Let Your Love of Children Shine as a Childhood Education Assistant

Putting a child in daycare is one of the most important and nerve-wracking decisions parents face as maternity or paternity leave expires. There are understandably fears and apprehensions about leaving a child with complete strangers. Therefore, professionals such as early childhood assistants help to alleviate those feelings by being caring, compassionate and understanding to both the needs of the parents and children.

Early Childhood Assistants are responsible for providing care and skilled support that helps children with personal and social development. They also ensure the safety of the children in childcare centres, licensed childcare agencies, independent childcare centres and in private settings (as nannies). So what exactly are the tasks of skilled early childhood assistants? Planning curriculum and activities that are based on an understanding of child development, creating nutritious meals, maintaining responsive relationships with children, establishing environments that meet requirements of current legislation, maintaining communication with the children’s parents and more are all in a day’s work for an assistant of early childhood education.

Having a thorough understanding of childhood development begins with a program such as Centennial College’s Early Childhood Education Assistant program. The one-year undertaking prepares students for two things: a career as a childhood assistant or entry to the school’s Early Childhood Education program. In fact, this training is designed to support students who have learning disabilities, have a workplace destination level high-school diploma, are mature students (over the age of 19), and/or students who have first languages other than English. The learning provided in the Early Childhood Education Assistant program includes courses such as Infant and Toddler Development, Preschool and School-Age Learning as well as Health and Wellbeing. Within these courses, there are usually two major assignments, a mid-term and a final test as well as presentations, small group assignments and in-class workshop participation. Students also gain practical experience during both semesters of the program, via two-day-a-week field placement. This hands-on practice allows students to develop a well-rounded view of how to care for children. You should be aware that some field placement agencies require a criminal reference check prior to student placement. Certain criminal convictions may disallow placement in these agencies and program completion may not be possible. You must also have a clear medial report to participate.

When applying for the Early Childhood Education Assistant program you should at least possess an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. There is also a requirement of compulsory English 12 credit or skills assessment or equivalent. Aside from the academic necessities, students are required to complete a questionnaire, provide references and attend a program admission session as part of the admissions process. Possession of minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to Centennial College’s Early Childhood Education Assistant program.