Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice

Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice

As an early childhood professional we are often the people that see each of these children for the majority of the day. We influence their life with each and every step that we do in each day. We build each child up and know their weaknesses and their strong points. We know what makes them laugh, what makes them cry, and what helps them learn. We have been trained to study their behaviors and build on what they already know. We have a strong relationship with each and every child because we comfort them, protect them, and keep them safe.

               I had a child tell me one time, “Ms. Ellis you must love me!” I looked puzzled I’m sure because I know I love each and every child but for her to say it the way she did just brought all kinds of questions in my mind. I said, “Why yes dear I love you very much! What made you feel that way?” She smiled with her big huge smile and said, “Well you make sure I am all warm and zipped up like my mommy does before I go outside. You tie my shoes so I don’t trip. You help me put my mittens on, you snap my hat and every time you get me all bundled up you kiss the top of my head and say you’re all ready now! My mommy does that because she says she loves me. So you must love me too!” I never noticed how nurturing I was to each and every child. I have a five year old as well and often have the over protective motherly instinct to make sure that they have clean washed faces when they leave! That they are all bundled up with coats, mittens, hats, and tied shoes. I know that I would want my child to come home with the same protection so I do the same for my class. I often see other classes come out shoes untied, coats in their bags or not zipped, and the hats and gloves are nowhere to be found. I know that as a teacher we are often too busy to make sure the small things are done but when you put yourself in their mother’s shoes you may have a different perspective. After two week of insuring that each child is bundled up and totally ready to go home I have found that they are very proficient in doing this on their own.  They may ask for help from their friends but it is so sweet to see them imitating what they see their teacher do. I caught a little girl dressing her friend one day when she finished and had him all bundled up she kissed her head and said now you’re ready. I found it to be totally heart touching! I feel that this has influenced a lot of the biases.

               To me I feel that children only have biases if they observe it. I feel that children imitate almost everything that they hear or see. My son is in this faze where he sayings he is copying what he sees so he can learn new moves. He copies karate, writing, talking, and almost every annoying thing that you could perceive. It is annoying but it reminds me why it is important to limit what they watch, hear, and take in. I have learned so much about biases and how to treat others. I learn more from my children than I do from school.