Being an early educator has it's challenges. Knowing how important it is to nurture to the personality and strengths of each individual child makes the job overwhelming at times. A child who has a calm, quiet personality needs just as much attention as the child who is busy and energetic. Some days seem impossible to make it all work. In early education, patience and consistency are key. If children know you care enough to stick it out with them, they will respect you, and you better believe they will know your true intentions, and will react accordingly. Being consistent with routines and rules will help children know that you are trustworthy. As parents and early educators, we set the stage for healthy social interactions that will help them tremendously in their elementary and teenage years.  So many times we have heard, you must first love yourself before you can love someone else. Building a child's self esteem will help them feel good about them self.  Make sure we are building their inner self. Outward appearances change as we go through the various stages of life. Over emphasising looks will set children up for disappointments. Fill their lives with love, joy, peace and empathy for others. We will make mistakes, so don't expect perfection from yourself or children.  It's okay to be sad about mistakes, for a while. It's so important to get back up and learn over and over again throughout all of our lives. For some it will only take one mistake to learn but for others it will take more. Be patient with each other. Always let your children know that no matter what happens, they can count on your love always being there. There have been many times in my 50 something years that I have fallen down at my heavenly fathers feet in defeat, where he lets me stay for a while in his safe, loving arms. Then he picks me up and turns me around with renewed strength and courage to face the rest of my journey. There is no greater example of love.
    

     The first real classroom I was put in charge, was the two year olds, fourteen of them! Wow, how things have changed. I think all new to the child care career begin with the terrible twos as they used to call them. It was definitley a major challenge, but I loved every part of it, especially teaching them new things and being amazed at how fast they learned. I have included an old photo of some of my class performing at the annual graduation program at the local community college. It's funny but I can remember their first and last names unlike the names of adults that I cannot, for the life of me, remember. Back in the 80's most two year old's were already potty trained. Children are smarter than we think. They can learn alot by the age of two, if nutured in the appropriate way. I hope you noticed that I used the word "nurture" which means, to care for, support and encourage. Unlike the word teach which simply means, to instruct or train. If only all educators knew how and would commit to nurture. Nurturing works best with all students, at any age and level of learning. I can tell when a professor really cares or if it is only a job with a paycheck. So, why should we think any less of the very young. If we will allow it a child will nurture us. Our adult mind is cluttered with responsibilities and distractions. Their little minds are like sponges, taking in so much and they usually speak the truth. Children have showed me that they welcome any knowledge. It is up to us, as adults to make certain, their learning experiences are positive. I pray that we will take the time to think first before we speak to a child or act toward a child, not using our busy adult minds, but with our childlike minds, which is our birthright.

The Beginning

I have to thank my friend, Patti, who introduced me to the child care field in the early 80's. I had worked in retail from the first time I started working, at the age of 15. Patti helped me get the job at Winnie the Pooh Day Care when I was 18. The day care was a small center in the basement of the home of Mrs Pearson. I quickly took the job for I was tired of the retail hours. I fell in love with the children and the job seemed to come naturally for me. It was like having a big family. I felt very needed and loved. Within the next year the day care closed for personal reasons. I knew that I would not be happy in any other job so I started looking for work in child care and soon came across my next adventure at Mother Goose Day Care. I will never forget the littlest fellow looking up at me and crying holding on the the gate outside the baby room. His mom had just dropped him off and he was not a happy camper. Sometimes I wonder if the director placed that very child at the gate to lure me in. It worked, I was hooked for the next 10 years! By the way I just found this little/big guy, Jay, on facebook. While making me feel extremely old, at the same time it made me feel extremely relieved to see his face again and to know that he is striving to be his best! So blessed am I to have known this little fellow, and little, he will always be, to me.

Early Educators January 6, 2012

     This blog has been created for anyone who is an early educator which includes but is not limited to parents, grandparents, child day care teachers, public school teachers, high school and college students, nannies, babysitters, big brothers and sisters plus anyone who aspires to educate young children.
     The blog will include helpful information such as lesson plans and lessons learned. It will include insights and humor of the day in the life of an early educator. If you know me personally, you just might find yourself included in the posts, all good, of course. Enjoy!