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What is an infant and toddler teacher and how to become one
An infant and toddler teacher cares for and teaches children from birth to three years old. They work to promote physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. Infant and toddler teachers have knowledge of child development, curriculum planning, and communication skills. They also provide feedback on children's progress to parents and work collaboratively with other teachers and staff. The primary goal of an infant and toddler teacher aims to support the growth and development of young children.
What general advice would you give to an infant and toddler teacher?
Jessica Espinosa Ph.D.
Associate Professor Senior, Miami Dade College
Avg. Salary $29,606
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 15%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.91%
Asian 5.85%
Black or African American 8.39%
Hispanic or Latino 17.99%
Unknown 4.58%
White 62.27%
Genderfemale 95.31%
male 4.69%
Age - 39American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 39Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being an infant and toddler teacher?
Pros
Chance to be creative in planning activities and lessons
Provides job security with high demand for early childhood educators
Offers opportunities for professional growth and advancement
Can lead to lifelong friendships with former students and their families
Offers a chance to learn from the children
Cons
Low pay compared to other professions requiring similar education levels
May not have access to benefits such as health insurance or retirement plans
Requires long hours, including weekends and holidays
May require working with limited resources or outdated materials
Can be isolating as teachers may spend most of their time with young children
Infant and toddler teacher career paths
Key steps to become an infant and toddler teacher
Explore infant and toddler teacher education requirements
Start to develop specific infant and toddler teacher skills
Skills Percentages CPR 23.00% Child Care 20.12% Child Development 14.00% Professional Development 7.20% Classroom Environment 5.97% Complete relevant infant and toddler teacher training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New infant and toddler teachers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an infant and toddler teacher based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real infant and toddler teacher resumes.Gain additional infant and toddler teacher certifications
More About CertificationsInfant and toddler teacher certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific infant and toddler teacher certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for infant and toddler teachers include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Child Development Associate (CDA).
Research infant and toddler teacher duties and responsibilities
- Lead team meetings with therapists and clinicians pertaining to quarterlies, annual reports, IEP goals, and parent teacher conferences.
- Plan and develop curriculum, manage mathematics department.
- Receive current CPR training as well.
- Develop and implement individual student's IEP in conjunction with a mental health worker, classroom aide, and clinical team.
Prepare your infant and toddler teacher resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your infant and toddler teacher resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an infant and toddler teacher resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable infant and toddler teacher resume templates
Build a professional infant and toddler teacher resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your infant and toddler teacher resume.
Apply for infant and toddler teacher jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an infant and toddler teacher job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first infant and toddler teacher job
Are you an infant and toddler teacher?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average infant and toddler teacher salary
The average infant and toddler teacher salary in the United States is $29,606 per year or $14 per hour. Infant and toddler teacher salaries range between $23,000 and $37,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do infant and toddler teachers rate their job?
Infant and toddler teacher reviews
Seeing the kids learn, grow, over come challenges.
It can be emotionally and physically draining, especially if not appreciated.
Gaining the childs trust and watching them geow and learn.
That in a year the children you fall in love with move on to the next grade.
I like working with my students, their parents and the various specialists my students need in order to increase their physical, emotional, daily living and cognitive skills.
There are very few things I dislike about working with preschoolers with special needs, other professionals and their parents.
Updated January 8, 2025
