When choosing the appropriate and best early childhood school fit for a child, parents may be faced with choices that include part-time, full-time, or extended-day options. Some early childhood learning programs offer curriculums that emphasize more “play” based models, or a stronger academic approach. Many daycares are now not only the best option for full-time working parents because of the hours but have developed curriculums to challenge and prepare children for elementary school.

Another benefit for a full-time early education program for any child versus a part-time option is the stamina a child can develop before kindergarten enrollment, as most kindergarten programs are full day. When considering the best program to satisfy educational and social needs, the five domains of early childhood development must be present. The five domains include social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and language.

Social

A preschool and daycare environment should be supporting the social skills of young children by modeling positive relationships, using appropriate language, and promoting activities to introduce and eventually master socially acceptable childhood skills, such as sharing, taking turns, waiting patiently, not interrupting, and entertaining themselves without disrupting others. The social situations children are faced with when in preschool will best prepare them for the elementary classroom where the class size is typically larger than a preschool classroom, where the teacher ratio is lower.

Emotional

The emotional development for children in their early years starts with recognizing and expressing personal feelings and responding to others with emotions that best fit a situation. When children attend a preschool environment for the first time regardless of the age of the child, there could possibly be an adjustment phase at drop off between the child and the parents. Some children experience separation anxiety and need extra time to feel comfortable without a parent. Most preschool instructors are prepared for excessive crying or mood changes with children that experience separation anxiety.

In situations where children feel anxious or worried, children need to learn self-regulation or soothing that involve learning tools to regain independence and comfort while at school. Preschool age children are also learning how to express emotions verbally instead of with physical actions, such as hitting, kicking, or having a tantrum. A substantial amount of time in preschool should be spent on social-emotional learning (SEL). SEL introduces children being tolerate around other children, making socially acceptable choices, and learning right from wrong. Children participating in social-emotional learning programs before kindergarten are usually the readiest to learn and build an academic foundation.

Physical

Physical development for children between birth and five years old includes the physical growth of the body, mind, and muscles. Many infants attending daycares will achieve developmental milestones, such as sitting up, feeding themselves, crawling, and possibly walking for the first time. Early physical development also involves understanding the five senses for the first time. Preschool programs offer opportunities for children to use their sense of touch to experience a variety of textures. Children are shown various pictures, sing songs, share new foods, and smell different aspects of their environment.

The development of gross motor skills and the beginning use of fine motor skills are two very important aspects of a young child’s physical development. The more opportunities young children have to play outside on developmentally appropriate playground equipment and participate in activities that develop strong core muscles the longer stamina they will have for building a foundation for learning.

Cognitive

Children, especially under the age of five have a desire to learn. The young child is inquisitive and can ask one question after another about any topic of their interest. Therefore, preschool teachers have great autonomy to expose little ones to many topics and skills that will build a foundation to make them lifelong learners. The topics can start out simple with recognition of colors, shapes, letters, and numbers. But can and should also involve science concepts, geography, and foreign languages. A young child’s mind is like a sponge.

Language

Children crave verbal stimuli. While in utero, a mother talks to her baby, and when a baby is born, the first voices they hear are of the parents. An important and memorable milestone for a child is when they say their first word. After using one word to identify familiar objects, get someone’s attention, or demand a need, the use of more than one word begins to develop, and the use of two or more words together to create a sentence happens. When sentences begin, then conversations occur, and negotiations for social and physical needs blossom.

The best opportunity for building language skills in early childhood is reading. The more a child hears words and is exposed to text, the better vocabulary a child can develop. A child’s expressive and receptive language skills begin developing in early childhood. Preschools and daycare centers that rely on digital learning tools do not provide the traditional language instruction needed to develop strong communication skills. The development of adequate language skills is paramount for engaging children to learn and retain the skills and concepts to allow them to be inquisitive learners.

Each of the five domains of early childhood development have significant importance and carry over to developing sustainable academic and social growth in elementary school for any student.

Have a passion for early childhood education? Explore our available early childhood education graduate programs and get started today!

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More and more we hear the term “self-regulation/self-regulating.” First, let’s explore an area where we as adults, use self-regulation.

Let’s use the example of waiting in line at the coffee shop’s drive-thru. Two lanes are merging closer and closer to the pickup window, and the car alongside of you decides to merge first, nearly hitting the front of your car, jumping in front of you in line. Do you get angry, lay on the horn, scream at the car in front of you and the driver?

Possibly, you may bite your tongue, count to ten, take a deep breath and let the incident go. As an adult, your response to this situation is dependent on the emotions and actions that you have under your control and whether you have the established coping mechanisms in place to handle this calmly. Having these skills, is another way of saying you used self-regulation.

Often self-regulation is a term that educators use, or even at times therapists and pediatricians. Self-regulation is often described as the ability to understand and manage your own behaviors and reactions to things happening in your surroundings and the emotions you are feeling. When we think of young children, some even younger than school age, think of the difference self-regulation can make when dealing with an anxious child or a child that has been exposed to trauma.

