How long do you have to go to college to be a ... - Education Talk

dropptoppony on Jul 03, 2011

I somewhat wish I hadn?t read globglob?s response to the question, I certainly would not leave my children all day Monday through Friday with just a babysitter, and I hope she wouldn?t either.

There is actually a lot to be learned to be an effective and quality early childhood educator. I know you can earn at least, if not more than, a master?s degree in child development and/or early childhood education; you may even be able to get a doctorate in the field.

The specific answer to your question depends on your state?s laws. I can tell you, for example, in North Carolina, the minimum legal requirement to be alone in a preschool classroom with children in your care/responsibility is that you are 18 years of age and a high school graduate. To be considered a ?lead teacher? (who would ?run? the classroom and do its planning), you minimally need to have lead teacher credentials, which in my area equates to two courses from our community college.

That is, of course, the minimum, and I would probably not leave my child with someone who does not know much more than what those two classes teach. I would expect my child?s teacher/caretaker to have an understanding of how children develop, current best practices in early childhood education including an understanding of how children learn best, developmentally appropriate activities and environments, and then some.

If I am looking for a babysitter, then CPR training, a caring attitude, and some responsibility is all I would look for. If I am looking to leave my child with someone for 45 hours per week, I want them to know children. I would look for someone who has is or very close to their associate?s in early childhood education or in child development, as that would indicate to me that the person probably has a good idea of how to run a quality classroom.

Hope this helps a little, since I?m not sure exactly which state you?re in, and therefore which laws apply.

Source: http://education-talk.com/how-long-do-you-have-to-go-to-college-to-be-a-preschool-teacher-1710.html

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