Never Work At Your Child's Childcare Facility

As I visit many childcare facilities, I often run across employees who work with their children. I take part in this myself. I currently work at my son's childcare facility. I work as a pre-K teacher, but I constantly have to go in the toddler room when we are short of staff. From working with my son, I have learned it has its advantages as well as its disadvantages.

Advantages include:

• You know where your child is at all times, and you have less worries.
• You know how your child's lesson plans are created.
• In case of emergencies, you are there to respond quickly.

Disadvantages include:

• Child wants all the attention in which you cannot fully give because other children are present.
• Child acts out and does not take you serious because punishment at daycare is different than at home.

Overall, if I could make a recommendation on whether or not to work at your child's childcare facility. I would say "NO" because after a while children get use to seeing you there,and it makes it difficult for you to find another job. Also your co-workers, who were once your friends, can quickly turn to your enemies once your child ever gets hurt.

Trust and Communicate with Your Childcare Provider

I cannot think of any parent in the whole wide world who would want to just leave their child with a person they have never met before, or a childcare facility they have never visited. As a parent, you must make it your goal to completely check out the childcare facility before placing your child there and build trust with your child's teachers. You can start by learning the teachers' background information such as first and last names, where they are from, education, and how many years they have been in childcare. A parent must also ask what their child will learn, what their child will eat, where their child will play, etc... Also you can learn to trust the childcare facility and teachers by getting involved in some of your child's activities. Majority of childcare facilities throw parties every holiday. Make it your goal to come to some, bring things, and enjoy the time you are able to spend with your child. Also parents should never hesitate to ask for a parent-teacher conference if they have any concerns or even hesitate just to ask how their child's day went. When building a relationship between parents and teachers, communication is the key!!!

Dealing with Difficult Children

From a previous post, I stated that a way a child is raised at home is displayed three weeks after being in a childcare facility. I also gave an example of an abused and neglected child, who acts out for attention because they do not get it at home.  I also used the child that is the only child and  has temper tantrums every time they do not get their way. These behaviors cause thousands or even millions of parents to stress on a daily basis. Their child is constantly being sent home with letters stating their behavior is unacceptable, or they are constantly called  to come pick their child up. In this blog, I have listed some techniques  we use in childcare facilities to help parents deal with difficult children. These techniques include:

• Have a child that is throwing a tantrum have a calm down period. Tell them to go to a place that is quiet and then return once  they are calmed down.
• Ignore the child if they are not causing physical harm to oneself, others, or damaging property. This will hurt a child more than any form of punishment especially if they are acting out for attention.
• Use redirection. Show your child what they are doing wrong followed by showing them the correct way of doing things.
• Take away something your child values, and make them take part in something they do not like to do.

For example, a parent can take away a child's video games and phone, and have them do community   service around the neighborhood such as mowing senior citizens' lawns or picking up leaves.

•  Another thing is time-out. We cannot use time-outs at childcare facilities due to rules and regulations, but as a parent you may if you choose too. The rule for time-outs include one minute for every year of age.

For example, a parent would have a 3 year old sit down for 3 minutes.

Potty Time!!!

Many parents get frustrated when it is time for diaper changes or going to the potty. Childcare workers deal with it on a daily basis and they have became experts at it. Here are some techniques you can use at home.

Infants to Two Years Old

Ten-step diaper change:
1. Organize the supplies such as diaper, wipes, and  ointment if needed.
2. Bring the child to the changing area, remove diaper, clean bottom
3. Dispose of diaper and wipes
4. Use wipes to wash your hands as well as your child's hands.
5. Put on clean diaper
6. Wash  your child's hands
7. Let your child go back and play
8. Clean changing area with soap and water
9. Sanitize changing area with bleach and water
10. Wash your hands

Two to Four Years Old- (Potty training reqiures alot of patience)

1. Tell them to go potty every 30 mins.
2. Do not have the child sit on the potty for more than five minutes because the child will get frustrated and not go.
3. If child goes to the potty, it is good to give rewards such as stickers or a small treat.
4. Put on a pull-up during bed time to prevent unwanted accidents if they are not fully ready.

It's Naptime!!!

Many children run and hide when they hear the words "five mins till naptime." Some techniques that can be used at home that we use in childcare facilities include:
1. At least an hour before laying the child down, allow them to engage into some sort of physical activity to wear them out followed by a nice meal.
2. Allow the child to go potty.

• We would not want them to wake up early due to an accident.

3. Read the child a book right before laying down.

• This gets their imaginations to going before drifting into dreamland.

4. Seperate the child from fun.

• The area where the child sleeps should have as few toys as possible.  With an area full of toys, they would only want to play instead of taking a nap. The area should be cozy, dark, and quiet.

5. Play soft classical music such as Bach, Mozart, or smooth jazz.

6. Pat or rub their backs.

• For children that are tough and difficult you may have to pat their backs to let them know you mean business. Please do not beat the child because that form of punishment is never needed. For children that are not so difficult, they like to get their backs rubbed. The rhythm will eventually put them to sleep.

