Early Childhood Education, science, and living wage jobs

[MerryAtHope]

My daughter loves working with young children (she would actually like to teach Preschool). She's good with kids and a natural teacher. She's starting to rethink whether she really wants to go into nursing, so she's exploring some options. One of my goals as mom/guidance counselor is to help her choose something where she could earn a living wage if she needed to support a family (my mom was a young widow and my husband became disabled--sometimes life happens). I'm concerned that she really couldn't do that as a preschool teacher (median wage 28,000), though she could do that work while single or as supplemental income. So what I'm wondering is what else one could do with say a bachelor's in Early Childhood Education that she could move on to if she needed something that paid better? What types of jobs could it translate into? Or, what other fields could she consider instead that involve working with young children (and possibly also involve science--she really loves science as well.) 

Other things we've talked about:

Speech-Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy, teaching elementary school (she tends to prefer the more "play" oriented stage of preschool level teaching--she'll be great homeschooling! I could totally see her at a Montessori school though), working at a children's museum (she loves explaining science concepts, doing demonstrations, making concepts accessible for kids)...

What draws her to nursing--she's always had a fascination with the human body and how it works, and the idea of being in a job where she is helping people get better. She's going to job shadow some nurses this summer to get a better feel for what the job is like--but she keeps coming back to wanting to work with kids. She has thought about pediatric nursing, but I'm not sure if that will be what she expects either. 

Thanks for any ideas!

[Targhee]

I was going to suggest Occupational Therapy or Speech Language Pathology, both of which you already have. If she wants to do early childhood education perhaps developing some entrepreneurial skills as well - she would have a better income being the owner of a preschool than an employee.

[Hilltopmom]

Special education teacher, speech, PT, or OT, school psychologist, or PTA or OTA (assistant). All are hired to work in the preschool and early intervention fields for private agencies, counties,  and school districts.

I’m a preschool special education teacher. Currently doing in home visits and at head starts and preschools for kids who get services. I could also (@ have in the past) work for a district in a preK program or in a special ed center teaching a self contained or integrated preschool class. Lots of options for part time work with having a family too.

we have a great time ?

great way to get paid decent for working in early childhood- I joke that I’m way overpaid for playing hi, hi, cherry-o with kiddos

[8filltheheart]

I would say OTA. When my Dd worked with little kids, the exercises were all "disguised" as playing.  Great 1-on-1 relationship type time bc many of the kids are disabled or SN and go to therapy every week. (Straight out of a 2 yr program she and her friends were making $28-32/hr.)

[lmrich]

My dd wants to be a Child Life Specialist.  

Speech pathology is a great choice so is special ed preschool teacher. 

 

[MerryAtHope]

What's a child life specialist?

[lmrich]

A child life specialist works with children and their families in a hospital. They explain procedures to the chiildren and families. They serve as advocates for the children and help coordinate social services for the family. We had a good family friend who had this job before she had children, and she loved it. She worked a lot with kids who had brain injuries.  Anyone who plans to enter the field in 2020 and beyond (I think) must have a master's degree. 

[City Mouse]

She could get public school teaching credentials along with her early childhood degree. When I got me degree in early s childhood educations 20+ yrs ago, my university required that. Teaching public school pre-k (in most places) pays the same as teaching any other subject. She could add SPED or ELL certifications.

[Hilltopmom]

2 hours ago, City Mouse said:

She could get public school teaching credentials along with her early childhood degree. When I got me degree in early s childhood educations 20+ yrs ago, my university required that. Teaching public school pre-k (in most places) pays the same as teaching any other subject. She could add SPED or ELL certifications.

Yes. Also many more districts are now moving to universal preK and adding preschool to their offered grades. the early childhood certification is needed for those jobs (every state is different of course) 

[Chris in VA]

I have my degree in Early and Middle Childhood Ed, which covers 1st-8th grade, but I teach preschool (it's a different animal, but you find lots of moms who have that essentially-Elementary Ed degree in preschool teaching). We decided to take out a large insurance policy on my husband, in case he died while our kids were young. I know it sounds a little morbid, but it is also realistic planning. I did not want to teach full-time, nor did I want to go above preschool. And I do not enjoy public school pre-K AT ALL. lol 

It wouldn't cover the situation if she became a single mom because of a divorce, but there's alimony in that case. And one CAN live on $35K a year if needed, which is a pretty common wage for full-time daycare workers. 

So if she wants to do part time, true "preschool" she should be ok if she implements those options. 

