Early Childhood Development

Note: Criminal history may disqualify individuals from having access to children in licensed or certified childcare operations. Additionally, a criminal history may disqualify individuals from obtaining or maintaining any certifications required in childcare settings.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) permits and monitors all child-care operations and child-placing agencies for compliance with state licensing standards, rules, and laws.
For details about specific offenses and their impact on different types of child care settings, refer to https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Care/documents/Standards_and_Regulations/LCCO_Chart.pdf.
Note that even though the chart outlines offenses in which persons may be present at a child-care operation, DFPS may place conditions or restrictions on a person’s duties in order for the person to be present at the operation.

CDEC-1358. Creative Arts for Early Childhood. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. An exploration of principles, methods, and materials for teaching music, movement, visual arts, and dramatic play through process-oriented experiences to support divergent thinking for children birth through age eight.

CDEC-1356. Emergent Literacy for Early Childhood. (3 Credits)

(3, 0, 0) An exploration of principles, methods, and materials for teaching language and literacy through a play-based integrated curriculum to children from birth through age eight.

CDEC-1359. Children With Special Needs. (3 Credits)

(3, 0, 0) A survey of information regarding children with special needs including possible causes and characteristics of exceptionalities, intervention strategies, available resources, referral processes, the advocacy role, and legislative issues.

CDEC-2326. Administration of Programs for Children I. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Application of management procedures for early care and education programs. Includes planning, operating, supervising, and evaluating programs. Topics cover philosophy, types of programs, policies, fiscal management, regulations, staffing, evaluation, and communication.

CDEC-2307. Math and Science for Early Childhood. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. An exploration of principles, methods, and materials for teaching young children math and science concepts through discovery and play.

CDEC-2315. Diverse Cultural/Multilingual Education. (3 Credits)

(3-2-4) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. An overview of diverse cultural and multilingual education including familial relationships, community awareness, diversity, and the needs of each and every child.

CDEC-2328. Administration of Programs for Children II. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. An in-depth study of the skills and techniques in managing early care and education programs, including legal and ethical issues, personnel management, team building, leadership, conflict resolution, stress management, advocacy, professionalism, fiscal analysis, technical applications in programs and planning parent education/partnerships.

CDEC-2368. Practicum, Child Care Provider/Assistant. (3 Credits)

(3-1-20) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Practical, general workplace training supported by an individualized learning plan developed by the employer, college, and student.

CDEC-2326. Administration of Programs for Children I. (3 Credits)

CDEC-2341. The School Age Child. (3 Credits)

(3, 0, 0) A study of programs for the school age child, including an overview of development, learning environments, materials, activities and guidance techniques.

TECA-1303. Families, School and Community. (3 Credits)

(3-3-2) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. A study of the child, family, community, and schools, including parent education and involvement, family and community lifestyles, child abuse and current family life issues. This course includes a 16 hour lab component with children from infancy through age 12 in a variety of settings with varied and diverse populations.

TECA-1311. Educating Young Children. (3 Credits)

(3-3-2) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. An introduction to the education of the young child, including developmentally appropriate practices and programs, theoretical and historical perspectives, ethical and professional responsibilities and current issues. This course includes a 16 hour lab component with children from infancy through age 12 in a variety of settings with varied and diverse populations.

TECA-1318. Wellness of the Young Child. (3 Credits)

(3-3-2) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. A study of the factors that impact the well-being of the young child including healthy behavior, food, nutrition, fitness, and safety practices. Focuses on local and national standards and legal implications of relevant policies and regulations. Course content must be aligned as applicable with State Board for Educator Certification Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities standards and coincide with the National Association for the Education of Young Children position statement related to developmentally appropriate practices for children from birth to age eight. Requires students to participate in field experiences with children from infancy through age 12 in a variety of settings with varied and diverse populations. Course includes a minimum of 16 hours of field experiences.

TECA-1354. Child Growth and Development. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. A study of the physical, emotional, social and cognitive factors impacting growth and development of children through adolescence.

BCIS-1305. Business Computer Applications. (3 Credits)

(3-2-4) CORE AREA 090 This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Students will study computer terminology, hardware, and software related to the business environment. The focus of this course is on business productivity software applications and professional behavior in computing, including word processing (as needed), spreadsheets, databases, presentation graphics, and business-oriented utilization of the Internet. Lab fee.

CDEC-1319. Child Guidance. (3 Credits)

(3, 0, 0) An exploration of guidance strategies for promoting prosocial behaviors with individual and groups of children. Emphasis on positive guidance principles and techniques, family involvement, and cultural influences.

What Preschool Teachers Do

Preschool teachers educate and care for children younger than age 5 who have not yet entered kindergarten. They teach language, motor, and social skills to young children.

Duties

Preschool teachers typically do the following:

Teach children basic skills such as identifying colors, shapes, numbers, and letters
Work with children in groups or one-on-one, depending on the needs of the children and the subject matter
Plan and carry out a curriculum that focuses on different areas of child development
Organize activities so children can learn about the world, explore interests, and develop skills
Develop schedules and routines to ensure children have enough physical activity and rest
Watch for signs of emotional or developmental problems in each child and bring them to the attention of the child’s parents
Keep records of the children’s progress, routines, and interests, and inform parents about their child’s development

Young children learn from playing, problem-solving, and experimenting. Preschool teachers use play and other instructional techniques to teach children. For example, they use storytelling and rhyming games to teach language and vocabulary. They may help improve children’s social skills by having them work together to build a neighborhood in a sandbox or teach math by having children count when building with blocks.

Preschool teachers work with children from different ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds. Teachers include topics in their lessons that teach children how to respect people of different backgrounds and cultures.

SUMMARY

Preschool teachers
2022 Median Pay: $33,330 per year, $16.99 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education: Associate's degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation: None
On-the-job Training: None
Number of Jobs, 2022: 512,300
Job Outlook, 2022-32: 3% (faster than average)
Employment Change, 2022-32: 17,200

Work Environment

Preschool teachers typically work in public and private schools or childcare centers. Many work the traditional 10-month school year, but some work year-round.

How to Become a Preschool Teacher

Education and training requirements vary based on settings and state regulations. Preschool teachers typically need at least an associate’s degree.

Pay

The median annual wage for preschool teachers was $35.330 in May 2022.

Job Outlook

Employment of preschool teachers is projected to grow 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 56,300 openings for preschool teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

SUGGESTED CITATION:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Preschool Teachers, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/preschool-teachers.htm (visited January 18, 2023).

Some careers in this field will require a bachelor's degree.

TVCC's AA degrees are fully transferable to public universities in Texas. See an academic advisor or TVCC's university transfer webpage for more information on this transfer opportunity.
Many of TVCC's AAS degrees lead to an online Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) degree with participating universities. See an academic advisor or the BAAS transfer website for more information on this transfer opportunity.