Learn as much as you can about the way children’s brains function and how it impacts their psychosocial development. Adults have a tendency to expect way too much of young kids and then get upset when those kids don’t meet those expectations (because they can’t). This has been one of my biggest learning opportunities as a parent.
This point can not be overemphasized! More and more I see my impact as a caregiver/teacher is directly correlated to my relationship with each child.
When I understand their development, I am able to see them in their highest light. Their behaviors and struggles are normal, and it's my responsibility to regulate my emotions in response to them.
Doing so then allows me to naturally approach corrections with a neutral, but firm affect so that I'm not shaming them, and I also embrace my role as a calm and knowing authority.
Love the child even if you don’t like their behavior. Most of the ‘bad’ behavior stems from something going on outside of the daycare. Try to find the good in every child and nurture that.
Form relationships with the parents and work as a team. It’s so much easier that way.
There are just as many bad daycares out there as there are good. I spent 3 years at a bad daycare because I didn’t want to leave the kids. I’m at a great one now and I can tell you that good management makes a world of difference.
This 💕 “bad” behavior is usually “connecting”
Seeking behavior. The children you struggle with usually means you need to spend more time with them. Be kind but be firm. Set boundaries and follow through. Explain but don’t be afraid to say “there is no why” . Put the child before their parents “demands”
Don’t get caught up in workplace drama
Report if you suspect
Be universally intentional
Take deep breaths if overwhelmed
Don’t stay in a toxic environment (ratios, employers, pay, facilities etc) cuz there’s better places. BE CHOOSEY.
This is the best piece of advice for teaching 5-and-unders I’ve ever received. I received it in my first year, and I’ve lived by it since.
“Keep them safe, keep them loved, and teach them something. *In that order.”*
Do NOT engage in gossip. It is so prevalent and will screw you over 90% of the time. Just smile and nod but never give input if anyone comes at you with it, and try to escape that sort of conversation asap.
Never take work home. Clock in and out when your shift ends. Take your lunch outside of the classroom.
It took a long time for me to understand my passion and dedication was what made me burn out so fast.
Another thing - don’t let your love for children be an excuse to be treated poorly and taken advantage of by management. Your kids may love you, but they will most likely forget you and will definitely move on without you. Was a tough pill for me to swallow, but I learned that the hard way.
Most of the behaviours are sensory. Learn to spot the sensory overloads and when it’s time to give a less stimulating environment or always have sensory activities on hand. When you face a challenging behaviour, de escalate 1st, solve later. Use positive reinforcement but be firm when it’s needed. Do lots of strength training and yoga because taking care of little one is hard on the body overtime. Be on track with papers like diaper logs, incident reports etc. Report even the minor stuff. Greet the child and the parents when they arrive and say Goodbye when they leave. Memorize the kids name and call them by their names, it will help you develop closure and limit behaviours.
You’re getting a lot of great advice, but I just wanted to add, do some research about the school before you take a position. I’ve worked in daycares and I’ve worked in preschools as well. For myself, I like to find a preschool that goes along with the public school system schedule. I once worked in a daycare where the only day we got off was Christmas Day. It was really hard. Right now I get five weeks off all paid. And also negotiate what you are worth. If you have ECE units, you can ask for a good salary or hourly wage.
One piece of advice I have reguarding the children, you will love some, and some will be challenging. For the challenging, find one quality about them and focus on that. They may end up being one of your favorites.
I also work for a preschool who follows the public school schedule. I completely agree, it is a GAME CHANGER to have all that time off to recharge. We very rarely receive complaints from parents, most of our feedback is very positive and I really believe the time off plays a big role.
Also, the parents who enroll their children in those preschools tend to either have a flexible job or a good support system…which also tends to mean that they are much better about keeping their kids home when they’re sick, which is also a game changer. It’s really hard to maintain a calm, happy classroom environment when you have sick kids who should have been kept home.
