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What is Child Care?
Child care is an area of employment responsible for the care and education of children in a functional environment. Individuals working in this field are responsible for the safety and well-being of children under their care as well as providing early foundational education as part of a curriculum that is often masked by playtime. Child care training courses for individuals in this field may work in preschools, kindergartens, daycare, childcare centers, or after school programs.
Career Summary
MEDIAN SALARY
TOTAL SECTOR EMPLOYMENT
569,370Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types
Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS
2025 Best Child Care Training
Childcare and Preschool Education degree programs are offered at Boston University. There are three education program options available. The Boston University Children’s Center, this is a full-time program that is designed for children ages 2-5 years old. The Early Childhood Learning Lab is a preschool for children ages 2 years and nine months to 5 years old. Then, Little Sprouts at BUMC which is also a full-time program for children from 4 weeks through 5 years of age.
Acceptance Rate
18.94
Student to Faculty Ratio
10:1
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center, located in Willow Street, Pennsylvania, is a center for career education that offers many choices to those who are looking to jumpstart their current career and those who want to pursue a new one. LCCTC offers many programs of study, as well as lots of student services to help students succeed and achieve their goals. Many career certificate programs of study are offered at LCCTC for adults and high school students. These programs include: advanced manufacturing, agriscience, construction technologies, consumer services, culinary arts, health care, information technology, and more. They also offer flexible programs for those adults who also work a full time job. These flexible programs include: culinary arts, construction, transportation logistics, and visual communications. Lancaster County Career and Technology Center offers a wide array of student services that are aimed at helping students be successful. These student services include: career planning and job placement, counseling services, English as a second language classes, financial aid officers, scholarship programs, guided tours of the campus, and a compilation of student forms available online for convenience. There is also an adult education program available at LCCTC for those who need help preparing for the GED exam. These classes are complementary and are led by a certified GED instructor. Take the time to learn more about LCCTC today by researching their website further. Additional insights on career certificates and various degree programs are available via the Lancaster official website.
Acceptance Rate
-
Tuition
$14,965 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
17:1
About
Manatee Technical Institute, located Bradenton, Florida, is a public school established with the purpose to provide technical education and training to residents of Manatee county. The school enrolls both high school aged and adult students, with high school students receiving education for free. All programs at the school are fully accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE) and the Southern Association of Colleges and School (SACS).
Academics
Individuals may pursue career training through a variety of programs available. Students will choose the program, followed by receiving training and education in that field that will allow for employment upon completion. Programs will have practical components that are taught by industry professionals who provide supervision and a safe learning environment. Programs take between one and two years to complete based on the level of education and complexity of the field.
Programs offered include:
Admissions and Financial Aid
Individuals wishing to enroll at MTI may do so through the submission of a completed application and payment of fees. Payment will vary based on the type of enrollment and program chosen, and as mentioned above, high school students will be able to enroll free of charge. Applicants are asked to meet with a counselor, take the Test of Adult Basic Education, apply for aid, and meet with their future instructors. Financial aid is applied for through the completion and submission of a Free Application of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which allows the school to determine which grants, loans and scholarships the student is eligible for when constructing an aid packet.
Acceptance Rate
-
Tuition
$4,332 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
9:1
The students at University of La Verne develop capabilities to assume leadership roles in all facets of the child development field. The courses they offer in the Master’s program can be taken both on campus or online or they can have the combination of the two. Students may select a concentration in early childhood or adolescence and they can also decide to choose a culminating experience focused on either a practitioner or a research track. Even the current educators in elementary or middle and high school are welcome to use the program to enhance their skill and knowledge.
Acceptance Rate
54.82
Student to Faculty Ratio
14:1
Orlando Tech offers an outstanding education in sunny Florida. The campus is tech friendly and in downtown Orlando. There is a lot to do on and off the campus. At Orlando Tech, you will find outstanding instructors and affordable programs. Programs are offered in culinary arts, health sciences, and digital technology.
