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Child Care Training Series
Nevada Child Care:
Getting Started in Your New Profession
Self Study Guide
Using This Study Guide
This original self-study guide was designed
to be used by many people over a long
period of time.
To keep these materials in good condition for
others to use, we ask that you PLEASE:
~ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS ORIGINAL
SELF-STUDY GUIDE.
~ MAKE A PHOTOCOPY OF THE
SELF-STUDY GUIDE FOR YOU TO WRITE IN
AND TO KEEP.
~ REPORT ANY MISSING OR DAMAGED
PAGES TO THE RESOURCE LIBRARY.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This child care training module, Nevada Child Care: Getting started in Your
New Profession, was developed by the Healthy Child Care Nevada Project
and the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
Crystal E. Swank, Project Coordinator
Sally S. Martin, Ph.D., Principle Investigator
Thanks to Pat Miller, Jack Kelly, Bonnie Maclean, and Ethan Salter at KNPB Channel 5 for their expertise in producing the videotape
that accompanies this study guide; and to Erin Breen for narrating the videotape.
Special thanks to the National Academies in Washington, D.C. for granting permission to use the publication,
“Who are these people? A Guide for Child Care Professionals.” in the production of this guide.
This material was developed in conjunction with the Community Integrated Services System (CISS) Health Systems Development in Child Care Initiative funded by the HRSA Maternal and Child Health Bureau (#H24 MC
00040-04) and the Nevada Department of Human Resources, Welfare Division.
Published August, 2005 Revised December, 2007
Dear Child Care Provider,
Congratulations! The job you have is an important one – caring for and teaching young children. Working in child care is not “just babysitting”. It’s a profession – Early Care and Education. We hope that the information in this training module will improve your skills and knowledge, and help you feel more confident as a child caregiver.
Working with children every day can be rewarding and also challenging. One way to make your work more rewarding is to study child growth and development, and to learn new techniques for working with young children. Studies show that the quality of child care is better when caregivers have more education and training. For this reason, we encourage you to continue learning about early care and education. Completing this training module is a good step in that learning process! This module focuses on professional development in early childhood education. It includes information that will help you prepare for the challenges of this exciting field, working with children and families. We also encourage you to take advantage of the many programs and services that Nevada offers to support your work as a professional child care provider.
Nevada Child Care: Getting Started in Your New Profession
CONTENTS
About the Training Module ... ii
Receiving Child Care Training Hours ... iv
Caregiver Training Checklist ... v
Section 1 – Introduction to Child Care as a Profession Child Care is Full of Promise & Potential ... 1
You Are Not a Babysitter ... 2
Is the Child Care Profession Right for Me? ... 2
Qualities of Good Early Childhood Professionals ... 4
Professionalism in Early Childhood Education ... 6
NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct ... 7
Careers in ECE ... 8
ECE Career Ladders ... 10
“How Are You Doing?” questions for Section 1 ... 11
Section 2 – The Role of a Professional Child Care Provider Children Are Born Ready to Learn ... 12
Children Are Each One-of-A-Kind ... 14
A Child Needs at Least One Loving Adult... 15
You Have Influence! ... 16
1. Social and Emotional Growth ... 16
2. Language, Communication, and Early Literacy ... 16
3. Cognitive Growth ... 17
4. Parents Are Your Partners ... 18
“How Are You Doing?” questions for Section 2 ... 19
Video Viewing Tips ... 22
While You Watch the Video ... 23
Section 3 – Child Care Licensing and Regulation Nevada’s Child Care Licensing System ... 26
Types of Child Care Licenses ... 27
Becoming a Licensed Child Care Facility ... 28
“How Are You Doing?” questions for Section 3 ... 29
Section 4 – Professional Development and Continuing Education The More You Learn, The More They’ll Learn ... 30
Professional Development Requirements for Child Care Providers ... 31
Professional Development Opportunities in Nevada ... 32
ECE Professional Development Resources ... 34
The Caregiver’s Pledge ... 37
Community Resources for Child Care Providers ... 42
Answers to Activities in Self-Study Guide ... 46
Answers to “How Are You Doing?” Questions ... 48
Glossary ... 50
About the Training Modules
This is one in a series of child care training modules created especially for new child care providers. The purpose of the training modules is to provide child care professionals with current and basic information on a variety of topics related to young children. The modules include information for caregivers working with infants through school-age children. They also have been written for providers working in both family child care homes and child care centers. Each module contains a videotape and a written self-study guide. The self-study guide has been designed to complement and support the videotape with reading and activities.
The training modules are meant to be used by individuals as a self-study guide. However, caregivers may find it helpful to talk about the modules with other caregivers or as a group of staff. If the modules are used in a group setting, each caregiver must complete the self-study guide, the “How Are You Doing?” questions, and the evaluation on her or his own.
Module Features
Look for these features in each module:
• Learning goals in a box at the beginning of each section.
• New terms printed in bold italics at the beginning of each section, in the text, and in the glossary on page 57.
• Activities and questions “For You To Consider.”
• “What Can You Do?” boxes.
• “How Are You Doing?” questions at the end of each section.
• Caregiver Training Checklist to track your work.
• List of community resources, activities to do with children, and other references at the end of each module.
• Answers to “How Are You Doing?” questions at the end of the module.
CARING 4 Kids
Child Care Training Series
Nevada Child Care:
Getting Started in Your New
Profession
Introduction:The focus of this module is to introduce new child care providers to the profession of Early Childhood Education and Nevada’s child care system. In this module caregivers will become familiar with:
Benefits and challenges of the child care profession
Qualities of good child caregivers
Nevada’s child care licensing system
Professional development in early care and education
Receiving Child Care Training Hours
This training module has been approved for 2 hours of child care training by The Nevada Registry. These training hours are accepted by all child care licensing entities throughout the state of Nevada.
You will need to include a $10 check to pay for the cost of processing and mailing your certificate. Make all checks out to Board of Regents. Only checks will be accepted; no cash or credit cards. The $10 fee is required to receive credit for this training module.
