In order to provide Training & Curriculum Specialists (TC&Ss) with the most up-to-date research and relevant information in the field, the Virtual Lab School has been reviewing courses, updating course content, and reformatting course activities in all the foundational courses. Safe Environments, Healthy Environments, Family Engagement, and Cognitive Development are the latest foundational courses to be updated in the T&CS track with new content, updated resources, and fillable activities. Some highlights include:

• New content in Safe Environments, Lesson 1 addresses environmental risks, shared spaces, playgrounds, and staff safety.
• A new Apply activity entitled Helping Children Deal With Grief added to Healthy Environments, Lesson 6. It provides a list of resources to help support the mental health of children as they process grief.
• A new Apply activity entitled Strengthening Protective Factors: Engaging Questions added to Family Engagement, Lesson 5. Training & Curriculum Specialists can use the activity’s questions to foster reflective thinking and help staff think more deeply about how they engage with families to build positive relationships and strengthen their protective factors.
• New content in Cognitive Development, Lesson 2 lays out the latest CDC Milestone updates, discusses ableism, and provides possible warning signs that may be identified during regular observations or developmental screenings.

Additional course updates in the T&CS track will be available soon.