Resource Recommendations for Childcare Workers
What resources would you recommend for working with young children?
Dear Dr. Bill:
My name is Lourenda, and I'm a big fan of your radio program! I currently work with two-year-olds, and most of them are the only child in their families.
I don't have a lot of experience in early child education, though I am trying to pay attention and understand how these young kids act and think. Do you have any recommendations on good books or other resources that can help me with my job?
— Lourenda
Dear Lourenda:
First of all, let me commend you for your desire to learn more about kids and improve at your job. One of the first things I'd suggest would be to pick up a good college textbook on child development. One of the best authors in this field is John Santrock, who teaches at the University of Texas. Dr. Santrock has written numerous books on developmental psychology, and you can find them through most online booksellers.
If you'd like to learn more about how to deal with some of the behavior problems you may experience on the job, let me recommend a couple of my favorite parenting books. Even though you aren't a parent to the kids you work with, many of the principles in these books can be applied on the job. Plus, after you've read them, you can recommend them to the parents at your daycare center — assuming of course, that they are open to improving their parenting skills.
The first book is titled Parenting With Love and Logic by Jim Fay and Foster Cline. The Love and Logic program is easy to implement and is effective in dealing with kids of all ages.
Another book I like is Raising Great Kids by psychologists Henry Cloud and John Townsend. Henry and John explain what kids really need from their parents, and their book is written from a Christian perspective.
By the way, Focus on the Family has an excellent set of DVDs on child discipline, featuring the classic parenting wisdom of my boss, Dr. James Dobson. The series is called The Essentials of Discipline, and you can order it in our online Resource Center.
Thanks for writing, Lourenda. May God bless you as you seek to make a positive impact in the lives of the kids you work with.
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