A Relationship-Based Pathway to the CDA Credential: From Practice to Professional Growth
TenderTime™ Beginnings is a comprehensive Birth–to–Five CDA pathway designed to support early childhood educators in earning the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential through relationship-based practice, reflective learning, and real-world application.
Grounded in the TenderTime™ Foundations Framework, this pathway helps educators meet CDA requirements without disconnecting learning from daily caregiving.
Because how we care is just as important as what we know.
This program supports educators on their path to earning the CDA credential through a comprehensive 120-hour and 480-hour PRACTICUM Birth–Five course. It offers a clear, standards-based pathway aligned with the Essentials Workbook and meets PHMC PDO, ELRC, DHS, and Keystone STARS requirements. With curriculum, coaching, and assessments, educators build the core skills needed to succeed in early childhood classrooms. At its heart, this program answers: “How do I earn my CDA and develop the essential skills to teach young children with confidence?”
TenderTime™ Beginnings is designed for:
- Infant & Toddler Caregivers
- Preschool Teachers
- Assistant Teachers & Aides
- Family Child Care Providers
- CDA Candidates (Birth–to–Five)
- Programs supporting staff credentialing
- Workforce and pre-apprenticeship initiatives
Whether educators are new to the field or deepening their practice, this pathway meets them where they are.
Unlike traditional CDA programs, TenderTime™ Beginnings:
- Centers relationships as the foundation for learning
- Integrates CDA competencies into daily routines and interactions
- Uses Learning Circles + Practice Cycles instead of lecture-only instruction
- Emphasizes reflection, coaching, and dignity
- Supports educators emotionally as well as professionally
- Aligns learning with real classrooms and caregiving settings
This pathway respects educators as professionals, not just candidates.
Format: Cohort-based learning
Delivery: In-person, virtual, or hybrid
Instructional Hours: Aligned to CDA requirements
Practice: Embedded in daily caregiving
Support: Ongoing guidance and reflection
Programs may offer the pathway as:
- An internal staff credentialing program
- A workforce development initiative
- A grant-funded or shared services offering
Outcomes for Educators
Educators who complete TenderTime™ Beginnings gain:
- Confidence in relationship-based caregiving
- Deeper understanding of child development
- Strong preparation for CDA assessment and observation
- Professional language and reflective skills
- A clear connection between theory and practice
- Recognition as a developing early childhood professional
Outcomes for Programs & Partners
Programs and partners benefit from:
- Credentialed, confident staff
- Consistent, intentional caregiving practices
- Improved quality and retention
- Documentation that supports licensing and grants
- A sustainable, values-aligned credentialing pathway
What’s Included in the TenderTime™ Beginnings Pathway
- All CDA Competency Standards
- All 13 CDA Functional Areas
- Alignment to observation, portfolio, and verification requirements
- Reflective group learning
- Guided application in daily practice
- Peer discussion and support
- Growth-focused feedback
- Responsive relationships
- Respectful routines
- Intentional environments and group care
- Culturally grounded family partnerships
- Reflective practice
- Practice aligned to CDA
- Reflective coaching conversations
- Portfolio and documentation guidance
- Support for verification readiness
Alignment Without Duplication
TenderTime™ Beginnings is designed to support the CDA Credential does not replace or alter it.
The pathway:
- Aligns to CDA standards and expectations
- Supports portfolio and observation preparation
- Reinforces professional ethics and practice
- Complement licensing and quality systems
TenderTime™ does not issue the CDA Credential, candidates complete the CDA through the official credentialing process.
Ways to Access TenderTime™ Beginnings
The Birth–to–Five CDA Pathway can be offered through:
- Early childhood programs
- Shared services organizations
- Workforce and pre-apprenticeship initiatives
- Grant-funded partnerships
Example product title
“Young children experience their world and develop a sense of self through their relationships with caregivers.”
— Zero to Three
“This training completely changed how we think about routines and caregiving.”
“Responsive, nurturing relationships are the foundation of healthy development for infants and toddlers.”
— Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University
“The reflection and practical tools made this immediately usable.”
