The Teachers Of Tiny Minds
Photos and Writing by: Elyse Johnson
There is a passion that comes from working with children. Teachers, caretakers and parents work together to shape the TINY MINDS of our youth. It is a large responsibility to have the beginning of a child’s life in your hands and caretakers seem to always take this into account. These hard working individuals take their time to care for and connect with the children they watch.
"Ten fingers, ten perfect toes, fill our hearts with love that overflows"
They do so much more than “babysit”; they ease the minds of worried parents, calm a crying baby, help take care of a booboo when a toddler gets hurt and so much more. These acts of kindness take a special person and a large amount of effort. Being a Teacher of Tiny Minds is a “LABOR OF LOVE”. This job takes compassion, patience, intelligence and love. At Building Blocks Child Care Center in Pullman, WA, the employees seem to behold all these qualities. The staff prides themselves on educating children for the Palouse since 1998. These teachers exemplify a true love for working with children and shaping their experience. I hope to show their “Labor of Love” through my "Teacher of Tiny Minds" project.
"Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work"
"Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in you heart"
"It takes a big heart to shape a little mind"
"Don’t mind the mess.. the children are making memories"
"I am a nose wiping, hand soaping, story reading, SHOE TYING, Difference maker for young children"
"Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” -Aristotle"
"Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn.” "
"The greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say-'The children are now working as if I did not exist'"
"It is not what you do for children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings"