10 Rewarding Benefits of Being a Preschool Teacher
There are few careers as rewarding as working with young children. Teachers credit the joys of the job as their number one reason for entering and remaining in education, making them nearly 20 percent more likely than private-sector employees to stay in their profession.
Below are 10 of the many rewarding benefits of being a preschool teacher.
Using Creativity. Playing pretend and letting imaginations run wild is part of the job description for an early childhood educator. The opportunity to be creative each day is not only fun, but beneficial to a teacher’s health and well-being. Studies show there is an “advantageous effect of creativity on positive affect, (and) it is remarkable that the advantageous effect of creativity is not limited to the positive effect but the overall well-being” such as happiness and positive mood.
This “Letter Blocks” activity from Preschool With A Purpose will help your preschoolers learn their A-B-Cs creatively! Download your free activity!
Captive Audience. A really nice benefit of teaching young students opposed to older ones is that little kids are more enthusiastic learners. Venture into any preschool classroom during a science experiment or an engaging story to truly witness a captive audience! Kids hang on a great teacher’s every word, excited little sponges soaking up as much as they can.
Belly Laughs. Is there a better sound on this planet than that of a young child’s laughter? The answer is no!
Forever Young. Working with children can be mentally and physically demanding, and preschool teachers tend to appreciate that those challenges of the job also yield major health rewards. While so many other sedentary professions tether professionals to their desks, teachers reap the physical and mental health benefits of being up and moving around during their school day. The silly sides and playfulness of the job certainly keep them young at heart.
Working Hours. Many preschool teachers work regular school day hours. If they have school-age children of their own, they are likely on the same schedule. This kind of alignment is incredibly helpful when raising and trying to be present for their own families. Nightly dinners, weekends and holidays, and possibly summers together are huge perks of the job.
Personal Fulfillment. All the hugs, homemade gifts, and the thrill of watching kids succeed—the personal rewards of teaching are what keep educators returning year after year. Feeling that a day of work is truly meaningful and impactful is invaluable, and not one that every professional is fortunate enough to experience.
Professional Fulfillment. The cognitive leaps and bounds children make in such a short amount of time are professionally motivating. Helping Hands Family recognizes working with kids is “an opportunity to teach them life lessons, useful skills, and important knowledge…and (a) privilege to positively influence social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development!” Preschool teachers, specifically, are happy to enjoy such quick and consistent return on their investment.
Job Security. Another bonus of working in early childhood education is that it is a growing field, considered to be in high demand by many. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics purports a steady growth rate in the profession, which equates to a level of job security not every employee can appreciate.
Element of Surprise. Working with children means no two days are ever the same. Whether they are mastering a new skill or detailing a (likely embarrassing!) story from home, kids certainly keep teachers on their toes! New Horizon Academy encourages educators to embrace the unexpected in the classroom, guaranteeing every day is more entertaining that way! And it is probably why teachers have so many hilarious and heartwarming stories of their own!
Witnessing Their Firsts. Preschool teachers are joyful witnesses to children’s exciting firsts and academic breakthroughs. When a child realizes L-M-N-O-P are separate letters in the alphabet song or they zip up their coat for the first time, there is much to celebrate! And what an incredible privilege to be a part of such sweet milestones.
A young child’s endearing curiosity and sweet innocence make every day in the classroom an unpredictable and thrilling journey. Preschool teachers are the fortunate few whose career provides so many personal and professional rewards.
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About the Author:
Stephanie Jankowski is an educator and author who lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When she's not teaching or writing, she's spending time with her children, Brady, Ella, and Lyla, and marveling at just how short the years really are.