There are many careers you can choose from; there are so many that it’s impossible to count them. Of course, this is wonderful – we can now work in any sector we want doing anything we want, as long as we have the skills and qualifications to back it up and succeed.
However, having so many options can also be problematic. How is it possible to choose which job is going to be the best one? It’s often best to think about the things you truly enjoy in life, and try to create a career that revolves around them. In that way, you’ll be happy in your job and this will keep you motivated and ensure you succeed in all of your goals.
If you love children, there are a number of different options that will enable you to work with them. From teaching to nursing to childcare, if this is the route that makes the most sense for you, you’re sure to find something that works.
If you’re undecided about whether or not working with children is the best idea for you personally, it’s good to look into the benefits and advantages. Read on to find out more about why working with children is a great career choice.
You’ll See Them Develop
One of the biggest reasons people love to work with children is that they get to see how they develop. They can watch them go from a shy, quiet child to a funny, outgoing one as their personality starts to shine through. They can watch as they learn new skills – and often teach those skills – which is not only endearing but also fascinating.
What’s even better is that a child’s development is not going to stop. They will learn new things every day, and over time you’ll be able to chart their growth, physically and mentally, and know that you had at least some responsibility for their developmental improvements.
You Can Help Them Learn
No matter how old the child is you’re working with, and no matter whether you are a teacher, a social worker, or you’ve graduated from a pediatric nurse practitioner program, you’ll be able to help a child learn. It might be something complex like a maths problem, or it could be life skills such as learning how to tie a shoelace. It could be anything at all. However, the immense feeling of satisfaction you will get when you help a child learn something and see the understanding dawn on their faces is like nothing else.
It is this that helps teachers and other childcare specialists get through even the most challenging days. They know they have done something worthwhile that will stick with that child for a long time to come, even if they don’t quite remember who it was that taught them that specific skill when they are older.
Children Are Full Of Energy
If there is one thing that’s true for every child – particularly when compared to adults – it’s that they are full of energy. They can be on the go from the start of the day until bedtime and still not want to sleep. This is sometimes an issue for parents, as trying to get a toddler or young child to sleep isn’t easy. However, for those working with children, it’s amazing.
The interesting thing about working with someone who has a high energy level than you is that that energy is contagious – in a good way. When you see them being excited and moving around and getting things done, you’ll start to act in the same way, and your motivation and productivity will increase. Imagine how much more energy you can have when you’re working with children in that case. They are so much more energetic than the average adult, and that means you’ll be a lot more energetic too.
Of course, by the time you go home again, you’ll find that you are tired like you would normally be, but during the day when you’re interacting with children, you’ll feel energized and happy. The days will feel short as you’ve always got something to do, and the enjoyment factor will be increased. If you need just one good reason why working with children is an excellent idea, this has to be it.You Can Learn From Children
We’ve already talked about the fact that you can teach children and watching them learn is an excellent reason to enjoy working with them. However, you can also look at this idea from the other side; you can learn from children when you work with them, and this is another wonderful reason to choose to work with children as your primary career.
Children’s energy levels are not the only thing that a childcare – or any other sector that works with children – worker can aspire to. If you listen carefully and take notice of everything that the children are doing, they may well be able to teach you life lessons that you can use in your own day-to-day life, and perhaps even teach to others.
An example might be kindness. Children are – usually – kind, at least when they are very young. It doesn’t occur to them to be nasty to someone, and it doesn’t occur to them not to be friends with someone. They just want to play with everyone and enjoy being with them. They are non-judgmental. This is a skill that adults could often benefit from. We judge people all the time, even without meaning to or realizing we’ve done it. The world would be a lot happier if we took a leaf from a child’s book and just accepted people for who they are.
There are dozens of different things that children do that can make us better people, and this is why working with them can truly enhance your life in very many ways.
You Get To Play
How many jobs can you think of that allow – even actively encourage – you to play? There won’t be that many when you start to list them out, but playing is expected of you if you are working with children.
Children learn through play, and they do so even up until their teens. What you might not realize is that everyone learns in this way, even well into adulthood. The more fun you’re having, the more you’ll learn, even though you won’t realize that’s what’s happening.
So you can enjoy your job, play with kids, and even learn new skills simultaneously. Whether you’re playing dress up, make believe, with dolls or trucks or bricks, playing a board game, or even a video game, you’re going to be learning something just like the children in your care.
Plus, playing isn’t just about games like these. Playing might mean running about outside and playing catch, or perhaps it’s doing arts and crafts. Anything where you’re having fun can be considered play, and if you can play when you’re at work, as you can when you work with children, you’ll be much happier overall.
Children Are Fun To Talk To
Have you ever had a conversation with a child? Very young children are highly entertaining to talk to, as their imaginations are free to run wild, and they will chat about anything, even if it makes no sense at all. Older children are great to talk to as they will have lots of questions – and perhaps some ideas of answers – and they will make you think. Whether you’re working with young children or older ones, talking to them is always enjoyable.
When you work with children, you’ll need to talk with them. It would be horrible for you and for them if you sat in silence. So you’ll get to experience just what it’s like to enjoy a conversation with a child. Be open to what they’re saying, and be ready to answer questions as there are likely to be a lot.
Children Are Therapeutic To Work With
It might sound strange, but you will probably find it rather therapeutic when you work with children. Children tend to live in the present moment, and that will help you to do the same. This is called being mindful, and it’s a healthy way to be. It means you’re not worrying about the past or the future and instead are focusing on the here and now. In this way, you can truly make the most out of life.
Although any job you do will mean you have to play for future events and think back on past ones to write reports and reviews and so on, if you can live in the present as much as possible, this will be beneficial to your overall wellbeing. You’ll be less stressed, calmer, and you’ll be able to focus on the children in your care in a much better way.
On top of this, when you work with children, you’ll need to consider their needs at all times. Unlike when you work with adults as colleagues, children are often unable to entirely take care of themselves, and they will rely on you to help them. In this way, you won’t be thinking of your own needs, and you’ll be assisting someone else, which is extremely rewarding. Of course, you’ll also need to take time for yourself, so make sure you have some ‘me time’ schedule in too.