The school features outstanding multimedia resources. Training is available in a variety of areas. Programs are offered in audio-visual technology, arts, education and training services, Business Administrative Services, and Health Services. Eighteen technical training programs and two licensure programs are offered to residents.
Courses are available for teachers that offer industrial certification for a number of Digital Media Arts programs. Orlando Tech has been designated as an Adobe Certified Training Center, offering coursework and certification in a variety of Adobe software applications.
Orlando Tech offers adult basic education programs. The school also offers GED courses, ESOL courses, and applied academics for adult education. The purpose of the Applied Academics for Adult Education Laboratory (AAAE) is to assess, evaluate, and remediate an individual's aptitude and achievement in relation to his/her goal for technical skills training. Diagnostic tests are given which determine the individual's educational level in mathematics, language, and reading.
If you don’t have time to attend class in the downtown Orlando campus, Orlando Tech. offers online study options. Online courses allow working adults to achieve their educational goals. This allows individuals to meet working and family obligations. Courses are offered in professional development, continuing education, GED preparation. All courses are taught by experienced instructors.
Acceptance Rate
-
Tuition
$4,740 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
9:1
Metro Technology Centers (Metro Tech) is spread out over five campuses serving the greater Oklahoma City, OK metropolitan area. Metro Tech offers over 80 fulltime programs and hundreds of short term courses that can be taken online or on campus. Programs are available to high school students, adults, business, and industry personnel. Metro Tech caters to skills that demand specialized technical training. Cooperative agreements through local colleges allow Metro Tech students to take courses for college credit. Some of the benefits to attending Metro Tech include:
- Cutting edge technology
- Outstanding teaching staff and student resources
- High job placement
- Low tuition
- Convenient campuses and safe environment.
- Agriculture
- Architecture
- Art
- Business
- Education
- Finances
- Health Services
- Hospitality
- Human Services
- Information Technology
- Law and Public Safety
- Manufacturing
- Science
- Transportation
Acceptance Rate
-
Tuition
$6,679 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
14:1
SUNY at Purchase College’s degree in child care Training consists of four courses. Each coursework students are provided with broad exposure to essential areas of study in general and child psychology. Hands-on experience shall be expected as it is what practicum offers which happens while working with young children at the Purchase College Children’s Center. Their psychology program gives basic and advanced courses, but regardless of the subject matter, strong emphasis on the use of scientific methodology to pursue knowledge is being taught.
Acceptance Rate
51.51
Student to Faculty Ratio
14:1
Sheridan Technical Center sits on a beautiful campus in Hollywood, Florida. Sheridan opened another campus in western Broward County in 2012. The school is the oldest technical center in the area. Sheridan Technical Center offers postsecondary workforce development programs affording students the opportunity to gain skills in high wage, high demand occupational fields and compete successfully in the local employment marketplace.
Online programs have been offered since the 2004-2005 academic year. The program started with just 34 students. Now over 1,000 students take part in online programs.
Sheridan Technical Center offers an adult education program that offers basic reading skills. This course helps students who are interested in earning their GED. This program is part of Adult General Education (AGE).
The center also offers many outstanding technical programs. These programs prepare students for state of the art careers. Programs are offered in A/C, Refrigeration and Heating, Advanced Automotive Technology, cosmetology, court reporting, culinary arts, gaming repair technician, information technology, teacher assistant, theater stage production, and electricity.
Sheridan Technical Center offers an outstanding program for military spouses. The center offers programs that are perfect for military families that move a lot. The online program allows one to study from home and prepare for today’s careers.
Sheridan Technical Center offers outstanding services for students with disabilities. Our services are in accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
No matter your needs, Sheridan Technical Center is here to offer an affordable education to get you started on your career path.
