If you want to get work in a daycare you’ll need to show the child care coordinator that you are capable of ensuring the health and safety of the children under your care. It will help if you’ve got a certificate in early childhood education, but you still need to have these essential qualities:
- You love caring for children. For you, children are people who deserve care and respect, no matter their background or behaviour.
- You have a lot of patience. Children are sometimes turbulent, and at daycare, some days are harder than others. You are able to handle all sorts of attitudes and behaviours without losing your cool, and you never get bent out of shape over those infamous “no” and “why?” phases.
- You are responsible and well-organized. You can stay on top of all the details of daily care and keep the children’s environment healthy, safe and educational. You can respond to the needs of several children at once, which means you can multitask without batting an eye. You can organize a variety of activities and resolve problems quickly.
- You are creative and imaginative. You know how to capture the imagination of children and develop new activities that stimulate and entertain while they inform and educate.
- You have excellent listening and communication skills. You understand how to listen to children in order to hear what’s behind their behaviour. You can give clear directions and offer a sympathetic ear. You also know how to listen to parents about their concerns without getting defensive.
- You have well-developed emotional literacy. The children under your care trust you to be fair and kind, even when their behaviour may be prickly. You can deal with challenging behaviours and attitudes, including aggression, cultural prejudice and challenges to your authority.
- You are open-minded. Working in a daycare involves meeting people with different cultural practices and social values than your own. You can appreciate these differences and interact with children and parents regardless of their backgrounds. You are fair and just, even if you feel less affinity for some people than others.
- You have a sense of humour. You have the ability to diffuse tense situations with laughter, and you have a playful attitude with the children whenever it’s appropriate.
- You are dynamic. You know that children rarely stay still for long, and so you're ready and willing to move and run with them. You can also react quickly and with strong leadership in an emergency.
- You are self-confident. You know that sometimes a situation calls for a decision, and you aren’t afraid to make one. You aren’t shy about leading and interacting with children even in the presence of colleagues, employers and parents.
One last quality you ought to develop is the ability to receive constructive criticism and questions. That’s because when you work in a daycare, you will always be required to reflect on your teaching methods and adapt them as needed.
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FAQs
Important Qualities
Childcare workers need good speaking skills to provide direction or information effectively and good listening skills to understand parents' instructions. Decision-making skills. Good judgment is necessary for childcare workers so they can respond to emergencies or difficult situations.
What qualities do you need for childcare? ›
Here are several important skills that child care workers commonly have:
- Communication skills. ...
- Planning and instruction. ...
- Creative thinking. ...
- Decision-making skills. ...
- Problem-solving skills. ...
- Analytical skills. ...
- Compassion and empathy. ...
- Organizational skills.
As you begin your search, here's what to look for in quality child care:
- Settings that are safe and provide small group sizes and adult-to-child ratios encouraging the best opportunities for development;
- Caregivers or teachers who have experience and are trained in early childhood development;
Quality child care offers children supportive, nurturing relationships with trusted teachers, and positive, diverse learning experiences. For children ages birth to 5 years, quality child care settings can make sure your child is ready for school. In these early years, children's brains develop quickly.
What is your greatest strength in childcare? ›
- Love for Children. It takes a special type of personality to connect with young children on their level and to establish a loving rapport with them. ...
- Patience. Few people have endless supplies of patience, but child care workers need to come pretty close. ...
- Flexibility. ...
- Communications Skills.
Skills required to work with children
- Communication. Being able to communicate with a child is essential for understanding their wants and needs. ...
- Behavioral management. Children like to test the boundaries, regardless of their age, mental or developmental stage. ...
- Patience. ...
- Creativity. ...
- Enthusiasm. ...
- Dedication.
A quality child care program promotes a safe, fun environment where children can play, learn, and laugh! Research tells us that 90% of brain development occurs in the first five years of life, and what children experience in these early years (see, hear, smell, taste and feel) shapes their brains.
What are the basic qualities of children? ›
Here is a list of positive character traits for kids:
- Kindness.
- Generosity.
- Enthusiasm.
- Courage.
- Honesty.
Four Key Features of Early Learning Environments
- Safe and Secure. The safety of children is paramount, and the design of the learning space should reflect this priority. ...
- Developmentally Appropriate. Every piece of furniture needs to be geared toward children. ...
- Easily Accessible. ...
- Intellectually Stimulating.
Other than the list of these characteristic traits for kids, there are other traits also that you should instill in your child gradually like kindness, determination, compassion, fairness, generosity, perseverance, respect, sincerity, resilience, integrity, resourcefulness, creativity, assertiveness, humility, ...
(Ages 3-5)
This document identifies and articulates the characteristics of five Key Elements that are fundamental to achieving high-quality experiences and strong outcomes for preschool children: the learning environment, daily routine, adult-child relationships, teaching practices, and family engagement.
What are the three types of characteristics of effective learning? ›
What are the Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning?
- Playing and Exploring – engagement.
- Active Learning – motivation.
- Creating and Thinking Critically – thinking.
When choosing an early learning provider, there's nothing more important than your child's health and safety. Asking about safety procedures is the first thing you should do when visiting a child care provider. Make sure that members of the staff know CPR, first aid and safe sleep practices at the very least.
What are the 10 steps to quality interactions? ›
The 10 steps to quality interactions are: Establish eye contact, use active listening techniques, show empathy and respect, speak clearly and concisely, avoid interrupting, seek to understand, offer constructive feedback, be aware of non-verbal cues, practice cultural sensitivity, and follow up with actions.
What is the most important quality you would look for in a childcare facility? ›
The following are important points to consider when choosing a child care program: A healthy and safe environment: Children engage in active play, have healthy snacks and meals, wash hands regularly, and have access to fresh air and safe playground equipment.
What are the top three qualities everyone who works with children must have to succeed? ›
Patience, communication, and a love of young children are just a few of the qualities you'll need if you want to become an early childhood educator. Young children move a mile a minute, aren't always the best listeners and are learning just about everything as if it's brand new.
How do you improve your skills as a childcare worker? ›
How to improve child care skills
- Get CPR and first-aid certified. To earn these certifications, complete the associated courses or classes. ...
- Take child care courses. ...
- Get practical experience. ...
- Continue learning.
Throughout the year, and especially during cold and flu season, you should be washing your hands with soap and water multiple times throughout the day. Washing your hands before food preparation, after changing babies or helping young children use the potty, and after helping little ones blow their nose are crucial.
What do you like most about working with children? ›
Working with children ensures each day will be a unique adventure because kids are exciting and unpredictable! Nothing matches the energy of a child's enthusiasm for life and eagerness to learn. You will find yourself engaging in different tasks and activities every day.
