Men in Early Childhood Education: My Interview With Preschool Teacher Kyle McKay From Boulder, Colorado! by Mike Prochaska

Kyle McKay is a preschool teacher in Boulder, Colo. "I am very proud to call the Jay and Rose Phillips Early Childhood Center at the Boulder JCC here in Boulder, Colorado, my home base. Here, I work in a classroom of 3- and 4-year-old children. This will be my first year at this school and I couldn't be more excited to learn alongside a new community!" Read on to learn more about Kyle McKay...

Q. What are the advantages of being a man in Early Childhood Education? What do men bring to classroom?

"I tend to look at this question as, what are the advantages of just being in Early Childhood Education. The advantages of being a male or female are the same in my mind. We get to be present during the most valuable years, and walk alongside amazing children throughout all of their developments. We get to work in a fast-past career that is both mentally, physically and emotionally demanding. The second part of that question can also be tricky to answer. All men are different, just like all people are different. While we can be a consistent, positive male role model, we also all have different perspectives, personalities and comfort levels. Often times men can get labeled and lumped into the category of allowing more physical rough play, or being a firm and clear communicator. While that can sometimes be true, I don't think that mold fits every male in our field, nor do I feel like those roles are male exclusive."

Q. Why is play important for children?

"In my mind, play is the most important part of childhood. It is a time when children can experiment, explore new ideas, test theories and most importantly develop a sense of empathy for the world around them. Play is also the most natural experience that a child can take part in that can also develop awareness for oneself and others."

Q. What about outside play?

"I think just like play above, the general audience who reads this might not need an explanation of why play outside is important. Instead of giving my two cents, I would like to pose a few other questions to ponder:"

• How do children self regulate differently inside compared to out?
• How can the weather add to ones play and investigations?
• What types of things can only be found outside, and how easily accessible are they?
• How much time is really being spent outside when children are not at school?
• What types of loose parts and free exploration are available outside?

Q. Why is it important to get kids into nature? 

"Nature is slowly slipping away from us. We are developing larger cities, massive housing developments and drilling/mining in what once was open and free land. Our perspectives of what is safe and appropriate are also changing just as fast. It no longer seems appropriate to explore freely in the woods, and safety from the unknown is undoubtedly on everyone's mind. Added to this, the advancement of technology such as handheld devices, video games and social media is in high competition for both adults and children's attentions. 

"With all of that it is the right of children to have access to the natural world, just like it is their right to play. While at school we can manage and assess risk, and we can resist the want and need to have technology present. We can enter natural environments alongside children with purpose and allow for time and space for children to freely explore. Hopefully we can instill an interest and a love for the natural in each child so that they will grow to use and protect every aspect of nature."

Q. What's one of  your favorite memories working with kids?

"Having spent so many years teaching and working with children, it is hard for me to narrow down one memory from so many good ones. At my current school we have a large graduate level teacher education program and at the start of each year I always make the comment to my interns that we will know we have been successful when we can sit back, be quiet and just observe as the children go through their day. 

"To me, when this happens each year, they create my favorite memories. When children have the tools to navigate safely and confidently throughout their day. To solve their own problems, find their own answers, and to come together to help each other without an adult intervening. To me, this is how I know that the children in my care will be kind, caring, responsible and respectful members to the world around them."

Q. What's your favorite book to read to your classroom?

"Favorite books seem to change from year to year, and even day to day. My favorite books tend to be the ones where I can be silly and use my own imagination. Books where I can change my voice and create a world of imagination for my listeners are always great. Recently we have been creating our own stories and this has given both the children and myself the opportunity to bring our own imaginations and creativity into reading."

Q. What's your favorite activities to do with the kids?  

"Hands down my favorite thing to do is explore our larger community. We take a lot of walks and bus trips to different destinations in and around Boulder. These are times that we can all have a shared connection around what is happening, and experience both familiar and new places together. This is also my favorite because it allows my children to know that they are a part of a larger community as well as having the larger Boulder community understand that it is also shared by young children."

Q. What about roughhousing with kids? Do you allow kids to roughhouse?

"Roughhousing is great! One thing that I often notice the most in adults is the inability to recognize emotions in others and just generally when to stop. Roughhousing is the greatest teacher of this. Does this friend look sad or hurt? Is everyone OK with this? If someone says 'stop' what do we do? What if they do not say 'stop' but are looking hurt, sad or angry? These are questions that must always be present, but it allows for a different type of energy to be released and a peer-to-peer connection to be formed. 

"Roughhousing also has been a wonderful tool to create a child-centered community in my classrooms. Through roughhousing we have learned about emotions, consistently demonstrated empathy, and allowed for the children to create their own expectations and rules around what is OK and not."

Q. Any thoughts on kids and gun play?

"Guns., unfortunately, are a reality in the world that we live in. In my classroom and my interactions with children, I am OK with gun play. Gun play falls into the category of rough play for me. Guidelines and rules are always created around safety, comfort levels of those involved as well as those observing, and making sure this type of play happens during the right time and place. This type of play, however, allows for imaginative play where thoughts and ideas are played out in a safe environment. 

"In the school environment we can address any issues or questions, observe developments that might need to be addressed, and appropriately discuss the larger issue of guns and gun safety. I feel like this is a much larger topic that could have a larger conversation around it, but I would ask others to look at gun play through a different lens other than it being negative, and instead how it could help build creativity, empathy, and inclusivity in your class."

Q. Anything inspiring to tell anyone thinking of going into this field?

"While there are careers that can offer higher pay, there are few that can offer a larger impact on the world around us. The children that you will have contact with will undoubtedly be better off. With that also comes a commitment to be a quality educator that is a lifelong learner. The field of early care and education is constantly evolving and you must be dedicated to staying on top of developmentally appropriate practices. 

"Do your research and understand childhood development, and lastly have a solid five-minute elevator speech about why early childhood is so important. We will always have to justify why what we do is important, so be ready to communicate to anyone at anytime! Please reach out to me at Kyle.McKay@BoulderJourneySchool.com with any questions."