How can I be better at my job?

Question

I am a University student who is working at a daycare during the summer. I think that i am pretty good at my job but I want to know who I can be even better!! any tips? thanks ppl:)

Answer 1

by respecting all the rules .all the ppl come early and  obey

Answer 2

There are a couple of things I'd like to add to the excellent answers above. See what needs done and do it. Anticipate what will need to be done and show initiative in doing it. The students who drove me crazy were the ones who would either sit around or ONLY play with the kids and ignore everything else going on around them. It got frustrating having to constantly tell them what to do.

Be "globally aware". That's important, too. Position yourself so you can see what's going on in the group rather than putting your back to them. Keep your ears open for what the other children are doing even while you're playing with Susie and Bob.

Oh! One more: don't be afraid to ask questions. If you're not sure how to do something or why things are done a certain way, just ask. It shows you're interested and want to learn, not that you don't know what you're doing.   "How can I help?" is always a welcome question.

Answer 3

Do research on what the kids are learning in school and plan activities to compliment that. Adding music and dancing is something kids always love. Go to the library and check out books to get more ideas.

Answer 4

It sounds like you have the right attitude for the job, which probably contributes to the fact that you are already pretty good at it.

Having worked in and around the child care field I would say that one of the main areas you could focus on is making meaningful connections with the children in your classroom and their parents.  It can be difficult for parents to "embrace" the summer teachers as they may not believe that you are committed to making a difference in the life of their child.  

Parents really like knowing that their child learned something new and was noticed by you each day.  

Don't over-think your job.  Chances are you are doing a great job.  Continue to have fun and remember that you are shaping the future generation with your actions.  (No pressure!)

Answer 5

You sound very confident. That is good. Children respond well to that energy. It is a good thing to channel that into activities. These activities should be about things that are interesting to them. If you want to, ask the children to name off a few ideas and write them down and let them see the chart. At the end of the day come up with activities that are hands on and not to long. Through the day each day have a series of these activities on hand to give the kids something to look forward too. It also burns alot of energy if the activities are physical, artsy, math related, hand and eye corrdinative, and is geared to light critical thinking. Kids look forward to change and unpredictability but they like things to be routinely mixed in. With that attitude you should do fine. Best wishes-MD.

Answer 6

I don't know what you mean by being pretty good at your job.  If you want to be any better, talk to your supervisor and see how he/she evaluates your work and ask him/her for any direction on how you can be better at your work.

Answer 7

I'm and Early childhood educator, I specialize in child development.

The key to being a good child care provider is listening to the children, and being down at their level at all times. If they want you to participate thier play ((for example, "eating" playdough muffins)) then do it. Don't be afraid to be a kid again.

Don't talk down to them. If they're doing something they're not supposed to be doing ((throwing toys, hitting, etc)) don't yell at them or tell them no...Get down to their level, and gently take thier hands ((if they pull away fine, don't worry about it)), look them in the eyes and tell them "Johnny, we don't hit our friends, it hurts. I can see that you're angry. Lets go play with the playdough." Let them be as rough as they want to be with it. It's a healthier way to take out frustrations than hitting. In that situation you would've done two things. 1) Used postived verbal guidance to tell the child why its not okay, and 2) Removed the child from the situation.

Those are key. Engaging in their play, being at their level and telling them exactly why something is unexceptable. Children will relate to you better.