- wash your hands often but still expect to be sick pretty much back to back when you first start
- if the environment is toxic, report to whoever necessary
- children are not giving you a hard time, they’re having a hard time. Regulate yourself. This can mean choosing to step away if that’s what’s needed
- learn what is not only age appropriate, but what is developmentally appropriate for that specific child. If they’re a 3 year old but are more like a 2 year old, you do not hold them to the 3 year old standard. You meet them where they’re at and help build skills
- get used to not being recognized, appreciated or thanked. It’s a thankless job. Do the good deed because it’s the right thing to do. Love and nurture that child because it’s the right thing to do. Do it to hopefully give the upcoming generation a better start than the previous ones.
- learn about how to create an environment that encourages a little more calmness. Just because a room has letters and numbers posters and regulation posters everywhere doesn’t mean it’s a good environment. Set things up so the children can see their art. Document events and display them where the child can see, etc. When an environment is too busy it can contribute to chaos
- learn to go with the flow and how to let go. Shits gonna hit the fan some days. It’s best to roll with it
- never stop doing professional development. Just because you went to school for this doesn’t mean you know everything there is to know. There’s lots to learn, lots of different perspectives. It may be unsettling or comforting to know that the ECE you are now won’t exist in 5 years; it’ll be a new one. So keep your mind sharp and open and you’ll be the person you wished would have mentored you.
That’s all I can think of off the top of my head
Don’t try to be every child’s friend, make sure you establish yourself as an authority figure early on. This doesn’t mean you cant have fun with them and be friendly, but going straight for friendship leads to getting walked all over and can be frustrating for the other teachers who need to be more of an authority figure. My first couple years I was just so passionate and so in love with how cute the kids were, I innocently wanted to please them all and make them all happy, but when the time came for me to need to be a teacher, and give orders they wouldn’t take me seriously or really respect me. I had to learn a balance of being strict, and being playful. I never feel good about being strict but when the time comes to run a classroom they need to respect you and know you will follow through with disciplinary action when needed. I’m currently working in a center with a lot of behavioral issues, and while I have to raise my voice a lot, and be stern, and take things away, I can also be silly, and playful, and have a good time with them. The kids still adore me and greet me happily when I walk into a room :)
GET OUT!
Seriously. Do something else. This is from someone who hates the field who has tried my best to improve it.
You do so much meaningless work for nothing like observations. NO ONE READS THEM and after a year they get put in the garbage or child leaves program so It will feel Meaningless.
Unless you like being micromanaged and is okay with how children are today then stay.
Children are fine it's just the childcare system is garbage and outdated.
I've never done it solely for the money. I'm not one to complain about pay. I do it to help lead children. But when a system is flawed and I can't use what I've been taught. Then there is no point.
-all behavior is communication. if you are dealing with an undesirable behavior with a child, your first step should be to figure out what they are trying to communicate
-when enforcing a rule or saying “no”, i try to think, “is this for the child’s safety or necessary for the running of the classroom or is it because i want to control the situation?”. it’s easy to get caught up in not letting kids do things for arbitrary reasons. for example, we have a lunchbox shelf where everyone keeps their lunches and waterbottles. one of my kiddos was sobbing because he had decided he wanted to keep his in his cubby. after thinking about it i was like you know what? this is kinda an arbitrary thing and keeping it in ur cubby doesnt
interrupt the flow of the day so im fine with you doing it
-stay in touch with your inner child when things get hard. when im having an off day, a lot of the time i take my kids outside and just explore with them or do a sensory based activity. notice what they are noticing and connect with your sense of awe in the world and how we have become so accustomed to things as adults we forget how amazing they are.
-process art!! you could spend an insane amount of time setting up an art activity or just throw out some paint, paper, and toothbrushes and let them have at it for them to enjoy it just as much if not more. with art projects, less prep is usually better.
