Description

Early childhood educators plan and organize activities for preschool and school-age children. Early childhood educator assistants provide care and guidance to preschool children under the supervision of early childhood educators. Early childhood educators and assistants lead children in activities to stimulate and develop their intellectual, physical and emotional growth. They are employed in child-care centres, kindergartens, nursery schools, agencies for exceptional children, and other environments where early childhood education services are provided, or they may be self-employed. Early childhood educators who are supervisors are included in this group.

Included Job Titles

child-care worker assistant, child-care worker, day care, day-care helper, day-care supervisor, day-care worker, early childhood assistant, early childhood education worker, early childhood educator, early childhood educator assistant, early childhood program staff assistant, early childhood supervisor, preschool helper, preschool supervisor, preschool teacher.

Job Duties

Early childhood educators perform some or all of the following duties:

• Develop and implement daily activities that support and promote the development of children
• Lead children in activities by telling or reading stories, teaching songs, demonstrating the use of simple musical instruments, preparing craft materials and demonstrating their use, providing opportunities for creative expression through the media of art, dramatic play, music and physical fitness, and taking the children to local points of interest
• Guide and assist children in the development of proper eating, dressing and toilet habits
• Observe children for signs of learning disabilities or emotional problems and take appropriate action
• Assess the skills, abilities, interests and needs of children
• Discuss progress or problems of children with parents and other staff members
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with other community service providers working with children
• Attend meetings and workshops to develop and discuss new teaching methods
• May plan and organize activities for school-age children in child-care programs before and after regular school hours
• May supervise and co-ordinate the activities of other early childhood educators and early childhood educator assistants.

Early childhood educator assistants perform some or all of the following duties:

• Conduct and monitor activity programs designed for young children
• Lead children in activities by telling stories, teaching songs and preparing craft materials
• Prepare and serve snacks
• Arrange rooms and furniture for lunch and rest periods
• Assist with proper eating, dressing and toilet habits
• Submit written observations on children to supervisor
• Attend staff meetings to discuss progress and problems of children
• Assist supervisor in keeping records
• Maintain day-care equipment and assist in housekeeping duties.

Related Occupations

Included Cities in this region

Charlottetown, Summerside, Alberton, Cornwall, Kensington, Montague, Souris, Stratford

Service Canada Offices

View a list of Service Canada offices in this area.