Educator Showcase: Kool Kidz Narre Warren

The Australian early education sector is comprised of a range of people with diverse personal and professional experiences, but with one goal in common, to do their best to provide high quality learning for our children.

Every month we shine the spotlight on an outstanding educator to showcase the wonderful work happening within our community. This week meet the lovely team of educators from Kool Kidz Narre Warren, Victoria, Lisa, Millie, Samantha and Jordynn, who were nominated by the Educational Lead at their service Belinda Harding.

What was your professional career experience?

Victoria “Ten years this year in the industry, hospitality prior to that”.

Lisa “I’ve been in this industry for 25 years”

Millie “7 months”.

Samantha “It’s probably two years and ten months”.

Jordynn “I have a hospitality background,  and worked at Boost Juice before I started in child care, I’ve been doing it for over 2 years now”.

What does a normal day look like for you?

Vickie “I would say satisfaction, if you can come into work feeling unsure, when you walk in you feel achievement, I love coming in here, my troubles are gone when I step in here, the kids do that for me”.

Jordynn “A fun learning environment, culturally diverse, I think we focus a lot on culture in this room”.

Millie “We walk into a routine each day, but it’s also always different, we mix it up a lot”.

Jordynn “We focus on progressive morning tea, our children self-serve, we acknowledge our country, we just started learning Indonesian with the children and Millie has just started doing affirmations with the children, we have also been having a big focus on yoga”

What makes your service unique?

Samantha “Quality in everything”.

Jordynn “I know I always go back to diversity but I think it’s so important, it’s what we act on”.

Samantha “This qualification doesn’t teach you how to be diverse, at this centre we don’t just ‘tick boxes’, we have learnt how to do the extra, like ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ in mandarin. Other places might not see the reason to put in the extra effort like we do here”.

What are some of the advantages of working in ECE:

Jordynn “We have the advantage of raising the next generation, it is so rewarding”.

Lisa “Seeing the children develop, grow and learn to move past their obstacles”.

What are some of the biggest challenges facing the sector?

Victoria “Realistically, its finding that good balance having multiple personalities within a team, it’s like putting together a puzzle”.

Samantha “Communicating with one another, with the children it’s about what we have to learn as we go, the qualification doesn’t teach you everything you’ll need to know, taking the extra step to learn as every child has different behaviors and personalities, that can be a big challenge”.

How does the early childhood industry need to adapt?

Samantha “I think every single child is different and we need to learn all over again each time”.

Jordynn “So what Sam means is that our certificates could really have more modules on behaviour and children with different learning abilities and how to teach children in different ways, we need a better platform on how to be an educator when times get challenging”.

What advice would you offer someone thinking about a career in ECE?

Samantha “Only do it if you really love children, you can’t do it if you don’t, you need to go in with everything”.

Jordynn “Take every day as a learning curve, some days are going to be harder, be open to learning from others as you go”.

Millie “When something doesn’t go the way you wanted it to, don’t look at things in a negative light, you learn just as much as the children do”.

Victoria “Definitely do it, it’s rewarding, no matter how long you’re in this industry you will always keep learning new ways, every day is different, it doesn’t feel like a job”.

Samantha “Before I was in child care, I would think of child care teachers as so special, now I do it”.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Victoria “For all the parents out there, get to know your educators, have that strong relationship with them”.

Samantha “Don’t just pick up the children, get involved”.

Millie “You need to make sure you’re putting yourself in the parent’s perspective, what would they think or feel”.

Jordynn “If there are parents who read this, don’t just see us as babysitters, this environment is such a big opportunity for learning”.

Millie “The seed you plant in children, that’s the plant they will eventually grow into being. The way you shape them emotionally, physically, mentally is who they will become”.