For early childhood students, being able to self-regulate does not only apply to a child’s social and emotional health, but it also may greatly impact a child’s cognitive ability. A young child tends to be more impulsive than an older student. If adults that come into frequent contact with a child teaches them how to effectively self-regulate as well as how to incorporate this into their young lives, this may make a huge difference in their actions.

A child who is taught at an early age how to use self-regulation as an emotional tool, allows for them to be more mindful and deliberate of their actions. I am sure we have often heard of the phase “stop and think”; this is truly a sense of self-regulation. When a child takes the time to stop and think, this eliminates impulsivity and may stop a negative behavior from occurring.

Unfortunately, when young children are sent off to kindergarten without having self-regulation skills in place as part of their early childhood development, this can hinder a child’s ability to learn as quickly as another child or may impact their listening skills as well as be a result of a student having difficulty focusing.

Promoting self-regulation before students come to kindergarten is becoming increasingly common in nursery schools, preschools, and daycare settings. This is so very important as our young learners are greatly impacted from this. Children who do not often practice self-regulation, or know about this skill, they may possibly never reach their full potential cognitively or emotionally. Think of a child in a kindergarten classroom who may get very upset over another student sitting where they wanted to in the cafeteria.

A child with self-regulation skills that are already developed would move on from a scenario like this, where as a student without self-regulation skills may become angry, act out, and put themselves in a tough situation in front of all of their peers. This may be enough to pull them off track for the remainder of the day if they do not know how to appropriately handle their emotions.

Simple Ways to Guide Early Childhood Students Through Self-Regulating

The good news is there are easy ways that young children can learn these skills for self-regulating. If adults have a willingness to adapt their teaching skills to the level of a child’s temperament, this can really help students handle their emotions. This often is more easily done in a one-to-one situation for a child. While doing so it is extremely important that adults play close attention and monitor how a child feels and do their best to tend to their individual needs.

Practice, Practice, Practice

We should not forget that all children must learn how to develop these skills and regulate themselves. In order to learn this, they must be taught. Allowing children the time to practice and apply the skills that you are trying to teach them to self-regulate should also be part of setting the rules. By providing children visuals, this helps them remember the skills that they are working on and helps bring their attention back to the task that must be completed.

Work on Listening Skills

Following directions is an important part of self-regulating as well. Think of the benefits a school-age child would have going into kindergarten when they already have great listening skills.

Calm Down Corners

Several activities can be put into place in assisting our young children to build these skills. Creating a calm-down corner for a child to take time to stop and share how they are feeling is the first step to processing through self-regulating.

Playtime

When children can describe how they are feeling, not only does this help keep them calm, but also is a way to help build their feelings vocabulary which will continue to develop over time. This is important for their social-emotional learning as well. Adding in creative pretend play also allows children to act out situations. Often playtime can include, puppets, dolls, figurines, etc., that take over emotions as they play. Different responses and solutions are formulated as children play increasing their understanding of feelings.

As adults understand the importance of children knowing how to self-regulate, our young learners will be able to respond appropriately to their emotions positively. This will prepare them to be better equipped to make their day a great one.

Have a passion for early childhood education? Explore our available early childhood education graduate programs and get started today!

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Child-rearing is the process of raising children. The child-rearing process begins the day a child is born, through their schooling, and continues until the child enters adulthood. There are many different approaches to child-rearing, especially in this day and age. The ideas and opinions behind appropriate child-rearing behaviors have significantly changed over the last twenty years.

The current generation takes a much more hands-on approach to the process of raising children, compared to previous generations that encouraged independence in children early on. There is not a “one size fits all” method to raising children or developing a parenting style. However, no matter the approach one takes to the parenting process, there is no denying that the child-rearing process has a massive effect on not only the child in general, but also their attitude and approach towards education, and ultimately, their success within the educational system.

How Does Child-Rearing Affect a Students’ Learning?

It’s no secret that the parent-child relationship has a massive impact on the child’s academic achievement. A healthy bond between parent and child leads towards feelings of security, confidence, and willingness to try new things. All of these attributes lend themselves to learning and achievement within the school setting. Healthy child-rearing is a balance of encouraging children to learn and achieve independently, while also assuring the child they are safe and cared for, and mistakes are okay (and encouraged!)

Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. A poor child-rearing experience quite literally affects the development of the child’s brain. The flight or fight response of children growing up in unsafe or neglectful environments is often seen at school when the child is challenged in any way. It becomes nearly impossible for many of these children to learn when their basic needs are not being met at home. Of course, the school can assist with meeting many of these needs, but many times, the meeting of basic needs trumps the academic experience, so these students are missing out in some way or at some time. In cases such as these, schools should take every opportunity they have to engage with the families, and ensure the school is doing everything they can to support not only the child at school, but the entire family at home.

The health of the family, and the family bond, is directly correlated to the success of that child at school. By supporting their students’ families, schools are having a direct positive effect on the test scores, attendance rates, academic achievement, and most importantly, the physical and mental well-being of their students.

