W ORKING IN T EAMS WITH C AREGIVERS. O BJECTIVES Identify characteristics of effective teams Distinguish useful and dysfunctional communication strategies.

WORKING IN TEAMS WORKING IN TEAMS

WITH CAREGIVERSWITH CAREGIVERS

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES

• Identify characteristics of effective teams

• Distinguish useful and dysfunctional communication strategies

• Identify strategies for sharing team responsibilities

• Assess the effectiveness of your own team practices

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WHAT’S MY WHAT’S MY ATTITUDE?ATTITUDE?

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• Individually, complete the statements on pages 8-9 in your TB.

• Share with a partner.

• The attitude we bring to the caregiving environment profoundly affects the relationships we have with children, parents and team members!

• Now complete your Team’s Attitude on page 10-11 in TB.

THE GOAL IS THE GOAL IS RELATIONSHIPSRELATIONSHIPS

“In infant-toddler group-care settings, the goal is to build strong, supportive relationships between caregiver and child, between caregiver and parents, and among caregivers themselves; these relationships can then support the vital relationships between parent and child.”

---Tender Care and Early Learning, p. 296

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We don’t get to choose

who we work with!

Attitude is not fixed--We make a choice about

it!

IT TAKES A TEAM IT TAKES A TEAM TO MAKE A BABY!TO MAKE A BABY!

• Make a Baby out of the materials on the table.

• Write on a note card:1. Your baby’s name2. Your baby’s age, temperament, likes and

dislikes3. How to take care of your baby

• As a group, share your feelings, hopes and dreams for your baby.

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Even though these babies are made out of socks and nylons, you each contributed your thoughts and ideas of

who this baby is and you all have strong feelings

about the care of him/her!

TEAM TEAM EXPERIENCESEXPERIENCES

1. What enjoyable group or team experiences have you had throughout your life?

2. What made these experiences memorable?

3. What characterized the group’s/team’s interaction styles?

4. How did the groups/teams deal with disagreements and conflicts?

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OUR TEAM OUR TEAM DEFINITIONDEFINITION

Based on everyone’s team experiences, let’s define a successful team?

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TEAM ELEMENTSTEAM ELEMENTS

• Small number of people --- 2 to 6

• Complementary skills

• Common purpose and goals

• Common approach

• Mutual accountability

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BENEFITS OF A BENEFITS OF A TEAMTEAM

1. What are the advantages of working together in teams?

2. Why is teamwork an essential element of high quality experiences for infants and toddlers?

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• Working as a supportive adult team reflects the kind of supportive relationships we strive to have with our children and families.

• Our work as caregiving teams is one clear way to provide continuity of care for infants and toddlers.

• Children learn that they can count on the same supportive interactions from the adults who care for them.

THE CAREGIVING THE CAREGIVING TEAMTEAM

• Remains together from one year to the next

• Meets for daily team planning

• Practices open communication

• Makes joint decisions

• Observes children throughout the day

• Discusses, interprets, and records child observations, using the key developmental indicators as a guide

• Plans ways to support individual children

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CURRENT TEAM CURRENT TEAM STRENGTHSSTRENGTHS

With a partner, turn to page 15 and discuss the current strengths of your team.

Discuss as a whole group.

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WHAT IS OPEN WHAT IS OPEN COMMUNICATION?COMMUNICATION?

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FOUR COMMON FOUR COMMON CONVERSATIONAL CONVERSATIONAL STYLES STYLES

1. Blaming

2. Placating

3. Computing

4. Distracting

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WHO AM I?WHO AM I?

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Placater

ROLE PLAY THIS ROLE PLAY THIS SCENARIOSCENARIO

As a person who is a Placater, respond to this scenario about your co-caregiver:

A child was sick and threw up and they were suppose to clean it up.

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WHO AM WHO AM I?I?

Blamer

ROLE PLAY THIS ROLE PLAY THIS SCENARIOSCENARIO

As a person who is a Blamer, respond to this scenario about your co-caregiver:

A child was sick and threw up and they were suppose to clean it up.

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WHO AM I?WHO AM I?

Distracter

ROLE PLAY THIS ROLE PLAY THIS SCENARIOSCENARIO

As a person who is a Distracter, respond to this scenario about your co-caregiver:

A child was sick and threw up and they were suppose to clean it up.

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WHO AM WHO AM I?I?

Computer

ROLE PLAY THIS ROLE PLAY THIS SCENARIOSCENARIO

As a person who is a Computer, respond to this scenario about your co-caregiver:

A child was sick and threw up and they were suppose to clean it up.

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LEVELERSLEVELERS

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COMMUNICATION COMMUNICATION STYLES ROLE PLAYSTYLES ROLE PLAY

• In groups of 3, turn to page 19 and role play this team meeting scenario according to the instructions.

• Discuss responses to each role as a whole group.

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LEVELERS PRACTICE THE LEVELERS PRACTICE THE ADULT CONFLICT ADULT CONFLICT RESOLUTION STEPSRESOLUTION STEPS

1. Approach calmly.

2. Acknowledge adults’ feelings.

3. Exchange information.

4. Look at the problem from the child’s viewpoint.

5. Restate the problem.

6. Generate ideas for solutions and choose one together.

7. Be prepared to follow up the problem.

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Acknowledging your own and other’s feelings is critical. If you skip this step, adults in

conflict tend to give lip service to the problem solving process,

but the problem never gets resolved and comes back!

PRACTICE PRACTICE CONFLICT CONFLICT SCENARIOSCENARIO

• In pairs, turn to page 21 and role play the conflict scenario using the 7 steps.

• Discuss as a whole group.

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SHARING TEAM SHARING TEAM RESPONSIBILITIESRESPONSIBILITIES

Makes joint decisions about

• Space and materials

• Schedules and routines

• Roles and responsibilities

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Turn to page 22-23. With your group follow the instructions about making decisions as a

team. (Use pgs 24-25 to help)

HOMEWORKHOMEWORK

• Please read pages 26-28 on the Stages of Team Development.

• Then complete page 29 on your teams current development.

• We will be discussing this topic first thing in the morning.

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LET’S TALK ABOUT LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR BABIESYOUR BABIES

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It is for these reasons that we must practice

primary caregiving, continuity of care, and supportive caregiving

relationships!

TEAMWORK IN TEAMWORK IN YOUR OWN YOUR OWN SETTINGSSETTINGS

1. Get with others who are from your setting.

2. Turn to page 30.

3. What will you…

• Start

• Continue

• Stop

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TEAMWORK TEAMWORK IMPLEMENTATION IMPLEMENTATION

PLANPLAN• Turn to pg 31.

• Think about our topic on working as teams and begin to make plans to strengthen your role in your team.

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STAGES OF TEAM STAGES OF TEAM DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

1. Forming – Orientation Stage

2. Storming – Dissatisfaction Stage

3. Norming – Resolution Stage

4. Performing – Production Stage

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STAGES GRAPHSTAGES GRAPH32

Once we become familiar with these stages, we can anticipate and welcome

them (rather than dread and fear them) knowing they

lead to effective team work!