Chapter 1

You: Working With Young Children

Take notes on the slides with a star

You: Working with Young Children

In this chapter, you will learn about the social and economic changes that will

continue to create a need for child care teachers the teacher’s responsibilities the characteristics of successful teachers

Objectives

Explain how social and economic changes will increase the need for child care services.

Describe career opportunities in the early childhood field.

Describe the CDA credential.

Objectives

List responsibilities of the early childhood teacher.

Explain how certain personal characteristics can help early childhood teachers care for and educate young children.

Terms to Know

early childhood nanny au pair licensing specialist

entrepreneur Child Development

Associate (CDA) Credential

ethics

Career Opportunities in Early Childhood

Nannies and au pairs Kindergarten teachers Early childhood assistant and associate

teachers Child care teachers and directors Family child care home Licensing specialists Other career opportunities

Nannies and Au Pairs

Nanny: person who provides care in a child’s home

Au Pair: person from a foreign country who lives with the family and performs tasks similar to a nanny

Kindergarten Teachers

Most states are providing opportunities to attend kindergarten. Therefore, teachers are needed in public schools private schools

Early Childhood Assistant and Associate

Teachers Early childhood assistants or associate

teachers are hired to achieve the required adult-child ratios provide support to lead teachers

Early childhood assistants or associate teachers may require specialized coursework or training CDA credential associate degree

Child Care Teachers and Directors

Child care teachers are responsible for planning curriculum teaching children

Child care directors are responsible for marketing the program recruiting children hiring and supervising staff managing the budget building maintenance

Family Child Care Homes

Family child care homes provide child care for children ranging in age from 6 weeks to 12 years.

This type of care allows child care providers to work from home child care providers to care for their own

children longer hours of operations homelike atmosphere

Licensing Specialists

Licensing specialist: protects and promotes the health, safety, and welfare of children attending centers

Makes visits to centers to observe if centers follow the state licensing guidelines adult-child ratio size of the facility food service curriculum provided building safety

Other Career Opportunities

The field of early childhood offers a variety of positions. Community recreation leader Parent educator Children’s instructors Social workers Counselors Therapists Health care providers

Other Career Opportunities

The field of early childhood also offers the possibility to create your own business. Entrepreneur: person who creates and runs his

or her own business Family child care home Consultants Store owners Designers of children’s products Entertainers

Discuss

What would be some of the advantages and disadvantages of having a family child care home business?

Education and Training Needed to Work with

Young Children

The Teacher’s Responsibility

Know how children grow and develop Plan a developmentally appropriate curriculum Prepare the environment Communicate effectively Demonstrate teamwork Manage time wisely Participate in professional organizations Follow ethical standards Continue to learn

The Teacher’s Responsibility

Demonstrate teamwork Manage time wisely Participate in professional organizations Follow ethical standards Continue to learn

To Plan a Developmentally

Appropriate Curriculum Teachers are responsible for planning a

developmentally appropriate curriculum. Physical development Social development Cognitive development Emotional development

To Prepare the Environment

A large part of the teaching process involves preparing an inviting and stimulating learning environment to independently experiment, explore, and

manipulate engage in positive social activities promote physical, social, cognitive, and

emotional development

To Communicate Effectively

To be an effective teacher, you need to have good communication skills. Express ideas and gain trust from children Form and maintain a close relationship with the

children Exchange information with parents and

guardians Form meaningful relationship with colleagues

To Demonstrate Teamwork

Staff in early childhood programs need to work as a team. To be a team member, you will need to make your coworkers feel important support your coworkers through your actions and

words share ideas praise them for meaningful interactions with

children accept their style of caregiving resolve conflict effectively

To Manage Time Wisely

Time management skills are important for teachers to work smarter, not harder organize time set priorities distinguish between important and urgent

matters make choices and use time wisely

To Participate in Professional

Organizations Joining a professional organization can help you

keep up with current developments in the field. The largest professional organization is the

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Founded in 1926 Has 100,000 members Has state and local affiliates Publishes journals

Discuss

How can professional organizations help you find career opportunities in the field?

