A CAREER AS AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR
Working with children and seeing their happy eyes every day is a great joy. Many people would say that this work is difficult and requires enormous patience and dedication — and yes, I would answer, that is absolutely true. But most importantly, I believe, you need to have a genuine love for children and a passion for what you do.
When you come to work and happy children run toward you to give you a hug and tell you how they spent the previous evening, your heart fills with emotion. At moments like these, you realize that you made the right choice — the choice of your profession, the profession of an EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR.
My name is Natalia. I am an RECE (Registered Early Childhood Educator) at Matryoshka Daycare, and this is my story.
I first met Anna Nikolaevna, the director of Matryoshka Daycare, in 2010, when my older son started attending the Russian school Uspekh. Our paths crossed again in 2015, when my younger daughter began attending Matryoshka Daycare and I entered the daycare as a parent.
In 2016, Anna Nikolaevna invited me to work at the daycare as an assistant educator in the toddler group. At that time, I already had some experience working with children as a nanny and as an assistant educator at another daycare.
I would like to point out that before immigrating to Canada, I worked in a completely different field. For almost ten years, I was the chief accountant of a company involved in the hotel and service industries. I graduated from college with a specialization in accounting and economics, and later from the St. Petersburg Institute of Foreign Economic Relations, Economics and Law with a degree in Business Management.
Becoming an educator and working with children had always been my childhood dream. So when I had the opportunity to try myself in this field, I took it without hesitation.
While working with children, I realized that although I already had practical experience, I did not have enough theoretical knowledge. That is why I decided to continue my education. In 2018, I enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at Algonquin College and graduated with honours. It was not an easy journey — working full-time while studying at the same time — but I successfully completed it.
Today, I am an RECE (Registered Early Childhood Educator), and I have been working at Matryoshka Daycare for almost ten years with children aged three to four — preschoolers.
I truly enjoy working with children and creating a comfortable and educational environment where they can fully grow and develop emotionally, socially, cognitively and physically. For every child to grow and develop successfully, it is important to find an individual approach and develop an appropriate strategy for working with them.
When preparing a program and daily plan, an educator takes into account the children’s interests, strengths and areas where they may need additional support, so that every day at daycare is meaningful, interesting and contributes to the well-rounded development of each child.
When working with children, every educator not only opens their heart to a child, giving love and care, but also gives a part of themselves. Every day when you come to work and see the joyful eyes of children, you realize what a great happiness it is.
Children are our future, and I am very happy that I have the opportunity to make my own small contribution to their development.
Finding your true calling in your work and profession is very important for each of us, and I am happy that I have found mine. I can proudly say that I have found a profession in which I can fully apply all the knowledge and experience I have gained, and that is priceless.
I can proudly say that I am an EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR.
Natalia Bragina