At first glance, working in childcare may seem like an ‘easy’ job that allows you to paint and play with playdough all day. This is not the case (although it would be nice!). A career as a childcare professional can be both rewarding and challenging. Not only are you dealing with a child, but with their parent too, and sometimes, this may cause problems.

While no two days are the same, childcare can be a very demanding job that must be done with a level of patience. If you’ve considered working with kids, here’s what you can expect.

What can I anticipate from a career in childcare?

Working in childcare is a fast-paced environment that’s full of laughter and fun. Simultaneously, it can be stressful when it comes to dealing with difficult situations. Not all childcare workers work out of large kindergartens, but they’re found in a range of private and government environments including residential homes, childcare centres, hospitals, creches, and women’s centres.

Daily duties can vary, but generally include:

• Organising pick up and drop off time
• Preparing snacks, afternoon teas and lunches
• Tidying up unused toys and books
• Setting up beds for naps
• Running activities like arts and crafts, games, story time and playing with toys
• Managing children’s behaviour

Depending on what your role is in the workplace, you may be required to take on some additional administration tasks. This could be things like corresponding with parents, filling out incident reports, or planning for the ongoing education of the children.

What are some of the challenges involved in childcare?

In childcare, you learn to take the good days with the bad. Like with anything in life, your attitude to challenges will determine what you get out of the experience. Some of these challenges may include:

The physicality of the role – While childcare isn’t the first profession you’d think of when it comes to physicality, there’s surprisingly more involved than you probably realise. Many young children like to be picked up and carried, and babies need to be moved from room to room. Although you may not notice at first, this can take a toll on your body when doing it day in day out. Childcare workers also spend a lot of time moving about – you hardly ever get a moment to sit still. Whether it’s playing games, sharing your time among different kids, or putting babies down for a nap, there’s barely enough time for a cup of coffee!

Emotional challenges – Working with children is tough. It takes a lot of emotional stability to constantly work in this sector – especially with kids who might be slightly more challenging due to learning or intellectual disabilities. Many young kids also don’t have a filter, so they may say some things that offend you. Although it might hurt, try to keep in mind that at this age, kids haven’t learnt what’s right and wrong, so they don’t realise that what they’re saying has upset you.

Industry dynamics – Like nursing, childcare is a heavily female-dominated industry. “One of the biggest challenges I find with childcare isn’t actually with the kids!” Eileen says. “In a predominantly female industry, there can be a lot of conflict in the workplace due to different workplace values, personality clashes and gossiping.” While workplace gossip happens in many places, it’s a good idea not to engage. If you have a problem with someone, talk to them first, rather than discussing it with someone else. You may even find that it’s a complete misunderstanding!

Difficult children and/or parents – Not only do you have the kids to deal with but their parents too! Unfortunately, there may be a time where you clash with a parent or a child’s personality, however, it’s all part of the job. Childcare worker Eileen* says, “when dealing with a difficult family, I try to adopt the ‘customer is always right’ mindset. Listening to their concerns calmly and without getting defensive goes a long way. Our job provides us with professional development opportunities too to help us learn.”

What skills do you need to work in childcare?

Besides qualifications relevant to your area, other basic skills are important to succeed in the childcare industry. Some of these include:

Environmental awareness – Dealing with kids, you need to always be on the ball. Things that may not seem like a big deal to you, can be through the eyes of a child. Children are like sponges – they soak up everything they see and hear. Because of this, it’s important not to swear in front of them or say anything offensive that may be repeated. Not only that, but you also need to be constantly scanning the room for anything that may present as a hazard. A pair of scissors left in reach or a stray toy left lying around can cause unwanted accidents.

Patience and empathy – Children are always learning and developing. However, sometimes you may need to step back and empathise with where the child is coming from. If they’re having a tantrum because their friend is eating something they want, consider it from the child’s point of view – they’re genuinely upset that they can’t eat something as yummy as that! While we know as adults that this isn’t the end of the world, a child hasn’t yet learnt that. Patience is also important. Kids – especially younger ones – often like to ask a lot of questions or listen to the same songs on repeat. While it’s annoying for you to hear “Let It Go” played for the thousandth time that day, it’s not for them!

Enthusiasm – Probably one of the most important skills to have as a childcare worker is enthusiasm. In some jobs, you can turn up your headphones and ignore everyone if you’re having a bad day. In childcare, the children bounce off your energy. Being enthusiastic is a great form of motivation for kids, especially when you’re encouraging them to complete activities.

Tips for new childcare workers

When it comes to choosing a career as a childcare worker, Eileen makes a few points for aspiring workers to keep in mind. “The ages 0-5 are the most important years when it comes to brain development. We’re advocates for the voice they haven’t yet developed and have the chance to make a real difference in their lives.”

A career in childcare comes with many challenges and rewards. The job requires you to be constantly on your feet and moving around, as you complete your daily tasks. If you’re considering a career working with kids, the Biz Care range has uniforms for all your workplace needs.

*Name has been changed for privacy reasons