Early Childhood Education and Care

Exploring the Differences: Early Childhood Teachers vs Early Childhood Educators

Do you intend to work in early childhood education in Australia? This blog quickly examines two distinct career paths in this expanding industry. Although frequently misunderstood, early childhood educators and teachers have very different roles. This blog post examines both work roles in depth to assist you in making the best decision for your future career. So, read on to know the differences between Early Childhood Teachers and Early Childhood Educators.

Early Childhood Educators

A fancy term for the tens of thousands of daycare providers, family daycare providers, and nannies who assist in the growth and wellness of preschoolers, including infants and toddlers, is “early childhood educator” (ECE). They work in both private homes and daycare facilities.

What they do

Childcare providers are extremely busy and often on the move. Your working day will consist of:

Watching after kids as they play.
Planning kid-friendly activities.
Assembling tools and supplies for teaching courses activities.
Reading stories to children or playing games with them can amuse them.
Monitoring the cleanliness and safety of youngsters.
Supporting teachers in their work.

Personal Qualities

You must genuinely adore infants and young children, be incredibly energized, and be willing to dive in if you want to be a successful Certificate 3 in childcare provider. If you’re willing to clean up the meeting space after painting, attend to runny noses, and help with bathroom needs while maintaining a positive and enthusiastic demeanor for afternoon storytime, you’re in the right position.

Qualifications

The following VET credentials can be used to start an early childhood educator career. A Registered Training Organization (RTO) is where you must receive these.

Additional conditions

The following clearances are necessary for anyone working, including early childhood educators:

Public Safety Check
Employing Children Check (WWCC)
Immunizations for CPR and first aid (some employers require them)
Prospective employment and pay

If you study in Australia, know that over 125,600 early childhood educators are employed, 47% of whom work full-time, according to the most recent labor market statistics. Over the next three to five years, this occupation is predicted to grow at a high pace of 5.6%.

Early childhood educators with a VET degree often put in 41 hours per week and earn $55,068 to $63,388 annually.

Early Childhood Teachers

Early childhood teachers are degree-holding professionals who provide educational programs in accordance with the Early Years Learning Framework while promoting the early childhood development of preschoolers.

What they do

Teachers of young children are employed as working professionals. Your day may consist of:

Presenting various opportunities for learning that foster cooperation, social connections, and motor abilities.
Encouraging the growth of language through informal conversations, singing, and storytelling.
Adjusting the classroom atmosphere to promote children’s growth.
Assessing student progress and looking for symptoms of illness or mental distress.
Attending parent conferences to talk about student development.

Personal qualities

Early childhood teachers must have a deep affection for infants and kids. They are typically bold and full of fun, but they also have the organization and tenacity to keep an eye on kids’ behavior and communicate with parents.

Qualifications

Early childhood teachers require a four-year bachelor’s degree (or a post-graduate certificate) accepted by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority.

The most recent labor market insights show that nearly 50,400 early childhood teachers are employed in Australia, with 56% working full-time. Over the following three to five years, this occupation is predicted to grow at 21.6%.

Bachelor’s degree-holding early childhood educators work an average of 42 hours per week and earn $86,632 to $93,600 annually.

Roles and Responsibilities of early childhood educators

Establish a trusting bond with the child

The tree will grow healthier and stronger the stronger its roots are. There are several ways to start a relationship with children, including playing with them, watching them to understand their wants, interests, and skills, having open conversations, talking to their relatives to learn more about their culture, and more.

To ensure holistic education

Some educators mistakenly believe that it is their responsibility to aid in the development of children’s literacy and numeracy skills.

However, “holistic” refers to all areas of development, including the cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and communication ones. As an educator, your first responsibility is to make sure the child is growing in all aspects.

Make the environment ready

The child’s surroundings serve as a third guardian. This idea is supported by the idea that children learn by interacting with their environment. Planning and providing resources and an atmosphere that will assist the children’s overall development is thus another crucial responsibility.

Being inclusive is a key component of a positive atmosphere. When something is inclusive, it considers all of the children’s interests, abilities, and learning challenges.

Evaluate the education of the child

Your capacity to evaluate and reflect on the child’s learning makes the difference between being a successful educator and not. You must evaluate whether the children have benefited from the intended experiences in achieving their learning objectives. If not, what would you change to make the results better? If so, what would you change to assure continual learning?

Roles and Responsibilities of early childhood teachers

Establish supervision and discipline that is age-appropriate

Another responsibility of an early childhood teacher is to carefully supervise the pupils in the classroom, during recess and lunch, on the playground, and during field trips. He/ She must hire a trustworthy employee to watch the kids if she must go, even for a short time. He/ She punishes the kids in a tough but fair manner when they misbehave or violate the rules in other ways. Never does the teacher employ physical, verbal, or emotional abuse as punishment.

Plan and put lessons into action

An early childhood teacher is aware that play and structured experiences that support the development of the children’s linguistic, motor, and social skills are how 3- to 5-year-olds learn. He/She designs lessons that encourage both teacher- and child-led discovery.

Create a schedule and enforce it

Young children must adhere to a rigid schedule that includes daily rituals like using the restroom, washing their hands, eating lunch and a snack, and engaging in reading, math, science, and music-related activities. The children are occupied and productive throughout the day by routines and activities, which also teach them how to function in a structured setting.

Keep the Environment Safe and Comfortable

A teacher of young children examines the kids’ surroundings to ensure the tools are secure. He/ she takes out or fixes any objects that could endanger the kids. He/ she also creates a safe and welcoming environment through her actions and words, which helps the kids feel at ease and confident in their surroundings.

Conclusion!

Early childhood is crucial for a child’s cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and physical growth. Children experience rapid growth and development from infancy to age eight. They pick up skills including talking, walking, playing, learning, and manners. Due to the importance of this development for a child’s health and wellbeing, specialists dedicate their careers to studying, observing, and supporting children and their families.

After understanding the significant differences between early childhood educators and early childhood teachers, it is essential to make the appropriate decision for the optimal development of your children.