What do developmental specialists do

Enroll Now Complete the form below to get started today and take the next step in your educational journey. Complete the form below to get started today and take the next step in your educational journey. Career Categories. Job Duties Typical daily tasks for child development specialists may include: Evaluating and monitoring children to determine physical and mental development, including social, motor development, self-help, cognitive and language skills Documenting activities, tracking progress and formulating therapy plans, including exercises and activities for parents to administer Interacting with parents individually or in group settings Consulting with other professionals, organizations and providers, such as social service agencies Child development specialists may work in a variety of settings, including daycare centers, preschool programs, pediatric hospitals, and public or private clinics.

Get program guide YES! Please send me a FREE brochure with course info, pricing and more! Related Articles. Leadership Skills Are in Demand [Infographic]. Need help? Close Start Chat. Additionally, you will learn how to use information collected from neuropsychological assessments to diagnose disorders and treat symptoms. Child Neglect, Abuse, and Intervention — As a child development specialist, it will be your responsibility to recognize and intervene in the various forms of mistreatment and neglect in children who may not be capable of communicating those abuses.

Gender and Age — In addition to how gender affects early child development, you will also learn of the major role it plays throughout other important developmental stages such as preadolescence, puberty, and even post-adolescence. To become a child development specialist, candidates are first required to hold a high school diploma or GED.

The various types of coursework for this degree may include lifespan development and psychology, political and ethical problems in child advocacy, diversity and multicultural concerns, and strategies for child rearing and education. Students may choose dual majors in social work, education, child life, child psychology, child growth and development, or other comparable majors. Credited through the Council for Professional Recognition, candidates can earn their CDA by working in one of the following four childcare settings: programs for infants and toddlers, family childcare programs, preschools, or home-visitor programs.

After their specialized training, candidates are required to pass the CDA exam to finalize their certification. Rather than having to commute to a university campus or other physical setting, an online degree allows child development specialist students to complete their coursework through a web-based program in the comfort and convenience of their own home.

However, a child development specialist degree that is pursued online is no less recognized nor less difficult to earn than degrees pursued at on-site locations.

Additionally, web-based degree programs typically offer students a list of majors and concentrations that are far more specific than the options that are available in campus degree programs. Working with children who suffer with behavioral and developmental disorders requires child development specialists to possess a very specific set of skills. To help decide if you have what it takes, review the following list. However, it should be noted that there are likely many more qualities and skills you may need for a future career in child development.

While it is certainly a challenging career, experts say there are numerous benefits to being a child development specialist that make all the stress of the occupation worth it all at the end of the day. A position as a development specialist requires the ability to perform a number of tasks and the expertise to support children in developing the skills needed to be successful in learning environments.

Child development specialists will need to have a foundation in working with children, assessing individual needs, creating plans for therapy and academic support, and working with families and other educators in support and supervisory roles. In addition to the undergraduate education, most schools will desire for candidates to have experience in classroom settings, demonstrated ability to collaborate with parents, and possibly state licensing or professional certifications.

Largely, requirements for beginning a career in child development are dependent on not only individual school districts or agencies but also state stipulations. Additional information on preparing to become a developmental specialist can be found at the National Association for Child Development website. A developmental specialist can work with children at many ages, but the most common age group is likely to be at the early childhood level, between the ages of birth through five.

Much of a specialists job in this area of education is to help promote the acquiring of skills necessary for children to be successful in preparing for school.

First, a developmental specialist will identify if a child has developmental delays that require additional support. These delays could be related to fine motor skills, literacy acquisition, problem solving, and high risk factors such as premature birth, multiple births, and learning disabilities.