What are the most challenging aspects of working in child care?
"It can be difficult to discipline kids sometimes, simply because I am not their parents. I have learned that kids don't always respect authority, so I have been working on asserting my authority and earning their trust. I've learned that by building relationships with the kids, they are more likely to listen and respond to you. Implementing routine, offering rewards, and being consistent about giving them consequences when they have done something wrong has made disciplining kids more effective."
When you talk about a challenge, share what you are doing to overcome it. The interviewer wants to hear how you are taking initiative to learn from difficult situations or challenging personalities and developing skills that will help you be a better child care worker.
"It can be difficult to discipline kids sometimes, simply because I am not their parents. I have learned that kids don't always respect authority, so I have been working on asserting my authority and earning their trust. I've learned that by building relationships with the kids, they are more likely to listen and respond to you. Implementing routine, offering rewards, and being consistent about giving them consequences when they have done something wrong has made disciplining kids more effective."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
For me, the most challenging aspect of working with children is temper tantrums. I used to feel as though they came out of nowhere, but with little experience, I have learned some of the early warning signs. If a child starts to raise their voice or show signs of distress, such as throwing a toy, I try to redirect their attention by talking about their feelings, depending on their age. Young children usually need help to calm down, so I gently rub their head or take them into a quiet room away from everyone to help calm them down.
Marcie's Feedback
Excellent! Your answer shows that you have learned new techniques that help you to manage tantrums (in other words, you're able to evolve and improve). You also come across as capable of handling this type of challenging situation, which the interviewer will appreciate. Great answer!
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