Working in an Early Education and Childcare Setting Skills, attitudes and qualities

When you are working with children it is not enough to have skills. You also need to have an appropriate attitude. When you put the skills together with the attitude you have qualities.

Skills, attitudes and qualities What are skills? Usually they are described as things we are good at It could be that you are skilled in playing music or are a skilled artist You could be a skilled communicator or be very good at drama

Skills, attitudes and qualities Some of the qualities people need to bring to the job of working in childcare include being empathetic - that is to be able to understand and share the feelings of others Others include being co-operative, willing and good at listening. There are many more that are important which you will discuss Qualities are distinguishing characteristics – in other words something that sets you apart

Skills, attitudes and qualities So you can have skills but they don’t really become qualities – something that sets you apart - unless you combine them with attitudes Attitudes are a way of thinking or behaving

Skills, attitudes and qualities Think about some characters you know who have a particular attitude. For example think of “Vicky Pollard” in the T.V. series “Little Britain” What you will see is that it is as much to do with the way she says something as what she actually says. She puffs and pants, she stands in an aggressive way, she constantly tries to shift blame and responsibility to other people. We end up not knowing anything about her or her qualities and skills because of her attitude.

Skills, attitudes and qualities On the other hand we do know that David Beckham has a very positive attitude to playing football, that he is prepared to practice, that he is always very generous in his praise of other players. We also know he is very skilful at particular aspects of football. We might say he has the necessary qualities to be a top rank player

Skills, attitudes and qualities Another way of describing what is meant by attitude is by using the example of people who are racist or who discriminate against others because of religion or because they have a disability.. If someone like that was working with children their beliefs would affect the way they dealt with children and parents so despite any skills they might have it would be difficult to see their qualities because of the attitudes they had.

Skills, attitudes and qualities It is important to try to remember that the way that we behave and the beliefs we have affect what we do and affect the ways we are viewed by others.