Looking after kids is not child's play
13 December 2010
Looking after kids is not child’s play
Many of us are horrified bvy the NZ Herald story http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10693581 about a PORSE cargiver leacing a 4 month old baby on its own.
Skilled or unskilled, trained or untrained, that is the question!
“Choosing someone to care for your child means you want someone who loves them and can give them expert care”, says Justine Johnson, early childhood teacher of twenty years and regional manager, South Island for Kidicorp.
She’s proud of her level of expertise and that of all Early Childhood Educators, and feels that their skills and dedication are being under-mined and de-valued in the debate on sending children to in-home care instead of childcare centres.
“We are professionals, not part-time amateurs”, she says.” It’s time parents were given accurate information about the best care for their children instead of emotive marketing slogans like “in-home”.
Justine is talking about the current drive to enrol children in in-home care. She points out that people who’ve spent at least three years getting qualifications in early childhood education, and who want to work with children for a career, are very different to mums at home who want to make a bit of money while they’ve got their own children, and who haven’t got the skills, knowledge and experience of trained teachers.
“Of course the people promoting in-home care are going to say that being in a home is better for a child than going to a child care centre, and of course they are never going to tell you of the dangers of a tired unqualified mum looking after kids including her own, who might even be biting the strange children who use his toys!”
Justine is using a real example that a mum told her when she came to enrol at Styx Mill, a Kidicorp child care centre in Christchurch. This dedicated and highly trained teacher goes on to say: “What evidence is there that a single carer gives more ‘love’ to a child than a preschool teacher? In-home providers claim that mums who stay at home and look after our parents’ children love kids more than a qualified teacher who’s spent three years getting a degree in early childhood education, plus professional development after graduating, and further honing their skills.
“Teachers who choose to work in a nursery, child care or preschool are usually planning a long term career in ECE and give every child their best.
“Compare that with people who provide in-home care. They usually have no qualifications and often choose this field because they can have their own child at home and make money at the same time.
“Does that sound like a person fully committed to the individual well-being of each child? Caring for a child as well as knowing how to stimulate, occupy and educate a child happily, is a skilled job that I and other professionals have spent years practising.
“The large in-home providers want to take us back to the years where back-yard preschools and play groups cared for children with very little regulation or monitoring. Studies overseas have shown that children spend a lot of time watching telly and filling in time while their carer gets on with the housework or chats on the phone.
“Parents in this country have talked of the partner dropping in and teasing the children, a toddler with milk allergies being given ice-cream and other dairy products, and a child coming home with deep scratch weals in his face from a jealous toddler, and other horror stories.
“What is worrying is that no one can assure me that they can guarantee a child is safe with one carer all day, and that the care is consistent and professional. On the other hand in a child care centre, if one teacher is off-colour or needing support, there is always someone else to take up the slack. All staff are checked by police and no un-authorised person is allowed to come into the centre.
“We are proud that our children are safe and happy in our centre, and learning both life skills and skills for starting school. We give them the best start possible.
“As an educator with twenty years under my belt, I encourage parents to ask questions, to look for high quality centres with quality facilities, qualified teachers and more than one person looking after the children. These are the things to look for, to find kind and consistent, safe and stimulating care for your children.”