How to Stay Current as an Early Childhood Educator

One of the common characteristics among leading early childhood educators is their drive to keep learning. What makes an ECE stand out from the rest is their passion for discovering new techniques, keeping up with the latest trends and research in the field, and responding to these changes, incorporating them into their curriculum.

Since the research around early childhood education is constantly evolving, it can seem difficult to stay abreast of what’s new. Revolutionary methods of teaching and different ways of understanding young minds are always coming to the forefront. So, how do you stay on top of it all?

If you are an early childhood educator, keep these tips in mind to stay current and continue to provide the best possible experience for the children in your classroom:

Keep Up With the Latest Child Care Regulations

Working in the field of early childhood education requires you to be up to date with current regulations and standards. Rules and regulations will vary depending on your State or Province, so research carefully to determine which will impact your business. Consider joining a professional association of educators in your area, who will help you stay on top of legislation changes and understand how they apply to you and your child care facility.

Stay Up to Date With Leading ECE Resources

One of the simplest ways to stay current is to regularly read information from the industry’s top minds and organizations dedicated to early childhood education. Schedule time each week to review your favorite resources and share and discuss any new information that interests you with your colleagues. Some of the resources we like to follow include:

• National Association for the Education of Young Children
• Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
• National Institute for Early Education Research

Pursue Professional Development

Further education and training can have a huge impact on your career as an early childhood educator. Pursuing professional development opportunities will not only make you a better educator today and keep your early childhood education skills up to date, it will also open up doors for your future career. Gaining additional qualifications is key to showing potential employers that you are on top of the latest research, techniques and trends in early years education. There are many creative professional development ideas to pursue. Consider attending an ECE-related conference or workshop, a training course, or work towards an additional education-related degree.

If you’re looking for more resources on professional development and staying current as an ECE, check the links below:

Related Resources

• 7 Challenges of Being a Preschool Teacher
• How to Stay Current as an Early Childhood Educator
• Continuous Professional Learning for Ontario Early Childhood Educators
• Early Childhood Education Career Path Possibilities
• 3 Reasons to Pursue an Early Childhood Educator Degree
• How to Create a Professional Portfolio for Educators
• 5 Tips to Make Your Educator Portfolio Stand Out
• What is an Early Childhood Educator?