Childcare Assistant - Day Care Center Infant Classroom Part Time

American Addiction Centers • Libertyville, IL

4d • $19 - $28 • Onsite

About The Position

This is a part-time Childcare Assistant position in an Infant classroom at a Day Care Center. The role involves demonstrating positive interactions with children, families, and associates, following childcare program guidelines, and supporting the classroom teacher. The assistant will engage with children at their eye level, provide comfort and nurture, and follow discipline guidelines. They will also assist in implementing care plans, supporting child development through activities, and contributing to progress reports and documentation. Collaboration with the teaching team, administration, and co-workers is essential, as is maintaining a safe, clean, and welcoming environment. The position requires flexibility, patience, and the ability to respond quickly to unsafe conditions.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalency
• Ability to communicate verbally and non-verbally with participants
• Competent interpersonal skills
• Basic computer skills
• Emotional maturity when working with children
• Ability to work cooperatively with teaching team, administration and other co-workers.
• Ability to communicate one’s own and parent ideas, concerns and needs with co-workers.
• Ability to share information which may affect the development of the children and family by listening and communicating appropriate information in a timely manner to other professionals working in the program.
• Ability to share in responsibilities of carrying out the daily routines, procedures, schedule and Center and classroom goals.
• Ability to work as part of a team to create and maintain an optimum environment for the growth and development of the children in it.
• Awareness of classroom information such as orientations, transitions, schedule changes, etc.
• Ability to understand and support Center and classroom goals.
• Ability to demonstrate flexibility with teaching team, daily schedule, routines, and classroom assignments.
• Ability to resolve conflicts with co-workers in a professional manner and address issues/concerns with team as they arise and in team meetings.
• Ability to model appropriate behavior and demonstrate positive attitude.
• Ability to provide suggestions/solutions as issues arise.
• Responsibility to be aware of the number of children in assigned group at all times.
• Ability to physically position self within classroom, away from other staff, to be able to see children at all times, to monitor the classroom for possible safety hazards and physical or verbally intervene whenever necessary.
• Ability to assist in implementing child safety practices that include head counts, ratio sheets, name-to-face checks, sleep room/crib checks and supervision of children.
• Ability to interact and engage with the children to role model and encourage positive social interactions.
• Ability to avoid distractions that interferes with supervision of children.
• Ability to refrain from personal conversations, cell phone and computer usage while the children are awake and engaged in activities.
• Ability to communicate daily to parents regarding the child’s daily activities.
• Ability to assist in completing written forms of communication such as Today We Did board, daily notes, progress reports, etc.
• Ability to assist in creating a welcoming and open atmosphere that promotes daily communication with staff and families and integrates parents as part of the teaching team.
• Ability to greet parents and communicate child’s daily accomplishments and interests.
• Ability to direct parent concerns/issues to supervisor and/or classroom teaching team.
• Ability to keep responsible staff informed of issues which may affect the care or development of children in the classroom and/or classroom/Center operations.
• Ability to share in the responsibility of organizing, cleaning, storing and removing damaged/unsafe materials or equipment.
• Ability to assist in maintaining an organized, clutter free environment in the classroom and throughout the Day Center.
• Ability to assist in completing classroom health and safety checklist along with other safety checklists - bottle charts, ratio sheets, etc.
• Demonstrates appropriate hand hygiene by following policy/procedure and ensuring all staff, family and children do the same.
• Adheres to, follows and practices Advocate's Be Safe Behaviors and Tools at all times.
• Lifting: medium: up to 11 - 50 pounds frequently and/or up to 10 pounds constantly. Max. lift 35 pounds by individual - over 35 pounds assistance required.
• Ability to stand, stoop, bend, and carry children, sit without back support for 15-20 minutes at a time.
• Requires unusual hours and flexible work schedules, including room assignments.
• Ability to work with children 6 weeks through 10 years of age.
• Ability to communicate with children at an age appropriate level.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and complete work within short timeframes.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with established time constraints.
• Ability to physically respond quickly to unsafe conditions which may put children at risk.
• Flexibility, understanding and patience.
• Skills to help children meet their developmental and emotional needs.
• Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of Illinois Early Learning Standards/Guidelines and NAEYC guidelines.
• Experience with Excel Rate ECE Credential.
• Experience working with Gateways.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate positive interactions with children, families, and associates through verbal and non-verbal communication.
• At child's eye level, listen, respond and speak to children in positive, respectful tones.
• Engage with and listen, respond and speak to children at eye level within close proximity.
• Demonstrate ability to nurture children appropriately, to provide children with the comfort of a safe, responsive environment as needed.
• Follow Day Center Child Care discipline guidelines and demonstrate positive guidance and discipline techniques.
• Discuss child’s behavior and development with classroom team and/or Supervisor and maintain compliance with DCFS regulations.
• Implement the primary caregiving care plan for assigned children to maintain a consistent positive relationship with both child and family.
• Interact with the children at all times and engage them in activities and learning experiences that support their growth and development.
• Assist classroom staff with developing and implementing positive behavior patterns of children.
• Give input for daily activities and learning experiences and assist in preparing and implementing curriculum activities.
• Meet the needs of the children in group to support the development of psychologically and physically healthy individuals.
• From observations of children, give input and assistance to teachers in completing progress reports, developmental checklists, parent/teacher conference forms, daily notes and documentation for children's portfolios.
• Actively participate and attend classroom meetings and all other assigned meetings.
• Work with classroom teachers and/or administrative staff to learn how to make observations and take notes of children’s behaviors and development.
• Seek ongoing training and professional development by attending early childhood trainings, reading professional journals, and/or continuing education in the early childhood field.
• Assist in completing Environmental Rating Scale for assigned classroom.
• Complete DCFS and Advocate's required on-line trainings and other trainings for Excel Rate ECE Credential.
• Work with Gateways to earn and/or maintain ECE Credential.
• Earn required in-service hours annually.
• Update Professional Development Record and provide documentation of hours earned.
• Communicate one’s own and parent ideas, concerns and needs with co-workers.
• Share in responsibilities of carrying out the daily routines, procedures, schedule and Center and classroom goals.
• Be aware of classroom information such as orientations, transitions, schedule changes, etc.
• Follow Day Center's written policies and procedures.
• Understand and support Center and classroom goals.
• Demonstrate flexibility with teaching team, daily schedule, routines, and classroom assignments.
• Resolve conflicts with co-workers in a professional manner and address issues/concerns with team as they arise.
• Model appropriate behavior and demonstrate positive attitude.
• Provide suggestions/solutions as issues arise.
• Be aware of the number of children in assigned group at all times.
• Physically position self within classroom to be able to see children at all times, to monitor the classroom for possible safety hazards and physical or verbally intervene whenever necessary.
• Assist in implementing child safety practices that include head counts, ratio sheets, name-to-face checks, sleep room/crib checks and supervision of children.
• Interact and engage with the children to role model and encourage positive social interactions.
• Avoid distractions that interfere with supervision of children.
• Refrain from personal conversations, cell phone and computer usage while the children are awake and engaged in activities.
• Communicate daily to parents regarding the child’s daily activities.
• Assist in completing written forms of communication such as Today We Did board, daily notes, progress reports, etc.
• Assist in creating a welcoming and open atmosphere that promotes daily communication with staff and families and integrates parents as part of the teaching team.
• Greet parents and communicate child’s daily accomplishments and interests.
• Direct parent concerns/issues to supervisor and/or classroom teaching team.
• Keep responsible staff informed of issues which may affect the care or development of children.
• Share in the responsibility of organizing, cleaning, storing and removing damaged/unsafe materials or equipment.
• Assist in maintaining an organized, clutter free environment in the classroom and throughout the Day Center.
• Assist in completing classroom health and safety checklist along with other safety checklists.
• Demonstrate appropriate hand hygiene by following policy/procedure and ensuring all staff, family and children do the same.
• Adhere to, follow and practice Advocate's Be Safe Behaviors and Tools at all times.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off programs
• medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• adoption assistance
• paid parental leave
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
• Educational Assistance Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED