Any Child and Family Development Majors?

[Hunter's Moon]

I'm considering this major.

 

I really, really want to work with infants and tots, but I don't know what I want to do. I do not want to be a nurse. I do not want to be a day care worker or teacher. I am iffy on Occupational Therapist. I'm considering Child Life Specialist.

 

Eh, I don't know.

 

It wouldn't hurt to major in this and then decide later, right?

 

:001_huh:

[Momof3littles]

I would urge you to shadow and volunteer at all possible.

 

I would look at:

 

OT

COTA (occupational therapist assistant)

PT

PTA

SLP (speech therapist)

early intervention working as a teacher for 0-3 yo. Evaluation and treatment in that age group is usually one on one, lots of work educating families on how to facilitate their child's development, some autonomy. 0-3 services are usually provided in the child's natural environment, so usually in the child's home or visiting them at daycare if they attend. It is different than working as a teacher in a daycare with many kids where you are managing a classroom, etc.

 

I would invest as much time as you can volunteering and shadowing now vs. deciding later.

 

I would urge you to consider volunteering with Special Olympics, Easter Seals, etc.

 

The jobs above can look really different in pediatrics vs. in adults, and they can really look different in various settings. Pediatric OTs do different things in a hospital/acute care setting vs. in early intervention vs. in schools, for example. For that reason, if you like some or all of the above, try to observe or volunteer in different settings as well.

 

I was a PT and worked in EI if you have any questions you want to PM about or ask here.

[Sugarfoot]

My MA is in Marriage and Family Therapy, but one of my SILs has a degree in Child Life Specialist. It's basically 1/3 education, 1/3 nursing, and 1/3 child development. She now runs a Mother's Day Out program from her home so that she can be with her own 5 children, but she LOVED her job as a child life specialist! She worked full-time in a hospital interacting with the kids--talking with them while doing crafts and playing, etc. before surgery or during other times. There's a lot of variety.

[Hunter's Moon]

My MA is in Marriage and Family Therapy, but one of my SILs has a degree in Child Life Specialist. It's basically 1/3 education, 1/3 nursing, and 1/3 child development. She now runs a Mother's Day Out program from her home so that she can be with her own 5 children, but she LOVED her job as a child life specialist! She worked full-time in a hospital interacting with the kids--talking with them while doing crafts and playing, etc. before surgery or during other times. There's a lot of variety.

 

I've been leaning towards Child Life Specialist for some time now. I just like that it is about getting the child comfortable and helping them with their fears.

 

I'll see about doing some shadowing.

 

:001_smile:

[Joanne]

Child life specialist speciality sounds great. :)

[Splash]

I love the child life specialist at hospital my dd was in. She is wonderful! I think her job looks like so much fun plus she has been really helpful with my dd and learning about her disease and why the doctors and nurses need to do what they are doing. Lily loves her. I think it would be a great job. I have no idea though how easy it would be to find such a job. My major was early childhood development.

 

Kimberly

[amy g.]

My degree is in early childhood education and elementary Ed. It has served me well.