Vent Incoming.....work related.

[Pomlover2586]

First off I work with children.....and I LOVE my job!

I work at a before/after school child care center and on a daily basis I work with 65-80 children.

What's my vent you ask? Parents! For the love of everything holy..........I AM NOT A BABYSITTER!!!!

I did not go to college and study child care/development to be considered your babysitter!! I am a CHILD CARE PROVIDER and my official title at work is a TEACHER!

Do you really think I sit on my bum and watch your kids play all day?? NO I DON'T!

I spend HOURS of my own time coming up with creative projects for your children....that are both entertaining AND educational!

On a daily basis I help kids with their homework, practice reading and writing with them. I read them stories, and do projects with them. I play baseball and pretty pretty princess and i've even built a robot out of legos!

I fix boo boo's with a gentle hand and a smile- AND I even call the parents to let them know Jr's is just fine!

When your kid cries because they just had a fight with their best friend- who goes over and soothes those hurt feelings? I DO

When your kid is frustrated because they can't figure out that math problem, who sits there with them teaching them how to do it....sits there for as long as it takes?? I DO

When you kid has a 102 degree fever and is throwing up, who holds that cool cloth to their head and holds that garbage can WHILE getting you [the parent] on the phone? I DO......though 9/10 times you seem more annoyed then concerned that your child is sick.

On a daily basis I see kids dropped off at 7 am sharp.....and picked up at 6pm BY A NANNY. For at least 60% of the kids I spend more quality time with that child then mom or dad ever does.

So parents please........the next time you see your child care provider [and I Don't mean the 16 year old neighbor who chats on the phone with her boyfriend while she "supervises" your kids] THANK them.

I cannot tell you how much a kind word or a smile of thanks means to us teachers for our HARD WORK. Parents drop off the kids and pick them up without so much as a hello and assume we have easy jobs. I may not be a surgeon, but I treat these kids as if they were MY OWN! I have cared for them and nurtured and encouraged these kids from K-5th grade and have watched them grow and learn every day.

I am not well educated and committed to my job so that I can be compared to the next door teenager who watches your kid on date night.

Ok vent over............and if you feel the need to FLAME this post........save your breath and keep moving.........until you've done my job you have no idea what it takes

 

[kat3668]

AMEN!!!!!! Could'nt have said it better myself!
Our job can be so unappreciated...... I feel it so much more during the holidays when people just pass you over with out so much as a Merry Christmas but make sure they drop thier kid off first thing. So sad!
Well hugs to us!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Um, I actually think babysitter sounds a lot more personal than "Child Care Provider."
Good for you though for doing such a great job though!

 

[Uncle Remus]

Ugh, I wouldn't want your job, not for lots of thanks 'n not for lots of money, glad you like it.

 

[FayeW]

You call before and after school child care providers teachers? Really? When my kids went to after school care the employees were called "counsellors". I did consider them "babysitters".

I don't think people who work at daycare centers should be called "teachers" either.

 

[Fintastic]

You call before and after school child care providers teachers? Really? When my kids went to after school care the employees were called "counsellors". I did consider them "babysitters".

I don't think people who work at daycare centers should be called "teachers" either.

I think they deserve that title. They ARE teaching. And the OP certainly sounds like she deserves to be called a teacher for what she does!

DD has been in daycare since she was six weeks old (when my maternity leave ran out). I am so grateful for what her teachers do.

 

[luvsJack]

You call before and after school child care providers teachers? Really? When my kids went to after school care the employees were called "counsellors". I did consider them "babysitters".

I don't think people who work at daycare centers should be called "teachers" either.

In this state anyone who works with children in a licensed childcare or "daycare" center also teaches. Its required and has nothing to do with whether the center is called preschool, learning center, playcenter or daycare--they still teach an approved curriculum.

OP, I feel your pain. 12 years in a center teaching 3 and 4 year olds. It drove my NUTS to be called a "babysitter". It was so much more than that. Besides I always had visions of a 14 year old who "sat" with kids. We had an instructor of child development who used to say "we do not sit on kids and we do not care for days".

 

[kathieA]

Do you think child care provider really sounds that much different than babysitter? Absolutely no offense to you, but I don't send my child to after school care to be taught by a "teacher", I need a responsible adult to watch her for about an hour and a half after school until I can pick her up. I send her to school for six and a half hours a day to be taught by a teacher. Really sounds like semantics to me. Hairdresser or beautician? Flight attendant or stewardess?Secretary or Administrative Asst? If at the end of the day it really makes you feel that much better, then make a big name tag with you title on it.

