Please Help with career choice? would like to work with kids?

Question

I'm a young person who is looking into what kind of career to get into. I would like to be able to work with young children or possibly special needs children. I would rather not do any major college education. (for several reasons, I'd go into detail but it's erevelant to the question) I live in MN. I would really appriciate any ideas! Thanks a bunch!

Answer 1

Most jobs will require some kind of College education and a background check, but here are some links:

http://www.mncn.org/jobs/

Also, I'd recommend volunteering at a nonprofit or too, and associating with them.  That helps a lot.

Most good ones are UK Based, but this one I recommend, but don't know what volunteer jobs they have open.

http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3...

The Internet is a great resource for helping kids, and networking (meeting people with similar interests) is VERY helpful in any carrer profession.  Without a college education, your best bet is to have some experience under your belt.

Good luck, and God Bless.

Answer 2

How about a COTA (certified occupational therapy assistant) This curriculum is 2 yrs can be taken at community colleges.

A LPN (licensed practical nurse) some programs are 1 yr, great pay, can make 6 figures if you work 60+hours a week, flexible hours

A paraprofessional, assists in the classroom adjunct to spec. ed teacher

A PTA (physical therapy assistant)  

A clerk at the hospital, an escort at the hospital

Answer 3

how bout a pediatrician...

Answer 4

You can go to a community college for 2 years and get your associates in either teaching or early childhood education. with the ECE degree you can work at or run a daycare, preschool, or any other kind of childcare program. with special needs children you will need to do a bit more school, so i wouldnt suggest that. i graduate next year with my ECE bachelor [[4 years]] and its fairly easy. alot of book work and intern hours. i wouldnt suggset a pediatrician, that takes at LEAST 8 years of university college and then some. at a community college you can get financial aid, and all sorts of grants, loans, scholarships, etc. and it is a HECK of a lot cheaper than a university [[at community college its about 200-500 a semester whereas a university can cost anywhere near 50,000 a year and up in some places]]

Answer 5

In my state, you don't need to have a college education to work at a daycare or pre-school, but you can't advance up the career ladder very far without at least a CDA  (Child Development Associate).  

CDA's are 120 training hours in several different knowledge areas like Child Growth and Development, the Learning Environment, Communication, Health and Safety, etc.  This is a certificate - not a degree.  It might be worthwhile for you to at least go this route.  It's cheaper, it's not a huge time committment like college would be, and it better equips you to work with and understand the children.

It's really better for the kids if you get some kind of training.