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Daycare Assistant Teacher
What is an Daycare Assistant Teacher?
A Daycare Assistant Teacher assists and leads teachers in the care, supervision and education of children in child daycare environments. They may also be referred to as a Child Care Assistant, Teacher Aide, Education Assistant, Instructional Aide, Daycare Worker, Paraprofessional or Paraeducator in some workplace settings.
Job Responsibilities
Daycare Assistant Teachers work with or under the supervision of licensed teachers, and an assistant daycare educator job description can include the following general duties and responsibilities of daycare workers:
- Review learning material with students, either individually or in small groups, to help reinforce lessons presented by lead teachers
- Supervise students in class, during lunch hour, playtime or recess, and at special events, like field trips
- Aid in teaching appropriate behavior and social skills to students
- Assist in enforcing school and classroom rules
- Assist with record keeping, such as attendance records, student progress notes and grades
- Help teachers prepare for lessons by assembling materials and equipment
- Provide personal aid and care as necessary to students, such as help with hygiene, first aid, eating or toileting, for example
Value of Being a Daycare Assistant
The benefits of serving as a daycare assistant are numerous. Those in this field can offer young children a strong developmental foundation in early childhood education and development that sets them up for long-term success as individuals and members of a community. This role offers a high level of satisfaction and sense of meaningful purpose supporting early childhood development, and it provides a steppingstone to education and careers at the next level in fields such as education where a background in child care and early child development are assets.
Daycare Assistant Teacher: Career Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 153,100 openings for childcare workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Parents or guardians who work will continue to need the assistance of childcare workers.
While this information can give people an idea of the career potential of specific occupations, it is important to note that job market data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook is only intended to provide insight on occupational opportunities. It is not to be construed as a guarantee of salary or job title. Neither BLS nor Bryant & Stratton College can guarantee employment in this or any other occupational field.
Daycare Assistant Teacher: Educational Requirements
To qualify for a Daycare Assistant Teacher position, you will need a high-school diploma or equivalent, and in most cases, some college coursework in early childhood development. Earning an Early Childhood Care & Development Diploma with Bryant & Stratton College is a great option for getting started in this field. This diploma program can be completed within 3 terms or 1 year and fulfills the 120-hour educational requirement for the National Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential awarded through the Council for Professional Recognition – the most widely recognized credential in the Early Childhood Education field. Students are qualified to apply for this credential upon graduation.
What Can I Do With an Early Childhood Care & Development Diploma?
Earning Bryant & Stratton College’s Early Childhood Care & Development diploma provides you with the educational background you need to pursue becoming a Daycare Assistant Teacher/Teacher Aide. Completing this diploma program can also help prepare you to work with children in a variety of other settings, including child development programs, early intervention programs, preschools and recreation programs.
Additional Training/Requirements
Additional training and requirements to become a Daycare Assistant Teacher may include state certification or licensing, and the process and standards for earning those credentials varies between states. Many states and employers require that Daycare Assistant Teachers receive additional training in child abuse detection and prevention, health and first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and/or fire safety. In some states or employment settings, Daycare Assistant Teachers may be required to hold a food handler’s license or certificate.
Applicants for these positions generally must undergo a criminal background check to qualify for employment. Typically, these background checks screen for any offense or conviction that involves child abuse or neglect, violence, and/or alcohol and drug abuse. In some states, candidates for Daycare Teacher Assistant jobs will be required to undergo a fingerprint check via the FBI database as part of the background check process.
Some employers may require that candidates for Daycare Assistant Teacher positions hold professional certifications, such as the CDA credential, to be eligible for employment. Most employers prefer to hire candidates with some work experience in their field. Students who complete Bryant & Stratton’s Early Childhood Care & Development diploma program may be able to meet that work experience requirement via the program’s early childhood practice experience, which may be completed within a live childcare environment.
For more insights into starting a career as a Daycare Assistant Teacher/Teacher Aide or another position within the early childhood education field, please visit the Career Services section of the Bryant & Stratton College blog. Exploring that blog and our website can provide you with access to a lot of valuable tips and information that can yield further insights into building your best career path in the early childhood education field, as well as a wide variety of other occupational fields that may spark your interest.
Employment Settings
Daycare Assistant Teachers typically work in daycare centers, child care facilities or preschools. These may be independent, stand-alone child care or preschool businesses, child care or preschool programs. They tend to be run by community centers, churches or non-profit organizations. Daycare/preschool services provided by schools or child care centers provided by businesses, corporations or government agencies benefit their employees and are necessary for working families.
While these projections can help career-minded people evaluate potential employment fields, it is important to note that job market data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook is only intended to provide insight on occupational opportunities. It should not be construed as a guarantee of salary or job title. Neither BLS nor Bryant & Stratton College can guarantee employment in any field.
Assistant Teach vs Other Daycare Careers
- Childcare Worker – this role oversees the care of young children in a number of settings, with primary functions covering basic safety, hygiene, nutrition, and supporting childhood development.
- Preschool Teachers Aide – this role serves under the supervision of a preschool teacher, and can be responsible for a wide variety of duties, including teaching, supervising, assisting with basic hygiene, nutrition, and much more.
- Preschool Teachers Except Special Education – this role manages the early education and development of children, and requires a degree such as the AAS in Early Childhood Education at Bryant & Stratton College.
- Daycare Center Administrator – this role oversees the operations of a daycare or other early childhood care environment, and requires a degree such as the AAS in Early Childhood Education at Bryant & Stratton College.
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