Children are already learning at birth, and they develop and learn at a rapid pace in their early years. This provides a critical foundation for lifelong progress, and the adults who provide for the care and the education of young children bear a great responsibility for their health, development, and learning. Despite the fact that they share the same objective - to nurture young children and secure their future success - the various practitioners who contribute to the care and the education of children from birth through age 8 are not acknowledged as a workforce unified by the common knowledge and competencies needed to do their jobs well. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 explores the science of child development, particularly looking at implications for the professionals who work with children. This report examines the current capacities and practices of the workforce, the settings in which they work, the policies and infrastructure that set qualifications and provide professional learning, and the government agencies and other funders who support and oversee these systems. This book then makes recommendations to improve the quality of professional practice and the practice environment for care and education professionals. These detailed recommendations create a blueprint for action that builds on a unifying foundation of child development and early learning, shared knowledge and competencies for care and education professionals, and principles for effective professional learning. Young children thrive and learn best when they have secure, positive relationships with adults who are knowledgeable about how to support their development and learning and are responsive to their individual progress. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 offers guidance on system changes to improve the quality of professional practice, specific actions to improve professional learning systems and workforce development, and research to continue to build the knowledge base in ways that will directly advance and inform future actions. The recommendations of this book provide an opportunity to improve the quality of the care and the education that children receive, and ultimately improve outcomes for children.

Find out what it takes to be a childcare worker with character... Childcare workers do their jobs in: •Family homes; •Daycare centers; •Preschools; •The workers' own homes; and •After- and before-school programs. Taking care of children in these settings doesn't necessarily require a lot of experience—but it does require the right character. If you think you might want to be a childcare worker, you'll need... Respect for each child's individuality... The self-discipline and diligence to read the same story four times in a row... And plenty of responsibility and trustworthiness, so that parents will feel comfortable trusting their children to your care. Children are tomorrow's citizens. If you care for them with integrity, compassion, courage, and diligence, you'll be helping them to grow strong, healthy, and happy. You'll make a difference in their lives. Childcare workers have the power to touch the future! This volume of Careers with Character will show you how.

Early childhood care and education (ECCE) settings offer an opportunity to provide children with a solid beginning in all areas of their development. The quality and efficacy of these settings depend largely on the individuals within the ECCE workforce. Policy makers need a complete picture of ECCE teachers and caregivers in order to tackle the persistent challenges facing this workforce. The IOM and the National Research Council hosted a workshop to describe the ECCE workforce and outline its parameters. Speakers explored issues in defining and describing the workforce, the marketplace of ECCE, the effects of the workforce on children, the contextual factors that shape the workforce, and opportunities for strengthening ECCE as a profession.

Raise self-confident, self-reliant children using the RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers) Approach. Your baby knows more than you think. That's the heart of the principles and teachings of Magda Gerber, founder of RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers), and Educaring. Baby Knows Best is based on Gerber's belief in babies' natural abilities to develop at their own pace, without coaxing from helicoptering or hovering parents. The Educaring Approach helps parents see their infants as competent people with a growing ability to communicate, problem-solve, and self-soothe. Baby Knows Best is a comprehensive resource that shows parents how to respond to their babies' cues and signals; how to develop healthy sleep habits; why babies need uninterrupted playtime; and how to set clear, consistent limits. The result? More relaxed parents and more confident, self-reliant children.

Jobs exist for people who want to work with children of all ages, from day care for babies and toddlers to after-school and special programs for young teens. Stand-alone child care centers, day care centers in businesses and government organizations, child care services in institutions such as hospitals, and special child care programs all offer fulfilling opportunities. In this handy volume, readers learn that there are jobs for people with all levels of education--from a high school degree and the completion of a short training program to two- and four-year college degrees--and which path corresponds to their aspirations.

The basic information family child care providers need to run a successful program in a warm, welcoming setting for children and their families

Theory meets practical tips in this guide for leaders of early childhood programs