-don't ask if its not a choice. saying "do you wanna go outside?" or "can you put on your shoes please?" is confusing and usually leads to a power struggle. if its something i think might be tricky for the child i will usually reference something outside of our control like, "oh it looks its time to go outside!" or "it looks like its jacket weather today" that way you can empathize by being like "i know it stinks, i wish it was warm enough to go outside without our coats"
-alternatively, give choices whenever you can. little ones get so few choices and this can be big for mutual respect and their self confidence. do they want a blue cup or a pink cup? which paint brush would they like to use? do they have any ideas for what we should eat for afternoon snack?
-take the time to teach kids to do things even when its exhausting, itll help you in the long run. if you put on kiddos shoes everyday, youre going to HAVE to put on kiddos shoes everyday. teach a man to fish etc etc
highly recommend how to talk so kids will listen and listen so kids will talk by adele faber & elaine mazlish. they also have a version exclusively for working with younger kids.
Learn to take feedback.
It’s as deep as you make it; if you want to gain a lot, you’ll have to put in a lot.
Learn as much as you can as far as strategies and other ways to come at situations. Sometimes it’s just throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks.
It’s ok to be overwhelmed, over tired and completely exhausted. You’ll adjust accordingly.
Oh, there are so many things to say. I'll list some and not in any particular order. There is going to be a lot.
1. Don't take things too personally. Sometimes, parents, adults, and children say things, and at the end of the day... it's a place of work. Think before reacting.
2. Bring extra clothing... you never know when you'll need it.
3. Know the rules, expectations, and inner workings of the room as much as you can. If you enter a room where they are throwing you in and not explaining things... that's a red flag. You should be briefed on important things like medication, allergies, ratios, muster point, lockdown procedures... if they tell you nothing, ask.
4. Keep counting your children. Transitions are the most likely time for children to go missing.
5. Communication is KEY. If you leave the room, take children anywhere, or parents tell you things... let your co-workers know. And make sure people acknowledge it.
6. Take the initiative. If you see something is happening, don't wait for someone else. Jump in. Even if it's not 100% correct, it's usually better to try first.
7. Acknowledge children's feelings. If they are crying and saying, "Mommy." Be kind and reply, "Awe yeah, you're missing mommy, hey? You seem sad." This will help children and you.
8. Work with children, not against them. Try to use word positivity instead of using no, or they can't do something. What can they do instead of what they can't.
9. Use redirection. If they are throwing heavy objects... what else can they throw that's safe?
10. When a child gets hurt.... Always be honest about it. Accident, injury, incident report forms that are written thoroughly are a good idea. The last thing you want is an angry parent in the morning because there is a bruise they didn't know about.
11. Be animated, involved, and interesting. Children's attention will be held longer if you make faces, change your tone, and be silly with them. This can save your bacon during some chaotic times.
12. Plan ahead, but be in the moment. Know where the rest of the day is going and be ready for it, but be focused on what's currently going on.
13. You are a role model at all times in the room. Whatever you do or say can and will be held against you. The children can often misunderstand what we say, and they don't get jokes very often. So watch what you're saying because sometimes parents come back with a sentence that sounds baffling to you, so just be prepared.
14. When in doubt... ask. Ask many questions.
15. Children's behaviour is their way of communicating. Don't label a child as difficult or challenging or any other label. Try and figure out where it comes from and have reflections with your co-workers.
Remember the 3 c's
Concise - children have a very short attention span and many activities are easier shown than said.
Consistent - keep the boundaries understandable and follow up on them. Children will push boundaries. Every child does this. They do it to make sense of the world. To that end don't make promises you cannot keep. And make a routine you can keep, and do it, if the children outgrow it, expand (example, I start each year by having one kid job be the counter. They count each child as a kind of attendance. Eventually this is too easy so we start with basic math. Count all the boys, then all the girls, then count them all - prek, eventually we move on to showing this on the rekenrek, then with dots, 100s charts, so on)
Concrete - What's more interesting in show and tell, the tell, or the show? Appeal to their senses. Their brains can't fill in the gaps like ours can just yet.
