So I started a job yesterday that I think I’m going to quit by the end of the week, a first for me. I am (drumroll please) a preschool teacher.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I love the rug rats. I feel the age of five is the finest in all of humanity. From there it’s all downhill. So when I was offered the job teaching two year olds, I figured "Two is close to three. And three is almost four. And four is practically five, in which people are super hip. Sign me up.
Well, folks: Two is DEFINATELY not five. I feel like Mrs. Hannigan: all I see is little girls. Diapers. Colds. If I use the phrase “use your words” one more time today, I think I’ll scream.
The thing is that I feel horrible for this. These kids need stability, they do NOT need some idiot who breezes in and the breezes out. And I really like the owners, they’re really sweet women. But AHHHH!!! Poopy diapers!!!
Please advise. Or share stories of seemingly obvious facts (two is not five) that you neglected to take into account in your job(s).
I’m an IT director, meaning that I’m in charge of a shitload of computers and servers. I had no idea that I’d have to deal with people during this job, too.
Well, as a proud owner of a 2-year old and a 4-year I can confirm that they are not the same. And as said owner, I can confirm that your life must be a living hell. But think of the bright side: you must be making a pile of money.
I’m sure it’s a shock to your system to discover this. But as the husband of a teacher, I have observed that the best way to deal with children of any age is to get into their world. Adopt their perspective and understand their point of view, and you can treat them with empathy, rather than just tolerate them or feel good about them, or whatever.
The following is subtle, but it’s from my interpretation of your OP. You enjoy five-year-olds because of some perspective you have on them. Maybe it’s their candor, or the fact that they have both a “big kid” and “small kid” aura at the same time, if you get me. It’s easy to appreciate that in a child, especially because there is a tendency toward smart-alecky behavior in later years.
But…this is coming from you, not them. You’re looking at them from your perspective and saying, “Well, these kids aren’t so bad, pretty good, really. I like 'em.”
But getting into the mind and perspective of a youngster and appreciating life from their point of view really expands the mind and fosters an appreciation. When they actually use the potty it’s a hell of a big deal. Congratulating them has to be more than just an expression of, “Thank God I don’t have to change a diaper.” The fact that they have trouble using words doesn’t mean they don’t want to. Quite the opposite. But they are vacillating between infancy and little kid-dom, and they appreciate an understanding nudge in the right direction.
Of course, you must enjoy your job, but I think a lot of the enjoyment people get from work is the perspective they bring to it themselves. A two-year-old’s world and their perspective of it is unique. And appreciating the reality of it, and sharing it and respecting it might make a difference in how you view things.
I feel your pain, Swiddles. I substitute taught at flodjunior’s Montessori preschool a few times. These were older kids, 3-5 years old. The owner/head teacher of the preschool thought I’d make a great Montessori teacher. I told her, only on the condition that I got certified for elementary.
One of my jobs was to make sure all the boys peed - The pee goes in the toilet! Hey! Watch where you’re pointing that thing!!! Oh what a mess… - anyway, to make sure they peed before going out to re - Pull up your underpants first, then your trousers, trust me, it works better that way - before going out to recess after lun - YOU’RE NOT ZIPPED UP!!! - after lunch. (Hey! You didn’t pee, get back in here! And you three, wash your hands, and use soap this time, it doesn’t bite.) Then I went with all the kids out to the cloak room and got their outside clothes on. In Norway. In the winter. Picture it: sixteen kids means sixteen snowsuits, thirty-two wool socks, thirty-two boots, thirty-two mittens, sixteen hats, and an unknown number of wool sweaters, scarves, and UWOs (unidentified woolen objects). All of this will be removed from their baskets and thrown into a mound in the center of the cloakroom. This mound comes to life and starts moving around the room like a giant wool-and-Goretex amoeba.
