You: Working with You: Working with Young Children Young Children

Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Adapted from “Working with Young Children” by Judy Adapted from “Working with Young Children” by Judy Herr Herr

Chapter Vocabulary• Early childhood• Prekindergarten

(PK) • Nanny• Au pair • Licensing specialist • Entrepreneur

• Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential

• Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP)

• Ethics

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

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 nation’s five-year-olds attend kindergarten programs for at least ½ the day

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

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

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

Changes in Education Attitudes

• Parents are becoming more aware of their children’s developmental needs

• As a result, they are seeking quality environments that promote their children’s growth and development

• Studies show children in full-day kindergarten programs do better academically and socially during the primary years.

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

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• Children’s librarians • Salespeople of

children’s products• Parents educators• Children’s artist

Nannies• Provides care in a child’s home• Some nannies live in the child’s

home • “Raise” the child • Many nannies come from other

countries

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.

Kindergarten Teacher • Needed in public and private

schools

• Many child care centers hire kindergarten teachers

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

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.

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

Licensing Specialist • Employed by the state

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

• 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

Other Career Opportunities

• Parent educator – work with parents to help them learn parenting skills

• Community recreation leader

• Children’s 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

Education and Training Needed

• Some entry-level positions (i.e., playground supervisor, teacher’s 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 bachelor’s 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.

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.

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

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

The Teacher’s 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.

The Teacher’s 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

The Teacher’s 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

The Teacher’s 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

The Teacher’s Responsibilities

• To continue to learn – Professional development– Conferences

• Know how children grow and develop

What do you think are characteristics of a successful teacher?

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

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

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

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

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

Chapter 1 Review• Know at least 3 responsibilities

and 3 characteristics of a successful teacher

• Know your vocabulary