Acceptance Rate
-
Tuition
$4,375 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
15:1
Oklahoma State University offers an online degree in Early Child Care and Development. The curriculum of this program was developed by early child care experts from seven universities. They designed it to focus both on ethics and guidelines that are related to early childhood practice. Yet this degree program doesn’t lead to a teacher licensure.
Acceptance Rate
69.98
Student to Faculty Ratio
19:1
Brewster Technical Center, located in Tampa, Florida, is a technical school that offers opportunities for adults who want to finish their high school education, or who want to continue their education by pursuing a career certificate. Brewster Technical Center offers two exceptional programs for adults who do not yet have their high school diploma or equivalent. Adults who need help learning the English language before pursuing their high school credentials may take Brewster Technical Center’s ‘English for Speakers of Other Languages’ program. They will receive extensive help with learning basic English so that they might achieve their other educational goals. Those students who are interested in getting their GED are able to prepare for the exam by attending Brewster Technical Center’s GED Preparation course. Students who want to earn a career certificate will have many programs to choose from, when enrolling at Brewster Technical Center. These career certificate programs include: accounting, automotive technology, PC support, early childhood education, industrial machinery maintenance, pharmacy technician, practical nursing, and more. Brewster Technical Center also offers many career certificate programs for adults with disabilities. These programs are designed to help disabled adults prepare for life in the workplace. These programs include: culinary preparation, custodial maintenance training, merchandise handler training, employability skills training, and more. If you or someone you know is interested in applying at Brewster Technical Center, or if you would like more information regarding the many career certificates and programs of study that are offered there, click here to access Brewster Technical Center’s official website.
Acceptance Rate
-
Tuition
$2,529 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
6:1
McFatter Technical Center, located in Davie, Fl, provides vocational and transfer programs for students. MTC is part of the Broward County Public School District, and operates a magnet high school on its campus. The McFatter Technical Center offers technical programs that prepare students for careers in technically demanding fields, and provides a quality education on order to ensure their success.
Academics
McFatter Technical Center offers many programs in a number of fields and has a teaching staff dedicated to ensuring that students have the skills necessary to succeed in their chosen career.
Some of the programs offered include:
- Culinary Arts
- Pharmacy Technician
- Medical Assistant
- Automotive Technology
- Architecture & Engineering
Admissions and Financial Aid
All applicants must be 18 years of age or older, have a high school diploma or GED, and must meet the basic education requirement (which can be fulfilled prior to program completion). Financial aid is available to students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and it is recommended that students meet with a financial aid counselor once their FAFSA is processed.
Acceptance Rate
-
Tuition
$4,455 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
13:1
Flagler Technical Institute (FTI) is located in Palm Coast, Florida, and provides quality adult and community education. Its mission is to “provide programs and services that enable residents of Flagler County to be educationally prepared, economically self-sufficient, physically fit, culturally enriched, and civic-minded.”
At FTI, the emphasis is strongly on community empowerment. With several programs designed to equip students with trade and professional skills in a variety of specialty areas, the school also provides numerous adult and children’s education opportunities to the community at large.
Some of its core programs include:
- Cosmetology
- Commercial Truck Driving
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Health Sciences
- Construction Trades: HVAC, Electrical and Water Treatment
- PC Support
Primarily geared towards career-oriented vocations, FTI also organizes several community initiatives such as the Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club, Dance Academy, Home Show, etc. Children are given special attention, with early learning and dance programs as well as summer camps and other activities being regularly hosted or organized.
The school also holds activities for adults with disabilities, which includes the Adult Activities Center and other program initiatives. A unique program called the TRAIL Transition Program helps 18-22 year-olds with disabilities acquire training and find vocational placement within the community.
That FTI is extremely community-centric is obvious from the sheer spread of its activities and programs that touches the lives of a diverse strata of community members. In addition to its career-based programs, it also offers ESOL, GED and other forms of adult education at its campus.Acceptance Rate
-
Tuition
$1,039 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
6:1
Knowing that the impact of education in our society cannot be overstated, Laurel Business Institute strives to make great graduates. Because they believe that it is the educated graduates that can change lives. Their Childcare Education Program is teaching the students the techniques, literacy and math development and the understanding of children with special needs. Because they believe that learning should come alive for all students.
