Summary

Al’s Caring Pals is an evidence-based program that equips home-based child care providers with training and materials to develop social skills and healthy decision-making in children 3-8 years old.

Al’s Caring Pals is designed specifically for home-based child care. Lively training sessions address the unique aspects of this setting and build the skills of providers. Down-to-earth approaches and practical materials prepare providers to help children learn to express and manage feelings, solve problems peacefully, accept differences, control impulses, cope, and make safe and healthy choices.

Based on resilience and protective factors research, Al’s Caring Pals:
Strengthens the abilities of caregivers to support children’s positive development, build meaningful relationships, and create a nurturing environment
Provides interactive training that addresses the unique aspects of family child care, builds the skills of providers, and offers down-to-earth approaches to be used in daily interactions with children
Includes practical materials, such as an activity flipbook and original songs, which providers use to teach children to express and manage feelings, solve problems peacefully, accept differences, control impulses, cope, and make safe and healthy choices
The premise of Al’s Caring Pals is similar to that of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) that interactions between adults and children matter. Wingspan has prepared a crosswalk showing how Al’s Caring Pals aligns with these CLASS domains: Emotional Support, Classroom Organization, and Instructional Support.