Nervous about working in 4-5 year old room for the first time!

[Elianaa]

I finished my cert 3 last year and have just gotten my first job doing relief work for the council.
I just got a phone call asking me to do three days in the 4-5 year old room and I accepted but I am incredibly nervous. During my placement I was in the babies room the whole time, I only spent one afternoon in the 4 year old room and hated it, it was just too hectic and one child slammed his finger in the door and was bleeding, another was sick and secreting liquid from his ears and had a blood nose! It was just crazy. And that was just 20 kids.
And this time it will be 25 kids and just me and one other educator!
I was hoping for some advice on how to manage that many children because I'm used to sweet, quiet babies haha! Thank you guys!

[Lorina]

I'm surprised to hear that you didn't enjoy working in the preschool room so much... Alot of educators can't wait to work in the preschool room. Anyways, you've had quite an experience but those incidences don't happen everyday. Preschoolers are easier to manage because you can reason with them, engage then in more learning experiences and easily build upon their experiences. I understand that it may be a little nerving to begin with but within a couple of weeks you will be fine! Get use to the room routine and get to know the children and parents. Throughout the day make sure you spend time with each child, talking to them, playing with them etc and introduce yourself to the parents. You can tell them that their child had a good day and what they enjoyed doing... Use the first couple of weeks to settle into the room. You may also need to find out the centres behaviour procedures so you do the same as other educators... Don't be afraid to ask questions and if you're not sure find out!

You'll be fine,

,
L.A

[Existence]

what Lorina said is true. however you mentioned that there will be 25 children and olny yourself and another educator, that's not right for your ratio I would questions that especially for a council run service its not like council to do that.

I work in a preschool room at the moment and im doing great I love the things they come up with event hough they can be challenging just take it easy and play with them and have conversations. the incidents you had on your first time sounds like a hectic day that doesn't happen all the time.

You will be fine,
Existence

[Sparklebum]

Hi guys

Sorry to jump on your thread, but I have just started work in a kindy room too. In my centre we have had 34 kids between two of us fairly frequently over the last week due to staff sickness in other rooms (our 'third' being needed to cover in the younger rooms) and today I was told that next week I will be expected to have 24 kids on my own at lunchtime for an hour... Several of the children have ASD/ODD and are biters, and physically aggressive to other children (as well as staff!)... I don't feel it is safe to do this, so today I refused, but was met with hostility. I would be interested to hear your thoughts - am I being unreasonable?? And if not, what should I do; I'm thinking of leaving as I'm scared that a child will get really hurt (I filled out 5 accident report forms for biting/missile/hitting incidents today - that' seems to be a pretty standard day!)? (The Director was the hostile person)

Thanks in advance!

Sparkles xx

[Lorina]

Hi guys

Sorry to jump on your thread, but I have just started work in a kindy room too. In my centre we have had 34 kids between two of us fairly frequently over the last week due to staff sickness in other rooms (our 'third' being needed to cover in the younger rooms) and today I was told that next week I will be expected to have 24 kids on my own at lunchtime for an hour... Several of the children have ASD/ODD and are biters, and physically aggressive to other children (as well as staff!)... I don't feel it is safe to do this, so today I refused, but was met with hostility. I would be interested to hear your thoughts - am I being unreasonable?? And if not, what should I do; I'm thinking of leaving as I'm scared that a child will get really hurt (I filled out 5 accident report forms for biting/missile/hitting incidents today - that' seems to be a pretty standard day!)? (The Director was the hostile person)

Thanks in advance!

Sparkles xx

Hi Sparkles,

I've responded to your concerns in the following topic you created:

Am I unreasonable? Working Conditions - opinions please

,
L.A

[Elianaa]

Just an update, you guys were right, I love it. An now the babies room seems so dull in comparison. It's still hard, but its certainly never boring. Thanks for the support

[Lorina]

Just an update, you guys were right, I love it. An now the babies room seems so dull in comparison. It's still hard, but its certainly never boring. Thanks for the support

I'm so glad to hear you're enjoying your new room!

,
L.A