Day Care Teacher

We are looking for part-time infant/toddler teachers!

Job Summary:

The Infant/Toddler Teachers are responsible for the care, supervision and management of a class of children (5 months - 3 years of age) in accord with the goals and the curriculum plan of Little Sprouts. The Infant/Toddler Teacher will develop action plans, carry out activities on a daily basis and evaluate the effectiveness of child development activities. They will also ensure the safety and well-being of the children, maintain regular communication with parents, and contribute to the effective operation of the overall early care and education center. The Infant/Toddler Teacher reports to the Center Director and Assistant Director.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Ensure that child care routines are carried out in a prompt manner, hygienic manner, and consistent with good child development principles. This includes routines that are related to diapering, hand washing, eating, napping and transitioning between activities. 
• Plan and carry out an effective child development program to meet the physical, social, and emotional and intellectual needs of each child. This should be done based on the goals and general curriculum plan of Little Sprouts.
• Ensure the safety of children through constant supervision, effective arrangement of space, proper maintenance of equipment, and regular practice of fire drills and other emergency procedures. 
• Operate the classroom in compliance with all child care licensing standards, and Little Sprouts Infant/Toddler Center Employee and Policy Handbook.
• Create an open, friendly, and cooperative atmosphere in which children and families feel comfortable and secure. 
• Provide experiences that promote individual expression through conversation, play and creativity. 
• Maintain staff, child and parent confidentiality. 
• Aid in the training of new staff and volunteers.
• No yelling or using derogatory comments when speaking to the children. 
• Set a good example.
• Provide a variety of language stimulation activities. 
• Ensure that parents receive adequate information about their child’s experiences at the center through daily contacts and regularly scheduled parent conferences. 
• Maintain written records designed to evaluate each individual child. 
• Promote and nurture parent-child bonding and relationships.
• Greet children and their parents warmly and with enthusiasm each morning. 
• Initiate classroom activities daily (sing-a-longs, art projects, sensory exploration, outdoor stimulation).
• Display children’s creative art work on bulletin boards, changing monthly (when age appropriate).
• Provide daily care individually to each infant and toddler, including but not limited to diapering every 2 hours and feeding on demand. 
• Observe children to detect signs of illness, injury, abuse, neglect, emotional disturbance, or other special needs, and report these signs immediately to the Director. 
• Use equipment and supplies safely and conscientiously, keeping the physical environment clean and orderly.
• Maintain confidentiality of child and family information at all times.
• Inspect the school site and equipment for potential safety hazards; taking corrective action or informing the Director to prevent injuries. 
• Contribute to the operation of the center by participating in staff meetings and sharing information gained through attendance at workshops and professional reading.
• Work as a member of a team to ensure continuity and a high standard of quality in all classrooms in the center.

Required Experience, Education, & Skills: 

Infant/Toddler Teacher

• Must be 18 years of age
• High School Graduate or GED
• 12 Core semester units early childhood education/ development or appropriate age-level program curriculum 
• 3 units in Infant care 
• 6 month experience working in a licensed child care center
• CPR/First Aid certification
• Cleared Finger Prints 
• Up to date Immunizations 
• Mandated Reporter Training Completion Certification

Personal Skills & Requirements

• Must have a warm and supportive attitude and disposition toward working with children and their families. 
• Must be reliable and reachable
• Must be flexible in receiving assignments or adapting to changes in the program. 
• Must be willing to accept supervision in order to improve work performance. 
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Must be physically able to perform the job of a teacher of young children.  
• Possess personal attributes needed to develop trusting relationships with children and adults. Such attributes include the following:
  • Professional in appearance, attitude and ability. 
  • Respect confidentiality of each child and his/her family
  • Treat children, parents and staff members with dignity and respect
  • Develop a sense of teamwork with co-workers in all activities, including housekeeping, diapering/toilet training and record keeping. 
  • Practice good communication skills

Additional Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge and experience working with infants and toddlers and of the basics of child development. 
• Knowledge of activities appropriate to age group. Ability to be flexible with daily routines and schedules to capture “nurturing and teachable moments”.
• Knowledge of safety issues, communicable disease management/control/prevention and basic first aid. 
• Skills in patience and remaining calm under pressure. Ability to move and react quickly to handle emergencies effectively.
• Skills in time management and organization.
• Skills in parent communication.
• Ability to supervise assistants, gives instructions and delegates duties in a professional manner. 
• Acquire knowledge of the current curriculum and implement the curriculum practices in the classroom.

Work Environment and Expectations:

Little Sprouts is an early care and education program that views each child as an individual with unique developmental needs. Through age appropriate programming, Little Sprouts serves children age 5 months to 3 years old. The goal of Little Sprouts Infant and Toddler Center is to achieve the highest level of professional development, build a community where families feel connected to one another and to the wider community, and to cultivate sustainable environmental choices and business practices to create a healthy environment for the children and teachers who care for them.