There are a myriad of reasons as to why the early childhood profession could be in danger of or in fact in the middle of being a tired profession. While I wouldn’t be able to pinpoint any reason in particular as to why, the voices of those working in EC is of exhaustion and burnout. Whether working directly with children or in an operational role, the question is are we becoming a tired profession?
I recently had a conversation with an experienced kindergarten teacher regarding the Early Childhood profession, she told me that it’s wasn’t necessarily the documentation that added to her feelings of exhaustion, but the extreme and complex needs of children in her groups. Documentation has been something of an expectation since she could remember, however the additional needs of children today had escalated since she first became a teacher 20 years ago. I suppose when I heard this, I reflected on whether the extreme needs of children today were any different, or did we not notice them as well before, also the contextual complexities in one setting can be very different at other services. Documentation and administrative duties are a factor for many, because the expectations are unrealistic, and I know that this has driven many good and experienced professionals to leave. After speaking to a clinical receptionist about the amount of paperwork she does in a week, she told me it was no where near the minimum requirements of an early childhood professional. I suppose If any of us wanted to spend most of our time documenting, then we could have qualified to be in any number of different roles, however we choose the most amazing one of all and that’s working with children. Those who put unrealistic targets on early childhood professionals should remember that there is no set requirement on documentation, the profession is loosing good people, let’s think about this.
Being honest, I have exhausting days and euphoric days. Recruitment in early childhood is something that is currently exhausting for me, however reflecting on this, I’m sure that the feelings of tiredness when working directly with children far outweigh this.Early childhood professionals are having to navigate many skills, while documenting children’s learning and working in partnerships with families to name just a few things. There are not many professions were the requirements are so high and diverse, and yet the recognition of what they do is never highlighted or shown by those that matter. An instance of this was certainly during last years pandemic where educators dressed up and showed up, whether working on site or at home they supported children, families and the profession. It is no wonder there are tired educators out there. While adapting and changing the trajectory of education, professionals were not given a glimpse of better pay. Why is this when we are after all professionals?I also had lengthy conversations with those professionals I don’t directly work with , but who are hearing the same messages of burnout. An assistant director told me how she often goes to bed as soon as she gets home, so that she can function the next day. Another educator told me she had worked in Early childhood for 20 years, but she just could not keep her enthusiastic momentum and so she left the profession, because she felt she was letting everyone down. It is quite sad to think there are professional out there who are feeling this way. Not only does this have major health and well-being implications for early childhood professionals, but it has a huge impact on their families, and of course the children they teach each day.Amelia Gambetti (2015) from the schools of Reggio Emilia reminds us that ‘our job is too difficult and too beautiful to do alone’ so we need to notice, value, recognise and support those that may be exhausted or feeling weary because if we don’t then we may see a crisis in the the early years profession.