Infant & Toddler Teachers, El Dorado, KS

At Child Start, all Infant & Toddler Teachers must possess an Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. We understand the importance of ongoing education and provide scholarships to help our staff complete their CDA. Additionally, relevant experience working with infants and toddlers is required, ensuring that our teachers are well-equipped to provide high-quality care and education.

As an Infant & Toddler Teacher at Child Start, your primary responsibilities include encouraging children to engage in learning activities, assessing their developmental progress, creating and implementing weekly lesson plans that foster all areas of growth, and collaborating with families to support each child's development. You'll play a vital role in creating a nurturing and educational environment tailored to young children's needs.

The starting salary for Infant & Toddler Teachers at Child Start ranges from $16.68 to $20.84 per hour, depending on your education and relevant experience. This competitive pay reflects our commitment to recognizing the value of early childhood professionals.

Child Start offers a comprehensive benefits package to our Infant & Toddler Teachers, including medical, dental, and vision plans, company-paid short-term and long-term disability coverage, a 403(b) retirement plan, and nine paid holidays each year. We strive to support our teachers in both their professional development and personal well-being.

The Infant & Toddler Teacher position at Child Start is an in-person role. Teachers must commute daily to El Dorado, KS, as interacting with the children face-to-face in a nurturing classroom environment is essential for early childhood education.

In your response, focus on specific roles or volunteer experiences that have allowed you to engage with infants and toddlers directly. Highlight any relevant training or certifications, such as your CDA, and describe how these experiences have prepared you to foster children's growth effectively.

When discussing lesson planning, emphasize the importance of addressing all areas of development. Discuss how you would assess children's needs and interests, and how you incorporate play-based learning into your plans. Consider providing examples of activities you’ve previously used or would like to implement.

Share a specific example illustrating your problem-solving skills and ability to stay calm under pressure. Discuss the strategies you used to resolve the issue and the positive outcome that resulted from your intervention.

Explain the assessment tools and methods you use to monitor children's growth, such as observational assessments, developmental checklists, or parent input. Emphasize how these assessments inform your teaching practices and lesson planning.

Discuss the importance of communication and building relationships with families. Highlight strategies such as regular updates, family events, and involving parents in the learning process. Consider sharing examples of successful family engagement initiatives you've experienced.

Share strategies that emphasize positive reinforcement and setting clear expectations for behavior. Discuss how you model appropriate interactions and teach children social skills, and provide an example of how you’ve effectively managed behavior in the past.

Articulate your understanding of play as a critical element in child development. Discuss how play fosters cognitive, social, and emotional skills and how you create an environment that encourages exploration and imaginative play.

Discuss your approach to embracing diversity, including cultural, linguistic, and developmental differences. Highlight practices you’ve used to create an inclusive environment that respects and values all children and families.

Reflect on your aspirations, whether advancing your education, taking on leadership roles, or specializing in certain areas of early childhood education. Share how this position aligns with your goals and how it can help you grow professionally.

Express your passion for early childhood education and align your values with those of Child Start. Research the company's mission and highlight aspects of the work environment and community involvement that resonate with you.