They must be able to communicate effectively with the children and their parents, as well as other teachers and child-care workers. To ensure that children receive proper supervision, State regulations require certain ratios of workers to children. The ratio varies with the age of the children. The working hours of preschool teachers and child-care workers vary widely. Daycare centers are generally open year round with long hours so that parents can drop off and pick up their children before and after work.
Some workers are unable to take regular breaks during the day due to limited staffing.
Many preschool teachers may work extra unpaid hours each week on curriculum planning, parent meetings, and occasional fundraising activities. Family daycare providers have flexible hours and daily routines, but may work long or unusual hours to fit parents' work schedules. Some preschool employees suffer burnout due to long hours, stressful conditions, and low pay and benefits. Turnover in the occupation is high. Employment Preschool teachers and child-care workers held over 1 million jobs in 1994.