What does a child development associate teacher do?
Child development associate teacher responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real child development associate teacher resumes:
- Design and apply activities to help children in achieving their goals and objectives in accordance with IFSP 's
- Utilize play and interactive activities to develop language and vocabulary, introduce scientific and mathematical concepts and improve social skills.
- Set up the physical environment to meet the changing needs of infants and toddlers in accordance with ECERS and ITERS-R assessments.
Child development associate teacher skills and personality traits
We calculated that 81% of Child Development Associate Teachers are proficient in Child Development, Emotional Development, and Bulletin Boards. They’re also known for soft skills such as Creativity, Organizational skills, and Physical stamina.
We break down the percentage of Child Development Associate Teachers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Child Development, 81%
Identified children showing signs of developmental or health-related problems and escalated those issues to supervisors, parents, and/or child development specialists
- Emotional Development, 7%
Developed and implemented classroom curriculum promoting academic and social-emotional development.
- Bulletin Boards, 6%
Help prepare instructional materials such as games, posters, bulletin boards, computer programs, or audio-visual materials.
- Infant Care, 4%
Skilled in infant care, providing educational activities and recreational activities for growth and development.
- CDA, 3%
Field staff advisor and evaluator for CDA candidates in helping them prepare for the certification process.
"child development," "emotional development," and "bulletin boards" are among the most common skills that child development associate teachers use at work. You can find even more child development associate teacher responsibilities below, including:
Creativity. One of the key soft skills for a child development associate teacher to have is creativity. You can see how this relates to what child development associate teachers do because "preschool teachers must plan lessons that engage young children." Additionally, a child development associate teacher resume shows how child development associate teachers use creativity: "expanded curriculum to include additional art projects, which nurtured children's creativity and expression. "
Organizational skills. Another essential skill to perform child development associate teacher duties is organizational skills. Child development associate teachers responsibilities require that "teachers need to be organized to plan lessons and keep records of the children." Child development associate teachers also use organizational skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "utilized organizational skills and time management skills to focus on early childhood development. "
Physical stamina. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of child development associate teachers is physical stamina. This skill is critical to many everyday child development associate teacher duties, as "preschool teachers should have a lot of energy, because working with children can be physically demanding." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "planned and provide a learning environment and experiences that promote physical, social, intellectual, and emotional development. "
Interpersonal skills. A big part of what child development associate teachers do relies on "interpersonal skills." You can see how essential it is to child development associate teacher responsibilities because "preschool teachers must understand children’s emotional needs and be able to develop relationships with parents, children, and coworkers." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical child development associate teacher tasks: "used interpersonal abilities to create a happy, caring and stimulating learning environment. "
Communication skills. Another crucial skill for a child development associate teacher to carry out their responsibilities is "communication skills." A big part of what child development associate teachers relies on this skill, since "preschool teachers need good writing and speaking skills to talk to parents and colleagues about children’s progress." How this skill relates to child development associate teacher duties can be seen in an example from a child development associate teacher resume snippet: "fostered effective ongoing communication with parents by providing verbal reports, and written notes on children's daily activities. "
Patience. While "patience" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to child development associate teacher responsibilities. Much of what a child development associate teacher does relies on this skill, seeing as "working with children may be stressful." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of child development associate teachers: "demonstrated patience and understanding while managing difficult behaviors to maintain conducive learning environment in the classroom. "
The three companies that hire the most child development associate teachers are:
- Kern Community College District3 child development associate teachers jobs
- Bright Horizons2 child development associate teachers jobs
- University of Southern California2 child development associate teachers jobs
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Compare different child development associate teachers
Child development associate teacher vs. Floater
A floater is a person who has no definite position in an organization and usually serves as a substitute for a team member who is away. Floaters ideally must have comprehensive knowledge with the general operations of an organization, especially on filling in a task as told by management even under minimal supervision. A floater employee must be detail-oriented, a fast learner, and an excellent communicator to handle various tasks and escalate concerns as needed.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, child development associate teacher responsibilities require skills like "child development," "childhood," "emotional development," and "bulletin boards." Meanwhile a typical floater has skills in areas such as "customer service," "cpr," "safety standards," and "quality standards." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
The education levels that floaters earn slightly differ from child development associate teachers. In particular, floaters are 2.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a child development associate teacher. Additionally, they're 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Child development associate teacher vs. Preschool teacher's assistant
Preschool teacher assistants, paid an average of $25K per year, must have skills in childcare and communication. This career requires a minimum of a high school diploma, though in some situations, a bachelor's degree may be needed. Those who choose this career path interact with children, prepare snacks, teach things like color and shapes, help children to get dressed and/or change diapers, and evaluate children's development and physical wellness.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, child development associate teacher responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "childhood," "bulletin boards," "community resources," and "infant care." Meanwhile, a preschool teacher's assistant has duties that require skills in areas such as "open communication," "child care," "compassion," and "cpr." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
In general, preschool teacher's assistants achieve higher levels of education than child development associate teachers. They're 5.2% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Child development associate teacher vs. Teacher
Being a teacher is one of the most passionate professions, among others. Teachers educate, motivate, and guide every generation of learners to prepare them for the real world. Every teacher is unique and has their own teaching styles and methods depending on the subject they teach and the age of their students. Oftentimes they also function as a parent, counselor, coach, friend, and even a lawmaker. There is essentially no limit to the roles a teacher portrays.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from child development associate teacher resumes include skills like "child development," "childhood," "emotional development," and "bulletin boards," whereas a teacher is more likely to list skills in "esl," "handle scheduling," "kids," and "classroom management. "
Teachers typically earn higher educational levels compared to child development associate teachers. Specifically, they're 15.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Child development associate teacher vs. Pre-k teacher
Pre-K teachers play an essential role in the lives of young children ages three to five years old by developing and nurturing their interest in subjects appropriate for their age. They promote a creative learning environment and encourage social interactions among students while providing the fundamental educational foundation that will prepare them for a successful start to kindergarten. They are responsible for overseeing children during their mealtimes, reinforcing personal hygiene, and developing children's social skills. Pre-K teachers also plan curriculum and work with other school staff members.
Types of child development associate teacher
Updated January 8, 2025
