First day of my internship!! Yay!!
I am interning at Cradles to Crayons daycare center in Emerson, New Jersey. I mainly work as an aid in the 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 class but today I also worked in the 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 room and also in the infant room.
Today I arrived at the daycare at 11am ready to go. When I arrived, it was time for the kids to go outside for freeplay and lunch from 11-1. During this time, I supervised the play area, broke up tiny arguements between the three year olds, and played with the kids as a whole. At about 12:30 I went inside to dry the dishes from lunch and assist in the infant room.
The infant room, located in the middle of the daycare, is a no shoes, no peanuts, no pinenuts facility. While I was helping there, I learned about a new software called KidCare that is very similar to the PowerSchool program we use at NMHS. On the iPads in the infant room, you are required to log every single thing that each baby does. All diaper changes, nap times, and feedings are recorded here, as well as any photographs we take of the babies. Also on this program, the parents can message you any questions they may have during the day, and you can respond to them right away.
A reaccuring thing that I noticed today was all of the procedures. There is a procedure for EVERYTHING, and it is crucially important that every procedure is followed. Today alone, I followed the procedure for washing and drying dishes, sanatizing changing tables, paperwork associated with minor cuts and bruises, drying the playground, vaccuming carpets and nap time. I think that I may have even skipped a few in that list. It can be a pain following all of the procedures that they have, but I know that they are there for a reason.
The most difficult part of today was learning all of the kids names. There are SO MANY CHILDREN it is very hard to keep straight who is who. You learn very quickly who the difficult kids are and their names are easy to remember, but I got the most flustered today when babies would come up to me crying because so-and-so pushed them and I didn't know who to repremand.
Overall, I had an amazing first day at my Senior Service. I am crazy tired right now, but I know that it will get easier and I will get less exhausted as the time goes by.
See you tomorrow!
Angie :)
What a great first day!!!!! Wish I had a tip on remembering names.... I usually say their name when I talk to them (over and over), so it puts a visual with the sound of their name.
ReplyDeleteThanks ill definately try that! I'm normally good with names but there is about 90 kids and I work with all of them at some point so it's a lot to remember!
ReplyDeletePerfect place and placement for you. Learn a lot and have a great time!
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