‘Choice<\/strong>‘ by definition means “an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities.” – (source: Google Dictionary)<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are reading this article, you most likely have chosen to run this type of business out of your home; caring for and educating tiny humans of all ages before they enter Kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They can’t quite understand why someone would make the choice <\/strong>to welcome a group of children into their home with the expectation that you will feed them, diaper them and teach them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As the child care provider, you will be the one who will walk them through their tantrums, their never-ending runny noses, occasional blow out diapers and potty training mishaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will love them anyway.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n You’ll chop up their food into tiny bits and then sweep up their food from underneath a row of high chairs and learn that your least favorite thing to sweep up is corn or ground meat. You’ll clean stains of who-knows-what off of your clothing each night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will love them anyway. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n These children will not always take the best care of your walls or your flooring or your furniture. (sigh)<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will love them anyway.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In most cases, you will work alone with no other adult to consult with and often times when a day gets a little rocky, you’ll turn up the music and dance with 6 or 7 tiny humans underfoot; encouraging them to dance along with you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some adults find that taking care of their own child(ren) is enough of a challenge and you, oh dear one have chosen to welcome more children into the mix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other people’s children at that. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It is critical to remember that operating a family child care business is a choice <\/strong>that will affect children and their families as well as your own family for years to come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the years, I have heard from other family child care providers who have shared their WHY. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people will shout their WHY proudly and it will sound something like this:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n “I love rocking babies and loving on them. It brings me great joy.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I love working with kids! They are so funny and keep me young!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I love teaching and this is one way I can make my own choices about how I want to educate young children.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I love being my own boss. I can make my own schedule and use my own philosophies when it comes to teaching young kids.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n I believe almost all ‘whys’ can be the basis of really great programs as long as a provider remembers to then turn their gaze to the true focus of being an early childhood educator in the field of family child care: Meet the needs of each child in your program in a loving and meaningful way.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Others share their WHY that stems from a different angle:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n “It was too difficult for me to trust my baby with anyone else.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I wanted to be home with my own kids.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I make good money and get to be my own boss.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “My spouse lost his\/her job and I needed to step up and be the bread winner for our family.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I thought it would be an easy gig.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you love teaching and educating young children, go and do so with passion and purpose! Learn all you can about child development and seek out other courses and resources that will give strategy and direction in how you interact with the kids in your group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you chose this position for one of the latter reasons mentioned (because I had to<\/em>, or I didn’t think I could get another job that pays as well as this<\/em>) you’ll need to enter your work as a caregiver\/educator with the same amount of gusto and passion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Figure out what skill sets you can bring to the table and use those to shine! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps you have a knack for gardening<\/strong>…show the kids in your group how to plant flowers and vegetables. Give them experience of something you love to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps you are musically inclined<\/strong>. Use instruments and music in your program. Show them how to use a piano or learn about the different families of instruments!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps you are a gifted builder<\/strong>. Allow the kids to experience this hobby on a small scale — hammering, sanding, or building small items like a box or a bird house!<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere are some people in this world who have no idea how you do what you do on a daily basis and wouldn’t touch this profession with a 10-foot pole.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn any profession, it is good to take pause and ask yourself “why” you have chosen this field. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe key here is to understand your WHY and own the decision with pride. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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