If One More Person Calls Me A BABYSITTER...

[nannyde]

From the NAEYC:

Who Are Early Childhood Professionals?
Professionals in the field of early childhood education include individuals who
provide direct services to young children (from birth through age 8) and their
families, as well as those who administer the programs in which these individuals
work and those who provide professional development for these individuals.
Early childhood professionals who provide direct services to children and families
include:
• Teachers, teacher assistants, and caregivers in:
o Campus children’s centers in two- and four-year higher education
institutions
o Child care programs
o Head Start and Early Head Start programs
o Kindergarten and primary grade programs (1st – 3rd grade)
o Out-of-school-time programs
o Part-day preschool or nursery schools
o Prekindergarten programs in schools and community-based agencies
• Family child care providers
• Early intervention specialists and others who provide education and care for
children with disabilities and their families
• Home visitors in Head Start, Early Head Start, and other programs
• Child life specialists (in hospitals and other therapeutic settings)
• Nannies who provide care for young children in the children’s homes
Early childhood professionals who administer programs include:
• Program directors, education managers, curriculum specialists, and others
who manage programs or have oversight responsibilities for classrooms in
the programs noted above
• Principals in public, charter, and private schools that serve children from birth
through third grade and their families
• Public and private agencies that administer family child care networks
Professional development providers for these individuals include:
• Faculty in two- and four-year and graduate programs in institutions of higher
education
• Adult educators / trainers in public and private organizations
• Child care resource and referral (CCR&R) agency staff
• Head Start / Early Head Start training and technical assistance providers
• Program administrators who provide training and technical assistance to their
staff
In addition, other early childhood professionals provide monitoring and support
services to program administrators and direct service providers, such as state
and local agency licensors and other early childhood agency staff, early
childhood specialists in state (SEAs) and local education agencies (LEAs), U.S.
Administration for Children and Families and U.S. Department of Education
program specialists, and others.

Professionals in the field of early childhood education

That's the money shot.

This is why I'm a babysitter.

There's a BIG difference between what you do and what I do. You have a right to call yourself an Early Childhood Professional. I do not.

[Crystal]

Ah, Nan, wether you admit it or not, you are educating children everyday. I think real-life experiences and play-based learning are the best ways to teach, and you do it every day. But, if you feel better being called a babysitter, then you go girl

[nannyde]

Ah, Nan, wether you admit it or not, you are educating children everyday. I think real-life experiences and play-based learning are the best ways to teach, and you do it every day. But, if you feel better being called a babysitter, then you go girl

There's a big difference about what you do and what I do though and I think it's an important distinction.

You get paid to be an educator and prolly got the debt to prove it considering how expensive it is to educate yourself in the teaching field.

I have ZERO education in education. I reject all of it when I am forced into taking it. I've never wanted to be a teacher. it's too hard for me. I'll stick to babysitting... cuz it's what I do do well.

[pixsydust]

Sorry, but this is an ignorant statement. All states require a minimum age of 18 (adult) and most require a license or registration. Standards are also strict and insurance is also required. I don't know many 15 year old babysitters that fall into that name label.

Thank you, Michael.

To the "unregistered" poster: if you do not like the topic of a thread on a forum you always have the option of ignoring it and not reading it. No one made you click on the link and read what was posted. People use the forum as a way to vent when they are frustrated and I simply did that.

@laundrymom, I'm stealing your line about not sitting on them. I love it.

[Lucy]

When people ask me how long I've been babysitting or if I have any opening for babysitting. I tell them I am not a babysitter. I am a professonal daycare provider.

And they then roll their eyes and think ... "whatever..."

It's just a word to them. They don't understand because they haven't been doing it for years like we have. I don't mean this as any offense to you at all. I'm just saying that to "others", it's just words. They don't care what our title is, and I really don't think it reflects how they respect us. Just my opinion. Hope you don't take it personally.

It's kind of like "sanitation engineer" instead of trash man. Same difference to us. We don't think of them any better if they have a fancier sounding name. Ya know??

[emmajo]

Nannyde - you DO "provide direct services to young children" so I still can't think of you as a babysitter, even though that's what you prefer. Sorry.
Also - there is no real comparison between babysitter/day care provider and trash man/sanitation engineer. With the latter, it really is only semantics, no real difference in job description. I was a babysitter as a teen and I grew up to become a professional day care provider - after education, trainings, registration process, inspections, insurance policies in place, etc. etc. I provide care all day long. Care which includes so much more than what I gave and was paid for as a babysitter. Oh - and when I fill out my taxes I enter code #624410 "Child day care services," not babysitter!

