Free Child Development Classes Online

Read on for details about schools and learning platforms that offer the best child development classes that you can take online for free.

1. Alison

Alison's free child development courses are designed to bring students up-to-date with the latest scientific knowledge in the area.

Free courses include topics such as parenting, childcare, early childhood education, child psychology, and autism.

Many of these programs include a diploma or certificate option for an additional fee.

All free courses are open-enrollment and asynchronous, allowing you to learn at your own pace when it's convenient for you.

2. Coursera

Coursera offers more than 100 free online child development courses offered by well-known colleges and universities all over the world.

All courses are free, although you might have to pay a small fee if you want a certificate of completion.

Topics include child psychology, managing ADHD, breastfeeding, early childhood curriculum design, literacy, and child brain development.

All courses are asynchronous and accessible 24/7 so you can learn at your pace when it's convenient for you.

3. edX

At edX, you can take free child development courses online from high-ranking educational institutions.

Universities such as the University of Cambridge, Harvard University, and Columbia University offer free courses on the platform.

Most courses are free to take, although you typically have to pay a fee for a shareable certificate.

Course topics include brain development, child psychology, autism and neurodiversity, parenting, and children's rights.

4. Hatch

The Hatch educational company offers many child development and learning webinars through its website.

While many of these webinars are based on or around Hatch's many learning products, quite a few don't feature Hatch's products.

The majority of these webinars are intended for early childhood educators who can get professional development credit.

Topics that might be of interest to any learner include playful learning, pre-foundational literacy, mindfulness, and cultural identity.

5. Head Start Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center

The Head Start program has numerous webinars available for early childhood educators.

While many of the webinars are focused on the role of educators in child development, most of them would be of interest to parents as well.

Topics include diversity, inclusion, fatherhood, home safety, feeding, COVID-19 health, community engagement, and literacy.

All of these webinars are free of charge online. Some webinars offer professional development certificates if you are an educator.

6. Illinois Professional Development System Gateways to Opportunity

The state of Illinois offers free online training courses focused on child care and child development through its Gateways program.

You do have to become a member of the Gateways Registry to take most of these courses. However, membership is free.

With membership, you gain access to more than 80 free online courses, many of which lead to credentials as well.

Topics include math, science, literacy, family child care, and emergency preparedness. Courses are also available in Spanish.

7. Open University

Open University includes more than 800 free child development courses on its OpenLearn platform.

Many of these courses are geared towards parents or other caregivers without any prior child development coursework.

In addition to classes, Open University also offers activities that you can share with your child.

While courses are free, you might have to pay a small fee for a certificate of completion.

8. Pennsylvania State University

The Penn State agricultural extension offers dozens of free child development courses online through its Better Kid Care program.

The program is open to parents as well as childcare professionals. Professionals can pay $5 for continuing education certification.

All courses are available on demand, so you can start one at any time and finish it at your own pace.

Course topics include responding to medical emergencies, trauma-informed care, and antiracism teaching and engagement.

9. Sesame Workshop

Brought to you by Sesame Street, dozens of free online courses and webinars are available at the Sesame Workshop.

While these courses are designed for educators, there are many that parents will find beneficial as well.

Topics include community building, family childcare, school readiness, childhood literacy, and health and hygiene.

If you are an early childhood educator, professional development certificates are available for free upon completion of a course.

10. Texas A&M University

Through the Texas A&M University (TAMU) Agrilife Extension, you can access 20 hours of child development courses for free.

These courses are offered free of charge through federal funding for early childhood education.

Topics include child brain development, social and emotional development, child maltreatment, and infection control.

Professional development certificates are also available for Texas educators free of charge through the program.