Do you work with young children?

[QueenWhatevs]

If you do, do you enjoy it? How do you not lose your rag? Every single day I'm in awe of the professionals we meet - preschool staff, early years teachers and TAs, swimming and gymnastics teachers, speech therapists, doctors, nurses etc etc. I couldn't do it in a million years.

I'm paid to be nice to them
If I were going to lose it with them, I would be really crap at what I do, i have infinite patience at work, even when being bitten or spat at. Dc thinks I am most unfair though, as am significantly less tolerant at home.

I was a teacher. I’m now a foster carer. I (mostly) find children much more fun to be around than adults. And kinder too.

I genuinely love the kids, they’re so funny, kind and always keep me on my toes. I love the smiles they give me in the morning so it makes up for being vomited on and covered in all sorts.

I've only been working with small children for a few months and, before I started, I did worry I might find it hard to be patient and not lose my rag. I shouldn't have worried. I love the kids, all the good stuff I enjoyed with my own kids I'm now getting paid to do. There are kids that test your patience more than others, but they are diluted in a pool of plenty others who are lovely! I'm so happy to have found a job that makes my heart full everyday!

I work with 2-4 year olds and they are just so much fun to be around. They are funny and I love all their little characters. It's really hard work though even though we 'play' all day. I also have much less patience at home with my own children!

Paeds nurse
Being nice to sick kids is easy, has its moments of course and can be really hard but you need to really love the job.
The parents however sometimes I bite my tongue every day.

Primary teacher. Love the kids (mostly!).

LSA...I love the job too!

I work in a preschool, often supporting children with additional needs. I enjoy working with the children and their families. Working with children is VERY different to having your own.

I work in a special needs primary school. Every day I am punched, scratched, bitten or jumped on. I love the kids. Whenever I feel irritated I remember their behaviour is trying to tell us something and it's our job to help them to Express themselves in more socially acceptable ways.
My own daughter has SEN so that helps. My job is never boring!

I've worked in KS1 for 15 years and often regret that I wasted 20 years prior to that in IT. I have never not wanted to go in to work and always walk through the front doors in the morning with a smile on my face. The only thing that saddens me is children's behaviour. The rudeness, the answering back etc. the low-level stuff from the few. Unfortunately everyone in the classroom suffers while this is being addressed. Wishy-washy behaviour policies are partly to blame! Apart from that, love my job, love my school!

It's my job, and the good bits outweigh the bad..most days!
I also work in a Special School where we have challenging behaviour every single day.. andI can honestly say that getting bitten, kicked , hit, just brushes off me. Spitting I do find difficult but the dead pan face tends to make it less effective.
I have been in special ed for 15 years and can honestly count on one had the number of children I have really not found a way to love, and some... well they make my day fun, interesting and at times, a bit nuts!

But then I have an adult son with special needs so have been well trained over many years

I do need half an hour of peace with a coffee when I get home tho!!!

Each to their wn. I work in a nursery. I enjoy it. I have worked with all ages in a number of settings. We are all different and have different skills and interests to contribute to society.