Early Childhood Education Info Center

Early Childhood Education Career

There is a very broad range of early childhood education career possibilities. Training in early childhood education could enable a person to work either inside or outside of schools & either directly or indirectly with children, depending on the person’s interest.

Whether you have training in early childhood education and are looking for job possibilities, or whether you’re deciding what to study and want to know about career possibilities in the early childhood education field, read on for examples of possible career options:

Certified Teacher

Certified teachers work with children in a formal educational setting. Certification usually requires a bachelor’s degree, as well as additional licensing requirements that vary by state.

Teaching Assistant

Teaching assistants may work with children in a formal or informal educational environment. Typically teaching assistants have an associate’s degree or certificate in early childhood education.

Childcare Worker/Nanny

Working with children in either a daycare center, in-home daycare, or nanny capacity allows one to work with children without working in a public school. Depending on the setting & employer, a certificate or associate’s degree may be required, but it is also possible to perform these jobs without any formal certification. Some form of training in early childhood education would be beneficial for these positions to help educate children in the most age-appropriate way.

Childcare Program Director/Administrator

Those looking to advance in their early childhood education careers could pursue becoming a director or administrator. This could be at a daycare center or within a school system as a principal or administrator. The scope of work would shift away from working with children to working with mostly parents and teachers. Depending on the position, an advanced degree may be required.

Early Childhood Education Professor

Those who enjoy early childhood education but would rather share their knowledge on the topic with others may want to consider becoming an early childhood education professor. This position typically requires advanced study, such as a master’s degree, PhD, or EdD.

Early Intervention Specialist

Early intervention specialists work with young children who have mild, moderate, or severe physical or developmental disabilities. The specialist will prepare a developmentally appropriate program and work with each child to help the child reach his or her maximum potential.

Social Worker/Parent Educator

Those who want to put their early childhood education knowledge to use helping troubled children and families may want to consider becoming a social worker or parent educator. This career could take place in a school or working for a government agency, such as the Department of Social Services or Department of Children & Families.

Children’s Librarian

Libraries frequently like to have children’s programming, such as story & activity times, and they like to have activities to introduce and welcome young children to the library. Those who have studied early childhood education are especially equipped to help plan, organize, and run such children’s programming.

Child Advocate

During legal proceedings involving a child (possibly related to abuse or neglect), a Child Advocate is assigned to learn about the child’s problems and needs, speak on the behalf of the child, and work to make sure the child’s needs are met. The child advocate interacts with the child, as well as social workers, members of the court, and members of the child’s family. Typically those who work as child advocates have a background working in childcare and may have completed coursework in early childhood education.

Curriculum/Policy Specialist

For those who are really interested in studying and applying the best techniques for teaching children may choose to become involved in setting early childhood education curriculums or policies. Typically this would require an advanced degree as well as prior experience teaching children.

Children’s Author

Those who love teaching children and have a creative streak may want to consider writing or illustrating children’s books. Experience working with children and understanding how they think and learn would increase the effectiveness of an aspiring children’s author.

Children’s Programming for Video & Television

There are a number of television shows and movies for children that have educational themes, and those with a background in early childhood education could assist in this programming.

Children’s Game Designer

Whether it’s board games, computer games, or smart phone apps, the market for educational children’s games is strong. There is plenty of opportunity for developing educational children’s games.

How to Become a Nanny

in Early Childhood Education Career

Are you interested in learning how to become a nanny?

First, it’s helpful to have an understanding of what the gig entails. A nanny usually works full-time (40-60 hours) in a family’s home taking on all tasks related to the care of the children. This includes all aspects of childcare, including social, emotional, and intellectual development, and may also include other household tasks, such as cooking or laundry.

What does it take to be a good candidate to be a nanny?

Genuine interest in the children: Parents will feel most comfortable leaving their children in the care of someone who cares deeply for their children.

Prior childcare experience: Most parents will want their nanny to have had previous experience caring for children. Some nannys are former teachers, while others have previously worked in daycare centers or have babysat for long-term for children. If you are interested in becoming a nanny, be sure to get as much experience as possible watching children and build a number of people willing to give you a reference.

Educational background: Though a formal degree in early childhood education may not be required by the family, most families will be looking to hire someone who is able to structure the child’s day, provide many stimulating, enriching, and educational activities for the child, and help older children with homework. Taking classes related to the care of children will help build your resume when looking for a nanny position.

Excellent communication skills: Be able to keep track of the child’s day and communicate any issues to the parents.

Safety training: Top candidates will have current training in first aid and CPR and also have a clean driving record. If you not not already have certifications in first aid and CPR, taking classes and receiving these certifications will help you stand out as a candidate when looking for a nanny job.

Committed & Professional: This includes being punctual and not watching television or taking care of personal business while on the job. As you work on getting experience, be sure to be very professional, so your references can pass this along to your future potential employers.

Positive Role Model: This includes not using foul language, and exhibiting good personal habits. Again, be sure to exhibit these qualities in any childcare position you obtain, and be sure your references mention these good traits to any future potential employers.

Ways to find work as a nanny:

Seek out a family on your own: Advertise on Craigslist, in local newspapers, or utilize your personal network to find a connection with a family.

