A Child Development Specialist is an expert in identifying the traits, symptoms, and patterns particular to children who suffer from various developmental and psychological disorders. They evaluate their educational needs and issues. They also give advice to parents and educators accordingly.
Personal Competencies
You have a strong desire to heal others
You are comfortable with children
You pay attention to details
You have strong communication skills
Entry Pathway
1. Complete 10 + 2 in any stream
2. Complete Bachelor’s degree in Arts (B.A.) in Early Childhood Education/Child Development/Child Psychology followed by Master’s degree in Arts (M.A.) in Child Development or related field
OR
Complete Bachelor’s in Arts (B.A.) in Early Childhood Education/Child Development/Child Psychology followed by Master’s degree in Arts (M.A.) in Child Development or related field, and then complete PhD in Child Development or related field
OR
Complete Diploma in Early Childhood Education followed by P.G. Diploma in Early Childhood Education
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment
Where will you study?
The course is offered by the Department of Early Childhood Care and Development. This list of institutes is indicative only
Government Institutes 1. Centre for Early Childhood Education and Development (CECED), Ambedkar University, New Delhi 2. Jadavpur University, Kolkata 3. Lady Irwin College, New Delhi 4. Centre for Early Childhood Development and Research, Jamia Islamia, New Delhi 5. University of Delhi, New Delhi 6. St. Teresa’s College, Kochi 7. Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Baroda
*NPTEL - National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning. It is by the Government of India and offers a variety of courses in an audio-video form
Fees
The approx. course fee ranges between INR 2,400 - 1,50,000*.
*(The above-mentioned figures are approximate numbers. This will vary from institute to institute)
Scholarships & Loans
SCHOLARSHIPS
• National Scholarship Portal - Visit http://www.scholarships.gov.in. Under this portal there are Central Government schemes offered by different departments, UGC/AICTE Schemes and State Schemes*
• Visit http://www.buddy4study.com for details on available scholarships. This is a gateway to scholarships starting from Class XI*
• Scholarships are also made available in institutes based on merit*
*(Availability of these scholarships can vary from time to time)
LOANS
• VidyaLakshmi, http://www.vidyalakshmi.co.in, is a portal for students seeking education loan. This portal has been developed under the guidance of the Department of Financial Services, (Ministry of Finance), Department of Higher Education (Ministry of Human Resource Development) and Indian Banks Association (IBA)
• Some states have student credit cards with low interest rates, for instance, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, etc.
• All banks give education loans
Where will you work?
Places of Work - Preschool or Elementary School, Private or Government Agencies and Institutions, NGOs, Public and Private schools, Child Care Centers, Head Start programs, Family Child Care Homes, Social Service Agencies, Hospitals, Clinics, Private Practices
Work Environment - You are likely to in a variety of settings depending on where you are employed. You may work full time or part time, and some may work evenings or weekends.You will typically work with children from birth to age 5, or may work with school-age children, adolescents, and families.
Opportunities for differently abled exist in this field
Expected Growth Path
Program Coordinator → Program Specialist → Program Manager → Assistant Director → Associate Director
Expected Income
The approx. salary of a Child Development Specialist ranges between INR 50,000 - 1,00,000* or more per month.
Dr. Monimalika Day is an Associate Professor at the School of Education Studies (SES), Ambedkar University Delhi. She completed her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland. She has been involved in several research projects to improve developmental outcomes of young children from marginalised communities, through parenting programmes and preschool education. She began her career in Kolkata at Calcutta Rescue and was instrumental in setting up a drop in center for 300 children, who lived with their families on the streets. Later, she took up a part time position at Manovikas Kendra and helped establish a hospital based programme for young children with disabilities.*
Child Development Specialist
NCS Code: NA | SS0281. Complete 10 + 2 in any stream
2. Complete Bachelor’s degree in Arts (B.A.) in Early Childhood Education/Child Development/Child Psychology followed by Master’s degree in Arts (M.A.) in Child Development or related field
OR
Complete Bachelor’s in Arts (B.A.) in Early Childhood Education/Child Development/Child Psychology followed by Master’s degree in Arts (M.A.) in Child Development or related field, and then complete PhD in Child Development or related field
OR
Complete Diploma in Early Childhood Education followed by P.G. Diploma in Early Childhood Education
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment
The course is offered by the Department of Early Childhood Care and Development.
This list of institutes is indicative only
Government Institutes
1. Centre for Early Childhood Education and Development (CECED), Ambedkar University, New Delhi
2. Jadavpur University, Kolkata
3. Lady Irwin College, New Delhi
4. Centre for Early Childhood Development and Research, Jamia Islamia, New Delhi
5. University of Delhi, New Delhi
6. St. Teresa’s College, Kochi
7. Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Baroda
Private Institutes
1. Azim Premji University, Bangalore
2. Bombay Teachers' Training College, Mumbai
3. Jaipur National University, Jaipur
4. Amity University, Noida
Information on the institute rankings can be found at - https://www.nirfindia.org/2022/Ranking.html
Distance Learning Institute
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
Online Course
• NPTEL* Swayam - https://onlinecourses.swayam2.ac.in/cec22_ge17/preview
• Coursera - https://in.coursera.org/courses?query=child%20development
*NPTEL - National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning. It is by the Government of India and offers a variety of courses in an audio-video form
The approx. course fee ranges between INR 2,400 - 1,50,000*.
*(The above-mentioned figures are approximate numbers. This will vary from institute to institute)
SCHOLARSHIPS
• National Scholarship Portal - Visit http://www.scholarships.gov.in. Under this portal there are Central Government schemes offered by different departments, UGC/AICTE Schemes and State Schemes*
• Visit http://www.buddy4study.com for details on available scholarships. This is a gateway to scholarships starting from Class XI*
• Scholarships are also made available in institutes based on merit*
*(Availability of these scholarships can vary from time to time)
LOANS
• VidyaLakshmi, http://www.vidyalakshmi.co.in, is a portal for students seeking education loan. This portal has been developed under the guidance of the Department of Financial Services, (Ministry of Finance), Department of Higher Education (Ministry of Human Resource Development) and Indian Banks Association (IBA)
• Some states have student credit cards with low interest rates, for instance, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, etc.
• All banks give education loans
Places of Work - Preschool or Elementary School, Private or Government Agencies and Institutions, NGOs, Public and Private schools, Child Care Centers, Head Start programs, Family Child Care Homes, Social Service Agencies, Hospitals, Clinics, Private Practices
Work Environment - You are likely to in a variety of settings depending on where you are employed. You may work full time or part time, and some may work evenings or weekends.You will typically work with children from birth to age 5, or may work with school-age children, adolescents, and families.
Opportunities for differently abled exist in this field
Program Coordinator → Program Specialist → Program Manager → Assistant Director → Associate Director
The approx. salary of a Child Development Specialist ranges between INR 50,000 - 1,00,000* or more per month.
Source: https://www.salaryexpert.com/salary/job/child-development-specialist/india/bangalore
*These figures are indicative and subject to change
Experts from the field
Dr. Monimalika Day is an Associate Professor at the School of Education Studies (SES), Ambedkar University Delhi. She completed her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland. She has been involved in several research projects to improve developmental outcomes of young children from marginalised communities, through parenting programmes and preschool education. She began her career in Kolkata at Calcutta Rescue and was instrumental in setting up a drop in center for 300 children, who lived with their families on the streets. Later, she took up a part time position at Manovikas Kendra and helped establish a hospital based programme for young children with disabilities.*
Source - https://aud.ac.in/faculty/dr-monimalika-day
*The above information is for training purposes only and will not be used for any commercial gains
child development specialist, child life specialist