early childhood educator (ECE)

Work site environment

• Outdoors
• Noisy
• Non-smoking
• Air conditioned

Work setting

• Child care centre

Responsibilities

Tasks

• Assess the children’s development in order to prepare a learning plan tailored to his needs.
• Assist co-workers in housekeeping and cooking duties
• Bathe, diaper and feed infants and toddlers
• Develop and implement child-care programs that support and promote the physical, cognitive, emotional and social development of children
• Maintain daycare equipment
• Storytelling
• Supervise staff, trainees or volunteers
• Synthesize the overall situation of the children and communicate the information to the parents
• Assist early childhood educators in carrying out programs that promote the physical, cognitive, emotional and social development of children
• Lead activities by telling or reading stories, teaching songs and taking children to local points of interest
• Order supplies and equipment
• Assist early childhood educators or supervisors in keeping records
• Encourage children to express creativity through the media of art, dramatic play, music and physical activity
• Engage children in activities by telling stories, teaching songs and preparing crafts
• Guide and assist children in the development of proper eating, dressing and toilet habits
• Prepare snacks and arrange rooms or furniture for lunch and rest periods
• Observe children for signs of potential learning or behavioural problems and prepare reports for parents, guardians or supervisor
• Submit written observations on children to early childhood educators or supervisors
• Discuss progress and problems of children at staff meetings
• Knowledge of licensing regulations
• Establish guidelines for behaviour
• Attend staff meetings to discuss progress and problems of children
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with co-workers and community service providers working with children
• Plan and maintain an environment that protects the health, security and well-being of children
• Plan and organize activities for school-age children in child-care programs before and after regular school hours
• Supervise and co-ordinate activities of other early childhood educators and early childhood educator assistants

Credentials

Certificates, licences, memberships, and courses 

• Child development assistant (ECE level 1)
• Child development supervisor (ECE level 3)
• Child development worker (ECE level 2)
• Emergency child care first aid and CPR
• Food allergy and anaphylaxis training
• Early Childhood Education (ECE) Certificate
• First Aid Certificate
• CPR Certificate

Experience and specialization

Target audience

• Children

Experience with special needs children

• Children who are blind or visually impaired
• Children who are deaf or hard of hearing
• Children with a mental health disability
• Children with a physical disability
• Children with an intellectual disability
• Children with behavioural issues
• Children with Down syndrome
• Children with allergies
• Children with asthma
• Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or attention deficit disorder (ADD)
• Children with diabetes
• Children with epilepsy
• Children with a genetic disorder

Area of specialization

• Pre-school education

Additional information

Security and safety

• Criminal record check
• Vulnerable sector check

Transportation/travel information

• Own transportation

Work conditions and physical capabilities

• Repetitive tasks
• Physically demanding
• Attention to detail
• Combination of sitting, standing, walking
• Bending, crouching, kneeling

Personal suitability

• Punctuality
• Dependability
• Efficient interpersonal skills
• Excellent oral communication
• Excellent written communication
• Flexibility
• Interpersonal awareness
• Judgement
• Reliability
• Team player
• Values and ethics
• Creativity
• Honesty
• Ability to multitask

Benefits

Health benefits

• Dental plan
• Health care plan
• Paramedical services coverage
• Vision care benefits

Financial benefits

• Group insurance benefits
• Pension plan
• Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)

Other benefits

• Free parking available
• Learning/training paid by employer
• On-site amenities
• On-site daycare available
• Other benefits
• Paid time off (volunteering or personal days)
• Team building opportunities
• Parking available