student athletes quit sports before graduation and methods you can use to encourage them to continue playing.

It's a great resource for coaches and parents who want to further a child's development through physical activity and friendly competition.

The course takes about 18 hours to complete.

8. University at Buffalo

The University at Buffalo provides a free Coursera course titled ADHD: Everyday Strategies for Elementary Students.

Those who participate in this course will learn more about ADHD, how it is diagnosed, and how it affects child development.

Although it's geared more toward parents, teachers and healthcare professionals may also benefit from taking this course.

The course is pretty short. It can be completed in about eight hours of study.

9. University of Michigan

One child development course is available from the University of Michigan: Hearing Loss in Children. You can take this course through Coursera.

This course teaches participants how to identify pediatric hearing loss early to prevent delayed learning and development.

The self-paced course can be finished in about 16 hours.

10. Other Courses

There are other helpful childhood courses that are not offered by colleges.

For example, Alison offers a wide variety of free, self-paced courses. Some of these include:

• Child Development: Self-Regulation
• Child Development With Whole-Brain Approach
• Basics of Child Development and Wellbeing

The SDG Academy is another excellent source of free online courses. They cover a variety of topics, including childhood development. Consider taking the course titled The Best Start in Life: Early Childhood Development for Sustainable Development.

FAQs About Free Online Child Development Courses

Let's take a look at some common questions you may still have about free online child development courses.

What Are Child Development Courses?

Child development courses are any educational classes that have to do with a child's early growth and development.

Some are classroom based while others, like those outlined in this article, are free, online, and self-paced.

What Are the Benefits of Taking Free Online Child Development Courses?

Taking free online child development courses can help you expand your knowledge of how children develop and factors that can affect their development.

This is an excellent benefit for parents, teachers, coaches, and any others who regularly interact with children.

What Topics Are Covered in Free Online Child Development Courses?

It depends on the individual course. Child development courses cover a wide range of topics, from basic principles of development to the effects of trauma, relationships, and disabilities on a child's development.

Find the Best Child Development Courses Today

The courses presented in this article cover a diverse range of child development topics. They are all free and self-paced, so you are sure to find a child development course that fits your needs and interests.