Use a nanny referral agency: Agencies work as a full-service middle-man between nannys and the families looking for nannys. Typically, the nanny referral agency will make their money by charging the family a finders fee. You would fill out a job application and be interviewed by the agency. The agency would also check your references and conduct a background check. The agency will then see if your skills and availability match the needs of any positions they are looking to fill. The family will look over your application, and if they’re interested, you will be asked to interview with the family to see if you’re a good match.

Use a childcare/nanny Internet service: These websites typically let both nannys and families fill out detailed questionnaires which are published on their website, enabling people to search for a match. You would be able to view available positions, and families looking for a nanny would be able to view the available nannys. Sometimes the service will perform a background check, and sometimes this is left up to the hiring family.

If you are interested in how to become a nanny, the first step would be making sure you have the necessary skills, then look for a job either on your own, using a nanny referral service, or by using an Internet matching service.

History of Early Childhood Education

in General Information

Throughout the history of early childhood education, many studies have been performed and many child-centered educational methodologies have been developed in order to find the ways to best teach our children. Given the importance of early childhood education, much effort has been and continues to be devoted toward researching the best ways to educate our young children.

Kindergarten is one of the first widespread early childhood education programs in the United States. In 1884, the National Education Assocation (NEA) created the Department of Kindergarten Education. Within the next year, the NEA recommended kindergarten education programs be established in all public schools in the United States.

Next came the nursery school movement. The first nursery school was started in England in 1911 and nursery schools soon made their way over to the United States. By 1933, there were 1700 nursery schools in the United States. Preschool education was bolstered by involvement at the government level in early childhood education.

In 1926, The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) was founded in the United States with the mission of working on behalf of children from birth to age 8. It is now the world’s largest organization with this mission and has nearly 80,000 members.

In 1965, Head Start was launched with the original mission of helping prepare low-income children for kindergarten. The program has now expanded to help create healthy development in low-income children ages three to five by providing education, health and social services.

Currently, there is more emphasis than ever on early childhood education. Parents are increasingly aware of the importance of early childhood education and are making sure their children understand fundamental concepts before sending them to kindergarten. There are now numerous degree programs at colleges and universities in order to teach the latest theories of childhood education.

Despite the large number of early childhood education programs in colleges and universities, there still remains a bit of inconsistency between the programs offered. The majority of early childhood education degrees are offered as part of a two-year degree program, though there are an increasing number of schools offering four-year degree programs. There is not agreement between the programs and various certification standards over what ages early childhood education is meant to cover. Also, there remain wide variations between the curriculums in early childhood education programs.

Though the number of early childhood education professionals is increasing, parents still bear a huge amount of the burden when it comes to early childhood education. Parents are looked upon to nurture and teach their children in all of their daily interactions. Children imitate the actions and behaviors of their parents, both good and bad. A stimulating environment that allows the child to learn and grow is crucial.

Benefits of Early Childhood Education

in General Information

A child who receives high-quality early childhood education will reap the benefits of early childhood education throughout his or her entire life. The child will be better prepared for school and more successful in classes, which in turn will allow that individual to have a better career and become a better citizen. That child is more likely to earn a higher salary, contribute more taxes, and commit fewer crimes than an individual who did not receive high-quality early childhood education.

Better School Preparedness:

Those children who have a basic background in sensory, social, language, math, and cognitive skills are better prepared for learning once they start school. This enables them to focus on the lessons at hand instead of having to play catch up.

Decreased Need for Remedial and Special Education:

Those children who come to school prepared and can focus on their lessons are more likely to keep up with their lessons in school and less likely to need remedial help. Also, those children who have practiced sensory, social, and cognitive skills are less likely to have the need for special education services.

Decreased Instances of Grade Repetition:

Those who come into school prepared are more likely to keep up with their lessons and less likely to fall behind and need to repeat grade levels.

Better Job Preparedness and Higher Incomes:

Falling behind early in school makes a child more likely to stay behind in school throughout its educational career. By having the necessary skills to begin school, a child is more likely to be able to keep up with the lessons throughout his or her entire educational career. This, ultimately, will leave the child better prepared for employment and more likely to make a higher income than those who were not able to keep up with their lessons in school.

Lower Crime Rates & Fewer Welfare Payments:

Those children who are successful in school are more likely to succeed in their careers and earn a good living without having to resort to criminal activity or relying on welfare payments as income.

Ways to Increase the Benefits of Early Childhood Education Programs And Maximize Effectiveness for Children

Teacher Training:

Whether the child’s teacher is a parent or another caregiver, the more educated the teacher is about early childhood education techniques, the more effective that teacher will be. Whether becoming educated through a college degree or regularly reading websites and magazines about early childhood education, a better informed teacher makes for better learning by the child.

Small Child-to-Teacher Ratios:

The more focus and individual attention each child receives, the better that child will learn.

Work More Intensively:

Instead of spending small amounts of time working on each concept, find ways to immerse the child more intensively and spend longer amounts of time reinforcing each idea.

Importance of Early Childhood Education

January 8, 2012

The education of a child begins from the day the child is born. The formative years, from the ages of 0-5, are the most significant years for childhood development. During this time, children can quickly acquire sensory, language, math, social, and cognitive skills. From this time, children soak in their surroundings like a sponge, learning [...]

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What is Early Childhood Education

January 6, 2012

Early childhood education encompasses all of the skills a child develops before entering school. While the term sounds formal, it doesn’t have to be. Those who play the biggest role in early childhood education are parents. For children of parents who work outside the home, childcare providers also play a large role in early childhood [...]