Professional Development Child Care training- Gearing up to offer fresh vibrant service!

We often leave our institute of learning, as professional development childcare training and think that's it, we are now "fully developed" in our field. Offering the best for the children in our care, this is nowhere close to the truth. Staff development in any child care service is vital to remaining a fresh vibrant service. The profession of child care is quite daunting, both physically as well as emotionally, and to continue professional development, it can often be difficult to keep our staff motivated. When motivating your staff in child care centres to keep developing professionally, here are four thoughts to consider:

A Culture of Continuous Learning New staff tends to take this culture onboard in their own work ethics, whenever there is a pre-existing culture in any workplace. In child care centres, new staff will quickly be energized by others around them, if our current staff culture promotes and values professional development. Behaviour Management Training should also be imparted to the staff.

Alternatively, you can slowly begin to shift the culture by making this part of the induction program for new staff where there is a pre-existing culture of negativity about professional development. Utilizing their fresh new knowledge in developing the skills of current staff, encourage new staff by sharing the positives of continued professional development. In presentations, training does not always need to be formal participation. From each other, it can be through learning.

Provide Innovative Training We quickly become bored and de-motivated to learn, when staff training and development becomes routine. In 'selling' learning, teachers and educators develop skills, and we should be looking for training that excites and 'sells' to our staff, as Directors and Authorised Supervisors.

There should be a degree of innovation in the style of presentation, and also a sense of innovation should reflect in the topics and professional learning areas. Such as "yeah, done that one", or "heard it all before," offering training on the same topics each year usually brings forth comments from staff. Coupled with a variety of presenters from varied backgrounds, training should incorporate the latest research.

It shouldn't be the only form of training offered though utilising outside training is good. Why not for each other, have staff within your service present training. Often we actually learn more than simply listening to information, when we research a topic to present to others.

Respect Staff's Time Often, staffs are giving of their own time to attend training, particularly in private child care services. They are giving up programming time or time working with their children, even when training is offered within staff's allocated working hours. They are more likely to be motivated to participate with their full attention, if we respect their time and provide concise, impacting training.

In your own early childhood setting, training DVDs can be presented to your staff. Allowing staff to explore topics together, this removes travelling time to training venues.