Description
Care for and educate infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in a licensed childcare setting, using play-based curricula and daily routines to promote social, physical, and cognitive development while ensuring health, safety, and family communication.
- • Provide varied materials for exploration, sensory play, and learning.
- • Attend to basic needs, including feeding, toileting, and diapering.
- • Teach early concepts like colors, shapes, numbers, letters, and self-help skills.
- • Foster social skills, sharing, and positive behavior through routines and guidance.
- • Read aloud to individuals, small groups, and the class.
- • Lead play-based activities in art, music, movement, outdoor play, and storytelling.
- • Observe and document each child's development, behavior, and health.
- • Screen for developmental concerns and share observations with supervisors and families.
- • Communicate daily with parents or guardians about progress, routines, and needs.
- • Implement and enforce center policies, safety rules, and classroom expectations.
- • Prepare and sanitize the classroom and materials before and after activities.
- • Teach hygiene, handwashing, and proper eating habits.
- • Serve meals and snacks following nutritional and allergy guidelines.
- • Greet children at drop-off, support transitions, and help with belongings.
- • Differentiate activities to meet varied ages, abilities, and interests.
- • Set clear goals for lessons and daily routines and share them with children.
- • Model and demonstrate activities and appropriate behaviors.
- • Arrange indoor and outdoor environments for safe, creative play and gross-motor skills.
- • Maintain attendance, incident, medication, and developmental records per licensing.
- • Prepare daily sheets and periodic progress reports for families and administration.
- • Plan balanced schedules including learning centers, free play, rest, and outdoor time.
- • Label and organize materials and display children's work appropriately.
- • Complete required trainings and maintain certifications (e.g., CPR/First Aid).
- • Coordinate with co-teachers and staff to plan and implement the curriculum.
- • Supervise and guide aides, floaters, and volunteers.
- • Collaborate with staff to develop and improve classroom and center programs.
- • Participate in staff meetings and required committees.
- • Consult with specialists to support individual needs.
- • Plan and supervise special events, nature walks, or guest visits, and guide learning from them.
- • Manage classroom inventory and order and store supplies safely.
- • Provide accommodations and assistive technology to include children with disabilities.
- • Manage administrative duties such as check-in/out and hallway or playground supervision.
- • Conduct developmental screenings and share results with families appropriately.
- • Implement individualized support or remedial activities for children needing extra help.
- • Follow safe sleep guidelines for infants and monitor nap times.
- • Follow health, sanitation, and emergency procedures, including drills and incident reporting.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Available on paid plans only
Interview time
Related Pathways
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