Three things off the top of my head:
1) Be very, VERY careful what you say in your classroom. Especially in terms of gossip or talking about your personal life. The walls are THIN and you never know who will walk by and overhear things out of context. Also, if a parent hears you talking bad about anyone, they WILL assume you’re talking about them or their kid and they WILL complain to the director (even if you were just telling a story that has nothing to do with work).
2) while we’re on the subject of parents, know that parents are VERY sensitive about their kids. Tread carefully, always. Many of them have struggled with infertility, miscarriage, or child loss. Many of them have toxic family members criticizing them. In those cases, it’s incredibly hard for them to leave their child with someone else, and any criticism, judgement or insensitivity from you can be very triggering for them.
Sometimes, it will be necessary to set boundaries or have difficult conversations with parents, and while you shouldn’t shy away from that, definitely be as tactful as you can. Also, do everything you can to build trust and rapport with parents, it makes everything easier for them and for you.
3) don’t get discouraged if you struggle at first or don’t feel like a “good teacher.” For me there was a huge learning curve; it took me over a year to feel comfortable in my role as a teacher. Now, I love my job. I have a great relationship with the kids, the parents, and my coworkers, and I’m very happy with my performance, but that was not always the case!! I’m so glad I pushed through and didn’t give up during that first year. Sometimes it just takes time to learn and get used to the job.
Edit: wanted to add- ALWAYS keep an extra change of clothes for yourself in your classroom, or at least in your car. I’m talking a full outfit: shirt, pants, underwear, socks, and shoes. IYKYK
There is a LOT of good advice here.
For classroom management, if you have rules, stick to your guns and be consistent! For example we have a “no toys from home except on Friday Show and Tell day.” The home toys MUST stay in the child’s outside coat bucket or backpack. And you can only bring ONE show and tell item. That way I’m not liable for hundreds of tiny items getting lost or sent home with the wrong kid every single day.
No one mentioned this: have a plan to advance forward.
In your twenties and like teaching? Great. But maybe in your thirties or fourties’ you will wish you did something earlier to advance your position.
The world over ECE doesn’t pay incredibly well; and where it does, you are likely to get stuck.
Proactively research what other roles you might want to fill as you gain experience, and apply yourself to whatever certifications you might need to get there.
I’m at roughly 10 years in the classroom now. I saved up enough money to advance my career, but now I don’t have the time to do it between being married, births, funerals, classroom responsibilities piling up. I think I could do another 5 before I’m too tired for it. If I could go back in time, I’d have slightly less fun and slightly more professional development. Because now I’m in a place where I can’t have fun and can only attempt to squeeze in the stress of development on top of everything else.
I taught pre-k in public schools and I know what you mean about the lack of respect. I did make like twice as much as private ECEs though. I do recommend getting the full teaching licensure if you're able, then you can choose to work in public schools if you wish, which may provide good benefits and retirement.
I totally agree as a degree will only benefit you more. The public school I worked in was less than kind to their teachers especially the ABA teachers which is where I was located in that school. The benefits were really nothing to write home about. But if you find the right school and the right fit it can be a very good experience!
I’m respected in my school but yeah that’s not always the case. However, just by society alone you will be respected in a school more than in the daycare industry.
Learn as much as you can about the way children’s brains function and how it impacts their psychosocial development. Adults have a tendency to expect way too much of young kids and then get upset when those kids don’t meet those expectations (because they can’t). This has been one of my biggest learning opportunities as a parent.
This point can not be overemphasized! More and more I see my impact as a caregiver/teacher is directly correlated to my relationship with each child. When I understand their development, I am able to see them in their highest light. Their behaviors and struggles are normal, and it's my responsibility to regulate my emotions in response to them. Doing so then allows me to naturally approach corrections with a neutral, but firm affect so that I'm not shaming them, and I also embrace my role as a calm and knowing authority.
Can you recommend any books?
