Does anyone have experience with an internship in a daycare center?
Hello
My daughter is starting further training/training to become a childcare worker in September.
The whole thing is alternating teaching/internship
My question
Does anyone have experience with the internship (my daughter is doing it in daycare)
A former neighbor told my daughter some not-so-great stories (cleaning toilets, etc.) that have made my daughter a little unsure.
Can anyone tell us about their experiences?
Thanks and best regards, Glorua
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I'm a kindergarten teacher myself and have been working in a daycare center for over 20 years. I also started as a child care worker, but since I came from a state where child care workers and social workers were abolished over 25 years ago, I had to continue my training after each apprenticeship.
First of all, it should be noted that the job of a nanny is primarily an assistant position, and it is treated as such. Everything related to care, healthcare, cleanliness, and so on is the responsibility of a nanny. This may include cleaning the bathroom, cleaning tables, etc. But it also includes changing diapers, cleaning the skin, combing hair, general personal hygiene, and so on. This is because the educator is really only there to educate and train children.
In many German states, the professions of child care worker and social assistant (the latter could also work in a nursing home) have been abolished, and the kindergarten teacher does everything. I moved from Lower Saxony to Brandenburg, and at that time, that was abolished in Lower Saxony, and there are no more in Brandenburg either. So I'm responsible for everything myself: care, cleaning, education, upbringing, documentation, etc.
The fact is, the toilets must always be clean. If a child smears feces on the seat because they're not yet good at wiping their bottom, it can't stay there until a cleaner comes. That breeds bacteria and spreads diseases. After all, it's not just one child who wants to go to the toilet, but several. There are also hygiene regulations, and they must be followed. That means I check the toilet every hour and wipe the door handles with a disinfectant wipe every two hours.
What's more, apprenticeships aren't easy. If she wants to learn the trade, she'll have to go through it. I was in training for six years: two years in childcare, two years in social assistance, and two years in teacher training. During my training, I had to do completely different things, including things that had nothing to do with my job. She'll have to get through it. Because later, when she's in the profession, there won't be anyone there to do it for her.
And if I may give you one more tip, she should continue on to become a kindergarten teacher. The salary is simply €1,000 net better. As a nanny, she earns slightly more than a hairdresser. That's too little to live on and too much to die on…
All the best and good luck.
Hello, thank you very much for your detailed description. It helped us a lot. Best regards, Glorua
How the internship goes and what tasks you're assigned depend on the institution. I've been lucky so far that my institutions haven't always passed these "intern jobs" on to us.
Cleaning toilets is one of the normal tasks in a daycare center, and if something goes wrong and you see it, you can't just leave it alone. Just like some centers have internals changing the children's diapers.
When you work with children, you automatically come into contact with unpleasant smells and unpleasant substances. You should be aware of this before you begin your training. It's not just about playing and cuddling with the kids; especially in daycare, a huge part of it is also caring – as the term "childcare worker" implies.