You may complete this module one time and receive credit for child care training hours. You also may use the module in the future to review and refresh your knowledge of professional development in Early Care and Education, but may not receive additional training hours unless approved by The Nevada Registry and your local child care licensing agency.
Child caregivers are responsible for keeping track of their own training hours. Directors are also responsible for keeping records of their staff’s training. The Nevada Registry
can assist child care professionals with the tracking of continuing education hours.
To learn more about The Nevada Registry, call (775) 448-5275 or 1-800-259-1906. You can also go to: www.nevadaregistry.org
Please follow the directions below to receive credit for completing this training module.
Directions:
1. You may choose to read this original self-study guide, or make a copy of it to write in and to keep. Please do NOT write in the original self-study guide.
2. Complete the entire module: a) read the self-study guide, b) do the activities, c) watch the videotape, d) answer the “How Are You Doing” questions.
3. If you work in a group home or center-based program, you must also have your director or supervisor sign your Caregiver Training Checklist in order to receive credit.
4. Make copies of the completed Caregiver Training Checklist on page v; the completed activities on pages 2-5, 23-24, 27, 32-33, and 39; the completed “How Are You Doing?” questions on pages 11, 19-21, 29, and 40 to send in to receive your certificate.
5. Use the Caregiver Training Checklist to be sure you’ve completed all the necessary pages. Mail the copies of your completed pages and $10 check, made payable to Board of Regents, to:
Caring 4 Kids
University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
8050 Paradise Rd. , Suite 100 Las Vegas, NV 89123
The Cooperative Extension will verify your training documents and mail you a certificate of completion.
6. Important Note – Be sure to keep your original completed pages for your records.
Turn Me In!
Caregiver Training Checklist
Use this checklist to track your work and document the completed pages of the self-study guide. Remember to have your director or supervisor sign this page if you work in a group home or center. Mail a copy of this page, with the other completed pages of the self-study guide, and a $10 check, made payable to Board of Regents, to The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, 8050 Paradise Rd., Suite 100, Las Vegas, NV 89123, to receive a certificate of completion (see Directions on page iv).
Name of Caregiver:
Home Address:
City: State: Zip:
Home Phone: E-Mail:
Check off each part of the module you have completed: Caregiver Training Checklist (this page, v)
Video Questions (page 23-24) Self-Study Guide Reading and Activities:
Section 1 (pages 1-10) Section 2 (pages 12-18) Section 3 (pages 26-28) Section 4 (pages 30-39) How Are You Doing Questions:
Section 1 (pages 11) Section 2 (page 19-21) Section 3 (page 29) Section 4 (page 40)
I am using this training module: For the first time A second time as a review
Date Module Completed:
Caregiver’s Signature:
Note: For caregivers in group homes and center-based programs, please have your director or supervisor check your work and sign that you have completed this module.
Director/Supervisor’s Signature:
Reminder!
Be sure to submit all of the following
completed pages from the self-study guide to receive credit for training hours: v, 2-5, 11, 19-21, 23-24, 27, 29, 32-33, 39-40. If
completing online print out, complete and submit the above pages.
These pages are also marked with this reminder:
Turn Me In!
CARING 4 Kids
Child Care Training Series
Nevada Child Care: Getting Started in Your New Profession
Number of Approved Training Hours: 2Some of the material in this self-study guide was adapted with permission from (Who Are These People: A Guide for Childcare Professionals) ©(2003) by the
National Academy of Sciences, courtesy of the National Academies Press, Washington, D.C.
Sections of this study-guide that are direct quotes from the National Academies Publication are indicated by italicized text.
Many thanks to the National Academies!
The National Academies 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 (202) 334-3195
www.national-academies.org
Ready to Begin This Module?
There are 4 sections in this training module. The videotape should be watched between sections 2 and 3.
Start by reading sections 1 and 2 of this self-study guide; do the activities and answer the questions at the end of each section.
Watch the videotape at the end of section 2 and before doing sections 3 and 4 of the self-study guide.
After you watch the videotape, go on to sections 3 and 4 of the self-study guide and proceed to the end. Read each section, do the activities, and answer the questions.
~ Section 1 ~
Introduction to Child Care as a Profession
Terms
Look for these new terms in Section 1:
Professional child care providers Career Ladders
Core Knowledge Areas ECE
NAEYC
Also see glossary on page 57.
Child Care is Full of Promise & Potential Child care in the United States is changing – because society in general is changing. Today, more children than ever are spending a significant portion of their first five years of life in an out-of-home setting. That means that next to the family environment, child care is where infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are experiencing their most critical development.
Studies show that children who have positive, productive experiences in child care are better prepared socially and academically at school entry, which means they have a better chance for educational success. The key, however, is the level of quality that a child care setting offers.
High quality is no longer a plus – it’s a must. Child care must be all encompassing. It must address education, including school readiness. It must provide a safe and protective environment for children – one that fosters healthy emotional development and secure relationships with adults and other children. Above all, it must be a place where learning occurs amid loving care.
In this section you will learn:
9 Professional child care is not the same as babysitting
9 How to tell if child care is right for you
9 There are benefits and challenges of professional child care
9 Qualities of good child care providers
9 ECE has a Code of Ethics
9 There are many career options in ECE
You Are Not a Babysitter
As a child care professional, you play an important role in a child’s early learning and development. It takes more than just diapering, feeding, and dressing children to ensure that they get the best possible start in life. It takes more than a roomful of expensive toys. Like good parenting, quality out-of-home care involves an eagerness to care about and interact with young children. As a child care provider, what you do – or don’t do – and the relationships that you build with children will have important consequences for their development.
Is the Child Care Profession Right For Me?
Why do people like you become
professional child care providers? Professional child care offers many rewards. One of the best rewards is the love and affection that develops between caregivers and children. Children learn to trust and depend on their caregivers. And when you’re having a difficult day, a hug from a child feels great.
Caring for children provides an important service for working families. You can feel good knowing you provide safe, healthy and nurturing care for children while their parents are at work or school. Parents feel better knowing their children are in good hands.