Cooking with Children

As you have seen in the previous blog, some children often times do not like to eat. From my experience at childcare facilities, I have learned that children will eat things that they have helped to make. In this blog, I have included a recipe that children can have for a small snack, and it does not require an oven so it is very safe. The recipe is just a simple jello recipe. A jello cooking project helps children to identify colors and use two of their five senses, seeing and tasting. Parents should make sure they purchase a variety of flavors. A jello receipe also allows children to be creative by mixing colors and making shapes using cookie cutters.  From previous experience with this cooking activity, moons, stars, and hearts turn out really good. Some other shapes you can tell the shape, but edges are cut off.

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups of Boiling Water (Parents boil water in advance and only allow children to deal with the cold water)
• 2 Cups of Cold Water

Steps

1. Add the boiling water to gelatin mix; stir 2 mins. until completely dissolved.
2. Allow the child to stir in the cold water.
3. Refrigerate for 4 hours or until firm.
*** Recipe can be found on various Jell-O boxes and was created by Kraft Foods Global, INC.***

It's Feeding Time!!!!

Some parents have a horrible experience when it comes to feeding and having a child sit down for a decent meal. Parents often time hear the words  "no," "yucky," or "gross." Some parents cannot even get their child to take one single bite. In this blog, I will provide parents with a few techniques used at childcare facilities  that will help them at the dinner table. One technique is parents should sit with their child at the table and talk about the child's day or sing songs while dinner is being prepared.  This gets the child excited about dinner time. Children always have a good story to tell, and it makes them happy to know that someone cares enough to listen.  Another technique is parents should act as a model. Your child often times wants to eat things because they see you eating that particular item. Parents should encourage their child  to try small portions and try more if it is good to them. Parents can also encourage children to try a small portion of what  they don't like before getting seconds on something they like. From personal experience, I also have learned that small children like toddlers love independence. Allow the child to feed themselves and do not stress the mess because that is why they make washing machines.Overall, never force a child to eat but be a model in hopes that they will follow your footsteps.

Taking Creative Activities Done at Childcare Facilities and Incorporating Them at Home.

From personal experiences at childcare facilities,  I have learned that children love to use their imaginations and love to be very creative especially children that are three years old and up. I've learned that even the most difficult child will sit down and do some kind of art activity for mommy and daddy. So when parents are having a difficult time with a child at home, it is a good idea  to calm them down by keeping them engaged into some sort of art project. Here, I have provided an art project that can be used at home with supplies around the house. I have used this project at least twice with children three years old and up.

Supplies

Plastic Cups
Hole Punch
Scissors
Yawn
Yellow Construction Paper
Blue Markers or Paint


Steps to Create

1.Take a plastic cup and turn it upside down.
2. Punch 3 holes around the edge of the cup using the hole punch, and poke one hole through the top using a pair of scissors.
3. Paint the cup blue
4. Cut stars out of the yellow construction paper.
5. Tie the yawn through the 4 holes so they will hang downward except the one at the top because it is the one that is used to hang from the ceiling or wall.
6. Tie the stars to the end of the yawn.
7. With the cup upside down hanging by a string, you now have a star mobile like one that hangs over a baby's crib.

Hang the mobile over your child's bed and encourage them to watch it every night. Let them know it will help them sleep.

Children in Childcare Facilities Come From a Variety of Backgrounds

Children, that attend childcare facilities, come from a variety of backgrounds. Each background is displayed a couple of weeks after being in a childcare facility. When many children enter childcare facilities, they suffer from what a childcare professional refers to as separation anxiety.  The child usually has a period of temper tantrums, quietness, and isolation. All they want is their mother and father. Three weeks after being in a childcare facility,  the child you know at home is displayed at daycare. The way some children act at daycare would cause millions of parents to be extremely embarrassed. For example, a child that is the only child tends to think everything at the daycare is his, and he has tantrums if he does not get his way. Take the dirty and neglected child for example, he wants all the attention because he does not get it at home. You often see him coming in with dirty clothes and even finds him eating out of the trash because he does not know where his next meal will come from once he goes home. Take the military kid that suffers from dad's deployment, he or she uses the bathroom on themselves or hurts themselves in hopes that dad would come back and save the day. Then last but not least take the kid that is in church everyday, she becomes the teacher's helper and always listens to what she has been told. What this blog is displaying is watch the way you raise your children at home because what they learn and how they are treated at home will show when they attend childcare facilities. Sometimes the childcare provider learns more about your family then you would like them too.

What if childcare facilities did not exist?

Since 2007, I have had the pleasure of working in a childcare facility. It has been a long and bumpy ride. I often find myself asking the question "why am I here?" A trainer once said you are here because you are one of the most valuable resources in the world. She also responded with the question "What would parents do if childcare facilities and workers did not exist?" One answer to this question is unemployment would rise. Many individuals would not have the opportunity to work because they do not have anyone to watch their children while they are away from home. Some individuals would be broke and depend heavily on government assistance, baby-sitters, and relatives. Some parents would lack the ability to keep food on the table, clothes on their children's backs, and shelter over their children's heads due to lack of employment. Another answer to the question is children would also suffer in the process. They would not have the ability to interact with children their age and would know less information  upon entering grade school. The only people that would prosper would be the working  individuals that do not have children. So as one can see a world without childcare facilities would not succeed!