"When a child fails an exam, it’s not the failure of the child it’s feedback about their learning process. Beating them doesn’t change the process, it only teaches them to associate learning with pain and fear. What that child needs is guidance: understanding where the gaps are, teaching resilience, and showing that failure is a stepping stone, not a death sentence. Every time we raise our hands to punish instead of guide, we raise a generation that hides their struggles instead of confronting t

The Child Development Associate® (CDA) national credentialing program is more than a milestone. It’s a professional development pathway designed to strengthen your skills, elevate your practice, and advance your career in early childhood education. Created for educators working with children ages birth to age 5 across a variety of settings, the CDA® equips you with the knowledge and recognition you need to better serve young children and their families. Whether you’re just beginning your journey