Day care workers need to have the creative skills to engage children in activities like painting and drawing, and hand-eye coordination skills like cutting and coloring. These activities are designed to prepare children for formal education. Being aware that children have different learning styles, day care workers need to be able to use multiple approaches when teaching these skills.
Sharing and getting along with others are two major areas that day care workers need to be able to teach and model. Day care is where kids learn the vital skills of interaction that will serve them well in school and for the rest of their lives. In order to take advantage of opportunities to teach these skills, day care workers need to have or develop good observation skills.
Day care workers need to be educated about child abuse and be on the lookout for any signs or symptoms in the children they care for. Sudden changes in behavior or a medical or physical condition that goes uncared for are some indications that can signal abuse and/or neglect. Child care workers must be able to recognize these warning signs and report them to their supervisor.
Day care centers need workers who can arrange and supervise outdoor play as well as indoor play. Supervising includes being able to anticipate problems and deal with them efficiently by watching a child's body language and listening closely to what they say. Day care workers need to be able to spot a problem brewing or if a child needs help but is afraid to ask or doesn't know how to ask.