Acceptance Rate
91.45
Student to Faculty Ratio
10:1
The Childcare Management degree at Chestnut Hill College strives to equip the students with administrative skills that will be useful in the management of daycare facilities. Students will then be trained on how to work effectively with children. In addition to that, they will also call to mind that creating and maintaining a healthy and safe environment for the young ones is a must. They will also learn how to communicate well with parents and the community.
Acceptance Rate
64.93
Student to Faculty Ratio
10:1
Newberry College’s Teacher Education community aims to educate the next generation. They provide training to each candidate to help them become a highly-qualified teacher that is caring, life-long learner and reflective with the skills and dispositions needed to be able to teach future generations of students. Their efforts were not in vain since their graduates became leaders throughout South Carolina. Until today, their education reaches beyond classroom walls.
Acceptance Rate
62.75
Student to Faculty Ratio
13:1
Deep understanding of growth and learning in children from birth to eight years of age is what you’ll gain when you study childcare and child development at Mills. They will provide you coursework with a strong foundation in theory, research methods and issues faced by children with diverse backgrounds which affects their attitude and behavior. The professors here include an accomplished researcher and Preschool Highschool teachers at their highly rated School of Education. In this School Education, both undergraduate and graduate students engage in several laboratories in conducting investigations.
Acceptance Rate
75.85
Student to Faculty Ratio
11:1
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro provides a setting for approved research and a laboratory experience for undergraduate and graduate students in child development and childcare related fields. They put effort in facilitating decision-making and problem-solving skills in young children and that is done through a variety of open-ended experiences that allows children to creatively formulate their own ideas. They work hard on providing a warm, nurturing and respectful environment just to show children a good example that will eventually lead them to develop empathy and respect for others and their natural surroundings. UNCG also includes families in the education of their children which is an effective way to encourage their participation. Their center information as to when they are open and where they are located are published on the schools ECE page.
Acceptance Rate
82.46
Student to Faculty Ratio
17:1
Pinellas Technical Education Center, also referred to as pTEC, operates two locations in the state of Florida, Clearwater and St. Petersburg, with some programs being only available at one of the two campuses. The school was established to provide career training opportunities in order to create a qualified workforce. Established in 1962, the school remains true to its mission for providing quality education through its campuses as well as extension and clinical locations. The school serves nearly 12,000 students annually.
Academics
Pinellas Technical Education Center offers a large variety of programs in over forty areas of study. Students will choose a program of study, typically taking up to a year to complete, developing the skills and abilities necessary to enter the workforce as a qualified professional. Students will take courses that provide theory and practical education, allowing students to utilize skills learned in the classroom in a simulated setting in order to refine them. Upon completion students will be able to pursue work in that area, generally in positions at the entry level and may utilize school resources to help procure employment.
Programs offered at Clearwater campus include:
Admissions and Financial Aid
Pinellas Technical Education Center is a public institution that allows for the enrollment of any individual 16 years of age or older as long as they are not currently enrolled at another institution. Interested persons should complete the application for admission and take a placement exam, the need for which may be waived if the student has already earned an associate level degree or higher. Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants and scholarships and must be reapplied for prior to the start of each academic year through the completion and submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the information from which will be used to determine aid program eligibility and financial need.
