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 important in dealing with children and their parents. Foreign language courses will come in handy when interacting with children who do not speak English fluently. 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.
Postsecondary Training
A high school diploma and some child-care experience is usually all that's required to get a job as a child care worker, but requirements vary among employers. Some employers prefer to hire workers who have taken college courses or hold bachelor's degrees; they may also pay better wages to those with some college education. Child care workers in Head Start (a federal program that provides education and other services to low-income children and their families) must at least be enrolled in a program in which they will earn an associate’s degree in early childhood education or a child development credential.
A college 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. Some employers offer on-the-job training.
Certification
Colleges and universities offer certificate programs in education, early childhood education, and related fields, many of which are geared to fulfill the requirements for qualification from state licensing or other regulatory bodies. Contact schools in your area to learn about available programs.
The American Red Cross offers short-term certificate programs in babysitting basics, babysitter's training, advanced child care, first aid, CPR, and automated external defibrillator use. Visit https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/babysitting/babysitting-child-care-training/babysitting-certification for more information.
Other Education or Training
Many professional associations (e.g., National Association for the Education of Young Children, National Association for Family Child Care, Association for Early Learning Leaders, National Child Care Association), colleges and universities, and online learning platforms provide continuing education opportunities to child care professionals. Contact these organizations for more information.