{"id":74,"date":"2018-09-08T22:16:57","date_gmt":"2018-09-08T22:16:57","guid":{"rendered":"https://theempoweredprovider.com/?p=74"},"modified":"2020-01-08T23:41:31","modified_gmt":"2020-01-08T23:41:31","slug":"confessions-of-a-family-child-care-provider","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https://theempoweredprovider.com/confessions-of-a-family-child-care-provider/","title":{"rendered":"Confessions Of a Family Child Care Provider"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"boy<\/figure>\n\n\n

Me: “Hello, My name is Roz and I am a hoarder of children’s books.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love strolling through Barnes & Noble (a major bookstore chain). It was a bit of an escape from the daily chaos of running a business in my home and raising four kids under the age of 7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’d walk through the children’s section and pick up ones that caught my eye (books that is, not the children).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I’d run my hand over the colorful dust jackets and then turn the crisp, never-been-touched-pages and ooh and ahh quietly at the brightly colored illustrations. <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Hard cover pictures books are expensive<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I told myself to buy the beautiful children’s picture book because I was investing in MY <\/strong>program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’d bring the MY<\/strong>new book home…file the receipt (like a good little bookkeeper should. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lies. All Lies. You know the drill: <\/em>I’d stuff it in the bottom of my purse only to pull it out at tax time and grumble at my lack of organization.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MY <\/strong>new book would go up on a high shelf where none of the kids could reach it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ruin it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rip it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MY <\/strong>new book would be waiting there for me when I<\/u> was ready to use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now doesn’t that sound ridiculous? <\/em>Who is this crazy woman who is supposed to be instilling the love of reading in young children…?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was my approach to teaching until I attended a conference and had the opportunity to listen to The Ooey Gooey Lady<\/a>, aka Lisa Murphy speak. <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"lisa<\/a>
She’s down right fabulous. Go see her if you get the chance.
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

She told a funny story about how she witnessed teachers in the field of early childhood walking around the classroom, wearing a crabby face with a lanyard around their neck. On this lanyard, was the key to THE SUPPLY CABINET.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only she, oh masterful one, had access to this divine cupboard filled with paints, stickers, markers, paper, glitter and glue!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you can imagine, this story got a rise out of the audience and I remember laughing (she is a very entertaining speaker<\/em>)…but through my laughter was pure embarrassment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I sank down in my squeaky middle school auditorium seat…my ego sinking with it and thinking, “For the love of Pete…she’s describing ME!” (Not so much the ‘crabby’ part, but I definitely carried the attitude of THE GATE KEEPER. KEEPER OF ALL THINGS SPECIAL FOR CHILDREN.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"green<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I remember coming home humbled beyond belief…standing in the middle of my child care space…alone…deep in thought. <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Who were the materials truly meant for? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What good was I doing keeping them out of reach? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How could I find a way to make them accessible yet not stress out over the mess? Oh…the mess!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a few minutes, the answer was clear:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was buying the supplies to enhance the experience each child had in my program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not MY <\/strong>experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theirs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admittedly, I was holding all of ‘the things’ hostage. <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The paints, the cotton balls, the glitter, the paper, the stickers, the ink, the popsicle sticks, the glue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"play<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Play-based learning was the philosophy I had chosen for my program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or was it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Play-based means kids need to have access to various materials to play, discover and experiment.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I certainly had some work to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then I remembered my collection of children’s books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Squee!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No. Not my precious books!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ll give the kids anything but my books!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take my favorite stickers and the construction paper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let me keep the books. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ll share them…but I don’t want the kids to have full access to my ‘good ones’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if they tear the pages??<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surely they will damage the spine!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The books I have spent good money on will wear faster if they are out all day…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"row<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After some more pacing back and forth through my space…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh it was a real moment with me, myself and I…<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I realized that my philosophy HAD to change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part of my job was to help kids develop a love of reading. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hell, the only reason those books had become MY favorites was because I had been given the opportunity to hold them…flip through them… read them…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps I could teach the kids how to take care of the books<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The question is…what supplies are you holding hostage? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharing is hard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trust me. I’ve been there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We coach kids through this concept of sharing all the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let me see if I can help…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does this photo make you anxious? If so…keep reading. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"child<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Start By Relinquishing Control With Just a Few Things<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For goodness sake, I’m not asking you to pass out the glitter shakers just yet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baby steps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I promise you’ll have fun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

…and so will the kids in your program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let play based learning do it’s work naturally by setting up an environment filled with things that delight the kids as much as they once delighted you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where will you start? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are your biggest fears? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comment below! I’d love to hear your thoughts!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you enjoyed reading how I stumbled my way through learning how to be a better educator…check out these other “teachable moments” <\/a>I experienced.