Early Childhood Educators

In early care and education there are endless pieces of knowledge and many skills that a professional applies every day as they care for and educate young children and interact with families. This set of competencies aims to describe the seven competency domains that are most common to the practice of being an early childhood educator. Just as a doctor practices medicine, an early childhood educator practices caregiving and teaching. The seven competency areas are broken into categories. Each competency has three levels.

Early childhood educators may use the competencies to reinforce what they are already doing well, to introduce themselves to new skills and knowledge areas, and to improve their practice. The competencies are particularly useful for those just starting their journey or for those looking to gain knowledge and skills in a specific area and grow their career. Everyone may use the competencies to support a professional plan for themselves or for those they work with. Lead teachers may find the competencies useful as they work with assistant teachers or teacher aids and directors with their program staff. Coaches, mentors, and apprenticeship administrators may use the competencies as part of a skill development plan for those they work with.

This competency set also provides an opportunity for others to better understand the comprehensive nature of an early childhood educator's role and responsibilities. The competency set shows just how important an early childhood educator's work is to the growth, development, and learning of the children in their care and to the families they also support.

There are many resources and training opportunities available to help early childhood professionals gain the competencies and succeed in their work with young children and their families. Visit formal and informal educational opportunities for resources.

A good place to start is with the competencies that focus on Colorado Rules and Regulations and being in compliance with all licensing, health, safety, and nutrition regulations and codes. Being able to build positive relationships and healthy attachments with children is often considered to be the basis for all other learning so this would be another good area to start with. If you are already familiar with those competencies then you may want to begin with the first level in an area of need or interest. Read through the domain descriptions to see what interests you. Those with the first level of knowledge and skills can begin with the next level. All early childhood educators may use the competencies to help them create an annual professional development plan in their Colorado Shines PDIS account. Use the Taking the Self-Assessment in My Professional Development Plan how-to guide to learn how to take or update the self-assessment and to create goals in your professional development plan.