Week 2: Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

The Richmond Early Childhood Association is a local organization that gives resources to families, early childhood educators, and the community. This organization appealed to me because it holds events that allow teachers more time to incorporate professional development into their careers. For example, Naeyc’s National Institute will be held on June 9- June 12 of 2013.

The Early Childhood Music Association is an organization that promotes unity and learning among children through the diverse sounds of music. This is an excellent resource that teachers can use to teach children about the different sounds around the world.

Virginia’s Office of Early Childhood Development is an organization that focuses on providing quality resources and materials that will benefit Virginia families in the process of transitioning children to enter kindergarten.

One job opportunity that I am interested in exploring is being a childcare provider. I really enjoy working with children from birth to 6 years old. Another job opportunity that captures my interest is being a preschool teacher. A child’s early years are crucial to his/her social, emotional, intellectual and physical development. Young children imitate the behaviors they see in adults. I feel that I can make the biggest impact on very young children. An additional job opportunity that I’d love to fulfill is a Childcare Director. It’s really fun to work with children, families and teachers. It gets more exciting to be able to plan the curriculum and decide what age-appropiate activities to use for learning and development!

There are specific skills and experiences needed to competently fulfill each of these roles. Safety is the most important service that an early childhood professional can provide. Having first-aid and CPR certification is a requirement. Possessing effective communication skills by maintaining strong teacher-family partnerships will maximize each child’s learning experiences. Anyone who is considering working with children should have lots of patience and consideration for the differences in behaviors, cultures, and abilities.