Daycare Teacher

Benefits:

401(k) matching

Competitive salary

Free food & snacks

Toddler/Preschool Teacher

Marvelous Child Development Center Reggio Emilia-Inspired Early Childhood Program

Job Summary

Marvelous Child Development Center is seeking a warm, dependable, creative, and engaged Toddler/Preschool Teacher to join our Reggio Emilia-inspired learning community.

Our program views children as capable, curious, and full of potential. Rather than relying primarily on worksheets or teacher-directed instruction, our educators create meaningful learning experiences based on children’s interests, questions, relationships, and exploration of the world around them.

The ideal teacher enjoys being actively involved with children—getting on their level, listening to their ideas, asking thoughtful questions, creating invitations to explore, spending time outdoors, and helping children develop independence, confidence, creativity, and strong social-emotional skills.

Teachers work collaboratively to create a beautiful, welcoming classroom where the environment acts as a third teacher and children’s ideas and work are valued and documented.

Key Responsibilities

Provide nurturing, responsive, and respectful care for toddlers and preschool-aged children.

Build secure, positive relationships with each child while recognizing individual personalities, interests, cultures, abilities, and developmental needs.

Implement a Reggio Emilia-inspired, inquiry-based approach to early childhood education.

Observe children’s interests and use those observations to develop projects, investigations, and meaningful learning experiences.

Create engaging invitations to learn using open-ended and natural materials, loose parts, art materials, sensory experiences, books, music, movement, and hands-on exploration.

Encourage children to ask questions, experiment, problem-solve, collaborate, and develop their own ideas rather than simply giving them answers.

Incorporate art and creative expression as important languages through which children communicate their thinking.

Support children’s social-emotional development through respectful guidance, modeling, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.

Encourage independence with dressing, toileting, handwashing, meals, cleanup, and other daily routines.

Provide opportunities for daily outdoor exploration, nature-based learning, movement, gardening, and physical activity.

Maintain an organized, attractive, intentional classroom environment that is accessible and inviting to children.

Observe and document children’s learning through photographs, notes, children’s words, artwork, and project displays.

Communicate professionally and positively with families about children’s experiences, development, accomplishments, and needs.

Collaborate with fellow teachers and administration to develop curriculum and maintain consistency throughout the program.

Participate in music, atelier/art, cultural, nature, cooking, sensory, and other enrichment experiences offered by the center.

Supervise children closely and maintain appropriate child-to-teacher ratios at all times.

Follow all licensing requirements and center policies regarding health, sanitation, diapering, toileting, food service, supervision, and child safety.

Maintain a clean and sanitary classroom, including toys, learning materials, tables, diapering/toileting areas, and shared spaces.

Assist with meals, diapering, toileting, rest time, transitions, and other daily care routines as needed.

Participate in staff meetings, professional development, classroom planning, and center events.

Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries with children, families, and coworkers.

Qualifications

Required/Preferred Qualifications:

Experience working with toddlers and/or preschool-aged children.

Genuine enthusiasm for early childhood education and child development.

Patient, nurturing, dependable, energetic, and emotionally responsive.

Ability to actively engage with children rather than simply supervise them.

Strong communication and teamwork skills.

Comfortable working in a play-based, inquiry-based environment.

Willingness to learn and implement Reggio Emilia principles and practices.

Ability to observe children and adapt activities based on their interests and developmental needs.

Comfortable with outdoor play, messy art, sensory exploration, gardening, and hands-on learning.

Ability to maintain a safe, organized, and engaging classroom environment.

Reliable attendance and punctuality.

Ability to meet all State of Michigan childcare licensing requirements for the position.

CPR/First Aid certification preferred or willingness to obtain certification.

Early childhood coursework, CDA, Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree, or other relevant education is preferred but may depend on the specific position and licensing requirements.

The Teacher We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who believes that children learn through relationships, exploration, play, creativity, nature, and meaningful experiences.

You should be comfortable allowing children to investigate rather than rushing to give them the “right” answer. A child’s question might become an afternoon experiment, a week-long investigation, an art project, or a larger classroom study.

Our teachers are expected to be curious alongside the children.

We value educators who are kind but confident, nurturing while maintaining appropriate boundaries, flexible without losing structure, and able to recognize that children’s behavior is a form of communication.

Our Philosophy

At Marvelous Child Development Center, we believe children deserve more than simply being cared for during the day. They deserve an environment that respects their intelligence, creativity, individuality, and natural desire to understand their world.

Our Reggio Emilia-inspired approach emphasizes:

The child as capable and competent • The environment as the third teacher • Emergent curriculum • Inquiry and project-based learning • Documentation of children’s thinking • Art and creative expression • Nature and outdoor exploration • Strong relationships • Family and community involvement • Respect for children’s individual development

Our goal is to create a childhood filled with meaningful experiences, curiosity, connection, creativity, and joy.