I started working at a day care earlier this year and it's safe to say that I had a lot to learn. I needed to learn how to change a diaper, how to make a bottle, and how to put out multiple emotional fires all at once.
After about a week of working, I realized there is so much more to being a "teacher" than I could've imagined. Here's what I learned from my experience at a day care.
1. These kids are smart.
No matter the age, these kids know more than you think they do. I used to think two year olds were babies, but now, I see them as little adults with diapers. It is crazy to see how much they understand and how well they can communicate even with their limited vocabulary.
2. Silence is golden...until you have it.
When the kids are running around screaming, all you wish for is for silence. But when the noise finally stops, it is suspicious. Unless it's nap time, silence is never good. Like I said before, these kids are so smart. If it's silent, and it's not nap time, it means those kids are doing something they shouldn't be.
3. Nap time is the best time.
Aaahhhh finally....relaxation.
4. Candy is a magical thing.
You want kids to be quite? Give the kid sitting quietly a piece of candy and all the other kids will instantly follow suit. You want the kids to get in a single file line? Pull out the bag of candy. You'll never see anything get done faster.
5. Bubbles are almost as good as candy.
If you don't feel like you can give the kids anymore candy, try bubbles. They all go crazy chasing them.
6. Sometimes, you just gotta cry it out.
Yeah, tantrums are hard to deal with, but it makes the kids feel better. The sooner they start, the sooner they get it over with and the sooner they can get on with their normal routine.
7. Sorry goes a long way.
At this age, biting, pushing, shoving, and hitting are completely unavoidable. So when it does happen, we always have the biter/pusher/shover/hitter say sorry. It's almost funny how one can be hysterically crying, and as soon as the other says sorry, everything is okay again.
It's funny how before I started working with kids, I never thought about kids or how they see the world around them. But now, being with them all day long, I couldn't imagine not seeing them like this. These kids add a certain light to my day to day life and they've made me see things in a whole new perspective. I'm genuinely so impressed with the things these kids have taught me, and will continue to teach me.