Promoting Healthy Parent Engagement

It is incredibly important that schools take an active role in promoting parent engagement within the school setting. There are a multitude of ways to encourage this relationship. First, schools must take a proactive approach to communication. In our current society, parents are busier than ever, and many parents are juggling multiple children in school. The school has to be aware of this, and sensitive to it when managing parent expectations.

Activities to Cultivate Engagement

There should be ample opportunities for parents to get involved in the school. Schools must be aware that many parents are working during school hours. It goes a long way to have opportunities to get involved outside of school hours. Whether that be parent breakfasts, evening dances or events, or even weekend fun, schools need to make it possible for all parents to be involved.

Parent Education Courses

A further opportunity to promote healthy parent engagement is to offer parent education courses in the evenings or on weekends. These can vary from a wide variety of topics depending on the age of the students. Information on how to tackle the middle school transition, how to understand the district report card, or warning signs to look for in your teenager all go a long way in helping parents feel they are equipped to manage the challenges that come with the child-rearing process.

The school is full of experts on many of these topics, and their knowledge can be put to use in helping and educating parents. Even just discussions on how to talk to your child about their thoughts, feelings, and ideas goes a long way towards navigating the difficult process of raising a child to adulthood. The schools are a treasure trove of resources in this area.

Streamlined Communication

Of course, not every parent can physically attend events at the school. There are still ways to promote healthy parent engagement from all parents. School communication should be streamlined and succinct. Many parents don’t have the time or energy to spend time sorting through multiple newsletters, emails, and papers sent home from each school. Knowing where the communication will come from and when, can go a long way in the parent engaging with the content.

Schools can offer communication via the building, or via the individual teacher. Individual teacher communication can be more personalized to each child and allow the parent to have a better understanding of the learning taking place as well as upcoming events. Communication from parents should also be open and encouraged, and they should feel comfortable approaching the school with any thoughts, concerns, or questions about student learning, and more.

Schools must take a creative approach to the process of engaging parents in their child’s education. A healthy school-family relationship is a huge piece of a positive schooling experience. There are many ways to engage parents if the school is willing to work together with all families, no matter the challenges or roadblocks standing in the way.

Teachers never stop learning; check out our available early childhood education graduate programs to hone your skills and expand your expertise of learning styles, child developmental needs, and more.

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How Social Isolation Heavily Affected Elementary Students

Social interaction is already more of a challenge for children of today than it was for the children of 30 or even 20 years ago because of the prominence of electronic devices and screen time. This is due in part to the amount of time that children spend on devices. That fact is compounded by the isolation and social deprivation experienced because of the pandemic and consequential lockdowns.

Emotional Outbursts

A significant change I have noticed since returning to in-person learning is the frequency of emotional outbursts. In the past, redirecting a student would not have resulted in any major issues. However, there are far more instances of severe student outbursts than ever before. This can be linked to the isolation experienced by children throughout lockdowns. Isolation, of course, leads to a feeling of loneliness. Research shows that loneliness leads to higher levels of stress.

Coping Mechanisms

Pair that with the fact that young children have not learned coping mechanisms for stress and, therefore, are not equipped with the skills necessary to handle the stress levels they are experiencing. So, as young students return to school and they experience stressful situations, like being in a structured environment with rules after months of being in a less structured environment with no social interactions to navigate, we see students exhibit extreme reactions to minor incidents.

Early Development

The most troubling concern for our younger students compared to older students is the fact that younger students are still in early stages of development and have missed vital socialization building blocks necessary to function properly in a school environment. On top of that, a lot of our current primary students have missed out on preschool as well.

There is a great deal of critical social skills, and social-emotional learning that is developed in preschool as well as learning the basics of the structure and procedures associated with school. When you combine what young students have missed developmentally, academically, and socially, it amounts to a staggering deficit for our young students that is hard to truly know the extent of the impact for, perhaps, years to come.

Helping Your Young Students Through These Struggles

Although the complications caused by these tragic interruptions to our students’ early childhood education development may seem like insurmountable obstacles, there are ways that we, as teachers, can help and support as students learn to adjust and cope in their current environments.

Social Skills

In order to help students, develop social skills, teachers can first do more explicit teaching of social skills. There are a lot of great books available geared towards young students that lend themselves to open discussions and direct instruction regarding social skills.

It is also important to collaborate with school counselors in ways you can work together to improve these skills. Also, working with students in small groups and grouping students according to common social skill deficits can be very beneficial for young students.

Emotional Challenges

Firstly, it is very important for us to recognize that there are far more emotional challenges for our students than there have been in the past. We must be sensitive to this and patient with students as they navigate this. Also, as there are more students experiencing emotional difficulties, it may help to have a “calm down room” or area in your school.

Our school, for example, has a very small room with soft lighting, calming music, pillows, bean bags, and plushies that students can go to as needed to calm down when having emotional difficulty. This has proven to be very helpful for many of our students. Emotional difficulty would be another reason for collaborating with school counselors and utilizing books for young children that address emotional issues.

