Chantal 0:02
preschoolers don't really come with a manual, do they? You want to spend your day helping them grow and enjoying the magic of learning through the eyes of a preschooler. You also want to help them deal with all the big feelings that come with being three or four. But real talk, you don't have a lot of time. We need to prep for the day with confidence, and ditch the stress that sometimes comes along the way. I got you. Welcome to the preschool Made Easy podcast. I'm your host, Chantal, a kinder teacher turned curriculum designer, and preschool consultant, and I'm here to help you make this school year. The best one yet. Let's get to the show.
Hey, hey, everyone, you're listening to episode three. And we're diving into why I love preschool as a teacher. What makes this so rewarding and challenging. And my advice to fellow educators considering becoming preschool teachers. If you're currently a preschool educator looking for a list of skills, your kiddos need to master before kindergarten, I have a super helpful kindergarten readiness checklist. You can grab in the show notes and share with your parents. Remember, I'm here to help make this preschool journey fun and easy for you. So let's do this.
Preschool is truly a magical time in a child's life. But it can also be magical for teachers. They absorb every part of the world around them like little sponges. And as a teacher, I was privileged to witness their growth and be a part of their development. It was so incredibly fulfilling. You know, one of the things that makes preschool unique is that you not only get to facilitate exploration for them, but you also get the opportunity to foster creativity. As we know preschoolers have such vibrant imaginations, oh boy, do they. They express themselves without any regard to what others may think or say about them. And I for one love that. We as teachers can nurture this creativity and help them develop their own individual voices through art and music, and even pretend play. Watching them express their ideas and create something new from their own imagination is truly an inspiration itself. What makes preschool so special is that this is a time of immense curiosity and wonder. children at this age are eager to learn and explore the world around them. They ask endless questions. Yes, sometimes even the ones you don't want to answer. laugh at everything you say or do even when you trip or hit yourself. And they see the wildest things like complimenting your outfit, even when you feel like you just rolled out of bed. It's so rewarding to see their eyes light up when they discover something new. Or when you ask them something about a comment they made before. And they realized, oh my gosh, you remembered whether it's exploring nature, playing in the playground, experimenting with colors and shapes or just learning about animals. Their enthusiasm is seriously contagious. It really makes you want to learn with them. The same can be said for being there when children learn how to interact with their peers, build friendships, and gain an understanding of their own emotions. As a preschool teacher, I had the chance to guide them through this process. I got to witness all the beautiful moments of empathy, kindness and cooperation. Seeing them develop their social skills and grow into compassionate young ladies and gentlemen, as I like to call them was honestly one of my favorite things about teaching preschool. I'll never forget when one of my kiddos fell outside and scraped her knee, and a little boy asked if she was okay. He helped her get up, gave her a hug, and then told her she was going to feel better soon. Talk about the ultimate heartwarming story ha. Now not to burst the bubble here, but teaching can also be challenging. Some common challenges of teaching preschool are classroom and behavior management, parental involvement, and also prioritizing our own health and safety. And this has been such a critical topic as of late. Managing a roomful of preschoolers is hard, I won't lie. They're full of energy. They've got limited attention spans and varying levels of self control. They're still growing and learning to navigate social interactions, while self regulating their emotions. I mean, come on, if we have a hard time doing that, imagine them being three, four and five years old. Establishing strong partnerships with parents is also critical for a child's success. But Sometimes things like language barriers, conflicting schedules or just differing opinions can make it difficult. Now, taking care of your own health and safety should be a priority too. And this can be tough with your work schedule. Despite these challenges, teaching preschool still provides us an opportunity to shape their young minds, foster a love of learning and ultimately make a positive impact on their lives.
We've talked about why I love preschool as a teacher and some of its rewards and challenges. So here's my advice to all the fellow educators who are considering becoming a preschool teacher. Embrace the joy and wonder that this age group brings. Be prepared to have fun, be caught off guard. Practice a whole lot of patience. And allow yourself to learn from the kiddos as much as you teach them if not more. Preschoolers have a unique ability to remind us of the simple joys life has to offer. And keep our own curiosity alive. They will bring endless laughter, surprises and heartfelt moments to your classroom and your life. Keep it simple. And don't allow yourself to get overwhelmed by your responsibilities. Think of them as should dues instead of have to dues and it'll keep your heart and your workload light and happy. Now, go play with your littles and remember to take it one day at a time. And if you feel like you need help along the way, I'm always a click away. message me on Instagram at Shanti dot Macias and let me know what I can help you with. That's all for now. And remember, you got this. Thank you so much for hanging out with me today. I love creating content to support you on your preschool journey. So if you enjoyed this episode, reach out to me on Instagram, and let me know what resonated or any questions you may have. Let's keep the conversation going. So we can support more preschool teachers and parents, just like you see in the next episode.