To Follow Ethical Standards

When you work with young children, you will be faced each day with decisions of an ethical nature. Ethics: guiding set of moral principles

NAEYC created a code of ethics conduct for early childhood professionals.

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So,What Are Ethics Anyway?

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To answer that question, we have to begin by

looking at: Values Morality Professional Core

Values Ethics Professional Ethics Ethical Responsi-

bilities & Dilemmas

VALUES

What Do You Value?

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VALUESValues are things that an individual believes to be intrinsically worthwhile or desirable, that are prized for themselves (e.g., truth, beauty, honesty justice, respect for people and for the environment).

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MORALITYMorality involves peoples' views of what

is good, right, or proper; their beliefs about their obligations; and their ideas about how they should behave.

Morality concerns duties and obligations to one another and is characterized by words such as right, ought, just and fair.

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ETHICSEthics is the study of right and

wrong, duties and obligations.

Ethics involves critical reflection on morality, including the ability to make choices between values and the examination of the moral dimensions of relationships.

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PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

The moral commitments of a profession that: involve moral reflection that extends and

enhances the personal morality practitioners bring to their work,

concern actions of right and wrong in the workplace, and

help individuals resolve moral dilemmas they encounter in their work.

To Continue to Learn

In order to keep up with happenings in the field, you need to be a committed, lifelong learner. Conferences In-service training Course work Journals Study groups Books

Characteristics of Successful Teachers

Fondness for children

Patience Compassion Confidence

Sense of humor Commitment Personal desire Physical and mental

health

Fondness for Children

The most important trait of an early childhood teacher is fondness for children. Establish rapport with children Show love Be kind, firm, and understanding

Patience

Effective teachers allow children time to explore, solve problems, and create. Children need the opportunity to

have extra time to complete tasks repeat tasks repeat questions

Compassion

Compassionate teachers are able to accept others without prejudice. Accept any emotion from others Be sensitive to positive and negative feelings Compliment children for their success Avoid actions that make children feel worthless Help children understand feelings of others

Confidence

Having confidence in your abilities helps you relax in the classroom. Remain calm and self-assured Make sensitive decisions Stand by choices with confidence

Sense of Humor

A sense of humor is helpful when working with children. Have positive attitude Recognize the funny side

of children See the humor in a

situation

Commitment

The job of an early childhood teacher is anything but easy. You will be expected to be an expert in

child development child guidance curriculum

Personal Desire

Knowing that you really want to teach young children is important to your success. Examine your

interests feelings satisfactions

Physical and Mental Health

Teaching young children is demanding physically and mentally. Demands:

To be alert Handle multiple tasks

Requirements: Eating nutritious meals Getting enough sleep Stay physically active

Summary

Many social and economic changes are creating new opportunities in child care. Fewer traditional families Dual-career families

Employers are becoming to be more willing to offer child care benefits for their employees.

Child care advocates are working to expand the availability of early childhood programs.

Summary

Most jobs in child care require a CDA credential, associate, or a bachelor’s degree.

Most career opportunities in early childhood are as teachers or assistant teachers.

Summary

Teachers have many responsibilities: Understand principles of child development Develop curriculum Communicate effectively Develop teamwork skills Manage time wisely

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Code of Ethics Assignment

Ethical Responsibilities to Children: Under “core values” find one bullet point and write what it states

and then 2 sentences on what that means to you. Under “Ideals” find one bullet point/statement and write what it

states and then 2 sentences on what that means to you. Under “Principles” find one bullet point/statement and write what it

states and then 2 sentences on what that means to you. Ethical Responsibilities to Families: Under “Ideals” find one bullet point/statement and write what it

states and then 2 sentences on what that means to you. Under “Principles” find one bullet point/statement and write what it

states and then 2 sentences on what that means to you. Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues: Under “Ideals” find one bullet point/statement and write what it

states and then 2 sentences on what that means to you. Under “Principles” find one bullet point/statement and write what it

states and then 2 sentences on what that means to you.