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Can you go from a Highschool straight to the daycare job?
Is it possible to achieve going straight from Highschool to a child environment workspace? or is it a thing where you need to have education on what your doing?
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Nixa’s Answer
In accordance with your local regulations and state laws, the majority of daycares prioritize child safety and have certain requirements. But don't lose heart! There are numerous opportunities for on-the-job training, volunteering, and other roles within the daycare that you can pursue even without a degree. Keep pushing forward, there's a place for everyone!
Alan Weber
writer and retired teacher, teacher educator and academic advisor
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Woodstock, New York
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Alan’s Answer
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?
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?
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Emily’s Answer
You've got some great advice already, but here's a friendly suggestion: why not try getting a job as a substitute teaching assistant at your nearby elementary school?
This could be a fun way to get a sneak peek into what working in this field feels like. Plus, it's pretty easy to get started as all you need is a high school diploma. Even better, the flexible schedule means you can easily fit it around any further studies you might choose to do in the future.
This could be a fun way to get a sneak peek into what working in this field feels like. Plus, it's pretty easy to get started as all you need is a high school diploma. Even better, the flexible schedule means you can easily fit it around any further studies you might choose to do in the future.
Updated
Leila’s Answer
Yes, you can. You just need to spend 12 ECE credits that are required to earn some early childhood certificates and directly go to a daycare job. Some daycares pay you for these courses and some do not. You can also take courses first and earn the degrees and then go to find a job because working in daycare takes away all your energy and you cannot take courses while you are working, You can also study and work but the work will drain you all the way because of high volume of energy that you consume at work. So, you need to consider your wellness first.