Caring for children is a very rewarding career and one to be very proud of. It is full of challenges, fun and constant change. It seems every few years, the common core of child care gets an adjustment by the American Academy of Pediatrics and often what are common child care practices of today may not be that for tomorrow.
Right now you may be caring for a child or children of a certain age range and you feel comfortable and confident that you can meet all of their needs. But what if that job ends abruptly next week? What if your next job opportunity is with a different age group? Would you be prepared to provide knowledgeable and skilled care and feel confident doing so?
These are just some reasons why it is very important to stay current and up-to-date on all child care matters, and this is done through continuing education. Education is the root of what we do as professional nannies. We are teaching children every time we are with them no matter their age and if you stop and think about it, that is a lot of responsibility. So why wouldn’t you want to continue your own education to be the best nanny you can be?
How can a nanny pursue continuing education? To answer that question, there are many ways. The number of online resources is plentiful and with excellent online education resources such the American Academy of Pediatrics, Healthy Children.org, and sittercycle you can access educational material immediately to add to your skill set.
Also attending educational classes offered in your area, and attending educational or professional conferences, such as the INA 30th Annual Conference, can open doors to endless educational possibilities, as the many workshops offered are presented by some of the top leaders in the care of children.
Additional ways to enhance your education is by taking the INA Basic Skills Exam or the INA Credential Exam, both will test your knowledge on various child care topics and highlight areas you may need to brush up on. You owe it to yourself to test your skills.
The bottom line is this, to stay relevant in the world of child care you need to continue to learn. We encourage the children we care for to learn, so maybe we should listen to our own advice.
The INA Basic Skills Exam and the INA Nanny Credential Exam can be purchased via the INA’s e-Store.