As a professional child care provider you will:
Have the pleasure of watching children grow and develop
Gain satisfaction when you help a child learn a new skill
Get smiles and hugs from children
Have the trust and appreciation of parents
Turn Me In!
For You to Consider:
Why did you become a professional child care provider?
What are some of the benefits of working in the child care profession for you? List some here:
1.
2.
Of course, professional child care has some challenges as well. These are not always easy to deal with. As a child care provider you may:
Work long hours and feel some stress
Have to resolve conflicts between children
Have to deal with children’s difficult behaviors
Work with families that have expectations that may be difficult to meet.
Another challenge in the child care profession is trying to balance how much parents can afford to pay for care with the wages that child care providers earn. Educators, researchers, and policy makers continue to work together to find creative solutions to this problem. In the meantime, most child care providers are in the field because they are passionate about the care and education of young children. Fortunately, in Nevada, there is a good deal of support for the child care profession.
Turn Me In!
For You to Consider:
What are/will be some of the
challenges of working in the child care profession for you? List them in the space below.
What might you do to deal with the challenges you listed?
Qualities of Good
Early Childhood Professionals
What makes a good child care provider? When you think about teaching and taking care of children, what do you think are some qualities a caregiver should have? For example, do you think it would help if a person were especially patient with children?
Make a list of the things you think of here:
Now think about yourself. Do you think you have some of these same qualities? The next page has a short questionnaire to help you think about your own qualities as a child care provider. Turn the page and complete the questionnaire now.
Qualities of Good Child Care Providers Questionnaire
Read each question and put a check mark 9 in the column that best matches your answer.
Almost
Always Usually Sometimes
Not Very Often Do you respect and enjoy being with children?
Are you a warm, caring person? Are you a flexible and patient person? Can you have fun with children?
Are you willing to be with children most of the day? Do you have a good sense of humor?
Are you healthy and energetic?
Are you able to handle several things at once? Are you good at solving problems?
* Do you understand how children grow and develop?
* Are you comfortable working with parents?
* Are you good at communicating with both children and adults?
* Can you discipline children kindly and gently? * Are you willing to find out about what Nevada’s child care rules and regulations are?
* Are you willing to learn more about children and the job of a professional child care provider?
(training, education, professional networking)
ADD THE CHECK MARKS FOR EACH COLUMN PUT THE TOTAL NUMBER HERE
Some of the items in the checklist are personal qualities of good caregivers, like a sense of humor. Other items are topics related to working with children and families that you can learn more about (marked with an * and in italics), such as child development.
Now look at the list of items again and how you marked each one for yourself. If you checked many of the items as “not very often,” this might be a concern. Early childhood education is not the right work for everyone. In this case, you might want to talk with your supervisor or center director, or someone at the Nevada Registry or the Office of Early Care and Education to help you think carefully about whether this is the right profession for you.
If you checked a few items as “sometimes” or “not very often,” these may be qualities that you want to develop a little more. Child care providers in Nevada must complete continuing education hours each year. You might look for workshops or classes that would help you learn more about or improve these areas. For example, you might attend a workshop on working with parents or a class on child guidance.
There are also workshops or classes that would help you develop some of the personal qualities at the top of the list. For example, you might find a session on how to stay healthy while working in child care or a class on organizational skills.
As you think about the training you will do each year to meet the required hours of continuing education, you could create a plan for your own professional development. You could choose college classes, workshops, conferences, or modules like this one that best fit your own need for growth and new knowledge.
Professionalism in Early Childhood Education
What makes early childhood education a “profession” and not just a job? There are several characteristics of a profession. Generally, people working in a profession:
• Have a shared body of knowledge based on current research and best practice.
• Have specialized skills needed to practice in the profession.
• Have agreed upon performance standards.
• Follow an ethical code in working relationships with clients, co-workers, and the public.
Early childhood education is a growing profession which meets all of these criteria. The following page is a summary of the Code of Ethical Conduct for our early care and education professionals. It is a good idea to become familiar with the code and how it can be used to help resolve ethical dilemmas in early childhood education (ECE).
NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct
What is a code of ethics?
A code of ethics is a set of standards which guide the behavior of members of a profession. The Code of Ethical Conduct, by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), is the set of guidelines used in the ECE profession.
How is the code used in early childhood education?
“NAEYC recognizes that those who work with young children face many daily decisions that have moral and ethical implications. The NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct offers guidelines for responsible behavior and sets forth a common basis for resolving the principal ethical dilemmas encountered in early childhood care and education. The primary focus of the Code is on daily practice with children and their families in programs for children from birth through 8 years of age. ”
How was the code developed?
The code of ethics is based on core values that are rooted in the history of the field of early childhood care and education. The code was written by professionals in ECE, with input from practitioners in the field.
How is the information in the code organized?
“The Code sets forth a framework of professional responsibilities in four sections. Each section addresses an area of professional relationships: (1) with children, (2) with families, (3) among colleagues, and (4) with the community and society. Each section includes an introduction to the primary responsibilities of the early childhood practitioner in that context. The introduction is followed by a set of ideals (I) that reflect exemplary professional practice and a set of principles (P) describing practices that are required, prohibited, or permitted.”
Often, "the right answer"-the best ethical course of action to take-is not obvious. There may be no readily apparent, positive way to handle a situation. When one important value contradicts another, we face an ethical dilemma. When we face a dilemma, it is our professional responsibility to consult the Code and all relevant parties to find the most ethical resolution.
To learn more about the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct, go to the NAEYC Web site at www.naeyc.org/about/positions/PSETH05.asp
Careers in ECE
You may currently work with children in a family child care home or a preschool, as a caregiver, teacher, or an assistant. Or you may be considering starting a career in Early Childhood Education. So what kinds of jobs do ECE professionals do? Below are some examples of the kinds of careers that are possible in Early Childhood Education.
For each type of job discussed below, you will see that you might need different levels of education and experience.