Acceptance Rate
-
Tuition
$4,748 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
6:1
Marchman Technical College (MTC) is a great technical college located in New Port Richey, FL. MTC strives to provide a student oriented educational community that promotes lifelong learning. Their vision is to empower students to compete in a global economy and maintain a productive satisfying way of life. MTC is available to both high school students and adults for their education needs. Their high school program is available to any high school student that is currently attending a local high school. They will attend their home school part time and then come to MTC for the rest of the time. Marchman Technical College also has a busing agreement with the local school district to help students come and go from MTC. Marchman Technical College offers a wide variety of program options for high school students. Here are the programs that are available at MTC:
- HVAC
- Auto Collision
- Automotive Service
- Commercial Art Technology
- Commercial Foods & Culinary Arts
- Computer Systems and Information Technology
- Cosmetology
- Digital Cinema Production
- Early Childhood Apprenticeship
- Electricity
- Marine Services Technology
- Patient Care Technician
Acceptance Rate
-
Tuition
$4,967 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
12:1
The MSE in Early Childhood Education online program in Arkansas State University prioritizes the developmental and educational needs of young children and is for the educators who have a teaching license. Under this program, students will gain a broad perspective on education that spans early childhood. You will be trained to cultivate the ability to create, select and use a variety of assessment and documentation tools. Techniques and methods of research will be taught in this program. You will be expected to acquire skills for the statistical treatment and interpretation of research data.
Acceptance Rate
79.91
Student to Faculty Ratio
18:1
The University of Wyoming’s Childcare Education degree offers a Birth to Five Endorsement for qualified students. This is an interdisciplinary program focused on teacher preparation for infants to five years old children. Their curriculum is based upon the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The unique feature of this program is its flexibility to accommodate undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students who work in early-childhood-education-related fields.
Acceptance Rate
95.96
Student to Faculty Ratio
15:1
Pinellas Technical Education Center, also referred to as pTEC, operates two locations in the state of Florida, St. Petersburg and Clearwater, with some programs being only available at one of the two campuses. The school was established to provide career training opportunities in order to create a qualified workforce. Established in 1962, the school remains true to its mission for providing quality education through its campuses as well as extension and clinical locations. The school serves nearly 12,000 students annually.
Academics
Pinellas Technical Education Center offers a large variety of programs in over forty areas of study. Students will choose a program of study, typically taking up to a year to complete, developing the skills and abilities necessary to enter the workforce as a qualified professional. Students will take courses that provide theory and practical education, allowing students to utilize skills learned in the classroom in a simulated setting in order to refine them. Upon completion students will be able to pursue work in that area, generally in positions at the entry level and may utilize school resources to help procure employment.
Programs offered at St. Petersburg campus include:
- Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology
- Dental Assisting
- Early Childhood Education
- Pharmacy Technician
- Plumbing
Admissions and Financial Aid
Pinellas Technical Education Center is a public institution that allows for the enrollment of any individual 16 years of age or older as long as they are not currently enrolled at another institution. Interested persons should complete the application for admission and take a placement exam, the need for which may be waived if the student has already earned an associate level degree or higher. Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants and scholarships and must be reapplied for prior to the start of each academic year through the completion and submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the information from which will be used to determine aid program eligibility and financial need.
Acceptance Rate
-
Tuition
$2,190 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
6:1
Rhode Island College offers a leading Institute of Childcare and Early Learning Center. This shall provide opportunities and pathways for those who are currently working in the field of early childhood education for completion of their bachelor’s degree in one of two areas of study. The areas of study available are Early Childhood Learning, and Early Childhood Education Concentration Birth-5. They aim to put childcare workers on track to bachelor’s degrees and gainful employment in the critical field of ECE.
Acceptance Rate
78.39
Student to Faculty Ratio
14:1
The childcare curriculum at Siena Heights covers the growth and development of children from infant to toddler, pre-primary and primary. Their program maintains a balance in educational theory and practical experience. Students get the chance to observe and work with children in schools and child development centers regularly. Aside from establishing quality programs for young children and their families, it is also Siena height’s mission to prepare competent and ethical childcare workers and educators.
Acceptance Rate
73.4
Student to Faculty Ratio
12:1
Southeast Missouri State University offers an online degree Child Care and Guidance. This program motivates their students to become the driving force for quality child care. Students here learn how to create and maintain a healthy learning environment for young children. They are also dedicated in providing a solid foundation to their students so they’ll pursue a bachelor’s degree in child development.
