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FREE Professional Development Online for Early Childhood Educators

We have curated a list of free professional development opportunities that you can attend from your home.

During these unusual times, many in-person professional development opportunities, such as conferences and trainings, have been canceled or put online. Learning from professional development is important to improve and strengthen our skills and techniques in early childhood education. 

Web Resources

  • Apple Teacher
    Source: Apple Inc.

    This is a free professional learning program designed to support and celebrate educators using Apple products for teaching and learning.

  • CONNECT Module 6: Dialogic Reading Practices
    Source: Division for Early Childhood (DEC)

    This professional development online module explains the purpose, use, and potential benefits of dialogic reading practices when working with young children. Instructional resources focus on inclusion, special education, communication, and tiered instruction.

  • Early Childhood Investigations Webinars
    Source: Early Childhood Investigations

    Free webinars on equity, virtual learning, trauma, boosting enrollment, and mindfulness with completion certificates for educators.

  • Early Childhood Webinars
    Source: Hatch

    Free early childhood webinars on kindergarten readiness, distance learning, math talk, robotics, language, autism, and classroom management with completion certificates.

  • Gateways to Opportunity
    Source: Gateways to Opportunity

    This is a statewide professional development support system designed to provide guidance, encouragement, and recognition to individuals and programs serving children, youth, and families.

  • Head Start Webinars
    Source: Head Start

    Free webinars on inclusion, supervision, fatherhood, home safety, and feeding for early childhood educators and directors.

  • Sesame Street In Communities
    Source: Sesame Street

    Free professional development, courses, and interactive trainings on early literacy, developmental domains, resilience, early math, and family engagement.

  • Watch Me! Celebrating Milestones and Sharing Concerns (also in Spanish)
    Source: Centers on Disease Control (CDC)

    Early care and education providers play a critical role in the health and well-being of children and are well positioned to help identify children who might need extra help in their development. This free online training course provides tools and best practices for monitoring the development of children in their care and talking about it with their parents.

  • WIDA Early Years eLearning Modules
    Source: WIDA Early Years

    Live webinars, live online administrator academy, and on demand courses about dual language learners, disabilities, and multilingual children are available for free through ECPL’s and ISBE’s partnership with WIDA Early Years. ISBE and/or Gateways credit is available.

About this resource

Setting(s) for which the article is intended:
  • Family Child Care
  • Child Care Center
  • Preschool Program
  • Kindergarten

Intended audience(s):
  • Teachers / Service providers
  • Faculty / Trainer

Age Levels (the age of the children to whom the article applies):
Reviewed: 2020
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