Classroom Teachers/Caregivers:
These jobs are for people who want to work directly with children in a group setting. The setting could be in a family home, child care center, preschool or school-age child care program. There are several different job titles including entry level positions like Classroom Aid or Caregiver, and positions that require more education and experience like Assistant Teacher and Head/Lead Teacher.
Educational requirements for teaching positions can vary from the minimum number of clock hours required by licensing and regulation (for an Aid or Caregiver), to college courses and/or a degree (for Head Teachers). Head Teachers often have more responsibility for planning curriculum, classroom management, assessing children’s development, and supervising other staff members. People in head teaching positions are usually required to have more experience and earn higher wages than Classroom Aids or Assistants.
Program Administration:
These jobs are for people who enjoy managing programs. Job titles for this group include Assistant Director, Program Director, Director, Administrator, and owner of a child care center or preschool. Some people both own and direct their own programs. Directors often don’t work in the classroom with children on a regular basis, but may step in to substitute teach.
Generally these positions require a higher level of education, and more experience than a classroom teacher. People that manage early childhood programs often have training in both ECE and business or management. They need to have a good working knowledge of child development and what quality child care is like. And, they need to have good people skills and be able to run the financial and business side of a program. Salaries for management jobs are usually higher than classroom teachers’ salaries, but may vary depending on whether the person is also the owner of a center.
Nanny:
A Nanny works directly for a family and usually cares for children in their own home. Parents hire nannies so that their children have quality care at home instead of in a child care facility. The amount of education and experience needed for Nanny positions varies, and parents usually specify what type of skills they are looking for. Wages vary and depend on the education and experience of the individual.
Elementary School Teachers:
Early Childhood professionals can also work in the public school system as teachers in Kindergarten through second or third grade. Since ECE officially includes children from birth to age 8, teachers in the primary grades are part of the ECE profession.
Elementary school teachers are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree and a teaching credential from the state they teach in. Some have specialty degrees like Special Education and some even have graduate degrees. Elementary school teachers typically earn higher salaries than teachers in private preschool programs.
ECE Specialists:
There are many other types of jobs in ECE that involve specialization. Some examples include careers in Child Care Licensing and Regulation, Child Care Resource and Referral, Early Childhood Consultation or Training, and working as a Developmental Specialist or Interventionist. People in these positions usually work with adults including child care providers and parents or families. Some do training and provide technical assistance; others may assess children and provide support services. Often people in these positions have also worked in early childhood classrooms to gain experience in the field.
Most of these positions require college degrees at the bachelor’s or master’s level as well as various amounts of experience. Many of these positions are with state and county agencies or in non-profit organizations. Salaries for these specialists are often very good as well.
Higher Education:
Finally, some early childhood professionals choose to become college professors or researchers. They work with adult students to teach, do academic advisement, and conduct research. These positions almost always require graduate degrees and are at community colleges and universities. Salaries for these positions are also at the top end for the field.
As you can see, there are many opportunities for a career in ECE! Many people begin by working with children in the classroom and then progress to director or administrator. Others go to college for a degree and then go directly to work as a specialist. No matter what your career goal is or what type of work you enjoy doing, there is a job for you in ECE.
ECE Career Ladders
Not everyone has recognized the skills needed to provide quality early childhood education or recognized that ECE is emerging as a profession. To support professional development and identify the types of knowledge and skills needed for various jobs in Early Care and Education, many states have developed ECE career ladders.
A career ladder is based on national research about the importance of specialized training in ECE, and the link between formal education and quality environments for children. Early childhood education is considered a distinct and separate body of knowledge and area of specialization.
Nevada has a Career Ladder that is specific to the field of Early Care and Education and consists of several levels. Each level represents a combination of early childhood education and experience working with children. The entry levels of the ladder require less education and experience. More college coursework and experience are required as a person advances up the career ladder. Just as some individuals may only get a high school education or complete one year of college, some child care professionals may stay at the lower levels of the career ladder throughout their careers. Others may strive to move up the professional career ladder.
The benefits of the career ladder include:
• It provides a formal way to recognize the professional development of all ECE practitioners.
• It helps to further professionalize the field of Early Care and Education.
• It provides a system to track the education and training of the child care workforce.
• It provides a structure that can eventually be linked to increased wages.
• It incorporates Core Knowledge Areas
that help child care professionals make purposeful and balanced decisions about education and training.
• It can be used as a “road map” for achieving professional goals. By providing a clear picture of where you are now on your career path, you’ll know exactly what is needed to advance to the next level.
What are Core Knowledge Areas?
Core Knowledge Areas (CKA) are the basic topics that all early childhood professionals should be trained in. These topics are considered essential in order to provide quality early care and education for children. They also form the knowledge base that practitioners can use to decide where they are already competent and areas for further professional growth.
You can learn more about Nevada’s ECE Career Ladder on The Nevada Registry Web site at
www.nevadaregistry.org
or call The Nevada Registry. Director
Head Teacher
Asst. Teacher
How are you doing?
Now that you’ve finished Section 1, please take a few minutes to answer these questions about what you just learned. You can check your answers on page 55.
True/False: For each statement below, circle a T if the statement is true or an F if the statement is false.
1. T F Child care has no effect on children’s overall development and later success in school.
2. T F Good child care only means providing basic care such as feeding, diapering, and dressing children.
3. T F A code of ethics is a set of rules that all licensed child care providers must follow.
4. T F Work in Early Childhood Education is limited to being a child care provider.
5. T F A career ladder shows caregivers where they stand in terms of professional development in ECE.
6. What are two possible rewards of being a child care provider?
7. What are two possible challenges of being a child care provider?
8. What are three qualities of a good child care provider?
~ Section 2 ~
The Role of a Professional Child Care Provider
Terms
Look for these new terms in Section 2:
Interdependent Heredity Environmental influences Predetermined potential Vulnerabilities Socioeconomic Temperament Learning style Compensate
Also see glossary on page 57.
Child care providers have many responsibilities, but one of the most important ones is to provide the best environment and experiences possible to help children learn, grow, and develop to their full potential. This takes knowledge about child development and the early care and education profession.
