tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7752834087054599995.comments2016-10-13T14:53:47.547-06:00The ECE Advocateecereflectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14149123990310281479noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7752834087054599995.post-49701686224635314072016-10-13T14:53:47.547-06:002016-10-13T14:53:47.547-06:00I think there is actually a greater division to be...I think there is actually a greater division to be made. There are providers who enter the profession simply to be with their children, whether at home or in a center. This is why there is an average 50% turnover rate in centers annually and why the greatest attrition in home daycares happens within one year of care. New moms, with little to no training, thinking that they love children and will be great providers, often lack the skills necessary for classroom management and personal control in a very stressful environment. Those that move beyond that first year and a simple need to be with and care for their own children, stick with it because they really do love children and the experience of providing care. Usually they view themselves as glorified babysitters and have the martyrdom you described. They feel bad for taking time off, asking for decent pay, extend their hours upon request, and put themselves in a subservient role to the parents. Then there are the professionals who have excellent, clear policies and procedures, ask a decent wage, serve healthy meals, have amazing play spaces, expect vacation and other benefits, do continuous training beyond that required for licensing, and have CLIENTS. While children will always benefit from loving child care, children that experience professional care with a provider trained in child development, conscious discipline, curriculum development, assessment and observation, an understanding of the different disciplines and programs and what each has to offer, the value of loose parts, etc. i.e. a TEACHER, will usually have a greater step up in life. But yes, the higher end environment and training cost, so the cost is greater to the parents, and many do not see the value in it. As an industry, ECE has not reached out to educate society on the value to be derived from professional child care. We get the ridiculous comparison to college tuition [a class of 100+ to one teacher for 12 hours a week and the students pay for all their own supplies] and other such nonsense, demeaning even further the value. Every provider that down plays their contribution, erodes the professionalism ECE should demand.Connie - Little Stars Learninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05020956279277180518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7752834087054599995.post-87552215539543794352011-10-18T02:49:36.169-06:002011-10-18T02:49:36.169-06:00What's missing in this is the bias in the adul...What's missing in this is the bias in the adult in deciding what is "play" For some kids it's dramatic play: dress up, experimenting in social behavior. For some it's video games. For some it's taking apart the radio.<br /><br />Adults must learn to allow the children to play in the manner they see fit. That doesn't mean that children shouldn't be exposed to a variety of stimuli, or given a formalized learning environment, but when a child pursues something, they will invariably encounter an adult who feels this is not a good usage of their time.<br /><br />There's a direct linkage into this and the over-diagnosis of attention deficit disorders...Dan Fishmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04523601323250034654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7752834087054599995.post-51219045590547860922010-07-11T10:10:40.837-06:002010-07-11T10:10:40.837-06:00Kim this is great. I personally agree with the man...Kim this is great. I personally agree with the mandated increase in educational levels. The fact is that our field is doing very important work and in order to continue gaining societal respect we need to be up to date with current research and practice. Experience and education combined gives us the power to make changes with the data to back it. Formal education gives us the backing to discuss what we have always known and practiced.evajhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01423930976048764919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7752834087054599995.post-10223364374750024472010-06-15T08:19:59.670-06:002010-06-15T08:19:59.670-06:00Putting a "business" face on the care of...Putting a "business" face on the care of children may be one of the most effective ways of weaving in ongoing quality improvement. We cannot expect the "what" of quality to consistently happen unless there is a way to consistenly have the "how" to pay for it. Looking at the cost of staff planning time, ratings, education, new toys, and equipment can create a big sigh, feelings of hopelessness and a reach for grant resources. <br />Kim, your number crunching idea is a concrete, effective way for caregivers in any setting to implement a plan for control of their own quality improvement destiny. It becomes even more reasonable when the funds are broken down in to weekly amounts. And this is only ONE way to generate funds. <br />Those of us who work with sites on quality improvement need to offer them the idea that quality improvement is attainable, ongoing, reflective AND affordable.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02997882946695231325noreply@blogger.com