Hidden Gems: ECD 209–Introduction to Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health
Published October 4, 2026
A little girl smiles as she chases bubbles through a grassy park.
Have you always felt drawn to working with infants and toddlers? Do you feel empathy
for young children, and do you desire to be a part of their healthy growth and development?
If so, this course is for you! It will further prepare you to embark on a fulfilling
career as a nanny, teach preschool, work in human services, or contribute to the Head
Start program or a childcare center, making a significant difference in the lives
of young children.
In ECD 209, you will acquire the knowledge and skills needed to work with children
ages birth through 8 years old by encouraging healthy interactions, activities and
development to help build their resilience and their ability to face adversity. By
analyzing various case studies, you will understand best practices for fostering young
children's mental health and well-being within the context of their family and community.
This course is unique in its focus on supporting the pivotal role of caregivers in
a child's life. The goal of nurturing the caregivers is to provide them with the necessary
strategies and skills to more effectively assist their children, which helps establish
a solid basis for their children’s future development and success.
Weekly field observations in infant/toddler and early childhood programs complement
time spent in the classroom.