Early childhood educators plan, organize and lead activities for preschool children that are designed to encourage intellectual, physical and emotional growth. They observe children for signs of learning disabilities or emotional problems, and discuss progress or problems with parents and staff members. Early childhood educator assistants take care of preschool children under the supervision of early childhood educators. They also maintain daycare equipment and assist in housekeeping duties. Education, Training and Experience People in this occupation need different educational levels, depending on their position.
Most recent entrants have a community college diploma or an undergraduate university degree.
Early childhood educators usually require a bachelor's degree or college diploma in early childhood education or a bachelor's degree in education. With experience, early childhood educators may progress to senior positions such as daycare supervisor. Early childhood educator assistants usually have a high school diploma and require experience in child care. A large influx of recent graduates looking for work in this occupation is expected to lead to rapid growth in the number of qualified job seekers. As a result, despite significant growth in employment opportunities, the number of job seekers is expected to exceed the number of job openings.