Acceptance Rate
86.19
Student to Faculty Ratio
20:1
Learning Objectives of Child Care Professionals
Throughout the course of a day, a child care professional may engage in a number of activities that may include reading books, playing outside, teaching yoga, preparing meals, recording activities, organizing the classroom, managing circle time, and writing lesson plans. Regardless of the daily requirements of the school and the emotional undulations of children, child care professionals generally agree on a few basic tenants. The overarching goal of a child care training course is to help ensure each child has what they need to engage, learn, grow, and develop in age-appropriate means. Regardless of teaching philosophy, a care professional invests time in the lives of children with the right training to help them in the following ways:
1. Grow Strong & Healthy
Books upon books have been written about health and living a healthy lifestyle starting at a young age. When children jump, run, roll, throw, catch, or swing children are building muscles and establishing positive lifestyle patterns early. Physical play improves strength, endurance, balance, and self-esteem.
2. Provide Meaning & Purpose
Child care training courses allow professionals help to provide children meaning and purpose in the world around them. Games help children learn what words mean, like top, go, faster, or slower. They learn to collect and use information from sources around them and discover how things feel and taste. Children learn about art, science, math, music, nature, animals, and people in significant ways when they engage freely.
3. Develop Interpersonal Skills
Formal childcare training teaches us those specific areas should be a safe medium to help children learn about other people as well as about themselves. While playing and engaging together, children will learn to take turns, share, listen, talk, follow rules, lead, follow, and talk about their wants & needs.
4. Grow Self Efficacy
Learning and doing helps children grow in a way that helps them feel good about themselves. Science has proven time and time again that it is easier to learn when we are relaxed. Even when a task is challenging, children are excited when they discover that they can control their bodies and actions. Child care professions should offer children an unending wellspring of potential success opportunities.
5. Create Long-Lasting Positive Life Skills
Play is important because it is practice for being a grown-up. Children at play learn to pay attention for elongated periods of time and tend to stick with a job for longer periods of time. They learn to face problems and solve them in creative ways. Play helps them learn what is right and wrong. They learn to be good sports, great collaborators, exude honesty, and become trustworthy. Children develop their imagination when they play. They learn to follow directions. All these skills will be important as children age and mature towards adulthood.
What is Taught in Child Care?
Plenty is taught in care. Teachers and classroom assistants are geared to provide a safe, nurturing environment with a pedagogical purpose while in care. This notion in and of itself tips the notion of daycare on its head as learning and developing is the cornerstone of child care. Consider play as a pedagogy as postulated by Jean Piaget. To an adult it seems pretty basic, however most children go through a process when playing which include a combination of the following:
Anticipation: waiting with expectation, wonderment, curiosity, perhaps a little anxiety if a nominal amount of risk is involved, which leads to
Surprise: the unexpected, a new sensation, unique discovery, idea or shift in understanding, which produces
Pleasure: a positive feeling about the preceding activity. Next, we have understanding: a new understanding of something, knowledge, synthesizing concepts, and ideation which leads to
Strength: a mastery that flows from constructive experiences, grasping new elements of the world, power that comes from self-discovery and self-mastery, which ultimately leads to
Poise: composure, grace, and a sense of balance in life. Scott Eberles diagrams this process in the shape of a wheel, once a person arrives at poise, they are ready (mature) to move on to a new source of anticipation and beginning the journey anew.
What Types of Play Exist in Child Care?
Many types of learning modalities exist within care with the most popular being play. Play may be simplified to only mean free play, but a world of development exists just below the surface in child care training. In fact, there are many different types of play that benefit children of all ages. Examples of play in a childcaretraining setting include:
Fetal Play - Starting as a fetus, neural circuits are taking shape to help determine brain patters for years to come. The seemingly random movements are derived from our central nervous system as a means of establishing vital connections between the brain and limbs.
