A childcare provider job description can vary depending on the requirements of the employer. Childcare providers can work in day care centers or in private homes, and they can operate their own in-home day care centers or work in after school programs in elementary schools.
A childcare provider takes care of children when parents are not available and they must keep children safe from harm while meeting their basic needs such as preparing meals and helping with homework.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities of a Child Care Provider
•Monitors and supervises children keeping them safe and healthy.
•Prepares food and snacks for children and organizes meal time.
•Helps children maintain good hygiene and changes the diapers of infants and toddlers.
•Organizes activities designed to help children learn about their world and develop their own interests.
•Creates schedules to ensure that children have adequate physical activity, rest, food and intellectual stimulation.
•Watches for any signs of behavioral or emotional problems in children and alerts parents to the problems.
•Keeps records of children’s routines throughout the day.
•Introduces babies, toddlers and small children to basic concepts like reading and sharing toys.
•Works with children on language skills and creative activities like art, music and dance.
•Transports children to summer activities like swimming lessons, sports practices and movies.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
•Has the ability to be open-minded about cultural diversity.
•Possesses the ability to keep children engaged and under control.
•Demonstrates excellent communication and organizational skills as well as the ability to manage time and multi-task effectively.
•Displays excellent reading comprehension skills.
•Exhibits strong active listening skills and social perceptiveness abilities.
•Has good balance and coordination abilities.
•Possesses the ability to make sound judgments as well as strong decision making skills.
Education and Experience
•High School diploma.
•Associate’s degree in early childhood development.
•Bachelor’s degree in psychology or education.
•State license which requires passage of a criminal background check and drug test, proof of immunizations and passage of the state’s training program for child care providers.
•Child Development Associate (CDA) certification through the Council for Professional Recognition.
•Child Care Professional (CCP) certification through the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation.
•Certification in cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) through the American Red Cross.
•Spends most of the day moving around the room interacting with and caring for children.
•Has to lift and carry children, move tables and chairs, bend and pick up toys, reach high shelves and sit on the floor to play games throughout the day.
•Experiences a high level of noise at times during the day.
•Spends part of the day outside watching children play when the weather is good.
•Deals with minor injuries or other accidents that may occur with young children.
•Washes hands frequently throughout the day, especially after each diaper change, after helping each child in the bathroom and before serving lunch or snacks.
•A child care provider typically earns an hourly wage of $8 to $12 on the average depending on level of experience, the age of the children and the community in which the child care center is located.