Can how you teach your toddler help you in the workforce?

 May I ask you some questions?

 Is it possible that what you teach your toddler and young children at home regarding life skills can be transferred into the working world?  

Do you think that it would be possible to use the same energy that you would with young children and apply that to the work environment? Time, patience, guidance, and encouragement is what takes to teach young toddlers and young children at home. 

According to ~ Barbara Coloroso

“Encouraging a child means that one or more of the following critical life messages are coming through, either by word or by action: I believe in you, I trust you, I know you can handle this, you are listened to, You are cared for, You are very important to me.”

 Alfie Kohn says:

“If children feel safe, they can take risks, ask questions, make mistakes, learn to trust, share their feelings, and grow.” ~

How many employers and business owners struggle with their employees learning the skills necessary to perform their tasks or learning how to interact with other customers?

 It is a common challenge across many industries. Factors such as high employee turnover, inadequate training, and changing customer expectations can contribute to these struggles. 

What if the solution would be as simple as taking the same energy you use to teach young children life skills and applying it to the business world?

 What does it look like when you help a toddler or young child learn a new skill?

 Let me remind you…

Today we are going to make chocolate chip cookies because you know it's their favorite. Your young child wants to learn. What would be the first steps? What would you need to do and prepare? That’s right, getting the recipe, washing of the hands, maybe an apron. Gathering all the ingredients and measuring tools. Do they need a stool or chair?  Have you had a safety discussion with them yet about the oven or the electric mixer? What other hazards in the kitchen do they need to be aware of? Also, what about your patience, your joy, and your smile? Your child will look at all those. Make the environment fun. Set it up for success.  As you go about the activity, watch your tone. Give extra grace when they make a mistake. Explain and re-explain. Even if the recipe fails, you both keep trying. It will not be just right the first time. Are you rushed or pressed for time? Today is the day you guide them gently, remind them of the kitchen rules, how to measure properly, and be patient when they make mistakes. What about explaining the difference between salt and sugar? What about a small taste test or texture experiment that way they can learn the difference. What about reading the labels? What important information are we looking for on the recipe card? Maybe the first run should not be baking them but having a safety lesson or letting them play with measuring spoons and bowls. My mom did when my daughter was under 1 year old. She sat her in her highchair while she baked and gave my daughter a small container and a measuring spoon. Sure, my daughter thought she was playing and banging around. But this was preparing her for life skills.

Now, how would those lessons and learning moments transfer to the workforce?

Well, let me tell you about one of my jobs. I am a standardized patient (SP) for the local hospital. I currently work with paramedic students and paramedics. The staff set up individualized rooms with a specific scenario. From the stretcher to the medical bags, sometimes mannequins, it's all ready to go. Each room will have an SP and a trained paramedic. Depending on the scenario, there could be a by-standard. They make it as realistic as possible. We may have fake vomit, or a SP with makeup on replicating severe bruises. This event is timed, and they are being graded. But we make it as realistic as possible. The student paramedic comes in and assess the scene and they “proceed”. The SP may be a difficult patient, someone with a tent peg in their head, like in my case, or drug overdose. The student must follow through with their steps as if it were a real scene. Assess the scene, help the patient, and get them to the hospital. That is the end goal. In this example, proper terminology and wording are used.  Business Etiquette is used therefore the student can be familiar with it and the language. They know what is expected of them because it has been explained in detail. This is the time during the training to make the mistakes. 

Eddie Woo says,

Education is not the filling of a pail, but rather the lighting of a fire: Education is about more than learning facts, it's about developing a passion to make the world a better place. 

What a great opportunity for you to uplift and empower your employees by planning out specific training for them and imparting company culture!

Could you use those 2 ideas and re-create something at your place of employment? Take your time, think of a few scenarios. Play it out, practice, and be patient with your employees. Impart your company values and morals. What would be expected of them? How can you make your potential customers feel valued, respected, and want to come back? Try it and let me know what happens!!

* this was a class assignment. In fact my first ever blog post!