One of the most delicate fields of work is childcare. This is because caring for young ones requires thorough understanding of their needs and great deal of patience. Handling the needs of children is not as easy as doing a typing job. Children should be well attended in order to keep them safe and happy. One should have sufficient knowledge on how to conduct proper childcare especially those who are about to handle toddlers and infants.
A childcare job description includes a variety of topics and specifications. A worker in the field of childcare will be working in several settings that include individual home care, private home, day care, group in-home care and preschool. Although there are several settings that one needs to work on, the duties and responsibilities of a child care worker should be mainly about making sure that the kids are well cared for and safe at all times.
Another important aspect that a childcare worker should familiarize herself with is nurturing the little ones whenever their parents are not around. This includes organizing certain activities depending on the age group of the children. Aside from having important skills and abilities to deal with the little one’s needs, an efficient child care worker should be certified in first aid basics as well as CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) as this is vitally important in case there is an emergency.
A childcare job description is also comprised of various trainings on how to conduct special activities for different age groups as kids with different age requires different kinds of help and attention. Teaching is also an important aspect of childcare. Although it is not necessarily advised for one to take education units or courses in order to specialize in this field, teaching some basic knowledge and skills to children will create interactive and fun-filled activities. Basic skills would also include learning how to play, interact and communicate with other children, sharing toys and bathroom procedures. For the older kids, the workers can give aid in minor household chores as well as with homework.
There are several types of child care work—each having its own tasks and responsibilities.
Babysitters. Babysitters are providing childcare in a private home (the child’s home) by preparing for their needs, playing with them, reading stories, bathing, watching over them and putting them to bed whenever their parents are not at home. Babysitters are being paid with an hourly rate and are usually students, young adults or teenagers.
Infant nurses. This kind of childcare worker is almost similar to babysitters but they are specializing with infants. Most infant nurses are needed by new mothers in order for them to be assisted with their newborn babies. Infant nurses are asked to teach new mothers how to conduct proper breastfeeding, giving medicines and supplements, diapering and bathing their babies.
Nannies. Nannies are providing in-home childcare. They are performing the duties and responsibilities of babysitters but they are working on a regular or daily basis.
