I started working
in a daycare, recently, for a couple of hours a week, and it’s been a very
enjoyable experience. Here’s what I’ve learned: 1) There is a serious shortage
of spots for infants and toddlers. 2) Daycare can be a happy place for both
children and employees. Putting those two factors together leads me to conclude
that a job in a childcare is a great opportunity for those who are looking for work
that is important, pleasant, and based on giving and kindness.
The Need
“There are not
enough babysitting groups for all ages of children,” says Yehudis Katz, a
working mother of four. The daycares that are available get filled up very
quickly. Some of them are already filled for the 2023/2024 school year. Another
problem is that many of the daycare programs finish at 2 p.m., which is not a
long enough day for mothers who work full time.”
According to Hava
Barr of Ner Tamid Montessori, “We get constant phone calls, Facebook posts, and
WhatsApp messages from frantic parents looking for childcare, especially for
children under two. Unfortunately, we and many other schools don’t have the
staff and the space to expand. We currently have a beautiful new 18-month
classroom with a waitlist of over 30 children. We cannot open the room as we
are lacking the three teachers required to maintain the required ratio.”
Hava recommends
that parents who have become comfortable with a
program should register and pay their deposit as soon as possible. “Many
programs will not hold a spot in the classroom until a deposit is paid, and
families often end up missing the opportunity. We have had numerous people
complete tours, meet the teachers, and then call the office weeks later to
explain that they lost track of things. Unfortunately, the school offices
cannot hold their place as others are waiting.”
At Ohr Chadash Academy (OCA), too,
the number of applications for daycare exceeds the number of spaces available.
“There especially seems to be a need in our community for childcare for
children ages 12 to 18 months,” says Reeut Singerman, director of admissions
and marketing at OCA. “OCA’s program currently begins at the age of two. We
hope to expand this program in the future,” adding that OCA aims to attract
“families who believe in the mission and educational philosophy of our school
beyond the Early Childhood Center. We also encourage families to become
involved with our school activities, and be part of our school community.”
Chanie Raskin, of
Cheder Chabad, agrees: “Although we have not yet opened registration for the 2023/2024
school year, we have received many calls and emails. Parents know we fill
up quickly and want to make sure their child receives a spot. We receive calls throughout the year for children to join mid-year, but
all our classes are completely full. We could easily fill another
two infant classes if we had the space and the staff. Since we are
licensed, in classes with children under the age of two, we are only allowed three
infants per teacher, and some classes can only have a maximum of six
children.”
Ruti Ben-Levy of
Gan Rutie, a large daycare facility with numerous classes, has already gotten
many calls about registration for the year 2023/2024 but only started registration
after Sukkos. She advises parents looking for daycare to be careful that the
daycare will meet the needs of their child. “For example, if your child takes a
nap every day and that is important to you, then make sure that the daycare has
accommodations for naps.”
Mrs. Devora Sara Reznick, who has been
running a daycare in Baltimore for 36 years, never has to advertise. In fact,
when you call, the message says, “You have reached Reznick Day Care, and it is
filled.” Since she takes care of her own grandchildren and gives priority to brothers
and sisters or children of former attendees – and can only take a total of
eight children – Mrs. Reznick fills up very quickly.
Pleasures of the
Job
A job in daycare
can be most fulfilling. What other job gives you the opportunity to see the
world through the innocent, untainted eyes of children? Where can you see the
reaction of a little girl the first time she builds a tower with blocks and it
remains standing? She has just learned a lesson in math, physics, and
architecture. The untrained bystander thinks she is just playing, but an early
educator knows the life lessons behind the activity.
Where else can you
see 10 pairs of eyes intently follow a bug as it creeps up the brick wall,
veers towards the left, and flaps it wings. The children are open-mouthed. They
are learning how creatures travel and how Hashem’s creatures sense the world
around them.
Where can we see
10 pairs of hands cover 10 pairs of ears as the man in the corner drills a hole?
With eyes shining, the children watch the man climb the ladder, anticipating
the next screech of the drill. They are learning how tools work.
A job in daycare
allows you to be involved in chesed all day. We ask Hashem to have mercy
on us as a father has mercy on his young children. A childcare worker has the
chance to have mercy on young children all day long!
A Good Choice
Mrs. Reznick has a
master’s degree in dance movement therapy, but once she had her own children,
she decided that childcare would be a better way to spend her time. “I get very
attached to the children that I take care of,” says Mrs. Reznick. “We become a
unit. I love to take care of whole families of children, one after the other. I
even have children who are the children of parents who were once in my
daycare.” Mrs. Reznick takes care of some of the children for a few years in a
row during the school year and the summer. “Children don’t change their parents
every year, so why do they need to change their teachers every year?” she says.
By taking care of children over an extended period, Morah Reznick really gets
to know them well, and they benefit from being with children of a variety of
ages.
Being licensed and
keeping her license is a job in itself. Mrs. Reznick is CPR certified, has fire
drills every month, takes continuing education classes, and is inspected every
year. She provides meals for the children that are subsidized by the
government. There are requirements for the foods she serves. For example,
children under two must get whole milk to drink, and children over two must drink
low fat milk. When the daycare inspectors come once a year, they check the
temperature of her refrigerator, her posted menu, and other details. Everyone
who lives in the house must be fingerprinted once they turn 18. Even her
90-year-old father-in-law had to be fingerprinted! Mrs. Reznick loves her work and
hopes to be able to continue for a long time.
Pay, Perks, and Positives
The salary of a
childcare worker in a daycare center is equivalent to the pay of a secretary in
an office. Additionally, many schools offer tuition discounts to teachers in
their schools and give bonuses before Yomim Tovim or other special occasions. One
advantage to working with children is that is there is no age discrimination.
An older person can be just as good a childcare provider as a young person.
Mrs. Raskin of
Cheder Chabad says that daycare is a place where you can make friends and
become part of a group. “It’s like being part of a family.” Cheder Chabad occasionally
holds social events in the evening to increase the bonding of their workers.
Hava Barr of Ner
Tamid Montessori adds, “If you’re looking to go into
the field, the first thing is look at what age children you would like to work
with. Once you decide on an age group, touch up your resume to display your top
qualities. The final step would be contacting the school and/or daycare you’re
interested in. One thing to know is that you likely do not need to complete
your training prior to being hired; many programs will cover the cost of
training once you’re employed by them.”
I asked Mrs.
Reznick her opinion about the qualities that a person planning a career in
daycare needs, since she has so many years of experience. She listed qualities such
as kindness, a love for children, flexibility, a sense of humor, and an
understanding of child development. A caregiver also must be able to follow
rules and be prepared to run a business.
So, if you are
looking to make some money and want to do work that is meaningful and needed,
consider working in a daycare or starting your own daycare. Perhaps this
article will light the spark, and parents will have an easier time finding
childcare in the future!
