What Are the Duties of a Daycare Teacher?
If you are interested in becoming a day care teacher, you are probably concerned about all of the duties associated with the position. Beyond enjoying the company of children and reading stories, a day care teacher is one of the first guardians of the mind of a child. Whether the child receives instruction in a parochial school or at an at-home day care facility, the duties of a day care teacher are necessary to give children the proper foundation for success in kindergarten and beyond.
Other People Are Reading
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Education/Experience
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Because minimal training is often required for the position, educational experiences for daycare teachers vary. In comparison to at-home care, privately owned daycare facilities prefer a high school diploma and college coursework for their instructors. Daycare teachers with experience serving special needs children--or with the desire to become center managers--may pursue college or professional degrees. Depending upon the requirements of the state where the day care facility is located, teachers may need licensing and certification in CPR, fire safety and first aid.
Duties
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Day care teachers are responsible for the training and care of children between the ages of birth to 5 years. Day care teachers provide a proper learning environment and various types of learning activities for children in their care. Because small children have short-attention spans and often learn through play, day care teachers must be well versed in music, games and outdoor activities to encourage the development of motor, verbal and social skills. A child care worker is also responsible for meals, coordinating nap time and monitoring the progress and development of the children.
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Considerations
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A day care teacher is responsible for creating a nurturing environment for the child to gain new skills. One of a day care teacher's primary duties includes creating a daily routine for her students. Using a lesson plan as her guide, a child care worker can teach basic concepts to prepare the children for kindergarten. Whether the child learns his basic colors or begins to recite his "ABC's," the day care teacher is instrumental in teaching the child basic skills to succeed in school and in life.
Earnings
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Although day care teachers are responsible for the welfare and instruction of young children, most instructors are paid a salary that can start at the hourly minimum wage. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, day care workers account for almost 8 out of 10 wage and salary jobs. The pay for day care workers can improve with an increase in education, experience and early-childhood certification.
Expert Insight
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Day care teachers work long hours and must be able to perform a variety of labor-intensive tasks. From lifting children to cleaning up after each activity, day care teachers spend a minimum of 10 hours per day in constant motion. The duties of a day care worker begin early in the morning and often do not end until after the parent picks up the last child in the evening. For students interested in a career as a day care teacher or center director, knowledge of creating lesson plans, early childhood education concepts, child psychology, and basic classroom instruction is needed.
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Resources
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