I Thought I Knew How to Work with Kids. Then I Started My Childcare Placement.

After more than 3 years of nannying, I felt fairly confident working with children. But starting my preschool placement made me realise how much I still had to learn.

I'm currently studying for my Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care in Sydney. I expected placement to be different from nannying, but I didn't expect it to make me question my own approach quite so much..

From Nannying to a Preschool Classroom

As a nanny, I've always tried to be someone children feel safe and comfortable with. When a child is upset, my first instinct is to comfort them. If they're crying, I want to understand why. If they need a cuddle, I want to be there.

When you're caring for one or two children, you often have the time and flexibility to give them that individual attention.

But in preschool, I was part of a team caring for a whole group of children, each with their own needs, emotions, and personalities. Something that works well when I'm nannying might need a different approach in a group setting.

A Moment That Made Me Question My Approach

During placement, a child who was finding it difficult to be away from their family repeatedly came to me for comfort. Naturally, I wanted to help. I spent time reassuring them and trying to make them feel safe.

Later, an experienced educator encouraged me to reflect on how I was responding. Could my approach be unintentionally encouraging the child to keep seeking comfort from me rather than gradually settling into the classroom routine?

I hadn't really considered it that way before. And if I'm being honest, it wasn't the easiest feedback to hear.

My intention had been to help a child who was clearly upset. So the idea that my response might not have been the most helpful in that particular situation made me question myself.

Was I being supportive, or was I stepping in too much?

I kept thinking about that question afterwards. And it wasn't the first time I'd questioned myself during my placement. There have been moments when I've felt unsure, moments when I've needed help, and moments when I've gone home thinking about what I could have done differently.

Kindness Isn't Always About Doing More

That experience made me realise something important. Being a caring educator doesn't necessarily mean offering more attention, more help, or more comfort in every situation.

Sometimes it means knowing when to step in. Sometimes it means giving a child space and time. And sometimes it means working with other educators to find a consistent approach that supports the child while considering the needs of the whole group.

Of course, children need emotional support, especially when they're distressed or adjusting to a new environment. I don't believe that comforting a child is wrong. But I'm learning that the way we offer that support matters, too.

And there's rarely one perfect response that works for every child.

Why I'm Starting This Blog

If you've found ABC sitters through Instagram, you might have seen my kids' activities, Japanese bento ideas, or workshops. But I wanted to create a space to share a little more about the person behind those posts.

I'm a Japanese nanny and early childhood educator living in Australia, still learning, sometimes getting things wrong, and discovering new things about working with children every day.

Through this blog, I'll be sharing real experiences from my journey, practical ideas for families, things I'm learning about child development, and a little Japanese culture along the way. Not because I have all the answers. But because I think there's value in sharing the learning process, too.

If you're a parent, nanny, educator, or simply someone who enjoys learning about children, I hope you'll find something here that makes you think, smile, or feel inspired.

Thanks for being here. See you in the next post!

Sakura 🌸 - Founder of ABC sitters

日本語で読む → https://www.abcsitters.com.au/ja/post/%E3%83%99%E3%83%93%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B7%E3%83%83%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC%E3%81%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A63%E5%B9%B4%E4%BB%A5%E4%B8%8A%E5%83%8D%E3%81%84%E3%81%A6%E3%81%8D%E3%81%9F%E7%A7%81%E3%81%8C%E3%80%81%E4%BF%9D%E8%82%B2%E5%AE%9F%E7%BF%92%E3%81%A7%E6%B0%97%E3%81%A5%E3%81%84%E3%81%9F%E3%81%93%E3%81%A8