Is childcare right for you? 6 questions to ask yourself before studying childcare
Childcare industry is one of the fastest growing industries in Australia, with IBISWorld recording 6.5% annual growth over the past few years alone.
And with dual-income households becoming the norm, it’s one that we predict will continue growing for quite some time!
You may be thinking about embarking on a career in childcare yourself and have started researching places to study childcare.
The reality? A love for children isn’t the only thing you’ll need to succeed in childcare, but it’ll certainly help!
So, how do you know if childcare is the career for you? Academia helps you uncover six important questions you should answer when it comes to deciding if childcare could be the rewarding and enriching career you’re searching for!
Interested in studying childcare? Explore our childcare courses: view the Certificate 3 here and the Diploma here.
Is childcare right for you?
At Academia, we offer a range of training courses in childcare. We train hundreds of students, helping them gain the skills and training to confidently enter the childcare industry.
So we know a thing or two about what makes a successful early childhood educator!
Do you love children?
You should love your job.
And for childcare students, that means having a love for kids!
That means a passion for watching them grow, an innate desire to help them learn, and the skills and compassion to support them at all times.
Are you patient in dealing with children?
They say patience is a virtue. When it comes to childcare however, it can be a necessity!
We’re not going to sugarcoat it: children can test your patience.
Young children don’t have fully-developed coping strategies or emotional awareness. In many cases, this results in tantrums and outbursts.
As such, working with kids requires patience and self-restraint. Successful childcare educators need to be easy-going, tolerant, understanding, and flexible.
Next to a love for kids, this is one of the most important attributes childcare educators need.
How energetic, vibrant, and lively can you be when you are with kids?
Anyone who spends a lot of time around kids knows that they have an almost uncontrollable amount of energy. They’ll constantly be running, jumping and playing without a pause (if only we adults could still do that!)
Not to mention, many of the daily routines that come with working in childcare requires strength, endurance, and stamina. The typical routine can include activities such games, physical activity and even dance!
If you’ve got the stamina to keep up with this seemingly boundless energy your kids display, childcare could be an ideal career move!
Can you communicate with children well?
Communicating to kids is more than just talking to them. Much of it is conducted non-verbally, through body language and voice tone.
As such, you’ll need to be skilled in understanding the nonverbal cues a child gives off, as well as controlling your own nonverbal communication and striking the right balance between authority and friendliness.
And it doesn’t end there either.
Communication is a two-way street. On top of being good at communicating with kids, it’s also important that you are a good listener too.
You need to be able to listen and respond in a sensitive way to things your charges may say to you – not just the good news, but also things they might find distressing, scary, or embarrassing.
Do you have a passion for teaching?
Working in childcare is much more than just “babysitting”. Early childhood lays the foundations for the rest of a child’s life.
As such, it’s crucial that childcare workers nurture a child’s development and encourage the development of:
- Literacy and numeracy skills
- Social and emotional skills
- Problem-solving and conflict resolution
- Confidence
- Mechanical skills
That’s why in recent years, childcare has shifted from the notion of just “looking after kids” to true early childhood education.
As such, a passion for teaching is quickly becoming a crucial attribute of a good childcare worker!
Do you know how to effectively communicate with adults too?
Childcare workers don’t only deal with kids – but with their parents and guardians as well.
As such, it’s crucial you can communicate with parents about:
- Their child’s development
- Achievements and struggles
- Their child’s early education
Effectively communicating with adults on how their children behaved and performed during reading or activity time, for example, can better help them understand which areas need improvement.
Confidently communicating with the parents helps you give positive and negative feedback that contribute to the overall wellness of the child.
Study childcare in Melbourne and Brisbane
Enroll with Academia today!
You’ve got the passion and drive for a career helping mould children in their early development.
However, that isn’t the only thing you’ll need to enjoy a long, rewarding career in childcare – you’ll also need a strong theoretical base and the right qualification!
Our childcare courses cover elements such as:
- Education techniques
- Early childhood development
- Allergies and first aid training
- Nutrition
And we’ve got the courses, facilities and placements to turn that into a reality.
Academia trains those who have an interest in starting a rewarding career in early childcare education. We offer two courses at both our Melbourne and Brisbane campuses:
- Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113)
- Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care CHC50113
Combining theory classes and hands-on placements, both of these courses provide you with the theoretical base you need to enjoy a long, rewarding career.
Interested in studying childcare? Got questions about studying with Academia? Contact us today!
