EPEC Education student Mikayla talks childcare
Dr Mary Anne Hall • May 16, 2018
Hi, I’m Mikayla I’m 18 years old and I work in the childcare industry as an Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) Coordinator. In my spare time I love camping, fishing, nature walks and spending time with my friends, loved ones and my cat.
The best thing about working with children is watching them grow and adapt in being confident in the environment around them. I love watching children’s faces light up when they master a new skill, as well as seeing their curiosity and interest when learning about something new.
At first, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do for my career. I've ventured into hospitality and retail but in the end these jobs didn't fulfill me. It wasn't until year 11 work experience that I found my passion for caring and educating children.
I am currently studying my Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care with EPEC Education. To juggle my work and study commitments I have had to work on my time management skills and not take my work home with me. This means I have more of my free time for study and me time. For me the environment I am in reflects on my mood and concentration levels. I make sure I’m in a clean, organised environment with no distractions to optimise my study.
My advice to others that are thinking of studying is, don't see it as something you have to do, it should be something you want to do. Study doesn’t last forever, it should be cherished, as you gain a wealth of knowledge and a life time of career opportunities.
Everyone has a different approach to study and here at EPEC Education we encourage our students to find the system that works best for them.
There are now over one million children in Australia going through a family breakdown. This almost always causes stress for children, with over 25% of children experiencing long term trauma as a result. Reduced access to once familiar extended family, the introduction of stepparents and step siblings, and the reduced presence of once consistent parents, can all contribute to children feeling fearful and uncertain. This week, Dr Mary Anne Hall from EPEC Education, provides five ways teachers and carers can assist children in transition while they are at school and at day care.
Supervising children adequately is the most important skill an early childhood educator can have. While having the ability to provide children with a safe and secure environment may seem like an easy task, there are over 1000 cases annually, whereby Australian children are seriously hurt in the early childhood setting. These accidents range from fingers being jammed in doors; dislocation and broken bones; choking; scalds and burns; to children having adverse allergic reactions. These accidents can and do, have dire consequences. This week, Dr Mary Anne Hall from EPEC Education, highlights five factors that should be considered when supervising children.