Knowledgeable caregivers can make a big difference in the lives of the children in their care. Here are some important ideas about children, and what you can do to be a better caregiver.
Children Are Born Ready to Learn
From birth, children are able to develop their own understanding of the world from their experiences. This knowledge helps them form expectations of how things and people behave. The more positive this foundation of experience, the better children will be able to deal with new experiences, both good and bad, throughout life.
Learning is based on a child’s cognitive, social, emotional, language, and physical development, which are interdependent. For example, learning to count can be influenced by a child’s emotional development; difficulty in getting along during playtime could be caused by delayed language skills.
In this section you will learn:
9 A professional child care provider knows about child growth and development
9 How children learn
9 Children are unique individuals
9 Children need loving adults and stable environments
9 Caregivers have a positive effect on children’s development
9 Caregivers are partners with parents in caring for young children
Heredity and environmental influences
also work together during development. Heredity and the environment can be either positive factors or sources of risk – especially for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who have disabilities or who are exposed to poverty, violence, or environmental harms. For example, a child who is born with a disability like blindness may be in an environment that is either helpful or not helpful. A helpful environment is one that provides knowledgeable and supportive caregivers, and services to assist the child in developing to his or her full potential.
What Can You Do?
³ Learn about development to become familiar with what children of a particular age should be able to do and help them gain age-appropriate skills.
³ Be responsive to these stages. As children grow, offer them different, more challenging opportunities to learn.
³ Be sensitive to how a child’s nature can affect your own response. Don’t withdraw from an aggressive or hard-to-reach child.
³ Get to know children personally so you can spot signs of stress that could potentially signal problems (in lots of homes, stress starts at an early age).
³ Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that a child is born with a predetermined
potential that limits what she can do –
you can affect the child’s potential positively.
Children Are Each One-Of-A-Kind
Young children enter child care with unique backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. Levels of skill and development vary even among children of the same age. All of these differences can affect how a child adjusts and responds to a new learning environment. Children develop best when involved in activities that are at an appropriate level of difficulty. By being aware of individual strengths and vulnerabilities and being sensitive to cultural, language, and
socioeconomic backgrounds, caregivers
can become skilled at identifying needs and creating effective learning experiences that build on a child’s existing skills.
What Can You Do?
³ When interacting with children, refer to familiar people, places, and things.
³ Be sensitive to individual
characteristics like temperament,
learning style, and physical ability.
³ Create activities that are interesting and challenging but achievable.
³ Keep an eye out for potential
developmental problems, but remember that children develop differently.
³ Include children of all skill levels and abilities in activities.
³ Learn about children’s cultural
backgrounds, and let your teaching and caregiving activities reflect your knowledge.
³ Try to adjust your teaching technique or strategy to fit individual needs.
³ Never judge a child’s potential by his or her current skills.
A Child Needs At Least One Loving Adult
Strong nurturing relationships created in trusting and safe environments allow children to develop the emotional, social, and intellectual skills that form the foundation for later learning.
A child care provider should be a source of emotional stability and security that complements a parent’s efforts and provides a child with the opportunity to spend more time learning.
Quality child care can also help compensate when negative factors such as family problems, poverty, and violence make life difficult for children and affect their ability to bond with adults, make friends, feel empathy, learn language, and develop other important skills. Providers can keep children on the road to healthy development by helping them learn how to love, communicate, solve problems, and look forward to the future.
What Can You Do?
³ Keep communication open with
parents and caregivers.
³ Make the professional commitment to build quality relationships for all children under your care.
³ Keep in mind that at some point you might be the only consistent source of stability and support in a child’s life.
³ Respect a child’s emotional bond with you even when you feel stressed.
³ Watch for negative home or community factors affecting a child.
³ Be positive. Treat a child as if you were that child looking for love and guidance.
³ Alert parents if you observe that their child may be feeling stress or pressure.
You Have Influence!
Your nurture and support can go far in the following areas of development:
1. Social and Emotional Growth
Socio-emotional growth involves getting along with adults and other children. The secure relationships that children form help improve their social and intellectual skills. Emotional well-being and strong social skills help preschoolers develop self-esteem, feel competent, and see the world as a positive place.
2. Language, Communication, and Early Literacy
There is a close relationship between language and reading. Giving children lots of opportunities to talk and listen, look at books, and use crayons or markers to create their own scribbles and pictures is great preparation for reading.
What Can You Do?
³ Be emotionally available. Your
presence is very important for social development in the child care setting.
³ Offer children many varied
opportunities to interact with each other and with you.
³ Respond and interact often, whether you are playing peek-a-boo with an infant or helping a four-year-old settle an argument with a playmate.
³ Encourage and support experiences that help children progress from being helpless to being able to do something on their own.
What Can You Do?
³ Provide lots of verbal stimulation. Read books, sing songs, tell stories, recite nursery rhymes, and routinely talk with children to help them advance in their cognitive and language development.
³ Expose children to different
conversational situations, in either group or individual settings, depending on age. Babies need more one-on-one attention; toddlers can benefit from both types of experiences.
³ Encourage preschoolers to develop their language skills by asking them open-ended questions, such as how and why.
³ Listen and respond to all children’s efforts to communicate. It can be as simple as picking up a crying baby or answering a toddler’s question.
³ Be patient with children who speak a different language or English dialect or who have special needs.
³ Monitor progress to catch language problems early on, but remember that children learn in different ways and at different speeds.
3. Cognitive Growth
Young children are extremely capable learners. They build on what they already know, but they need adult help to advance. Caregivers have enormous influence and the opportunity to provide support to children by motivating and guiding their learning.
What Can You Do?
³ Create a safe, healthy, emotionally supportive environment that offers stimulating experiences.
³ Provide children with toys, blocks, crayons, and other educational tools, but remember that your interaction helps them learn.
³ Make children feel welcome to explore and ask questions.
³ Help children find answers or suggest ways to figure out answers to their questions.
³ When children attempt a task, guide them by letting them do what they can. Help out with the more difficult tasks.
³ Praise children when they succeed. Encourage them when they need help, so they won’t give up on themselves.
