Do you get attached to the kids you work with

[loopshot]

Posted in nurseries and got no replies so thought I'd give it a go here.

It's not an AIBU just really interested If people do..
Get attached to the kids they work with in nurseries and preschools. My DD is really attached to her key worker and calls her "her best friend" which I think is lovely. Hope she's not to upset when she leaves and never sees her again in September.

So was wondering do nursery/preschool or any types of teacher get attached and miss the kids they work with?

I definitely do. I adore them. For work spend a lot of time observing them and planning for for them and thinking about how to support them. Obviously some you get closer to than others but I couldn't imagine not doing at all.

I also went for drinks a few times with my own nursey nurse after Ieft uni.

Definitely, especially key children. There's some I think about years down the line and wonder how they're doing!

I last worked in childcare about 18 years ago and I occasionally still think of some of the children I cared for and wonder how they are doing now.

Without a doubt! We're supposed to have that bond with them at the setting so they feel safe while away from their parents. I have also seen many parents get attached to key people.
I work at my daughter's old nursery so she still gets to see her old key people which is nice for her.
Children do miss staff at the nursery but are usually too excited about big school to really ruminate over it. Also a good nursery will be preparing children for the next step before they leave so it's not a giant surprise.

Absolutely! We also can't wait to see the back of some 😂

Our nanny often talks about the kids she used to look after, even though one of the families treated her appallingly. She still goes over to visit on the little girl’s birthday, 3 years later, and mentions her fondly at least every couple of weeks.

When she hasn’t seen our DCs in a few days, sometimes she’ll come over just to say hi and give them a cuddle, even on a weekend, especially if she’s having a stressful time. She always tells my 3yo DS “no one can love you as much as your mama does, but I come pretty close”, and it makes him so happy.

To be honest, I get it. I used to tutor kids. Two of them were total brats who’d never faced boundaries in their lives. But they all have a certain sweetness, and you become so invested in their success and well-being. I still think of kids I tutored 15+ years ago and wonder how they are!

Oh yes. I’m a SEN teacher working with children with severe and complex needs all autistic and non-verbal. As part of their communication needs I’ve built up a bond with them some more than others, some I’ve broke through their barriers and now when they see me they will jump on my lap cuddle me, smile, vocalise and it’s so lovely. Just for them to recognise me is a huge leap forward. I only have 6 children in my class too. I get to know their families well too and try to help them as much as I can. They leave me in less than 2 weeks to go to their new teacher after the holidays and I’ll be so sad, I’ll still see them but it won’t be the same. But I’ll have a new class to concentrate on. The children make my job and it’s hard to let them go.

When I taught KS1, I always missed the children I taught when they moved on and I loved seeing past pupils whilst I was on break duty. The bond isn't the same teaching KS2...almost can't wait for my class now to move on 😅

I bumped into my primary school head teacher a few years ago, (33/34 at the time) , not only did he recognise me, he also remembered my brother's name my parents' names and something I was good at at school (asked if it was still part of my life/work). I thought it was extraordinary and evidence of what a wonderful teacher he was.

yes of course, but my situation is a little different. I run a dance school- some children start classes with me when they are 3 or 4 and stay until they are 18 and heading to university. I get to know them really well in that time and it’s a privilege to see a nervous tot in their first ballet class grow up into a confident young adult

Yes. I went to my 10th y11 prom last night, and I'll miss the buggers!

You spend so long with many of them, and get to know them, their families, friendship groups. Some of 'my' kids have experienced so much - parental deaths, severe and life limiting illnesses, trauma, pregnancy, as well as the good times. That's before any of the safeguarding stuff, poverty, problems at home, relationship problems, fights, romances, the everyday mundane bits as well as being handed a tooth that had just fallen out. Then there's covid and lockdown. Oh, and exams.

You can't shouldn't be working in education if you don't want to be a part of the kids' lives. I think of them often, wonder what they're up to, hope things work out for them.

It's a privilege to share their lives, and to be trusted with such important details.

Yes, I work in an SEN school and the class sizes are very small, I’m even more attached to them than I was to children I worked with in mainstream!

This ❤️ One child in my class has to have a cuddle with me every morning when he comes in ❤️

Absolutely I work in SEN and care deeply about the children I work with, most jobs that involve working with children are poorly paid and are vocational…never met anyone who hates their job only the salary. Still think about the children who have moved on to adulthood and wish the very best for them
it is different from the feelings you have for your own children just as they have their own parents who love them

I can’t help but get attached to the children I have taught. Many are adults and I love nothing more than when they invite me to events or stop me to tell me what they’re up to.
I’ve been a big part of their lives and I’m proud of them all.

Yes my first form are now all coming 30 - lots have their own kids too. It won’t be long till they send their kids to the school I worked in. Makes me feel old as I had kids later and have a son of 3 and one on the way!

I'm a TA in special education (teenagers) . I'm attached to all of my class but I work pretty much 1:1 with a child and I'm very much attached to them. In fairness i spend more time with them than my own teenage children and iv genuinely had sleepless night worrying about them . Iv got them again next year which I'm actually delighted about.

Yes absolutely! I’m leaving my Early Years job at the end of this term, and my heart is already breaking at the thought of not seeing my little ones again. This year we had the sweetest kids ever! They are all 2 years old in my class and this bunch are adorable!

Totally. I'm a 1:1 Teaching Assistant but I see all of the children in the class as an extension of my family! I move schools in July and I'm gutted I won't see them all in their new classes in September. As for my 1:1 children, I've kept in touch with a few over the years and still see them now they're all grown up 😍

I was a Nanny for a decade. I loved them dearly. I still think of them every now and then and am FB friends with two. I went to the weddings of two of them. It does however make me feel old when one of them posts on FB about her firstborn heading to Uni this year, it feels like only yesterday she was in the infants.

I 100% get attached, and I think about them and wonder how they are years later.

I'm a nurse working with teens in a secure setting.

It's so lovely to hear these stories. I think you are all amazing and do a wonderful job looking after the children.

My dds key worker is a lovely person and I will also miss when dd leaves

I'm a special needs 1:1 get attached to the pupils and work with and often think of them I love bumping into ex pupils and seeing how they are doing, 15 years ago I working in a children's home and often wonder how the children I worked with are

Yes, I'm in my fifties and I worked in a nursery when I was twenty . I can still recognise the toddlers I cared for when I see them in my home town.