Nebraska Extension’s Early Childhood Team is excited to offer a variety of online and in-person classes designed to meet the needs of the Early Childhood Workforce. All classes that are open to the public are available to everyone, regardless of location, background or experience. If you are interested in customized training for your program or have any questions, please contact Katie for more information. Katie is available for customized training within Douglas and Sarpy counties as well as statewide and nationally, depending on topic area and availability.
Available Classes and Training
Professional Development Dates
Date | Time | Topic | Type | Cost | Hours | Recording | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tuesdays classes: 12/09, 01/13, 02/10, 03/10, 04/14, 05/12 | 7:30 - 8:30 pm Central Time | Inside Outside 2025-2026This year’s Inside Outside Meetings will center around the Nebraska Extension’s Nature-Based Learning in Early Childhood Professional Development Series. Each month, participants will engage in a blended learning experience designed to deepen understanding and practical application of nature-based education. Choose Your Meeting Time: | Online | No cost | 1.0 | No Recording | |
Thursday classes: 12/11, 01/15, 02/12, 03/12, 04/16, 05/14
| 1:00 - 2:00 pm Central Time | Online | No cost | 1.0 | No Recording | ||
Lunch and Learn Classes 2026This winter/spring, you can join us live OR get access to the recording for no cost if you register for the class. The recordings will be sent out by Friday each week and you will have until the following Friday to view, complete a quiz and earn your certificate. Classes with multiple dates are designed to be taken together, but you can attend whatever works best for your schedule! You will receive a 1-hour certificate for each class you attend for no cost. Classes are taught by Katie Krause unless otherwise noted. | |||||||
Tuesday Classes: 01/20, 01/27, 02/03, 02/17, 02/24, 03/03 No Class on 02/10 | 1:00 - 2:00 pm Central Time | Beyond Behavior: Understanding Children from the Inside OutThis new 6-week series offers a fresh approach to challenging behaviors, drawing on developmental science, respectful caregiving, and current neuroscience. Educators will learn how stress, sensory needs, and emerging skills shape behavior and how to respond with clarity, calmness, and connection. Each session focuses on practical, relationship-based strategies that reduce power struggles and support regulation. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of what behaviors communicate—and how to meet children’s needs in ways that help them thrive. | Online | No cost | 1.0 | Yes | |
Tuesday Classes: 03/10, 03/17, 03/24 | 1:00 - 2:00 pm Central Time | Play Is Learning: Discovering Academic Foundations in Everyday MomentsThis series helps identify and communicate the learning that happens through play, particularly to families. Participants will use the Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines (ELGs) as a framework to plan activities that nurture curiosity, creativity, and foundational academic skills. | Online | No cost | 1.0 | Yes | |
The Wonder of Winter: 01/15 & 01/22 The Joy of Spring: 03/19 The Glow of Summer: Mid-May TBA Beauty of Fall: Mid-September TBA
| 1:00 - 2:00 pm Central Time | The Seasons of Play - Ideas for incorporating nature following the rhythms of the seasonsSeasons of Play will meet seasonally to help you bring fresh, meaningful nature play to your early childhood programs. Each session highlights simple, inspiring ways to engage children with the natural world using seasonal opportunities and everyday materials. We will meet once each season to explore playful, developmentally supportive ideas that work in a variety of settings—indoors and outdoors. Join us as we discover how the changing seasons can spark curiosity, creativity, and joyful learning all year long.
| Online | No cost | 1.0 | Yes | |
Other Classes in 2026 | |||||||
02/05 | 1:00 and 7:00 pm Central Time | Look Who’s Hatchingwith Jaci Foged & Katie Krause *** Same link for both classes – just come to whichever time works best for you that day! *** | Online | No Cost | 1.0 | Yes | |
Customized Training
Customized training is available for staff development days, evening programs, family events, conferences or any other type of large or small group seeking to learn more about quality care and education for young children. The training can be held at the Douglas County Extension office or at another location of your choice. Training is also available in all of the Nebraska Department of Education Early Learning Guidelines Domains.
Training Examples
Examples of some of the training topics you can chose from, or request to have modified to fit the specific needs of your group, is listed below.
The Cure for Cabin Fever: Indoor and Outdoor Activities for Young Children in the Winter
Gardening with Young Children
Handling Difficult Behaviors
Look Who’s Hatching: Exploring Oviparous (egg laying) Animals with Young Children
Week of the Young Child Celebration
STEM in Early Childhood
Documenting Children’s Learning: Creating Meaningful Portfolios with Limited Time
Real Colors®, for the Early Childhood Educator
Follow the Leader: Rethinking Children’s Role in the Classroom
Extreme Makeover: Classroom Edition!
Explore the Outdoors Through Your 5 Senses
Program fees vary depending on the topic and supply needs, but typically range between $50 and $75 per hour. Mileage is included for any programs within Douglas, Sarpy and Cass counties.
Please feel free to contact Katie Krause with any additional questions or if you are interested in more information.
Self-paced Courses
Early Childhood Online Professional Development Course
Nebraska Extension's Early Childhood Team offers a wide variety of professional development classes geared towards adults caring for children ages birth to 8.
To help make these classes as accessible as possible, we are proud to offer asynchronous options such as recorded webinars and classes.
FALL 2025 classes include:
Cultivating Calm - 3 hours of content PLUS the opportunity to earn an additional 2 hours for completing ‘putting into practice’ activities.
Play Based Learning in Practice - 10 hours of content PLUS the opportunity to earn at least 5 additional hours for completing the ‘putting into practice’ activities
Total - 20 hours of NDE approved DHHS in-service hours will be available by mid-December!!
The classes are ‘work at your own pace’
Cost: $25 for access