 

[KandD]

I totally agree with you! Our local YMCA provides before/afterschool care (onsite at the elementary schools) and their staff is amazing! I am always surprised at how many different projects and activities they can keep the kids occupied with that are both fun and educational. I think the worst part is probably with afterschool care that the kids are so tired from the day and ready to go home that you have to put EXTRA effort in to keep them engaged.
But as a PP said, I believe the staff is called "counselors" around here...either way parents could not do it without them!

 

[ameraumi]

I hear ya!!!

After 10.5 yrs in business, many hours of training and college classes, I *HATE* being called a "sitter". Trust me, there are days I do not get to sit!

 

[Pomlover2586]

You call before and after school child care providers teachers? Really? When my kids went to after school care the employees were called "counsellors". I did consider them "babysitters".

I don't think people who work at daycare centers should be called "teachers" either.

WOW.....you compare a child care worker to a counselor? Counselors have YEARS of education behind them. If I was called a counselor I'd be honored. If you called them babysitters........then perhaps you should have hired that 16 year old and saved yourself money


KathieA- "but I don't send my child to after school care to be taught by a "teacher", I need a responsible adult to watch her for about an hour and a half after school until I can pick her up. I send her to school for six and a half hours a day to be taught by a teacher."

You may send your child to school for 6 hours a day to be "taught" but education comes from ALL aspects of life....not just a classroom setting. If all you were looking for was a responsible adult to babysit you should have hired a grandma and saved yourself the money.........but even she would have "taught" your child somthing

 

[kathieA]

So should I call the grandmother a teacher also? Or is she a babysitter or childcare provider?

 

[Pomlover2586]

So should I call the grandmother a teacher also? Or is she a babysitter or childcare provider?

The grandmother is a "babysitter" unless she has education relating to child development/behavior.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

The grandmother is a "babysitter" unless she has education relating to child development/behavior.

Doesn't life experience count?

 

[FayeW]

WOW.....you compare a child care worker to a counselor? Counselors have YEARS of education behind them. If I was called a counselor I'd be honored. If you called them babysitters........then perhaps you should have hired that 16 year old and saved yourself money

I didn't call them counsellors...that's what they called themselves! That was their job title. BTW, most of them were 16-18 yrs old, and a couple were university students as well. They did a terrific job with the kids. They had an awesome summer program. I worked from home but my son still wanted to go to After School and summer camp because all his friends were there and they played sports and had cool fieldtrips. Child care providers...yes. Teachers? No way.

 

[kathieA]

Honestly, not trying to downplay your job or its importance, however, the definition of a babysitter is to be in charge of or tend to the care and safety of a child in the short term absence of the parent(s). Is this not what you do?I don't see the big issue of either calling you a childcare provider or babysitter when according to the dictionary they are identical in definition. Before/After school care is just that, having your child taken care of before or after school, it is not school. I appreciate my afterschool care workers,however, if you want me to see you as a "teacher" in the truest sense of the word, you should be teaching in the school.

 

[luvsJack]

I think what the OP actually said was that she "is a child care provider" and her title at work is "teacher". That would be correct for most centers. Preschool teachers/child care providers are child development professionals--some have a teaching degree and some have a child development degree and some don't have a degree but have many many hours of training, staff development and child development classes (its that way here anyway).

Why would anyone be so against calling them "teacher" anyway? Child care providers do so much for the children in their care. I, personally, think they deserve just about any title they desire to go by.

 

[Pomlover2586]

Between Child care provider and teacher I have absolutely no preference. In fact I don't consider myself in the same league as a "true" teacher. While I have had education in age appropriate curriculum and administration just as a teacher has I am not a teacher in a classroom setting. A teacher is simply the title given to me by my boss.

What irritates me about being called a babysitter is the degrading way people use the term. As though we have no college education and simply fell into this job after High School. If this term was used by our parents in a positive manner I probably wouldn't mind it so much.

So the next time you refer to your child care provider/teacher/babysitter/counselor be appreciative of the job we do in your absence. It IS a hard job, with very little rewards and certainly not enough pay!

 

[kathieA]

We don't call them teachers because they aren't. The same way we don't call them doctors or flight attendants.They are childcare providers or babysitters.

 

[kathieA]

And again, I do appreciate my childcare provider,very much so.