How to Handle Daycare Provider Burnout
Children care providers will eventually experience some burnout from their daycare job. According to Current Topics in Early Childhood Education*, “The quality of care children receive in child care centers is often threatened by “burnout”–the phenomenon defined as a loss of energy and interest in one’s job”. Jeff A. Johnson, author of Keeping Your Smile and Finding Your Smile Again, discusses daycare provider burnout, its causes and its symptoms.
In part 2 in this OwnADaycare.com interview, Jeff A. Johnson, author of Keeping Your Smile and Finding Your Smile Again, discusses daycare provider burnout, a few tips for preventing child care burnout, and ideas for inexpensive stress relief.
OwnADaycare: What are some ways to avoid child care provider burn out?
Jeff A. Johnson: I am not a doctor, and I do not play one on TV or anywhere else, but my prescription is 10 selfish minutes a day doing something you truly love. If you are a gardener, make time to garden. If you love to dance to 80’s music, dance to 80’s music. If reading in your favorite chair with a cup of tea calms your mind, do that. Taking time everyday to feed your own needs is a great way to ward off burnout, but it is hard to make this a habit. My book, Keeping Your Smile, is intended as a guide to help caregivers avoid burnout.
OwnADaycare: What are some ideas for simple, inexpensive stress relief?
Jeff A. Johnson: Like I said, personal time doing something you love is a big help. That said, I also like meditation and yoga as tools for stress management. They help people find their center and connect to that inner voice that tried to guide us to good choice. (If you like I can dig out a short meditation exercise you can use in your article).
OwnADaycare: Do you have any additional comments/tips?
Jeff A. Johnson: Research says that 30-40% of caregivers leave the profession every year due to stress and burnout, so our profession loses many good people. Helping caregivers manage their stress and avoid burnout has been a big part of my work for the last few years. Aside from the two books I have written on the topic I do about 30 keynotes a year around the country. Another tool I have is a bi-weekly blog focusing on self-care. Many caregivers want to make life changes, but they get so busy with day to day life that they forget to.
Jeff A. Johnson has more than 18 years of child care experience. A former director of a child care center, Jeff A. Johnson became a Family Child Care Provider in 2003 with his wife, Tasha. Jeff travels around the country presenting on topics such as combating stress and burnout in family child care and inexpensive, easy-to-make toys that promote learning. Jeff is the author of the best-selling book Do-It-Yourself Early Learning: Easy and Fun Activities and Toys from Everyday Home Center Materials.
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