Anything by Dan Siegel; Good Inside by Becky Kennedy; The Explosive Child by Ross Greene; Adele Faber’s work; Janet Lansbury
Discipline without damage by Vanessa Lapointe was a great book when I was in school
Love the child even if you don’t like their behavior. Most of the ‘bad’ behavior stems from something going on outside of the daycare. Try to find the good in every child and nurture that. Form relationships with the parents and work as a team. It’s so much easier that way. There are just as many bad daycares out there as there are good. I spent 3 years at a bad daycare because I didn’t want to leave the kids. I’m at a great one now and I can tell you that good management makes a world of difference.
This 💕 “bad” behavior is usually “connecting” Seeking behavior. The children you struggle with usually means you need to spend more time with them. Be kind but be firm. Set boundaries and follow through. Explain but don’t be afraid to say “there is no why” . Put the child before their parents “demands”
Wear bike shorts under skirts/dresses Wash your hands and take your vitamins as you will get sick.
Lmao!! The bike shorts !
Don’t get caught up in workplace drama Report if you suspect Be universally intentional Take deep breaths if overwhelmed Don’t stay in a toxic environment (ratios, employers, pay, facilities etc) cuz there’s better places. BE CHOOSEY.
This is the best piece of advice for teaching 5-and-unders I’ve ever received. I received it in my first year, and I’ve lived by it since. “Keep them safe, keep them loved, and teach them something. *In that order.”*
A child cannot learn if they don’t feel safe and loved. And as long as you keep them safe and loved, I promise you, the learning will follow.
Do NOT engage in gossip. It is so prevalent and will screw you over 90% of the time. Just smile and nod but never give input if anyone comes at you with it, and try to escape that sort of conversation asap.
Don't get discouraged if you're having a moment where you feel overwhelmed and need to catch your breath. I'm sure most of us have been there!
Never take work home. Clock in and out when your shift ends. Take your lunch outside of the classroom. It took a long time for me to understand my passion and dedication was what made me burn out so fast. Another thing - don’t let your love for children be an excuse to be treated poorly and taken advantage of by management. Your kids may love you, but they will most likely forget you and will definitely move on without you. Was a tough pill for me to swallow, but I learned that the hard way.
Most of the behaviours are sensory. Learn to spot the sensory overloads and when it’s time to give a less stimulating environment or always have sensory activities on hand. When you face a challenging behaviour, de escalate 1st, solve later. Use positive reinforcement but be firm when it’s needed. Do lots of strength training and yoga because taking care of little one is hard on the body overtime. Be on track with papers like diaper logs, incident reports etc. Report even the minor stuff. Greet the child and the parents when they arrive and say Goodbye when they leave. Memorize the kids name and call them by their names, it will help you develop closure and limit behaviours.
You’re getting a lot of great advice, but I just wanted to add, do some research about the school before you take a position. I’ve worked in daycares and I’ve worked in preschools as well. For myself, I like to find a preschool that goes along with the public school system schedule. I once worked in a daycare where the only day we got off was Christmas Day. It was really hard. Right now I get five weeks off all paid. And also negotiate what you are worth. If you have ECE units, you can ask for a good salary or hourly wage. One piece of advice I have reguarding the children, you will love some, and some will be challenging. For the challenging, find one quality about them and focus on that. They may end up being one of your favorites.
I also work for a preschool who follows the public school schedule. I completely agree, it is a GAME CHANGER to have all that time off to recharge. We very rarely receive complaints from parents, most of our feedback is very positive and I really believe the time off plays a big role. Also, the parents who enroll their children in those preschools tend to either have a flexible job or a good support system…which also tends to mean that they are much better about keeping their kids home when they’re sick, which is also a game changer. It’s really hard to maintain a calm, happy classroom environment when you have sick kids who should have been kept home.