[Mom22ns]

The number of preschool teachers who work for public school districts is increasing, and they are on the same pay scale (here at least) as other teachers. There are both early childhood special ed pre-school classrooms and Title 1 classrooms (both of which offer free preschool to those who qualify) and preschools classrooms without qualification that typically is paid for by parents, sometimes with the help of some grant money. As others have mentioned PT, OT, and ST are all done in public schools working with preschool and elementary students. Back when ds was in ESCE preschool there was an OT and a ST that worked with the preschoolers full time. Our district did not use OTAs or PTAs with preschoolers, but those positions probably do exist. 

While there are many preschool teachers making barely more than minimum wage, those with degrees who are fully qualified and good at what they do, can do as well as any other public school teacher.

[MerryAtHope]

On 5/28/2018 at 10:06 AM, Mom22ns said:

Our district did not use OTAs or PTAs with preschoolers, but those positions probably do exist. 

 

That's one thing I've actually wondered about. I've not seen ANY job openings for OTA's (schools, hospitals, nursing homes...) whenever I look for "jobs near me" and I see plenty for full on OT's. Not that she'll necessarily stay here (though it's not uncommon in our area for people to stay in the region)--but it makes me wonder if it's just not an "in demand" position around here. 

[Mom22ns]

1 hour ago, MerryAtHope said:

 

That's one thing I've actually wondered about. I've not seen ANY job openings for OTA's (schools, hospitals, nursing homes...) whenever I look for "jobs near me" and I see plenty for full on OT's. Not that she'll necessarily stay here (though it's not uncommon in our area for people to stay in the region)--but it makes me wonder if it's just not an "in demand" position around here. 

Our district has OTAs and PTAs at the elementary level, and probably higher, but that was as long as we used public schools :). I know all the hospitals and their affiliated rehabs here use them. I'm pretty sure that our CC, which has programs for both, claims 100% job placement rates - at least they used to when a friend became a PTA (and did immediately get hired). It may be that most hospitals hire directly out of certification programs and that few jobs get posted. 

[8filltheheart]

10 hours ago, MerryAtHope said:

That's one thing I've actually wondered about. I've not seen ANY job openings for OTA's (schools, hospitals, nursing homes...) whenever I look for "jobs near me" and I see plenty for full on OT's. Not that she'll necessarily stay here (though it's not uncommon in our area for people to stay in the region)--but it makes me wonder if it's just not an "in demand" position around here. 

Our state only has 1 certified program servicing the entire state. Some states have a long list. https://www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Find-School/AccreditEntryLevel/OTAPrograms.aspx Dd's program let the students select where they did their clinical (not the right word, but I can't remember anymore) type hrs. Dd chose our area. Her school was actually 4 hrs away. She had multiple week periods where she would come home and work in various facilities. She did hours in a ps, nursing home, private children's facility, a facility focused just on hand rehab, etc.

The program could easily tell us where grads from the program were employed. It was a small program only accepting something like 35 students per yr and they had 100% placement of all student who desired to be employed. I would contactthe programs in your state and ask.

[Hilltopmom]

Our area is so short on PTs and OTs and OTAs or PTAs that they’re all welcomed with open arms. PT is now a PhD program and we don’t have any schools in our area for any of these professions that we’re thrilled with get any professionals around here. Our districts, agencies, and hospitals all hire ota and pta, they just need to be overseen by a full OT or pt.

Id just call around and ask

[8filltheheart]

5 minutes ago, Hilltopmom said:

Our area is so short on PTs and OTs and OTAs or PTAs that they’re all welcomed with open arms. PT is now a PhD program and we don’t have any schools in our area for any of these professions that we’re thrilled with get any professionals around here. Our districts, agencies, and hospitals all hire ota and pta, they just need to be overseen by a full OT or pt.

Id just call around and ask

This is my dd's experience. OTAs are the ones treating patients and OTs are doing assessments and traveling around to multiple facilities.

[katilac]

There can be good money in running your own preschool. She might need to work for a few years to get experience and connections, but it has excellent long-term prospects 

[katilac]

Oh, and I second Chris in Va's thoughts on excellent insurance when kids are young, including both life insurance and disability insurance above and beyond what might be offered for free through an employer. My sister was dx with a chronic, disabling illness at quite a young age (late 20s), and having the higher level of disability payments made a huge difference to her quality of life. 

[AmandaVT]

Licensed mental health counselor specializing in children or an adolescent psychiatrist. Both well paying and very much in demand. I work at for a counseling office and the wait for a psychiatrist that'll take kids is forever. It's the one thing I've considered going back to school for. Also, many mental health counselors limit or do not take kids under 13 - so that's another avenue that may work for her.