Encouraging Curiosity: The Importance of Employees Asking Questions in Child Care

Welcome back😊

The other day, I was walking through a classroom and noticed several emergency evacuation signs hanging on the wall. I asked the teacher why there were so many evacuation plans on the walls. The teacher's response was, "I don't know, they just put new ones up now and then."

I thought about many other questions to ask the teacher, such as, "Why didn’t you take the others down? Do you like how all those signs look?" Instead, I walked away to allow her to continue engaging the children in the classroom.

This interaction got me thinking: When did the art of asking questions disappear? 

As early childhood educators, we want children to be inquisitive and have a sense of wonder, and to do this, they must ask questions. Why don’t we encourage our employees to ask questions? Usually, it's because there is a fear of being challenged or being incorrect.

This week let’s talk about the benefits of encouraging and inviting our employees to ask questions!

As early childhood leaders, it is our responsibility to provide our employees with the tools they need to grow. Additionally, we should start developing those who will eventually take on our roles.

Encouraging employees to ask questions has several benefits including:

• Inspiring Growth

• Fostering Understanding

• Empowering Innititive

• Promotes Innovation

• Elevating Collaboration

Employees that ask questions will help build a culture that thrives, and will create the high-functioning team that best serves the parents and children within your early childhood program.

Till next time,

Jen🖍️

 P.S. Benefits of asking questions helps lead to better problem-solving! If you missed last weeks newsletter on problem-solving, click here!