Blessed are the parents who remember to put name tags in their children’s clothing, for they shall find their children wearing the clothes they sent to preschool. All other bets are off. Stop crying and tell me what color your mittens are. Red? Here’s a red mitten! What do you mean that’s a boy’s mitten? How on earth can you tell? Okay, how about this one? That’s it? Good! Now hold this tight while I look for the other one. Oh, here it is! Now let’s put them… You dropped the first one, didn’t you. And blessed are the parents who read the rules and understand that “The Montessori philosophy encourages independence. Please send your child to school with clothes they can manage on their own whenever possible” does not mean “Go ahead. Buy those cute ‘hiking’ boots for your kid. Sure, they have to be not only tied but completely relaced every time, and your kid can’t tie his own shoes yet, but there are only fifteen other kids in the cloakroom. The teachers will have plenty of time to help him!”
When the kids were sweet they were very very sweet. Nothing like having a pair of four-year-olds grab your hands and demand that you come see that they’ve figured out that the dimensions of the Pink Tower and the Brown Stair match! And having a three-year-old say “I’ve painted a picture of you!” or an older kid say good-bye by saying “I can’t wait to come back tomorrow!” - well, I can see how that’s addictive.
But I still would rather rip off my nipples with a fork than do Montessori primary as a full-time job. :eek::eek::eek:
As the mother of a 2 year old and 4 year old I can definitely feel your pain! My 4 year old can sit down and watch a movie straight through and not get into things if I’m busy cooking dinner or something. My 2 year old can’t do that. He’s always on the go and looking for some new way to get into something he shouldn’t. I’ll tell him not to do something and 2 minutes later he’s doing it again. The attention span between them is completely different. It’s more difficult to keep a 2 year old entertained than a 4 or 5 year old.
The best thing you can do is try to have fun with them. Don’t focus on the poopy diapers and runny noses. Focus on making the kids happy and having fun with them. When you talk to them get down on your knees so they can look in your eyes. If you talk to them standing up you look very intimidating because you’re so much taller than them. They will open up to you more if you’re down on their level.
Give it some time. You’ll develop a relationship with these kids and they will idolize you! A little hero worship is worth a few poopy diapers isn’t it?
Lots of craft and game ideas, to keep the little tykes occupied. The EduPuppy site says grade 2, but if you search a little, I’m almost sure they have Preschool stuff. You could also do a Google search for preschool craft ideas.
Two’s are hard. Do you have a housekeeping corner? Get some dress-ups and play food. Building blocks? Cars and trucks? Keep it simple, though.
Keep one table for drawing. Plain paper and crayons is enough.
You could occasionally do easel painting. It’s very messy, though.
I have a good recipe for homemade play dough. Do you want it? I’d have to dig it out; I can’t remember all the ingrediants off-hand, but I’ll get it for you.
You can do simple “cooking” projects. Mix red hot candies into applesauce cups, or give them each a small cup with milk and add a little chocolate syrup and let them stir it up.
And as Bill H. said, yeah, I bet you are making tons of money. Do you have to take your pile of cash to the bank in a wheelbarrow?
I went thorough many courses and an actual student teaching experience before I realized, “You know, I hated high school kids when I was one of them, and I don’t like them any better now.”
I know EXACTLY what you mean, Swiddles. I used to work with 4-year-olds, and every once in a while I’d have to sub in one of the other classrooms. I realized that two-year-olds are different from three-year-olds…and three-year-olds are different from four-year-olds…it blows you away when you realize HOW MUCH DIFFERENCE a year can make! You really do have to change your mindset when working with a different age group. 4-year-olds can share, they can use their words, you can reason with them. With 2-year-olds, their big thing is, “It’s MINE!”, and no they do NOT want to share! You might consider going to your local library and getting out some books on “ages and stages”, or education. There are some wonderful books out there on teaching the pre-k child.
Like someone else said, you kinda have to get into their world, and change your mindset. Don’t expect them to be like 4-year-olds. Have fun with them. So you can’t do the same kinds of arts-n-crafts with them as you can do with older kids. Twos love playing dress-up, building with blocks, doing puzzles, and being read to. Have fun with them!
I REALLY admire you for dealing with the diaper issue! The school where I worked had the policy that all children must be potty-trained, and they really only took older 2-year-olds. I hope you have a helper or aide in your room- I can imagine it must be difficult to change a diaper while keeping an eye on the rest of them.
