Educators, I want to share with you the incredible help of teenagers and how they can help you avoid summer burnout in your child care. Involving teenagers in your childcare can be a game-changer, and I encourage you to consider this wonderful resource. It has made a significant difference in my home daycare over the years.
Why Teenagers Can Be a Great Source of Help in Your Childcare
- Activity Assistance
- Teenagers, especially high schoolers, can assist with various activities.
- My children help prepare play provocations, set up cots for nap time, play games, teach them world geography, and read to the children.
- They are excellent helpers during field trips in the neighborhood or on minivan rides to forest preserves, museums, or the zoo.
- Their presence makes outings smoother and more enjoyable for everyone.
Educators are you ready to reinvent your home childcare? Take back you time, earn more and operate a successful business without burnout? If you answered YES! Then download this 5 Step Guide @Edulallie the platform I am building specificllay for all things home childcare providers. - Daily Routine Support
- Teenagers help with circle time activities, meal preparations, and clean-up tasks. My teenagers are learning to cook and use the opportunity to make lunch for the childcare kids.
- Note: I do not allow them to help with diapering as a personal decision to keep them from intimate care routines.
- Enhancing the Daycare Environment
- Teenagers bring fresh energy and break up the monotony of daily routines.
- Young children love being around older kids, looking up to them, learning from them, and feeling joy and excitement in their presence.
- This dynamic provides a sense of community and belonging for younger children, and older children blossom while taking on a teacher role.
- Fostering Responsibility and Work Ethics
- To show appreciation, I give my teenagers a small stipend.
- While I don’t pay them for routine household chores or getting good grades, I compensate them for their assistance in the daycare.
- This helps foster a sense of responsibility and work ethic in them.
Encouragement to Involve Teenagers
- I strongly encourage you to find ways to involve teenagers in your childcare, especially during the summer months. Even if a teenager can come over for three hours daily, it can make a significant difference. If you do not have a teenager of your own, perhaps your church, neighborhood, or friends can help.
- Also, if you are DCFS licensed, a background check may be required. I am DCFS licensed, so my entire family has to pass a background check or at least be on the DCFS (Department of Children and Families)records.
- You’ll be amazed how having a teenager in your home child care can lighten your load and bring new life to your daycare.
Important Note on Supervision
While teenagers can be a great help, they cannot replace the role of an adult. Adults must be available at all times. Teenagers may assist with small roles and activities, but the major responsibility and accountability still rest on the adult. Please do not think involving teenagers will give you a complete break, but it will allow you to sit, drink coffee, and watch the children play freely—still under your supervision.
Conclusion
Educators, you’re not alone in this journey. It is important to find ways to ease your load and prevent burnout. Embracing the help of teenagers can provide much-needed support and give the younger children wonderful role models to look up to. Let’s continue to create nurturing, creative, mixed-age learning environments for our little ones. Together, we can make a strong and supportive community.
With love and encouragement, I am Miss Sue your educator in the trenches with you.
xoxo Miss Sue