Problem-Solving

Issues that seem so simple to solve may have many of our students stumped due to the social isolation they have experienced. A lot of these kinds of issues will pertain to conflict resolution with other students. Again, this is an area that will require direct instruction (that would not have been necessary pre-pandemic) but will also help elementary school students immensely in learning to solve problems with their peers in a productive and respectful manner.

Attention Spans

The most important thing to remember is that students do not develop extended attention spans overnight. Therefore, this too will require some training and stamina-building. By frequently changing activities, allowing students to move often, and allowing them to have physical activities breaks in class throughout the day (even mid-lesson) you can keep students engaged and then gradually make academic times longer to slowly improve student stamina as it pertains to attention span and engagement.

By implementing these practices, we can help our students improve, if not overcome, the challenges they face in the aftermath of the pandemic. It is perhaps most important, however, to work to develop meaningful relationships with students by investing time with them regularly and by truly listening to their thoughts and concerns. This can be the most critical piece to helping our students through post-pandemic trauma as well as many difficult situations.

Interested in pursuing your advanced degree in early childhood education? Now is the time; check out our early childhood education graduate degrees and get started today!

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They are kind and caring, patient and empathetic. Most importantly, preschool teachers provide a safe and warm environment in which students can feel comfortable at such an early stage. If you’re an aspiring preschool teacher, you are undoubtedly entering a rewarding career. To land the job of your dreams, you will first need to qualify in your education, skills, and experience.

What Does a Preschool Teacher Do?

A qualified preschool teacher is responsible for the education of the young children in their care. The duties and responsibilities include the following.

• Provide basic needs of all students
• Establish and enforce rules
• Teach early life skills
• Work with children one-on-one or in groups
• Develop schedules and routines
• Watch for emotional and developmental delays
• Keep records of children’s progress
• Adapt teaching methods and materials to meet the needs of students
• Develop and maintain relationships with children and parents
• Provide tools and resources for children to learn and explore

Preschool Teacher Requirements: Skills

Preschool teachers work with children aged five and younger. The following attributes needed to be a preschool include:

Organization

Organization provides structure and creates a healthy environment. Preschool teachers organize activities to help students explore their interests and develop skills.

Patience

Working with young children can be stressful, but if you have patience and are always in control of your emotions, it will help you from burning out and teach students that patience is a virtue. Patience also encourages young students to partake in activities without fear of suddenly getting in trouble.

Energy

Children are full of energy, so a preschool teacher needs to keep up with students’ natural enthusiasm. To match the high levels of students’ energy, it is important to have the same vigor.

Kindness

Preschool teachers are kind and nurturing. They have a genuine love for children, and it shows in the classroom environment. They make children feel safe, secure, and provide joyful experiences for the kids.

Flexibility

Children can be unpredictable, so preschool teachers always need to be on high alert. They need to have the ability to roll with whatever comes their way and always be prepared for the unexpected.

Preschool Teacher Requirements: Education

Education and training requirements for a preschool teacher are based on state regulations, so when asking: “how long does it take to become a preschool teacher?” there are varied answers. However, you need at least an associate’s degree to become one.

Public school preschool teachers are required to at least have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field and experience working with preschool-age children. This degree focuses on childhood development, instructional techniques, and observing children’s progress. They also must obtain a license to teach early childhood education.

Preschool teachers who are in childcare or Head Start settings are required to at least have an associate’s degree. However, according to the BLS, at least 50% of preschool teachers in a Head Start program must have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field. Some states also require the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential to teach. This requires experience working with children, an exam, and coursework.

Many universities offer a master’s degree in early childhood education (ECE). This degree is for trained teachers who hold a bachelor’s degree and focuses on learning theory and child development for children from birth to age eight. It is not uncommon for districts to require advanced degrees from teachers after a certain number of years of service.

Why Should You Consider a Preschool Teaching Position?

Salary and Benefits

If you work in a public-school setting, most states will offer preschool teachers a comprehensive benefits package which usually includes health insurance, vision, and sick leave. The median preschool teacher salary is $32,000.

Career Opportunities

Experienced preschool teachers can have the opportunity to become the lead classroom teacher or move up to an administrator role such as an assistant director or the director if they are in a childcare setting.

Professional Learning

As new learning and instructional strategies are developed, educators can stay up to date on the latest trends and theories in education. This will give educators a way to provide students with the knowledge and skills that support the new research.

Shape Student Learning

Preschool teachers play an essential role in the success of their students. They provide structure and guidance. They help students grow in their reading and writing skills and use a variety of methods to help students grow cognitively and emotionally.

How to Become a Preschool Teacher

If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a preschool teacher, then the first step is to get your degree and any other license and certificate that your state requires. You will also need work experience in a childcare setting. You can start as a childcare worker or teaching assistant. You can also look into working as a camp counselor, tutor, or nanny to gain even more experience.

Pursuit of a career in early childhood education takes passion and patience. If this piques your interest, check out our available early childhood education graduate programs to get started today.

