• Early childhood is a crucial time in a child's educational development.Happy Toddler image by Mary Beth Granger from Fotolia.com
  
  Early childhood education relates to the education of children from birth to age 8. Early childhood education specialists and teachers work with children through the concept of learning through play. They are trained to assist young children in their intellectual, emotional and physical development. Specialists develop lesson plans that use a hands-on approach to learning, utilizing games, music, artwork and computers. Many degrees in early childhood education can be obtained through correspondence courses that allow prospective teachers to learn at their own pace and on their own time.
  
  

The Stratford Career Institute

• Correspondence courses allow students to learn at their own pace.reading image by William Berry from Fotolia.com
  
  The Stratford Early Childhood Education Program provides a diploma program in early childhood education that covers subjects ranging from the Montessori approach to development of fine motor activities to language development. Students are provided with the necessary learning materials as well as toll-free telephone access to a qualified instructor if they should have any questions arise. Information on programs can be found on their website referenced below, or by contacting them directly by phone at 800-363-0058.
  
  

Penn Foster Career School

• Correspondence courses allow you to study around other responsibilities such as work.woman reading image by PD-Images.com from Fotolia.com
  
  The Penn Foster Career School offers the child development associate certificate, otherwise known as a CDA. The CDA program teaches the essential components of early childhood education as well as the administrative functions of running an early childhood development program. Those holding a CDA certificates can run their own preschool programs as well as teach in various fields of early childhood development. According to their website, they are accredited by several accreditation bodies such as Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools. Information on Penn Foster programs can be obtained through their website, which is referenced below or by calling them directly at 800-275-4410.
  
  

U.S. Career Institute

• A love of children is essential when working as an educator.pink hand image by feisty from Fotolia.com
  
  The U.S. Career Institute offers a professional-level program that ends in a child day care specialist career diploma for those who successfully complete the educational requirements of the course. The program focuses on all fields of running an early childhood development center including discipline, nutrition, health and safety as well as observing and maintaining state and local regulations. Information on their courses can be found on their website referenced below or by calling 866-250-6851.