So -- You Want To Go Into E.C.E. (Early Childhood Education)???

Let me first apologize for not posting up new articles in a little while. For those of are not aware --I went back to university to pursue my studies for a teaching career. Yes I'm finishing up my first year in Teaching English as A Second Language at Concordia. Juggling my family, full-time classes and part-time work has been quite an adventure. But the good news is I'm back -- alive and kicking!!! Thanks for all the kind words and letters, I appreciate them. Many of you have written to me asking about how one would get in to the field of early childhood education.

If you are considering working in a daycare as a child-care worker there are a few things to look at before you leap into the field. The first place would be to find out what your state or provincial laws require. Some require a university diploma (teaching certificate), others can go through technical/college training but many require educators to have no more than a high school diploma. That's too bad because what we do isn't recognized at the same level as teaching in a school is.

That being said, the work places where recognition can be found will mostly ask for a higher degree. Salary, benefits, the workload and the amount of hours in the workweek, will be better than the places where there's less-to-no recognition. It will also be harder to get of these position mainly because those who have them tend to stay there. In the other group, turn over of educators is high. Low wages, heavy workweek, heavy workload, little or no benefits and not feeling appreciated at your work makes people always on the search to find something better. Working with children is a demanding job as is, it's crazy when you don't get the full recognition.

If now you still are considering the field, I strongly recommend getting in contact with either your community college, CEGEP, or university to get information on their programs. Yes not only will it help you get a better job but it will also give you the right skills and tools to work with children.

IT'S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO LOVE KIDS!

Obviously I can't say it enough, you have to love kids but you also need to know things like:

What makes children act the way they do?
What stages and steps will they encounter in their development?

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