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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum Daycare Center and Family Home owners, Directors, Operators and Assistants should post and ask questions here. |
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Tips for Provider Burn Out
It was suggested that we "sticky" this great information for those that need it to find it easily and it is VERY useful and really important information.
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#3
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Thanks for this. I have the worst bunch of kids I have had in all my 21 years of daycare. I am finding very little joy in what I am doing and I am counting down the days until 2 of them graduate out in September.
I am not sure it is indeed burnout but I dread Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. |
#4
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try changing things up-
move stuff around do the everyday everyday a little different one day try stepping outside of the box focus on one kid at a time and the issues that child is having breathe deep air breaths take care of you talk with parents, sometimes just telling them that little guy had a ruff day and would not leave his friends alone can help. Ask the parent to talk with the child. Don't make this an everyday thing, no parent wants to hear that their child had a bad day everyday. If they are having a bad day everyday maybe your program is not the best fit for the kiddo and that is ok. be serious when necessary but don't be over serious all day every day. Let little things slide, pick and choose your battles. Preplan Get the kids outside if you can let the weekends or off time be yours, and your families. Remember why you loved your job in the first place. Do online and face to face research on how to better your program and better deal with the issues you are having. Know your not alone- best |
#5
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Great post! Since I am still new to this business and not feeling burn out in the least...yet....I'm aware that this could happen at some point. It's good to know the signs and ways of preventing or curing burn out if should occur. I'm learning so much from this forum, I really appreciate this post. Sometimes it just helps to know I'm not alone during the day as I feed, change diapers, feed, change diaper, change diaper, feed......
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#6
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burn out
I was happy to see the information shared on burn-out. Sometimes we a daycare providers do not want to address this subject. I believe that if others know that they are not the only ones feeling a certain way, they will be able to discuss and share what the are feeling and not feel alone. It is always nice to have suggestions or tips on anythings you are going through. Thank you for the info.
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#7
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You are most certainly not alone. I think one reason providers get burned out is that they dont take enough time off. Either because there clients complain or they feel they dont need the time off. I feel that it is essential in this field to take atleast 2 weeks vacation off per year and some others days off through out the year. I take all the school holidays off and two weeks a year of vacation. I really look forward to my weekends to thats my recharge time!
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#8
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Having this forum to bounce off of is a big deal for me. This is something I do for myself to avoid that burn out feeling. I usually come on here after lunch clean up at quiet time. It gives me a sense of connect to others, and many that I consider friends even if I will never meet you face to face- Best- |
#9
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burn out
Its so nice to hear everyone's in the same boat. I do have to say right now I'm writing my days off for the upcoming year and it makes me nervous cause parents do complain I feel bad even though we all need and deserve our days off.
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#10
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great info!
I am a long-time childcare provider who found this forum through an internet search. I am burning out, and was in need of some advice and companionship in the midst of it.
I have spent many years as a state-licensed ccp, and my body and mind are telling me it is time for a change. I have been having panic attacks in the mornings, usually about the time I am blow-drying my hair, so about 20 minutes before my first arrivals. I am constantly nursing a headache from clenching my teeth, feeling totally exhausted, barely able to participate in my marriage. It is all too much. Unfortunately, over the past year, we have invested quite heavily in my program. I am very good at what I do, my program is highly recommended in our town. The problem is now the guilt that I am carrying around for feeling like I am burning out. We as providers are charged with the most important job of nurturing and loving our little ones. I am perfectly able to do that, but knowing that I am fizzling out leaves me with a guilt that I cannot seem to reconcile. Anybody else going through something similar? Thanks so much. |
#11
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Winter blahs, Kids with cabin fever, vitamin D deficiency, tax season stress (ours and clients), surprise inspections, annual trainings due, ratings time again, and all the uncertainty of who will be staying through $ummer makes everyone I know worn down. You are not alone and there is no shame in being HUMAN. Have you heard of the book "Finding your smile again"? I am rereading it myself this week.
__________________
- Unless otherwise stated, all my posts are personal opinion and worth what you paid for them. |
#12
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Thank you for the encouragement, and also for the book recommedation. I will request it from my library.
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#14
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Thanks for the post
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#15
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Burn out
I have helped my wife since 2005 and I was the happiest guy in the world, I played with the kids, cooked, bottle fed a lot of kids, loved every minute of it for the first year then it has been going down hill ever since. My problem is not the children but the parents, we have the kids at least most of them 55 to 60 hours a week and to say the least the parents don't really give a sh$t about anything. Today one came in fifteen minutes late...no call just "I got hung up at the chiropractors", not even sorry for being late. Of all the hundreds of kids my wife has watched only one family brings a gift and card on providers day every year. Others forget to bring diapers they forget to pay for days but they never forget to pay dish network or the water bill as they will shut the water off, things like that. Every Monday we have to start retraining the kids, then come Friday I feel like we are loaning the kids out to them. We have one set of parents that have a nanny on the weekends and one night a week a sitter comes in so they can go out. I love these kids and It burns me out to have to deal with the parents. When we go outside I tell the kids to put on their shoes and they do it. When the parents pick them up and mom says put on your shoes and the child slaps her mom and throws the shoes at her I feel like what the heck, do they just not know how to be a parent or where did I fail! Anyway god bless you lady's for what you do, and guys too!
