Men in Early Childhood Education: My Interview With Teacher & Author Kayne Sampson by Mike Prochaska

Kayne Sampson from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is an author and Early Childhood Educator who works at Rainbow Day Nursery. He has written a book called "Resurrection: The Legend of Sanction," which is a fantasy novel for young adults. Read on to learn more about Kayne...

Q. What are the advantages of being a male teacher?

"What I believe men in the classroom brings is more perspective. Plenty of kids in my area grow up in a single-parent family. How are you going to tell them that now they have to go to school with single-gendered educators? Children need both men and women role models in their life."

Q. Why is play important for children?

"Play is important not only because it develops skills, but because it starts to determine interests. The child who was always painting may become an artist, the one playing in the gym all the time might become an athlete. That kid at the table counting rocks over and over again might become a leading expert on the mathematics of the world. Only time will tell."

Q. Why is recess and outdoor play important? 

"Do you remember all that stuff you were told you couldn't do in the classroom? Well, now that your outside, you can do it all. Kick a ball? Check. Hang upside down? Check. Run as fast as you possibly can? Check. You can even be louder outside. Too much time cooped up inside is bad for anyone, so the chance to get outside, get some fresh air and burn some energy is very important.:

Q. What is your favorite memory working with children? 

"My favorite memory is easy. It's telling stories to the kids. I'm a bit infamous for giving the smaller children nightmares at my first few jobs, but I've come a long way. I make up my own stories and share them, and encourage them to think up their own and tell me. To me, there's nothing greater than having one of the children (though let's be real, it's always a group of them) and ask me to sit and tell stories with them."

Q. What is your favorite book to read to the class? 

"While I tell my own stories most of the time, my favorite book is 'Crazy Hair' by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Dave McKean. It's about a girl who finds a man with crazy hair. The man proceeds to tell her all about the crazy things found within his hair. It is visually stunning, hilarious, and if you read it without extra emphasis and mysticism, then you sir, are the crazy one."

Q. Any advice for someone thinking of going into Early Childhood Education?

"To all those looking to enter the field, especially the young ones, I urge them to work as an assistant before anything else. Far too many people are going straight from high school to college without the proper exposure and end up overwhelmed, feel like they picked the wrong choice, or just end up leaving the field. You can only learn so much in the classroom, you need to experience early childhood education firsthand. Take your time, make a difference in some children's day, experience the stress (don't kid yourself, you will feel it, ha ha), and if you make it through the fires, congratulations. You've found a calling. And I shall see you on the other side."

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