About This Career

Cares for children in private households and provides support and expertise to parents in satisfying children's physical, emotional, intellectual, and social needs. Duties may include meal planning and preparation, laundry and clothing care, organization of play activities and outings, discipline, intellectual stimulation, language activities, and transportation.

This career is part of the Human Services cluster Early Childhood Development and Services pathway.

A person in this career:

• Instructs children in safe behavior, such as seeking adult assistance when crossing the street and avoiding contact with unsafe objects.
• Removes hazards and develops appropriate boundaries and rules to create a safe environment for children.
• Performs first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when required.
• Instructs and assists children in the development of health and personal habits, such as eating, resting, and toilet behavior.
• Regulates children's rest periods and nap schedules.
• Teaches and performs age-appropriate activities, such as lap play, reading, and arts and crafts, to encourage intellectual development of children.
• Helps prepare and serve nutritionally balanced meals and snacks for children.
• Models appropriate social behaviors and encourages concern for others to cultivate development of interpersonal relationships and communication skills.
• Organizes and conducts age-appropriate recreational activities, such as games, arts and crafts, sports, walks, and play dates.
• Assigns appropriate chores and praises targeted behaviors to encourage development of self-control, self-confidence, and responsibility.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 20 lbs., sometimes up to 50 lbs. You might do a lot of lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling.
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
• Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours
• Weekend work