Child Care Work: Is it for you – and why?

An exercise as part of an in-service training session at Pietermaritzburg Children's Homes, with on-line Child and Youth Care workers, social workers and the administrative manager. Irene Cowley reports.

The exercise started with the staff forming a chain, with the longest-serving staff member in the front, and the newest at the back. The fun was discovering where one fitted in the chain. The second part of the exercise was devoted to working in groups, according to years of experience in child care, and discussing several questions:

Group 1
The first group (the largest) were staff with 0-2 years' experience. Their first question was about what attracted each person to child care and youth work. Some of the responses were:

interest and concern for children
a calling to the field
an interest in the needs of children
a full time position after being a volunteer.

The second question was: “What will encourage you to remain in child care?" and some of the responses were:

to see progress and success, and to see results with children
to have service and “worth" acknowledged
team spirit
building special relationships with children.

Group 2
The second group consisted of staff members with two to five years” service. Their first question asked was: “How have you managed to remain in child care, and what is holding you?" Some of the responses:

the rewards and challenges
the stimulation in the work environment
the future of the organisation, and also the profession
a sense of commitment
the only available job, in terms of training.

The second question was: “Why are you a child care worker?" and the responses included:

there are rewards at the end
I enjoy working with children
the job is not monotonous.

Group 3
The third group was of child care staff with 5 to 10 years' service. Their first question was: “Why are you still in child care?" Responses included:

I have a natural talent with children
I feel I can make a difference
I’m doing what I’ve been trained to do
I wanted a large number of children of my own, and this job fulfills that need in me
there are new experiences, challenges and variety
money is not a priority in my life
there are many opportunities to grow and develop as individuals
there is something “holding" me.

The second question was: “So how have you survived in child care this long?" and the responses were:

I have maintained a balanced lifestyle between work and personal life
I have learnt to detach myself emotionally
my spiritual life and faith sustain me
I have a sense of belonging
I have a sense of humour
I have a supportive family
I have learnt to recognise and manage stress
I am committed to children and young people.

A third question was: “So what will encourage you to remain longer in child care?" and the responses were:

to have opportunity for promotion, and professional development
my own individuality is recognised, and I’m permitted to be a person
challenges
optimistic outlook and hope.

Group 4
The fourth group were child care staff with between 10-18 years service. Their answers to the first question, “Why are you still in child care?" included the following:

the work with troubled children is important, they need us
this work offers change and challenge, as well as growth
the staff and team work.

"How have you served this long?"

few other such opportunities available to me
encouragement from others who have been around a long time
a commitment not to leave children, but rather that they should in time leave us.

"What else is there for you to do, achieve in child care?"

lots of new challenges and opportunities to learn and grow.

From Child and Youth Care, NACCW, South Africa