Michigan State University Extension
Child and Family Development April Offerings
MSU Extension has a wide range of free online classes for parents and caregivers of children of all ages and early childhood professionals. See below for their April offerings!
Extension Extras For Parents
These free online parenting workshops will provide guidance for parents of children as they navigate the challenges, concerns, and joys of parenting. Participants may register for as few or as many workshops as they wish. The workshops are on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00PM ET as follows:
Class dates:
April 7: Screen Time for Children
April 14: The Birds and the Bees: Talking With Kids About Sex
April 21: Together We Can: Co-Parenting
April 28: Positive Discipline
Class Times: 7:30PM to 9:00PM
Registration : https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_niFCQDzYRKGCnu3qCa5vmw
Parenting Series
Guiding Principles for Highly Successful Parenting
Are you wondering how to gain greater cooperation from your children? Struggling with chores or routines? Not sure how to handle discipline issues? Join us for this five-week parenting education series for parents with children of all ages will explore developing routines, emotional control, rules, and relationships, and being a calm, assertive parent. Certificates of attendance are available. This class is eligible for MIRegistry Credit!
Class Dates: Mondays, April 6, 13, 20, 27, May 4
Class Times: 6:30pm-8:00pm ET
Registration : https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bOUJg8zZGkm98AC
Attached is a flyer and graphics for social media
For more information contact Courtney Aldrich at aldric82@msu.edu
The Parent Talk System
Do you feel like the children in your care aren’t listening to you? Do you find yourself constantly repeating yourself trying to gain compliance? This 6-week series is for parents and caregivers of children of all ages and is designed to improve communication and provide practical verbal strategies for raising confident, caring, responsible children. Topics include eliminating unwanted behavior, setting limits, teaching about consequences, giving effective feedback, promoting independence, and developing character. Certificates of attendance are available. This class is eligible for MIRegistry Credit!
Class dates: Thursdays, April 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14
Class times: 7:00-8:30pm ET
Registration : https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/ SV_1XLbxFQ7NqMF1GK
Attached is a flyer and graphics for social media
For more information, contact Courtney Aldrich, aldric82@msu.edu
Extension Extras for Professionals: Early Childhood Professional Development Classes
These free online workshops provide professional development training hours for early childhood professionals. These classes are eligible for MIRegistry Credit!(See more offerings for professionals at the end of the note)
Title: Screen Time for Young Children
Class Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026
Class Time: 7:00PM to 8:30PM
Registration : https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oL8sk1-dRA-uKvpC-VLLSA
Attached is a flyer and graphics for social media
For more information contact Courtney Aldrich at aldric82@msu.edu
Title: Mathematics for Infants and Toddlers
Class Date: Friday, April 24, 2026
Class Time: 1:00PM to 2:30PM
Registration : https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/ WN_a2ggJI6-QKuy3RvSzGydpQ
Attached is a flyer for this workshop.
For more information contact Courtney Aldrich, aldric82@msu.edu
In-Person Workshop: Including All of Us
Description:
Including All of Us is an intensive training to provide an opportunity for child care professionals to learn about issues of diversity, equity and inclusion in early childhood. Including All of Us includes group content, where early childhood professionals can explore their own beliefs, worldviews and understanding of issues surrounding diversity. Participants learn about ways they can incorporate anti-bias education into their work with young children and create environments of equity for all children. Ensuring that child care environments are high quality, equitable and inclusive will help build and nurture social emotional competencies and prepare children for success in school and in life. Including All of Us provides an opportunity for teachers to practice self-reflection and develop an awareness that will have a positive impact on their teaching, child care skills, and family interactions.
This in-person, free program is six hours in length and can be taught in one six-hour session or two, three-hour sessions. The program is approved in the MiRegistry system and completion certificates are available.
To schedule a workshop at your location, contact Courtney Aldrich at aldric82@msu.edu
Extension Extras Let's Learn Something New
These free online workshops feature guest experts on a variety of topics. NOTE, this class is in March!!
Title: Individual Education Plan (IEP)
Class Date: March 20, 2026
Class Time: 1:00PM to 2:00PM
Registration : https://bit.ly/411x1Bq
Attached is a flyer for this workshop.
For more information contact Anne O'Rourke-Bean, orourk65@msu.edu
Online Self-Paced Classes
These free online classes can be completed on your own at your own pace.
Positive Discipline: Helping young children learn self-control is important to their ability to be successful citizens now and in the future. Positive Discipline workshops help adults learn how their role in creating appropriate environments and experiences can strengthen that development. This class has a “parent and caregiver” track and a “professional” track. Certificates of attendance are available for all who take the class and professional development training hours are available for early childhood professionals. Credit in the MiRegistry system is available.
Registration: https://www.canr.msu.edu/courses/positive-discipline-online-course
For more information contact Courtney Aldrich at aldric82@msu.edu
This class is eligible for MIRegistry Credit!
Infant Safety
MSU Extension has partnered with the Livingston County Child Abuse Prevention Council to create a self-directed online infant safety course called “Sleeping, Crying, Driving.” This three part course contains videos and interactive content on infant safe sleep, how to handle extended infant crying and guidelines for transporting your child safely. A certificate of completion and MIRegistry credit is available for those who need proof of attendance.
Registration: https://www.canr.msu.edu/early_childhood_development/infant-safety/
This class is eligible for MIRegistry Credit!
MI Parenting Resource
This free, online program is meant to support caregivers across the state in strengthening their parent-child relationships and gaining new tools for enhancing positive child behaviors.
Registration: https://miparentingresource.org/
For more information contact Courtney Aldrich at aldric82@msu.edu
