Early Childhood Education Degree Program and Career Education

Early childhood education generally refers to the education of children who range in age from infants to kindergarten age. Because the early years of childhood are especially formative years, early childhood educators must be specially trained in child development.

Instructors in early childhood education help to develop children's social, physical, emotional, intellectual, imaginative, and creative abilities. They teach youngsters how to clearly communicate thoughts and feelings, develop their senses, and improve their motor skills. They must pay attention to the unique abilities of each individual child and work with parents and other teachers to help draw out the children's talents and improve their weaknesses.

Teachers in this field may work in child care centers, preschools, kindergarten classrooms, or recreation centers.

Early childhood teachers must be mature, friendly, patient, organized, creative, energetic, and understanding. They should be able to communicate clearly with children, as well as with parents and other teachers. It also helps to have a sense of humor. Early childhood educators should be able to anticipate and solve problems, provide fair discipline, and work well with aides or other teachers.

Education, Training and Degrees in Early Childhood Education

Special education teachers working in public schools must have a bachelor's degree in education, and many states require additional courses in special education, child development, educational psychology, rehabilitation, social work, or similar studies. Many states also require that teachers possess a master's degree, or are actively in the process of obtaining one. Additionally, public schools require that special education teachers have a teaching license, which must be renewed annually.

Private schools may not require that special education teachers have a bachelor's degree or teaching license, though they may prefer them.

Speech therapists must have a bachelor's degree in communication disorders, linguistics, psychology, or a similar field, as well as a master's degree in speech therapy or speech-language pathology. They must complete a working internship in a hospital, rehabilitation center, or other health facility, and most employers require that they become certified.

Find more information about online degrees, certificates, and diplomas in Education.

Explore Career Opportunities in Early Childhood Education

Individuals who study special education may choose to work with infants, toddlers, elementary school children, or high schools students. They may work with physically, mentally, or developmentally challenged children, or they may choose to work with intellectually gifted children. No matter which particular specialty special educators choose to pursue, their responsibilities are often similar. Below are more details concerning careers within this field.

Special Education Teacher
Special education teachers assess each individual's particular instructional needs. They create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to set goals for the child and outline a transition plan to prepare the student for the next level of education. They review the plan with parents and other teachers and administrators, track the child's progress, and suggest ways in which the parents can help promote learning at home. Special education teachers help children grow socially and emotionally as well as intellectually, and teach students basic life skills suitable to their level of development.

Speech Therapist
Speech therapists help people to overcome problems with language, speech, and voice that may have been caused by delayed development, an accident, genetic disorder, stroke, or major trauma. As applied to special education, they may help children learn how to speak for the first time, or work with them to overcome an accent, a lisp, stuttering, or other speech defect. They may use a variety of techniques, including one-on-one therapy, group therapy, books, computer programs, toys, or sound analyzers. Speech therapists often focus their work on a group of people with a similar problem, or on people of a similar age, such as preschoolers.

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