Childcare Specialist Essay

556 Words3 Pages
Child Care Specialists care for children in child care centers, pre-schools, the children's homes, and sometimes in their own homes. Child care specialists are responsible for children's safety and for their social, emotional, and physical well-being. Child care duties include: * Maintaining a safe and nurturing environment * Engaging children in developmentally appropriate activities * Teaching social skills * Fostering learning skills and school readiness * Providing nutritious snacks or meals * Communicating with parents Many child care specialists work part-time or are self-employed. The median hourly wage for child care workers in 2004 was $8.06. Job opportunities are good. Definition of a Child Care Specialist Child care specialists most frequently work with preschool children who have not yet enrolled in kindergarten. They may also work with slightly older children outside of traditional school hours. These workers supervise their young charges and provide a safe, nurturing environment. Part of this supervision involves organizing daily activities and educational experiences to help with a child's development. Child care specialists may work one-on-one or with small groups of children. In a preschool setting, they often provide assistance to teachers. As caregivers, these workers are expected to look after the emotional and physical well-being of the children placed under their guidance. Duties of Child Care Specialists From storytelling to playing with building blocks, child care specialists spend much of their day engaging children in different types of play. They may also prepare drinks and snacks for children, make sure that they are aware of personal hygiene rules and attend to any of their other basic needs. Specialists working with children at or above kindergarten level may provide homework help. Those who work with
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