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Child Care Service Owners

Education and Training Requirements

High School

You should take courses in early childhood development when available. Many family and consumer science courses include units in parenting and child care. English courses will help you to develop communication skills that are important in dealing with children, their parents, and a child care staff. In teaching children, you should be able to draw from a wide base of education and interests, so take courses in art, music, science, and physical education. Math and accounting courses will prepare you for the bookkeeping and management requirements of running your own business.

Postsecondary Training

You don't need a college degree to open a day care center, but it can serve you in a variety of ways. A child development program will give you the background needed for classroom instruction, as well as for understanding the basics of child care and psychology. A college degree will also demonstrate to your clients that you have the background necessary for good child care. A degree program should include course work in a variety of liberal arts subjects, including English, history, and science, as well as nutrition, child development, psychology of the young child, and sociology.

Child Care Aware of America offers useful information on educational requirements on its Web site, https://www.childcareaware.org/initial-training-and-education.

Certification

Colleges and universities offer certificate programs in business management, business accounting, marketing, and related fields that will help aspiring child care service owners learn how to run a business. Schools also offer certificates in education, early childhood education, and related fields. For example, Oakton College (which has two campuses in Illinois) offers a certificate in basic early childhood education. Students in the program must complete the following classes: Child, Family, and Community Relations; Child Growth and Development; The Exceptional Child; Introduction to Early Childhood Education; Nutrition, Health and Safety for the Young Child; and Observation and Assessment of the Young Child. Contact schools in your area to learn about available programs.

Other Education or Training

Many professional associations provide continuing education opportunities to child care professionals. For example, the National Association for the Education of Young Children offers workshops and webinars that help child care managers, teachers, and caregivers interact more effectively with children and parents. The Association for Early Learning Leaders offers a variety of online classes. Topics include software, time management, communication, business management, and customer service skills. The National Child Care Association provides regional leadership seminars that cover workplace issues such as hiring and firing workers and creating healthy employment environments. It also offers webinars on emergency planning, growing one’s business, and other topics. Contact these organizations for more information.