Bonding Play - Long gazes will undoubtedly turn into a smile on babys face and the parent will reply in kind with a burst of emotion and return the smile creating a harmonic, relational intimacy known as synchronized neural activity.
Movement & Body Play - Play-based enjoyment associated with body movements, rhythmic early speech, loco-motor activity, and rational events are done for their own sake as they are both pleasurable and internally derived. At the same time, they actively sculpt the brain.
Object Play Children of all backgrounds find immense pleasure in the physical part of play such as assembling a puzzle, throwing a football, kicking a soccer ball. It is through object play we help craft a brain ideally suited to understand and solve problems dynamic problems of all types later in life.
Imaginative or Dramatic Play - It has been said that imaginative play is one of the most powerful abilities a human possesses. It is a means of allowing a person access to a simulated situation or event we can explore without giving up access to the real world. Throughout life, imagination remains a pillar to creatively solving problems, emotional resilience, and innovation.
Social Play - Humans are social beings and play acts as the fuel for the social engine. It is play that allows us, as a society, to properly function and individual relationships to flow seamlessly through time and space again and again. Social play can be parsed into friendship play, parallel play, mutual play, contact play, ritual play, mental play, narrative play, and creative play.
Guided or Structured Play - This type of play actively engages children in seemingly spontaneous and/or child-directed, pleasurable activities that promote academic exploration and learning. Embedded within this free-flowing exploration, the teacher has specific learning goals they will achieve by subtly directing or guiding. The key element within the guided play methodology is in the teachers ability to integrate each childs prior knowledge and experience into a meaningful context all the while expanding on the existing foundation through the aforementioned exploration and question-and-answer exchanges.
Child Care Training Courses
A degree in child care prepares individuals to care for and assist children in preschool and kindergarten. Childcare training is often taken as an associate program, providing skills and education in regard to working with children. Results of childcare training helps teachers to be more attentive, innovative, careful, and energetic. An associate degree in child care takes between 1 and 3 years to complete depending on credits taken per semester.
A curriculum in child care training may include:
- Child Abuse Recognition Training
- Special Needs Children
- Abuse Recognition Training
- First Aid Training
- In-Service Training Hours
- Safety and Care of Young Learners
- Educational Technology
- Child Care Resource Training
- State Training CDA
- Emotional Regulation Training
- Neglect Recognition Training
- Nutrition Training
- Child Development
- CPR Training & Certification
Due to the variance in requirements from state to state in regard to working with children, you should research your state's requirements. If such requirements are in place, cross check them with their intended child care training program of study to see if it complies with state standards.
Early Childhood Education Learning Course
Care positions in ECE do not necessarily require any formal education beyond a high school diploma or GED for most states. However, minimum training requirements are a must depending on your local training requirements and state guidance. When seeking employment an individual should review their state's training requirements as some states require a license while others have no employment requirements at all. Regardless of state training requirements, it is important to note that child care providers are increasingly looking for individuals with some sort of formal training or education, preferably in children's care training or early childhood education.
Child care specialists typically work in:
- Preschools
- Child Care Center
- Home Child Care
- Kindergarten Classrooms
- Day Care Centers
- After School Centers
- Church Based Child Supervision Programs
Featured: Washington State Early Learning Courses
Washington State Department of Early Learning is now part of DCYF. This new department is responsible for managing early childhood education, children's care, safety, neglect, abuse, training, and learning. Learn more about the services and training offered by DCYF here.
Jobs and Salary in Early Childhood Education
As job growth increases demand and available positions, the desire for qualified individuals is expected to increase in this field, resulting in a demand for more education when considering hiring of an individual. The average salary of a child care specialist is approximately $28,790 per year according to the BLS. Salary can expect to increase with experience and continued education. Individuals interested in a degree in child care may also be interested in elementary education, teacher assistant, and preschool teacher.