What DO You Prefer To Be Called?

[EchoMom]

I was a teacher and still could be if I wanted to go back to it. I have a Masters degree a current teaching License in my state, and 4 years experience teaching elementary school. However, what I do now is not teaching. Sometimes I teach in lessons here or there, activities, Montessori work time, etc. But I am not a teacher as I used to be. I am self employed. I am a childcare provider. I provide daycare from my home. I work from home so I can be home raising my son. I am not a babysitter either. I don't go to someones house. I don't follow directions laid out for me.

However I don't really know what parents call me. I don't really care anymore either. Just pay me and berespectful and you can call me a monkey's uncle for all I care.

But I do like people to know I have a graduate degree and experience and am current. I really AM a professional, trained, highly educated teacher. . But I dont say I'm still a teacher.

[Former Teacher]

At my former center I was always Ms H Preschool Teacher. Then after I left there and went into being a private caregiver, I was just H. The mother asked me if i wanted to be called a nanny, babysitter, or what? I said "nanny". She said she thought that by having a nanny, it would give people the impression that she was rich and snobbish. Once I was talking to the little boy (who was 2 at the time) and he was telling me every night he said his prayers. "God Bless Mommy, God Bless Daddy, God Bless Babysitter H etc"

Anyway with my current family I am officially a nanny and EVERYONE calls me Ms H ::

[Sereetta]

Don't call me a babysitter...

I am 2 years away from becoming a master teacher and its not something I hang on the wall at my child care center but I am a licensed teacher with a degree in special education. I do lesson planning for every age group and I do tons of research on best practices. Even if I didn't have my license I would call my self a teacher bc of all the "teaching and learning" we do with the children.

I am from a totally different culture and country and there most teachers aren't certified but they are still given respect by the community bc of their service. Teaching isn't about the title its about the work and as far as I am concerned daycare aides and preschool aides impact as much as teachers.

[Happily_wed]

I refer to myself as a daycare provider. I have one family and I operate with them just like I did with my own kids. We play, read, learn, sing, dance, go the park occasionally, etc. It's a very laid back, homey atmosphere. I have known members of their family for years and my sister went to school with the father.

I have never heard them talk about me to anyone else so I am not sure what they would call me. I wouldn't be offended at babysitter although, like others, I don't consider myself a babysitter.

The girls and their parents call me by my first name. When they first started here 3 years ago the girls were determined they were going to call me ma-maw first name. I said NO WAY! I am not a grandma yet and don't want to be called one. Then they tried Aunt first name and I said NO! You have grandmas and aunts and that should be reserved for them.

[itlw8]

I am a small business owner and run a family childcare and preschool from my home. I was a babysitter when I was 15. No I do not have an education degree but I am a preschool teacher.

I market myself as a preschool so yes I am a preschool teacher in a play based program.

[daycarediva]

I do preschool and childcare in my home and have created a niche for myself in my community-- People who are looking for preschool in a more intimate home setting. So, I prefer to be called a preschool teacher (I have my AA in Early Childhood Ed and will be finishing up my BA in Child Development next year) or a childcare provider.
I do not see myself as a babysitter because I do not take care of kids under 2, I offer a full curriculum, and a preschool classroom. I do not just "take care of kids".
** I am not trying to diminish the need or importance of quality daycare only homes. I just have chosen to specialize in home based preschool so I expect to be called something other than a babysitter. I prefer Child Care Provider for all home providers rather than babysitter because I look at a babysitter as a person who watches children occasionally. A childcare provider (IMO) cares for children professionally in her home, has policies, handbooks, contracts, specialized materials and equipment, licenses, insurance, home deductions etc... I have never met a babysitter that does that.

right down to the timing of our BA! I finish in spring next year! I will continue towards my masters and get a teaching certificate as well. My long term goal is to open a small center/preschool. There are only 5 of them in my entire state, and I want #6!

I intro myself as a child care provider, mainly.