Early Childhood Certificate Training
Online Open House
with Cynthia Aldinger and Acacia Moore
Upcoming Trainings
Begins July 11, 2026
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Begins July 18, 2026
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Begins October 10, 2026
Begins August 2026
Learn more about hosting a training in your area: https://www.lifewaysnorthamerica.org/host-a-training
Completing the LifeWays® Early Childhood Certificate Training can open new opportunities for you – both professional and personal—in the fields of early childhood, parent education and after-school care. Our one-year, part-time curriculum includes over 200 onsite hours, with independent study and personal mentoring between sessions. It can prepare you to open or transform your own in-home program, classroom or early childhood center. Many parents also enroll for inspiration in the Living Arts.
Our students graduate with a renewed sense of purpose and joie de vivre in their daily lives. Strengthened by an amazing view of the developing human being, a lifted experience of personal growth, guidance in establishing successful programs, and a sense of being grounded in practical, artistic, and nurturing skills, they tell us over and over again that this training was a life-changing experience for them.
Faith
“The LifeWays training has literally changed my life. I started working in early childhood planning to do it for a year while I ‘figured out what I wanted to do with my life,’ and my LifeWays training helped me realize that I was doing exactly what I wanted. It gave me new ways of looking at mundane tasks and gave meaning to every interaction I had with the children. It gave me a framework to view my work with children and a way to explain to parents that what I was doing with their children was meaningful.
Each segment of my LifeWays training had me coming back to my class filled with inspiration, new ideas of things I wanted to try, and new energy to approach old problems. I was truly sad when my training ended, and was thrilled when another graduate in the area suggested that we start a LifeWays graduate group. That group met once a month and was a mainstay for all of us over several years. LifeWays has influenced my life in a meaningful way, and continues to do so, to this day. I would recommend the LifeWays training to anyone who spends their time with young children.”
Program at a Glance
LifeWays Early Childhood Certificate Program is designed for both parents and professionals. The 210 in-class hours over the course of a year are offered in various locations throughout the US.
There is also guided study with a mentor between sessions. LifeWays graduates are using what they have learned
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With their own families
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In LifeWays childcare and in-home programs
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In schools as assistant teachers, or offering parent-child, after-school and childcare programs.
The Curriculum
The curriculum is divided into four categories:
HUMAN GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
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In-depth child development from birth to six, with an introduction to other ages and phases of life through biographical studies based on the insights of Rudolf Steiner
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Introduction to numerous developmental theorists such as Vygotsky, Piaget, Bowlby, Dewey, Erikson, Froebel, Pikler and others.
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Exercises for personal development, inner practice, and adult relationships, including a class on diversity
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how to understand yourself, children and other adults
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how to practice mindfulness
CHILD, FAMILY & COMMUNITY
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Practical skills for inspired living
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how to create daily/weekly schedules that invigorate rather than exhaust
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Celebrations and festivals
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Home health care practices to support healthy children and adults
LIVING ARTS
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Working with the Living Arts (domestic activity, nurturing care, social awareness and creative arts)
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how to craft beautiful, purposeful things
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how to make puppets and tell stories
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how to mindfully clean and care for your home or work environment
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how to move with grace and strength and good posture
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how to create simple, wholesome meals
PROGRAM CURRICULUM
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Tools of the Trade – introductory classes on the nuts and bolts of establishing child care centers and home programs, as well as parent-child and parent-infant programs.
Meals
Snacks and daily organic hot lunches are included in tuition. Students provide their own breakfast and dinner.
Housing and Childcare
While LifeWays does not directly provide housing or childcare, we are happy to provide applicants with contact information for local resources.
How to Apply
These steps must be completed before considering yourself fully accepted to and ready to attend our in person training:
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Fill out the online application form & pay $100 Application fee
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Complete the Payment Plan Form and Student Contract
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After application fee paid, complete Financial Assistance form if needed (provided upon registration).
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Reach out to the Student Services Coordinator of your location to let them know you have enrolled, or are in the process of enrolling, and they can assist you with any questions that arise.
If you are in need of downloadable forms to mail into LifeWays, please email Julie at administrator@lifewaysnorthamerica.net