"The warm welcomes received on my arrival to the centre, when the children are yelling my name and running towards me for a cuddle. This in itself makes me feel like I'm making a big difference and impact on their lives and their learning.”, says Kirsty from Goodstart Burton about one of the most rewarding aspects of her role as an educator.
Kirsty is one of our well-deserved Thank You Educators winners and has been working towards becoming an early childhood educator since she was in high school.
We spoke with Kirsty about her experiences as an educator and what she loves the most about this important role. Connecting with children and their families throughout the years is something Kirsty finds really rewarding. When older children she’s taught and cared for, drop off their younger siblings and still come searching for Kirsty to say hello; that’s really special.
Below is our full interview with Kirsty. Read on for more inspiration and understanding of the value childcare educators have in our community:
1. Can you tell us about your background and experience in childcare? How did you get started in this profession?
I studied my Cert 3 in childcare while completing year 11 in school, and then I completed my Cert 4 in OSHC in year 12. After my placement for the Cert 4 I was offered a job at the OSHC and I worked there for 4 years until I had my son in 2019. When I returned to work, I returned to childcare and have been in childcare since then.
2. What motivated you to become a childcare educator? Are there any specific childhood experiences or influences that led you to choose this career path?
I have always liked/loved children and have had a passion for their learning and the way in which children learn.
3. What age groups of children have you worked with, and what have you enjoyed about working with these specific age groups?
I’ve worked with children aged 5-14 while working in OSHC and then when I came into childcare I worked within the toddler room for 2 years. Then transferred to the kindy room and have been working within the kindy room since then. I enjoy kindy aged children as they are independent and have unique ways in which they learn.
4. What do you believe are the most important qualities or skills that a childcare educator should possess? How do you continue to learn and develop those skills in your own journey as an educator?
Patience and compassion. I continue to learn and develop my skills through self reflection and taking part in outside training sessions. These sessions improve my knowledge and I learn new strategies on how to build relationships and learn children’s behaviours and what I can do to help support them while they are in care.
5. Can you share some of your favourite activities or projects that have had a significant impact on the children’s learning and development?
I am currently teaching the children ways in which we can look after our gardens as well as sustainability, through planting seeds and watching them grow to them transferring them once ready, into the gardens beds to further develop and grow. This contributes to children’s learning by allowing them to be in control of their own health and wellbeing.
6. What is the most rewarding aspect of being a childcare educator for you?
The warm welcomes received on my arrival to the centre, when the children are yelling my name and running towards me for a cuddle. This in itself makes me feel like I'm making a big difference and impact on their lives and their learning.
7. Are there any memorable success stories or moments in your career that you would like to share?
It is an overwhelming feeling when previous children that you have taught still come into the centre to drop siblings off and they seek you out and make sure they get to see me. This is a tremendous feeling as that in itself means that I am doing something right in the way I teach and the relationships that I've built with these children and families.
8. Finally, what message or words of encouragement do you have for aspiring childcare educators who are considering entering this profession?
It is such a challenging industry to be in but there are so many rewarding things that happen that will just make your heart melt. The relationships you build with children are so important and even the relationships with parents are a big part of how you teach, so come into it open minded and with a lot of compassion.
