Daycare Provider Qualities
Do you have what it takes?
There are several daycare provider qualities that the best providers have in common. What type of qualities does a good daycare provider possess? Actually there are many. Do not worry if you don’t have all the qualities listed, but you should be able to say you have several of them.
They honestly love children.
This one probably seems obvious. They love being around all children. They find children to be fun and fascinating. Typically you’ll find they spent a lot of time babysitting in their youth, or spent time with younger siblings, not because they had to, but because they wanted to.
This may seem obvious, but the question needs an honest answer. If you have children of your own, obviously you love them. Do you love spending time with other people’s children? Of all the daycare provider qualities listed here, this one is a MUST.
Daycare Provider Qualities
They are natural nurturers.
Not only with children, but everyone around them. They have a natural ability to take care of others. They will naturally show affection to others, and know instinctively that children need to be held, cuddled, and made to feel they are important.
They are basically warm people.They are good with people and can generally get along with everyone. They can clearly state their point of view without offending others. This is an important daycare provider quality to have since cooperation with parents who may have differing parenting and discipline styles is necessary.
They have an abundance of patience
Good daycare providers are not easily rattled. All days may not run smoothly but they have the ability to “roll with the punches”. They choose their battles carefully, and let the rest go. Spilled milk and a child’s tantrums are all in a day’s work. They are not unnerved by messes.
Ask any parent, and they will tell you that some of the most trying times of their lives come from dealing with their own children. Multiply that by many times in a daycare setting.
They have good discipline skills.
They use common sense where discipline is concerned. Are you more of a dictator who expects children to behave? Are you a marshmallow who would allow children to walk all over you? Either extreme will not bode well in a day care setting. A home daycare provider needs to be able to set firm, yet flexible rules.
They are in good health.
They have to be. Running an at home daycare is both physically and mentally demanding. The days are longer than the average work day, and daycare providers are “on duty” at all times.
This is one of the daycare provider qualities you'll want to have. Good daycare providers are in good health with lots of energy. Keeping track of several children requires energy that far surpasses many other jobs. This is clearly not a sit-down job.
They are organized.
They are naturally organized. They have to be. Meals must be planned that are nutritious and cover all the food groups. Activities must be planned to keep all those little hands busy and learning. There are also financial records, the children’s information and food program forms to keep track of. Recordkeeping on an on-going basis is a “must”.
They actually like coming up with new activities.
There is a lot of planning involved in home daycare. The children will need (at least occasionally) something new to discover, learn or to stretch their imaginations. Good daycare providers are always on the look-out for fresh ideas to incorporate into their programs. They enjoy teaching children and are as thrilled as the child when something new is learned or accomplished.
They have some type of training.
There are no college degrees necessary for this job, but good daycare providers typically have some type of training. They may have worked in a preschool or are simply a parent themselves. They have taken First Aid and CPR classes. They have a basic understanding of the different developmental stages that children go through. They also continue to take classes to keep themselves up-to-date on a variety of issues involving children.
Their home is appropriate for daycare
They have plenty of space for several children and have made their home into a child friendly environment. They have complied with county regulations and strive to provide the best possible care. Safety is an issue that is taken seriously. Any hazards have been removed and their home has passed a fire inspection.
They have consulted their family about their plans
Their families not only approve of their business but often are willing to lend a hand to keep things running smoothly. They know that even in the best of circumstances a child or spouse may be affected by an intrusion on “their” space. Careful consideration has been given to the opinions of family members and plans are made with them in mind.
As you can see, there are many daycare provider qualities shared by the best in this field. If you can honestly say that you see yourself in the list above, then more than likely, you are qualified for the job.
More Articles:
- Daycare Licensing Requirements
- What Type of Daycare is Right for You?
- Planning Your Own Unique Daycare
- Choosing a Business Name
- Setting Your Daycare Fees
- Daycare Advertising
- The Daycare Interview Guide
- Daycare Supply List
- Daycare Bookkeeping
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