If you want to have a pleasing career working with children. An early child education career could be the perfect choice for you. Moreover, in this blog post, we explore what it is like to work in this field. And give our insights into how rewarding and fun it can be.
Furthermore, we also share information about different paths that early childhood educators can choose from as well as why they may or may not be good fits depending on your personality type.
What is an early child education career?
Early child education careers are rewarding and fun. They encompass many different careers, including:
- Teachers
- Assistant teachers
- Instructors
- Special education teachers
You might also work in an educational setting or childcare center. To learn more about early childhood education careers, keep reading!
What do you need to know?
To become a teacher, assistant teacher, instructor, or special education teacher (in this field). You will need to have a degree in early childhood education and in addition to an internship.
What are the different paths that early educators can take?
There are paths for those who are highly extroverted and an approach for those who are highly introverted.
- The extrovert-friendly early childhood education career paths include Teaching, Instructing (can be done at primary or secondary school), and Special education teaching.
- The introvert-friendly early childhood education career paths include Childcare and Nanning.
What other paths could early childhood educators take if they aren’t interested in teaching or working with children?
There are many paths that early childhood educators could take if they aren’t interested in teaching or working with children. Some of them include:
- Tutoring (works well for introverts who like to work one-on-one)
- Social media marketing
- Child care provider
- Assistant Teacher at a school
- Administrative support
What are the pros and cons of early childhood career paths?
There is a lot to love about working in this field, but there can also be some challenges. The most common complaints include:
- Long hours
- Big workload
- Difficult colleagues/patients
- Unpredictable schedule
- Lack of adequate pay
What are the pros and cons of each path?
Whichever path you choose to follow as a career, you must consider both its advantages and disadvantages. Below we have highlighted a few of each.
Teaching
- Pros – you get to do hands-on learning with children, which is great for those who love being around kids. You also have a lot of flexibility in your daily schedule
- Cons – you might find that there isn’t enough time to work on lesson planning during the weekday and then actually teach, which is why teachers need to have a supportive supervisor.
Instructing
- Pros – If you enjoy children but not necessarily working with them all day long, instructing could be a good option
- Cons – If you don’t like dealing with parents, this might not be the best choice for you as instructors usually have to work closely with them.
Special education teaching
- Pros – This path is great if you want to combine your love of children and academics- children who have special needs can be an excellent challenge
- Cons – You will be responsible for a lot of paperwork and assessments, which can get tedious.
Childcare
- Pros – This is perfect if you want to work in the field and don’t want to deal with children all day long. It’s great because it allows you enough time to take care of yourself
- Cons – Unlike teaching, childcare doesn’t have the same flexibility in hours which can be challenging for parents.
Nanning
- Pros – If you want a more flexible job and enjoy working outdoors (for example, at someone’s summer home), Nanning could be a great option
- Cons – you will most likely not be working with other teachers so that it can get lonely. It would be great if you had a lot of patience and the ability to keep your cool at all times.
What do you need to be successful?
If you are extroverted, you will need to be creative and social. Introverts should have strong organizational skills. So they can keep track of everything that is going on around them.
Pro tip
If you are an introvert, know that being a teacher is not always about interacting with others. Moreover, you may have the opportunity to work one-on-one with students. Or plan lessons for your class that involve working on projects by yourself. If you want to work with children, childcare and Nanning are great options.
Similarly, if you don’t want to work directly with kids but still want flexibility in your schedule. Instructing or tutoring could be a good choice. You can also take on administrative roles such as an administrator or teacher assistant at an early childhood center.
FAQs: Early Childhood Education Career
What should a college student know before deciding on a career in early childhood education?
One of the main things we recommend college students think about is whether they can handle the emotional and physical and demands of working with young children?
What personality traits does one need to be a successful educator?
Many early childhood educators say that patience and the ability to stay calm in stressful situations are key qualities needed for this job.
How much do early childhood educators make?
Corresponding to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for preschool and kindergarten teachers was $30,450 in 2019.
Conclusion
There are many reasons to pursue an early childhood education career. If you have any questions about what it is like to work in this field. Or want more information on how to get started. Please feel free to reach out. We would be happy to answer your inquiries and provide guidance so that you can start down the path towards a rewarding career working with children.
