Strengthening Caregivers’ Self-Awareness

10/21/2021

Strengthening Caregivers’ Self-Awareness

You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated.
Maya Angelou

“Helping a child to make constructive, independent choices toward self-disciplined creativity depends very much upon genuine, full, and caring respect for that child…Such respect cannot be accomplished without a very real knowledge of child development, as well as the personal caregiver qualities of inner security, integrity, and self-awareness,” writes Sally Cartwright, in her article, “Caregivers of Quality,” that is included in the Art of Leadership book, Developing People.

Rusty Keeler, in his popular book, Adventures in Risky Play: What is Your Yes? offers support for early childhood practitioners in developing more of the self-awareness Cartwright describes. Keeler encourages well-meaning adults to contemplate ways they may be stifling children’s “self-disciplined creativity.” He writes: “I say this all with love and support…It’s time to question some of our pre-conceived notions about the adult’s role in children’s play. And adults ruling children’s play…

Keeping children safe is one of the most important parts of our job as adults…[and] opportunities for measured risk-taking can create more able-bodied and self-assured children who will be better equipped to live safer lives in the long run than if we overly protect them.”

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.