Home > 
4 Early Childhood Teacher Resume...

4 Early Childhood Teacher Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Your early childhood teacher resume must highlight your educational background. Include your degrees, certifications, and any specialized training in early childhood education. Demonstrate your experience with age-appropriate teaching strategies and classroom management. Showcase your ability to engage young learners through creative lesson plans and activities.

As an early childhood teacher, articulating your diverse skill set to cater to various developmental stages on a resume can be challenging. Our guide provides targeted advice to help you effectively showcase your expertise in fostering a nurturing and educational environment for young learners.

This expert guide on writing your early childhood teacher resume provides you with leading recruitment insight, industry examples, and so much more. Here are some of the things we'll show you:
  • Which sections do you need to include in your resume to meet recruiters' requirements;
  • How to write your early childhood teacher resume experience section - even if you have don't have little to no work experience;
  • Real-life professional examples to guide you how to write the most important early childhood teacher resume sections;
  • Adding even more sections so your early childhood teacher resume stands out with professionalism and your personality.

We've also selected some of the best (and most relevant) resume guides for the early childhood teacher role you're applying for:

Early Childhood Teacher resume format made simple

You don't need to go over the top when it comes to creativity in your Early Childhood Teacher resume format .

What recruiters care about more is the legibility of your Early Childhood Teacher resume, alongside the relevancy of your application to the role.

That's why we're presenting you with four simple steps that could help your professional presentation check all the right boxes:

  • The reverse-chronological resume format is the one for you, if you happen to have plenty of relevant (and recent) professional experience you'd like to showcase. This format follows a pretty succinct logic and puts the focus on your experience.
  • Keep your header simple with your contact details; a headline that details the role you're applying for or your current job; and a link to your portfolio.
  • Ensure your resume reaches an up-to-two-page limit, only if you happen to be applying for a more senior role or you have over a decade of relevant experience.
  • Save your Early Childhood Teacher resume as a PDF to retain its structure and presentation.

Upload & Check Your Resume

Drop your resume here or choose a file. PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.

Privacy guaranteed
pro tip icon
PRO TIP

Bold the names of educational institutions and certifying bodies for emphasis.

top sections icon

The key to your early childhood teacher job-winning resume - present your expertise with these sections:

  • A header to make your resume more scannable
  • Snapshot of who you are as a professional with your resume soft skills, achievements, and summary or objective
  • Job advert keywords in the skills section of your resume
  • Resume experience quantifying your past job successes with metrics
  • A relevant education, certification, and technical sills section to provide background to your technological/software capabilities
top sections icon

What recruiters want to see on your resume:

  • Specialized early childhood education certification or degree.
  • Experience with developmentally appropriate curriculum planning and implementation.
  • Skills in behavior management and positive discipline tailored to young children.
  • Ability to assess and support early childhood developmental milestones
  • Experience with parent communication and building family-school partnerships.

Adding your relevant experience to your early childhood teacher resume

If you're looking for a way to show recruiters that your expertise is credible, look no further than the resume experience section.

Your early childhood teacher resume experience can be best curated in a structured, bulleted list detailing the particulars of your career:

  • Always integrate metrics of success - what did you actually achieve in the role?
  • Scan the early childhood teacher advert for your dream role in search of keywords in the job requirements - feature those all through your past/current experience;
  • Dedicate a bullet (or two) to spotlight your technical capabilities and how you're able to use the particular software/technology in your day-to-day roles;
  • Write simple by including your responsibility, a job advert keyword or skill, and a tangible outcome of your success;
  • Use the experience section to also define the unique value of working with you in the form of soft skills, relevant feedback, and the company culture you best thrive in.

Industry leaders always ensure that their resume experience section offers an enticing glimpse at their expertise, while telling a career narrative. Explore these sample early childhood teacher resumes on how to best create your resume experience section.

