Working with children is an adventure. Each age group is drastically different, yet each has a spot in my heart.

Growing up with a big family, I was always asked why I wanted to work with children when I've pretty much done it my whole life. Working with other people's children is completely different from working with family. Also, when you are a teacher, you have more responsibility than being a sister (in some circumstances). I have worked with just about all ages in a variety of different environments and it has been the most rewarding experience.

Working with infants is kind of like having a baby at home, times 6 (give or take). The ratio of teachers to toddlers is 1 to 2 and then 2 to 5. That means the more teachers in the room the more infants there are. Also, a child is considered an infant until they are about one year old. So some children walk, some crawl, some rollover, and some can't even lift their head.

On top of all the different ages and developments, as a teacher you must make sure each child eats the right amount of food determined by the parent. Some infants drink milk, some drink formula, and some drink breast milk. Plus, they all drink in different bottles or cups. Then, diapers are changed every two hours and then as needed. With diapers you have to also make sure they are the right size.

After all this technical stuff is done, the children sleep and they play. Infants have to be engaged at all times or they get bored and they don't learn anything. They need to do tummy time and they need colors, sounds, and textures. Lastly, overall, they all need love and patience.

Next are toddlers. Toddler ages range from 1 to 2.9 (two years nine months). The ratio of teachers to toddlers is 1 to 3 and 2 to 7. Toddlers are usually potty training, though some are still in diapers. This is the stage where you try to start to get them into the routine that the preschool classroom will get in. At this point they are eating solids, so you don't have to worry about bottles. With this age group, you have to teach them to talk and that the world doesn't revolve around them. They don't necessarily learn academic things, but they learn about life skills. Toddlers don't care if they make a mess. They certainly don't clean up after themselves.

Lastly, the preschoolers. They are the children ages 2.10 to about 5. They should be potty trained, and need little to no help in the bathroom. They do still have accidents, but not often. These kids have big imaginations and have a lot to say. With that being said, they don't have a filter. They are almost too honest and don't take into consideration other people's feelings. They are also getting used to the idea that they aren't the center of attention. As a teacher working with preschoolers, there is a lot of behind the scenes work that needs to be done. Lesson plans, prep work, assessments, children's files and talking to parent's.

At the end of the day, being a child care worker is an amazing experience. You get to watch kids grow up and learn about the world. That's what I look forward to every day. That's why I am a child care worker. A teacher.