Exercise patience in the face of tantrums and mishaps. Avoid losing your cool when your students engage in unruly behavior. Understand that young children readily model behavior of authority figures. Find ways to divert attention to positive activities and to mediate problems between quarreling students. Realize that smiles and positive thinking are contagious in a day-care environment.
Engage in constructive dialogue with parents. Provide regular updates about classroom activities and individual student progress. Encourage parental involvement by scheduling periodic conferences and classroom volunteer opportunities. Making parents feel welcome in your day-care classroom can lead to rewarding experiences for everyone involved.
Develop interactive lesson plans for your students. This demonstrates your commitment to dynamic learning and injects excitement into the school day. Coordinate daily activities with chosen themes for added benefit. For example, make ladybug finger puppets during craft time when studying insects. Use a variety of delivery methods to address different learning styles.
Promote social progress in your classroom. Realize that spending time in day care can help children learn how to get along with their peers. Challenge your students to treat each other with respect and tolerance. Keep your students occupied with age-appropriate team-building activities that promote positive thinking and togetherness.
Treat students as individuals. Learn the personality of each student well to unlock the cooperative spirit hidden in every child. Realize that while fairness is important, children need specialized types and amounts of attention. Examples include spending extra time with a student who bullies his classmates or gently coaxing a shy student to interact with others. Learn how to analyze a student's needs and respond with appropriate action.