Are child care teachers the same as babysitters?

Question

Are child care teachers the same as babysitters?

Answer 1

In my experience, they are not the same.  The facilities I have worked at required many trainings on an on-going basis.  Most of the teachers were credentialed, either with CDAs or college degrees.  They work using a structured curriculum based on early childhood development.  The children have a lot of fun, but it's geared toward supporting their growth, health, and development.  A kind and caring baby sitter can accomplish the same things, but her job is mostly to make sure the child is safe, fed, and clean.

Answer 2

No, and I often had my work cut out for me, when I was training, to make this point to some individuals who thought coming to work at my site would be just like babysitting.  :-)  Our goal is to implement a program that will support the child's growth and development and if the children are already in "school" our curriculum coincided in their grade level's and provided support.

Answer 3

It honestly depends on the child care.  Child cares have to go through more of a certain licensing procedure than you would if you just dropped your child off at a friend's house or family member's house for the day.

Most child care centers do have an educational foundation to them as well.  So that is another big difference between most child care centers and most babysitters.

Matt

Answer 4

Not really...Child Care teachers have more responsible. They take care and teach the children while the babysitters only take care of the children.

Answer 5

of course not - child care teacher have education and teach the basics for kindergarten readiness - babysitters do just that - they babysit and you can do that as a young teen.

Answer 6

I am a preschool teacher in a child development center, and NO I am not the same as a baby-sitter.  I have a bachelors in psychology with a minor in early childhood.  I am working on my master's in early childhood education.  Every week I prepare a lesson plan for the class.  I work on literacy, science, math, religion, problem-solving, and thinking skills.  The state of Michigan requires child care teachers to have 6 credits in early childhood, so if the center is liscenced, then the teachers have to be educated or they are breaking the law.  Now a bad center might be just "baby-sitting".  At the center I work at, we have no TVs, no computers for the kids. We believe that hands-on learning is the best.  Communication with parents is also very important to us.  We want them to know that children learn through play.  So I would say that I am not just a babysitter.

Answer 7

In Pennsylvania, you can't work at a child care center unless you are 18 and have a high school diploma or GED.  To be left alone with the children, you also have to have proof of 2500 hours of child care experience on file.  We all know that a babysitter can be a 12 year old girl with no experience.  So you can see there is a big difference.

That said, the best child care centers have employees who are educated in the field of early child care - either have a credential (such as a CDA) or a degree in Early Childhood Education.  

Other folks here have said that some child care centers offer the minimum in child care - they keep the kids healthy and safe, but don't necessarily work with the kids to prepare them for school and life success.  Other child care teachers have lots of education and experience and, in fact, do as well as or better than some Kindergarten teachers in preparing children for success in school.  

If you're looking for a career in child care, the more education you get the better it is for you and the children.  If you're looking for a child care facility for your child, tour the facility you're interested in and ask about the educational level of the teachers employed there.

Answer 8

I don't think babysitters really teach kids anything, unless they are asked to, or want to.

Answer 9

Sometimes.  There are day cares who hire people without any teaching credentials, and just rely on the director to create curriculum.  I worked at a day care like this, and the preschool and pre-k programs had almost zero education curriculum, mostly play and keeping the kids alive.  However there are babysitters who bring an education background to the table, and basically run a pre school.  It's important to ask about credentials, but more important to have someone go over what they consider standard routine.

Answer 10

No, i think child care teachers have done lots of training, especially in how best to develop your kids at the right stages.

Answer 11

Not at all. Teachers in licensed programs have to meet educational requirements, have on-going trainings to take and follow a curriculum designed to help children grow and learn. In NY you cannot be lead teacher in a day care center classroom without a two year degree or the equivalent such as a CDA or a certain number of credits or amount of experience. Teachers and Assistants have to have 30 hours of training in every two year licensng period.

Answer 12

You must interview and search for a great babysitter that you can trust.  A babysittler will provide your infant or toddler with a consistant and loving environment.  As they become preschool age your child will need to attend at least part of the day in a preschool setting so they can learn to socialize and problem solve in a school setting.  Look for a preschool that offers teachers with an early childhood endorsement.  They must have at least 60 college credits in the field.

Answer 13

Nope child care teachers actually are responsible for teaching the child things. The babysitter is only responsible for supervising the child.