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#16
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"Finding Your Smile Again", I have the book and do need to reread it. It made some good points and offered sensible suggestions. Putting them into practice is always a hard thing because I've found that as providers, we're nurturers and not used to nurturing ourselves. Plus we never want to let others down.
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#17
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This forum is super helpful for that burn out feeling. I really like knowing there are other providers out there that are at home- alone- do adult interactions all day. And it's true about parents respecting you more when you take the day off.
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#18
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Personally, going to conferences or child care group meetings helps me avoid burning out. (And making sure I have at least 1 day off each month!) |
#19
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Great post.Meditation helps in reducing stress.My husband and I always meditate for an hour everyday in the morning.It really helps.
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#20
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I love my current group. Families are great. I'm not rich but am able to pay my bills. So where is the issue? I'm not even sure. Except to say I feel burned out on life altogether.
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#21
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#22
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Sounds like you need a short break, or a temporary change, even if it's only a week or 2. If you haven't taken a vacation lately, I'd get one set up. I know from business experience that with any business, sometimes we need to take at least a week and do something different and not even think about the business.
__________________
Children are little angels, even when they are little devils. They are also our future. |
#23
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#24
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I'm feeling a little the same lately.
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#25
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No tv, newspapers, internet or radio news for 3-5 days. Longer if possible. Turns out the sky is not falling for everyone, at all times. We all have hard times but are often granted peaceful times in between. Plugging in keeps us in a constant state of limbo and drama. When we have some peace we fill it with other peoples drama. Out of societal responsibility? Guilt of privilege? Even if hard earned? I am tired of that rhetoric. I don't have much, but I can afford some peace and quiet. Sure, we should help others where we can, but when you are drained there is no shame in enjoying your current blessing of personal peace. There is no way of knowing when your next personal crisis is coming. To stop borrowing others problems is simply self defense.
__________________
- Unless otherwise stated, all my posts are personal opinion and worth what you paid for them. |
#26
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#27
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Can't wait till I get my surgery!! I can finally get some rest and a small vacation. Let's hope that my work won't asked me to reschedule it. I haven't used up my v time yet and I have saved up 70 hours
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#28
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I will say it again, I think one of the main reasons providers suffer burn out is that they don't take enough vacation/days off. I take the school holidays off, and 3 weeks a years of vacation. I have seen posts on dc message boards from providers that pride themselves on taking no days off because there clients complain or they feel for whatever reason that they cant.
Another tip is to know your limitations, dont take on to much. Another way to feel burn out is to take kids even though they may not be the right fit because you are worried about making ends meet (I totally get that). One child can really color they mood of the whole group. I also think a lot of providers are bothered by the isolation this job can create. Get away from your house, make sure you have some adult interaction every day of some sort! Deb |
#29
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Love this thread and am ordering the book!
I know I do tend to take on too much. Then I end up chastising myself after the fact. I tend to over-empathize with my clients, both my dcps and my legal clients. I am beyond grateful I found this forum as it helps!!! And have pledged to begin next year with the motto: wwbc31do? I am making baby steps. I am in the process of revamping my contract and creating a separate handbook just for policies. I have even managed to sleep train both my infant dcbabies so that I can lay them down for a nap at the same time, whereas before I alternated their naps. I also just doubled my legal rate and am thinking of increasing it another $50. Sounds extreme, but I had not raised my rates since 1993! Long overdue! I also have decided to save my sanity and hire a second person in afternoons to supervise outside play, lol, so my assistant has an assistant! I am soooooo not an outdoors person, but I still average at least an hour in the evenings outside so I can interact with my 5-year-old! I wish I liked the taste of wine as I heard that it is quite relaxing... Thanks to the owner of the site and all that contribute!!! |
#30
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I recommend meditation and yoga
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#31
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Traditional theories teach us that burnout is caused by working too many hours or enduring too much stress, but that's a gross oversimplification of the matter.
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#32
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Knowing you're not alone and having access to others going through similar things is a pretty big relief for those so isolated.
__________________
- Unless otherwise stated, all my posts are personal opinion and worth what you paid for them. |
#33
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Taking a break for 30 days
After 15 years in DC, I have developed an injury to my arm from repetitive lifting. In lieu of my annual summer vacation, I wanted to take 30 days off to rest and heal. How does this work with Community Care Lic in Ca. Pending 2 newborns when I return.
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#34
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#35
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Assistants
What do you do with an assistant that likes to run the show overrule my policies and constantly complains about everything. She’s stressing me out and I feel aggravated! Please help!
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#36
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Replace her.
__________________
- Unless otherwise stated, all my posts are personal opinion and worth what you paid for them. |
#37
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I’d suggest talking with her and maybe sharing some duties with her. Talk with her and explain that though you are the lead you would like her input. Maybe let her plan a few activities or do chores that you really don’t like. I’ve had bossy and negative assistants before and it is frustrating.
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Tags |
burn out, burnout, burnt out, daycare environment, provider - support, provider burn out, support |
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