Lead Teacher in Early Childhood Education
Lead Pre-K Teacher
Bright Horizons Family Solutions
09/2019-Ongoing
  • Designed and implemented a curriculum for a classroom of 15 preschoolers, which emphasized experiential learning and included dual language instruction.
  • Implemented behavior management strategies that reduced classroom disruptions by 40% over the course of one semester.
  • Fostered a 20% increase in children's literacy rates through the development and execution of an interactive reading program.
Senior Early Childhood Educator
Headstart Teacher
KinderCare Education
01/2015-05/2019
  • Oversaw the growth and development of 30+ children, successfully preparing 90% of them for kindergarten with the necessary cognitive and social skills.
  • Collaborated with a team of 10 educators to integrate STEAM activities into the curriculum, resulting in enhanced student engagement.
  • Championed the adoption of sensory-based learning techniques, which supported the diverse learning needs of students and was praised by parents.
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
Special Education Preschool Teacher
The Goddard School
06/2012-12/2014
  • Customized individual education plans for 20 special needs children, leading to measurable improvements in their communication and social skills.
  • Trained 5 teaching assistants on inclusive classroom practices, ensuring all children received equitable support and attention.
  • Spearheaded a multimodal communication project that involved augmentative and alternative communication techniques, aiding nonverbal children in classroom participation.
Expert Early Childhood Education Instructor
Preschool Director
Montessori Unlimited
03/2009-08/2012
  • Led a successful initiative to become a Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool, involving extensive research, staff training, and environment restructuring.
  • Coordinated with community partners to bring in supplemental programs, such as a weekly music class, that enriched the school's extracurricular offerings.
  • Conducted bi-annual assessments of child development milestones, and provided detailed feedback to parents, resulting in a 25% increase in parent satisfaction.
Advanced Early Childhood Educator
Certified Childcare Professional
La Petite Academy
04/2016-10/2021
  • Cultivated a play-based learning environment for toddlers that prioritized social development and kinesthetic learning, with a daily engagement rate exceeding 80%.
  • Secured grants for classroom technology enhancements, including interactive whiteboards and tablets, which facilitated the integration of digital literacy into daily learning.
  • Pioneered a teacher mentorship program which improved new teacher retention by 30% over two years.
Preschool Education Specialist
Early Childhood Resource Teacher
Primrose Schools
11/2013- 06/2018
  • Orchestrated a school-wide transition to a nature-based curriculum, significantly increasing outdoor playtime and student interaction with natural elements.
  • Led professional development workshops for 20 staff members on topics such as child-led learning and emergent curriculum frameworks.
  • Managed the integration of a parent-teacher communication app that facilitated real-time updates and shared learning experiences, improving communication by 50%.
Early Childhood Education Curriculum Coordinator
Early Childhood Program Developer
Childtime Learning Centers
02/2013-05/2017
  • Developed and maintained an inquiry-based curriculum for a diverse student population of 50 children, adapting content to meet various learning abilities and styles.
  • Mentored a team of 15 teachers, providing ongoing support and professional development that elevated teaching practices and classroom management skills.
  • Drove a literacy initiative that involved parent workshops and book drives, resulting in an overall student literacy improvement of 15%.
Innovative Teacher for Early Childhood Education
Preschool Teacher
Gymboree Play & Music
07/2011-03/2015
  • Introduced a digital storytelling element to the reading curriculum, improving children’s narrative skills and vocabulary retention by an average of 22%.
  • Advocated for and received funding for sensory integration tools which led to a 35% decrease in overstimulation-related incidents within the classroom.
  • Organized quarterly community events that showcased children’s learning achievements, doubling parent involvement over a two-year period.

Quantifying impact on your resume

  • Highlight the number of children in each class you've managed to demonstrate classroom management and scalability of your teaching methods.
  • Include the percentage of students who met or exceeded learning objectives to showcase effectiveness in achieving educational outcomes.
  • Specify the number of educational projects or programs you’ve led or participated in to show initiative and leadership.
  • Mention any quantifiable improvements in students' grades or test scores under your instruction to illustrate direct impact.
  • Document the number of professional development hours or workshops you've completed to emphasize your commitment to continuous learning.
  • State the amount of educational materials and curricula you’ve developed to exhibit creativity and instructional skills.
  • Indicate the number of parent-teacher conferences you’ve conducted to show communication skills and family engagement.
  • Detail the percentage of students with special needs you've supported to highlight inclusivity and differentiated instruction practices.

Action verbs for your early childhood teacher resume

Instead of simply mentioning your tasks, share what you have done in your previous positions by using action verbs. For example, instead of saying “Client communication”, go for “Communicated with X number of clients weekly”. Use these power words and make your application shine!
Read The Guide

Making the most of your little to none professional experience

If you're hesitant to apply for your dream job due to limited professional experience, remember that recruiters also value the unique contributions you can offer.

Next time you doubt applying, consider this step-by-step approach for your resume's experience section:

  • Rather than the standard reverse chronological order, opt for a functional-based format. This shifts the focus from your work history to your achievements and strengths;
  • Include relevant internships, volunteer work, or other non-standard experiences in your early childhood teacher resume's experience section;
  • Utilize your education, qualifications, and certifications to bridge gaps in your early childhood teacher resume experience;
  • Emphasize your interpersonal skills and transferable skills from various industries. Often, recruiters seek a personality match, giving you an advantage over other candidates.
pro tip icon
PRO TIP

If you happen to have plenty of certificates, select the ones that are most applicable and sought-after across the industry. Organize them by relevance to the role you're applying for.

