Many families in which both parents work outside the home find that they need child care during working hours and in the evenings. The increase in the demand for child care has resulted in more available part-time child care jobs. Such positions include day care workers, nannies, preschool teachers, babysitters, and in-home child care providers. The responsibilities and requirements of these jobs typically depend on the age of the children being cared for.
Day care centers care for children across a variety of ages. These facilities are usually licensed by government organizations, and background checks may be performed on the employees that work there. Part-time child care jobs at a day care center generally focus on work as a caretaker for an assigned age group since the children are usually separated into infant, toddler, preschool, and elementary-aged classes. Such an employee is often assigned to a group based on her skills and experience. Most day care centers operate during the week, from early in the morning until early evening.
A part-time nanny usually works for one family and cares for children in their own home. She collaborates with the parents to create a child care plan that works for all those involved. A nanny's working hours largely depend on the schedules of the family she is working for, and she may care for children of all ages. Some part-time nanny jobs may include light house-cleaning and meal preparation, depending on the expectations of the parents.
Preschool teachers typically teach and care for children that are between two and five years of age. To obtain one of these part-time child care jobs, a teacher usually has to have more skills and experience than a day care worker or nanny. Some preschools are located inside day care centers, while others may be freestanding or affiliated with a church or elementary school. A preschool teacher is generally expected to provide her students with the skills they will need to excel when they start elementary school.
Being a babysitter is one of the most flexible part-time child care jobs. Such a position usually does not have a set schedule, and may only occur when parents call and request services. Many babysitting jobs are limited to only several hours per week, mostly after school or in the evenings. A babysitter may work with several different families, caring for multiple children at various times.
An in-home child care provider is a person who takes care of children in her home. Some in-home child care providers work full-time hours, while others offer their services on a part-time basis. Parents typically drop their children off at the provider's home, and then pick them up several hours later. In addition to babysitting, an in-home childcare worker may serve the children meals and snacks.