Child care professionals share a commitment to improving society by creating dynamic and nurturing care environments for Australia's youngest learners.
Read this month's Child Care Person in the spotlight Xiawei Cheng from Home Child Care a new Family Day Care agency in South Australia
Xiawei Cheng - Home Child Care SA
C4K: What is your full name?
XC: My full name is Xiawei Cheng the children call me "Shall we" because this is how it is pronounced. My age is 37.
C4K: Which centre do you work in?
XC: I work for Home Child Care - a new family day care agency in South Australia. I started working as a family day care provider in January 2009.
C4K: What is your professional background and career experience?
XC: I used to be teacher in China. After half a year of studying in South Australia, I obtained my Certificate III in Children's Services. I also have a senior first aid and children's safe environment certificate. I worked for a range of different child care centres in Adelaide for half a year, before I was approved as a family day care provider.
C4K: What attracted you to a career in child care?
XC: I love children. I always find happiness when playing with children. When I studied the child care course, I thought that family day care was a good choice for me, as I have a young daughter, my husband works a lot and I need time to look after my family.
C4K: What does a 'normal' day look like for you?
XC: A normal day for a family day care provider starts at about 8am, when the children are dropped off (or picked up) for care. We do all sorts of activities throughout the day, according to my program and I provide many play-based learning experiences, both inside and outside my home, according to each child's level of development.
I do drop offs and pickups for the older children from their activities and it is very much a family environment. My daughter Sophie plays with the children as well. When I notice the children in my care growing up each day, whether it is through knowledge, body or manner, it feels very rewarding.
C4K: What makes your centre unique?
XC: As I know learning by playing is very important for children, I provide a range of activities throughout the day both inside and outside. There are drawing, painting, ball games, make up games, block building, puzzles, play dough, reading, collages, paper cutting and second language in my programs.
I provide a caring, safe, secure and healthy environment, which lets children feel at home.
I respect each child and family's culture. I encourage parents to bring books or toys from their culture, as part of activities and I introduce the culture difference to other children.
C4K: What are some of the advantages of working in the child care sector?
XC: Helping children grow both intellectually and emotionally is one of its most appealing features.
Most child care workers perform a combination of basic care and teaching duties, but the majority of their time is spent on care giving activities.
Being a role model to children can have a good influence on their behaviour.
C4K: What are some of the biggest challenges facing the child care sector?
XC: One of the most difficult aspects of being a child care worker is maintaining seemingly infinite patience in handling young and excitable children.
Another great challenge is the lack of adult human contact. Most people who are dissatisfied with the profession claim it is due not to lack of enjoyment of teaching and nurturing children, but rather to the desire for peer contact and communication.
Child care can be physically and emotionally taxing, as workers constantly stand, walk, bend, stoop, and lift to attend to each child's interests and problems
C4K: How has your centre changed to deal with these challenges?
XC: My family day care has a daily routine to follow. I make activities according to the children's interests. I believe that encouragement and positive guidance is better than discipline. When necessary, children are given time away from the situation to reflect on their behaviour and consider more appropriate responses. I can always call my coordinator, who is able to provide me with someone to talk to about a difficult situation.
Home Child Care have a network of care providers and coordinators who I can contact and be comfortable confiding in. My coordinator gives me great support. Many play sessions are available for care providers. We can bring the children to playgroup to meet other children and we have the platform to exchange the ideas or communicate with other care providers.
Proper ways to treat physically and emotionally taxing work are important. I have training in manual handling. I never make myself exhausted because I make things organised and structured.
C4K: How does the industry need to change to adapt to these challenges?
XC:
- Good management
- Training for the staff, like organisational skills and manual handling
- Good team work
XC: A person who treats other children like his/her own, is patient and enjoys working with children, will make a great family day care provider. The ability to provide a solid framework of activity, have a flexible outlook, and a sense of caring, fun, and energy, are all important facets of being a good child care worker. Of course, the ability to work in a team environment and good communication skills with staff and parents are also important.
CareforKids.com.au®
Care For Kids Internet Services Pty Ltd
ABN 55 104 145 735
Level 2, 2 Bligh St Sydney NSW 2000
privacy policy contact us