Careers in child development can provide a rewarding path to lucrative opportunities in early childhood education and care. Basically, a child development worker is a care provider, a teacher, or a manger in child care and education centers. This is a career suitable for a person able to work with other teachers and students to assist children overcome intellectual, social, and emotional challenges through positive interaction activities. They do this by providing quality care to infants, preschoolers and youngsters in full day or half day programs. A child development worker can be employed in a variety of settings such as day care centers, schools, or even home school centers. The profession also includes creating curriculum and managing centers for children with special needs.
General Requirements For This Career
Anyone interested in one of the many careers in child development first and foremost have a genuine and strong interest in working with children in order to help them overcome social and intellectual challenges. This is a profession that requires a good understanding of some specific disciplines such as sociology, child psychology, and communication.
Child Development Degree Programs
These are degree courses dealing with child psychology and child social development using practical skills and knowledge. These programs are aimed at teaching you how to nurture, teach, and work with children in group settings in the following ways:
- The degree programs include internship which involves working as a teacher’s assistant or aide in a school setting. It also involves simulation of learning environments with students role-playing classroom conditions.
- The degree program also involves studies in research labs which are valuable learning opportunities where students learn by observation and participation. Social research labs also provide concrete knowledge in the way children interact and socialize in their real settings. This enables researchers to draw accurate conclusions about a given hypothesis.
- Educational degrees for these disciplines are normally granted by most colleges’ human services department. Qualified professionals in child development jobs should be able to help create a positive learning environment for pre-school children and toddlers.
- Completing a child development degree allows you to pursue a career in a variety of fields. These include working as a child care worker, a researcher, a teacher or even as a teacher’s aide. In most states you will be required to have a license before you can practice or get a job. You are also required to earn some credentials such as the Child Development Associate or CDA. There are other employers who will only hire you if you have achieved the Certified Childcare Professional designation.
Job Outlook For Child Development Careers
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a childcare worker in 2006 was over 17,000 per year. Most worked in home care facilities and schools. A professional who pursues this career further can work in a research facility or become a director of a childcare center and earn higher salaries. There is also the option of becoming self-employed in this profession by providing child care services in your residential area for a fee. Opportunities for child development jobs are also expected to grow faster than average for other occupations through the year 2016. If you have an interest in working with children now is the best time to enroll in this career.