Child Development Specialist

Love working with kids but not sure what to do with a BA/BS degree? A child development specialist is a great way to apply hands-on skills to improve the abilities of children from infants to 9 years old!

There is a wide range of responsibilities for someone in hopes to be a child development specialist. Duties include learning to administer therapy to improve the behavioral skills of these children as well as planning curriculums, documenting and tracking progress for children and families. As a specialist, you are to recognize not only behavioral skills, but social/motor development as well as cognitive/language skills and self-help.

A typical day varies as far as work environments. There is a variety of settings for a child development specialist including daycare centers, preschool programs, pediatric hospitals, public/private clinics and even in patient’s homes. You can apply in the work environment you prefer!

The qualities that it takes for an individual to succeed in this role involves understanding concepts applied in psychology and the principles relating to child development as well as recognizing the challenges and socio-cultural factors displayed within families.

The national average salary in the United States for a child development specialist is $37,000. The average salary in Idaho is $30,512, $38,206 in California and $35,970 in Washington. Overall, the job outlook of this position is positive - From 2016 to 2026, the nationwide employment rate is expected to grow 14%-16%, which is faster than the average for all occupations!

In order to acquire a position as a child development specialist, you must have your highschool diploma or GED as well as a bachelor’s degree, preferably in psychology.

A child development specialist is a great occupation for individuals to expand their love for children but aren’t sure how to put their bachelor degree to use!