Childcare workers, we never get the credit we deserve!

I have been working with children for 9 years now, at the age of 17 I began training and wanted to pursue a career that had fascinated me since being a child.I trained for 4 years, both practical and coursework, taking many exams and finally passing in 2001.

Throughout my career I have come up against people who believe that my job is easy, they say "its only playing with children all day, how hard can it be!" (this includes my partner) this has always been something that angers me. It isnt because I need people to constantly say "oh your a saint, I dont know how you can do such a hard job" or constantly be given compliments or a pat on the back but because just once I would like people to actually realise that the childcare profession is more than just changing nappies, feeding babies and playing with toys.It takes knowledge, endless energy, commitment, enthusiasm, patience, a positive attitude, calm under pressure and most importantly a genuine connection with children (To name just a few).

I work in a creche, it caters for children aged between 8 weeks and 5 years (8years during school holidays) and at one time there can be upto 23 children in the room, each child has a set routine that can differ considerably from one child to the next and when they are in our care those routines need to be kept as consistent as what they would be if they were at home with their parents, each child wants and needs your attention and they will make this known! :)

The children arrive and get collected by parents at different times for example children a b and c will arrive at 9am and leave at 10am but children d and e will arrive at 9.50am and leave at 10, 50am, this means that not only have you got to get 3 children ready to leave (putting on coats, hats and gloves) and telling the parents all that they have been doing but at the same time more children are arriving (you have to greet and get info from parents about what they will need whilst they are in your care), this in itself can be demanding and sometimes feels as if you need about ten hands, 5 brains and 6 mouths! then theres checking nappies, changing nappies, filling in sleep charts and keeping them updated, making sure they all have drink and snack, interacting with them, caring for them, talking to them, planning the activites and figuring out how this will benefit their development.............Childcare workers handle this with ease, it is tiring BUT worth it because its part of the job and its the job that we love.

what Im trying to get across is that yes, everyones job can sometimes be difficult and yes, all jobs take dedication but childcare is and will continue to be an undervalued career and in my opinion a very underestimated one at that if we allow it to be!.I would love to get these people (who say I sit and just play with children all day) and put them in a room full of children from different age groups, all with different needs and abilities and stand back and see if they could do the job...........Im guessing that many wouldnt even last the hour, let alone an entire day!

so please, next time you drop your children off at their care setting, dont just assume that what they will be doing is just keeping your child entertained whilst your gone, they will be doing much more than that :)