Free child care provider classes to be held Feb. 17

University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service agents in Family and Consumer Sciences will host in-person training for The Best Care starting at 8 a.m. Feb. 17 at Center Fork Baptist Church, 1101 S. Moore Road.

Ten hours of training will be offered, and all training is verified through the Professional Development Registry, formerly known as Traveling Arkansas Professional Pathways TAPP, and may be counted as continuing education for child care providers, a news release said. Some sessions may also be approved for foster parents.

Topics will include “Wiggles and Giggles,” “Saying No to Time Wasters,” “Stress Management,” “Eating with Ease,” “Loose Parts,” “Fun Ways to Teach Math,” “Diversity and Inclusion,” “Breastfeeding,” and “Family Well Being for Children in Your Care.”

All Best Care classes are offered free of charge. Continuing Education Units are available for $10 for any or all Best Care training. Instructors include Extension agents Alison Crane, of Garland County, Karalee Black, of Montgomery County, and Bridgett Martin, of Polk County.

Call Crane at the Garland County Cooperative Extension Service Office, 501-623-6841 or email her at acrane@uada.edu for the Best Care Training or for information on other options for verified training for child care providers or foster parents.

To register online complete the registration form at: http://tinyurl.com/4s9jtha5

An additional five hours of training are available through Best Care Connected, a web-based child care training program: http://tinyurl.com/evvwsb9p Anyone who requires reasonable accommodation to participate or needs materials in another format, must promptly call the Garland County Extension office, 501-623-6841. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.