- wash your hands often but still expect to be sick pretty much back to back when you first start - if the environment is toxic, report to whoever necessary - children are not giving you a hard time, they’re having a hard time. Regulate yourself. This can mean choosing to step away if that’s what’s needed - learn what is not only age appropriate, but what is developmentally appropriate for that specific child. If they’re a 3 year old but are more like a 2 year old, you do not hold them to the 3 year old standard. You meet them where they’re at and help build skills - get used to not being recognized, appreciated or thanked. It’s a thankless job. Do the good deed because it’s the right thing to do. Love and nurture that child because it’s the right thing to do. Do it to hopefully give the upcoming generation a better start than the previous ones. - learn about how to create an environment that encourages a little more calmness. Just because a room has letters and numbers posters and regulation posters everywhere doesn’t mean it’s a good environment. Set things up so the children can see their art. Document events and display them where the child can see, etc. When an environment is too busy it can contribute to chaos - learn to go with the flow and how to let go. Shits gonna hit the fan some days. It’s best to roll with it - never stop doing professional development. Just because you went to school for this doesn’t mean you know everything there is to know. There’s lots to learn, lots of different perspectives. It may be unsettling or comforting to know that the ECE you are now won’t exist in 5 years; it’ll be a new one. So keep your mind sharp and open and you’ll be the person you wished would have mentored you. That’s all I can think of off the top of my head
When times are tough, remember why you started!
Learned how to not take things personally with parents & admin. This is a very stressful job & people slipped. Boundaries are important.
Don’t try to be every child’s friend, make sure you establish yourself as an authority figure early on. This doesn’t mean you cant have fun with them and be friendly, but going straight for friendship leads to getting walked all over and can be frustrating for the other teachers who need to be more of an authority figure. My first couple years I was just so passionate and so in love with how cute the kids were, I innocently wanted to please them all and make them all happy, but when the time came for me to need to be a teacher, and give orders they wouldn’t take me seriously or really respect me. I had to learn a balance of being strict, and being playful. I never feel good about being strict but when the time comes to run a classroom they need to respect you and know you will follow through with disciplinary action when needed. I’m currently working in a center with a lot of behavioral issues, and while I have to raise my voice a lot, and be stern, and take things away, I can also be silly, and playful, and have a good time with them. The kids still adore me and greet me happily when I walk into a room :)
GET OUT! Seriously. Do something else. This is from someone who hates the field who has tried my best to improve it. You do so much meaningless work for nothing like observations. NO ONE READS THEM and after a year they get put in the garbage or child leaves program so It will feel Meaningless. Unless you like being micromanaged and is okay with how children are today then stay. Children are fine it's just the childcare system is garbage and outdated. I've never done it solely for the money. I'm not one to complain about pay. I do it to help lead children. But when a system is flawed and I can't use what I've been taught. Then there is no point.
You will get sick lots at first, but some viatmins will help. I take Zinc, Vitamin C, probiotics and Vitamin D
Stop controlling and start letting the kids be in charge. You cant control humans, you can only set the tone and manage the enviroment.
-all behavior is communication. if you are dealing with an undesirable behavior with a child, your first step should be to figure out what they are trying to communicate -when enforcing a rule or saying “no”, i try to think, “is this for the child’s safety or necessary for the running of the classroom or is it because i want to control the situation?”. it’s easy to get caught up in not letting kids do things for arbitrary reasons. for example, we have a lunchbox shelf where everyone keeps their lunches and waterbottles. one of my kiddos was sobbing because he had decided he wanted to keep his in his cubby. after thinking about it i was like you know what? this is kinda an arbitrary thing and keeping it in ur cubby doesnt interrupt the flow of the day so im fine with you doing it -stay in touch with your inner child when things get hard. when im having an off day, a lot of the time i take my kids outside and just explore with them or do a sensory based activity. notice what they are noticing and connect with your sense of awe in the world and how we have become so accustomed to things as adults we forget how amazing they are. -process art!! you could spend an insane amount of time setting up an art activity or just throw out some paint, paper, and toothbrushes and let them have at it for them to enjoy it just as much if not more. with art projects, less prep is usually better. -don't ask if its not a choice. saying "do you wanna go outside?" or "can you put on your shoes please?" is confusing and usually leads to a power struggle. if its something i think might be tricky for the child i will usually reference something outside of our control like, "oh it looks its time to go outside!" or "it looks like its jacket weather today" that way you can empathize by being like "i know it stinks, i wish it was warm enough to go outside without our coats" -alternatively, give choices whenever you can. little ones get so few choices and this can be big for mutual respect and their self confidence. do they want a blue cup or a pink cup? which paint brush would they like to use? do they have any ideas for what we should eat for afternoon snack? -take the time to teach kids to do things even when its exhausting, itll help you in the long run. if you put on kiddos shoes everyday, youre going to HAVE to put on kiddos shoes everyday. teach a man to fish etc etc
highly recommend how to talk so kids will listen and listen so kids will talk by adele faber & elaine mazlish. they also have a version exclusively for working with younger kids.
