Pioneering Pedagogy: Herding cats and growing humans

Am I a Leader?
We are always questioning ourselves and our practice as early childhood educators...

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Thirty years doing anything is a long time.
I've been driving a car for 33 years.
I've been best friends with Amber for 36 years.
I've been self-employed for 30 years now.
I have changed thousands of diapers, wiped a million runny noses, and dried a million tears.
If I try to put a guesstimate on the number of children I have enrolled in my programs since 1997, when I had Puddles & Paints Nature Daycare, then opened Little Bears in 2008 while still running Puddles, closing Puddles in 2016 when my daughter was old enough to go to kindergarten, and continuing with Little Bears until today....
My quick math skills have it around 3000 children plus their families (give or take)
3000 children. wow.
I am a 4th-generation Victorian. My grandmother was born here, my mom and her siblings, my sister and I, and now my three children.
My family's deep roots on Vancouver Island are a matter of genealogical classification, not societal demographics.
Yes, I am a Gen X. My mom is a Boomer, and my children are Gen Z. My daughter falls a little closer to the cusp of Gen Alpha, which some lovingly refer to as "Zalpha", but that's above my pay grade.
In short, I feel like I know many people in this city and their children. Everywhere I go, I run into someone who knows me or I know them. And this is wonderful and truly an honour.
Reputation is a big deal in any profession, but I think it's especially vital when you work with children.

 Historically, childcare has been viewed as an extension of motherhood and domestic duties. Because this profession is overwhelmingly female, it is culturally undervalued and underpaid compared to male-dominated fields, even those requiring similar levels of education.

"We confuse the work of educators with the work of mothers."

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There is a societal expectation that early childhood educators are motivated by a selfless love of children rather than the need for a fair wage. This narrative allows society to justify inadequate compensation and poorer working conditions.
I quickly realized that to excel in this field, I would need to establish my own center. 
Many people outside of this field mistakenly believe Early Childhood Educators simply "babysit" children and play all day! This ignorant view ignores the extensive curriculum planning, intentional brain development strategies, purposeful materials/environment planning, and socio-emotional support that WE provide.

Parents/Public often fail to recognize the educational and specialized skills required, such as child development psychology, classroom management, critical brain development techniques, healthy food choices, essential touch and bonding, providing a rich and safe learning environment, all while caring for the well-being of not one, not tw,o but often 4 to 8 little humans on our own! We are helping to "grow little people here!"

Low, Low, LOW wages are a significant barrier to attracting and retaining qualified ECE staff, and they signal society's undervaluation of this profession.

The combination of long hours, low pay, high-pressure environments, and a lack of professional recognition leads to high rates of burnout and staffing shortages. ALL of this further destabilizes the profession and reinforces the perception that it is an unstable/uncredible career path.

For the perception of Early Childhood educators to change, society/parents must recognize the work we do as a specialized, skilled profession rather than a low-skilled service.
Improving educational standards, offering better pay, and changing the public narrative to value ECEs as PROFESSIONALS are key steps toward addressing this stigma.
If I had a nickel for every time a parent would come rushing in on a Monday morning, completely frazzled! Child, backpack, lunch kit, sibling attached, child still in pajamas or a soiled diaper. 
"How do you do this all day?"
"I can't even manage one, how do you manage 8?"
"I feel sorry for you this morning. She is in quite a mood! Bye!"
​"Why would you choose to do THIS kind of job?"

Why? Because we are professionals.
We thrive in chaos; we become incredibly good at transitioning multiple children from one task to the next. We understand a commitment to ethical standards and continuous child development.
We understand that small children are driven by their own interests and impulses rather than a parent's agenda.
Basically, it's like herding cats, and we become exceptionally great at it.

Early Childhood educators are Professionals due to our specialized knowledge, formal training, adherence to ethical standards, and the significant responsibilities we have supporting the holistic development of young humans. Our work goes far beyond basic childcare and requires a unique skillset and commitment to continuous learning.
ECEs learn how to build respectful and collaborative relationships with parents, children, and fellow caregivers. We serve as a crucial link between home and school (daycare), providing research (through ongoing documentation) and resources to help support children and their individual needs.
As a strong advocate for the rights and needs of children across the globe, I will continuously challenge myself to become a stronger leader with a louder voice. 
I strive to help our country recognize our role in shaping future citizens and building stronger communities, just as they have done in Reggio-Emilia, Italy.
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This is the work that I have been so intrigued by in Italy, and why I travel the world to experience hands-on training in different countries!
In Reggio-Emilia, the early childhood educator is valued by society, fairly paid, and considered an essential component in each child's life.

Early Childhood educators are considered "co-learners" and "researchers", rather than simple caregivers.

The Reggio philosophy is built on a strong "image of the child" as well as a "strong image of the teacher," and professionals engage in shared educational research as a priority. They are continuously generating questions and investigating children's learning alongside each child.

​I am incredibly proud of the centres I have built today and of my own "strong image as an educator." I will continue to ask myself, "Who am I as an educator?", and challenge my own beliefs as the years pass on.

In my programs, each and every toy is hand-picked, every material has been lovingly chosen, and all of the wooden furniture was made from our own trees on our own property. Thousands of hours of attention and care have gone into all of the programs, and I cherish each and every one of them.
My entire thirties were spent at Little Bears nearly every single weekend building this place.
My three children in tow, we would pack lunches and enough snacks for an army, and off to Little Bears we went. Often, my mom and dad came to help us. Sometimes they would distract my children so I could work, and sometimes they would paint ceilings and build bridges in the trees. It surely does take a village.
The infant-toddler program was one of my favorite builds, but also one of the hardest and most time-consuming. My entire heart went into building that program, every light switch, every shelf, the toys, the furniture, all intentionally and thoughtfully placed for the best possible environment. When I wasn't at work "building" I was at home "making" toys! I hand-made more Gnomies than I can count (little wood peg gnomes that you stitch together with felt), I hand-sanded hundreds of small Arbutus branch building blocks, finishing them off with lavender or peppermint essential oils so they smelled like heaven. I shopped at thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets, anywhere, finding beautiful loose parts, wooden baskets, copper pots, porcelain tea sets, fabrics, art supplies, paints, and musical instruments. My car trunk was always filled to the brim with treasures from the ocean to the mountains!
I remember one morning around 2 am when the phone woke us up. It was the Highlands Fire Department, and they were sorry to tell us that Little Bears had caught on fire!
Scrambling to wake up all three children and get in the truck as fast as possible, we darted out to Little Bears as fast as we could. When approaching the property, we could see flames high in the air. The police had set up a roadblock a safe distance back from the fire, but that didn't stop me. The moment the truck stopped, I ran towards the fire, praying to God that the entire property wasn't up in flames.
When I got to the next firefighter who saw me coming, I felt instant relief, and instant tears rolled down my cheeks. It was our neighbours' abandoned building on their property next to us that had been set ablaze. Oh My Soul!
There were some dodgy moments, though, as the huge fir trees were also on fire, and our building was definitely in trouble being so close. Thankfully, no one was hurt, there was minimal damage to our property, and the firefighters got everything under control very quickly. What a nightmare! 
All I could think about was that the beautiful building we had created was gone, and my Little Bears children would have no place to go in the morning! Sigh*
This is what small business owners feel and think about their "babies"; our businesses are our babies. We put our entire soul into them! Nothing will ever change that, and we will fight tooth and nail against anyone or anything that threatens it.

So,
When asked if I am a leader in Early childhood education?
Yes. I am.
Do I consider myself a Professional in Early Childhood education?
Yes. I do.
Do I inspire, advocate, and educate other ECEs with my work?
Yes.
Will I continue to share my vision of what Early Childhood Education should look like in Canada?
Yes.
Having actively worked for nearly three decades in this field, I know I have made a positive impact on many families and their children in my city.
Like Loris Malaguzzi's poem, The Hundred Languages of Children, I will continue to work on deepening my knowledge as both a researcher and a student.
My understanding of child development has grown from theory to intuition, where I no longer simply observe a child's behaviour, but I can instinctively recognize the root of their emotions and their needs. 

Looking after and caring for the development of small humans is my life's work and one I will continue to cherish and grow from every day.
I thank every parent and every child that I have had the opportunity to work with; we are all part of each other's story.
​ Shine on!

With gratitude,
Lexie
 










 

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Construction on the Bear House. We built a new cubby room for 25 children using the wood from our property.

Always in need of more woodchips from our favorite guy, Andy!

The new Cubby space...It's truly one-of-a-kind!

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