Absolutely. I’d update it so it reads more like an HCYDC professional job description, strengthens infant/toddler-specific expectations, and makes the CDA requirement and daily documentation responsibilities clear.
Infant & Toddler Teacher
Harvest Child & Youth Development Center (HCYDC)
Position Overview
Harvest Child & Youth Development Center (HCYDC) is seeking a caring, dependable, and qualified Infant & Toddler Teacher to provide high-quality care and early learning experiences for children during their most important developmental years.
The Infant & Toddler Teacher is responsible for creating a safe, nurturing, responsive, and developmentally appropriate classroom environment where children can build secure relationships, explore their surroundings, develop new skills, and reach important developmental milestones.
This position requires an individual who understands that infant and toddler care goes beyond supervision. Teachers are expected to actively engage with children, support their individual routines and developmental needs, maintain accurate classroom documentation, communicate professionally with families, and work collaboratively with HCYDC leadership and other staff members.
Essential Duties & ResponsibilitiesChild Care, Supervision & Safety
- Maintain active supervision of children at all times and follow all required staff-to-child ratios and group-size requirements.
- Never leave children unattended or outside the supervision of an authorized staff member.
- Conduct regular name-to-face attendance checks, particularly during arrivals, departures, transitions, outdoor play, and movement between classrooms.
- Follow HCYDC procedures for child sign-in/sign-out and classroom attendance tracking.
- Maintain a safe classroom by identifying and immediately reporting potential hazards or safety concerns.
- Follow all HCYDC emergency, evacuation, incident, injury, illness, and child-release procedures.
- Follow safe sleep practices and all applicable requirements for infants in care.
Infant & Toddler Care
- Provide warm, responsive, and consistent caregiving that supports secure attachments and children's social-emotional development.
- Respond promptly and appropriately to children's individual needs, cues, and routines.
- Provide appropriate feeding, diapering, toileting, handwashing, rest, and personal-care assistance.
- Follow each child's feeding instructions, allergy information, dietary restrictions, and individualized care requirements.
- Maintain proper sanitation procedures before and after diapering, feeding, toileting, and food service.
- Encourage age-appropriate independence and self-help skills as toddlers develop.
- Provide appropriate opportunities for infants to have supervised floor play, tummy time, movement, sensory exploration, and interaction.
Curriculum & Child Development
- Plan and implement developmentally appropriate learning experiences that support children's:
- Cognitive development
- Language and early literacy
- Social-emotional development
- Fine and gross motor development
- Sensory development
- Creativity and exploration
- Engage children throughout the day through talking, reading, singing, movement, play, and responsive interaction.
- Prepare classroom activities and materials based on children's developmental levels, interests, and individual needs.
- Observe children regularly and document developmental progress and emerging skills.
- Participate in developmental screening, assessment, and progress-monitoring activities as required by HCYDC.
- Assist with implementing individualized strategies or accommodations for children with identified developmental, behavioral, medical, or special needs.
- Work collaboratively with administration, families, and approved specialists or service providers when additional support is needed.
Classroom Management & Environment
- Maintain a clean, organized, welcoming, and developmentally appropriate classroom.
- Prepare learning centers, toys, materials, and equipment for safe exploration.
- Clean and sanitize classroom materials, toys, feeding areas, diapering areas, and frequently touched surfaces according to established procedures.
- Use positive guidance and age-appropriate redirection to support children's behavior.
- Model calm, respectful, and appropriate interactions with children.
- Never use physical punishment, humiliation, threats, withholding of basic needs, or other prohibited disciplinary practices.
- Maintain appropriate classroom routines while remaining responsive to the individual needs of infants and toddlers.
Documentation & Family Communication
- Accurately document children's attendance and daily care information.
- Record meals, bottles, snacks, diaper changes, toileting, naps, activities, incidents, and other required information.
- Complete classroom records and electronic documentation accurately and on time.
- Communicate professionally with parents/guardians regarding children's daily experiences, developmental progress, milestones, and concerns.
- Maintain confidentiality regarding children and families.
- Promptly notify administration of significant behavioral, developmental, medical, safety, or family concerns.
- Participate in parent conferences and family engagement activities as assigned.
Health, Safety & Mandated Reporting
- Follow all applicable HCYDC policies and Delaware child care licensing requirements.
- Understand and comply with mandated reporter responsibilities related to suspected child abuse or neglect.
- Immediately report suspected abuse, neglect, unsafe conditions, or serious child-safety concerns according to required procedures.
- Follow universal precautions, infection-control procedures, and proper handwashing and sanitation practices.
- Administer first aid and CPR when necessary within the employee's training and certification.
- Follow HCYDC procedures regarding medication administration and medical emergencies.
Teamwork & Professional Expectations
- Work cooperatively with co-teachers, floaters, administration, and other HCYDC team members.
- Maintain professional and respectful communication with coworkers, families, children, administrators, and visitors.
- Arrive on time and be prepared to assume classroom responsibilities at the beginning of the scheduled shift.
- Maintain reliable attendance and communicate absences or emergencies according to HCYDC procedures.
- Attend required staff meetings, training sessions, professional development activities, and in-service days.
- Participate in ongoing professional development and maintain required credentials and certifications.
- Follow HCYDC policies regarding confidentiality, professionalism, dress code, technology use, personal devices, social media, and workplace conduct.
- Accept coaching, supervision, classroom observations, and performance feedback as part of ongoing professional growth.
- Perform other child care and classroom-related duties as assigned by the Director or administration.
Minimum Qualifications
Candidates must meet HCYDC and applicable Delaware requirements for the position.
Required
- Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or higher qualifying early childhood education credential.
- Experience caring for and/or teaching infants and toddlers in a licensed child care, early learning, preschool, or comparable setting.
- Knowledge of infant and toddler development and developmentally appropriate practices.
- Ability to maintain active supervision and appropriately manage a classroom of young children.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a teaching team.
- Ability to complete required classroom documentation accurately and consistently.
- Ability to meet all applicable background screening and employment eligibility requirements.
Certifications
Candidate must possess or obtain and maintain required certifications and training, which may include:
- Pediatric First Aid
- Pediatric CPR/AED
- Health and Safety training
- Medication Administration training, when applicable
- Mandated Reporter training
- Other training or professional development required by HCYDC or Delaware child care regulations
Preferred Qualifications
- Associate's degree or higher in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field.
- Previous experience specifically working with children from birth through age three.
- Experience implementing an infant/toddler curriculum or developmental assessment system.
- Experience supporting children with developmental delays, disabilities, behavioral needs, or individualized care plans.
- Experience communicating with families through a child care management or parent communication platform.
Physical Requirements
The Infant & Toddler Teacher must be able to safely perform the physical responsibilities associated with caring for young children, including:
- Frequently sitting on the floor, bending, kneeling, reaching, standing, and walking.
- Lifting and carrying infants and toddlers as required for routine care and emergencies.
- Assisting children during feeding, diapering, toileting, dressing, transitions, and other daily routines.
- Moving quickly and safely when necessary to supervise or protect a child.
- Participating in indoor and outdoor activities with children.
- Maintaining visual and auditory supervision of children throughout the workday.
Professional Standard
At HCYDC, infant and toddler teachers are entrusted with children during a critical period of development. Teachers are expected to provide safe, responsive, attentive, nurturing, and intentional care every day.
The successful candidate will understand that maintaining children's safety, supervision, dignity, emotional well-being, and developmental needs is the highest priority of this position.
Harvest Child & Youth Development Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment is subject to applicable background checks, qualification verification, licensing requirements, and organizational policies.
Pay: $19.00 - $22.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
