What do preschool teachers do?

What do preschooler teachers do? I must admit, as a former elementary and junior high teacher, I didn’t appreciate the work of preschool teachers until my daughter was in preschool. And then everything changed. I saw that preschool was about so much more than just learning letters, numbers and using a pair of scissors. As I learned more about Early Childhood Education, I was hooked as a teacher. This was the world I wanted to be in. So. What do I do as a preschool teacher? Well, yes, I teach academic skills: my students are beyond ready for kindergarten. But what I am most proud of is not the academic teaching I do. It’s so much more. I teach children how to handle their frustrations. I teach them how to self-regulate. I teach kiddos how to work on problems with their peers and have empathy for others. I teach kids that it is okay to make mistakes. In fact, it’s the best thing to make mistakes. I teach kids to work towards goals and be proud of their accomplishments. I teach children how to not give up. I teach my students to problem-solve and have curiosity about the world around them. I help them gain confidence. My students say things like, “It’s okay that I made a mistake. I’m growing my brain,” or “Remember when I did that puzzle all by myself?” This. This is why I do what I do.