What Are The Characteristics Of A Good Child Care Worker?

This is the question most parents think about before they engage someone to care for their young children in their absence; a good childcare worker whether a nanny or babysitter is one that makes the parents and children comfortable, secure and safe. If you are on the look-out for a childcare worker for your children, you may want one that is patience, nurturing, fun loving and responsible; a good childcare worker is one that loves interacting with children.

Here are some of the important characteristics parents look for in a childcare worker:   

A good childcare worker is a good communicator: True a good childcare worker knows how to communicate with the children; the way such a worker communicates with the children provides a good indicator of what experience they will provide the children. It is very important that he/she asks questions to the children about themselves and shows a genuine interest in the replies the children give them. A childcare worker that relates well with the children is sure to provide a fun, stimulating and nurturing atmosphere.

He/she must be patient: Childcare tests the patience of those that care for the children, so it is very important that childcare workers have a boundless reserve of patience when children test the boundaries set up for them. 

Childcare workers need to be nurturing: This helps in providing support, encouragement and affection to the children. They should encourage frustrated children and offer affection and hugs to those children that are lonely, sad, depressed or missing their parents. It is a nurturing environment that helps boost a child’s self-esteem and also provide a sense of security. 

He/she needs to practice what they preach: When they set a good example, children easily follow what they see rather than what they are told. It is very important in childcare to not send mixed signals to the children. 

Childcare workers should enjoy playing with children and should be fun-loving: They should facilitate recreational activity with the children by creating and supplying both indoor and outdoor games, providing toys and other supplies to stimulate the children's imaginations, and reading stories aloud.

He/she should attempt to foster a sense of independence in the children they care for: This starts from the time a child is young; they need to teach young children to dress themselves, feed themselves, retrieve their own toys and books, assist with simple tasks and use the bathroom on their own. 

Childcare workers need to be natural teachers: This helps children that are constantly absorbing new information. They should explain aloud what, how and why they are doing certain things that the children will absorb by constant listening.  Pointing words, numbers and letter would help them read and ultimately succeed in life. 

Childcare workers need to be morally and ethically responsible: This can be easily found out by carrying out background checks and checking references while parents consider anyone to care for their child/children. 

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