You: Working with Young Children

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You Working with Young Children

• Chapter 1

Adapted from Working with Young Children by
Judy Herr
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Chapter Vocabulary

• Early childhood
• Prekindergarten (PK)
• Nanny
• Au pair
• Licensing specialist
• Entrepreneur

• Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential
• Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP)
• Ethics

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What is early childhood?

• Covers the period from birth to nine years of age
  
• During this time, growth is very rapid
• Child develops a sense of self, as well as
  language, cognitive, social, emotional,
  problem-solving and social skills

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Popularity of early childhood programs

• In the 1970s, only 6 of children were cared for
  in child care centers
• Today, 67 participate in an early childhood
  program
• 95 of the nations five-year-olds attend
  kindergarten programs for at least ½ the day

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Social and Economic Changes

• Various changes will affect the need for and
  structure of child care services.

• These changes include
• Families
• Employers attitudes
• Education attitudes
• Educational studies
• Benefits to the economy

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Changes in Families

• Dramatic change in the past 25 years
• Women are becoming more highly educated
• Couples are having fewer children
• Young adults are getting married later in life

• Many families need a second paycheck
• Women are demonstrating an increased commitment
  to work
• Families see the value of having children attend
  an early childhood program

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Changes in Employers Attitudes

• Corporate/employer-sponsored child care is one of
  the fastest growing types of child care
• By providing some type of child care benefit,
  companies see an increase in
• Recruitment
• Morale
• productivity

• Absenteeism is reduced
• Better public relations
• Tax benefits
• Ease of scheduling
• Improved quality of workforce

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Changes in Education Attitudes

• Parents are becoming more aware of their
  childrens developmental needs
• As a result, they are seeking quality
  environments that promote their childrens growth
  and development
• Studies show children in full-day kindergarten
  programs do better academically and socially
  during the primary years.

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Educational Studies

• The first 5 years of life are critical in
  development
• Children who are involved in early learning
  experiences are more successful in school, as
  well as later in life
• Children who have a good start are less likely to
  have behavioral problems
• Less likely to be referred to special education

• Earned better grades
• More graduated from high school
• According to research, many states are
  introducing prekindergarten programs
• PK refers to the full range of early childhood
  programs, including school and home based child
  care, preschool, and Head Start

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Career Opportunities in Early Childhood

• Nannies
• Au pairs
• Kindergarten teachers
• Early childhood assistant and associate teachers
• Child care teachers and directors

• Family child care home
• Licensing specialist
• Playground designers
• Childrens librarians
• Salespeople of childrens products
• Parents educators
• Childrens artist

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Nannies

• Provides care in a childs home
• Some nannies live in the childs home
• Raise the child
• Many nannies come from other countries

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Au Pairs

• A person from a foreign country who lives with a
  family and performs tasks similar to those of a
  nanny
• In exchange for weekly pay, room, board and
  transportation, the au pair provides child care
  and may do housework.

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Kindergarten Teacher

• Needed in public and private schools
• Many child care centers hire kindergarten
  teachers

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Early Childhood Assistant and Associate Teachers

• Provides support and assistance to the lead
  teacher in providing developmentally appropriate
  curriculum.
• Typically an entry level position
• May give experience needed to advance to the lead
  teacher position

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Child Care Teachers and Directors

• Teacher is responsible for planning curriculum
  and teaching children
• Director is responsible for marketing the
  program, recruiting children, hiring and
  supervising staff, and managing the budget.

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Family Child Care Home

• Provide care for children age 6 weeks to 12 years
  
• Allows a child care provider to work from home

• Often has longer hours of operation
• Homelike atmosphere
• Care providers can also care for their own
  children

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Licensing Specialist

• Makes visits to assigned centers
• Is center following state licensing guidelines?
• How many children are in facility?
• What is the adult-child ratio?
• What is the size of the facility?
• What is the quality of food service?
• Is the appropriate curriculum being provided?
• Building safety, health practices, educational
  preparedness of staff and physical space are
  monitored as well

• Employed by the state
• Their role is to protect and promote the health,
  safety and welfare of children attending centers

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Other Career Opportunities

• Parent educator work with parents to help them
  learn parenting skills
• Community recreation leader
• Childrens art, dance, music and sports
  instructor
• Social workers

• Counselors
• Therapists
• Entrepreneur a person who creates and runs
  their own business
• Most common is a family child care home
• Ex consultant, store owner

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Education and Training Needed

• Some entry-level positions (i.e., playground
  supervisor, teachers aide) require a high school
  diploma
• Most require training and educational beyond high
  school.
• Step one is to obtain the Child Development
  Associate (CDA) Credential
• A national credential that requires postsecondary
  courses in child care education and have
  demonstrated the ability to work with young
  children.

