2 answers
Lilya
Student
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
2
Questions
Asked
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Do you have to have a degree in Child Environment?
Can you work for a daycare without having a degree from a college or do you have to have some type of a education in the career field? if so how long would it take to accomplish it?
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2 answers
Alan Weber
writer and retired teacher, teacher educator and academic advisor
207
Answers
Woodstock, New York
Updated
Alan’s Answer
I think you mean "child development." Allow me to start by copying and pasting the response I just gave to someone with a similar question.
"You might be able to, but I wouldn't advise it. Reports on day care nationwide have found somewhere between seventy-five and eighty-five percent of them to be substandard, not meeting even the minimum levels for safety, health or quality. There are already way too many people working in day care who have no understanding of child development, behavior management, appropriate activities and/or health and safety precautions, among others. And the minimal "training" that they might get are most often from people themselves unqualified. Whereas in many countries, child care is part of the education system, here, for a variety of historical reasons, all bad, it became part of the social welfare system, seen as "babysitting" rather than enrichment. The mentality is that "anyone can watch children," our most precious resource. (just like anyone can be a parent).
As a former director of day care centers and consultant with the city agency that supervised them, I have to implore anyone considering going into the field to know what they're doing. Being caring is a good start, but that's all it is. We have to raise the quality of child care, and you could be a part of that. Aspire more for yourself, too. Go to college and take some child development and education courses. You never know where they could lead: teaching, child therapy of one kind or another, opening your own quality child care program. Why are you interested in child care: because you've done babysitting and it seems easy or because you love children and think it would be a rewarding career making a difference for the next generation? "
In most cases, you don't need a college degree to work in day care. But I would recommend it, and I would implore you to at least take some classes in education and child development. Doing so would not only make you more valuable to day care programs and especially their children, but it would broaden your career options. Don't look at the minimum, look at all you could accomplish.
"You might be able to, but I wouldn't advise it. Reports on day care nationwide have found somewhere between seventy-five and eighty-five percent of them to be substandard, not meeting even the minimum levels for safety, health or quality. There are already way too many people working in day care who have no understanding of child development, behavior management, appropriate activities and/or health and safety precautions, among others. And the minimal "training" that they might get are most often from people themselves unqualified. Whereas in many countries, child care is part of the education system, here, for a variety of historical reasons, all bad, it became part of the social welfare system, seen as "babysitting" rather than enrichment. The mentality is that "anyone can watch children," our most precious resource. (just like anyone can be a parent).
As a former director of day care centers and consultant with the city agency that supervised them, I have to implore anyone considering going into the field to know what they're doing. Being caring is a good start, but that's all it is. We have to raise the quality of child care, and you could be a part of that. Aspire more for yourself, too. Go to college and take some child development and education courses. You never know where they could lead: teaching, child therapy of one kind or another, opening your own quality child care program. Why are you interested in child care: because you've done babysitting and it seems easy or because you love children and think it would be a rewarding career making a difference for the next generation? "
In most cases, you don't need a college degree to work in day care. But I would recommend it, and I would implore you to at least take some classes in education and child development. Doing so would not only make you more valuable to day care programs and especially their children, but it would broaden your career options. Don't look at the minimum, look at all you could accomplish.
Daniela Silva
Freelance Writer in Mental Health and Education
922
Answers
State of Goiás, State of Goiás, Brazil
Updated
Daniela’s Answer
Hi Lilya!
In this link, it is explained what a daycare teacher is and what they do, how to become one, and the average salary and job outlook for this career:
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-become-daycare-teacher
Good luck!
In this link, it is explained what a daycare teacher is and what they do, how to become one, and the average salary and job outlook for this career:
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-become-daycare-teacher
Good luck!