³ Never intentionally embarrass children or hurt their feelings.
Parents Are Your Partners
Parents are a young child’s first teachers. It is extremely important to keep the lines of communication open with them. Sharing information on a child’s progress allows parents to reinforce what their child has learned and helps teachers gain more insight into the child’s unique background.
Discussions should focus on a variety of child care topics, including health, safety, and emotional well-being. A provider with good communication skills can build trust and confidence in parents, especially those who are still getting used to the idea of leaving their child with others.
Perhaps most important, a strong partnership between caregivers and parents will show children that the adults in their lives care about each other and them.
Turn Me In!
What Can You Do?
³ Talk with parents at drop-off and pick-up times. Don’t wait for the parent to make the first move.
³ Send notes, progress reports, and newsletters, or find other ways to let parents know what their children are learning.
³ Talk to parents about all aspects of a child’s life, including the importance of routine pediatric care. Report signs of any potential developmental problems.
³ Schedule regular meetings with
parents (e.g. to review their child’s progress).
³ Understand cultural and
socioeconomic differences and adjust for them.
³ Make parents feel welcome to visit their child anytime.
³ Remind parents that they are the
How are you doing?
Now that you’ve finished Section 2, please take a few minutes to answer these questions about what you just learned. You can check your answers on page 55.
True/False: For each statement below, circle a T if the statement is true or an F if the statement is false.
9. T F A positive early foundation helps children learn how to deal with new experiences as they go through life.
10. T F One area of a child’s development can influence another area of development.
11. T F Children’s development is based on heredity only.
12. T F Children of the same age all develop at the same pace.
13. T F Children need to participate in activities that are designed for their age and level of development.
14. T F Child care providers should provide safe and nurturing relationships to help children’s social and emotional development.
15. T F Child care providers cannot compensate for negative family factors such as poverty or violence.
16. T F Emotional well-being and strong social skills help preschoolers develop self-esteem, feel competent, and see the world as a positive place.
17. T F Early language and communication is important for reading readiness.
18. T F Young children have a great ability to learn new things.
19. T F When talking with parents, the focus of discussion should be on children’s academic progress only.
Multiple Choice: For the question below, circle the letter for the correct answer.
20. Communication with parents a. Is not that important.
b. Should come from caregivers to parents. c. Should come from parents to caregivers.
d. Is important to show children that all the adults in their lives care about them.
21. Name two things you can do to help children develop in healthy, positive ways.
22. Name two things you can do to provide for the individual needs of children in your program.
23. Name two things you can do to help children develop positive relationships with the other children in your care.
24. Name two things you can do to help children develop in each of these areas. a. Social and Emotional Growth:
b.
b. Language, Communication, and Early Literacy:
c. Cognitive Growth:
25. Name two things you can do to have good communication with parents.
Video Viewing Tips
• Get to know your VCR! Learn how to use its features, especially the pause button, which allows you to reflect, write a note, or even look more closely at a still picture. And clean the VCR heads periodically.
• Glance through the self-study guide before watching the videotape. This will help you focus as you watch the video. Be sure you know what the expected learning goals are. Learn any new terms which might be used in the video.
• Feel free to view the video in segments, stopping at points to review, make notes, or just to think about what you’ve seen. You may choose to watch the entire video without stopping, or you may prefer to pause the video to think and write.
• Choose a good time and place for viewing. Using video as a learning tool is not the same as “kicking back to watch TV.” Be comfortable, but not reclining on the couch. Have enough light in the room to take notes, check on the reading material, and stay alert. Try to avoid interruptions like family activities or phone calls.
• Connect what you see in the video to your own experience. Write down observations and questions as you think of them. Imagine yourself in the video situation and learn from the “observer” vantage point.
• Watch the video more than once for maximum learning. Feel free to rewind to review a segment or to fast forward through some of the material on a second viewing.
The video program for this module is titled, Nevada Child Care: Getting Started in Your New Profession. Before you watch the videotape, take a few minutes to read the video viewing tips below and the video questions on the following page. This will help you get the most out of the videotape as a learning tool.
If you are completing this Self Study Guide online go to the following link to view the video:
https://youtu.be/8lamGmcz_K0
Your television screen can be a window to worlds that you may never have the chance to visit. A video can spotlight a foreign culture, take you back to an earlier time in history, look inside the human body, let you walk through the pages of someone else’s life. Most people learn best by watching, so watching a video is a natural way to learn. With the help of your VCR and remote control, you can create your own video learning experience. Here are some tips for making the most of this video for learning.
PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEOTAPE NOW
While you watch the video….
The video is about 13 minutes long. It begins with an introduction by Dr. Kenny Guinn, Governor of Nevada from 2000-2006, and then presents information on three topics. Each of these topics goes with a section of the self-study guide. You can use the timer on your VCR to locate each section of the videotape. The locations are listed in the chart below.
Video Topic
Location on Videotape
Matching Section of Self-Study Guide
Early Care and Education
as a Profession minutes 00:49-02:20
Section 2
Child Care as a Profession
Child Care Licensing and Regulation minutes 02:21-09:41
Section 3
Child Care Licensing in Nevada
Professional Development in ECE minutes 09:42-11:51
Section 4
Professional Development in ECE
As you watch the video, feel free to stop and start it at any time. For example, you may prefer to watch the entire video all at once. Or, you may want to stop the video after each section to review, make notes, or refer to the matching section of the self-study guide.
Before you begin, read the questions below. As you watch the videotape, listen and watch for the information in the questions. Use this page to record the information and any other notes you make. Also, remember it’s OK to watch the video more than once if you like.
1. What are the rewards and challenges of working in child care?
2. What is the main reason that child care programs are licensed and regulated?
3. What kinds of things do child care licensing inspectors look for when they visit a home or center?
4. Why is professional development important for child care providers?
5. As you watched the scenes of caregivers with children, what did you notice about them? How did they look? How did they behave? What was your overall impression of the relationship between the caregivers and the children?
Finished with the video? Great!
Now continue with this self-study guide.
