The following response was written by one of our preschool staff members at BCCS as part of her continuing education and certification. Take the time to read the statement as it so clearly displays the true heart of our early education staff and their desire to ensure every child in our program is successful and grows to know God’s love for them:
I have the privilege of working with young children at Byron Center Christian School as a preschool aide. I love to learn and I love to share that love with our youngest learners at BCCS. These young years are a fascinating time of learning and rapid growth emotionally, cognitively, and physically. So much is happening all at once and much time and effort is needed to nurture this growth and development. I am committed to supporting the needs of preschoolers as they navigate this exciting time of their lives.
I believe that self-worth is pivotal in how children learn and how we should approach teaching a child. The more confidence a child has in oneself, the more likely they will be eager to learn and be confident students in the future. Each child must be valued for who they are, not who we want them to be. That doesn’t mean we ignore negative behaviors or accept less than what is expected. Instead, it means we meet them where they are at. We observe them, we communicate with them, we establish meaningful relationships with them and we work together to give them the best educational start possible.
Young children learn best by being allowed to be just that- young children. The best learning comes through play. Play offers meaningful learning experiences. Dramatic play gives children the opportunity to expand vocabulary in conversations, introduces storytelling through their imaginations, and builds relationships with their peers. Blocks allow children to analyze cause and effect and problem solve without even knowing it. Telling a story through coloring a picture introduces literacy skills. Outdoor playtime opens the door for them to learn through nature, improve gross motor development and release stress.
My role in developing learning through play is to provide plenty of opportunities for the preschoolers to choose what they would like to play. Providing a schedule that is mostly child-driven and not teacher-driven is one way I can enable as many meaningful learning experiences as possible. Respecting and acknowledging appropriate choices of children allows them to take ownership over parts of their day while building confidence. Most importantly, my role in play is building relationships. Taking a genuine interest in what they are interested in has led to some of my best conversations and is a perfect way to get to know each child a little bit better.
Beyond teaching and learning, I believe that one of the most important aspects of my role in the lives of children is to be present. So much of life takes space in our minds and it is easy to let things get muddled up. Being actively present both in body and mind takes work and it takes practice, but it is vital in the developmental nurturing of young children. Children are keen on who is genuinely there for them or not. It is so easy to rush a conversation along or take a fleeting glance at an everyday item a child wants to show off, but these are the very moments that we need to show these preschoolers that we are for real and that we really want to hear and see what is important to them.
My role each day is to guide, encourage, correct, and care. When I read a child a story, I hope they know that I really love reading to them. When I build blocks with a group of kids, I hope they know that watching them create is a really cool thing. When I am hearing about different types of dinosaurs from an excited preschooler, I hope they know that I really care about what they are saying to me. When I have to say a firm “no” or correct behaviors, I hope they know I care enough to help them make good choices. And when we sing “Jesus Loves Me” together, I hope they are beginning to grasp just how important those words are. I hope each child in our classroom knows how special they are to me and to the One who created them.
Each one of our preschoolers is a gift from God created to be a wonderful and unique human being. I want to be a person in their life that builds them up and nurtures confidence and self-esteem. I want to be a person that can help turn their really bad day into a good one and, if that day can’t be turned around, I hope I am that person they can trust to just listen and be there for them. I am blessed to see these preschoolers grow in knowledge and development before my eyes each year and it is such a testament to our Creator’s intricate planning and purpose.
I look at work in Early Childhood and Development more as a calling than a job. I believe that most professionals in this field feel the need to do whatever they can to give children the best start in life and education as possible. There is a deep desire to provide safe, quality, loving environments for children. This is my vocation and I will continue to expand my knowledge in Early Childhood and Development in the years to come. I will work to the best of my ability to give each child what they need to nurture their growth and development as a whole child and I will provide a safe and loving environment each day they are in my care. I am excited for all of the ways our preschoolers will learn and grow, but I am just as excited for all of the ways I will.
