Childcare management is the leadership and day-to-day coordination that keeps early childhood education programs running smoothly. This could be a childcare center (also called a daycare center), an early education school or even an at-home daycare business.
If you've ever worked in early childhood education (ECE), you know that making each day a nurturing and positive experience for each child takes a lot more than a cup of goldfish crackers. But if you don't have experience in ECE, you might not realize that there are huge differences in the quality of child care you'll find from place to place.
Some daycare centers or early learning schools do little more than keep their children safe (which is certainly a challenge sometimes). But other child care places invest time, energy and education into making sure that the daily experience of each baby, toddler and preschooler is full of care, curiosity and opportunities that match their developmental needs.
This means that jobs in childcare management can be very different depending on where you work. Childcare centers worldwide need the basic aspects of running a business. This might include...
- Keeping the childcare facility clean, safe and in compliance with local regulations (this applies to home daycares as well!)
- Hiring and scheduling childcare providers like teachers or other staff
- Completing payroll, budgeting and taking payments from clients
- Applying for the relevant licenses
- Communicating with parents and families
- Developing emergency plans from what to do when a child is sick, to how to handle weather disasters
The professionals who work in childcare management have a blend of education, operations and people-skills. They lead childcare centers, oversee staff and create environments where children and families can thrive.
Whether you're exploring a new career or just curious about what it takes to manage a childcare center, read on! It's an incredible role for people who want to step back from the daily interactions of being a teacher and into the management decisions that keep early childhood education (ECE) available to families.
What do childcare managers do?
Running a childcare center takes more than just a love for children; it requires strong leadership and an eye for detail. Childcare management involves overseeing all aspects of a center’s daily operations to make sure children, families and staff have the support they need.
Childcare managers also help set the tone for the entire center. They lead with empathy, solve problems as they arise and make sure families feel confident in the care their children are receiving.
Here are some important functions childcare managers handle.
1. Manage staff and support professional development
Childcare managers lead a team of educators and support staff. They create staff schedules, lead team meetings, and provide ongoing training opportunities. Supporting professional development helps staff build their skills and stay updated on best practices in early childhood education.
Effective managers also create space for continuous learning. This includes offering training sessions, mentoring new staff and making sure everyone has access to current early childhood education resources and best practices.
2. Create a safe, engaging environment for children
Keeping a clean, welcoming and safe space where children can learn and grow is one of a childcare manager's top priorities.
This includes choosing age-appropriate learning materials, making sure health and safety rules are followed and helping educators create a fun and supportive environment.
But these tasks also include the less-fun elements of ECE, like staying on top of licensing requirements, handling maintenance problems and filing taxes.
3. Communicate with parents and families
Good parent communication is key. Managers often lead family outreach, including newsletters, open houses, and one-on-one check-ins. Communication is vital to childcare, and keeping dialogue open builds trust and helps families stay informed about their child’s day.
Involving parents in their child’s learning journey is another important part of this role. Managers plan open houses, organize local events and more to create a supportive school community that develops strong family relationships.
For more ideas on this, check out 9 Ways to Improve Family Engagement in Early Childhood Education.
4. Oversee enrollment, scheduling and attendance
Childcare managers are responsible for handling enrollment, keeping track of class sizes and ensuring scheduling meets the needs of both families and staff. The administrative tasks in ECE can be shockingly complex!
Monitoring attendance, enrollment and staff performance alone can be a lot to track when virus season comes around. And in ECE, every season is virus season!
Accurate attendance records are also important for planning, safety and reporting purposes.
5. Handle financial management and budgeting
Running a center also involves strong budgeting and financial planning skills. Managers may handle payment collection, keep track of expenses and manage the center’s financial goals. This might include using childcare management software or other platforms to handle tuition billing, payroll and supply costs.
Common job titles in childcare management
Childcare management roles come in many forms, depending on the size and structure of the center.
While official titles can vary between locations, the core responsibilities are typically the same. They involve overseeing staff, maintaining standards and managing daily operations.
Additional or more advanced education, specific work experience, licensing or certification may be required to work in the following areas of Early Childhood Education. It is important to check state and employer requirements regarding the type of position you want.
Childcare director
A childcare director is the top administrator at a center, responsible for overseeing staff, managing the budget, and maintaining licensing and safety standards. They handle all problems that arise, and they wear many hats.
For more on this role, check out 7 Things You’ll Do as a Director of Early Childhood Education.
Assistant director
An assistant director supports the director by managing day-to-day operations, helping with staff supervision and filling in when needed.
Center manager
A center manager oversees one location of a childcare organization. These roles are obviously more common in larger child care companies.
Program coordinator
A program coordinator focuses on specific age groups of children and on curriculum development, helping educators align their teaching with early childhood learning goals.
Site supervisor
A site supervisor is common in larger ECE programs. This role often involves managing staff at one location while reporting to a larger administrative team.
5 Traits of a great childcare manager
Working in childcare management requires more than just a love for children—it takes a special set of skills and personal qualities to lead a successful program.
Here are some of the top traits that help childcare managers thrive.
1. Strong leadership and organization
From managing staff to overseeing daily operations, childcare managers need to be organized and confident in making decisions that keep the center running smoothly.
2. Clear communication and interpersonal skills
Whether talking with teachers, families, or licensing agencies, communication is key. Effective managers know how to listen, give feedback and build positive relationships with everyone involved in the program.
3. Knowledge of child development and education
A strong understanding of early childhood education helps managers support teachers, choose age-appropriate curriculum and make sure every child’s learning needs are met.
Childcare managers need a mix of ECE education, experience and a commitment to their own professional growth--you can never know everything about how children develop, and we are learning more every year.
Most of these roles will also require (at minimum) successful completion of an ECE bachelor's degree program that covers essential knowledge about child brain development, social-emotional development, ethics and legal compliance in ECE.
4. Ability to problem-solve and prioritize
Each day brings new challenges. Great managers can think on their feet, resolve issues quickly, and keep their focus on what’s most important—high-quality care for children and families.
5. Commitment to continuous learning and training
The best managers are lifelong learners. They stay current on regulations, attend professional development workshops and encourage ongoing training for their team.
Strong child care leadership makes a difference
Great child care management is at the heart of every successful ECE program.
While teachers and caregivers work directly with children, it's the childcare managers behind the scenes who choose how things will be done in their center. If a childcare manager is more interested in saving money or saving time than they are interested in the daily experience of children, families and teachers at their organization, it shows.
Childcare management is about more than just overseeing a center—it’s about building a space where children, educators and families can thrive.
If you're passionate about giving young children a safe, positive foundation to their education and social-emotional development, and if you're good at organization and communication, a career in childcare leadership could be an amazing fit.
Want to learn more? Check out From Teacher to Leader: How to Become a Childcare Director.
The Early Childhood Education programs at Rasmussen University are not designed to meet, and do not meet, the educational requirements for licensure to teach in public preschools, or kindergarten, elementary, or secondary schools in any state. Childcare facilities and the states in which they are located establish qualifications for staff that work with children, and often implement guidelines regarding age, education, experience, background and professional development. Before enrolling, it is important to understand all of the licensure eligibility standards for a desired career by consulting the appropriate state and school/facility requirements.