Early Childhood Teacher resume skills section: writing about your hard skills and soft skills

Recruiters always care about the skill set you'd bring about to the Early Childhood Teacher role. That's why it's a good idea to curate yours wisely, integrating both hard (or technical) and soft skills. Hard skills are the technology and software you're apt at using - these show your suitability for the technical aspect of the role. They are easy to track via your experience, certifications, and various resume sections. Your soft skills are those personality traits you've gained over time that show how you'd perform in the specific team, etc. Soft skills are more difficult to qualify but are definitely worth it - as they make you stand out and show your adaptability to new environments. How do you build the skills section of your resume? Best practices point that you could:

  • Include up to five or six skills in the section as keywords to align with the advert.
  • Create a specific technical skills section to highlight your hard skills aptitude.
  • Align the culture of the company you're applying to with your soft skills to determine which ones should be more prominent in your skills section.
  • Make sure you answer majority of the job requirements that are in the advert within your skills section.

A Early Childhood Teacher's resume requires a specific skill set that balances both industry-specific hard skills with personal, soft skills. Discover the perfect mix for the Early Childhood Teacher role from our list:

Top skills for your early childhood teacher resume:
HARD SKILLS

Childhood development knowledge

Lesson planning

Classroom management

Curriculum development

Early childhood education theory

Behavioral management techniques

Special education

Assessment and evaluation

Educational technology integration

First aid and CPR certified

SOFT SKILLS

Communication

Patience

Creativity

Empathy

Active listening

Problem-solving

Adaptability

Interpersonal skills

Collaboration

Leadership

pro tip icon
PRO TIP

List all your relevant higher education degrees within your resume in reverse chronological order (starting with the latest). There are cases when your PhD in a particular field could help you stand apart from other candidates.

Showcase academic background with education and certifications' sections

Listing your education and certifications should be a rudimentary part of your resume writing.

Including your relevant academic background - in the form of your higher education degree and niche-specific certificates - will prove knowledge of the industry.

For your education section:

  • Start by including your degree, followed by start and graduation dates, as well as the institution;
  • You could include relevant coursework, major/minor , or GPA, only if your've just graduated from college or if this information would further support your application;
  • If you have an "ongoing" degree, you can still list it in case you think your diploma can impress recruiters or it's required;

Follow a similar logic for your certifications section by listing the institution, alongside dates you've obtained the certificate. For some of the most recent and relevant industry certificates , check out the next part of our guide:

top sections icon

The top 5 certifications for your early childhood teacher resume:

  1. Child Development Associate (CDA) - Council for Professional Recognition
  2. Early Childhood Education (ECE) Certificate - Various accredited institutions
  3. National Board Certification (NBC) in Early Childhood - National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
  4. Early Childhood Professional Certificate (ECPC) - Various accredited institutions
  5. Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Credential - Various accredited institutions
pro tip icon
PRO TIP

Always remember that your early childhood teacher certifications can be quantified across different resume sections, like your experience, summary, or objective. For example, you could include concise details within the expertise bullets of how the specific certificate has improved your on-the-job performance.

Your early childhood teacher resume top one third: choosing between a resume summary or an objective

The top third of your resume is crucial, as recruiters might focus only on this section rather than reading the entire document. Therefore, it's important to carefully decide whether to include a resume summary or an objective.

  • The resume summary encapsulates your most significant experiences, key achievements, and skills in the field. Ideal for candidates with substantial relevant experience, the summary previews what recruiters will find in the rest of your resume.
  • The resume objective outlines your professional aspirations. It describes your career goals for the coming years and how you envision your role evolving in the prospective company. The resume objective is suitable if you have less professional experience and wish to emphasize various soft skills such as motivation, vision, and planning.

Explore some of the best examples of resume summaries and objectives from real-life professional resumes in the industry.

