I think this is a wonderful question and a appreciate being asked it as a child care professional.
First I thing I think needs to be said is it is all about relationships build with the family care givers, it doesn't always come down to education and experience. That being said education and experience are often the first things looked at and the relationship gets built after enrolling a child.
I myself work as a lead teacher at a lab school in partner with a university and I myself am the only lead teacher without a master's degree, I hold a bachelors degree.
I naturally think those having family child care also need a bachelors or masters in the field. I have a two friends that run family child care, one has a masters and one has a bachelors and there schooling makes me much more comfortable of their care of children. I know their are many experienced people who run family child care who hold an associates and are amazing at their job. It's difficult to see this as a clear cut question when there can be so many variables.
The question that this brings to my mind is this: Is family child care spread more by word of mouth, friends recommending certain family child care to other friends or are parents enrolling their children more often with people they have absolutely no connection with?
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Olivia Wendorf
Assistant Teacher
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-13-2020 11:32 AM
From: Temesha Ragan
Subject: Education Requirements
I am interested to learn what education many of you feel should be required for family child care educators? I know all over the country we have changes being made at the state level for requirements, but we as the educators are rarely consulted. What do you think would help educators who are working from their homes with the business while ensuring that children's needs are being met in developmentally appropriate ways?
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Temesha (Ms. Tessie) Ragan
Co-Family Child Care IF Facilitator
Perfect Start Learning
Family Child Care Provider
Edwards, CA
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