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But what does an ECE degree program encompass? What does an ECE certificate cover, and how do you ultimately choose the one that’s right for you? There are many things to consider as you look into the next steps for entering into a career in education.

What Does an ECE Degree Program Encompass?

A degree in early childhood education typically allows you to be a lead teacher in any classroom from preschool to third grade. Depending on which university you choose to receive your degree from, there will be a variety of classes that you need to complete and a period of time you will need to student teach in an elementary school. Along with general education classes to receive a degree in teaching, you will likely complete course work in classroom instruction, social-emotional education, children’s literature, the multicultural classroom, differentiation, and many more.

What Does a ECE Certificate Program Cover?

An early childhood education certificate is similar to a degree program yet has some significant differences. For starters, an early childhood education certificate often means that you cannot be a head classroom teacher in an elementary school. Still, you can educate children through becoming a teacher’s aide or paraprofessional. The coursework you will complete is similar, though less of it. Typically, a certificate program in early childhood education takes around one year to complete.

Now, how do you choose the path that is right for you?

How Do I Choose What’s Right for Me?

Now that you know the differences between an early childhood education degree and an early childhood education certificate, which one is right for you? While ultimately this is a personal decision and one that you should put some careful thought and consideration into, there are several things to think about before you make the decision.

Professional Goals

Before setting off into a program that leads you into education, think about your long-term career goals. Do you want to be the head of a classroom that makes decisions and choose how their day is run? Then a degree may be better for you. Or are you someone that likes when someone else takes the lead, and you get to be a partner in those decisions? If so, a certificate may be better for you.

When it comes to progressing in your career financially, are you someone who wants to “climb the ladder” or are you content with a consistent income? A degree often means you will have a salary increase each year, while a certificate can mean that you will be paid hourly or not have as many opportunities for pay increases.

Cost

The cost of a degree vs. a certificate also varies, though so do the future earnings. A teaching certificate program costs between $10,000 and $30,000. On the other hand, a degree can cost anywhere from $11,000 a year to $60,000 a year, depending on which institution you choose to enroll in.

While the sticker price might be overwhelming, keep in mind that there is a difference in pay depending on which route you choose. The average median salary in 2020 for someone with a teaching degree was roughly $51,000.

It will be important to think about your financial lifestyle, your career goals, as well as the time commitment you wish to put into your career before making a decision.

Time Commitment

It should come as no surprise that educators put immense time and effort into their careers. From lesson planning, parent communication, professional development, to meeting the social, emotional, and academic needs of every student in the classroom, there doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day.

Deciding on how much time you want to put into your graduate education is important. Most master’s ECE programs take about two years to complete, while certificate programs usually take about one year. Think about how much time you’re willing and able to set aside to reach your goal.

You know you love children and have decided to pursue a career in the world of early childhood education. Yet deciding which path to take, whether you want a degree in early childhood education or a certificate, can be a tricky one. It is important to consider your professional goals, the cost of receiving the degree, how much money you can potentially make, and the time commitment once you begin your work in the field. When you have figured out these details, getting started in your dream of educating children will be much easier.

Ready to impact students through early childhood education? Explore our available ECE programs and start your next journey today!

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Assistant Teacher

As associates degree in early childhood education can help you land a position as an assistant teacher. An assistant teacher works under the supervision of a licensed teacher usually in a daycare, preschool, or elementary school setting. The typical duties assistants perform are helping teachers prepare lessons, grade papers, reinforce rules, and work with small groups of children.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the median wage for assistant teachers is around $28,900 with the lowest ten percent earning about $19,600 and the highest ten percent earning more than approximately $44,000. As far as the projected job outlook, teacher assistant positions are expected to grow about nine percent over the next decade which indicates that opportunities are on the rise.

Childcare Center Director

Teaching isn’t the only job to consider when you have an early childhood degree, childcare and preschool center directors are another option to ponder. As a director you would be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the center as well as managing staff, establishing the center’s goals, the curriculum and daily routine, as well as meeting with students and families. Directors also take an active role in preparing budgets, monitoring teacher and student progress, and ensuring policies and state regulations are being followed.

Educational requirements vary but most require a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education as well as a certification in childhood development. The median salary is $49,000 with the top 10 percent earning more than $86,000. Employment is projected to grow 11 percent over the next decade.

Educational Consultant

An early childhood degree can take you to a career outside of the classroom as an educational consultant. Consultants help develop programs, regulations and policies as well as develop tools and strategies to help parents and students. With a bachelor’s degree you can advise public or private school districts or as an independent contractor you can provide services to educational institutions on a contractual basis. The average salary is $61,000 but earning potential increases with your level of educational and experience.

Elementary School Teacher

Earning a degree in early childhood education as well as obtaining state certification will qualify you to teach preschool age children through second grade or third grade. Elementary teachers are responsible for helping children learn and apply concepts. Some of their duties include creating lesson plans, class schedules, grading assignments, developing and enforcing rules, and supervising children. The BLS puts the median pay rate of elementary teachers at $60,940 as of May 2020, and anticipates the job market to grow seven percent over the next 10 years. A typical elementary school teacher works ten months out of the school year averaging 180 school days with two months off for the summer.

