Feeling valued and confident in your professional identity is important for your wellbeing and also helps to build the reputation of the sector. Here’s how you can champion your role:
- Find like-minded colleagues and talk regularly with them. Making these connections can help reinforce the great value of the work that you do.
- Read and do research about the importance of high quality early education and the benefits it brings to the community.
- Create a short mental script you can use when somebody undervalues the worth of your role. For example, ‘I’m responsible for the health and safety of 33 children every day. I guide their behaviour, support their mental and physical health and help them to develop in ways that will impact them for the rest of their lives.’
- Get involved in advocacy for the sector. Why not call a local service to connect with them, join an education and care social media group or attend a professional development event with It Takes A Village?
- Remember, we can’t always change other people’s opinions. As educators, we are responsible for the health and development of the most important members of our society: our children. We can feel confident that we’re doing essential work.
Anthony Morris
Professional Support Consultant, It Takes A Village
