WORKING with children can be a fun and rewarding job for adults who understand the role they play in the life of a child, and why they need to be positive role models. Others may not even know why they chose the profession; in turn, they bring to their job additional baggage and problems. Their focus could be marred for many reasons, and therefore their aim to nurture and guide the young may not be as effective or sincere.

Life with its many twists and turns, ups and downs and tribulations affects us all at different times in different ways. Ultimately, we cope and move on. But whether we learn valuable lessons from events or cultivate and harbour negative emotions can make a difference to the traits that we carry around in our personality.

Children can pick up on the negative energy, especially when it emanates from adults who are meant to be helping them or teaching them. “Did you have a nice day at school?” a mother asked her son as they walked home. The boy replied, “Yes mum, it was good because Mr. Millar wasn’t there, and we had a different teacher.” Mr Millar was the regular teacher, but he was not making a positive impression on this particular child.

Adults also pick up on energies from the people they interact with, whether the energy is positive, negative or nonchalant. You hear people say, “There’s a particular man in that shop I don’t like dealing with. I will go and see to my business when he’s not around.”

As adults, our experiences should not affect the way we interact with others or the way we make decisions, but most of the time they do. Very rarely do adults review their actions or reactions, or the thoughts behind their conduct towards certain people rather than others.

Being somewhat responsible for guiding young minds, for those in the childcare or the social work sector, self-assessments must be carried out every so often. This is how workers will know whether they are giving their best, and, in turn, will receive the best from their wards, to whom they show genuine care and consideration.

Self-evaluation is a stepping stone towards self-development, and an important factor for adults who work with children. Examining current techniques and seeking new approaches, where relevant, can make a difference in how workers interact with others, and how they come across to children. It also allows the worker to take note of his or her weaknesses and strengths.

Those who are involved with children have to care enough to want to do a consistently good job. This would entail putting the safety, health and happiness of children first. They should also be supportive of their colleagues, and, where necessary, give advice and pass on knowledgeable facts to assist and help the progression of the workforce.

Working towards continuous quality and improvement should be the workplace motto as motivation and efficiency will bring about positive results. Most jobs that involve children can be either taxing or challenging, and usually include going the extra mile. But those who work diligently should not despair as in time Guyana will benefit from the fruits of their labour: as our children, not only strive, grow and shine, but also make positive contributions to society.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, please call the CPA hotline on 227-0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY,
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL PROTECTION