Early childhood educators work with infants, toddlers, preschool and school-aged children in a variety of settings.

In general, early childhood educators:

• develop and implement programs designed to meet children's social, physical, intellectual, creative, cultural, emotional and developmental needs in a play-based environment
• build children's social and interpersonal skills and self-esteem by establishing routines and positive guidance policies that allow children to feel secure, comfortable and safe
• establish and maintain good communication with children's families and community agencies involved in children's development.

Playschool and child care programs are based on children's interests and learning needs, and include the use of individual, small and large group activities, indoor and outdoor play, learning centres, outings and field trips. Activities are varied frequently and are designed to accommodate individual children's unique abilities. For example, a typical day's schedule might include:

• arrival and departure times
• play experiences in a variety of areas (such as music, dramatic play, art, science, water and literacy)
• snacks and meals
• quiet rest time or nap time
• outdoor play
• a special guest, event or field trip.

A well-designed educational environment for preschoolers includes opportunities to begin to develop independence, problem-solving, literacy, math and science skills through creative experiences such as imaginative play.

Out-of-school care programs include activities designed to complement the school program, provide recreational and artistic opportunities and meet the unique needs of children aged six to 12. Educators in these environments are responsible for providing a safe, secure, relaxing and fun place for children to go before school, at lunch, after school and on school holidays.

The working conditions for early childhood educators vary widely. Small programs in approved family day homes may serve fewer than six children; other child care facilities may provide care for more than 80 children.

Hours also vary:

• Most child care programs are open from 6 or 7 a.m. until 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, so early childhood educators work a changing shift within those hours. Where non-traditional hour programs are offered, hours of work may vary more.
• Family day home providers generally work from 6 or 7 a.m. until 6 p.m., Monday to Friday and also may work evenings and weekends.
• Part-time programs or playschool/nursery programs may be offered during the morning or afternoon and run one to five days a week.
• Out-of-school care programs may require staff to work split shifts or only before or after school, or full-time during school holiday periods. 
• Family support programs often include evening hours.

Early childhood educators are on their feet most of the day and routinely lift babies and children weighing up to 20 kilograms.

The Alberta Child Care Licensing Regulation requires all educators in licensed child care centres, out-of-school care programs and preschools to have completed training in child development or training considered equivalent. An Educational Equivalencies Chart is available at www.child.alberta.ca/childcare

In Alberta, early learning and child care programs are offered by the following post-secondary institutions:

• Blue Quills First Nations College in St. Paul offers Level 2 and Level 3 Early Childhood Development programs.
• Bow Valley College in Calgary offers 35 week Early Learning and Child Care certificate program and a 51 week Early Learning and Child Care integrated certificate program. These programs are offered in a variety of formats including full-time, part-time, online and by audio-conferencing. 
• The CDI College of Business, Technology and Healthcare, a private vocational school in Calgary and Edmonton, offers an 82 week Basic Early Childhood program and a 62 week Advanced Early Childhood (part-time) program.
• Gardner College - A Centre for Christian Studies in Camrose offers a 30 week certificate program and a 60 week diploma program in Early Childhood Development.
• Grande Prairie Regional College offers one year certificate and two year diploma programs in Early Learning and Child Care. All courses in the diploma program are available through tutor assisted distance delivery.
• Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton offers a two year Early Childhood Development diploma program which may be taken full-time in Edmonton and Drayton Valley or part-time in other communities.
• Keyano College in Fort McMurray offers a one year certificate program and a two year diploma program in Early Learning and Child Care.
• Lakeland College in Vermilion offers a one year certificate program and a two year diploma program in Early Learning and Child Care. Part-time programs are offered in outlying communities.
• Lethbridge College offers a one year certificate program and a two year diploma program in Early Childhood Education. 
• Medicine Hat College offers one year certificate and two year diploma programs in Early Childhood Development/Education.
• Mount Royal College in Calgary offers one year certificate and  two year diploma programs in Early Learning and Child Care.
• Portage College in Lac La Biche offers one year certificate and  two year diploma programs in Early Learning and Child Care
• Red Deer College offers a one year certificate program and a two year diploma program in Early Learning and Child Care. Print and Internet-based courses are offered via a combination of teleconferencing and seminars.
• Reeves College, a private vocational school in Edmonton, offers a 42 week Early Childhood Education program.

Entrance requirements vary but usually include a high school diploma or equivalent with English Language Arts 30-1 or English 30 (or minimum marks ranging from 50 to 65 per cent in ELA 30-2 or English 33). Mature students may be admitted with other qualifications. Programs that include practicums may require a Criminal Record Check and a Child Intervention Record check.

Continuing education programs may be offered on an as needed basis.

For current information about programs, admission requirements and mature student admission policies, please check post-secondary calendars or websites.

Early childhood educators are employed in 

• child care and day care centres
• family day home agencies 
• out-of-school care programs
• preschools/playschools
• recreational centres
• kindergartens (as assistants)
• hospital playrooms
• centres for special needs children
• early intervention programs
• family support programs and resource centres
• women's shelters
• speech therapy offices.

Experienced early childhood educators may advance to supervisory positions or start their own businesses.

Early childhood educators are part of a larger National Occupational Classification 4214:  Early Childhood Educators and Assistants. In Alberta, most people employed in this classification work in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry.

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next ten years.

Early childhood educators are paid hourly wages that vary tremendously throughout the province. Income and benefits generally depend on the size of the program, the nature of the employing organization, and the level of training the educator has completed.

According to the 2009 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Early Childhood Educators group earned from $9.00 to $24.25 an hour. The average wage was $13.86 an hour.

For more detailed information, see WAGEinfo.

Post-secondary institution calendars and websites (see Educational Requirements above)

EDinfo website: www.alis.alberta.ca/edinfo