Careers Working with Children Chapter 26

I could be ……………….. List as many jobs as you can that relate to meeting children’s needs

Qualities needed…. Enjoy children Respect children as people Are you sympathetic Are you patient, tolerant, calm Are you creative Are you enthusiastic and willing to join kids in play

To earn extra money during the summer, Hannah accepted a job taking care of five year old Troy, her neighbor’s child. After a couple of weeks, Hannah notices that she was starting to ‘tune Troy out.’ He asked questions constantly and Hannah got tired of answering them. She had been thinking of being a preschool teacher. Should she???

Career Examples Entry Level Jobs Child care workers Take care of children while parents work Babysitting experiences FACS classes

Be skilled with children, training not always required Be licensed by state to provide child care in home Nanny – private household child care worker Cafeteria workers – provide food for children References – written reports about their work from previous employers

Jobs That Require Training Teacher’s aide 2 year degree for associates degree May earn bachelors degree with additional work Team coach- experience in sports plus college credits

Children’s book authors --no single way of becoming a writer, usually has a degree Child’s performer Training in acting, singing, or playing musical instrument

Higher Education Children’s librarian Pediatrician College degree and often master’s degree in library science Pediatrician Physicians who care for children College and medical degree Extensive training in specialty

Pediatric Nurse Dietician Licensed practical nurse –2 year study *registered nurse –college degree, even masters degree Dietician Professional who is educated in food and nutrition and their relationship to health and fitness

Preparing for a Career Demand for careers dealing with children increasing 65% Number of jobs for preschool/kindergarten teachers projected to increase by 54% and for special education teachers by 74%

Some states require or allow nonprofit agencies to make background checks on volunteers who will spend time alone with children. Applicants are fingerprinted. Then police check their record for a past criminal activity, especially child or sexual abuse. An American Bar Association study indicated that only 2.4% of volunteer so investigated are rejected, leading some to believe these checks do little good and only discourage good people from volunteering. What do you think????????

Activities Students demonstrate the quality indicated in each of these situations A child cries that a big, scary dog is in the yard, You look to see the neighbor’s friendly puppy, (respect)

A child, watching the rain fall outside, complains of being bored A child, watching the rain fall outside, complains of being bored. (creativity) A child begs you to read the same story for the third time in one sitting. (enthusiasm) A child accidentally spills milk, and later a dish of applesauce. (patience)

Aptitude test Students are to develop a checklist or quiz that would help identify and rate a person’s talents and skills for working well with children.

Spell It Out Ask groups to create acrostics from the word children, using each letter of the word to begin a sentence of phrase describing a trait or skill needed for people who work with children. Groups might put their acrostics on poster board or a bulletin board for display.

Job Application Have students write a job description, and have others apply for the job and who they would hire.