Do you think you have what it takes to be an early childhood educator (ECE)?

If you have completed a general undergraduate program at university or just graduated from high school and are unsure about your future, but are sure that you would like to work with children being an ECE (early childhood educator) might be a great fit!

These are some questions you might want to ask yourself before exploring the ECE pathway:

• Do I like children?

• Am I an educator at heart?

• Do I want to inspire and help others grow?

• Am I ready to spend an additional 1-2 years studying early childhood education?

• Would I be okay earning a low salary?

Consider:

• What educational background is required

• Benefits and drawbacks of becoming an ECE

ECEs play a special role in society because they take care of children from a variety of backgrounds, from the able-bodied to the disabled, and try to make a difference in a child's life.

Their job mainly involves organizing educational plans for children between infancy and the age of 12. The main purpose is to focus on intellectual, physical, and emotional growth and ensure a child's security and well-being.

A career as an ECE might be a perfect match if you...

• Are patient, empathetic, and caring

• Are ok with standing for long periods of time, walking or even running after a child or two

• Have a passion for building learning experiences in a playful way

• Are looking to make a difference in a life

• Love being creative

• Aim to have flexibility in your life, when it comes to going home without extra work to do

Being an ECE might not be your cup of tea if...

• You're looking for a career with a high-paying wage — the average hourly wage of an ECE is approximately $24

• Being responsible for others (specifically little children) intimidates you

• You want to avoid an emotionally challenging job

• The lack of recognition would be a problem for you

1. Complete a high school diploma or a Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC)

2. Receive an Early Childhood Education Diploma at a certified college

3. Register with the College of Early Childhood Educators to become certified

How long will it take?

After completing your high school diploma or CAEC, it will take 1-2 years.

To get your Early Childhood Education Diploma, you can enroll in a regular length program (2 years) or a fast-track program that is less than 1 year.

Ways to prepare for the college route:

• Complete a high school diploma, it is also mandatory to have a grade 12 English course (either college or university level)

• Gain experience working with children in your local community — either try volunteering or working with friends/family

• Research potential colleges that best fit your credentials by visiting sites such as Ontario Colleges, where you can browse lots of different programs!

• Find ways to fund your schooling

• The theoretical and practical sides of child development

• Learn about basic health/safety

• Developing activities to help child's learning and build on their abilities and interests

• Plan early learning education curriculums

• Improve writing and communication skills to better interact with a child and their guardian

• Resilience skills when learning to work through more difficult situations, especially when facing unexpected scenarios such as dealing with a child's tantrums

The general structure of programs involve...

• In-class learning and theory

• A field placement opportunity in places such as "preschools, child care programs, hospitals, and kindergartens for real-world experience"

• Each program varies — there is usually a fixed number of hours required in order to earn your diploma

Continued education after you're a registered ECE (RECE)

And the fun goes on!

• Improve their skills and explore new ways of thinking

• Refresh skills for ECEs who aren't currently working

Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash

Where you end up will depend on whether you take a university pathway (more theoretical) or college pathway (more hands on) to become an ECE.

It's important to consider that going through university to get a Master's may take more time and money, but it also leads to more administrative roles.

However, if you take the college route, you're limited to working more directly with the children. The difference in routes can also affect your salary.

Photo by zoo monkey on Unsplash

Below is a comparison between jobs that you can find with a University Master's studying ECE vs jobs you can find straight out of college being an ECE:

University level (Master's route):

• Work for the government as a policy maker

• Curriculum design

• Preschool or daycare centre director

• Early childhood education specialist

• Positions as a special education teacher, principal, or vice-principal

College level:

• Work in a licensed child-care centre or an unlicensed home child-care centre

• Work for community recreation programs or transition homes for women and children who have experienced domestic violence

• Child education advocacy

• Child care consulting

• Camp counselor

Photo by Leo Rivas on Unsplash

Remember...

No matter which route you take, children can be fun to see grow and learn, but also be a handful at the same time.

Being an ECE is a serious responsibility, as you have a little life in your hands, but it can also truly be rewarding.

• Brainstorm reasons why you want to be an ECE

• Familiarize yourself with program expectations

• Research basic skills needed for an ECE and work on improving them (for example, observation skills are especially important around children)

• Make a list of ECE skills you want to develop during your program

• Volunteer at your local daycare to gain practical skills

• Learn more educational games to use in lessons since gamification is key

• Network with others and build experience so you can grow — for example, reach out to peers who are ECEs on Linkedin

• Use social media in an appropriate way

Three education students are considering an ECE program:

• Katie loves kids and being creative, but struggles with her stress levels.

• Mike is caring, but can be impatient.

• Sue is data-driven and loves math.

Congrats! You've taken the first few steps to consider what it means to be an early childhood educator. You know the general education required and have had a chance to consider your own interests...now it's time for you to decide.