Careers Working with Children

Since preschool teachers are working with children during their first exposure to education, these professionals play a huge role in shaping their relationship to learning. Thanks to preschool teachers, early learners become familiar with letters, numbers, colors, and shapes, as well as play and problem-solving skills. Also, preschool teachers are responsible for helping children develop the social skills needed to get along with peers from diverse backgrounds, so they learn from a young age how to communicate with people from different races, religions, or cultures.

Positions for preschool and childhood center directors are expected to grow faster than the national average of all professions because the number of children under the age of five is projected to increase in the coming years. As a result, the importance of these professionals is expected to grow in the community—whether they run preschools or childcare centers. People in both of these roles are responsible for supervising the daily activities of teachers, hiring and onboarding all staff members, developing the programs teachers use to educate the children in their care, and handling the organization’s funds.

Elementary school counselors help young children develop the key skills they need to use throughout their educational careers—such as self-management, decision making, social, and study skills. In addition, these professionals are responsible for working closely with parents in order to address problems like learning disabilities or behavioral issues. They also use their observations of students to help contribute to the curriculum a school develops, which ensures that students’ academic and developmental needs are met in the classroom.

Like preschool teachers, elementary school teachers help to set the tone for children’s educational future. Through a combination of pedagogical expertise and empathy, these professionals create grade-appropriate lesson plans that teach reading, mathematics, and science; assign and grade homework; observe students to determine their strengths and weaknesses; and give students individual instruction as needed. In addition, elementary school teachers communicate with parents about their child’s performance and give them guidance on what they can do at home to help the student.

From what is taught in the classroom to how funds are spent, elementary school principals oversee how their school is run on a daily basis. In order to do this, they create and manage class schedules, develop and implement a classroom curriculum, discipline students, and order supplies. In addition, these professionals work closely with teachers to ensure that they are effectively managing their classrooms, which may include observation and analysis, as well as the creation of professional development opportunities.

Special education teachers need a specialized set of skills in their teaching toolbox in order to work with children who are living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. These children need learning environments that appropriately address the challenges they face, so special education teachers are required to assess the skills of their students to determine what they need, create and implement Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) that meet these needs, and provide small group and one-on-one instruction. Also, special education teachers prepare students for a smooth transition from one grade to the next, so they can successfully handle life inside and outside of the classroom.

Whether patients need help coping with the loss of a parent or dealing with the day-to-day challenges associated with a mental illness, child psychologists perform assessments in order to determine what kind of help children need, execute the treatment plan, and adjust it as necessary. These professionals generally work with patients on an ongoing, longer-term basis that school psychologists do and their duties include conducting clinical interviews, working with parents to create the best treatment plan for the child, and observing patient behavior. In addition, some child psychologists conduct research and publish their findings in academic journals.

Pediatric occupational therapists help children with various issues, such as problems with motor skills, cognitive development, and sensory integration, develop the tools they need to perform daily activities. Through this work, children are able to learn daily activities that they may have challenges with, such as brushing their teeth, bathing, self-feeding, and getting dressed. In addition to basic self-care tasks, these professionals work with children to develop social and play skills by participating in crafts and board games.

Child welfare social workers help children who are in dire and dangerous situations, such as those who live in abusive or neglectful households. In order to ensure that the children they work with are safe, they investigate abuse and neglect claims, provide assessments, conduct home visits to check on the welfare of the children, and make arrangements to have them removed from the home if needed. This is a high-pressure position that requires professionals to maintain comprehensive files on their clients and communicate effectively in volatile situations.

School social workers act in concert with educators to ensure that students can thrive developmentally and academically. In order to do this, school social workers conduct assessments on students who are having frequent absences, are the victims of bullying, are suffering from depression or suicidal ideation, or exhibiting aggressive behavior. In addition, they assist students who come from families that need services like food stamps and housing. They may also provide feedback on educational programs to ensure that children with special needs are getting classroom instruction that is appropriate for their specific challenges.

Pediatric nurse practitioners deliver primary and preventive care to children. They offer a wide array of services to their patients, including administering required immunizations, performing school physicals, prescribing medications, and providing developmental screenings. In order to be successful in this career, professionals need strong critical thinking, assessment, detail orientation, and communication skills, as well as the patience and compassion needed to successfully work with sick children and their worried parents.

These nursing professionals support school districts by working with children when they experience an injury or illness at school. Their duties include providing wound care, scoliosis screenings, medications, CPR, and mental health treatments. In addition, school nurses help parents obtain health insurance as needed, create and maintain medical records, develop health education classes, and contact parents about emergencies or continuous illnesses.

These workers provide care for children under the supervision of a pediatrician. Job duties include taking vital signs, getting patient history and keeping medical records up to date, scheduling appointments, and assisting with examinations. In addition, some pediatric medical assistants may be able to provide medication or injections, depending on what their state legally allows.

Camp counselors care for children and help them make fun memories during their summer vacations. Employed at day or sleepaway camps, these professionals are responsible for leading different activities, including swimming, hiking, horseback riding, boating, music, and drama. In addition, camp counselors keep children safe during emergencies, such as fires, and are trained to provide first aid and CPR.

These teachers promote physical fitness among children by giving them the chance to participate in activities such as basketball, swimming, volleyball, aerobics, running, gymnastics and dance. In addition, physical education teachers may provide instruction on health-related topics, such as sex education, drug prevention, personal safety, and nutrition.