2 answers
Mallory
Student
Brigham City, Utah
3
Questions
Asked
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I want a career in childcare, What steps and classes should I take?
I love little kids, and I can connect with them really easily. I'm a sophomore in high school. I have no clue what I want to be. I thought that working with abused children would be good, since I can gain trust really easily. But I really don't know. #high-school
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2 answers
Erica Reeves
Educational Advisor
8
Answers
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Updated
Erica’s Answer
Hi Mallory,
Gloria gave you great advice above! I would like to add to this.
If I were working with you, the first question I would ask is what kind of exposure do you have to the childcare field? Have you worked in a daycare? School setting? These two often do not need a degree depending on the position and are first points of contact. Next, do you know what age group you would want to work with? Do you know anyone who works with the age group you’re interested in working with? The pandemic makes it tough, so if you know someone in the field, it might be better to interview them if you cannot shadow them.
When you say you want to work with abused kids... this is a specific population. Think about is this the only population you would want to work with, or could you see yourself working with children and being talented to address issues with children you suspect are being abused? In what context do you want to work with kids? Are you teaching them a skill set (ie a teacher or school counselor)? Are you defending them from a distance (lawyer, advocate)? Answering the questions above will be integral in your search for a major pertaining to your interests and really honing in on what exactly your interests are. It will also help narrow down the schooling needed. Psychologist, school counselor, lawyer, etc. are all graduate level programs, which means you will need a bachelors degree first before going to graduate school and going for licensure. Teacher, social worker, therapeutic aid, etc. are all bachelor degree level positions.
I would highly suggest meeting with a career counselor at your institution, as the service is free to current students (may not be offered if you’re not a student or be offered for a fee). Typically, career counselors can be found either in a counseling or career center. This is a great first step to shaping your coursework and ultimately choosing a career path. I would recommend college, as you will most likely need a degree.
A cool website for you to check out in the meantime is this one:
https://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/majors/
I use this with students I meet to help them read up on majors. Keep in mind, this will not substitute career counseling. When I meet with students for career counseling, the average cycle is 1-3 sessions, and I usually give “homework” for them to complete prior to meeting.
Good luck!
Gloria gave you great advice above! I would like to add to this.
If I were working with you, the first question I would ask is what kind of exposure do you have to the childcare field? Have you worked in a daycare? School setting? These two often do not need a degree depending on the position and are first points of contact. Next, do you know what age group you would want to work with? Do you know anyone who works with the age group you’re interested in working with? The pandemic makes it tough, so if you know someone in the field, it might be better to interview them if you cannot shadow them.
When you say you want to work with abused kids... this is a specific population. Think about is this the only population you would want to work with, or could you see yourself working with children and being talented to address issues with children you suspect are being abused? In what context do you want to work with kids? Are you teaching them a skill set (ie a teacher or school counselor)? Are you defending them from a distance (lawyer, advocate)? Answering the questions above will be integral in your search for a major pertaining to your interests and really honing in on what exactly your interests are. It will also help narrow down the schooling needed. Psychologist, school counselor, lawyer, etc. are all graduate level programs, which means you will need a bachelors degree first before going to graduate school and going for licensure. Teacher, social worker, therapeutic aid, etc. are all bachelor degree level positions.
I would highly suggest meeting with a career counselor at your institution, as the service is free to current students (may not be offered if you’re not a student or be offered for a fee). Typically, career counselors can be found either in a counseling or career center. This is a great first step to shaping your coursework and ultimately choosing a career path. I would recommend college, as you will most likely need a degree.
A cool website for you to check out in the meantime is this one:
https://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/majors/
I use this with students I meet to help them read up on majors. Keep in mind, this will not substitute career counseling. When I meet with students for career counseling, the average cycle is 1-3 sessions, and I usually give “homework” for them to complete prior to meeting.
Good luck!
Gloria Ortiz
Instructional Designer
850
Answers
Irving, Texas
Updated
Gloria’s Answer
Hi Mallory,
Dealing with abused children can be a challenging proposition. It can take a toll on you emotionally to deal with what they have experienced. Do you have some idea how you want to do the job? There are several paths. You can interact directly with the children as a teacher, social worker, a medical profession, a psychologist, even a police officer. You could also think in terms of helping children at a high level through the courts, by becoming a lawyer. These would all have various levels of interaction with children. Your nature empathy would be an asset in any of these roles. You just need to find a direction to take.
Gloria
Dealing with abused children can be a challenging proposition. It can take a toll on you emotionally to deal with what they have experienced. Do you have some idea how you want to do the job? There are several paths. You can interact directly with the children as a teacher, social worker, a medical profession, a psychologist, even a police officer. You could also think in terms of helping children at a high level through the courts, by becoming a lawyer. These would all have various levels of interaction with children. Your nature empathy would be an asset in any of these roles. You just need to find a direction to take.
Gloria