Over the course of my college years, I have been lucky enough to have been employed at a few different jobs. The one that I enjoyed the most was working at a daycare. As someone wanting to work with children in the future, there is no better way to get experience. Even if you want to work with older kids, all children start out as toddlers. No matter if you have worked at one daycare or multiple, there are similarities between all of them. Here are some ways that you know that you work in a daycare.
You talk about “your” kids to your friends as if they are your own children.
“Susie did the cutest thing today!” You can see the look of boredom on your friends' faces. No one wants to hear a story about a child who isn’t even your child. It is probably only cute or funny to you because you actually know them and their personality.
Some days, working there makes you want to have a ton of kids.
When all of your kids are being sweet and getting along with each other, you think to yourself, “Man, I could totally handle this!”
On other days, you never want to have your own kids.
When none of the tots take a nap and they are running around and screaming while pretending that they can’t hear you tell them to stop, those are the days when you never want to deal with that on your own. No, thank you.
“And what do we say?” becomes a question that you ask way too often.
Learning manners is of the utmost importance at daycare. No, you cannot have more snacks until I hear the magic word. Plus, you get way too excited when they remember to say please and thank you on their own.
You have memorized all of the children’s books that are there and hide the ones that you don’t like so that the kids can’t get to them.
I can do "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" in my sleep and all of my kids know it. When they start telling me “coconut tree!” I know that it’s time to pull it out. However, Dr. Suess has to be saved for special occasions. No one has time for a 60-page book every time that one of your kids wants it read to them.
You can speak sign language, but only to say “sit down,” “please,” or “more.”
Many daycares encourage the use of sign language, especially by younger children, because it is easier for them to communicate that way. I have never taken a sign language class, but I have gotten the chance to learn a fair amount of “baby signs” from some of the kids and teachers.
You can sing anything and everything and even make up songs to make the kids laugh.
Not everyone does this, but I definitely make myself laugh by singing silly songs. You start singing directions, singing about nap, singing about going out to the playground, and just singing everything.
You can change a diaper in your sleep.
I have changed so many diapers and from so many positions that I think that I have to be classified as a pro. Whether it's standing up, trying to run away, laying down, or squirming, I have seen it all.
You can’t wear jewelry to work.
You know that your necklaces will get pulled on by the kids and that your bracelets will just be something that they want to try on (or eat), so you have to leave that stuff at home. Plus, it can make too much noise at naptime if you’re moving around.
You try to pick favorites, but you can’t because they are all so cute.
It is like picking a favorite child. You just can’t do it. There’s just something about each and every one of them that makes them who they are and working with them is a ton of fun. That’s what makes your job so special.
