Day-care teachers need sensitivity toward children to provide a stable, safe environment. A day-care teacher encounters many situations when the children in her care become upset, sad or emotional. Being sensitive to these feelings allows the children to feel secure and helps everyone deal with the emotions. Day-care teachers need an understanding of children and how they develop. Teachers who understand developmental needs create effective lesson plans for the kids, providing a high-quality educational environment.
Patience ensures a day-care teacher can manage any emergency situations or discipline issues among the kids. A calm demeanor keeps children calm and sets the tone for the classroom. Patient day-care teachers handle disruptive situations with ease, helping the children in his care stay calm as well. Patience often comes with experience in working with kids.
A day-care classroom often requires the teacher to be flexible. This quality allows day-care teachers to quickly switch gears to accommodate unexpected situations that arise. Schedule changes often occur in day-care classrooms due to the needs of the young children. Day-care teachers must adapt to ensure the needs of their students are met at all times.
A background in education or child care provides day-care teachers with hands-on skills. Experience in the field, whether through formal education or on-the-job training, enables the teacher to plan effective curriculum, manage classroom behavior and keep the classroom activity moving forward. Experience as a parent or as a babysitter also provides some of these important qualities.
A day-care teacher constantly communicates with the children, other staff members and parents. Strong communication skills allow the day-care teacher to switch her communication style to fit the various parties to which she speaks throughout the day. Effective communication prevents misunderstandings with parents and other staff members. It also allows the teacher to effectively teach the children in her care. Written communication aids day-care teachers in creating newsletters and writing notes to parents, as well as completing assessments and other required paperwork.