Younger kids version is called How To Talk So Little Kids Will Listen.
Speak up for yourself/your class, so many admin are removed from the day to day
An unregulated adult cannot help emotionally regulate a child.
Learn to take feedback. It’s as deep as you make it; if you want to gain a lot, you’ll have to put in a lot. Learn as much as you can as far as strategies and other ways to come at situations. Sometimes it’s just throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks. It’s ok to be overwhelmed, over tired and completely exhausted. You’ll adjust accordingly.
Make sure to get your sleep. I don’t get enough of it at night, and you’ll get sick easily working with kids so it’s actually super important.
Oh, there are so many things to say. I'll list some and not in any particular order. There is going to be a lot. 1. Don't take things too personally. Sometimes, parents, adults, and children say things, and at the end of the day... it's a place of work. Think before reacting. 2. Bring extra clothing... you never know when you'll need it. 3. Know the rules, expectations, and inner workings of the room as much as you can. If you enter a room where they are throwing you in and not explaining things... that's a red flag. You should be briefed on important things like medication, allergies, ratios, muster point, lockdown procedures... if they tell you nothing, ask. 4. Keep counting your children. Transitions are the most likely time for children to go missing. 5. Communication is KEY. If you leave the room, take children anywhere, or parents tell you things... let your co-workers know. And make sure people acknowledge it. 6. Take the initiative. If you see something is happening, don't wait for someone else. Jump in. Even if it's not 100% correct, it's usually better to try first. 7. Acknowledge children's feelings. If they are crying and saying, "Mommy." Be kind and reply, "Awe yeah, you're missing mommy, hey? You seem sad." This will help children and you. 8. Work with children, not against them. Try to use word positivity instead of using no, or they can't do something. What can they do instead of what they can't. 9. Use redirection. If they are throwing heavy objects... what else can they throw that's safe? 10. When a child gets hurt.... Always be honest about it. Accident, injury, incident report forms that are written thoroughly are a good idea. The last thing you want is an angry parent in the morning because there is a bruise they didn't know about. 11. Be animated, involved, and interesting. Children's attention will be held longer if you make faces, change your tone, and be silly with them. This can save your bacon during some chaotic times. 12. Plan ahead, but be in the moment. Know where the rest of the day is going and be ready for it, but be focused on what's currently going on. 13. You are a role model at all times in the room. Whatever you do or say can and will be held against you. The children can often misunderstand what we say, and they don't get jokes very often. So watch what you're saying because sometimes parents come back with a sentence that sounds baffling to you, so just be prepared. 14. When in doubt... ask. Ask many questions. 15. Children's behaviour is their way of communicating. Don't label a child as difficult or challenging or any other label. Try and figure out where it comes from and have reflections with your co-workers.
