Stay compliant, grow your skills, and strengthen your program without stepping away from the work you love. Emergent ED's Expert-Led Online Lunch and Learn series delivers targeted, practical training on the topics that matter most to Texas child care professionals — live, virtual, and ready to fit into your day. Each one-hour session is led by experienced TECPDS certified, early childhood professionals who understand the real demands of running a child care program in Texas.
About This Training Series
This series is designed for child care professionals at every level — from caregivers and lead teachers to center directors and program administrators — who are committed to delivering high-quality care and staying current with best practices. Each session addresses a topic that directly impacts the health, safety, and development of children in your program, giving your team the knowledge they need to make confident, informed decisions every day. As a state-authorized provider of the Texas Director Credential Program and a trusted consulting partner to more than 60 child care programs across Texas, Emergent ED brings real-world expertise and deep familiarity with Texas licensing standards to every training we offer. These sessions count toward your annual professional development hours, making it easier to meet your requirements without disrupting your program's daily schedule. Whether you attend one session or all four, each Lunch and Learn delivers focused, actionable content your team can put to work immediately.
Individual Session Descriptions
Session 1: Requirements for Infant Care
Caring for infants is one of the most important — and most regulated — responsibilities in a child care setting, and for good reason. In this session, participants will gain a thorough understanding of the health, safety, and supervision requirements that govern infant care in Texas, including how to apply responsive caregiving practices that support healthy development and secure attachment. Special attention is given to safe sleep standards, ensuring your program is fully aligned with current guidance and that every infant in your care is protected from the moment they arrive.
Session 2: Illness Exclusion in a Child Care Setting
One of the most common — and consequential — decisions a child care professional makes is whether a child or staff member should be excluded from the program due to illness. This session equips participants with a clear, practical framework for identifying symptoms that require exclusion and communicating those decisions with confidence and consistency to families and staff. Participants will also explore best practices for minimizing the spread of illness throughout the program and maintaining a safe environment for children and caregivers alike.
Session 3: Turning Meal Time into a Learning Experience
Meal time is often treated as a break in the day — but in a high-quality child care program, it is one of the richest opportunities for learning, language development, and relationship building. This session helps child care professionals reimagine everyday routines as intentional learning experiences, exploring practical, research-informed strategies for turning the lunch table into a place where children practice independence, build vocabulary, develop fine motor skills, and connect with the adults who care for them.
Session 4: Responsibilities as a Caregiver
The role of a caregiver in a child care setting extends far beyond supervision — it is one of the most meaningful and impactful roles in a child's early life. This session takes an in-depth look at the full scope of caregiver responsibilities, from building trusting relationships with children and families to maintaining professional conduct, upholding program policies, and contributing to a safe and nurturing environment. Participants will come away with a renewed sense of purpose and a clearer understanding of how their daily actions shape children's outcomes.
Format and Details
- Format: Live virtual sessions via Zoom
- Duration: 1 hour per session
- Time: 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Registration: Required via QR code — seats are limited
- Attendance: Each session available for individual registration; attend one or all four
These sessions are designed to count toward annual professional development hours. Contact Emergent ED to confirm applicability for your specific program type.