top sections icon

Resume summaries for a early childhood teacher job

  • With over 5 years of dedicated experience in early childhood education, I have honed my skills in creating engaging learning experiences tailored to the developmental needs of young children, integrating technology effectively in the classroom, and fostering a love for learning. My leadership in developing a reading program resulted in a 20% increase in literacy rates among pre-kindergarteners.
  • Seasoned professional with a decade of experience managing teams in healthcare, transitioning to early childhood education to fulfill a passion for shaping young minds. Skilled in communication, organization, and compassion, I have successfully designed wellness programs that improved patient outcomes by 30% and seek to bring this innovative mindset to nurture children's holistic development.
  • Coming from a creative background in children's media production, with 7 years of experience crafting stories that educate and delight, I now aim to directly impact young lives by fostering an environment that encourages curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. My contributions to an award-winning educational app can fuel my drive to inspire tangible growth in early childhood settings.
  • Recent graduate with a Master's of Education in Early Childhood Development, eager to apply comprehensive knowledge of child psychology and innovative educational strategies. As a research assistant, I contributed to a seminal paper on the role of play in cognitive development, which underlines my commitment to evidence-based teaching practices.
  • Aimed at leveraging recent certification in early childhood education and a natural affinity for nurturing young minds, I aspire to create a dynamic and inclusive classroom atmosphere where every child can thrive. With experience as a camp counselor and volunteer tutor, my objective is to apply my unique insights and enthusiasm to foster a lifelong love of learning in each child.
  • As an individual with a rich history in performing arts and community engagement, I am enthusiastic about transferring these skills to the world of early childhood education. Though new to the field, my aim is to cultivate an early learning environment where creativity is paramount, and every child is empowered to explore and express themselves with confidence.

Extra early childhood teacher resume sections and elements

Creating a winning early childhood teacher resume isn't about following a rigid formula. The key is to tailor it to the job requirements while maintaining your unique personality.

Consider including these additional resume sections to enhance your profile:

  • Awards - Highlight industry-specific awards as well as any personal accolades to demonstrate recognition of your expertise and achievements;
  • Hobbies and interests - Share your interests outside of work. This can provide insights into your personality and indicate whether you'd be a good cultural fit for the organization;
  • Projects - Detail significant projects you've been involved in, focusing on your contributions and the outcomes;
  • Publications - If you've authored or co-authored academic papers or other publications, include them to establish your credibility and in-depth knowledge of the field.

These sections can give a more comprehensive view of your capabilities and character, complementing the standard resume content.

Key takeaways

  • Your resume layout plays an important role in presenting your key information in a systematic, strategic manner;
  • Use all key resume sections (summary or objective; experience; skills; education and certification) to ensure you’ve shown to recruiters just how your expertise aligns with the role and why you're the best candidate;
  • Be specific about listing a particular skill or responsibility you've had by detailing how this has helped the role or organization grow;
  • Your personality should shine through your resume via the interests or hobbies, and strengths or accomplishments skills sections;
  • Certifications go to provide further accreditation to your technical capabilities, so make sure you've included them within your resume.

Early Childhood Teacher resume examples

Explore additional early childhood teacher resume samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

By Role

Infant Teacher

The Infant Teacher role often evolves from early childhood and special education fields. Therefore, developments in early learning trends play a big role in the occupation. When applying for Infant Teacher roles, be mindful to emphasize these skills: Experience with common early learning models is essential. Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, HighScope and Montessori are methodologies that mold future learning spaces - be sure to spotlight any experience you have with these models. Do not simply list skills in early childhood development, but illustrate them through specific achievements like 'implemented developmental milestone activities which improved...'. Prioritize your background that directly pertains to infant care. A good portion of outstanding Infant Teachers has experience in childcare or early childhood education, so feature these experiences and their impact on children's development
View Infant Teacher Resume

Montessori Teacher

Montessori Teacher positions originate largely from the early education sector, underscoring why early learning trends impact these roles globally. When applying for Montessori Teacher positions, consider the following suggestions: Proficiency in unique Montessori methods is key. Make sure to highlight any training or experience in Montessori teaching. Prioritize your educational approach that directly affects children's development and independent learning. A solid portion of successful Montessori Teachers has a rich background in children's self-paced learning, so highlight this in the resume. Also, rather than merely listing your skills in a Montessori classroom, illustrate them through concrete examples, for instance, 'guided hands-on learning experiences which led to…'.
View Montessori Teacher Resume

Toddler Teacher

As Toddler Teacher positions originated from the early education field, it is critical to stay updated on current early childhood education trends. When applying for these roles, keep these tips in mind: Familiarity with early childhood education techniques is vital. Models such as play-based, forest schooling, or Montessori can shape classrooms. Highlight relevant experience in different teaching methods. Emphasize your professional focus that directly influences toddlers' growth, learning, and socialization. A number of excellent Toddler Teachers have backgrounds in early education, so emphasize how your pastoral care or teaching methodology impacted toddlers' growth. Never only list skills, but substantiate them with results, e.g. 'initiated a play-based activities that led to enhanced social skills…'. This 'skill-action-result' approach will strengthen your application.
View Toddler Teacher Resume
early childhood teacher resume example

Looking to build your own Early Childhood Teacher resume?

Enhancv resume builder will help you create a modern, stand-out resume that gets results
Variety of custom sections
Hassle-free templates
Easy edits
Memorable design
Content suggestions