Child Care. Many believe that anyone could do it. In fact, many believe that it’s ingrained in most women. However, after two days of working 8-5 in the one-year-old room, I can put that popular belief to rest. No, child care isn’t just about changing diapers or picking up a toddler when she cries. What I’ve learned over these past two days is that child care is so much more.
Child care revolves largely around passion. There are many downsides to dealing with a room full of screaming children, so those who do must be filled with love for those children. They must truly love them, and love the idea of helping a child to the next stage. This requires charisma, and knowledge of not only how to hold a child’s attention, but also what they need to hear in order to succeed.
Holding a one-year-old’s attention is just about as hard as it sounds. So how can any one person hold ten toddlers’? Or fifteen? Or, heaven help that woman, twenty? This means that a wide variety of manipulation techniques must be handy. Songs, and games are some. While others include bright charts with colorful stickers. Controlling a room is easier with the use of these practices, but there is also the subject of respect.
Regardless of how old a human is, they tend to have an acute knowledge of respect. A child can sense if a teacher truly cares for him or her, or if they are just getting through the day. So even if a teacher has all the manipulation techniques in the world, without passion for the child, a caregiver might not even get through. The combination of passion and knowledge is uncommon in any person, yet it is needed for this particular career.
In conclusion, teaching may not be a career as highly regarded as a doctor or a Wall Street businessman. However, I believe it is just as or more important than both. Doctors and CEOs all had teachers that helped them get there. Teachers, or day care workers, hold not only your children but also our future. Do we wish to raise a generation who feels loved, and has the means to be successful? Look to our children’s caregivers for the answer. Because those who teach our children for seven hours a day have the ability to control their outcome. And this is why I believe no average betty could do it.
