Important Facts About an Early Childhood Educator Occupation
| Median Salary* (2021) | $61,350 (for kindergarten teachers) |
| Entry Level Education | Bachelor's degree |
| On-The-Job Training | Internship/Residency |
| Job Outlook* (2021-2031) | 4% growth (for kindergarten teachers) |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Child Assessment
Topics such as the assessment techniques utilized and how to complete the forms are studied in some early childhood education classes. Students could learn child assessment techniques through coursework, observations and tests.
Infant and Toddler Development
Some classes give an overview of the social, cognitive, physical and emotional development of children between birth and eight years of age. Appropriate programs and environments for infants and toddlers are typically covered in these ECE courses.
Social Development
Child-to-child and child-to-adult relationships are topics that may be explored in social development classes. Methods of interaction are usually examined through both classroom study and the observation of children in day care or preschool settings.
Language Development
The primary focus of this type of course is to gain an understanding of how young children communicate with other children and adults. Interaction with and observation of children with adults and other children is used to assess early childhood language development.
Health, Safety and Nutrition
The study of creating healthy, safe learning environments for young children is at the core of some ECE classes. State and federal regulations and standards relating to health and nutrition for young children are often addressed in these types of classes.
