Main Duties:

-Develop and implement daily activities that support and promote the development of children
-Lead children in activities by telling or reading stories, teaching songs, demonstrating the use of simple musical instruments, preparing craft materials and demonstrating their use, providing opportunities for creative expression through the media of art, dramatic play, music and physical fitness, and taking the children to local points of interest
-Guide and assist children in the development of proper eating, dressing and toilet habits
-Observe children for signs of learning disabilities or emotional problems and take appropriate action
-Assess the skills, abilities, interests and needs of children
-Discuss progress or problems of children with parents and other staff members
-Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with other community service providers working with children
-Attend meetings and workshops to develop and discuss new teaching methods
-May plan and organize activities for school-age children in child-care programs before and after regular school hours
-May supervise and co-ordinate the activities of other early childhood educators and early childhood educator assistants.

Requirements

Early childhood educators
-A bachelor's degree or college diploma in early childhood education is required.
-Progression to senior positions, such as day-care supervisor, is possible with experience.

Early childhood educator assistants

-Completion of secondary school is usually required.
-Experience in child care, such as babysitting, is required.
-Completion of an early childhood education assistant certificate program may be required.