You: Working with Young Children 1

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Key Concepts  Social and economic changes affect the growth of the child care profession.  Learning about the responsibilities and characteristics of child care teachers can help you decide if a career in this field is for you.

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Objectives  Explain how social and economic changes will increase the need for child care services and early childhood teachers.  Describe career opportunities in the early childhood field.  Describe the CDA credential. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. continued

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Objectives  List responsibilities of the early childhood teacher.  Determine personal characteristics that can help early childhood teachers care for and educate young children.

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. You: Working with Young Children  People considering early childhood careers often want to knowearly childhood  if there will be a need for trained personnel  what the job responsibilities are  what personal characteristics are needed

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Social and Economic Changes  Changes in families  Changes in employers’ attitudes  Changes in education attitudes  Educational studies  Benefits to the economy

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Changes in Families Changes in Families Married couples are having fewer children Almost 75% of children have parents working or attending school Many working women are widowed, divorced, single, or separated Women are increasingly committed to careers 75% of children participate in a preschool program No longer have a mother as homemaker and a father as wage earner Many working women are widowed, divorced, single, or separated Women are becoming highly educated

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Brainstorm  What are some of the payoffs companies receive when offering child care benefits to employees?

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Changes in Education Attitudes 1970sToday 6% of children were cared for in child care centers 67% of children participate in an early childhood program 95% of the nation’s five-year-olds attend kindergarten programs

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Educational Studies  Studies have confirmed that  the first five years of life are critical  the benefits of early education are long-term  early brain development depends on a stimulating environment and nurturing continued

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Educational Studies  Children who receive early learning experiences are less likely to  have behavioral problems  be referred to special education  Many states introduced prekindergarten (PK) programs to support early learningprekindergarten (PK)

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Career Opportunities in Early Childhood  Nannies and au pairs  Kindergarten teachers  Early childhood assistant/associate teachers  Child care teachers and directors  Family child care home  Licensing specialists

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Nannies and Au Pairs  A nanny provides care in a child’s homenanny  May live with the family  May receive health insurance, paid holidays, and room and board in addition to salary  An au pair is a person from a foreign country who lives with a family and performs tasks similar to those of a nannyau pair

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Kindergarten Teachers  Most states are providing opportunities to attend kindergarten  Teachers are needed in  public schools  private schools

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Early Childhood Assistant and Associate Teachers  Early childhood assistants or associate teachers are hired to  achieve the required adult-child ratios  provide support to lead teachers  Assistant or associate positions may require  specialized coursework or training  CDA credential  associate degree

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Child Care Teachers and Directors  Child care teachers are responsible for  planning curriculum  teaching children  Child care directors are responsible for  marketing the program  recruiting children  hiring and supervising staff  managing the budget

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Family Child Care Homes  Family child care homes provide child care for children ranging in age from 6 weeks to 12 years  This type of care allows  child care providers to work from home  child care providers to care for their own children  longer hours of operation  homelike atmosphere

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Licensing Specialists  Licensing specialists make visits to centers to observe Licensing specialists  if they follow the state licensing guidelines  adult-child ratio  size of the facility  food service  curriculum provided  building safety and health practices

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Other Career Opportunities  The field of early childhood offers a variety of positions  Parent educator  Community recreation leader  Social workers  Counselors and therapists  Health care providers continued

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Other Career Opportunities  The field of early childhood also offers the ability to run your own business as an entrepreneur entrepreneur  Family child care home  Consultants  Store owners  Designers of children’s products  Entertainers

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Discuss  What would be some of the advantages and disadvantages of having a family child care home business? AdvantagesDisadvantages

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Education and Training Needed to Work with Young Children Education and TrainingJobs High school education Teacher aid Playground supervisor Child Development Associate (CDA) CredentialChild Development Associate (CDA) Credential, plus postsecondary education Early childhood teacher Bachelor’s degreeDirector of child care program Graduate degree Consultant Researcher Early childhood instructor Professor

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. The Teacher’s Responsibilities  Know how children grow and develop  Plan a developmentally appropriate curriculum  Prepare the environment  Communicate effectively  Demonstrate teamwork continued