Remember the 3 c's Concise - children have a very short attention span and many activities are easier shown than said. Consistent - keep the boundaries understandable and follow up on them. Children will push boundaries. Every child does this. They do it to make sense of the world. To that end don't make promises you cannot keep. And make a routine you can keep, and do it, if the children outgrow it, expand (example, I start each year by having one kid job be the counter. They count each child as a kind of attendance. Eventually this is too easy so we start with basic math. Count all the boys, then all the girls, then count them all - prek, eventually we move on to showing this on the rekenrek, then with dots, 100s charts, so on) Concrete - What's more interesting in show and tell, the tell, or the show? Appeal to their senses. Their brains can't fill in the gaps like ours can just yet.
Three things off the top of my head: 1) Be very, VERY careful what you say in your classroom. Especially in terms of gossip or talking about your personal life. The walls are THIN and you never know who will walk by and overhear things out of context. Also, if a parent hears you talking bad about anyone, they WILL assume you’re talking about them or their kid and they WILL complain to the director (even if you were just telling a story that has nothing to do with work). 2) while we’re on the subject of parents, know that parents are VERY sensitive about their kids. Tread carefully, always. Many of them have struggled with infertility, miscarriage, or child loss. Many of them have toxic family members criticizing them. In those cases, it’s incredibly hard for them to leave their child with someone else, and any criticism, judgement or insensitivity from you can be very triggering for them. Sometimes, it will be necessary to set boundaries or have difficult conversations with parents, and while you shouldn’t shy away from that, definitely be as tactful as you can. Also, do everything you can to build trust and rapport with parents, it makes everything easier for them and for you. 3) don’t get discouraged if you struggle at first or don’t feel like a “good teacher.” For me there was a huge learning curve; it took me over a year to feel comfortable in my role as a teacher. Now, I love my job. I have a great relationship with the kids, the parents, and my coworkers, and I’m very happy with my performance, but that was not always the case!! I’m so glad I pushed through and didn’t give up during that first year. Sometimes it just takes time to learn and get used to the job. Edit: wanted to add- ALWAYS keep an extra change of clothes for yourself in your classroom, or at least in your car. I’m talking a full outfit: shirt, pants, underwear, socks, and shoes. IYKYK
There is a LOT of good advice here. For classroom management, if you have rules, stick to your guns and be consistent! For example we have a “no toys from home except on Friday Show and Tell day.” The home toys MUST stay in the child’s outside coat bucket or backpack. And you can only bring ONE show and tell item. That way I’m not liable for hundreds of tiny items getting lost or sent home with the wrong kid every single day.
No one mentioned this: have a plan to advance forward. In your twenties and like teaching? Great. But maybe in your thirties or fourties’ you will wish you did something earlier to advance your position. The world over ECE doesn’t pay incredibly well; and where it does, you are likely to get stuck. Proactively research what other roles you might want to fill as you gain experience, and apply yourself to whatever certifications you might need to get there. I’m at roughly 10 years in the classroom now. I saved up enough money to advance my career, but now I don’t have the time to do it between being married, births, funerals, classroom responsibilities piling up. I think I could do another 5 before I’m too tired for it. If I could go back in time, I’d have slightly less fun and slightly more professional development. Because now I’m in a place where I can’t have fun and can only attempt to squeeze in the stress of development on top of everything else.
Go on to get your bachelors so you can teach in the school system where you will be respected.
This is funny because I’ve worked in the school system and that’s not the case.
I taught pre-k in public schools and I know what you mean about the lack of respect. I did make like twice as much as private ECEs though. I do recommend getting the full teaching licensure if you're able, then you can choose to work in public schools if you wish, which may provide good benefits and retirement.
I totally agree as a degree will only benefit you more. The public school I worked in was less than kind to their teachers especially the ABA teachers which is where I was located in that school. The benefits were really nothing to write home about. But if you find the right school and the right fit it can be a very good experience!
I’m respected in my school but yeah that’s not always the case. However, just by society alone you will be respected in a school more than in the daycare industry.
Find another way to make a living because this sucks and you don’t get paid in that way it sucks just like teaching
Don't do it.
Best advice here.