Career Opportunities in Early Childhood: A Rewarding Path to Working with Children

ECD L4 TOPIC 6 MALUTI TVET BETHLEHEM Mrs C Schnetler

Career opportunities in early childhood A CAREER WORKING WITH CHILDREN IS VERY REWARDING. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT CHILDCARE WORKERS ARE WELL TRAINED AND QUALIFIED TO WORK WITH CHILDREN. THE TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR CHILDCARE WORKERS VARY. WORKING WITH CHILDREN INVOLVES IMAGINATION, CREATIVITY, RESEARCH AND CONSTANT ENERGY. THE PERSON WORKING AT AN ECD CENTRE MUST BE ABLE TO ADAPT TO THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CHILDREN, THE NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN AND THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. TEACHING INVOLVES THE SKILL IN CREATING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. TEACHING INVOLVES KNOWING WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO IT, BUT ALSO KNOWING WHEN TO DO IT. PEOPLE WHO DECIDE TO WORK WITH CHILDREN, MUST HAVE A PASSION FOR WORKING WITH CHILDREN.

Career opportunities in early childhood CAREERS AIMED AT WORKING WITH CHILDREN IN THE EARLY YEARS 1. AU PAIR: * NORMALLY A YOUNG MAN OR WOMAN PLACED WITH A FAMILY IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY. * BECOMES A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY AND LOOKS AFTER THE CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY. * A LIVE IN ARRANGEMENT WHERE THE AU PAIR LIVES WITH THE FAMILY, LOOKS AFTER THE CHILDREN AND IN RETURN RECEIVES AN ALLOWANCE, HOUSING AND MEALS. * EXPERIENCES THE CULTURE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY. * AU PAIR = ON A PAR = EQUAL * AU PAIR BECOMES A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY RATHER THAN A DOMESTIC SERVANT. * TASKS: TAKING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL AND ACTIVITIES COOKING FOR THE CHILDREN PLAYING WITH THE CHILDREN BATHING AND TENDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN BABYSITTING * CRITERIA: BETWEEN 18 25 YRS HAVE CHILD CARE EXPERIENCE NON-SMOKER, NO HISTORY OF DRUG USE LANGUAGE ABILITY IN MAIN LANGUAGE OF COUNTRY LONG TERM COMMITMENT (BETWEEN 9 12 MONTHS) VALID DRIVER S LICENSE

Career opportunities in early childhood 2. NANNY/ CHILD MINDER * PERSON WHO LOOKS AFTER CHILD OR CHILDREN OF FAMILY AT FAMILY HOME. * GOES TO FAMILY HOME ON DAILY BASIS, NOT SLEEPING IN. * HIGHLY TRAINED IN CHILD CARE SKILLS. * HIGHLY RESPECTED. * TASKS: PROVIDE CHILDCARE DURING HOURS AGREED UPON BY FAMILY SUPPORT INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN ENSURE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CHILD PREPARE APPETISING AND NUTRITIONALLY BALANCED MEALS AND SNACKS INFORM PARENTS OF DEVELOPMENT OF CHILD INFORM PARENTS OF POSSIBLE CONCERNS 3. ECD PRACTITIONER * NORMALLY AT FORMAL ORGANISED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION WITH CHILDREN 0 6 YRS * WELL TRAINED PROFESSIONAL PROVIDING FULL RANGE OF CARE FOR CHILDREN IN FORMAL SETTING WITH DAILY ROUTINE FOR CHILDREN. * CHILDREN GROUPED IN AGE GROUPS TO FACILITATE STIMULATION OF CHILDREN WITH APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES. * FULL DAY OR PART OF DAY * PROVIDES SOCIAL NETWORK FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS

Career opportunities in early childhood 4. TEACHING ASSISTANT * HELPS TEACHER IN CLASSROOM * NORMALLY GR R 3 * ASSISTS TEACHER WITH PREPARATION OF RESOURCES * ASSISTS WHEN CLASS IS BUSY WITH GROUP WORK * SUPERVISES OUTDOOR PLAY * PROVIDES ONE ON ONE ASSISTANCE TO CHILDREN WHO MAY NEED EXTRA CARE. (REFER TO TABLE ON P. 139: ROLE AND TASKS OF TEACHING ASSISTANT) 5. YOUTH CARE WORKER * NORMALLY WORKS FOR GOVERNMENT OR STATE AGENCY * VISITS FAMILIES THAT MAY NEED ASSISTANCE WITH PARENTING SKILLS OR OTHER SUPPORT. * MAY BE EMPLOYED BY NGO S OR PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS

Career opportunities in early childhood 6. DAY MOTHER * NORMALLY PROVIDES CARE TO GROUP OF BABIES FROM HER HOME. * MAY LOOK AFTER 1 6 BABIES WITHOUT FORMALLY REGISTERED * PROVIDES HOME FROM HOME * ABLE TO GIVE BABIES SPECIAL LOVE AND INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION * ADVANTAGE: BABIES CAN SOCIALISE WITH EACH OTHER * BABIES DEVELOP SOCIAL SKILLS WHILST IN HOME ENVIRONMENT * DAYMOTHER MUST HAVE NECESSARY CHILD CARE SKILLS * MUST PROVIDE SAFE, SECURE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR BABIES. 7. CHILDREN S ENTERTAINER * ENTERTAINMENT OF EDUCATIONAL NATURE * CAN INCORPORATE MESSAGE IN ACT * MAGICIAN OR CLOWN

Career opportunities in early childhood 8. COUNSELLOR * INVOLVED WITH FAMILIES WHERE THERE HAS BEEN SOME KIND OF DISRUPTION (TRAUMA OR GRIEF). * CHILDREN MUST RECEIVE PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING WHEN THERE HAS BEEN A MAJOR INCIDENT IN THEIR LIVES. * CHILD MUST BE GIVEN SKILLS TO DEAL WITH EMOTIONS FROM INCIDENT TO MINIMISE LONG TERM EFFECTS OF TRAUMA. 9. FOUNDATION PHASE TEACHER * FOCUS ON TEACHING CHILDREN FROM GRADE R 3. * SPECIAL KIND OF PERSON CHILDREN MOST CURIOUS AND ACTIVE. * LAYS FOUNDATION FOR MOST OF LEARNING THAT WILL HAPPEN LATER IN LIFE OF CHILD, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE ADULTS. * TEACHES CHILDREN TO READ AND WRITE * DEVELOPS COMMUNICATION AND LIFE SKILLS. * GOOD, SOUND EDUCATION IN FOUNDATION PHASE ENSURES MORE BALANCED AND HAPPIER CHILD WHO IS ABLE TO ACHIEVE BEST OF ABILITY.

Career opportunities in early childhood 10. PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER * ESSENTIAL PART OF HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT OF CHILD * PROVISION OF GOOD PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME ESSENTIAL FOR FULL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILD. * PROGRAMMES: BALL SKILLS BUILDING CONFIDENCE WITH TEAM SPORTS ENSURING PHYSICAL FITNESS PROMOTING GOOD PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT POSSIBLE QUESTIONS 1. NAME, AND DISCUSS, POSSIBLE CAREERS IN ECD. 2. DISTINGUISH BETWEEN AU PAIR, NANNY AND DAY MOTHER. 3. DO YOU AGREE WITH THE STATEMENT THAT A CHILDCARE WORKER SHOULD HAVE A PASSION FOR CHILDREN? MOTIVATE YOUR ANSWER.