Important Aspects of Being a Child Care Worker

A child care worker is a professional who cares and watches over young children while their parents aren't available. These workers commonly work in day cares and preschools but may also work independently in a private home. They usually take care of children aged from newborns to about 12 years old. There are a number of important aspects of being a child care worker that make this a rewarding and significant career to consider.

Many Are Self-Employed

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 33 percent of child care workers are self-employed. This includes nannies, home health care workers that assist disabled children and people who run day cares from their own private homes. When self-employed, the person works as his own boss servicing his clients (the parents). A self-employed child care worker has more power and flexibility in his schedule and income.

Solid Jumping Off Point

Many child care workers move on to other to types of work down the line. This career is a viable jumping off point for people who are looking for a way to start their careers, earn money, then move onto other types of work, whether it's a related field like social work or an unrelated field. This makes child care work an attractive option for young people who are still unsure of their ultimate career goals.

Make an Impression on Kids

Because a child care worker is present during the most impressionable moments of a young person's life, it is possible that she will have a long-term effect on the child, whether it's positive or negative. The child care worker is responsible for teaching children basic life skills (such as cleaning up, hygiene, playing with other children and dressing themselves) as well as assisting with the child's education. She has the power to make decisions about the child's nutrition and meals. So the child care worker has a significant impact on how a child learns, takes care of himself and develops into adulthood.

Inform Parents

Because the child care worker spends many hours per week, sometimes well over 40, with his charges, he is one of the first people who will notice issues with a child and report these problems to the parents. A parent who hires a child care worker is often busy and can sometimes miss important queues that would indicate that there's a problem with his child. An attentive child care worker can help identify issues with children, such as a bullying, depression or destructive behavior, so the child can get help early on.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: About Child Care Workers