Practicum placement was a fenced in area with some older houses and two very large apartment buildings, as well as the building the daycare was in.

Appropriate communication with the parents

Encouraging all children to participate in all aspects throughout the day

Interacting with the children

Being a positive role model for the children

Helping clean up after and get ready for meals

In all practicum placements they had different centre’s set up for the children to play in.

In all practicum placements they have given each child their own locker/cubby to be able to put their shoes and nap time blankets.

The day was structured in Hawaii as it was at Brighter Beginning when I went there for practicum. In Hawaii they has breakfast, circle (songs), centre’s and then outside. This was something that I was used to and like when working in a daycare.

In Hawaii they had the traditional clothing from different countries hung on the walls around the classroom.

Every classroom in Hawaii takes their turn throughout the day in brushing their teeth after at least one meal per day.

Children set their own places at the table with (plate, cup, fork and napkin) and also were able to dish up their own plates.

Major difference being in such an enclosed area for the daycare to be in. It was definitely an experience going into an area that had a security guard at the front gates.

Having a bulletin board displaying one of the rooms work per month so that all adults are able to see some of the things that the children are creating.

The pots and pans hanging from the fence outside by their play structure so that the children are able to make music using them.

In Hawaii they had the children sing a lot more then what we do in Canada. I would like to include more song into the children’s everyday at daycare.

Making sure that there is a high amount of play in the children’s everyday while at the daycare.

Treating all children with the same respect is incredibly important when working with children. You have to be able to start every day as if no child has done anything wrong previously.

Having centre’s so that the children are able to play in different areas is very important. We need to encourage children to try new things and play with different children then those that they are used to.

It was hard going into the daycare when it was very unorganized at the beginning before going into the classroom. Once we got into the classroom it was a great experience.

I think that the biggest challenge for me was leaving the daycare. Even after only two weeks you still create some major attachments to all of the children and immediately I began to miss all of them.

This practicum was an absolutely incredible experience that I would not change for the world. I was able to see different living conditions in a different country and was able to see that those children were not bothered by me being so white and treated me like any other adult.

I would recommend to all Lakeland College Students to go on an International Practicum Placement. I was able to learn lots and bring back some great ideas to incorporate into my daycare one day.

I want to go back to see the children and all of the other adults that I worked with for the two weeks, the connections that you are able to make is incredible.