Preschool Teacher

Preschool teachers educate and care for children under the age of five. They teach basic skills, organize activities, develop schedules and routines, as well as help children develop skills through play, problem solving and exploring interests. The educational requirement is typically an associate’s degree with some states also requiring additional license and certifications. They work at public or private schools as well as Head Start or similar programs.

As of 2020, the median wage for a preschool teacher was approximately $31,900. The job outlook for individuals looking to become a preschool teacher is stronger than average, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipating over 50,000 new jobs each year over the next decade as a result for the need to replace teachers who are expected to retire.

Special Education Teacher

Special education teachers work with students who have a range of learning, social, physical, or emotional delays or disabilities. In this role teachers have an array of responsibilities, such as developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), planning activities that are specific to the students’ abilities, as well as modifying lessons to meet the learners needs. They also work with teachers, specialists, administrators, and parents to discuss updates and change IEP’s.

Early childhood special education teachers in public schools are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree and state certification. Some colleges offer dual degrees which combines the specializations of early childhood education and special education. As of May 2020, the median salary for a special education teacher was $61,500 with the projected job outlook to grow eight percent over the next ten years.

Pursuit of a career in early childhood education takes patience and a love for helping young children learn and succeed. Candidates that qualify to teach young children have a range of career opportunities to choose from. Choosing between these varying opportunities will depend upon the individual’s goals and expectations. Nevertheless, prospective candidates will make a difference in the knowledge and education of young children regardless of the position they choose.

Ready to dive into early childhood education? Check out our graduate programs and get started today!

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What is an IEP?

IEP stands for Individualized Education Program or Individualized Education Plan. It is a written legal document that describes the ways a particular child learns best. It identifies the measures and assessments that are most appropriate for that child as well as the supports and accommodations that child needs in order to help them succeed.

An IEP has clearly spelled out learning goals and is created with a team-based approach during an IEP meeting. With input from the child’s parents, care providers, teachers, doctors, therapists, and sometimes even the child themselves, an IEP helps students learn and thrive at school. Families are involved through every step of the completion and follow-through of the IEP to ensure that the decisions made are best for them and their child.

Differences Between Early Childhood and K-12 IEPs

When a child is under the age of 3 and is showing concerns in their development, an IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan) can be put into place. An IFSP is a document that helps families and other professionals in the community support the needs of the child. It is created through in-depth assessments of the child by a variety of professionals including daycare teachers, doctors, speech therapists, social workers, and others. It is generally broader than an IEP and includes not only learning goals and supports, but current early childhood developmental levels, desired family outcomes, and community services that are available to offer support for that child.

While an IFSP focuses on the child and services a family can use to help enhance the development of their child, an IEP focuses on the educational needs of the child. When students hit age 3, an IEP is used to spell out the child’s specific educational goals. The IEP has annual measurable academic benchmarks. Where an IFSP is broad and more of a guideline for the family, an IEP describes very specific learning goals, how progress will be measured while working to obtain those goals, how often the child’s progress will be analyzed, and how progress will be reported to the family.

Another difference between IEPs found for students age 3-22 and IFSPs for students age birth-3, is that IFSPs discuss the environments where services will be provided. IEPs, on the other hand, describe which services can be provided in the least restrictive environment and to what extent the child will need to be in a different environment for their learning needs.

Some students are able to work under an IEP and still spend their entire day in the mainstream classroom. Some students only spend the first half-hour with their classroom teacher and then move to a special education room. Other students may spend no time at all in the mainstream classroom and instead work on their educational goals in a special education room. Every student’s IEP is different, just as every student’s IFSP is different.

Both IEPs and IFSPs are reviewed and evaluated periodically. For an IFSP, a team evaluates it once a year during the annual evaluation. A smaller review is done every six months, though can be done more frequently if needed. For IEPs, a new IEP must be written, at minimum, annually. Additionally, a revised IEP has to be written whenever significant changes in a student’s program are needed, such as accomplishing one of the IEP’s goals, not making progress towards a goal, availability of new information from parents or the IEP team, or changing location where education is being received.

Special Considerations for IEPs in Early Childhood

There are some special things to consider when it comes to IEPs in early childhood. For starters, all children develop in their own way and at their own rate. However, there are general guidelines for typical development for particular ages. This helps parents and caregivers think about where the child is at and where additional support may be needed.

When identifying areas of necessary support, it is important that consistent patterns of behavior are identified and not just one or two instances. Examples of behavioral concerns could range from not smiling at caregivers, not reaching for objects, only using single word sentences, or not being clearly understood in the child’s articulation.

When caregivers sit down to meet with an early childhood evaluation team, it is helpful if a clear picture of the child’s strengths and weaknesses can be drawn. Additionally, being able to share the child’s likes and dislikes can help the team choose the best approach to services that the child will find interesting and be able to succeed at. Any information the child’s caregiver can provide may be valuable, as no one knows the child like their family.