Please read each section, do the
activities, and answer the
~ Section 3 ~
Child Care Licensing and Regulation
Terms
Look for these new terms in Section 3:
Minimum standards
Also see glossary on page 57.
Child care regulations are different in every state, but all are designed to protect the health, safety, and well-being of children in child care. In general, regulations are designed as minimum standards for child care. This means that all licensed child care programs must, at the very least, meet the requirements in the regulations.
Regulations for child care include a variety of topics. Some of these include:
• Who must be licensed to provide child care
• The number and ages of children allowed in care
• The number of staff required to care for children
• Health and safety practices
• Qualifications of caregivers and administrators
• Staff training requirements
• Discipline practices in child care
• Record keeping
• Reporting child abuse and neglect
Nevada’s Child Care Licensing System
The Bureau of Services for Child Care is the state agency responsible for setting and enforcing the minimum standards for child care licensing in Nevada. Child care programs can be licensed by the state or one of several other city or county agencies. This is determined by what part of the state a program is in. Other licensing agencies in Nevada include:
¦ Washoe County Dept. of Social Services
¦ Clark County/Business Licensing - Child Care Unit
¦ City of Las Vegas, Dept. of Finance & Business Services
City and County agencies must meet the state minimum requirements, but may set additional regulations if they wish. Sometimes the local regulations are stricter than the state standards.
In this section you will learn:
9 The purpose of child care licensing and regulation
9 How Nevada’s child care licensing system works
9 Who must be licensed to care for children in Nevada
9 The importance of working in
partnership with the appropriate child care licensing agency
All early childhood professionals should be familiar with the regulations that govern child care programs. Nevada’s state regulations are part of the Nevada Administrative Code (NAC 432A). It’s a good idea to have a copy of the regulations on hand, and to read them and refer to them often. Copies of the regulations are available from any of Nevada’s state or local licensing agencies and are available on the Internet at:
www.leg.state.nv.us/NAC/NAC-432A.html
The laws that govern child care licensing are in the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS 432A). Copies of the NRS are available through the Bureau of Services for Child Care and on the Internet at
www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs%2D432a.html
Turn Me In!
Who must be licensed to provide child care in Nevada?
The answer depends on what part of the state you live in and who your licensing agency is. For example, the state regulation says that you may care for up to four children in a home setting without a license. If you care for five or six children (the maximum allowed in a family home) then you must be licensed.
However, if you live in Washoe County, you must have a license to care for more than one child. And in Clark County or the City of Las Vegas you must be licensed if you care for even one child.
Types of Child Care Licenses
There are three basic types of child care licenses in Nevada. The first is for a family child care home. A family child care home can care for up to six children in a private home with one caregiver. The second type is a group home. Group homes may care for 7 to 12 children with two caregivers, also in a home setting. The third type is a Child Care Center, Preschool or Infant/Toddler Nursery. These facilities vary in size and in the number of children they care for.
Licensing Activity
Find out what agency is responsible for child care licensing where you work. Record the agency’s name, phone number, and the name of your licensing agent (if you have been assigned one) in the space provided below.
NAC 432A.100defined. “Family home” means any “Family home” facility in which the licensee regularly provides care without the presence of parents, for at least five and not more than six children.”
Becoming a Licensed Child Care Facility
You may be wondering what the process of becoming licensed to provide child care is like. The basic steps are similar across the state, but may differ a little among licensing agencies. The process begins with an application to the appropriate child care licensing agency. There is a fee to apply for a child care license. The fee varies with each agency and is often based on the size of the program. Applying for a license includes completing forms, providing copies of various documents for the facility or home and the caregivers, and working closely with a child care licensing inspector.
Licensing agencies are interested in several aspects of child care programs. First, inspectors want to be certain the facility is safe and meets all the standards for health, fire, and building codes.
Second, licensing agencies want to know about the child care staff. They require fingerprints and background checks for all staff members. They also make sure that caregivers meet all the requirements for health, education, training, and experience.
Finally, licensing agencies are interested in the actual program for children. This includes things like the daily schedule, toys and equipment, curriculum or activity plans, meals and snacks, group size, teacher-to-child ratios, and policies and procedures.
All three areas - facility, staff, and program - must meet the licensing standards before a license can be approved. In some parts of the state, applicants must also get the approval of the local Child Care Board or City Council. Check with your local licensing agency for specific requirements in your area.
No matter which child care licensing agency you work with, you should think of the agency as your partner in providing good child care. It’s true that licensing inspectors are responsible for assuring that regulations are followed, but they are also a valuable source of support for child care providers.
Licensing agents have many jobs including licensing new programs, inspecting centers and homes, responding to complaints, and enforcing regulations. But they do so much more! They may also provide training and technical assistance to caregivers and programs, answer questions about child care and the licensing process, help solve problems, and provide information and referrals to parents and the community.
Providers can call upon their licensing agent for help with child care concerns or questions, to request information and training, or for a site visit. Child care licensing agents should also be called for questions about the regulations or to report a possible violation.
If you are not already a licensed child care provider and would like to become licensed, please contact the licensing agency nearest you. A list of licensing agencies and their contact information is located in the Appendix on page 49.
Remember, child care isn’t just “babysitting”, it’s a profession. As a professional child care provider, you make an important contribution to the future of the children in your care. And, you provide a vital service to working families.
How are you doing?
Now that you’ve finished Section 3, please take a few minutes to answer these questions about what you just learned. You can check your answers on page 56.
True/False: For each statement below, circle a T if the statement is true or an F if the statement is false.
26. T F All child care programs in Nevada are regulated by the same agency, the state Bureau of Services for Child Care.
27. T F Only owners and directors of child care programs need to be familiar with the child care regulations.
28. T F The only time you need to contact your licensing inspector is when you renew your license.
Multiple Choice: For each question below, circle the letter for the correct answer.
29. Child care regulations are a. Different in every state.
b. Focused on protecting the health, safety, and well-being of children in care. c. Designed to be the minimum standards for child care programs.
d. All of the above are true.
