Because I Care

Teaching four and five year olds is challenging. You have a group of children that run the gamut of cognitive, social and behavioral ideals and you need to meet each of their needs, validate their thoughts and fears and connect to build a loving and nurturing relationship in which the child will feel valued and respected. As you build these relationships and want to help the child progress to the next step developmentally there are often roadblocks in the path. These roadblocks may be as simple as a parent who does not support you because it means that they have to face that their baby is growing up. It might also mean learning that a child is challenged in some area of development and that getting help is your first course of action. You work hard every day and you grow in love and affection for these children. Their triumphs are your triumphs and their frustrations are your frustrations. Teaching early childhood is not like any other job. You can't do it for the paycheck because that is almost nonexistant, you can't do it for the accolades because those are few and far between. You do it because when you look into a child's eyes and you have a connection with that child then you want everything that is best in this world for him. You want them to experience the world in a safe place where they can learn that making mistakes is part of learning and it's ok to mess up! You do it because your heart says if you don't do it then who is going to? Who is going to care? Who is going to take the time? Who is going to give the hugs, wipe the tears and applaud the accomplishments. The answer is always "I will! because I care".