What is a toddler assistant teacher and how to become one

Q: How long does it take to become a Toddler Assistant Teacher?

It takes 2 years of professional experience to become a toddler assistant teacher. That is the time it takes to learn specific toddler assistant teacher skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 5 to 7 years years to become a toddler assistant teacher.

Q: Do teachers assistants get paid?

Yes, teacher assistants get paid. The average teacher assistant earns around $28,708 a year. This amount can range, however, from $21,000 a year to $41,000 a year. Factors such as the company and location impact how much a teacher assistant can earn.

Q: How do I become a good preschool assistant teacher?

You become a good preschool assistant teacher through preparation, patience, keen observation, enthusiasm, and organizational skills, to name a few. As a preschool assistant, one of the essential skills to have is the art of preparation. This requirement means having materials ready for the whole group and small group activities and centers. It also means being prepared for mishaps like spills, accidents, and runny noses.

Q: How much do preschool teacher assistants make?

Preschool teacher assistants make an average of $24,813 a year or $12 an hour. However, this amount can range from $6.50 to as much as $16.25 an hour. Factors such as location can impact the earning potential of a preschool teacher assistant.

Q: What does a kindergarten assistant teacher do?

A kindergarten assistant teacher does work in cooperation with the headteacher in the classroom. Kindergarten assistant teachers may be tasked to enforce classroom and school rules and greet children when they arrive at school.

Q: What does a toddler teacher do?

A toddler teacher helps young children prepare for kindergarten through play, interactive activities, and games. A toddler teacher also helps toddlers develop their language, vocabulary, social, and basic mathematical and scientific concepts.

Q: What is a toddler teacher called?

A toddler teacher is called an early education teacher. In some cases, they are referred to as preschool teachers. A toddler is between the ages of one and three years. Preschoolers, however, typically range in age between three and five years of age.

Q: What qualifications do you need to be a teaching assistant?

The qualifications you need to be a teaching assistant include a high school diploma, but an associate's degree may be required in some cases. The requirements for becoming a teacher's assistant are different from state to state. In private or charter schools, assistants may only be required to have a high school degree. However, having at least an associate's degree can improve an applicant's prospects.

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Diana Jones

A toddler assistant teacher supports the lead teacher in a classroom of young children, typically aged 1-3 years old. They assist with daily activities such as diaper changing, feeding, and supervising playtime. Additionally, they may assist with lesson planning and implementing educational activities that promote physical, cognitive, and social development. The role requires patience, creativity, and a nurturing attitude. Good communication and teamwork skills are also important for working collaboratively with other teachers and parents.

What general advice would you give to a toddler assistant teacher?

Dr. Diana Jones

Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University

General advice: I would encourage graduates to find a mentor who can guide them in their careers, stay on top of the latest technology, not be too hard on themselves, be flexible, be team players, be present, and care about their students.

ScoreToddler Assistant TeacherUS Average

Salary

2.4

Avg. Salary $30,137

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.5

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

9.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.35%

Asian 8.57%

Black or African American 10.45%

Hispanic or Latino 16.93%

Unknown 4.59%

White 58.10%

Gender

female 88.09%

male 11.91%

Age - 45

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45

Stress level

4.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.8

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

10.0

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a toddler assistant teacher?

Pros

You can be creative with lesson plans and activities.
You can develop strong relationships with the children and their families.
You can gain experience in the field of education.
You can improve your communication and problem-solving skills.
You may get to participate in special events and field trips.

Cons

The work can be emotionally exhausting, as you may need to deal with challenging behavior or emotional outbursts from children.
There is a risk of illness due to exposure to germs from young children.
The job may involve dealing with difficult parents or guardians.
The work can be repetitive, as you may need to perform similar tasks each day.
The job may not offer many opportunities for career advancement beyond becoming a lead teacher

Key steps to become a toddler assistant teacher

Explore toddler assistant teacher education requirements

Most common toddler assistant teacher degrees

Bachelor's

45.3 %

High School Diploma

21.5 %

Associate

20.7 %

Start to develop specific toddler assistant teacher skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	27.63%
CPR	26.99%
Child Care	22.88%
Child Development	8.40%
Classroom Management	1.49%

Gain additional toddler assistant teacher certifications

Toddler assistant 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 toddler assistant teacher certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for toddler assistant teachers include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Certified Dental Assistant (CDA).

More About Certifications

Research toddler assistant teacher duties and responsibilities

Work closely with co-teacher to manage and co-teach curriculum to a large group.
Schedule appointments, answer calls, file, pull, and maintain accuracy in patients EMR.
Assist in preparation and maintenance of Montessori learning environment to encourage students to thrive academically, socially, and physically.
Collaborate with parents and other staff members in order to maintain an appropriate learning environment in alignment with the Montessori philosophy

Prepare your toddler assistant teacher resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your toddler assistant 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 a toddler assistant 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 toddler assistant teacher resume templates

Build a professional toddler assistant 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 toddler assistant teacher resume.

Apply for toddler assistant teacher jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a toddler assistant 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 do toddler assistant teachers rate their job?

-/5

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Toddler assistant teacher reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2022

Pros

Seeing the kids learn, grow, over come challenges.

Cons

It can be emotionally and physically draining, especially if not appreciated.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2022

Pros

Gaining the childs trust and watching them geow and learn.

Cons

That in a year the children you fall in love with move on to the next grade.

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2022

Pros

Kids, teaching lessons, co-teachers, hours, weekends off, salary, holidays off, summers off, paid sick and personal days

Cons

Administration, observations, being told what to teach and HOW to teach it, expecting us to participate in things we might not want to or have the time for, staff meetings with no substance

What is a toddler assistant teacher and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a toddler assistant teacher?

What are the pros and cons of being a toddler assistant teacher?

Toddler assistant teacher career paths

Key steps to become a toddler assistant teacher

Explore toddler assistant teacher education requirements

Most common toddler assistant teacher degrees

Start to develop specific toddler assistant teacher skills

Gain additional toddler assistant teacher certifications

Research toddler assistant teacher duties and responsibilities

Prepare your toddler assistant teacher resume

Choose from 10+ customizable toddler assistant teacher resume templates

Apply for toddler assistant teacher jobs

How did you land your first toddler assistant teacher job

Average toddler assistant teacher salary

How do toddler assistant teachers rate their job?

Toddler assistant teacher reviews

Toddler assistant teacher FAQs

How long does it take to become a Toddler Assistant Teacher?

Do teachers assistants get paid?

How do I become a good preschool assistant teacher?

How much do preschool teacher assistants make?

What does a kindergarten assistant teacher do?

What does a toddler teacher do?

What is a toddler teacher called?

What qualifications do you need to be a teaching assistant?

Search for toddler assistant teacher jobs

Toddler assistant teacher jobs by state