Job shadowing

• Jamie Koyle, Child Care Specialist
• Kids Count Daycare; 519 North Main St. Spanish Fork, Ut.

1. What skills or prerequisites are required?
High School Diploma, Be certified in CPR and First Aid.

2. How do you handle unruly children?
Time –out for older children and space or distraction away from the problem for younger children.

3. What is your routine on a normal day?
Check-in, clean-up after breakfast, change diapers, play with toys, go for a walk, play outside, eat lunch, do naptime and clean up, do a structured activity, and then play with the kids until parents pick-up.

4. What’s been your worst day?
Having to change a lot of poopy diapers, everyone had runny noses, and the kids were cranky.

5. What types of hours are required? Do you come in early or stay late often?
A full time employee works 9 hours, with a 1 hour break. With infants you are required to keep a baby book to keep track of diapers, naps, feedings, or anything that looks unusual about the baby. This is checked at the end of every day.
The only employees that come in early are the cooks to get meals ready.

6. Do you spend a lot of time outdoors?
Depends on the weather, but they try to have the children out in the fresh air as much as possible.

7. Do all employees help each other or is everyone assigned to different age groups or projects?
Everyone has their own assignments, but they still have some knowledge in all areas in case they are needed.

8. How is illness handled with so many children? How do you stay healthy?
Kids can come with a cold, but they are sent home if they have diarrhea, fever of 101F or are throwing up.
Many employees have excellent immune systems by being around children so much, but they also use hand sanitizer, plus rubber gloves when they do anything with sick children or diapers.

I found job shadowing very helpful. I was able to see what type of environment the employees work in, how employee and parent interaction is, how much work it actually is and I learned that I enjoy caring for the infants and toddlers the most.
I would love to pursue this career. I felt energized instead of bored or discouraged. This is the type of job that I would be willing to go to more years of school for or even just volunteer. I liked the kids and the kids liked me.