Early Childhood Education

"The goal of early childhood education should be to activate the child's own natural desire to learn". Early childhood education describes the period of learning that takes place from birth to 8 years old. There are several types of early education programs, including those that are federal, state or privately funded. The curricula and approach often vary at the preschool level, but there are generally agreed-upon standards for the types of learning addressed in early childhood education settings. There are many career paths you can take, including teaching, managing a daycare, and providing in-home care for children. Below are some examples of early childhood education careers:

• Preschool Teacher:?Preschool teachers introduce young children to education and prepare them for kindergarten. They plan curricula that are age appropriate, and introduce themes and concepts children will expand upon in elementary school. They also look for signs of emotional or developmental issues and bring them to the attention of parents or guardians. The early childhood teacher job description can vary between childcare centers.
• Kindergarten and Elementary School Teacher:?Kindergarten and elementary school teachers create lesson plans for math, English, social studies and science, but also to teach students the soft skills they need to be successful in school. They communicate with parents about their child’s progress and prepare students to take standardized tests.
• Nanny:?Nannies and other childcare workers care for children while their parents are out of the house. These workers are responsible for bathing and feeding the children, supervising their play time, and organizing activities for them.
• Childcare Center Director:?The director of the childcare center oversees all of the preschool teachers and childcare workers. They are responsible for hiring and training staff, planning the budget, developing the educational standards and programming for the center, and meeting with parents to discuss students’ progress.
• School Counselor or Psychologist:?Working in elementary schools, counselors and psychologists can diagnose learning disabilities or cognitive, emotional or behavioral problems in young students. Together with parents, the counselors and psychologists can design and implement behavior modification programs for students.

Early Childhood Education Workplaces

Pursuing a career in early childhood education can lead you to work in various types of workplaces. Commonly, early childhood educators will work within a school setting but can work from care centers or private residences. There are potential workplaces for early childhood education professionals.

1. Public Schools
2. Private Schools
3. Special Education
4. Kindergarten Centers
5. Daycare
6. In-Home Nanny

An Early Childhood Education degree can help prepare you for a rewarding career teaching children in the preschool age. Early childhood educators are responsible for caring for and educating young children. The areas of study within this career focus on both the cognitive and social development which?includes various activities that engage a students abilities to flourish. At Gwynedd Mercy University, you can earn an?early childhood education degree?in four years and gain real-world experience through our hands-on learning approach. This in-demand degree program allows students to get real-world experience that makes a difference in the lives of children within the Philadelphia community.

Early Childhood Educator

As an?aspiring early education teacher, you need to have the right temperament. Patience, creativity, sensitivity, communication skills and ability to connect with children are arguably some of the most important qualifications. However, you’re also expected to have the proper?schooling?and?credentials, and each state sets its own standards for what they expect from?certified teachers. Before beginning your path to becoming an early childhood educator, you should find out what the requirements are for your state or school where you want to teach. Because teaching young children is such a highly specialized field, some schools require a degree in early childhood education or child development. Many preschools set their minimum requirement at an associate’s degree, and most Montessori schools require a Bachelor’s degree. Having a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education will generally qualify you to teach through the third grade. Of course, having an advanced degree such as a?master’s degree in education?or teaching in this field only improves your abilities, job prospects and opportunities for career advancement. Once you have attained your degree, you need to look into your?state’s requirements to earn your official teaching credential.

Places to Teach to Pre - Schools

Preschool is not daycare, contrary to some general misconceptions. Whereas daycare is often childcare without an emphasis on learning, preschool is a child’s first formal learning environment. Preschool focuses on cognitive and social development by stimulating a child’s curiosity and imagination. Children learn through sharing toys, taking turns, and interacting with their teachers and each other. The classrooms themselves are very lively, brightly decorated with posters of the alphabet, maps, number tables and student artwork. Classrooms must be interactive and stimulating to foster an exciting learning environment. Teacher-student ratios are also closely monitored to ensure close interactions, and class sizes are kept relatively small. Despite increasing public interest in early childhood education, preschools are still generally considered private schools. Many are funded by tuition and donations, and because the government does not mandate preschool, it is considered an option for families. "If we want our children to move mountains we first have to Let them get out of their chairs."