Anyone here work with children?

[samy23]

What do you do? I'm considering a change of career to the childcare sector.

[mad4mady]

I've worked with children for years. I reccommend not working with children that are the same age as your child if you can help it. Especially, when they are younger. I used to work with preschoolers when dd was in preschool and I would be so tired of playing by the time I got home I didn't want to play anymore. I switched to jr. high when she was that age and it worked out much better.

Good Luck Megan

[nextcommercial]

http://www.redleafpress.org/

Here is a good website to get you started if you feel like this is a good place for you.

Avoid the daycare provider message boards until you are really into this. You will see providers venting, and it looks worse than it really is. 90% of working with kids is wonderful. 10% is the part we complain about.

But, Redleaf press has every book you would need to help you get started.

[lisalu100]

I'm a nanny. The pay isn't great (I don't think it is for any childcare workers). I get about $10 an hour in a fairly high COL area, but I take my baby with me. I do have a degree, but not in child-care. As a nanny, I do what I want during the day, and get to take a nap when the kids nap. You really need a good family to work for though. There is so much free stuff to do in the community, we're never bored. If I could, I would open my own at-home daycare. More money...

[annethcz]

I'm a preschool teacher. This is a new career for me, I've been a SAHM for about 10 years. I do have quite a bit of experience teaching and caring for children in volunteer capacities (I was the director of a homeschool co-op, I've taught preschool classes at HS co-ops and churches for years). I chose to work part time this year while I'm making the transition from home to work. It's going awesome so far. I work in a public school and I have a lot of independence in terms of the curriculum and schedule with the kids.

For me, parenting has made a HUGE difference in the way I'm able to relate with children. Because all of my kids are older than preschool age, and I've worked with preschoolers for so many years, I've developed a lot of skills for helping kids through tough transitions. I've figured out how to help kids who are having a rough day without letting it ruin *my* day. I didn't have the patience or skill to deal with that as effectively before I had children of my own.