You: Working with Young Children Chapter 1 You: Working with Young Children

What is a Career Goal? A career goal is the end product of a long-range occupational plan. It is a stage that can be reached by accomplishing objectives, or steps, organized to attain it.

Why Set a Career Goal? .  Competition for jobs exists to a certain degree in any field.  The career goal-setting process means examining yourself and performing research on occupations.  Going through this process helps you determine what your values, needs, interests, and aptitudes are at the present time.  This knowledge increases your self-confidence and provides energy for other activities. People do not just "fall into" exciting, challenging careers.  The aimless wandering from job to job, trying out different occupations, in an attempt to "find yourself" can be expensive in time, effort, and money.  Even a person who continues to explore career interests after high school needs a basis for comparison--a "hook" on which to hang a search. Competition for jobs exists to a certain degree in any field.  Employers are not impressed with applicants who have no idea what they want from life.  Having a career goal--even it it turns out to be temporary--shows a potential employer that you are serious about your work, that you can organize your priorities, and that you are a skilled decision-maker.

Compile a list of careers related to the development areas of the early childhood education industry. Battered women’s shelters Child care centers Crisis nurseries Nursery schools YMCA United Way Prisons with in-house child visitation Programs sponsored by religious organizations Parks and recreation programs Hospitals with sick bay child care services Head start Family education agencies Elementary schools

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 List responsibilities of the early childhood teacher. Explain how certain personal characteristics can help early childhood teachers care for and educate young children.

Vocabulary 1) early childhood 2) nanny 3) au pair 4)  licensing specialist – the role of this person is to protect and promote the health, safety, and welfare of children attending centers. 5)  entrepreneur – a person who creates and runs his or her own business.  6)  Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential – those that have take n postsecondary courses in child care education and have demonstrated their ability to work with young children.   7)   ethics – guiding set of moral principles

Explain how social and economic changes will increase the need for child care services a.Changes in Families b.Changes in Employers’ Attitudes c. Changes in Education Attitudes Have students discuss advantages of employer-sponsored child care. Have students state reasons why a greater allocation of resources is going to early childhood.

Identify specialized target markets Think about a career that interests you. Determine what suggestions may best prepare you to sample a career. Talk with your family, guidance counselor and teachers about your interests.

Education and Training Needed to Work with Young Children High school courses CDA Credential Bachelor Graduate degree

List rewards and drawbacks of working in the child care field can be draining, emotionally and physically. Exposed to many minor childhood illnesses. (eventually guild strong resistance) Often requires long hours

List rewards and drawbacks of working in the child care field Children make you feel needed and special You can make a real difference in the lives of young children. Helps you stay young Working with children is seldom boring. Use many talents and skills. A love of children

Describe qualities people need to be an early childhood professional A appreciation of children Energy Sense of humor Patience Compassion Flexibility Creativity Resourcefulness Sociability commitment

Assess your own suitability for a career in the child care field

List responsibilities of the early childhood teacher Have class members work with partners to discuss their teaching strengths. Have students discuss ways young children can raise their self-esteem Have students define the following terms in their own words: compassionate, dependable, reliable, friendly, flexible, knowledgeable, and spontaneous. Have each student write a one-page paper on why he or she wants to teach children. Have students list some of their interests, feelings, and satisfactions. Students should then write a short evaluation of how their interests, feelings, and satisfactions relate to a desire to be an early childhood teacher. Characteristics for Working with Children, Activity D, SAG, Have students use the form to rate themselves in terms of characteristics for working with young children. Then have a friend or family member rate them using a second form.

Explain how certain personal characteristics can help early childhood teachers care for and educate young children. a.Fondness for Children b.Patience c. Compassion d. Confidence e. Sense of Humor f.  Commitment g. Personal Desire h.Physical and Mental Health

The need for child care has become an increasingly more important issue because of a.family mobility b.greater numbers of dual-earner families c.the increased divorce rate d.all of the above D

Describe the CDA Credential

a.the decrease in the overall poverty rate One of the reasons that early childhood education has come to the forefront of public awareness in recent years is a.the decrease in the overall poverty rate b.the ineffectiveness of early intervention programs that were intended to decrease poverty c.advocacy by early childhood professionals d.a stable divorce rate C