Being a Responsible Caregiver

Standard 6

Objectives

• Name possible caregivers for children.

• List characteristics of a responsible caregiver.

• Describe the responsibilities of caregivers.

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Objectives

• Determine helpful resources for caregivers.

• Identify employment opportunities for caregivers.

Who Are the Caregivers?

• A caregiver is a person who provides care for someone else

• Parents are a child’s primary caregivers

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Who Are the Caregivers?

• Many people may fill the role of caregiver – Relatives (older siblings, grandparents)– Babysitters– Child care providers– Preschool teachers– Guardians and foster parents

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Who Are the Caregivers?

• Sometimes the role of caregiver is more informal– Example: A neighbor

may invite a child to go on an outing

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Think Further

Have you ever been responsible for the care of a child? If so, what were your responsibilities?

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Characteristics of Responsible Caregivers

• Everyone is not equally qualified to be a caregiver

• The characteristics of responsible caregivers fall into four categories– Personal qualities– Personal skills– Knowledge and experience– Good health

Personal Qualities

• Enjoy children• Patient• Flexible• Alert to children’s needs• Exercise self-control• Consistent• Set good examples

Personal Skills

• Communication skills– Speak clearly and

simply–Use positive

statements– Communicate well with

other adults

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Judgment Skills

• Child caregivers make many decisions each day involving children in their care

• To help settle conflicts, they need to know when and how to get involved

• To maintain a healthful, safe environment, they need to be able to foresee and prevent problems

Management Skills

• Caregivers need to know how to manage time well– Basic time management skills– Know how to set priorities, or distinguish

between important and urgent matters

Knowledge and Experience

• All caregivers should have a basic knowledge of– child growth and development– children’s needs, abilities, and interests– appropriate activities

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Knowledge and Experience

• Experience is gained by interacting with children, reading books, and taking classes

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Good Health

• Good health allows caregivers to function to the best of their ability

• Caring for children is demanding and requires– continuous physical activity –mental alertness to a child’s needs– ability to cope with stress and emotional

pressures of meeting responsibilities

Caregiver Health

• To stay healthy, caregivers need to– get proper nutrition– get enough rest– exercise regularly– get immunized

regularly

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Responsibilities of Caregivers

• Parents and other caregivers are responsible for meeting children’s many needs including– physical needs– social needs– emotional needs– intellectual needs

Physical Needs

• Food• Clothing• Shelter• Medical care• Health and

safety

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Social Needs

• Children must be taught how to interact with other children and adults—how to share, communicate, and compromise

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Social Needs

• Children need moral guidance– to learn right from wrong– to learn how to behave in socially

acceptable ways

Emotional Needs

• Caregivers need to set limits, love, and guide children

• Children need to – feel loved no matter what they do – learn how to express emotions in

acceptable ways– grow to become independent adults

Intellectual Needs

• Caregivers must provide children with opportunities that will help them grow and learn

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Resources for Caregivers

• Where to go to learn about being a responsible caregiver– Local library– Reliable websites– Public and private agencies –Hotlines (phone numbers that people

can call for information or assistance)– Support groups

Employment Opportunities for Caregivers

• There is a growing demand for quality caregivers, especially for dual-career and single-parent families

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Employment Opportunities for Caregivers

• Most jobs require additional education beyond high school

• A two-year associate’s degree in child development or related area is often a minimum requirement

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Employment Opportunities for Caregivers

• Child care workers must meet state licensing requirements to work with young children

• To be licensed, workers in child care facilities must meet educational requirements

• Licensing requirements vary from state to state

Child Care in the Parent’s Home

• Child care in the parent’s home may be provided by a nanny

• Some nannies also do household chores

• Nannies are often costly• Nannies who live with a family

receive room and board, plus a salary

Child Care in the Caregiver’s Home

• The most common type of child care in the U.S. has been child care in the caregiver’s home

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Child Care in the Caregiver’s Home

• Benefits– A family-type setting– Less structure allows for play and

relaxation– Hours are usually flexible– Less costly than some other options

The Role of Society in Protecting Children’s

Rights• All caregivers are responsible for the

well-being of the children in their care

• If parents do not meet their children’s needs, the state can act on their behalf

• In extreme cases, the state provides foster care for children needing temporary homes

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The Role of Society in Protecting Children’s

Rights• Laws protect children’s rights– Laws require school attendance – Child labor laws protect children

• The state, or government, provides child welfare services– Food and assistance to families in need

Review

• How is a positive statement to a child different from a negative statement?positive statements tell children what to

do; negative statements tell them what not to do

• List the four categories of children’s needs.physical, social, emotional, intellectual

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Review

• Which child care setting do many parents prefer for their infants and toddlers? child care in the parent’s home

• Give an example of how society protects children.Answers will vary.