Parents depend on them, as they care for children with ages that range from a few months to nearly old enough to vote. Child care workers can be a child’s first contact with structured learning activities or a continuation of parental supervision for older children. A child care worker’s duties are as varied as the children for whom they care.
Younger Children and Infants
Child care workers supervise children entrusted to them, ensure the safety of the children and provide structure during playtime. They feed the kids both meals and snacks, working these mundane activities into a schedule that includes sufficient rest and play. They read to them, and with younger children, teach age-appropriate concepts like sharing and taking turns at play. In addition to individual care and activities, child care workers organize group activities that allow children to learn about the world, and help prepare them for kindergarten by reading stories and emphasizing social skills. They maintain records of each child’s interests and routine, and keep a record of any behavior or problem parents should know about.
Not Just Tots
A child care worker changes diapers for infants and toddlers in their care. Proper hygiene in a group setting is essential, so child care workers instruct children in proper hygiene. During the school year, they watch kids after school who would otherwise be latch-key children, helping them with homework or making sure they attend after-school events, such as sports. During summer breaks, they might provide all-day care for all ages.
Education, Training and Licensing
A hodgepodge of state regulations and differing employer requirements means there’s no universal educational standard for child care workers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that requirements for work in child care may range “from less than a high school diploma to early childhood education certification.” While many states require state inspections, immunizations and background checks, the BLS adds that as of 2013, workers funded by the federal Head Start program must have enrolled in a program leading to an associate’s degree or other credential in childhood education or child development.
Median Pay and Outlook
Median pay, or the midpoint between the highest wages and the lowest, for child-care workers is $19,300 per year, or $9.28 per hour, according to the BLS. Employment for child care workers, BLS says, will increase 20 percent in the decade from 2010 to 2020, higher than other jobs. BLS cites the two-income family as one reason, since child care is required during the parents’ working hours. BLS also says that the number of children who need child care “is expected to grow,” meaning that the “demand for childcare workers” will grow along with it.
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