30. To become licensed to provide child care in Nevada, a facility must a. Complete an application only.
b. Pay a fee only.
c. Complete an application, pay a fee, and provide documents for inspectors. d. Complete an application and pay a fee.
31. Licensing agencies
a. Are mostly concerned about the facility.
b. Are concerned about the facility, the staff, and the program. c. Are concerned about the facility and program only.
d. Are concerned about the staff and program only.
32. Name two reasons you might want to contact your licensing inspector.
~ Section 4 ~
Professional Development and Continuing Education
Terms
Look for these new terms in Section 4:
Professional development T.E.A.C.H.
Also see glossary on page 57.
Education and training for caregivers is one of the most important elements of quality child care. This is also often called
professional development. Studies show that when caregivers have more training in early childhood education, children develop better social skills, have fewer behavior problems, and perform better in school when they get older. In other words, when caregivers are well-educated, the quality of child care goes up!
The More You Learn, The More They’ll Learn
Whether you are a child care aide, manager, preschool educator, or nanny, professional development is the best way to improve your effectiveness with children, increase your job satisfaction and salary, and ensure your career growth.
As the child care sector becomes more standardized and as pre-kindergarten programs such as Head Start become more focused on academic preparation, knowledge of early childhood development is more important than ever.
Although your field is challenging, keep in mind the importance of the work that you do. Learn and grow.
In this section you will learn:
9 Why professional development is important in ECE
9 Professional development
requirements for child care providers in Nevada
9 Resources for professional development
Professional Development Requirements for Child Care Providers
The state of Nevada requires licensed child care providers to complete a specific number of clock hours of professional development each year. In 2005, the number of required hours of in-service education was 15. This may change in future years. Some of this training must be in specific areas such as child development, CPR and first aid, signs and symptoms of illness, and the recognition and reporting of child abuse and neglect. Other hours may be completed as the caregiver so chooses, so long as they are approved for child care training hours as described below.
Child care training must be approved in order for caregivers to receive credit for professional development hours. Note: The videotape indicated that The Bureau of Services for Child Care or a local licensing agency was responsible for approving training hours. This has changed. As of October 1, 2004, The Nevada Registry in the State Office of Early Care and Education is responsible for approving all child care training.
For questions or more information about available training contact:
www.nevadaregistry.org (775) 448-5275
What Can You Do?
³ Check out colleges and learning centers; investigate opportunities for financial aid.
³ Check the Nevada Registry Web site to see what training opportunities are available.
³ Apply for educational or training scholarships, wage supplements, or retention grants.
³ Learn about federal and state initiatives that help cover education costs.
³ Explore Internet discussion groups and on-line instruction.
³ Visit the library for materials on early childhood development and teaching instruction.
³ Attend local conferences and seminars.
³ Form a support group with your co-workers.
³ Seek support from your supervisor.
³ Seek outside mentors who can help you with professional and personal issues.
³ Join a professional association to use the resources they provide and to connect with others in the field.
Professional Development Opportunities in Nevada
Professional development is available in many ways:
• Workshops and seminars that last from a few hours to several days
• College classes through one of Nevada’s community colleges or universities
• Other distance education and on-line learning opportunities, like this self-study module
Another option is the Child Development Associate Credential or “CDA”. The CDA is awarded to individuals who demonstrate their competency in child care by going through an assessment process. The process includes completing 120 clock hours of training and 480 hours of experience working with preschool age children in a group setting. More information on the CDA is available from the Council for Professional Recognition
in Washington, D.C. You can find out about the council on the Internet at
http://www.cdacouncil.org
Caregivers also may earn some of their professional development hours using distance education. This can include classes online using a computer and the Internet, classes by compressed video linking several learning sites, or self-study materials such as this series, CARING 4 Kids.
Turn Me In!
For You to Consider Professional Development Goal
Professional child care providers are constantly learning and updating their skills. There are many ways to further your own education and training in early childhood education. One way you can decide how to plan your annual professional development hours is to set a goal for yourself. Goals should match what you want to accomplish in a realistic amount of time. Sometimes it helps to start with small steps toward a large goal. For example, if your ultimate goal is to have an AA degree in ECE, then you may want to start by contacting a community college and finding out how to enroll. Or, you may take one introductory course to get yourself started.
For this activity, think about your own professional development. In the space below, write one personal goal that you can work on during the next 12 months.
Next, think about what help or resources you might need to accomplish your goal. In the space below, write one or two things you think would help you work on this goal in the next 12 months.
Finally, what would be the first step you could take toward reaching your goal? In the space below, write down one thing you could do to either get started, or continue working toward your goal?
No matter what part of Nevada you live in, there are a variety of professional development options to choose from. In recent years, Nevada has focused a lot of energy and resources on providing high-quality training and support to its child care workforce. A goal is to make sure that caregivers in all parts of the state have access to quality training that is available at all levels of experience (beginner to advanced). There may also be state or community sponsored scholarships, financial aid, or other support for child care training.
The chart on the following pages lists some of the many agencies and organizations available to assist child care providers in meeting their professional development requirements. Look through the list beginning on page 34 and then complete the following activity.
Turn Me In!
Activity – ECE Resources
Below are three situations that a child care provider might experience. For each situation, list one agency or organization and the program or service it offers that might help the caregiver. Write your answer in the space provided.
1. Josie is a home care provider. One of the parents in her program is a single mom and has a low paying job. She wants to keep her child in Josie’s care but is having trouble paying the weekly fees. Who could Josie call to get help for this family? Agency: Program: 2. Sarah has been working as a child care
provider for many years. She doesn’t want a degree in ECE, but she needs to find out what training opportunities are available in her community. How might she find out?
Agency: Program: 3. Tammy has been working in a child care
center for a little over a year. She really likes her job and is interested in taking college courses. She may even want to get a degree in ECE. But she is worried about how she will pay for the tuition and books for her courses. Who might Tammy call to get help?
Agency: Program:
ECE Professional Development Resources
Agency/Organization Programs and Services
Office of Early Care and Education State Welfare Division
Professional Development Center 701 N. Rancho Las Vegas,