Reflection #3: Negligence VS. Independence Training

A professional reflection based on staff observation.

On the afternoon of 20th April 2023, Thursday at 12:20PM, while children were transitioning from lunch to naptime. Pre-Nursery children were seated by their cubby holes with their water bottles, no teachers were facing them. The class teacher was bringing the nap mattresses in the classroom, while the assistant teacher was making milk with her back facing the children. I noticed the assistant teacher was calling several children to go to the toilet to change their diapers by themselves.

I felt that it was quite negligent for the children to be unsupervised while drinking water, what more going to change diapers on their own. There were two teachers in the class, one of whom could do the routine work while the other kept the children occupied by storytelling or singing songs together. As much as Erikson’s psychosocial theory suggests, “that children at this stage are focused on developing a greater sense of self-control” (Cherry, 2022), the teachers in the classroom should provide supervision when they task children with such autonomy in the classroom. In the event any of the children require help removing or wearing their diapers or pants, there are no adults to help them and that would have a negative impact on the children.

After speaking to both teachers about my observations, I understood that the teachers were overwhelmed by the number of things they had to do to get the children ready for naptime, hence they were complacent and relied on the children to get themselves ready for nap in areas they thought the children were capable of doing. This challenges the maturation theory by clinical psychologist and paediatrician Arnold Gesell that children need to be provided with developmentally appropriate learning experiences (Saracho, 2021). Even though children were capable, it did not mean they should be left alone to complete a task, especially when it involves their health and hygiene.

When I had to speak to both the class and assistant teachers about their class management and strategic placing of the teacher in the classroom during activities and routine time, I had to take into consideration of their years of experience and to ensure that I was being tactful when delivering my expectations. I found out that they both lacked the guidance from the other experienced teachers in the Centre before I joined the team. They were doing what they saw the other teachers did before.

I shared my own experiences as an early year’s teacher and the events that has happened when I allowed children to display their own autonomy in the classroom even with supervision. I’ve observed children losing their balance while trying to remove a diaper, some who pooped and didn’t inform me and what could have happened if I had left those children to change their diapers on their own. I presented these experiences to both teachers and invited them to share their thoughts. I tried not to push blame or fault them for what they did but rather I wanted to encourage them to learn from their mistakes and reflect on their actions so that they can provide better quality care for the children.

To prevent complacency from being a work culture in the Centre, I would like to encourage staff to be accountable for their actions by modelling it for them. When I make a mistake at work, involving children or not, I will admit and apologise instead of coming up with excuses for my actions. Even if it did not affect anyone negatively. After modelling this to the team for at least a week, I will encourage them to be accountable as well. As it takes a village to raise children, the team of staff can help to remind each other to be accountable for their actions. When staff are encouraged to be accountable for their actions, they will be more aware of what they are doing and not be complacent when it comes to work (Indeed Editorial Team, 2023).

References

Cherry, K. (2022, December 28). Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt in Psychosocial Stage 2. Retrieved from verywellmind: https://www.verywellmind.com/autonomy-versus-shame-and-doubt-2795733

Indeed Editorial Team. (2023, February 25). Accountability in the Workplace: Importance and Tips for Improving It. Retrieved from Indeed: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/what-is-accountability-in-the-

workplace#:~:text=Accountability%20in%20the%20workplace%20is%20important%20because%20individuals%20who%20feel,commitment%20and%20increased%20employee%20happiness.

Saracho, O. N. (2021). Theories of Child Development and Their Impact on Early Childhood Education and Care. Early Childhood Education Journal, 16-17.