Over 12 years ago, Larry Brown and his wife approached a local day school.
They were on a mission to make some positive changes in child care. Today,
Brown is the owner and director of the school, which is a second home to dozens
of children.
"At the time," says Brown, "this was the business that we decided to get
involved in because there really seemed to be a shortage of quality child-care
centers in the area."
Since then, the Browns have been busy. "We've added infants to the
program. We've added afternoon preschool classes. We've extended
our kindergarten class from a half-day program to a full-day program," says
Brown.
Brown believes in stimulating kids' brains. "Part of what they talk
about with early childhood development is the wiring of the brain. They say
the things you do to stimulate it in the beginning, when it's developing,
[are] really going to help out considerably," he says.
For a child, stimulation doesn't come from clever conversation or
math puzzles. According to Brown, it comes from positive influences and encouragement.
Brown says, "[Be] a positive role model; always encourage them to do their
very best. I think the most important part is really just teaching them age-appropriate
academics, just being polite and mannerly."
In the end, says Brown, childhood experience affects how the older person
will fare in the world. "Quality child care is going to build self-esteem
[and] make them feel very good about themselves," he says.
Quality child care is not, says Brown, about allowing kids to run around,
yell, scream and fight with each other. "I mean, that's not a positive
experience for the kids," he says.
"The thing is, it's probably the most rewarding job you really could
have because you make a difference. We're dealing with the parents on
a daily basis. We're watching children grow from being an infant up to
kindergarten," Brown says.
Child-care workers typically forfeit a large salary for job satisfaction.
But Brown says it's worth it. "It's kind of like a baseball player,
you know. I'd love to play baseball, but it's not going to pay me
a whole lot and I do have to be able to put food on the table," he says.
Brown adds that perseverance and a positive attitude will help child-care
workers attain a decent salary.
Karen Eilersen, another owner of a day-care center, knew two things when
she started a two-year diploma program in early childhood education: she wasn't
cut out to do restaurant work for the rest of her life and she loved kids.
"I had no idea what I was getting into. I had never set foot in a day care
before. I knew I loved kids and I thought, 'OK. I can do this!'"
she says.
Eilersen admits that she would not recommend this route to anyone. She
says it's important to get some experience first. "I had no idea. I thought
it was babysitting. But I fell in love with it after about the first month
and I've just been doing it ever since," she says.
After working in the field for about 10 years, Eilersen opened up her own
center in her own home.
The myth that child care is like babysitting was shattered for Eilersen
long ago. "It's educating young children. I really see it as a care and
education program....I'm a true believer that the years before five are
of utmost importance. I see it as a profession," she says.
Eilersen's mind is full of fond memories when it comes to her work,
but one is particularly dear to her. "We run an organic gardening program
with the children. One time, the children were in the dramatic play center
and they had decided that they were doing a garden in this play center.
"So, they were bunnies, tending to their garden. And one of them said,
'Oh no! We've got bugs eating our carrots!' One of the children
who was newer said, 'Quick! Let's go get the spray!' And another
one said, 'No, no. We have to get ladybugs because we can't use
spray in our garden.'"
Eilersen was touched. She could see that the kids were listening and learning
from her environmental approach.
"We have some children who start as early as three months
and they graduate out of the program. So, it's just kind of neat to be
able to see the families and how they progress. [We're] making a difference
in their lives."