Communication.. Key to working with children

1. Communication.. Key to working with children Edited by Dr. Vivian G. Baglien as adapted from Dr. Yvonne Gentzler

2. To Communicate Effectively • As a teacher, positive communication skills help you to • form and maintain a close relationship with the children in your care • exchange information with parents and guardians • form meaningful relationships with colleagues

3. To Demonstrate Teamwork • Staff in early childhood programs need to work as a team, which helps to • make coworkers feel respected and important • show empathy by recognizing others’ feelings • share ideas and information • encourage meaningful interactions with children • resolve conflicts effectively

4. To Manage Time Wisely • Time management skills help teachers • work smarter, not harder • organize time • set priorities • distinguish between important and urgent matters • make good choices and use time wisely

5. To Participate in Professional Organizations • Professional organizations help you keep up with current developments in the field • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) • Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) • National Child Care Association • National Head Start Association

6. Discuss • How can professional organizations help you find career opportunities in the field?

7. To Follow Ethical Standards • When working with young children, rely on your ethics to help make tough decisions • Maintain the highest standards of professional conduct • Follow the code of ethical conduct created by NAEYC for early childhood professionals • Choose ethical behavior, which is not always easy

8. NAEYC; code of ethical conduct • Appreciate childhood as a unique and valuable stage of the human life cycle • Base our work on knowledge of how children develop and learn • Appreciate and support the bond between the child and family • Recognize that children are best understood and supported in the context of family, culture,* community, and society • Respect the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each individual (child, family member, and colleague) • Respect diversity in children, families, and colleagues • Recognize that children and adults achieve their full potential in the context of relationships that are based on trust and respect

9. To Continue to Learn • Professional development is ongoing • Lifelong learners utilize • conferences • in-service training • course work • journals • study groups • books

10. Characteristics of Successful Teachers • Fondness for children • Patience • Compassion • Confidence • Sense of humor • Commitment • Personal desire • Physical and mental health

11. Fondness for Children • The most important trait of an early childhood teacher is fondness for children • Establish rapport with children • Make children feel understood and accepted • Show love for each child • Be kind, firm, and understanding

12. Patience • Effective teachers allow children time to explore, solve problems, and create continued

13. Patience • Young children need to • have extra time to complete tasks • have the opportunity to repeat tasks • be able to repeat questions

14. Compassion • Compassionate teachers accept others without prejudice • Accept any emotion from others • Are sensitive to both positive and negative feelings • Compliment children for their successes • Avoid actions that make children feel worthless • Help children understand feelings of others

15. Confidence • Having confidence in your abilities helps you relax in the classroom • Have a calming effect on the children • Make sensible decisions • Stand by your choices so children accept them

16. Sense of Humor • Children enjoy adults who have a sense of humor • Children relax and feel content • Children tend to be more positive and cheerful • Work is more enjoyable • You see the humor in situations • You laugh with the children

17. Commitment • Meeting the demands of the field requires commitment • Be an expert in child development, guidance, and curriculum • Keep up with current developments • Be fully prepared for all activities • Balance the pace of the activities • Provide appropriate curriculum

18. Personal Desire • Knowing you really want to teach young children is important to your success • Examine your • interests • feelings • satisfactions

19. Physical and Mental Health • Teaching young children is demanding physically and mentally • To be alert and able to multi-task, • eat nutritious meals • get enough sleep • stay physically active • learn to reduce stress

20. Did You Know? According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of preschool teachers is projected to grow faster than average through 2018.

21. Reflect • What are some of the qualities you possess that would make you a good early childhood teacher?

22. Review • True or False. Social and economic changes in society continue to create a need for child care services. • Name five career opportunities in the early childhood field. • What are four characteristics of successful early childhood teachers?

23. Glossary • au pair. A person from a foreign country who lives with a family and provides child care in exchange for room, board, and transportation. • Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential. A national credential that requires postsecondary courses in child care education and a minimum number of hours of child care experience.

24. Glossary • developmentally appropriate practice (DAP). A set of guidelines that focus on the outcomes of learning activities. • early childhood. The period of life from birth to nine years of age. • entrepreneur. A person who creates and runs his or her own business.

25. Glossary • ethics. A guiding set of moral principles, either those held personally or those determined by a professional organization for its members. • licensing specialist. A person employed by a state to ensure that the state’s child care rules and regulations are followed.

26. Glossary • nanny: A child care worker who usually provides care in the child’s home and may receive food and housing in addition to wages.

27. Glossary • prekindergarten (PK). The full range of early childhood programs including school-based programs for three- and four-year-olds, preschool, child care, Head Start, and home-based child care. The goal is to enable every child with skills needed to succeed in school.