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. The Teacher’s Responsibilities  Manage time wisely  Participate in professional organizations  Follow ethical standards  Continue to learn

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. To Know How Children Grow and Develop  This understanding helps teachers to  prepare inviting and developmentally appropriate environments  design educational experiences to promote growth  develop curriculum that is challenging and interesting without being difficult or discouraging  work effectively with individuals and groups of children

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. To Plan a Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum  Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) is a set of guidelines that focus on the outcomes of learning activities Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP)  Whole child programs focus on  physical development  social development  cognitive development  emotional development

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. To Prepare the Environment  Teachers prepare inviting and stimulating learning environments to encourage children to  independently experiment, explore, and manipulate materials  engage in positive social activities  develop physically, socially, cognitively, and emotionally

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. To Communicate Effectively  As a teacher, positive communication skills help you to  form and maintain a close relationship with the children in your care  exchange information with parents and guardians  form meaningful relationships with colleagues

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. To Demonstrate Teamwork  Staff in early childhood programs need to work as a team, which helps to  make coworkers feel respected and important  show empathy by recognizing others’ feelings  share ideas and information  encourage meaningful interactions with children  resolve conflicts effectively

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. To Manage Time Wisely  Time management skills help teachers  work smarter, not harder  organize time  set priorities  distinguish between important and urgent matters  make good choices and use time wisely

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. To Follow Ethical Standards  When working with young children, rely on your ethics to help make tough decisionsethics  Maintain the highest standards of professional conduct  Choose ethical behavior, which is not always easy

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. To Continue to Learn  Professional development is ongoing  Lifelong learners utilize  conferences  in-service training  study groups  books

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Characteristics of Successful Teachers  Fondness for children  Patience  Compassion  Confidence  Sense of humor  Commitment  Personal desire  Physical and mental health

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Fondness for Children  The most important trait of an early childhood teacher is fondness for children  Establish rapport with children  Make children feel understood and accepted  Show love for each child  Be kind, firm, and understanding

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Patience  Effective teachers allow children time to explore, solve problems, and create continued

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Compassion  Compassionate teachers accept others without prejudice  Accept any emotion from others  Are sensitive to both positive and negative feelings  Compliment children for their successes  Avoid actions that make children feel worthless  Help children understand feelings of others

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Confidence  Having confidence in your abilities helps you relax in the classroom  Have a calming effect on the children  Make sensible decisions  Stand by your choices so children accept them

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Sense of Humor  Children enjoy adults who have a sense of humor  Children relax and feel content  Children tend to be more positive and cheerful  Work is more enjoyable  You see the humor in situations  You laugh with the children

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Commitment  Meeting the demands of the field requires commitment  Be an expert in child development, guidance, and curriculum  Keep up with current developments  Be fully prepared for all activities  Balance the pace of the activities  Provide appropriate curriculum

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Personal Desire  Knowing you really want to teach young children is important to your success  Examine your  interests  feelings  satisfactions

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Did You Know? According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of preschool teachers is projected to grow faster than average through 2018.

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Reflect  What are some of the qualities you possess that would make you a good early childhood teacher?

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Review  True or False. Social and economic changes in society continue to create a need for child care services.  Name five career opportunities in the early childhood field.  What are four characteristics of successful early childhood teachers?

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Glossary  au pair. A person from a foreign country who lives with a family and provides child care in exchange for room, board, and transportation.  Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential. A national credential that requires postsecondary courses in child care education and a minimum number of hours of child care experience.

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Glossary  developmentally appropriate practice (DAP). A set of guidelines that focus on the outcomes of learning activities.  early childhood. The period of life from birth to nine years of age.  entrepreneur. A person who creates and runs his or her own business.

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Glossary  ethics. A guiding set of moral principles, either those held personally or those determined by a professional organization for its members.  licensing specialist. A person employed by a state to ensure that the state’s child care rules and regulations are followed.

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Glossary  nanny: A child care worker who usually provides care in the child’s home and may receive food and housing in addition to wages.

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Glossary  prekindergarten (PK). The full range of early childhood programs including school- based programs for three- and four-year- olds, preschool, child care, Head Start, and home-based child care. The goal is to enable every child with skills needed to succeed in school.