Childcare Workers
Official O*NET title: Childcare Workers (39-9011.00)
Also called: caregiver, child care worker, child caregiver, childcare provider, childcare worker
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Create developmentally appropriate lesson plans
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing childcare workers work
2 of 18 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Green (little AI use yet) — 11%. 1 newer task is not in the data yet and left out.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Create developmentally appropriate lesson plans (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Communicate with children's parents or guardians about daily activities, behaviors, and related issues (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Maintain a safe play environment (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Observe and monitor children's play activities (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Support children's emotional and social development, encouraging understanding of others and positive self-concepts (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Care for children in institutional setting (main task) — too new for the AI data
- Sanitize toys and play equipment (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Dress children and change diapers (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Keep records on individual children (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Identify signs of emotional or developmental problems in children and bring them to parents' or guardians' attention (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Instruct children in health and personal habits (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Organize and store toys and materials to make sure order in activity areas (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Perform general administrative tasks (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Perform housekeeping duties (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Read to children and teach them simple painting, drawing, handicrafts, and songs (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Assist in preparing food and serving meals and refreshments to children (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Discipline children and recommend or start other measures to control behavior (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Regulate children's rest periods (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Organize and participate in recreational activities and outings (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Sterilize bottles and prepare formulas — no recorded AI use
- Help children with homework and school work — no recorded AI use
- Provide care for children with physical, developmental, or mental health disabilities — too new for the AI data
- Perform general staff functions — no recorded AI use
- Accompany children to and from school, on outings, and to medical appointments — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Create developmentally appropriate lesson plans”. Try the prompt for: “Communicate with children's parents or guardians about daily activities, behaviors, and related issues”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and childcare workers
Will AI replace childcare workers?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 2 of the 19 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Green rating (little AI use yet). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 20 of the 24 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which childcare worker tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: create developmentally appropriate lesson plans; communicate with children's parents or guardians about daily activities, behaviors, and related issues.
Which childcare worker tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: maintain a safe play environment; observe and monitor children's play activities; support children's emotional and social development, encouraging understanding of others and positive self-concepts. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 56% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a childcare worker start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Childcare Workers ranks #442 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #15 of 23 in Personal Care & Services.
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