So you just read this headline and laughed to yourself! “Stress manageable?” “No way!” Stress among childcare providers is inevitable. Juggling children, parents, staff, budgets, equipment, meetings, and more does mean stress. And "stress,” as we call it, is not always bad. However, too much “stress,” or “uncontrolled” or “unmanaged” stress in a childcare setting often affects the quality of care given to the children. A caregiver who feels “stressed out” may not be able to offer the nurturing environment that children need. So what can you do to help you and your staff, as well as yourself, cope with the daily pressures in childcare?

First of all, recognize what causes stress or anxiety in a childcare setting: Noise. Tension between staff and parents. Children’s immediate needs. Too much work and paperwork. Too many children per caregiver. Not enough time for training. No time or place for a quiet break during the day.

Stressful feelings may also come from having limited career advancement opportunities, not understanding all the aspects of being a caregiver, not getting along with--or having time to get along with--co-workers, and lack of clear direction from the supervisors.

Here are some suggestions to reduce stress in your childcare program. If you are a supervisor, these are for you. If you’re a caregiver, you may want to pass them along to your supervisor.

Provide clear, written policies and procedures on issues such as job descriptions and responsibilities, discipline, or dealing with parents.

Make sure staff are familiar with and understand these policies and procedures by providing training and regular review and discussion.

Be available to staff when they need you. Encourage caregivers to let you know their needs.

• Provide training and resources (such as Healthy Childcare) that make their jobs easier.
• Review jobs periodically to make sure the work load and expectations are reasonable.
• Watch caregivers as they work and provide positive feedback as well as constructive suggestions.
• Encourage problem solving within the staff.
• Encourage good working relationships not only by handling problems, but also by offering opportunities for staff time together, perhaps for a coffee break or before school breakfast once every few months.
• Encourage good health habits--and model them, too! Exercise, healthy eating, hand washing, and simple things such as flu shots will help everyone stay healthy.