• Teachers usually required to have a bachelors
  degree in ECE, child development or a closely
  related field.
• Some jobs require a graduate degree
• Consultants
• Researchers
• Early childhood instructors and professors
• Each state establishes its own qualifications for
  staff working in child care centers.
• Qualifications depend on position desired and
  location.

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CDA History

• Initiated in 1971 for the purpose of improving
  the quality of child care.
• It was designed to assess and credential early
  care and education professionals based on
  performance.

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CDA Eligibility Requirements

• Personal
• 18 years old with a high school diploma
• Academic skills
• Signed statement of ethical conduct
• Setting
• State-approved center
• Must be the head caregiver for 8 or more children
  ages 3-5
• 10 children must be enrolled in program and two
  caregivers present
• No more than 20 of children can have special
  needs

• Experience
• At least 480 hours work experience with 3-5 year
  olds
• Education
• 120 clock hours divided among different program
  areas

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Child Development Associate Credential

• Competency Goals establish the framework for
  caregiver behavior
• How many are there? 6
• Functional Areas describe the major tasks or
  functions must complete in order to carry out the
  competency goals.
• How many are there? 13

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The Teachers Responsibilities

• Plan developmentally appropriate curriculum
  through developmentally appropriate practice
• A set of guidelines that focus on the outcomes of
  learning activities
• Based on the idea that children learn from play
• Emphasizes knowing children well and respecting
  them.

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The Teachers Responsibilities

• Prepare the environment
• Must encourage children to independently
  experiment, explore and manipulate
• Provide a variety of materials

• Communicate Effectively
• Positive communication will help you form and
  maintain a close relationship with children
• Encourage communication with parents and
  caregivers
• Form meaningful relationships with colleagues

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The Teachers Responsibilities

• Demonstrate Teamwork
• Work as a team with your colleagues by respecting
  them
• Support your coworkers
• Conflict resolution skills

• Time Management
• Helps teachers work smarter
• Set priorities
• Distinguish between important and urgent matters

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The Teachers Responsibilities

• Participate in Professional Organizations
• Keep current in the field
• FCCLA
• NAEYC (National Association for the Education of
  Young Children) is the primary organization for
  the early childhood field

• Follow ethical standards
• Ethics are a guiding set of moral principles
• Right vs. wrong

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The Teachers Responsibilities

• To continue to learn
• Professional development
• Conferences
• Know how children grow and develop

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What do you think are characteristics of a
successful teacher?
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Characteristics of a Successful Teacher

• Fondness for children
• Every child should fee understood and accepted
• As part of their social development, children
  need to be taught that people and feelings are
  important

• Patience
• Allow children time to explore, solve problems
  and create
• Children often learn through repetition

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Characteristics of a Successful Teacher

• Compassion
• Accept others without prejudice
• Is sensitive to both positive and negative
  feelings the children express
• Compliment children for their successes
• Help children understand feelings
• Motivate children to respect each other

• Confidence
• Helps you to relax in the classroom
• Stand by your decisions and children will accept
  them

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Characteristics of a Successful Teacher

• Sense of humor
• Children enjoy adults who laugh
• Positive teacher positive student
• Makes work more enjoyable
• Make sure to laugh with, not at children.

• Commitment
• Must constantly study to keep up with current
  developments in field
• Preparing for daily teaching is time consuming

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Characteristics of a Successful Teacher

• Personal Desire
• You may have doubts
• You need to feel that working with children is
  rewarding for you

• Physical and Mental Health
• Eat nutritious meals
• Get plenty of sleep
• Stay physically active
• Find stress relievers

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Chapter 1 Review

• Know percentages of child care in the 1970s vs.
  today
• Changes in families that affect child care
• Benefits of corporate childcare
• Advantages of early learning experiences

• Be able to describe 5 career opportunities in
  early childhood
• Be able to describe a family child care home
• Eligibility requirements for a CDA
• CDA functional areas vs. competency goals

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Chapter 1 Review

• Know at least 3 responsibilities and 3
  characteristics of a successful teacher
• Know your vocabulary