Starting to hate my traineeship

[Bec96]

So I started my cert 3 traineeship 3 months ago for the first few weeks I loved it, I was in the babies room and I thought I was doing well but then the normal room leader came back from holidays and all hell broke loose, she has no patience whatsoever, I understand that room leaders are under a lot pressure but she never taught me anything and took it on herself. I also was starting to struggle with the physical aspects of the job because of my mild cerebral palsy. The director noticed this then moved me into the preschool room. It was better for about a week but I didn't really know what i was supposed to do. Then I got really sick and had to take a few days off. When I came back I heard my room leaders complain about me to the director saying how incompetent I was and how it was bad enough that I already took time off and the director agreed. I'm still struggling with the physical demands of the job and ontop of studying I'm just tired all the time plus the kids either make fun of me or just don't listen and I'm really starting to hate all of it. I want to quit but I'm not 100% whether I should. Could I go down to part time as a trainee?

[Lorina]

I'm sorry to hear that you're not enjoying your traineeship. First off, it is physically demanding and for the first year you will get sick as your body gets use to all the germs and illnesses that you will catch from the children. After a couple of years, you will get immune to it but at the beginning if a child comes in sick you will most likely get it as well!

In regards to the room leaders complaining about you I think it's completely unfair and unethical. You are a trainee! They are supposed to guide you and support you! You probably never have worked with children before so how do you know what to do? Your director also should talk to you weekly about your performance, what you need to improve upon etc. How can you be competent when this is your first time??

I did a cert 3 traineeship when I first began in this industry and I learnt from my mistakes. I had a great Director who would tell me what I'm doing right or wrong and I would improve. I also had great support staff to guide me... I didn't even know how to change a nappy or burp a baby as I was completely new to all of this! One thing I have learnt, never take any negative comments personally, observe others around you and find ways to improve and change what you need to improve upon.

I think you need to sit down with the Director and have a chat with her about what you're feeling and that you're getting no support from other staff etc. She only knows what she has been told from the others and she may not know or understand how you're doing with all of this...

So, go and talk to the Director,

,
Lorina

[panga38]

traineeship is a wonderful time to get familiar with the industry, you should not let others define it for you. What usually helps is to develop a training plan in collaboration with your provider, service director and the educators. The training plan should have the scope of what you will do, under whose supervision and time frames for which to mark these off. This can be any educator and once this plan is set and shared with every one, it should all be manageable, in hind site, all jobs can be challenging regardless of whether you are a trainee or not. Take a big breath and talk to some one with the power to help. Your training provider should be able to support you through this .

[Bec96]

traineeship is a wonderful time to get familiar with the industry, you should not let others define it for you. What usually helps is to develop a training plan in collaboration with your provider, service director and the educators. The training plan should have the scope of what you will do, under whose supervision and time frames for which to mark these off. This can be any educator and once this plan is set and shared with every one, it should all be manageable, in hind site, all jobs can be challenging regardless of whether you are a trainee or not. Take a big breath and talk to some one with the power to help. Your training provider should be able to support you through this .

The course content is fine, I've just submitted my first assignment and I have a training plan in place by the training provider. It's the physical work and environment that I hate about my traineeship and whether the fact that this is the best industry for me. Thanks for the tip though

[Wunniebee]

I'm sorry this is happening to you, I promise you not all of child cares are like this you just got an unlucky one. Best thing to do is talk to your school/placement supervisor about your worries, they should help you. And maybe talk to the director, see what their complaints are and whether they are just being unfair or they have general critisim (i doubt that)
I went though this three times, they didnt complain about me but I was 'placement girl' they didnt bother learning my name or let me contribute my work and activities and acted like i didnt know what i was doing (I did since i was diploma)
Your sickness could come from stress and the first hit of the germs (normal for when you first start). Hate to say this but you might need to suck it up until its finished, when its over you'll be much happier, learn from the children and not those educators.
The children can be hard because they can sense that the educators dont respect you so they wont either, stay strong, be firmer if you need to and they will come around, give them something to like about you, im sure they will.
I had times when i thought "i hate being in childcare" and ive been in may centres that used me for a week and fired me because they needed covers and such. But there are some wonderful centres out there, just have to find them.

[Lorina]

Bec96,

Just wanted to check in...

How are things going with your centre? Have you spoken to your director about your concerns?

,
Lorina

[socialispiice]

I think you should first go for avoiding stress, because it will destroy all the good things. In Child Care it happens, so you just do good work and also as per @lorina suggestion you should discuss with your director. All the best!!!