I do not treat them as children. I do use terms of endearment like, mate, buddy, pal, darling as I would do with all of my family and friends. I congratulate them on their achievements and console them during the bad times. I get hugs and I give hugs. Ulterior variations are well recognised and de escalated.

They know – they really know, because they can tell better than a bloodhound – if you are in it for a vocation or just the paycheck.

My rewards never come from my micromanagers, I just wish that they were in earshot of my true critics, my patients. Then they would know the truth.

“The patient is the expert”

And to my managers – “See You Next Tuesday”! Big time and in your face. I’m so glad I’m not you!!!

I got told last week that I shouldn’t use terms of endearment with 2-3 year old’s … (I said “oh honey, you’ll be okay, it’s not bleeding anymore” when a 2 year old busted her knee up & started crying) … but yet they expect the childcare centre to ‘feel like an extension of home’ ?!

When I get told things like that, I feel absolutely betrayed by the people we essentially work for – we’re being treated like 3 year old’s who don’t know the difference between right & wrong; while we are busy trying to teach real 3 year old’s how to be an intelligent, kind, decent person who thinks for themselves.
People are spending too much time imposing rules! Get a life!

Personally if had children in care, as long as the workers are responsible adults (eg. described in your article) if they are forming a friendship with my child & caring for them 5 days a week I would be happy that the children are being talked to in such a genuinely caring way.

x Tasj

I do worry about how the next generation of adults will turn out. Kids aren’t quite the delicate flowers that we imagine them to be. Sure, they need a bit more care and direction, but most of them are pretty tough cookies (until their parents start faffing around, refusing to let them play in sandpits and monitoring every morsel of food that goes into their mouths). As for that “no praise” thing…fuck that. I can only imagine the stories that young lady will have for her therapist when she gets older

WRT the mother not praising her child, I think that poor child is going to start acting out in order to get a response from her mother. If she only gets attention for bad behaviour, then she’ll do whatever she needs to for the attention. Plus, hasn’t this mother ever heard of modelling positive behaviour? You using your manners will reinforce the child’s use of manners. In other words, monkey see, monkey do.

Nadist – It totally sucks doesn’t it? I mean it’s insulting that they think we don’t know how to behave physically around our students.

Meaghan – Whoa. That’s bizarre. I do get her point (I’m tired of congratulating kids everytime they do something really average) but to say that to someone is weird. Plus she’s like 3. How is going to learn good behavior unless she is praised for it?

Sarah-rose – I just nodded and smiled. I was actually kind of busy teaching the damn class so I didn’t have a whole lot of time to listen to his madness.