Miss DayCare
Charlotte, NC
Female, 30
I work in a highly respected, franchised Day Care Provider. I have taught in Toddler classrooms as well as Pre-Kindegarten classrooms. It's a wonderful and rewarding profession and I love every minute of it. I have become friends with many of my parents and they all ask questions which is why I want to open a dialogue here so I can be as honest and open as possible about your most prized posession's early childhood education and what really goes on in the classrooms and hallways!
It's truly amazing how tech savvy these kids are. My teaching most certainly had to change when younger kids started getting more interested in computers and electronic personal devices (which we don't allow. but we have four desktop computers with wireless internet connection). Again, my cirriculum allows for technical training on the computer with various kid friendly programs, and they are allowed to access it during their free play times as well. Most of the kids have ipod touch, iphones, or an ipad so even the training that the lesson plans offer can be a bit remedial for them!
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We can of course give hugs when they need comfort or high fives when they do something good in class. I do not give kisses, that's kind of a personal line for me because I have seen other teachers give kisses on the head or if they have a "boo boo" that needs attention. I don't want other people kissing my child so I don't do it. In terms of discipline, I don't ever put my hand on a child. If they need to "take a break" in their seat (as I have said before I do not use the term time-out) they simply walk to it after I tell them to. For the toddler kids when it comes to discipline, if there is something that they do that is worthy of disciplining (such as hitting or throwing things) a stern NO and redirection are the methods I use. Toddler age, you do obviously have to put your hands on them sometimes when I comes to redirection to show them something else, but it's not stern or mean and done in a loving manner.
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No problem! I'm off today so I"m able to get back to people quickly...At one of my first centers, the director explained it that it keeps the relationship between parents and teachers professional rather than personal. At that same center, I was close friends with the parent (and obviously knew their child well) for a couple years before I had began working there. She had asked me to help a couple mornings taking her daughter to school because she had some dr appointments and stuff so I had obviously helped her out. I was almost fired for that, and even asked to take my personal relationship with the family "back a notch" Needless to say I didn't stay at that place to much longer because I wouldn't sacrifice my personal life for my work life! I think that rule is so that it eliminates personal relationships with the families. If you're having a rough day at work and you call your friend to have dinner to vent or whatever and said friend has children in that school and you start spilling the beans, I think that would lead to problems.
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I'm not a fan of that kind of education because I believe that kids need structure and the earlier they learn it the better. Built into the cirriculum I use is free time where the class can go to various stations and do what they want with their friends, but when time is up, they clean everything up, and return as a group for our next scheduled activity. There are pros and cons to montessori schools, but it's just a preference to the parent. I've worked in that environment as well and some kids do very well independently and can work like that, but most of them needed a schedule to follow.
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Yes it's required by law for all staff to be certified. I've used the heimlich maneuver at work before and I've used CPR on a family member but never on a child at school.
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I have only worked at one that had video surveillance, and quite frankly it doesn't put the teachers at ease that they are there. It was a very "big brother" feeling. That was about 8 years ago and the three places I have worked since then have not had cameras.
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There definitely are kids that get attached. Most daycare facilities are open 10-11 hours and some kids are there for the entire time five days a week so they might see their teacher more than their own parents! I have seen it cause friction a few times, mostly when the parents come to pick up the child to go home and they start having a fit and the parent doesn't want to deal with it at 6:00 at night after their day at work. More times than not, parents are at ease that their child enjoys their teacher and likes going to school. When the child transitions to another age and classroom that can cause some anxiety problems but nine times out of ten, they will attach themselves to another teacher in the new classroom within a few weeks.
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