Every child is unique and special, in who they are and how they grow. Because of this, not every child thinks and learns in the same way. Some children need special accommodations put into place so they can succeed. These modifications may come in the form of an Individualized Family Service Plan or an Individualized Education Plan. Though both slightly different and used at different ages, these plans are meant to support the child so they reach their fullest and brightest potential.

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Early childhood settings provide an essential foundation for our youngest learners.

How has Early Childhood Education Been Impacted Since the Start of COVID?

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about fear and uncertainty for many parents nationwide.  Schools and childcare facilities shut down for months at the start of the pandemic. Although some children were given the opportunity to meet online with their teacher, many parents did not see the value in virtual instruction for their three-, four-, and five-year-olds.

When centers and schools began to reopen, the damage for our children who missed their original learning opportunity had already been done. They had missed out on the importance of play in early childhood education for a period of time. This changed the trajectory of their future education; those fundamentals that can only be authentically learned in person hadn’t been experienced.

Research shows that enrollment in programs declined drastically (see infographic below). There were several reasons for this decline. Some parents who were teleworking at home decided to keep their children with them. Many parents were uncertain about sending their younger children back into a public setting for fear of contracting the virus. Some could not find childcare as many centers were short-staffed and had to lower the class sizes to meet student-to-teacher ratio requirements.

Students who would have been identified and given IEP services missed their chance to be serviced which is disheartening. Programs also lost funding due to low enrollment. A study was done named Historical Crisis, Historical Opportunity (June 2021) that highlighted the decline across the nation in early education setting enrollments.

With all of these issues, there are still significant areas where children encounter these impacts.  Let us examine these in detail.

The Value of Play

The value of early childhood education learning through play for two- to five-year-old children is critical in developing social-emotional, fine and gross motor skills and academic growth. Have you ever visited a fully functional pre-k classroom? It is colorful but not overwhelming and equipped with all the paper, paint, and crayons a kid could imagine.

The walls are adorned with the original creations of the children as their work is valued and celebrated. There are centers with real-life toys for children to explore, and you’ll often find a housekeeping center, dramatic play, sensory table, literacy and writing, library, blocks, art, math, and science. Children engage in these stations through play, all while learning skills that will aid them to having a solid foundation before starting kindergarten.

When students were made to learn virtually or missed the entire learning opportunity, they lost this rich experience that cannot fully be replaced at home. Play is learned, structured, and intentionally planned in lessons by the teachers. Students learn values and rules through play because it teaches empathy, emotional intelligence, and how to be a productive team member.

Developing Secure Attachments Through Play

Children need to feel connected to their parents and childcare providers. This relationship is more natural with parents, but childcare providers must create secure attachments with children to foster these relationships. This is done through the use of meaningful play and activities.

Children send cues to us about their needs; we must attend to those needs appropriately to bring about positive attachments. We must also recognize that each child is unique in their own right, and what works for one may not work for the other. Children sense love, care, and concern from their caretakers.

Management of behavior and teaching fundamental skills through play is also very vital. Unfortunately, when children are absent from the classroom setting, this type of relationship cannot be fostered.

Development of Learning Skills

The pandemic interrupted much but many argue that children still forged through and learned.  While I agree that children did learn and grow; the matter at hand is if students gained a year’s worth of growth as they would in a typical year.

Most students have learning gaps that may not be able to be filled in just one year’s time because mastering skills takes consistency and time. Keeping a close watch on a student’s progress must occur, and the teacher must intervene with re-teaching or interventions when necessary.

Luckily, children are resilient; with teachers who have a firm grasp of the content and understand best practices (such as MTSS, scaffolding, interventions, progress monitoring, etc.), over time our students will still be successful and reach grade-level proficiency.

Learning to Regulate Behavior

Behavior management was utterly different with virtual learning. Educators had to learn how to manage a virtual classroom with strategies they had never before used or known of. These consisted of virtual classroom engagement, mute button etiquette, managing the chatbox, virtual small groups, all while learning the technology and programs to share their screens for videos and interactive lessons. Our three- to five-year-old students missed the opportunity to learn the foundation of face-to-face behavior management.

These students would have learned to regulate their behavior in an ordinary year through play. Students are taught social stories and given examples of what to do when they disagree or hurt a friend’s feelings. This “on-the-job” training occurs while in learning centers. The children are encouraged to play while teachers monitor and assist in the real-life application of behavior regulation when students encounter conflict.

Speech and Language Development Through Play

Whether solitary play, parallel play, or cooperative play, language development occurs and is crucial to a child’s speech and language growth. Children begin to feel comfortable and gain confidence in speaking, improve their vocabulary, and grasp the proper pronunciation of words.  By the age of two, most children have a wide vocabulary and can put their thoughts into words. Play reinforces vocabulary, sounds, confidence, communication, and social skills, which are indispensable.

