Glen Education Bentleigh East
Everyday Joy
Kate Alao, Early Childhood Teacher
We really do have the best job in the world! We would go as far to say, spending the day with children is exactly the definition of JOY! When we express to families that we “love what we do,” the smile that reciprocates brings “joy.” When families know that you enjoy being with their child and that you enjoy your role as an Educator, they immediately feel at ease. We experience joy every day in our roles as educators. We plan experiences to cultivate joy for children. We also know that when children are happy, and they feel joy, they will learn new concepts and skills. These ideas are shared and common within the Early Childhood Profession.
Teaching young children is “JOY!”
Let’s go a little beyond the obvious. Yes, teaching is joy, and we are masters at setting the environment to cultivate “joy,” but how do we help children be able to learn strategies to manage life’s down moments so that they can find their “joy” again when things don’t quite go to plan? How do we help children to be able to manage their emotions so that they can become resilient to the times that they don’t feel joy? How do we assist children to know that it’s ok not to feel joy all the time and that after a while it’s important to be able to bounce back to find a new “joy!” It’s such an important skill that will see us through to adult hood and the ups and downs of life. I often tell my own children, now adults themselves. “Never to let your inner flame go out, no, matter where you find yourself, or what happens to you through life.” What I was trying to teach them, was that the greatest gift you can give to yourself is to always find a way to catch some joy, whether it’s a random smile from someone, little sunshine, or even just allowing a cup of tea to warm your inner flame.
I believe that assisting children to understand that joy can be as special as a quick switch in thought that suddenly lifts you into a feeling of content. Helping children to find their joy from the everyday, can go a long way in giving them the tools to cope in all situations and always find a way to find gratitude and strength to keep going.
The resilience project which was very thoughtfully arranged, really helped us to understand why gratitude, empathy and mindfulness can be the path to find our joy and assist others to also find their joy. Joy is such an individual emotion that means something different to each of us. The word also embraces diversity, as moments of joy for each of us is extremely unique.
Our team expressed in a few words their Joy.
Supreet: “Being with the children every day and seeing them smile.”
Vernessa: “Seeing my little friends smiling faces when they come to kinder.”
Innesa: “Seeing the learning.”
Christine: “Seeing the children’s smiles, hugs, sunshine and flowers, sunflowers and our Birthday Garden.”
Kate: “When there is so much laughter and happiness in children’s play.”
We, as carers and educators of young children, are in a very fortunate position to be able to set up their environment to foster joy in play and then into learning. The word “Joy” is also part of our Glen Education philosophy. We are dedicated to advocate “for the joy of ongoing learning.” (Glen Education Philosophy 2023) What we are essentially doing is fostering children’s ability to find JOY in learning!
A wish of JOY to you all: Sending you all some joy and may the little, special moments help you to keep your inner flame alight, no matter where you find yourself in life.
