The Growing Importance Of Early Childcare And Education
With so many changes in everything from the family dynamic to the cost of living, we have seen a lot of positives in terms of equality and opportunity in the western world. There's more freedom and a healthier and increasingly equal focus on career between genders that simply didn't exist fifty or even thirty years ago. This shift in expectations mean that, where once you had two parents, a mother who stayed at home and a father who worked, dual incomes are suddenly the norm with both parents invested in full-time employment. Without a stay-at-home parent in a lot of situations, childhood education and early childcare has become an important part of modern living.
In the past two decades the demand for early childcare has grown in leaps and bounds - and it doesn't seem to be slowing down. Australia reported a growth of 2.1% of the industry each year between 2005 and 2011 alone. In New Zealand, this growth can be seen in the number of early childhood teacher vacancies and the huge demand for more people to fill positions. Between 2006 and 2011, 14,353 teachers became 20,644 just to keep up.
Families are looking for more than just a babysitter while they're at work. Childcare centres and kindergartens have a responsibility to lay the foundations for future schooling and educate children according to the curriculum. In New Zealand, Te Whariki is the Ministry of Education's framework for learning at this level.
Early childhood care is in the optimum position to create links to primary education, nurturing a social environment and preparing children to tackle future challenges. Realising the importance of educational and supportive childcare education, government involvement through these curriculums and facility funding has supported the notion that early childcare needs to be more than a babysitting service.
Where should I enrol my children?
One of the most important things you can do before enrolling your child is to discuss the ideas and philosophies behind a child care centre. Talk to them about their regular routines, the qualifications of staff and how they plan to follow the Te Whariki curriculum. Choose a childcare centre that promotes development and prepares for future learning.
How can I work in childhood care?
There are three different tertiary qualifications that you can attain to become a registered early childhood teacher. With a Diploma of Teaching, Graduate Diploma of Teaching or Bachelor of Teaching you can start looking at taking on the role of an early childhood teacher.
Growing demand and research into the links between early childhood care and success in future learning is only serving to reinforce the importance of childcare education.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7191614
By Ben Hurst
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