These skills are covert in adulthood to having a solid understanding of responsibility, literacy, working in teams, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, and being a respectful citizen in society.

Have a passion for early childhood education? Explore our available early childhood education graduate programs and get started today!

*Updated January 2022

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A master’s degree in early childhood education (ECE) is a professional degree that focuses on learning theory and child development for children from birth to the age of eight. Child psychology is also a part of the course of study. This degree is for previously trained teachers who hold a bachelor’s degree. It includes learning practicums and a student teaching experience, which will extend your knowledge and expand your practice.

By pursuing this degree, teachers will understand the learning and development of young children, the way their mind works and how it develops. You will gain best practice on how to teach the curriculum and utilize quality classroom management. Positive reinforcement of desired behaviors will be learned and mastered. Teachers at this level must be distinguished in knowing the content and how to best support the development of learning and retaining that content.

As a current teacher, you will be able to begin putting your studies into practice in your very own classroom. You can test the theories, implement new and best practices, monitor the development of your students, and apply it to your research findings. This makes you more effective in your classroom and a leader among your peers.

If you are a parent, this degree will aid you in understanding your own children’s development and personality. It can shed light on why they do the things they do or have certain habits or traits. This, in turn, will make you a stronger teacher and broaden your understanding of the children you serve in your classroom.

An ECE degree will qualify you for many advanced professional opportunities. It prepares you to work outside the classroom and step into leadership or consulting.

Reasons to Get a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education

The need for ECE teachers, specialists, and leaders could increase. In 2018, there was a report published by the Education Commission of the States (ECS) that found all but six states offered some type of voluntary, universal Pre-k. All programs are not the same. They vary from eligibility, methodology, availability, and delivery. But the common factor across these programs is the need for qualified individuals who embody a passion for working with young children.

There are many career opportunities related to ECE. Once you decide what capacity you prefer to work in, the possibilities are endless.

ECE Teachers

You would be certified to become a lead teacher in a Head Start program or a Special Education lead teacher to work with students on their specific learning goals. The ECE background strengthens your knowledge of development and aids you in being highly effective in growing students’ learning capacity. Also, you would be qualified to work with ESL students who have a disconnect with learning foundational skills due to their language barrier.

ECE Specialists

Program directors or specialists work with schools (public and private) and communities to target problems in systems or programs and consult them through obtaining solutions. Research and data is a large piece of this position.

ECE Leadership

There are several leadership roles associated with this degree:

School Administrator

School principals or assistant principals heavily benefit from having this background. School leaders are responsible for implementing programs and best practices in their schools like differentiation and MTSS that promote the learning and growth for all children. They must ensure their teachers understand and properly use these programs. Administrators are to build their teacher’s skill set through school based professional development. The ECE degree equips a school leader with specialized knowledge to proficiently guide their pre-k through third grade teachers.

Director of a Childcare Facility or a Head Start Program

An ECE degree is perfectly designed to develop you for one of these positions. Childcare directors are responsible for setting the tone and vision of the center they lead. The philosophy of learning is shared by the director to ensure all stakeholders know the vision and are prepared to carry it out with the children they are assigned. You will use your knowledge and skills to be a strong leader who develops their team using the theories, research, and practices from the ECE degree program.

There is a growing need for professionals with ECE degrees. Many universities have recognized this and now offer this course of study. As long as children are being born, there will be a need to explore their development and better understand how we should respond to their needs.

Other Benefits of a Degree in Early Childhood Education

A significant benefit of obtaining this degree is increase in pay. Pursuing a new position is always exciting. As professionals, we strive to grow and improve our expertise. Along with that desire to grow, we also work towards a salary increase. Once you obtain the salary increase, you feel accomplished and realize how the dedication to your studies has paid off. An advanced degree may be laborious to earn, but it is definitely an investment that can change your life for the better for many years to come.

Another benefit is the opportunity to provide professional development. Professional development for educators has evolved. PD is offered in most counties for their teachers, and there are national, state and local PDs. There are Ed Camps, workshops, PLCs, Twitter Chats, etc. Knowledgeable, experienced, and credentialed presenters for these sessions are always needed. You may be invited to serve as a presenter for a PD in your area due to your credentials. We must always be willing to give back to our community and serve in this capacity to help other fellow educators along their journey of growth.

Personally, I earned a degree in early childhood education. I was a pre-k and kindergarten teacher for five years prior to becoming a principal fellow to obtain a master’s in school administration. As an elementary school principal, I am grateful for my ECE background as it prepared me to better understand behaviors and emotions of my students, developmental levels and how certain skills develop over time, the need for differentiation, and the importance of incorporating all learning styles into instruction.

If you are interested in a master’s degree in early childhood education, I encourage you to research the program of study and careers that align with the position you are seeking. Talk with those in the field and speak with the university directly. A decision of this magnitude will impact your life forever.

Ready to start the next chapter of your educational journey and pursue your master’s degree in Early Childhood Education? Explore our available programs to get started today!

*Updated, November 2020

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