Why is active play so important for young children?  Learn from professionals about the value of active play and reducing risk from hazards.  This webinar content includes:   the importance of active play to support social-emotional, cognitive and physical development of young children;  the leading hazards that cause the most common injuries in active play environments;  and tools to implement a plan for active play area maintenance. Presenters are Dr. Susan S. Aronson, ECELS Pediatric Advisor, Betsy Caesar, MEd, President, Playcare, Inc. and Tyrone Scott, MBA, CPSI. 

Participants receive 1.5 hours of professional development credit for participating and completing the evaluation. PA Key and Act 48 credit are available for this recorded webinar.  To listen to the recording, click here. Download the handouts and evaluation form in the links below.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in children. Use the recorded ECELS webinar to learn more about asthma. In this webinar you will learn about asthma symptoms, resources and tools to care for children with this special need.  Presenters for this webinar include Dr. Susan S. Aronson, MD, FAAP, ECELS Founder and Pediatric Advisor and Zalika Shani, MPH, MCHES - Program Manager, Kids Asthma Management Program, Crozer-Keystone Health System.

This webinar is designed for Child Care Program Directors and Teachers/Caregivers. Family Child Care Providers, Child Care Health Advocates, Child Care Health Consultants, Head Start Coordinators and teachers. Pennsylvania participants can receive 1.5 hours of PA Key and PA Act 48 professional development credit by completing and sending the evaluation form to ECELS. 

To listen to the recording, click here.  There is a 30 second delay before the webinar recording starts.  Download the handouts and evaluation form in the links below. 

Why do children misbehave? What resources are available to prevent suspension or expulsion from child care? Learn about strategies to help manage children with challenging behaviors. Pediatric health expert, Dr. Nathan Blum, Chief of the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Julia Slater, MEd, Educational Consultant, Early Intervention Technical Assistance presented this webinar with ECELS on January 14, 2016.

This professional development session is designed for child care program directors, family child care providers, health professionals, child care health consultants, child care health advocates, supervisory staff, Regional Key staff, instructors and MIECHV home visitors.
Participants will receive 1.5 hours of professional development credit for participating and submitting an evaluation. PA Key credit is available for the recorded version. To listen to the recording click here

Participants will learn how to:
1. Explain factors that lead to challenging behaviors
2. Describe resources to use to help families whose children are at risk for suspension or expulsion from child care
3. Identify strategies to help manage children with challenging behaviors
4. Identify policies to promote behavior management

Reviewed and reaffirmed 8/22

This webinar will discuss breast milk storage and handling, provide practice guidance on paced-bottle feeding, and equip participants with the information and resources needed to promote breastfeeding in the ECE and child care settings!

Pennsylvania participants receive 1.5 hour of professional development credit for participating and completing the evaluation. To listen to the recording, click here. The password is "Ecels". Download the evaluation form in the link below.

At the conclusion of the webinar participants will be able to:

1. Identify reasons to support chest/breastfeeding
2. Explain the safe handling and storage procedures for human milk
3. Describe rationale and practice for paced bottle feeding
4. Explain benefits to program when chest/breastfeeding is supported
5. Describe and apply supportive policies for chest/breastfeeding

Please complete the attached evaluation, email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or fax: 484-446-3255. 

This webinar will be FREE until Dec, 31st 2023. Sponsored by PA AAP First Food Program. 

Do you have questions about current immunization requirements? Why are there so many immunizations for children today? Learn what you can do to promote and support immunizations for children and staff in early care and education (child care) programs. 

The PA Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics - ECELS (PA AAP/ECELS), PA Department of Human Services/Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), PA Department of Health and a pediatrician with expertise in vaccine preventable diseases presented a webinar in January 2020 to address common questions and immunization requirements. Click here for webinar details. To directly access the webinar recording click here. Click on the link for the PA Department of Health Immunization Tool shared in the webinar. The online evaluation form can be accessed here.

Presenters include:

• Libby Ungvary, ECELS Director
• Diane Michel, Program Executive, PA Department of Human Services (DHS)/Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL)
• Janine Strick, BSN, RN, Nursing Services Consultant, PA Department of Health (DOH)
• Kristen Feemster, MD, MPH, MSHP, FAAP, Director of Research for the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia / Medical Director – Immunization Program and Acute Communicable Diseases, Philadelphia Department of Public Health/Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

This professional development session is designed for early care and education (child care) program directors and staff, group and family child care providers, Head Start staff, Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Quality Coaches, child care health consultants and child care health advocates. Participants will receive 1.5 hours of PA Key professional development credit after submitting the evaluation and the $15.00 review fee for each recorded webinar.

At the conclusion of the webinar participants will be able to:

• Explain the purpose of currently recommended immunizations/vaccines
• Identify resources for accurate information on vaccines and current vaccine schedules
• Summarize the role of the Department of Health (PA and Philadelphia) during a disease outbreak  
• Comply with DHS and PA Code Regulations related to children’s immunization records and reporting

Do you know how infectious diseases spread?  When is exclusion due to illness appropriate? This webinar covers general infectious disease content.  For specific information about COVIID-19 guidance and implementation, please visit the PA Key Website and the CDC Website.  Learn more about your role in prevention of the spread of infectious diseases in early care and education environments from infectious disease expert Dr. Susan Coffin, MD, MPH, Clinical Director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. This webinar was presented on February 9, 2016.

This webinar is designed for child care program directors, family child care providers, health professionals, child care health consultants, child care health advocates, supervisory staff, Regional Key staff, instructors and MIECHV home visitors.
Participants will receive 1.5 hours of professional development credit for viewing the webinar and submitting an evaluation. PA Key and Act 48 professional development credit is available for the recorded version.  To view the recording, click here

As a result of participation in this activity, participants will be able to:
• Identify ways infectious diseases are spread
• Describe steps to reduce the risk of infectious diseases
• List the steps to perform a daily health check
• Identify criteria and rationale for exclusion due to illness