Early Childhood Careers
So you want to work with children…
Working with Young Children
After review of this power point, you will be able
to…
• Explain how social and economic changes will increase
the need for child care services.
• Describe career opportunities in the early childhood
field.
• Describe what a CDA Credential is.
• List the responsibilities of the early childhood teacher.
• Explain how certain personal characteristics can help
early childhood teachers care for and educate young
children.
Changing families
• Factors which affect the need for child care
1. Women are becoming more highly educated.
2. Married couples are having fewer children.
3. Nearly 75% of children have parents working or
attending school outside the home.
4. 2/3 of women with children younger than six
work outside the home.
5. Many working women are widowed, divorced,
single, separated, or married to men earning a
salary that is too low to support the family.
Career Opportunities in Early
Childhood
• A nanny provides care in a child’s home.
• An au pair(oh pare) is a person from a foreign
country who lives with a family and performs
tasks similar to a nanny.
• Kindergarten Teacher
• Early Childhood Assistant and Associate
Teacher: provides support for and assist a lead
teacher in providing a developmentally
appropriate curriculum.
Career Opportunities in early
Childhood
• Child Care Teachers and Directors: The teacher is
responsible for planning curriculum and teaching
children. The Director markets the program,
recruits children, hiring and supervising staff, and
managing the budget.
• Family Child Care Home: this type of care allows
a child care provider to work from home.
• Licensing Specialists: a person usually employed
by the state. The role of this person is to protect
and promote the health, safety, and welfare fo
children attending centers.
Education and Training needed to
work with young children.
There are a few entry-level positions requiring
little training or experience. The teacher’s
aide is an example of this position.
Education and Training needed to
work with young children
CDA: National credential
course work in child care
education. The six CDA
Goals are divided into 13
areas which describe major
tasks caregivers must
accomplish to satisfy the
competency goals. To be
eligible a person must be 18
years old and have a high
school diploma and a
minimum number of hours
of child care experience and
have taken courses in early
childhood education.
Most of the jobs require at
least a two-year associate
degree in child
development. A bachelor’s
degree usually requires a
minimum of four years of
college. Directors of child
care programs need a
bachelor’s degree.
Traits of an Effective Teacher
1. An effective teacher needs to know what
children are like. You will need a thorough
understanding of child growth and
development.
2. An effective teacher knows how to plan a
developmentally appropriate curriculum.
3. An effective teacher stimulates the learning
environment.
4. An effective teacher has good communication
skills.
Traits of an effective teacher
5. An effective teacher can get along with other
staff.
6. An effective teacher learns how to manage
time wisely.
7. An effective teacher joins a professional
organization that help you keep up with
current developments in the field. Check out
the www.naeyc.org website.
Traits of an effective teacher.
8. An effective teacher follows ethical
standards(guiding set of moral principles).
9. An effective teacher continues to learn.
Professional development is an ongoing
process. A teacher never finishes learning.
Characteristics of Successful Teachers
1.
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9.
Has a positive attitude and sense of humor.
Is fond of children.
Relates easily and spontaneously to others.
Is patient, confident, and caring.
Is creative and resourceful.
Is dependable and reliable.
Is a keen observer.
Solves problems well and makes sound decisions.
Is flexible and adapts well to the requirements of
others.
Characteristics of a Successful Teacher
• Is compassionate, accepting children’s strong
emotions such as anger, love, and wonder.
• Enjoys challenges and is willing and able to grow.
• Takes initiative in the classroom
• Has Knowledge in curriculum, child growth and
development, and child guidance.
• Keeps abreast of changes in the field by reading,
attending conferences, seminars and courses.
Characteristics of a Successful Teacher
• Desires continuous learning.
• Becomes an active member of professional
organizations.
• Can juggle several activities at once.
• Feels rewarded by even minimal progress.
• Communicates and resolves conflicts well.
• Has lots of energy.
• Has a strong sense of ethical behavior.
Deciding whether you want to be an early
childhood teacher is an important step in having a
successful career.
Review and Reflect
1. True or False. Social and economic changes have created
a need for more child care services.
2. ___ or ____ provide care for children in parents’ homes.
3. A _____ is responsible for enforcing state child care rules
and regulations.
4. Describe the CDA Credential.
5. What is the name of the primary professional organization
for teachers of young children?
6. True or False. People who are naturally quiet and
reserved cannot be effective early childhood teachers.
7. In teaching, _______ skills are needed to help teachers
work smarter, not harder.
Resources
• Working with Young Children, Judy Herr The
Goodheart –Wilcox Company, Inc. 2004