How To Write a Child Care Resume
To write a good child care resume, you must show you can create a fun, safe environment for children while building positive relations with parents and other caregivers. The tips and examples below can help you develop a resume that spotlights your skills and positions you as a top candidate for child care jobs.
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications
Start your child care resume with a brief profile paragraph describing your top qualifications. Good things to mention here include your years of experience working with children, the ages you’re most comfortable with, and any certificates or additional training you’ve done, such as first aid or a degree in early childhood education. If you’re unsure what to put in your profile, scan the job posting for any must-have skills and work those keywords in.
Senior-Level Profile Example
Patient and dedicated child care provider with over 12 years of experience caring for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Proven record of creating fun educational and recreational activities. Trusted by parents to care for their children in a safe and nurturing environment.
Entry-Level Profile Example
Compassionate child care professional with over three years of experience providing quality care of children ages 0 to 5 in a large daycare setting. Strong knowledge of early child development milestones and supportive strategies for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and physical disabilities. Reliable team player with a 100% attendance record in 2020 and 2021.
2. Add a detailed professional experience section
When listing your previous roles, include the job title, who you worked for, and the dates. This can include formal daycare centers and families you babysat or nannied for. Mention how many children, on average, you were responsible for, their ages, and the kinds of activities you planned or care you provided. If you mainly worked with infants, you may mention adhering to nap schedules, while those working with preschoolers could talk about art activities and motor skills development.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Child Care Provider
ABC Fun Daycare Center, Orlando, FL | September 2015 – present
- Supervise and care for up to 17 children ages 0 to 4
- Create fun indoor and outdoor activities to facilitate play and learning
- Maintain a high standard of care at all points
Highlights:
- Developed a new training program that upgraded team’s skillset and professionalism
- Helped organization maintain a 5-star rating on Google and Yelp for the past seven years
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Child Care Giver
Yakutat Community Health Center, Yakutat, AK | July 2019 – present
- Create and maintain a safe, home-like environment for children ages 0 to 5
- Co-develop and deliver enriching educational experiences focused on early math, reading, and writing
- Prepare and serve nutritious meals and snacks
- Engage children in activities that develop their physical coordination and fitness
- Maintain high standards of cleanliness, sanitizing toys and equipment regularly
- Follow all safeguarding procedures, and report any concerns to administrator as needed
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Child care job applicants are often required to have a current first aid and CPR certification, so list these prominently if you have them. Daycares and preschools that focus on early learning may prioritize applicants with degrees in child development. But list your education even if it’s not directly related because it still shows responsibility and initiative.
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] – [Graduation Year]
Example:
Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education
Santa Clarita Community College, Santa Clarita, CA – 2014
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example:
First Aid, American Red Cross, 2020
4. List key skills and proficiencies
Include a key skills section to show the various ways you can help care for children and keep them happy and safe. While you should always tailor this section to the job posting, you can get some ideas for what to include below.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Activity and care planning | Age-appropriate learning |
| Child development | Child health and safety |
| Child supervision and observation | Cleanliness and hygiene standards |
| Community engagement | Conflict resolution |
| Creative problem-solving | Early childhood education |
| First aid | Meal planning and preparation |
| Parent and guardian relations | Safeguarding protocols |
| State childcare regulations | Time management |
How To Pick the Best Child Care Resume Template
Resume templates can help you create a high-quality document without having to start from scratch. But there are hundreds to choose from. Narrow down your options by looking for one that is structured with a header for each section and that doesn’t seem too crowded. While creativity is encouraged when working with children, resist the urge to use fancy fonts or colors on your resume. This is still a professional document and should look like it.
Child Care Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Celia Cortez
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
456 Main Street, Anchorage, AK 65432
Profile
Compassionate Childcare Professional with 3+ years of experience providing quality care of children ages 0-5 in a large daycare setting. Strong knowledge of early child development milestones and supportive strategies for children with SEN and physical disabilities. Reliable team player with a 100% attendance record in 2020 and 2021.
Key Skills
- Compliance with company policies and state regulations
- Confidentiality and data protection protocols
- Engaging with Native American communities
- Planning and leading early education activities
- Teaching and care of children with ASD
Professional Experience
Childcare Giver, Yakutat Community Health Center, Yakutat, AK | July 2019 to Present
- Create and maintain a safe, home-like environment for children ages 0-5
- Co-develop and deliver enriching educational experiences focused on early math, reading, and writing
- Prepare and serve nutritious meals and snacks
- Engage children in activities that develop their physical coordination and fitness
- Maintain high standards of cleanliness, sanitizing toys and equipment regularly
- Follow all safeguarding procedures, and report any concerns to administrator as needed
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Child Development & Family Studies, University of Alaska Fairbanks | 2019
- Excelled in coursework on theories of learning, thinking, and teaching in childcare and youth education
- Studied concepts such as child welfare, abuse and neglect concerns, and home and family development
- Completed 400-hour practicum with a university-partnered childcare agency
Certifications
Pediatric First Aid and CPR
Shannon Armor
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Main Street, Santa Clarita, CA 12345
Profile
Attentive Childcare Professional with 8+ years of experience caring for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Skilled at devising fun educational and recreational activities while maintaining utmost safety. Bilingual: Fluent in Spanish and English.
