As described by Lialain Katz(1999):

• Survival: First year/In the beginning, feels inadequate and ill-prepared.
• Consolidation: Begins to focus on individual children and specific behaviour.
• Renewal: Third and fourth year, ready to explore new ideas and resources.
• Maturity: Come to terms with teaching and searches for insights and perspectives.

Skills needed as an early childhood professional (NAEYC standards):

• Promote child development and learning
• Build familiy and community relationship
• Observe, document, and assess
• Teach and learn
• Use developmentally effective teaching and learning strategies
• Becoming a professional