[kimsdaycare]

Once upon I time I cared. During that time in my life when I gave up a career outside of the home with business cards and a desk and the need to keep my resume looking like there wasn't a big old gap in "titles". Not to mention those silly little questionnaires you fill out about what grand occupation you now have when class reunions come around. I could have started this thread myself. I wanted the title. After all, this IS my career. It made a difference to me to be called something different than what the teen down the street is called. After all, I'm not a student looking to make some money when I'm not in school studying for the "real" job.

Somehow the title validated the work kwim?

Now? I could care less is they call me the sitter, the daycare provider, whatever term means to them that I am the keeper of their children while they are at work. Heck, I even refer to myself as the sitter a lot of the time these days .

I enjoy my job so much more not worrying constantly about what it should be labeled as.

I can write down whatever title I want on that resume should it come up anyway

[Meyou]

I don't mind being called the dck's babysitter. The parents refer to my home as their home daycare but me as their babysitter because essentially that's what I do. I feed them, love them, kiss their boo boo's, put them down for naps, buy fun toys, read them stories and take them to the park. I don't try to pretend to be a teacher because in reality by trade and degree I'm an accountant. ::

As long as the parents respect my rules and pay me on time I'm good. The KIDS know I'm the best thing since sliced bread and that's what matters most to me.

[hoopinglady]

I have struggled

with this in the past as well. I'm more with the camp of "whatever".

However...I think it is a good idea to find some consistency in our field and to bring a level of professionalism to it. If we change the way we view and even label ourselves maybe society would begin to see a bit more value in what we do. (wishful thinking....)

I am not formally educated though I do take my profession very seriously. I have self studied and read a lot. I have a lot of knowledge and a lot of experience. CDA is required in my state within 3 years of becoming licensed. I think that is a good start.

I don't believe in traditional preschool anyway so that's sort of irrelevant to me. I think family childcare with mixed ages in an exciting, well planned play based environment is optimal for young children. I suppose that's where the teacher thing gets a little sketchy because children at this age are not being "taught" per se.

I really don't think caring (done well) and teaching are at all different in the early years.

Being called a babysitter always irks me but I would agree that most parents don't mean to be disrespectful. I call myself a "daycare lady" anyway, so that's not much different. My official title is "daycare lady extraordinaire"

[cheerfuldom]

I dont care either. Like another poster said, daycare has become pre-preschool or preschool, neither of which I offer. If it makes more sense for my families to call me a babysitter, thats better to me than being expected to teach a baby to read. I AM educated (and furthering my education right now) and will eventually be in an education field but i have no desire to force curriculum on young ones. I don't believe it is appropriate at all. The amount of standardized testing pressures, excessive homework, etc etc that kids get these days is alarming and USA is STILL behind in education globally. Wonder why people are not getting the clue. "Educating" one year olds is not the solution. Anyone remember the thread about preschoolers now getting homework?

[wdmmom]

I'm a glorified babysitter.

Difference is: I have experience and have taken training and don't get paid the convenience fee a regular babysitter does. I feed the children well and don't let them graze on popcorn and chips. I have a daily routine, I don't let kids take charge, and I do it from my house rather than going to their house.

[Cat Herder]

"NOT The Mamma"

I personally prefer "Provider" since I am a Healthcare Provider first, THEN a Childcare Provider. Luckily all my clients just call me by my NAME. I have even heard "Super Woman" once or twice.

I care for sick babies, then keep them strong, kind and smart until they go off to pre-school. THAT is my goal and a void that was in need of filling in my community.

I have taken (and taught) an absurd amount of training hours and do a infant/toddler curriculum, but don't feel "Teacher" is appropriate.

My Sisters, both with Master's Degrees saying so, are Teachers.

In the end, I really don't care what my clients call me as long as they are good to their kids, pay on time, and treat me with respect.

Now, I am thinking of Nan's "Not the Mamma" video....::

[nannyde]

I'm a glorified babysitter.

Difference is: I have experience and have taken training and don't get paid the convenience fee a regular babysitter does. I feed the children well and don't let them graze on popcorn and chips. I have a daily routine, I don't let kids take charge, and I do it from my house rather than going to their house.

I want to apply for the "glorified" babysistter position. I'm just a plain ole babysitter and I would really like to add "glorified" to my creds.

[dave4him]

I know the feeling! Ive been stay at home dad for a year now and i still get that, so babysitting for the day are ya! HA you have no idea

[Unregistered]

I'm a glorified babysitter.

Difference is: I have experience and have taken training and don't get paid the convenience fee a regular babysitter does. I feed the children well and don't let them graze on popcorn and chips. I have a daily routine, I don't let kids take charge, and I do it from my house rather than going to their house.

THIS...is exactly what I was thinking. I'm a glorified babysitter also.