Key Skills
- Activity Planning
- Child Health & Safety
- Parent & Guardian Relations
- Time Management
Professional Experience
Childcare Provider, Santa Clarita Department of Family Support Services, Santa Clarita, CA | September 2016 to Present
- Member of a 17-person team providing safe, quality childcare services to ~50 children ages 0-11
- Organize fun, age-appropriate indoor and outdoor projects and activities
- Maintain cleanliness and sanitation standards throughout all areas of the facility
- Ensure optimal learning and nurturing of children by observing behavior and providing guidance toward improvement when identified
Childcare Assistant, Happy Babies Day Care, Santa Clarita, CA | June 2014 to September 2016
- Facilitated daily feeding, changing, bathing, and other childcare for up to 15 babies
- Created engaging, age-appropriate games and tasks for each child
Education
Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education, Santa Clarita Community College, Santa Clarita, CA | 2014
- Completed fieldwork and gained valuable experience in standardized and nationally recognized childcare practices
Certifications
American Red Cross | 2020
- AED
- CPR
- First Aid
- Infant CPR
Jessica Ellis
(012) 345-6789
[email protected]
123 Main Street, Orlando, FL 12345
Profile
Patient and dedicated Childcare Provider with 12+ years of experience caring for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Proven record creating fun educational and recreational activities. Trusted by parents to care for their children in a safe and nurturing environment.
Key Skills
- Activity Planning & Supervision
- Parent Relations & Communications
- Child Health & Safety
Professional Experience
Childcare Provider, ABC Fun Day Care Center, Orlando, FL | September 2015 to Present
- Supervise and care for up to 17 children ages 0-4
- Create fun indoor and outdoor activities to facilitate play and learning
- Maintain a high standard of care at all points
Highlights:
- Developed a new training program that upgraded team’s skillset and professionalism
- Helped organization maintain a 5-star rating on Google and Yelp for the past 7 years
Freelance Childcare Provider, Orlando, FL | June 2008 to August 2015
- Babysat infants and children for families in the Orlando area on weekends and weekday afternoons
- Picked up children from school and helped them with their homework as needed
- Fed, bathed, and got children ready for bed
Education
Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education, The University of Orlando, FL | 2008
Certifications
- AED
- CPR
- First Aid
Frequently Asked Questions: Child Care Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for child care resumes?+
When writing your professional experience section, you must create a bulleted list of duties for each position. And each bullet should start with a strong action verb that shows the value of your work. If you struggle to think of good verbs for your resume, try the options below.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Attend | Care |
| Create | Develop |
| Document | Encourage |
| Foster | Guide |
| Improve | Introduce |
| Maintain | Monitor |
| Nurture | Observe |
| Organize | Prepare |
| Prevent | Provide |
| Record | Report |
| Strengthen | |
How do you align your resume with a child care job posting?+
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts average job growth for child care workers through 2031, but you’ll still need to tailor your resume to each job posting for the best chance of getting hired. Start by reading through the job post text and highlighting any specific skills or qualifications listed. You may also notice keywords like “CPR certification” or “ability to pass a background check.” Include as many of these as you can in your key skills list, profile summary, and other relevant sections.
What is the best child care resume format?+
In nearly all cases, use a Combination (or Hybrid) resume because it’s easiest for hiring managers to learn about your pertinent skills and experience – it’s also simplest for you to align with your job goals.
With the Combination format, you highlight your most relevant skills and experience in your Experience or Work History section and an intro section. (This combination of work history and intro content is where the format gets its name.) Your resume intro should usually include a Profile summary and Key Skills section, but you may also add a Career Highlights or Awards section. By carefully choosing intro details, you can position yourself for your target job and give hiring managers a clear, quick view of what you offer.
Expert advice: include a cover letter with your resume
Unless stated otherwise in the job posting, it’s always a good idea to include a cover letter with your resume. With this document, you can properly introduce yourself, put your child care work in context, and explain why you want to work for this provider. Just be careful not to focus too much on what you want from the job; instead, focus on what you can bring to it. For more tips and examples, see our babysitter cover letter guide.
